Ti. ’Tis better, I must confess, in more Cases than this:  Pliny would have one never have Tully’s Offices out of ones Hand; and in my Opinion, it were well if all Persons, but especially Statesmen, had him every Word by Heart:  And as for this little Book of Proverbs, I have always look’d upon it the best Manual we can carry about with us.

Eu. I knew our Dinner would be unsavoury, and therefore I procured this Sauce.

Ti. Here is nothing but what is very good; but if you had given us this Lecture to a Dish of Beets only, without either Pepper, Wine or Vinegar, it would have been a delicious Treat.

Eu. I could commend it with a better Grace, if I did but perfectly understand what I have heard.  And I would we had some able Divine among us, that did not only understand it, but would thoroughly expound it.  But I don’t know how far it may be lawful for us Laymen to descant upon these Matters.

Ti. Indeed, I see no Hurt in’t, even for a Tarpawlin to do it, abating the Rashness of passing Sentence in the Case.  And who knows but that Christ himself (who has promis’d to be present, where two or three are gathered together in his Name) may vouchsafe his Assistance to us, that are a much larger Congregation.

Eu. What if we should take these three Verses, and divide ’em among us nine Guests?

Guests. We like it well, provided the Master of the Feast lead the Way.

Eu. I would not refuse it; but that I am afraid I shall entertain you worse in my Exposition, than I do in my Dinner:  But however, Ceremony apart, that I may not seem to want much Persuasion, omitting other Meanings that Interpreters put upon the Place:  This seems to me to be the moral Sense; “That private Men may be wrought upon by Admonition, Reproofs, Laws and Menaces; but Kings who are above Fear, the more they are opposed, the fiercer their Displeasure; and therefore Kings, as often as they are resolutely bent upon any, should be left to themselves:  Not in respect of any Confidence of the Goodness of their Inclinations; but because God many Times makes Use of their Follies and Wickedness, as the Instruments for the Punishment of the Wicked.”  As he forbad that Nebuchodonosor should be resisted, because he had determin’d to chastise his People by him, as an Instrument.  And peradventure, that which Job says, looks this Way:  Who maketh the Hypocrite reign for the Sins of his People. And perhaps, that which David says, bewailing his Sin, has the same Tendency:  Against thee only have I sinned, and done this Evil in thy Sight: Not as if the Iniquity of Kings were not fatal to the People; but because there is none that has Authority to condemn them, but God, from whose Judgment there is indeed no Appeal, be the Person never so great.

Ti. I like the Interpretation well enough thus far; but what is meant by the Rivers of Waters?