vnsufferablie painefull and vncurablie desperate Which mischiefe the better to preuent let euerie man often examine his wayes and get pardon for his sinnes and purging from them before they exulcerate and breake forth into such pernicious malladies And it is verie needfull to profite by and make good vse of more gentle and milde corrections that euerie affliction bring vs to some humiliation by the finding out of our offences and the vnfained acknowledgement of them Lastly sithens the state of them that are laden with the poise of a troubled conscience is so full of calamitie so wofull and lamentable what mercie and compassion is therefore to be shewed vnto them Are they not much to be borne with euen in their infirmities pittied prayed for and comforted and not reproched despised and laughed at Who art thou which shaking thy head at their feares doubts and diffidence canst truelie say I shall neuer drinke of this cuppe this miserie shall neuer fall vpon me And if thou in that state wouldest not haue affliction added to thy selfe afflicted then cause not them to be made more sorrowfull which are alreadie well-neare ouerwhelmed with sorrow Verse 15. The heart of the prudent possesseth knowledge and the eare of the wise will seeke after vnderstanding THe heart of the prudent possesseth knowledge hee that is acquainted with the state of his owne soule and discerneth how precious and fruitefull and needfull vnderstanding is will not content himselfe to haue wisedome in his eares or head or lippes but layeth it vp in his heart as his chiefe treasure and the eare of the wise seeketh after vnderstanding he laboureth to increase knowledge and grace adding dailie therevnto by harkening as much as he may to all sound and wholesome instructions Hee that would be wise to saluation must applie both his Doct. 1 heart and eares to Gods holy word Wisedome expecteth both these at the hands of her children and schollers and conditioneth with them that they shall be without neither if they will enioy her and her graces My sonne saith she if thou wilt receiue my words and hide my commandements within thee and cause Prou. 2. 1. 2. 3. thine eares to hearken to wisedome and incline thine heart to vnderstanding then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God There more shall be spoken of this matter ¶ And the eares of the wise c. They that haue the best knowledge Doct. 2 are the most willing to learne more See chap. 9. v. 9. doct 2. Verse 16. The gift of a man inlargeth him and leadeth him before great men THe gift of a man not the good qualities that are in him and the graces which he hath receiued but the present that he bringeth and the reward that he bestoweth inlargeth him and leadeth him before great men maketh roome for him and procureth him accesse to the presence of them that are in high places and of great authoritie from whom also he getteth countenance and fauour whether his suite be equall or vnlawfull See chap. 17. v. 8. Verse 17. He that is first in his owne cause is iust then commeth his neighbour and maketh inquirie of him HE that is first in his owne cause he that is in a controuersie speaketh first before the magistrate arbitrator or any other to whom it belongeth to heare the matter is iust so pleadeth for himselfe and setteth such colours vpon his cause that he seemeth to be very righteous if he be plaintiffe that his informations be equall and waightie if defendant that his apologie is good and he innocent Yet is not this to be vnderstood of euery one that hath the first place of speech for righteous men doe many times begin the declaration of the cause or defence of themselues and be found vpright and faithfull both in the entrance and end of the strife but it is ment of false fellowes that respect not what they may warrantably auerre with truth but what they can audaciously affirme with impudencie Then commeth his neighbour and maketh inquirie of him he that in the second place or afterwards is to make answere vnto him or reply vpon him confuteth his allegations detecteth his falsehood and conuinceth him of indirect and naughtie dealing ¶ A bad cause commonly hath aduantage at the beginning Doct. and a good cause preuaileth in the end So it fell out betweene Ioseph and his mistris betweene Micaiah and the false prophets betweene Mordecai and Hamon betweene Paul and Tertullus betweene Christ and the pharises betweene the Gospell and poperie First wicked men that maintaine euill causes are shamelesse Reasons 1 to speake lies and diuers that heare them are readie to beleeue lies vntill the truth doe euidently refell them Secondly God in his prouidence doth so dispose of it that his people may be the better humbled that they may be drawne to seeke his helpe and that his hand may be seene in their prosperous successe at the last Vse Instruction to rulers and iudges and euery one to whom authoritie is committed to lend the eares aswell to the one side as the other before they condemne or acquite either of them and that they proceed as they finde the matter confirmed or confuted by due proofes and not as they heare it affirmed or contradicted by bare words for our prouerbe is as true as common One tale is good till an other be heard And this may also admonish all men to take heede how they garnish bad causes with artificiall colours as vaine women paint their withered faces to make them seeme very faire and beautifull the breath of truth will at the last blowe vpon them whereby their hew shall be changed that euery one shall see their deformitie not by hauing a disfigured vizage but a dishonest behauiour Though they thriue in their practises for a time yet it is impossible for them to succeed well in their euil waies for euer either their neighbours one man or other will lay open their falsehood and faultines to the eyes of the world in the day of their conuiction or else the Lord will bring their leaudnes to light before men and Angells and all the world at the day of iudgement Verse 18. The lot causeth contentions to cease and maketh a partition amongst the mightie HE declareth the true and right vse of a lot by telling what 〈◊〉 done for that which ought to be done namely in difficult and doubtfull causes which cannot otherwise be well determined and where in diuision men cannot agree betweene themselues what part euery one should haue that then they be satisfied with that which the Lord by lot doth after a sort award vnto them And he makth speciall mention of the mightie that it serueth to compound their controuersies because that when they contend by reason of their power and strength and stout stomacks they greatly damnisie one an other ¶ Then a lot is lawfully vsed when it either procureth or preserueth Doct. peace
vs to knocke off the hornes of our pride nor to seeke for wealth with so greedie a desire seeing that it commonly worketh such great inhumanitie Though the one frowne at thee with a grimme countenance yet being well vsed it helpeth thee against thy greatest enemie and though the other seeme to smile vpon thee with a fleering face yet being too much made of it proueth a cruell tyrant The former maketh men many times meeke and amiable and the latter causeth them to be fierce and hatefull that leading them to sobrietie this driuing them into a frenzie insomuch as like mad men they fall to rauing and raging Yet sith most that be lowe brought can for a time crouch vnto those that may either helpe or hurt them it is not to be taken for a certaine note of grace and humilitie to yeeld ones selfe submissiue to men in that estate vnles they cast down theÌ„selues also before the Lord. We haue shewed before that proud Pharao could intreat Moses to pray for him in his miserie ambitious HamaÌ„ could downe vpon his knees to Ester in his perill and boasting Benhadad could put a rope about his necke be seruaÌ„t himself to Achab in his ouerthrow when his state and life did lie in Achabs hand Reproofe of them that being poore are yet nothing the Vse lesse proud and arrogant whose haughtie mindes and insolencie cannot be brought downe by beggerie it selfe be it knowne vnto them that they walke stubbornely against the Lord as Moses witnesseth and therefore the Lord will walke stubbornely against Leuit. 26. them as himselfe doeth threaten let them looke for seuen plagues more and seuen times greater vntill they be either humbled or destroyed If they set themselues to wrestle with him by despising his iudgements he will either giue their hearts the fall by working repentance and humiliation in them or their soules and bodies the foyle by executing plagues and damnation vpon them Vers 24. A man that hath friends ought to shew himselfe friendly for a friend is nearer then a brother A Man that hath friends which is beloued of and receiueth fauours and benefites from others ought to shewe himselfe friendly to entertaine hold and requite their friendship by all good duties He is not onely to take heede least by any strangenes and offering of discourtesies he lose their likings but to indeuour by all signes and pledges of good will to knit their hearts faster and faster vnto him For a friend an vnfained wel-willer which beareth Christian affection vnto him whom he loueth is nearer then a brother is more faithfull and constant in ministring helpe and comfort then an ordinarie kinsman or meere naturall brother ¶ It is in vaine for him to expect constant kindnesse from others which is carelesse to performe duties to others We commonly say and see it dayly to be true that it is an Doct. easie matter to get a friend but hard to keepe him because the hauing of him is a benefite offered out of an other mans good will but the holding of him is the worke of our owne wisedome When Naomy Ruth were vnited together in loue and affinitie the Scipture noteth how prouident the one was for the good of the other Ruth labouring to get foode for Naomy and Naomy seeking to get a good match for Ruth and both of them imployed all their might and meanes for the preseruation of their mutuall societie and welfare First to be louingly dealt with and not to deale louingly is Reasons 1 a thing displeasing to the Lord and all the curtesies that they by his prouidence haue receiued at mans hands remaine vpon their score and by his iustice will be exacted at their hands Secondly the kinder any friend is and not regarded nor answered again with kindnes the greater indignitie he esteemeth the contempt of himselfe to be and is the more prouoked against him that is so vnthankfull Instruction to neglect no good office whereby our friends Vse may feele how well we affect them and how firme and faithfull our loue is towards them Are they in affliction Mourne with them pray for them minister counsell comfort and helpe vnto them Are they in prosperitie Reioyce thereat and wish and further the continuance of the same Ioyne together as opportunitie shall serue in all Christian exercises in calling vpon the name of God in singing of Psalmes in hearing of Sermons in reading of the Scriptures in godly conferences which may build vp the conscience Be fayling in no dutie of kindnes and curtesie Entertaine or salute one an other with cheerfulnes if present either visite or send tokens one to an other if absent defend the credit and maintaine the cause innocencie of one an other wheresoeuer Other vsâ—s see chapter 17. v. 13. and in the nintenth verse of this chapter For a friend c The bands of grace are more sure and firme then those of nature When Dauids owne brethren who were like to rise by his preferment enuied and maligned him that faithfull Ionathan who was to be debased thereby claue constantly and inseparably vnto him And to this purpose tendeth that promise of our Sauiour to them that for his sake and the Gospells should be disseuered from fleshly brethren or sisters or fathers or mothâ—rs Marâ— 10. 29. 30. that they should be prouided of other Christian friends in their places which should doe much more for them then euer they would For the fidelitie of godly friends see chap 17. v. 17. and the instabilitie of carnall kindred will appeare in the next chapter Verse 7. AN EXPOSITION OF THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER OF THE PROVERBS CHAPTER XIX Verse 1. Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightnes then hee that peruerteth his wayes and is a foole BEtter is the poore more happie and comfortable is the estate of him that is of little wealth and of small possessions and greater respect is to be had of him that walketh in his vprightnes indeuoureth constantlie to be iust and godlie in wordes and workes then hee that abuseth his lippes then the rich that is giuen to speake wickedlie and is a foole voide of grace and godly wisdome and full of vice and leaudnes Thus standeth the opposition better is the poore that vseth his tongue aright and walketh vprightlie and so is wise then the rich that abuseth his tongue and walketh corruptly and so is a foole ¶ They that be small and godlie are in better case then such Doct. as be great and wicked Pouertie is oftentimes found to be an ornament and for great commendation as it was to the worthie Smirnians in the Reuelation of Saint Iohn and riches turne to be a reproch and Reu. 2. 8. matter of great disgrace as befell that churlish Naball in the booke of Samuel There were manie richer men then those 1. Sam. 25. 2. distressed Saints whom the Apostle speaketh of in the Hebrues which wandred vp downe in sheeps-skinnes
to Bacchus in the Cellar Secondlie they are made furious and ragefull being inflamed with the liquor which boyleth within them and hence proceede those murmurings those contentious and those needlesse wounds which are specified in the other chapter Drunken quarrells are common almost at all drunken meetings the originall of most frayes will be found to be among many carrowses They are made foolish for as Hosea saith wine new wine do take away their heart bereauing them of meete discretion and Hos 4. 11. good desires by meanes whereof they shewe themselues to be both sillie sinfull Their braines are drowned their wittes are dulled their vnderstandings decayed their whole soules filled full of lusts leaud affections And to proceed yet further to other effects of their Foolishnes they bring diseases vpō their bodies they bring necessitie vpon their estates they bring reproch vpon their names they bring confusion into their houses they bring the curse of God vpon themselues in euery thing here stop vp their owne way from euerlasting life hereafter For Drunkards are in the number of those vnrighteous which 1. Cor. 6. 10. the Scripture saith shall not inherit the kingdome of God Instruction to be the more afraid of this sin because it is so Vse pernicious to look narrowly to ourselues that we be not surprised by it because it is so deceitfull for to innumerable that be secure and careles thereof it prooueth a venemous serpent as well for craft as crueltie It came stealing vpon Noe whom all the world could not seduce and bit him so as that his wicked sonne C ham insulted ouer him and his godly sonnes Shem and Iaphet were sorie to see him in such a case Wherefore our Sauiour by way of a caueat doth prescribe one preseruatiue against it and that is a prouident care constant circumspection that we fall not into it saying Take heed to your selues least at any time Luk. 21. 34. your hearts be oppressed with surfetting and drunkennes Which doth admonish vs to be warie what companie we frequent or else we are altogether heedlesse of our owne safetie for commonly the ambushes of this vice whereby so many are circumuented doe lie in contagious companie Neither will it suffice thee to decline the societie of them that are of bad note but thou must be watchfull also ouer thy selfe and thy appetite in feasting with men of better account Diuers are wounded where they suspected no perill and manie ouercharged with prouocations and healths where nothing in shewe but sobrietie is professed As it is a shame for the one to make such vndecent challenges so it is neither disgrace to refuse them nor discurtesie not to answere them And Saint Paul doth adde yet an other preseruatiue to the former and giueth direction how we may keepe our bodies from this intemperancie and that is by storing our selues with grace which will surely defend the whole man Be not drunken saith hee with Eph. 5. 18. wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the spirit c. Verse 2. The feare of the King is like the roaring of a Lyon he that prouoketh him to anger sinneth against his owne soule THe feare of the King his wrath which striketh a terrour into their hearts with whom hee sheweth himselfe offended is like the roaring of a Lyon verie fearfull dangerous hee that prouoketh him to anger which incurreth his indignation by disobedience or anie ill demeanour sinneth against his owne soule not onely defileth his soule with the trāsgression of Gods holie Lawe but putteth his life in great perill and exposeth the same to the sentence of death See chap. 16. 14. Verse 3. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife but euerie foole will be medling IT is an honour for a man it maketh for his praise and procureth the tongues and harts of men to giue him a good testimonie to cease from strife either not to enter into it at all if vpō good conditions without wrong to Iustice or righteous causes meet to be maintained he may be freed from it or else to break off and put an end thereto with as much celeritie as may be conuenient but euery foole will be medling such as are vnwise on the other side doe loue contentions and delight to be stirring and striuing vpon euery slight occasion Thus standeth the opposition It is a mans honour to cease from strife and euery wise man will indeuour to keepe himselfe quiet but is a mans reproach to be contentious yet euery foole will be medling ¶ It is a laudable vertue to be of a quiet disposition to auoyd Doct. contentions When God saith it is for a mans honour we may well conclude that he is truely honorable in whome that grace is found for the Lord giueth not his testimonie as manie men do for fashions sake as a meere complement Especially when he doubleth the same as he doth for this point for these words here that it is a mans honour to cease frō strife do nothing differ in sense from these else-where that it is a mans glorie to passe by an offence Prou. 19. 11. And if they be pronounced blessed by the Sonne of God which are peace-makers and compose controuersies betweene others Mat. 5. 9. then they are no lesse which be peace-keepers as much as in them lyeth abandon all controuersies themselues First there is a concurrence and vnion of manie excellent Reas 1 vertues in those which delight to be peaceable as wisdome because it is the propertie of fooles to be wrangling humilitie Prou. 13. 10. because onely by pride man maketh contētious fortitude because no man attaineth to this but by conquest of himselfe he that Prou. 16. 32. subdueth his owne minde is better then he that winneth a Citie Neither do men grow to be such by a naturall valure humilitie or wisedome but spirituall heauenly as it is said concerning one of these to be vnderstood of all the wisedome that is from aboue is peaceable gentle easie to be entreated c. Secondly great and admirable is the benefit that proceedeth from Peace and Concord and manifold mischiefes hereby preuented The heart hath more rest the State hath more safetie the credit is better preferued then by brawles and suites and needlesse oppositions which doe interrupt all Godly and Christian meditations and exercises and cause much vncharitable dealing vexations expenses and infamy in so much that he compareth the beginning of strife to a breach made in the Sea banke where through the waters breake and drowne vp a whole Country See Chap. 17. v. 14. and 13. v. 10. Doct. 2. Vers 4. The slouthfull will not plowe because of Winter wherefore he shall begge in Sommer and haue nothing THe slouthfull will not plowe because of Winter Here is a description of a tender and fearefull sluggard In deede winter is colde and the weather
only seeke their owne vaine-glory or commodity in seeming to labour for Gods glory and praise and so dedicate his seruices to pride lust and worldlinesse Neither may vnstable persons be spared here from a iust rebuke such hauing entred into a good way of piety and religion doe either reuolt and giue vp all the exercise and profession thereof which is a most fearefull and dangerous estate or else retaine the same vncertainly by fits and starts without any constancy therein Doe they dreame that Godlinesse is like an alley in a garden or a gallery in an house to walke forwards and to returne backe in for pleasure and not a voiage for trauaile to be proceeded in till they come to heauen If they will serue God but at sometimes they must be reputed righteous but at sometimes and he that remaineth not alwaies righteous hath neuer yet attained to be righteous at all ¶ Blessed shall his children c. Faithfull parents haue no cause Doct. 2 to dread the estate of their children after their decease Themselues are righteous as here the wisdome of God doth directly pronounce them and the generation of the righteous shal Psal 112. vers 2. be blessed as besides this present Text diuers other places of Scriptures doe euidently testifie If the Lord reckon them for theirs as he will if they be his he wil also for their sakes through Christ and in his owne loue prouide sufficiently for them If otherwise especially if they are nothing guilty of their sinnes by misgouernment or neglect of prayers for them what haue they to doe to enter into Gods iudgments and to disquiet their harts about the punishments which he hath hereafter to inflict vpon his rebellious enimies and the aduersaries of his people See Chap. 13. 22. Vers 8. A King that sitteth on the Throne of iudgement chaseth away euery one that is euill A King The supreme Magistrate principally and others also of great authority sitting vpon the Throne of iustice executing his office faithfully chaseth away euery euill one affrighteth lewde malefactors and either cutteth them off or otherwise punisheth them or they amend their waies or flye out of his iurisdiction or at the least from his presence with his eyes by looking into causes and taking knowledge of offences whether it be by sight or hearing and therewith also he daunteth the wicked that appeare before him his lookes and countenance being terrible vnto them ¶ A vigilant ruler is a restraint and terrour to vicious persons Doct. It doth euidently appeare by all circumstances touching Iobs life that he was not a man giuen to be so sterne and austere but that honest men might finde good contentment in his company for the eare that heard him speake did blesse him and the eye that sawe him gaue witnesse to him he deliuered the poore that cryed and the fatherlesse and him that had none to helpe him the blessing of such as were ready to perish came vpon him and he caused the Widowes hart to reioyce he was the eyes to the blinde and the Iob. 29. v. 11. 12. feete to the lame and a Father to the poore yet disordered young men durst not indure the sight of him they hidde themselues from his presence And such was the seuerity of his gouernement against Vers 8. vagabonds and vile persons that they were compelled to flee into the darke desolate and wast wildernesse They were chased Iob. 30. v. 3. 5. 6. forth from among men they shouted at them as at a Theefe Therefore they dwelt in the clifts of Riuers in the holes of the earth and Rockes Neither was this his sharp proceeding only against those that were young and wanted wisdome or such as were beggarly and wanted power but he brake the iawes of the vnrighteous Chap. 29. 17. of what estate soeuer and pluckt the pray out off his teeth First he is armed with Gods authority whose substitute he Reas 1 is and by him established in his place and therefore the Maiesty of his glory shineth forth in the execution of iustice Secondly the Lord hath set him vp and put the sword into his hand for the punishment of euill doers and the praise of them 1. Pet. 2. v. 14. that doe well he is the Minister of God to take vengeance on them Rom. 13. vers 5. that doe euill Thirdly a guilty hart maketh men timerous and ready alwaies to tremble but especially before him who is to sift them and to call them to account for their misse-behauiour Instruction to subiects and inferiours that if they would stand Vse before their Gouernours and neither be driuen to runne away from or be punished by them let them stand against their owne corruptions that they staine not their liues with lewde conuersation so shal they finde the Magistracy comfortable vnto them and not terrible like milde showers of raine to refresh them and not tempestuous stormes to affright them as a shield for their defence and safety and not a sword for their ruine and destruction And in the next place let Commanders and men of Authority be exhorted to watch ouer those which are committed vnto them personally and with their owne eyes as much as they may for the suppression of vice and aduauncement of vertue and not leaue all thinges to vnder Officers which vnderhand many times deale very corruptly And this the Lord expecteth at their handes that as himselfe is vnpartiall and respecteth no mans person in his iudgements but euery man speedeth according to the equity of his cause and not the quality of his estate such should they be and deale in theirs defending the innocency of the meanest and doing them right and censuring the wickednesse of the mightiest and making them tast of iustice which is indeede to chase away all the euill with their eyes Reproofe of many in high places that eye the best and most harmelesse people in malice to picke quarrels and seeke aduantages against them and set their eyes vpon the worst and most dissolute persons in way of liking to giue countenance vnto them This is commonly to be seene and greatly to be lamented in many great families and places of iustice aswell in this Nation as in most Kingdomes and Prouinces through all the world They which should driue away all theeuish drunken blasphemous contemptuous and quarrellous persons out of the Country doe suffer them to roost and make their nests in their owne houses and feede diuers of them at their owne tables and because they can game play iest and make sports vse them as their familiar companions And hence it is that such flockes and flights and swarmes of malefactours doe daily breede and pester so many Townes and Cities and parts of this Kingdome And adde hereunto that sometimes Magistrates eares inchanted with flattery or feare of others greater then themselues perswade the eie either to winke or else to looke on the other side or the eyes are so
be filled with grauell THis whole sentence is allegoricall wherein vnlawfull gaine is resembled to foode the delight that it first bringeth to the pleasant taste of delitious meats the minde to a mans mouth and the mischiefes that follow to grit or little stones which are very offensiue to the teeth The bread of deceite all manner of maintenance or commodities craftily cruelly or by any vniust means compassed and gotten is sweet to a man maketh a worldling and an vnrighteous person ioyfull and glad but afterwards eyther in his life time or at his death or in the world to come his mouth shall be filled with grauell some great and grieuous miseries shall befall him For eyther his conscience will stinge and bite him and so he shall be vexed with feares and horrours or else the hand of God will inflict punishment and plagues vpon him and so he shall be ouer-whelmed with anguish and torments ¶ Nothing is so pleasant to the wicked as that which is most Doct. 1 hurtfull By this vnlawfull lucre his neighboure is wronged his owne conscience burdened his soule and bodie both in daunger to be destroyed and that for euer and yet it is for his tooth it more delighteth him then his dinner It hath beene alwaies and euery where to be found that the baites of sinne are more delectable to fleshly men then the blessings of God See Chap. 9. ver 17. ¶ But afterwards c. Though iniquity and wickednesse yeelde Doct. 2 pleasures at the beginning yet they will put men to paine in the end The Diuell stroweth suger on the top of his cup of sinne to incourage them that drinke therof to take a good draught but he mingleth poyson in the bottom which working their destruction will turne to be as bitter as gaule Our great Grandmother Euah tasted thereof and felt this to be true by wofull experience being deceiued by the faire colour and delicious relish of the forbidden fruite and by Satans false testimony making her beleeue that disobeying the commandement of God she should purchase to her selfe some rare and singular happines And all seemed to be so vntil she had vndoneal by drawing her husband into the same transgressiō with her And Iudas no doubt thoght that he had made a good match when he recouered the fauour of the high Priests and principall men and gained such a summe of money by selling of his Master but the onely beginning of the misery which followed did soone swallow vp all the delight that went before We might proue the point most clearely by instancing in seuerall kindes of sinnes and shewing the euent of particulars but one or two may suffice for many Concerning Prou. 5. 3. 4. Whoredome thus testifieth Salomon The lippes of a strange woman droppe as an hony combe and her mouth is more soft then oyle But the end of her is bitter as Wormewood and sharpe as a two edged sword And against drunkennesse this admonition he giueth Prou. 23. 31. 32. Looke not thou vpon the Wine when it is redde and when it sheweth his colour in the cuppe or goeth downe pleasantly In the end therit will bite like a Serpent and hurt like a Cockatrice See Chap. 9. verse 18. Vers 18. Establish thy thoughts by counsaile and by prudent aduise make warre HE giueth in these wordes a caueat that no man should leane too much on his owne iudgement nor too sodainely resolue on enterprises without mature deliberation and sound direction Establish thy thoughts by counsaile that thy purposes be not variable and vnconstant and that thy proceedings be not without prosperous successe and so vncomfortable make as sure worke as thou canst both to confirme thy minde and to manage thine affaires in the best manner and therefore communicate thy matters with such thy friendes as are both wise and faithfull And looke well to this that Gods holy word be one and the chiefe euen best regarded and most obeyed of all thy counsailours so that nothing be practised or hearkned to against it And by prudent aduise make warre especially in all matters of weight of which sort warre is wherein the estates of Countries and the liues of many persons are hazarded let nothing be rashly attempted but all thinges well considered of and consultation had with men of piety vnderstanding skill and experience ¶ A mans wisdome serueth him for best vse when he will not Doct. 1 rest vpon it alone but be holpen by the counsaile of others See Chap. 15. vers 22. ¶ By prudent aduise make warre c. Wisdome and good counsaile Doct. 2 are as needefull and auaileable for warre as strength and power If there be much armour and little policy if many resolute Souldiers to fight and few discreet Captaines to leade if they haue strong bodies and weake iudgements a great army may be easily vanquished of a small company Though a field were full of armed Gyants and euery one of them a Goliah yet if they were blinde and depriued of their eye-sight who had cause to stand in feare of them and of whom among all their enimies had they not reason to stand in feare And who be blinder in their bodies then they that be rash and led with proude conceites and selfe-liking are in their mindes Now let vs see what other Texts of Scripture doe accord with this for the confirmation of this point In the foure and twentith Chapter of this booke it is said A wise man is strong for a man of vnderstanding Prouerb 24. 5. 6. increaseth his strength For with counsaile thou shalt exercise thy warre and in the multitude of them that can giue counsaile there is health And in Ecclesiasticus there is a saying not much different from this in sense and meaning Better is wisdome then Eccl. 9. v. 16. 18. strength though the wisdome of the poore be despised and his wordes not heard Better is wisdome then weapons of warre and one that swarueth from it destroyeth much good First successe and victory are not according to the forces of Reas 1 men but according to the pleasure of God A King saith he Tsal 33. 16. 17. is not saued by the multitude of an hoast neither is the Mighty man deliuered by great strength An horse is a vaine helpe and shall not deliuer any by his strength Now whom will he best prosper but those which are most seruiceable vnto him And who performe such acceptable seruice as they which haue vnderstanding and seeke vnderstanding which are able to giue counsaile and yet in the humblenesse of their spirits and sight of their owne wants are diligent and studious to learne counsaile Secondly the vse of wisdome and faithfull aduise for matters of warre in many respects is most expedient and necessary It examineth whether the cause be righteous or vniust or whether it be seasonable or vnseasonable to take it in hand What hastened Achabs destruction and caused him to be slaine and perish
against God doth call for such stroakes For his law is violated and his commaundement broken and an heinous offence is committed against him as our Sauiour testifieth in the Gospell by opposing this practise to his precept and iustifying the penaltie that is due for the same Why saith he doe Mat. 15. 3 4. ye transgresse the commaundement of God by your tradition For God hath commaunded saying Honour thy father and mother and he that curseth father or mother let him die the death If it be a fault for seruants whose tongues God hath not so strictly bound to the good behauiour to answer againe to their Gouernors if wiues which may be bolder with their husbands are not yet allowed to be malapert as Michol was with Dauid but must reuerently speake to them and of them as was Saraes demeanour towards Abraham then it will proue an odious crime and brutish doggednesse for children to snarle and barke at or inueigh against their parents Thirdly the righteousnesse of God will not suffer them to escape with impunity but calleth vpon the Magistrate and requireth him to proceede against them and doe iustice vppon them saying If there be any that curseth his father or his mother he shall die the death seeing he hath cursed his father and his mother Leuit. 20. 9. his blood shall be vpon him And though men would seeme more mercifull then he and iudge it cruelty to execute this sentence so sharpely yet he often compelleth them to it by putting such vnnaturall malefactors into their handes for other facts as Rapes Robberies Murthers Treasons and such like offences and so they are cut off aswell the one as the other by the sword of iustice And albeit they should not this way be brought to their end by a violent death as it cannot be denied but that many escape eyther those crimes or punishments yet certainly his own hand will bring them to a miserable death that they shall die a a cursed death and be swallowed vp of eternall death Instruction for all children to beware of contumelious speeches Vse tending to the disgrace of their parents as of contumacious behauiour otherwise or of violent actions for the hurt of their persons That which should affright them from speaking treason against the Prince namely the feare of God and perrill of discouery and punishment if it be discouered ought also to with-hold men from vttering opprobrious wordes against their fathers and mothers sithence it proceedeth also from impietie and iudgements are likewise threatned against it It is not safe to harbour a disloyall thought against thy Soueraigne vnder whom thou liuest nor so much as to whisper any thing to his dishonour and it is dangerous to conceiue a base opinion of those out of whose loynes and bowels thou hast discended or to suffer thy tongue thine eye or thy minde to contemne them He that giueth this admniotion Curse not the King no not in thy Eccl. 10. 20. thought neyther curse the rich in thy bed chamber for the Fowles of the heauen shall carry the voyce and that which hath wings shall declare the matter the same is the Authour of this threatning The eye that mocketh his father and despiseth the authority of his Prouerb 30. 17. mother the Rauens of the Valley shall picke it out and the young Eagles shall eate it Wouldest thou then haue a bright estate a comfortable estate feare parents in thy heart honour them in thy wordes obey them in thy deedes and reuerence them in thy gestures If thou hast failed in former times amend and reforme it now and hence forwards and if they be gone that thou canst not performe these dueties vnto them be humbled before God and repent whiles yet thy light burneth that thou mayest preuent and stay that hideous darkenesse of terrour and plagues which otherwise will ouerwhelme thee And Parents are likewise to be exhorted so to looke to their owne waies and so to educate and traine vp their children that they may minister help and not be an hinderance vnto them for the ordering of their hearts lippes and actions And therefore by conuersation it concerneth them to be their patternes and precedents and by their gouernment to be their guides and directions neyther vsing rigour as if they were Tyrants ouer them nor too much remisnesse as though they were but equals and fellowes with them S. Paul giueth a precept to Fathers that they prouoke not Col. 3. 21. their children to anger lest they should be discouraged dooth not meane that they should suffer them to liue without all controlment and be altogether regardlesse of them Neither is it enough for fathers and mothers to take authority ouer their sonnes and daughters vnlesse there be also concord peace and good agreement betweene themselues For there will be partaking if they growe to diuision and they that are on the mothers side must maintaine her cause by impugning the father and they that take the Fathers part must iustifie his dealing by dispraising the Mother and it will be very difficult to cleaue to them both or speake well of them both when there is nothing but ciuil warre in the family Vers 21. An heritage is hastily gotten at the beginning but the end thereof shall not be blessed AN heritage Lands goodes money offices or promotions and the like is hastily gotten at the beginning is of many wicked men quickly atchieued by euill meanes but the end thereof shall not be blessed the issue of it shall be vnhappy and cursed partly in this respect that it is a snare to their soules and stoppeth their way from eternall life and partly in this that it is like to be as badly spent as it was ill gotten and he that rose vp to wealth so sodainly may as sodainly or by leasure fall into want as it is said that a man with a wicked eye hasteth to riches and Prouer. 28. v. 22 knoweth not that pouerty shall come vpon him And the thoughts of the diligent doe surely bring aboundance but whosoeuer is hasty Prouer. 21. v. 5. commeth surely to pouerty partly in this that it bringeth them many perturbations and troubles whiles they retaine it See Chap. 10. v. 22. and 12. 27. Vers 22. Say not I will recompence euill waite on the Lord and he will saue thee SAy not I will recompence euill Be so farre from reuenging thy selfe in deede for iniuries done vnto thee as not in wordes to threaten or in minde to purpose any vengeance But waite on the Lord commend thy cause vnto him and stay his leasure till he deliuer thee and he will saue thee he saith not he will reuenge thee and plague them though he will doe so vnlesse our aduersaries repent yet he would not haue vs so much to thinke of or desire that as to put our trust in him referring our selues wholly to that which seemeth him good to doe without desiring hurt to them which doe vs hurt