e just is as
the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The
way of the wicked is as darkness, and they know not at what they stumble."
It was said, chap. iii. 23, that the man who keeps wisdom and the fear of
God in his heart, should walk in the way and not stumble. That safety hath
ease in it here. Their steps are not straitened, as when a man walks in
steep and hazardous places, who cannot choose but it will be. If a man
enter into the path of wicked men, he must either go along in their way
with them, and then it is broad indeed, or, if he think to keep a good
conscience in it, he will be pinched and straitened. Therefore it is most
free for the mind and conscience to avoid and pass by that way "for they
sleep not," &c. They will never be satisfied till they have done a
mischief, they will live upon the ruins of the poor country. And how wilt
thou join in that? Or how can thou eschew it, if thou walk with them? If
it were no more, it is a suspected by path, that thou never travelled
into. O pass by it, or, if thou be entered, turn out of it. If thou wilt
enter upon the apprehension of some light and duty in it, know that it is
but evening, the sun is setting, and thou wilt be benighted ere it be
long, and thou shalt stumble then, and not know whereupon, even on that,
thou seest not now and thinkest to eschew and pass by. Then from ver. 23,
to the end, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the
issues of life, &c." Except thou keep thy heart and whole man, thou cannot
escape falling into some temptation. O keep thy heart diligently on the
knowledge and lore of the truth. Take heed to thy words. Look not a squint
but directly to that which is good. Give not a squint look to any unlawful
course, for the necessity or utility, it may be that seems to attend it.
But look straight on, and ponder well the way thou walkest in, that thou
run to no extremity either to one parte or other, that thou walk in the
middle way between profanity and error. Thou heldest these ways hitherto
for extremes. Ponder, I beseech thee, then, before thou walkest in any of
them. See whether they be really come to thee, or thou to them. Mark who
is changed.

Chap. v. 8 to the 15. "Remove thy way far from her, and come not near the
door of her house, lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years
unto the cruel. Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, and thy labours
be in the house of a stranger. And