Exposition of Proverbs 9-10, Exposition 2 · Verse 7
The memoriall of the iuſt ſhall bee bleſſed: but the name Verſe. 7 of the wicked ſhall rotte.
This is one perticular of the bleſsings mentioned in the former verſe, that that which is deareſt to a man, as his mane, ſhall bee in eſtimation, and good account. The remembrance and mention of him being abſent aliue, and when hee is dead, ſhall bee acceptable, and with his praiſe and commendation: But the name of the wicked is curſed, and therefore had in hatred, and deteſtation, euen as much loathed as the ſtinke of his carcaſſe, that lyeth rotting in the graue.
The credite and honour of good men will grow to be better, Doct. and the reputation of ſinners will bee turned into ſhame. Good men grow in credit but ſinners glory ends in ſhame.OnelyOnly godly men hauehave good names, and it is one difference that God putteth betweene them and the wicked, that they bee bleſſed heerein peculiarly, and all others excluded from the benefit of it. Such a threatning doth Iſaias denounce againſt the wicked: You ſhall leaue your name as a curſe to my choſen: for the Lord God ſhall ſlay you and call his ſeruants by a new name. Though ſinfull men bee magnified of ſinners, yet they ſhall bee made abhominable to Saints, and that is the greateſt reproach: and though good men bee deſpiſed of the world, yet God will giuegive them glory, and increaſe it, and vouchſafe the titles, not onelyonly of his ſeruants, but euen of his owne children.
Firſt, they all, and none but they, are in credite with God Reaſons. 1 and good men, and that onelyonly is to be accounted true honour.
Secondly, the graces of ſound hearted Chriſtians, will more and more appeare, and ſhine out, and the ſecret ſinnes of hipocrites, and other euill men will bee diſcouered, and brought to light, and both ſorts ſhall hauehave eſtimation in time, according to their behauiour. 1. Tim. 5. 24. 25.
Thirdly, glorie is an vnſeperable companion of goodneſſe: and ſo is ſhame of ſinne: for God hath ioyned them together, and therefore hee that hath one of them cannot bee without the other.
Confutation of their errour, that hope to be-come honorable, Vſe. 1 and famous, and to leaue a name behinde them, by fleſhly courſes: ſome by getting much, and rayſing vp their houſes, and performing great exploytes. But the vnhappie ſucceſſe of their vaine expectation, is noted in the Pſalmes, that though they thinck their houſes and habitacions ſhall continue from Pſal. 49. 11. 12.generation, to generation, and call the lands by their names, yet they ſhall not continue in honour, but periſh like beaſts that dye of the murraine. Who in all the world preuailed like to Nabucadnezzar, in Nabucadnezzars time, and yet howſoeuer he was applauded and admired at the firſt, he was derided and exploded at the laſt, and made a prouerbe, and parable of reproach? Some by fine wit and policie, and dexteritie in ſpeaking But let Achitophel, and Herod be examples to theſe, the one in counſell was wonderfull deepe, and his ſpeeches were as oracles, and yet wee repute him not to be a man of famous memory, but behold in him the very image and figure of infamie. The other for his eloquent oration, was deified of the people, and with a concordant acclamation extolled for a god; but yet as God layd a preſent ſtroke vponupon his bodie, and deliuered his life into the power of baſe vermin, to gnaw out his bowells: ſo he layd a continuall curſe vponupon his name, which will cleaue vntounto it for euer. Some others by hipocriſie, and pretence of merciemercy and pittie: and yet with out all conſcience or louelove of either. But praiſe ſo purchaſed, is ſubiect to ſtaines and loſſe of colour. The Phariſies had obteined the opinion of goodneſſe; godlineſſe, righteouſneſſe, and of all vertue. They were almoſt of all men, thought to be the moſt holy men: and can there now bee a greater indignitie offered to a man then to call him a Phariſee? for that name carrieth in it the perfect paterne of pride, hipocriſie, and palpable diſsimulation.
Conſolation to righteous men that God vndertaketh the protection, of their names: it is not in the power of any creature to ſpoyle them of their credit and reuerence: it is as ſurely preſerued as their ſaluation, as their life is euerlaſting: ſo is the amiable remembrance of them. Pſal. 112. 6. The Prophets, and Apoſtles, and Chriſt himſelfe, and good men in their times were euill ſpoken of, and now hauehave a moſt bleſſed memoriall. And ſo of latter yeares, it was a great dignitie to be a Wolſey, or a Gardiner, or others that weere of great place, and cruell diſpoſition, but now wee reuerence the names of Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, Hooper, Bradford, and the meaneſt of them that ſuffered for the Goſpell of Chriſt, though they were then condemned for heretikes. The Apoſtle Peter incourageth vsus to be bold and cheerefull though we ſhould be railed vponupon for Chriſt his ſake: for the ſpirit of God is a ſpirit of glory, and that is giuen to vsus and reſteth vponupon vsus, and who ſhall remoue it from vsus? Nabothei name was in great hazard to be blemiſhed, when hee was conuicted, and executed for treaſon, and blaſphemie, and no meanes leaft in appearance, to cleare his innocencie: yet God knowing it, hath made vsus to know it, and the ſhort ſhame that he bare for a time, is turned to a durable honour through all generations.