and equitie For the auoyding of partialitie wrong strife and murmuring the Israelites are commanded by Moses and ordered by Ioshua to inherit the land of Canaan by lot according to their families Numb 33. 44. to the more saith he ye shall giue more inheritance and to the fewer the lesse inheritance Where the lot shall fall to any man that shal be his according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit When Saul by lot was chosen to be king there was no occasion 1. Saul 10 giuen or taken for ought that we read that any other should stand vp against him to get the place or thinke himselfe vnworthily reiected that he was not chosen And so Act. 1 when the lot for the Apostleship fell on Matthias Barsabas forthwith gaue place vnto him and all the rest acknowledged the election to be from the Lord. First God himselfe hath instituted and appointed it his ordinance Reasons it is and not mans inuention and to this end destinated by him that iustice and concord might be maintained where they are planted and repaired againe where they are violated Secondly the hand of his prouidence hath the direction of it as we haue alreadie seene in the sixtenth chapter The lot is Prou. 16. 33. cast into the lap but the whole disposition thereof is of the Lord. Instruction that we neuer deale with a lot but vpon iust Vse cause when need so requireth and in due manner as is seemely and fit for the exercise thereof Beware that it be not friuolously peruerted to sports and trifles and especially to doe wrong and iniurie as the souldiours did to winne Christ his vesture and Haman in seeking thereby a luckie time to destroy all the Iewes And whosoeuer vpon serious and weightie affaires shal be lawfully occasioned to vse it let them commit the successe to the prouidence of God by praier and submit themselues to his determination with contentment It was found by lot that Acham by transgressing the commandement Ioshua 7. of God concerning the execrable and consecrated things had deserued to die and was accordingly to be punished with death he nothing gainesaied the testimonie of God therein but yeelded himselfe to be an offendour and to suffer the punishment that his offence demerited And so much did Ionah likewise and more then that though the Lord more spared and miraculously preserued him for when the lot conuicted him to be the man Iouah 1. 12. for whose sake that boisterous and dangerous storme was raised himselfe passed sentence of death and drowning vpon himselfe and required the heathen marriners to doe execution Reproofe of them which inuert this good and vsefull ordinance Vse and make it serue for euill and hurtfull purposes as they doe that giue themselues to carding and dyeing Doe they ayme at this that euery one as neare as may be shall haue and hold his owne or doe they not aduenture euery one the losse of his owne vnthriftily to get an other mans though it were his whole patrimonie without due consideration vnrighteously Is this an euen and equall and indifferent forme of making partition And how well they be content to depart with that which the dice doth allot them to lose and how much peace is spred among them and how great contentionâ— are pacified may appeare by their frownings and frettings when their full bagges haue emptied their stomacks into their fellowes pockets yea by their brawling swearing and cursing and many times by their challenges quarrels and combats Verse 19. A brother offended is harder to winne then a strong Citie and their contentions are like the barre of a Pallace A Brother a naturall brother a neare kinsman a kind friend offended alienated by wrongs receiued or imagined to be done vnto him from him whome hee so much affected before is harder to winne then a strong Citie will with more difficultie be brought to firme and vnfained reconciliation then a Citie well defenced can be vanquished and taken And their contentions their strife and suites are like the barre of a Pallace strong and vehement and must with no lesse a doe be pacified whiles their power serueth them to pursue one another then the mightie iron barres whereby the gates of a Castle Fort or great building are shut in and kept safe may be broken or cut in sunder But this is to be vnderstood of vnregenerate and fleshlie men or of Gods seruants so farre as they be carnall and not otherwise for it is a commendation that is giuen to the godlie by Saint Iames that their wisedome which they receiue Iam. 3. 17 from aboue maketh them peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated ¶ The more neerly men are knit together the more grieuous Doct. the breach is when farres doe growe betweene them Their friendship not so much seames-ript as torne in the whole cloth the sinewes of their loue are cut in sunder rather then the skinne of it broken Examples we haue hereof of those that haue bin wicked on both sides as Abimelech and the Shâ—â—â—omâ—â—â—â— Ishâ—osheth and Abner Ahashuerus and Vashâ—â— first Haman afterwards and so in like manner of Abshalom and Amnon Experience also may be seene in such as haue bene vnited with the bands of nature and disioyned by the difference of religions though peraduenture they may both make profession of the same the one in fraude the other in faithfulnes Such were Caine and Abell Esau and Iacob Iacobs elder sonnes before their conuersion and Ioseph How extreamely the worse of these maligned the better euerie man may reade and how implacable the wicked of them were to the godlie till the Lord by grace or prouidence appeased them is euident in the Scriptures First when men be of the same bloud and of a contrarie Reasons 1 spirit and behauiour the enuie groweth the greater and the malice more violent from the vngodlie against the righteous because the goodnes of them that be neere vnto them doth verie much disgrace and condemne their sinfulnes and rebellion And therefore they reuenge it with vnnaturall and barbarous fiercenes sometimes the brother betraying the brother to death and sometimes the father the sonne and sometimes the Mat. 10. 21. children rising against their parents and causing them to die as our Sauiour testifieth Secondlie where there hath bene a great league of kindenes and much loue betweene them there when then they fall to variance their expectations be deceiued and that good opinion and hope that one had of the other then all things are taken in the worst part as Ahashuerus dealt with Haman then the remembrance of all former familiarities curtesies do aggrauate the new risen offences as Dauid did iustly obbraide Achitophel There is no surfeit more dangerous and hurtfull then Ps 55. 13. 14. to haue the stomack annoyed and ouercome of such meates as a man was wont most to like of Instruction to vse our brethren and friends with all good
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
A PLAINE AND FAMILIAR EXPOSITION Of the Eighteenth Nineteenth and Twentieth Chapters of the Prouerbs of SALOMON By IOHN DOD and ROBERT CLEAVER PSALME 34. VER 8. ¶ Taste yee and see how gracious the Lord is Blessed is the man that trusteth in him LONDON Printed for Roger Iackson and are to be sold at his Shop in Fleetestreete neere the Conduit 1610. To the Right Worshipfull our approued Christian friend Mistrisse ELIZABETH WALTER of Wimbleton Grace Mercie and Peace GOod Mistresse WALTER the plentifull fruites of your Christian loue towards vs and many others doe not onely binde vs to offer vp our Prayers and prayses to God for you in priuate but also to giue some more apparant testimonie of our vnfained thankefulnesse vnto your selfe as being a speciall instrument of our good and comfort Here therefore we present vnto you this small Treatise not doubting of your fauourable acceptance thereof when our former VVritings did onely passe by you you alwayes called them in and gaue them kind entertainement not onely in your House but in your heart and therefore these now that come vnder your owne Name and cast themselues vpon your fauour cannot bee vnwelcome If your successe in Reading bee answerable to our desire and purpose in writing you shall not loose your labour And thus with all thankefull remembrance of our duetie wee here commit you to the gracious protection of Almightie God beseeching him to make perfect that good worke which hee hath in great mercie begunne in you and aboundantly to recompence all your kindnesse and goodnesse to his Seruants in multiplying his comfort and blessings vpon you and yours for euer Your worships much bound and in the Lord to be commaunded IOHN DOD and RO. CLEAVER A Summarie of all the Doctrine collected out of the seuerall Verses of these three Chapters CHAP. 18. VERSE I. Doct. WHatsoeuer any man best loueth that he will with greatest dilligence and prouidence labour for Verse II. Doct. It is the roote of a sinfull man to bee possessed with selfe-liking and wilfulnesse in his owne wayes Verse VII Doct. Euill words are most pernicious to those that speake them Verse IX Doct. A sloathfull person standeth in the state of a spend-thrift Verse X. Doct. They liue in best safety that are most assured of Gods fauor Verse XIII Doct. They that are too forward and hasty in speaking are apt to fall into absurd lies when they speake Verse XIIII Doct. 1. No trouble or affliction is too heauie for a cheerefull hart to vndergoe Doct. 2. The horrour of a terrified conscience is an importable burthen Verse XV. Doct. 1. He that would be wise to saluation must apply both his heart and eares to Gods holy word Doct. 2. They that haue the best knowledge are the most willing to learne more Verse XVII Doct. A bad cause commonly hath the aduantage at the beginning and a good cause preuaileth in the end Verse XVIII Doct. Then a lot is lawfully vsed when it either procureth or preserueth peace and equity Verse XIX Doct. The more neerely men are knit together the more greeuous the breach is when iarres doe grow betweene them Verse XXII Doct. They onely speede well in mariage whom God maketh the match for in mercy Verse XXIII Doct. Affliction and a lowe estate is a meanes to bring men to lowly behauiour Verse XXIIII Doct. It is in vaine for him to expect constant kindnesse from others which is carelesse to performe duties to others CHAP. 19. VERSE I. Doct. THey that bee small and godly are in better case then such as be great and wicked Verse II. Doct. 1. An hart altogether ignorant is altogether corrupt sinful Doct. 2 Whatsoeuer is rashly done is ill done Verse III. Doct. 1. Euery mans hurt doth grow from his own sinne folly Doct. 2. Afflictions often make many wicked men the worse Verse IIII. Doct. Fleshly men loue onely themselues vnder pretence of friendship to others Verse V. Doct. 1. Howsoeuer false witnesses preuaile against others they shall be sure to speede ill themselues Doct. 2. No lier can liue in any good safety Verse VI. Doct. Many pretende much loyaltie to Princes and Potentates which beare little good will vnto them Verse VII Doct. Neither consanguinity nor familiarity will make a fleshly friend firme to him that is in misery Verse VIII Doct. 1. It is aprerogatiue peculiar to the wise and godly to be owners of their owne hearts Doct. 2. Euery godly wise man is a true friend to himselfe Verse X. Doct. 1. The liberty of delights and comfortable prosperity doth nothing belong to the wicked Doct. 2. All sinners are bondmen and euery good man is a Prince Doct. 3. Euill rulers neuer abuse their authority so much as when the godly fall into their hands Verse XI Doct. It maketh much for a mans credit to be gentle and peaceable Verse XII Doct. It is expedient for men to be good subiects euen for feare or hope of the Princes affections Verse XIII Doct. The most delectable commodities of this life turne many times to be very offensiue Verse XIIII Doct. 1. No man can possibly haue possessions of equall value with a good yoke-fellow Doct. 2. The more immediate any good gift of God is the more precious it is Doct. 3. The Lord hath a principall hand in all good mariages Verse XV. Doct. 1. Sloathfulnesse is a vice very hurtfull both to body soule and outward estate Doct. 2. Vnrighteous dealing bringeth that misery vpō mens heads which they are most afraid of Verse XVI Doct. So much conscience as any man maketh of obedience to Gods will so much assurance he hath of saluation and safety Verse XVII Doct. Whatsoeuer good is done to godly men afflicted is accepted of God as done to himselfe Verse XVIII Doct. 1. Correction of children ought not to be ouer-long deferred Doct. 2. They shew themselues vnmercifull Parents which exempt their children from due correction Verse XIX Doct. Correction is neither to be giuen in passion nor omitted remissely Verse XX. Doct. A godly man shall haue the greatest benefit of his piety and graces when he draweth neerest to his death Verse XXI Doct. Things come not to passe by mens purposes but by Gods appointment Ver. XXII Doct. 1. Vertue and well-doing is the best ornament that any man can be decked with Doct. 2. Pouerty is no disparagement to the godly nor any preferment to the wicked Verse XXIII Doct. 1. Euery good man liueth alwayes in safety of his life Doct. 2. Godlinesse procureth sufficient prouision for mens outward estates Doct. 3. Nothing that is hurtfull can befall any man that is godly Verse XXV Doct. Though obstinate persons be excluded yet they are not to be exempted from due punishment Verse XXVII Doct. Whosoeuer will proceede constantly in the wayes of God must take heede of seducers Verse XXVIII Doct. 1. A wicked person may easily be made a false witnesse Doct. 2. The greater delight any man taketh in
dazeled with the glittering glosse and brightnesse of golden bribes that they cannot apprehend the foulest matters which al the Country euidently behold and cry out vpon Verse 9. Who can say I haue cleansed my heart I am pure from sinne VVHo can say Who can truely and with good warrant affirme I haue cleansed my heart I haue vtterly and for euer freed my selfe from all vnlawfull desires delights purposes cogitations and motions He beginneth at the heart because it is the Fountaine or at least the Cesterne from whence corruption floweth which yet must be vnderstood of his owne naturall power and not of grace and of perfection and not of sincerity for the Prophet doth truely professe that he had cleansed his heart though in his temptation it seemed to be in vaine Psa 73. 13. which he did by the spirite of God and in part and by degrees I am cleane from sinne my nature soule and wayes are all pure nothing can be laid to my charge for vnlawfull thoughts vnrighteous actions vnfruitfull speeches good dueties at any time omitted or sinfull workes euer committed meaning by that interrogation that no man hath power so to walke nor any reason so to boast Notwithstanding this is nothing against that saying of S. Paul Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Rom. 8. 33. chosen It is God that iustifieth For he there speaketh of that innocency that the godly attaine vnto by remission of their sinnes in Gods presence who hauing receiued satisfaction for them from Christ imputed them to him and fully acquitteth them and Salomon here speaketh of another matter that no man is throughly purged from originall corruption and the impure humours that issue out of it Neyther let any man obiect that of S. Iohn Whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not for he speaketh not 1. Joh. 3. 9. in that place of the practise but the dominion of sinne that a regenerate man yeeldeth not obedience vnto it as a slaue to his Master but is taken captiue or receyueth a wound as a Souldier from his enemy ¶ The best shall haue corruptions and sinnes cleauing to them Doct. so long as they liue As euery sonne of Adam sauing Christ our Sauiour is or hath beene defiled by generation and conception so none of them can wash any part of their filthinesse without his helpe neyther may any looke for an absolute purity in earth by his assistance for that in his holy wisedome he reserued as a prerogatiue proper vnto his owne person not admitting of any copartner therein Here vpon certainty of his ground he proposeth the point by way of demaund making a challenge to all the world knowing that no man could euer steppe forth and iustly say I am entirely innocent I was neuer culpable or at this time I am as good as I ought to be and as Gods law requireth And in Ecclesiastes vpon like assurance hee affirmeth the same with an asseueration saying Surely there is no man iust in the Eccl. 7. 20. earth that doth good and sinneth not And S. Iames comming behinde Iam. 3 2 very few in sanctification and holinesse of life dooth yet professe this against himselfe as well as others In many things we sinne all as if he should haue said we children of men we elect we Christians we Disciples of Christ we Apostles we that are counted chiefe among the Apostles we all and euery one of vs in diuers things doe faile of our dueties First that conflict which is betweene the flesh and the spirite Reas 1 the one resisting the other in the most righteous and best graced of all Gods people is an vndenyable argument heereof We read Gal. 5. 17. of none that hath more preuailed against the flesh by mortification or shewed forth better fruites of the spirit by viuification then Paul and yet he complaineth that When he would do good Rom. 7. 19. 21. euill was present with him that hee did not the good which hee would but the euill which he would not that did he Secondly our Sauiour directeth so many as may call God their heauenly Father daily to pray Forgiue vs our debts and the blessednesse of Abraham and Dauid and all that euer Christ Rom. 4. 6. hath redeemed with his blood consisteth in the remission of sinnes which maketh it apparant that euery childe of God is daily attainted with the guiltinesse of sinne Thirdly how commeth it to passe that all men are obnoxious to so many chastisements and afflictions and subiect to death and mortality but that they haue their faults If there were perfect innocency in them no strokes of corrections could light vpon them for it would not stand with the iustice of the Lord to scourge such as are free from offending And the soule could haue no passage out of the body to part company one from the other but by occasion of the corruptions that are in them both Confutation of the Papists which ascribing to the death of Vse 1 Christ the beginning of iustification doe impute the perfection of it to their owne worthinesse by infused grace whereby they thinke themselues able to fulfill the law of God and more then that to adde an ouer-plus by workes of supererogation which may goe for payment of their fellowes debts and so they doe not onely deliuer themselues from damnation but are become pettie Sauiours or peeces of Sauiours to others Which are to be pittied for their ignorance and rated for their presumption taking vpon them to be Christ his fellowes not knowing that Gods law requireth an exact obedience with fulnesse of loue perpetually beyond all that any meere man since Adams fall could possibly performe And it serueth also to ouerthrow the hereticall opinions and to pull down the proude conceits of the Catharists or Puritanes which brag of such a perfection of purity already attained vnto as that they neede no further to be purged from corruptions Instruction for euery man to looke warily to himselfe that he be not circumuented by Satan since such a treacherous foe as sinne is doth lie continually in waite as neere him as may be euen in his owne breast to betray his soule into his hands And seeing all haue their faults and are vnable to stand before the iudgement seate of God in their owne righteousnesse therefore none should be ouer rigorous in censuring of others and passing too heauy a sentence of condemnation against their poore and weake brethren for their infirmities Verse 10. Diuers Waights and diuers measures euen both these are abhomination to the Lord. DIuers Waights one heauier another lighter and diuers measures one greater another lesse to buy with the greater weight and greater measure and to sell by the lesse or lighter or with a iust weight and measure to sell to the wiser sort and with the vniust to the simpler whome they may easily deceiue both these and all such kinde of craftie and couetous dealing are abhomination
and destruction when Dauid by the inspiration of the Spirit doth lay such villany to their charge and passeth such an heauy sentence against them by way of prediction or imprecation both tending to one purpose They speake deceitfully euery one with his neighbour Psal 12. v. 2. 3. flattering with their lippes and speaking with a double hart The Lord cut off all flattering lippes and the tongue that speaketh great thinges First their faire speeches when they shew themselues most Reas 1 smooth and kinde are venemous and hurtfull like surgred poysons that are made sweete for the mouth and deadly for the stomacke and bowels They inchant mens eares and hearts and make them too much conceited of themselues and so to loose the comfort and reward of their weldoing when they doe well and hinder them from repentance for their faults and so compell them to be plagued for their euill doings when they doe euill Secondly euery flatterer for the most part is double tongued and can readily speake more languages then one one dialect of praise or wherewith to please and content men before their faces another of accusation or wherewith to traduce men behinde their backes one in shew to make them beleeue that they be their friends and wish them well and another in deed to make them finde that they are their foes and as much as they are able worke them woe So dealt Achitophel with Dauid and Iudas with Christ according as the one is complained of and the other foretolde of in the Psalmes The wordes of his mouth were softer then butter yet warre was in his heart his wordes Psal 55. 21. were more gentle then Oyle yet they were swords And adde hereunto that many times by society and conference with them whom they will afterwards betray they know their minds they haue fished out their purposes they are acquainted with their faults they haue matter from their wordes or actions to worke vpon Instruction not to giue incouragement to such manner of Vse men to frequent eyther our houses or company they will soone be discried and found out of any that is wise and not willing to be illuded and if he vse to conuerse with those that deale plainly and faithfully with him We shut our doores and fence our selues against theeues which will rifle our houses and take away our gold siluer or other goods which haue beene bequeathed to vs by men or our owne handes haue gotten and shall we open them and expose our selues to more perilous robbers which will ransacke our hearts and to their vttermost power bereaue vs of our humility and modesty and other good graces which the Lord hath bestowed vpon vs. Ob. But these that commit such burglaries draw weapons vpon vs and wil not spare to shed our blood Answ Those that practise such flatteries come vppon vs with more dangerous weapons and will not spare with their keene tongues to bring our names into infamy and to wound our consciences which ought to be much more deare vnto vs then eyther money or our heart blood But hee that would not be torne with the tallants and preyed vpon with the beakes of flatterers must be carefull that he make not himselfe a carion by ambition for euery proude man is willing to heare himselfe praised and then flatterers must needes be the welcomest guests to his table and he shall be the sweetest morsell for their teeth Reproofe of their folly which contrary to this wise lesson of the holy Ghost delight in none but such as will fawne vppon them and claw them they are so troubled with the itch of vaine-glory Yet their folly were the lesse though it be too too great if they would be satisfied with priuate claw-backes but they must haue approbation in their sinfull courses by the Ministers of the word they would haue the Preachers in their Sermons speaking in the name of the Lord to iustifie their voluptuousnesse pride cruelty worldlines and other grosse vices or at least to winke at them and say nothing against them He is not a good Cooke to dresse meate for their soules which will not powder it with poyson neyther is he a Physition for their turnes which will not like Achabs false Prophets prescribe to them that which they prescribe to him and tell them that it is a duety meete to be done whatsoeuer of themselues they are desirous to doe Of these there were many in Esayes time and against them he maketh this complaint It is a rebellious people lying children and children that would not heare the law of the Lord which say vnto the Seers see not Prophecy not vnto vs right things Esa 30. 9. 10. but speake flattering things vnto vs Prophecy errours Verse 20. He that curseth his father or his mother shall haue his light put in extreame darkenesse HE that curseth his father or mother which vttereth imprecations rayling and reuiling speeches scoffes and iests or any manner of dispitefull wordes against both his parents or eyther of them to their face or behinde their backes or after what sort soeuer he declareth by his words the bitternes of his heart to bring them to contempt and to professe how lightly and basely he esteemeth of them shall haue his light put out in extreame darkenesse all his prosperity which in the Scripture is often compared to light shall be turned into woe and miserie which is vsually tearmed by the name of darkenesse And this he sheweth shall not be ordinary and such an affliction as common faults are corrected withall but exceeding grieuous and fearefull as appeareth by the Fpithete extreame or as it is in the Hebrew text the blacknes of darknes ¶ Rebellious children and such as vilifie their parents are subiect Doct. to some notable mischiefe and punishment Feare shame torment death and destruction continually pursue them and will at length ouertake and apprehend them and neuer leaue till they haue haled them into hell and accompany them there for euer vnlesse they repent the sooner These are numbred among the damned crew in the law against whom the iudgement of God is denounced with the consent and acclamation of the people Cursed be he that curseth his father and his Deut. 27. 16. mother and all the people shall say Amen First such plagues are due vnto them and iustly deserued considering Reas 1 the persons whom they dispise and shew themselues contemptuous against their father that begate them their mother that conceyued them the parties which haue beene causes of their generation substance life and welfare if they haue any And who then would not deeme that tongue most worthy of seuere punishment and to be cut out of the head and head and it with the whole body and soule to perish together that spareth not to rate or reproach them from whom by Gods appointment it had it being and consequently the habilitie of speaking Secondly beside the indignity offered to parents the greatnesse of the sinne