man vse it well and lawfully. But if wee vse it, and enter into it rashly, not rightly; ordinarily, not warily; foolishly, not wisely; desperately, not dis∣creetly; if we entangle our selues with it, without much deliberation, with∣out good circumspection, and without due consideration, it becommeth vn∣lawfull vnto vs.
True it is, it is not euill in it selfe, but to him it turneth to bee euill, that vseth it euilly, according to that which the Lord saith by the Prophet, I gaue them Statutes which were not good, and Iudgements wherein they shoulde not liue: because they brake them and abused them, and were made more inexcuse∣able without them, in that they framed not their liues according to the obedience of them. It falleth out oftentimes, that such as haue incombred themselues with rash promises, and vnaduised suretyshippe, seldome liue in peace and quietnesse, without distraction of minde, or feare of trouble, or daunger of losse, or feeling of misery. Hence it is, that Salomon teacheth vs to behaue our selues wisely and warily in this point, and beateth vppon no Doctrine more often, more earnestly, more effectually, then hee doth vpon this mat∣ter that wc haue in hand. In the sixt Chapter of the Prouerbes, hee sayeth, My Sonne, if thou be surety for thy Neighbor, and hast stricken hande with the Stranger, thou art snared with the wordes of thy Mouth, and art taken with the words of thine owne mouth. Where he compareth him that is free from bils and bands, and bookes of the Creditors, free from suretyship and fuch like bon∣dage, to a Bird that hath the liberty of the whole aire, to flie therein at her owne pleasure: but he that is bound by Promise, or Couenant, or Statute, is like a bird in the net of the Fowler, the which (albeit she flutter with hir wing and cry with her voyce, and hop with her foot, yet) is fast caught, and may be killed, or put in the Cage. So is it with him that is entred into bandes, or hath giuen his word for another; he hath after a sort lost his freedome, hee standeth in danger of falling into mischiefe. Wherefore, that this giuing of assurance to others, and for others, either by our word or hande, may bee performed lawfully to the good of others, and not to the hurt of our selues, wee must marke, remember, and practise, two points: First, consider the persons of others for whom it is doone; Secondly, our owne persons that doe it.
Touching those persons for whom we become sureties, we must know, that we are not to engage our selues and our credite, for euery one that will craue it at our handes, or will desire vs to pawne our Word, and enter into bandes for them, and promise vs faire to see vs discharged: but in such men who oftentimes haue a greater feeling of their owne wantes and necessi∣ties, then of freeing them out of woe, that haue pledged themselues for them, wee are to obserue three things. First, that they be well knowne. Secondly, that they bee honest and godly. Thirdly, that they bee suffi∣ent to pay that which they woulde haue vs bound vnto another, to assure him that they will pay. These are the persons that we are bound to helpe, either for Piety, or Charitie, or Honestie, or Amitie, or Consanguinity, or Affinity, all which bandes do binde vs one to another, and require some dutie to bee performed towardes them. This is set downe as a singular point of true Wisedome by the Wiseman, Prou. 11, 15. Hee shall bee sore vexed that is surety for a Stranger, and he that hateth suretyship, is sure. And afterward in the same Booke, to the same effect, Take his Garment that is suretie for a Stranger, and a pledge of him for the straunger. As if he should say, pitty him not, let him feele the smart of his folly and rashnesse, and let him beare the punishment of his headinesse and heedlesnesse: according to that which is set downe in another place, A Man destitute of vnderstan∣ding, toucheth the hand, and becommeth suretie for his Neighbour. Where∣by wee see, that we must not bee so ouer-seene to vndertake for all men