2 Samuel 20

To dissemble love is no better than a lie; for there is a pretence of that love which is not. Many are like Joab (2 Samuel 20:9): "And Joab said to Amasa, 'Are you in health, my brother?' and he took him by the beard to kiss him, and he smote him in the fifth rib that he died."…

(1.) With the hand. As Joab killed Abner and Amasa (2 Samuel 20:10): He smote him in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels. (2.) Murder is committed with the mind.

Counterfeiting of love is hypocrisy. It is too usual to betray with a kiss (2 Samuel 20:9). Joab took Abner by the beard to kiss him, and smote him in the fifth rib that he died.

Example and advice of one's equal prevails much with another, so as a fellow servant may in this kind do more good than the master himself: and if by his means he bring his fellow servants to be faithful, his own faithfulness is doubled and trebled; and his master receives a dou…

Persons of quality and honor that are used to, and deserve civility, will not bear such provoking words, nor take them but on the point of their rapier, and return it to the giver's throat. Great sins are committed from such beginnings; therefore Solomon tells us (Proverbs 15:1)…

5. The godly man abhors dissimulation towards men, his heart goes along with his tongue, he cannot flatter and hate, commend and censure, Romans 12. 9. Let love be without dissimulation. Dissembled love is worse than hatred; counterfeiting of friendship is no better than a lie,…