John Trapp on Proverbs 14:12

Verſ. 12. There is a way that ſeemeth right unto a man] Sin comes cloathed with a ſhew of reaſon, Exod. 1.10. And luſt will ſo blear the underſtanding, that hee ſhall think that there is great ſenſe in ſinning. Adam was not deceived, 1 Tim. 2.14. That is, hee was not ſo much deceived by his judgement (though alſo by that too) as by his affection to his wife, which at length blinded his judgement. The heart firſt deceives us with colours; and when wee are once a doting after ſin, then wee joyn and deceive our hearts, James 1.26. uſing fallacious and ſpecious ſophiſms, to make our ſelves think that lawful to day, which wee our ſelves held unlawful yeſterday; and that wee are poſſeſt of thoſe graces whereto wee are perfect ſtrangers.

But the end thereof are the waies of death] Via multiplex ad mortem. The very firſt ſtep in this evil way, was a ſtep to Hell: But the journies end (if men ſtop not, or ſtep not back in time) is undoubted deſtruction. Some flatter themſelves, as Micah, Judg. 17.13. They flye to the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord: And think to take Sanctuary and ſave themſelves there from all danger; as the Jews fable that Og King of Baſhan eſcaped in the flood by riding aſtride upon the Ark without. Wherein it falls out oft as it did with the riflers of Semiramis her tomb; who, where they expected to finde the richeſt treaſure, met with a deadly poiſon. Or, as it doth with him, that lying aſleep upon a ſteep rock, and dreaming of great matters befallen him, ſtarts ſuddenly for joy, and ſo breaks his neck at the bottome. As hee that makes a bridge of his own ſhadow, cannot but fall into the water: So neither can hee eſcape the pit of Hell, who laies his own preſumption in place of Gods promiſe, who caſts himſelf upon the unknown mercies of God, &c.