ghbour, not so near in natural bonds to us, that is a surer friend than
many brethren in the flesh. These bonds of country and kindred, should all
cede to God's interest. See chap. xvii. 17.

Chap. xix. 22. "A man's desire is his kindness and a poor man is better
than a liar." The godly that cannot concur in the public cause, being
disabled, through an invincible impediment of sin lying in the way and
means made use of, are better friends, and have more real good will to the
establishment and peace of the land, than any ungodly man, let him be
never so forward in the present course. Ver. 10. Pleasure and its
attendants are not comely for a wicked man, (i.e. a foolish man) much less
for a servant, (i.e. men enthralled in their lusts,) to rule over princes
(i.e. godly men, highly privileged by God). All things that are good do
ill become them, but worst of all to have power and superiority over good
men, ver. 25, joined with chap. xxi. 11. Ringleaders of wickedness,
refractory and incorrigible persons, should have been made examples to
others, and this would have prevented much mischief. The scripture gives
ground for putting difference between the scorner and simple, seducers and
seduced.

Chap. xx. 6, xxi. 2, and xvi. 2. "Most men will proclaim every one his own
goodness, but a faithful man who can find?" It is no great wonder that
malignants say they repent, and the state and church say they keep the
same principles. For who will say any evil of himself? Ver. 8. Magistrates
should scatter away evil men with their countenance, by denying it to
them, and looking down on them. How, then, do our rulers gather them? Ver.
3, shows that war and strife should not be kept up but in extreme
necessity. Fools "will be meddling." Ver. 11, shows that the best way of
judging of men is by their doings and fruits, not strained words and
confessions. But those who, upon a bare profession, pronounce a
notour(400) malignant a friend, having no proof of his integrity, and will
not have any judged such, but such as judicially are debarred, yet
contrary to all the testimony of works and fruits, judge and condemn
honest men as traitors, though not judicially convicted. Certainly divers
measures are an abomination to the Lord, as in ver. 10. Then in ver. 25
sacrilege is described, and covered perjury, which is a snare to the soul
that commits it. He "devoureth that which is holy," i.e. applieth to a
common use these things God hath set apart,