John Trapp on Proverbs 29:25

Verſ. 25. The fear of man bringeth a ſnare] This cowardly paſſion expectorates and expoſes a man to many, both ſinnes and ſufferings. And albeit faith, when it is in the heart, quelleth and killeth diſtruſtful fear, and is therefore fitly oppoſed to it in this ſacred ſentence: yet in the very beſt, Senſe fights ſore againſt Faith when it is upon its own dunghil, I mean, in a ſenſible danger. Natures retraction of it ſelf from a viſible fear, may cauſe the pulſe of a Chriſtian that beats truly and ſtrongly in the main point (the ſtate of the ſoul) to intermit and faulter at ſuch a time, as we ſee in the example[illegible: 1 letter] of Abraham, Iſaac, David, Peter, others, who ſhewed ſome trepi[illegible: 1 letter]ation and timidity, and like fearful birds and beaſts, fell into the pits and toyls of the Hunter, and hazzarded themſelves to Gods diſpleaſure. The Chameleon is ſaid to bee the moſt fearful of all Creatures, and doth therefore turn himſelf into ſo many colours, to avoyd danger, which yet will not bee. God equally hateth the timorous, and the treacherous. Fearful men are the firſt in that black bedrole, Rev. 21.8.

Tectus & [illegible: 2 letters]tus. But he that truſteth in the Lord ſhall be ſafe] Or, ſet on high, as on a rock, his place of defence ſhall be munitions of rocks, Iſa. 33.15. farre out of harms-way; he ſhall be kept ſafe, as in a tower of braſs, or town of war. Even the youth ſhall faint and be weary, and the youngmen ſhall utterly fall; But they that wait upon the Lord ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles, &c. Iſa. 40.30, 31. Like as the Cony that flyes to the holes in the rocks doth eaſily avoyd the dogs that purſue her, when the Hare that truſts to the ſwiftneſſe of her leggs, is at length overtaken and tore in peeces: So here.