John Trapp on Proverbs 12:20

Verſ. 20. Deceit is in the heart of them, &c.] Incendiaries and Make-bates, Counſellours of contention, have twenty devices to make trouble, and to put all into a combuſtion; but they ſhall either bee defeated of their purpoſes, or have ſmall joy of their atchievements; witneſs our late Engliſh Boutifeaus, with the whole Nation of Ignatius, whoſe practice is to machinate miſchief, and breed hate; being herein no leſs dangerous than once thoſe Jews were, who before they were baniſhed hence, threw bags of poiſon into the wells and fountains that the people were to drink of, and ſo endeavoured to poiſon them all. The juſt judgement of God upon Nicholas Saunders Prieſt, (the fire-brand of Ireland, Anno 1580. ſpent with famine, and forſaken of all ſuccour) is moſt worthy to bee kept in perpetual remembrance. Hee being impatiently grieved at the evil ſucceſſe of his rebellion with Earl Deſmond; and ſeeing that neither the Popes bleſſing,B. Carletons thankf. remem. pag. 49. nor the conſecrated banner, nor the plume of Phoenix feathers (ſo ſaid to bee at leaſt) ſent from Rome could do him any help, loſt himſelf, and ran ſtark mad, wandring up and down in the Mountains and Woods, and finding no comfort, died miſerably. Thus God met with a reſtleſſe and wretched man: and that foul mouth was ſtopped with famine, that was ever open to ſow ſedition, and ſtir up rebellions againſt the ſtate.

But to the counſellours of peace there is joy] They ſhall have peace for peace: peace of conſcience, for peace of Country, pax pectoris, for pa[illegible: 1 letter] temporis; they ſhall be called and counted the children of peace, yea, the children of God, have the comfort and credit of it, Matth. 5.9. (ſee the Note there) as Auguſtus Caeſar, and our Henry the ſeventh had; who as hee went into baniſhment together with the publick peace, ſo hee brought it back with him at his return; and was afterwards wont to ſay, If wee Princes ſhould take every occaſion that is offered, the world ſhould never bee quiet, but wearied with continual wars.