Exposition of Proverbs 9-10, Exposition 2 · Verse 22
The bleſsing of the Lord, it doth make rich, and he addeth Verſe. 22 no ſorrows with it.
The purpoſe and drift of theſe words is, to ſhew the preheminence that Gods people hauehave, aboue the men of the world: that whereas the wicked hauehave nothing but their owne hands, and carnall meanes to truſt vntounto for their eſtate; ſuch as be Godly, hauehave God to prouide for them, and his goodneſſe onelyonly doth make rich, and they onelyonly are inriched by him. But becauſe his enemies hauehave vſually more ſtore of goods then his children, and thereby it may ſeeme, that either men, may be rich without his bleſsing, or elſe that he is more prouident for ſinners, then for ſaints; therefore he ſheweth the difference, that troubles and vexations are intermingled with the goods of the wicked, and his ſeruants are freed from them. Yet it is not ſo to bee conceiued, as though no good men had any troubles with their riches, and that whoſoeuer doth finde griefe, and perturbations in theſe earthly things, were depriued of the bleſſing of God, and teſtimonies of his fauour: but this is the meaning, that ſo farre as hee doth beeſtow them, and they depend vponupon him for them, ſo far they eſcape from vexations; ſo that the cares and troubles grow meerely from their owne infirmities.
The bleſsing, &c. As euerlaſting life is the gift of God, ſo is Doct. a good and comfortable eſtate in this world. Dauid in his A comfortabl… eſtate is a bleſſing of God.thankeſgiuing to God maketh a free confeſsion thereof: ſaying, both riches, and honour come of thee, &c. 1. Chron. 29. 12.
Firſt, neither the commodiouſneſſe of any trade, nor skill, Reaſons. 1 nor ſtrength, nor diligence can preuaile, vnleſſe hee giuegive ſucceſſe. Deut. 8. 18. Pſal. 117. 1. 2.
Secondly, he alone worketh contentment, which is an high degree of richneſſe.
Thirdly, he giueth a chearefull heart with the portion, and cauſeth them to take their part of their poſſeſsions with comfort. Eccle. 2. 24.
Fourthly, hee preſerueth them from the feares of loſſes whiles they inioy their goods, and from immoderate ſorrow if their ſubſtance bee taken away: as that appeared in the example of Iob, who by his patience declared himſelfe to be as rich when all his goods were gone, as hee was at that time when he poſſeſſed them all.
Inſtruction, to vſe the meanes that we may be bleſſed, and Vſe. 1 partakers of his promiſes. And that is: firſt, by pietie and religion. Pſal. 112. 1. 2. Secondly, by calling vponupon the name of God, and exerciſe of prayer for ſuch things as are needefull for vsus. Iames. 4. 2. Thirdly, by the good imployment and vſage of thoſe things which wee inioy already. Prou. 3. 9. 10. Fourthly, by merciemercy and liberalitie to them that are in neceſsitie. Prou. 11. 24. 25. Fiftly, by faithfulneſſe and diligence in our places and callings, as hath beene ſhewed in the fourth verſe.
Conſolation to ſuch as ſerue him, that they ſhall ſurely be ſtored with all ſufficiencie. Thoſe whom he will raiſe vp to wealth, ſhall certainely riſe, though neuer ſo many ſeeke to hold them downe: for who ſhall hold backe his hands from giuing his owne, vntounto his owne. How maruailouſly were Abraham and Iacob inriched among ſtrangers, and infidels, not onelyonly aliants from their religion, but vowed enemies to their nation? And where in his wiſedome hee ſeeth it not ſit to fill their houſes with amplitude of ſubſtance, he will make fewe things to yeeld many comforts, and ſmall things to bee of great force, and meane things to be very precious and excellent. Pſal. 37. 16.
Terrour for the wicked, that they can neuer be rich: though they hauehave riches, yet they are not rich, but onelyonly plagued with a multitude of torments and vexations. Eccle. 2. 26.