An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Fourthly, they turn it by, untamed, unpunished, Prov. 19.29.¹ stripes are prepared for the backs of scorners: Because they go unpunished they grow scorners.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew]: wanton,〈non-Latin alphabet〉: wanton,

Luther translates the word mockers and flouters,¹ and interprets false teachers that delude the people, and deprave the Scriptures, and this kind of scorning by perverting the Scripture is the worst kind of scorning of all others, it is most abominable, Job, 20.14. The meat in his bowels is turned to the gall of Asps, the word in such mens spirits as these are, is turned into bitterness; these scorners, who were they? the Nobles and the Princes, the Officers in the Court, these were the men which scorned at the people for going up to Jerusalem to worship, what fools are these which will lose the Kings favour, their places at Court, their honours and preferments, and all for a mere circumstance, and a trifle as they thought; and this was at the time of their feasts and jovialities when they might both harden the hearts of the King and people; now he stretched forth his hand to them, that is, 1. He encouraged them, and gave them his hand to kiss; how unlike is this unto God of whom Job speaks that he will not give his hand to the wicked, to malignants. Again, 2.² to stretch forth his hand is to put forward any work, or further designs on foot, as Herod furthered their wicked designs of the high Priests