Exposition of Proverbs 9-10, Exposition 2 · Verse 23
It is a paſtime to a foole to commit wickedneſſe: but wiſedome Verſe. 23 is the delight of a man of vnderſtanding.
It is a paſtime to a foole to commit wickedneſſe, &c. That is, ſinnefull men take great pleaſure in doing that which is euill, as if it were a ſport, or recreation to them: and it is as much ioy, and refreſhing to him that is Godly wiſe, both to get wiſdome, and to performe all the good exerciſes thereof.
Sinne is the delight of ſinners, and grace of good men. Of Doct. the one ſort wee hauehave many teſtimonies in this booke, but in Sinne is a paſtime to ſinners, and grace is the ioy of good men.the ſecond Chapter eſpecially, ver. 14. They delight in doing euill, and reioyce in wicked frowardneſſe. And in the fourth Chapter ver. 17. it is ſaid, that they eate the bread of wickedneſſe, and drinke the wine of violence, it is meate and drinke vntounto them to doe miſchiefe. Of the other ſort the Prophet is an example and patterne, in the hundred and ninetenth Pſalme: where in many places he profeſſeth his ſingular comfort and delight, that he conceiueth in the heauenly word of God, as when hee ſaith: how ſweete are thy promiſes vntounto my mouth? yea more then hony vntounto my mouth. And they are the ioy of mine heart. Pſal. 119. 103. 111.
Firſt, this contrarietie ariſeth from the contrary cauſes of Reaſons. 1 theſe contrarie likings. All wicked men doe louelove ſinne, and it is as deare vntounto them as the members of their owne bodies. And all godly men doe louelove righteouſneſſe, and rather deſire to be deliuered from life, then ſeparated from grace, and the ſeruices of God. Now it is a perpetuall rule which neuer faileth, that whatſoeuer any man loueth moſt, that hee will alwaies moſt delight in. Secondly, wicked men are fleſhly, and therefore liue after the fleſh, and ſauour of the things of the fleſh, and delight in the workes of the fleſh. And godly men are led by the ſpirit, and ſauour of the things of the ſpirit, and reioyce in the fruites of the ſpirit.
Secondly, it is ſeene in the contrary effects of both ſides. Firſt, wicked men runne violently to ſinne, and will not deſiſt from their diuelliſh purpoſes, before they hauehave effected them: though godly men through naturall corruptions, and temptations, hauehave ſometimes a proneneſſe, and inclination to euill, yet they may be eaſil… retracted by counſell, and admonition, as Dauid was from ſ…ing of Nabal, but they conſtantly proceede to the perfor…e of eueryevery good dutie. Secondly, wicked men doe medi…e in …e night, and indeauour in the day to fulfill their ſinfull deſir… … Micah. 2. 1. Godly men doe meditate in the night, and indeauour in the day, to know and obey the holy will of the Lord Iſa. 26. 9. Thirdly, when wicked men hauehave accompliſhed …eir ſinfull deſires, they ſurfait with gladneſſe: when they a… …ſapointed they are filled with bitter vexation. Prou. 4. 16. … godly men hauehave committed ſinne, it bringeth anguiſh … their hearts, when they hauehave performed any Chriſtian ſeruice, it is a comfortable refreſhing to their ſoules. Fourthly, the cuſtome of ſinning is ſo ſweete to the wicked, that they will not forſake it, but take them for Iob. 20. 12.their enemies that ſhall diſſwade them from it: the yoke of ſinne is heauie to the Godly, that they ſtill ſtriue to be disburthened of it, and the yoke of Ieſus ſo eaſie that they willingly yeeld themſelues to it, and account them their beſt friends that ſhall help them againſt the one, and further them to the other.
Confutation of therronious opinion of thoſe, that allowing Vſe. 1 themſelues in the purſuite of all ſinfull pleaſures, and profits, euen ſeruing their luſts with delight, and working vncleanneſſe with greedineſſe, doe yet vndertake for the ſafetie of their owne ſoules, and challenge the name, and prerogatiue of righteous men.
Conſolation, to them that are wearied with the rebellious motions of the fleſh, that are not able vtterly to ſubdue the remnants of ſinne, and their owne naturall diſpoſition, but that ſometimes their pride giueth them a wound; ſometimes their rage breaketh out ſodainly, & ſtriketh them ſo that the prints of the ſtrokes are ſeene, and the ſcarres which remaine after them; ſometimes couetouſneſſe preſſeth ſo hard vponupon them, that it maketh them to giuegive ground, yea it taketh, and impriſoneth them: yet if they hate theſe corruptions the more becauſe they hauehave ben hurt by them, if they labour for libertie, and groane for deliuerance out of their captiuitie, they are ſtill reputed wiſe, and the faithfull ſouldiers, & ſeruants of Chriſt.