A plain and familiar exposition of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth chapters of the…A plaine and familiar exposition of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth chapters of the…

Verse. 10. Pleasure is not comely for a fool: much less for a servant to have rule over Princes.

Verse. 10. Pleasure is not comely for a foole: much lesse for a seruant to haue rule ouer Princes.

Pleasure, the affections of joy and delight, the means whereby they are wrought, and the objects whereon they are settled, as abundance of wealth, delicious fare, gorgeous apparel, sumptuous houses, costly furniture, pleasant pastimes, or whatsoever is of like nature, is not comely for a fool, is not fit for him that is destitute of grace, and good understanding to have, as neither making for his honour, nor profit indeed, ⟨p. 49⟩though highly promoting both in appearance. He will pervert them, and annoy other men by them, and they will endanger him, and bring much harm and mischief to him. Much less for a servant to rule over Princes. By servant, he meaneth such manner of persons as he called fools in the former clause; namely, men enthralled to their lusts, and unlawful desires: and by Princes, are understood the godly, who are dignified with a spiritual advancement: so that he proceedeth in extenuating the condition of sinful men, and showeth their unworthiness by way of gradation, that all sorts of desirable things are too good for them, and much more authority and power over others, but most of all superiority, with jurisdiction over the righteous.

PLeasure, the affections of ioy and delight, the meanes whereby they are wrought, and the obiects whereon they are setled, as abundance of wealth, delicious fare, gorgeous apparell, sumptuous houses, costly furniture, pleasant pastimes, or whatsoeuer is of like nature, is not comely for a foole, is not fit for him that is destitute of grace, and good vnderstanding to haue, as neither making for his honour, nor profit indeed, ⟨p. 49⟩though highlie promoting both in appearance. Hee will peruert them, and annoy other men by them, and they will indanger him, and bring much harme and mischiefe to him. Much lesse for a seruant to rule ouer Princes. By seruant, hee meaneth such manner of persons as hee called fooles in the former clause; namely, men inthralled to their lusts, and vnlawfull desires: and by Princes, are vnderstood the godlie, who are dignified with a spirituall aduancement: so that he proceedeth in extenuating the condition of sinfull men, and sheweth their vnworthinesse by way of gradation, that all sorts of desireable thinges are too good for them, and much more authoritie and power ouer others, but most of all superioritie, with iurisdiction ouer the righteous.