rx * If thou forbear to deliver them q that aredrawn ut'o deathy and theſe that are ready to be ſlain s :
q When it 15in thy power to do it lawfully, » To wit, unjuſtly, or by the violenc? ot lawleſs men. 5 That are in preſent danger of
Death or Dzitruction, |
12 If chou ſfayeſt, Behold, we knew || it not ?, doth not he that pondereth the heart conſider it « ? and he that keepeth thy foul x, doth er he know it? and ſhall
not he render to every man * according to his works ? Wage # I was 1gnorant either of his innocency,or of his extream danger gs of or of my power to relieve him.u Thar this is only a frivolousexcuſe 2 & that the true realon of thy negle& was thy want of true love to V.22-12. thy Brother, whoſe life thou waſt by the Law of God,and of Nature obliged to preſerve, and thy ſinful ſejfelove, and a carnal fear of ſome miſchief or trouble which might befal thee in the diſcharge of thy duty. x God who is the preſerver of men, Job 7: 20. who daily doth and whoonlycan k&ep rice bothin and from the greateſt dan» gers. And this favour of God may be here mentioned partly as a {ſtrong obligation upon him to preſerve him who is made afterGods Image, &wiomnGod hath commanded him ro love & preſerve; part- ly asan encouragement to the performance of his duty herein from
| t Heb: lwrew,
82:4;
IOr;bim;
Job 44:1 br 34:11
02:12.
m All his hopes and happineſs ſhal quickly and eternally periſh, V » 179. | and he ſhal have no ſhare in thoſe ſolid Felicities and bleſſed recom- Ch.13:9. 'A pences of a better life which thou ſhalt enjoy- Therefore thou g, ,2--, haſt no reaſon to envy him. » All their comfort and glory ſhall Or lamp. ceaſe, Rs
21 Myon, fear thou the LORD,and the king o, and . Heb: |
meddle not with + them p that are given tochange q.
o Honour and obey both God and the King,and all in Authority. He puts God before the King,becauſe God is to be ſerved in the firſt place,and our obedience is to be'given to Kings only in ſub-ordina« tion to God, and not in thoſe things which are contrary to the will and command of God, as is manifeſt both from plain Scripture, ag As 5. 29. and from the judgment and prattice of wiſe and ſober Heathens, p Heb. Mix not thy ſelf with chem,either in their counſels and praCices, or in familiar converſation. q That love or uſe chan- ges ; thatare unſtable in their Obedience ro God or to the King, and are prone to Rebellion againſt either of chem. Thoſe men that wickedly forſake God,and break his Laws are ſaid to change their God, Jer. we 11, and to chavge God's Judgments and Ordinances, Ifas 24: 5. Ezek: 5: 6, : :
22 For their calamity ſhalrife ſuddenly ; and who knoweth 7 the ruine of them both s ?
r Whocan conceive how ſore and ſudden it will be! 5 Ofthem that fear not God,and of them that fear not the King, for they have two potent and terrible enemies & therefore if they will not obey them out of Conſcieace,as their duty binds them,yet they ſhould do it at leaſt for theirown ſakes,& for tear of thoſe ſevere puniſhments *Lev.1g.is | which they will certainly infli& upon Rebe!s. : 'Deurt, 1417
23 Theſe thivgs alſo t belong to the wiſe, * It i5not & 16:19. good F to havereſped of perſons in judgment x. *Ch. 18- 54
£ Thefe Proverbs or Counſels here following to the end of the & 28:21.
changerse
the con{ideration of Gods ſpecial care and watchfulneſs over thoſe that do their duty; and partly to intimate ro them the danger of thenegleQ of this duty whereby they will forfeir Gods proteRion
Chapter noleſs than thoſe hitherto mentioned. « Are worthy of —_—_— the conſideration, and fit for the uſe of them who are or would be u ; aoealigg wiſe ; fqs only ſuch are capable of underſtanding and improving 90%
51; theſe 1#48*-
PIR © F:
7. and elſewhere.
ap. XXV. theſe Proierbs, 3s was noted, Chap. T: $5, 6, * For Judyes to determine Controverſies partially, the quality ofthe Perſons, and not according to the merits of the Cauſe. | 24 * He that ſaith Ch:17:15 tightzons 2; him ſhall the people cucſe ; « 5.23- abhor him. y To wit, publickly and in judgment,as he now faid, and as ap- pears by the publickneſs of the Curſe following upon 1ty for People or Natines do neither obſerve nor hate. every Man who ſaith thus privately. 2 That juſtific wicked Mea in their unrighteous courſes. @ Partly for the groſſaeſs and oJiouſneſs of the Crime; and partly for the great and general miſchief which ſuch praftices bring to Ct- vil Socierics. ; - 25 But to them that rebuke him b (bal be delight c, and + a good blefling d ſhal come upon them. | b That publickly and judicially rebuke and condemn the wicked. e The peace ofa good Conſcience,and the Comfort of a goodName. 4 Which the People ſhal wiſh, and by their Prayers obtain from God for them ; which is fitly oppoſed to rhe Peoples curſe in the laſt . Verſes Hob.chaos 26 Every man ſhal kiſs bis lips <* that giveth a right
nſwereth anſwer fe : : :
ett words e Shal highly reſpe& and love him, of which kiſſing was a ſign. r, !ain f Who being called to ſpeak either asa Judge,or Witneſs,or other ords,us wile, in weighty matters,ſpeaks pertinently,and plainly,and truly, haptg: g.to the convittion and ſatisfaCtion of the hearers.
27 Prepare thy work without,and make it fit for thy ſelf in the field 3 and afterwards build thine houfe g. g This is a Domeſtical Precept requiring both Induſtry and Pru- dence in the management of a Man's concerns, that he take care in the firſt place to furniſh himſelf with Catrel and rhe Fruits of rhe Field which are neceſliry for his ſubſiſtence, and afterthar he may [_-_ ſuch things as are for Ornament and Comfort, fuch as the uilding of a convenient Houle 1s.
lems 38 Benot witneſs againſt thy neighbour þ without
ideinthy Cauſe? 3 and fdeceive nor & with thy lips. | bps, h Either in judgment or in private converſation. i Raſhly or falfly, withour juſt and ſufficient cauſe. & Neither thy Neighbour, to whom thou haſt made a ſhew of friendſhip, nor the Judge. nor any other bearers with falfe information. Or, this clauſe forbids flatrering him to his face, as the former forbids flaadering him be- hind his back«
29 * Say not1, Twill doſo to him as he hath done to
me: I wiil render to the manaccording to his work mz. I Within thy ſelf: give not way to any ſuch Thoughts or Paſſi- ons. m [will repay kim all his calumnies and 1njuries. |