14) "lest" thou be
brought to that extremity that "thou know not what to do." Thus Christ
adviseth, Luke xiv. 31. I am persuaded this would plead much in reason to
yield security to England, so be it our wrong were repaired, and no more
done. Ver. 19 shows what the employment of unfaithful men, who mean
nothing less than they pretend, is. They fail when most is expected, and
hurt beside, as Job's friends, chap. vi. 15. And ver. 26. A righteous and
upright man, consenting with a wicked man in sin, or, through fear of him,
not daring to do his duty, turning to him and his way, or dallying and
flattering him in his iniquity, is like "a troubled fountain," is not good
and profitable for edification nor correction, having troubled the purity
of his soul through the mud of carnal respects and interests. Corruption
within is the mire, the wicked's seducements are like the beast's
trampling it with his foot. And he is like a corrupt, infected, and
poisoned fountain, more ready to infect and draw others by his example.
Ver. 27. A man should not seek honour and preferment that is base and
shameful. None of the trees longed for sovereignty but the bramble.

Chap. xxvi. 1. "As snow in summer and as rain in harvest, so honour is
not seemly for a fool." It is as unseemly, prodigious, and destructive a
thing, to give honours, promotions, and trust to a wicked man, as snow and
much rain in harvest, a reproach and punishment more becomes him than
honour, the reward of goodness (as ver. 3), a whip, rod, and bridle are
more for him, to restrain him from wrong and provoke him to goodness.
Ver. 6. He that commits an errand or business to a wicked man and
intrusts him with it, is as unwise in so doing, as if he did cut off the
messenger's feet he sent. He deprives himself of the means to compass it.
He sends a lame man to run an errand. He is punished by himself as if he
had cut off his own feet, and procureth sorrow and discontent to himself,
as if he were compelled to drink nothing but what is contrary to his
stomach. Ver. 7. All good speeches halt and limp in evil men's mouths,
for there is no constancy in their mouths. Within they are very
rottenness. "Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing," James iii.
10. Their very words agree not, the public and extraordinary crosses the
private and ordinary. And their actions have less harmony with their
words. Professing they know God, in works they deny him &c. Ver. 8.