Exposition of Proverbs 9-10, Exposition 2 · Verse 8
The wiſe in heart will receiue commandements: but the Verſe. 8 fooliſh in talke ſhall be beaten.
The wiſe in heart, &c. That is, ſuch as hauehave ſauing knowledge, and conſcience, will receiue commaundements, will heare and obey the word of God without replies, and cauils, againſt it: but the fooliſh in talke, he that abuſeth his lips to murmuring and friuolus obiections: ſhall bee beaten, that is, ſhalbe plagued for his contempt.
The ſence will be plaine, if the ſupply be made in both clauſes of the oppoſition, in this manner: The wiſe in heart will readily receiue commandements, and therefore ſhall be rewarded: but the fooliſh in heart will bee fooliſh in talke to reiect commandements, therefore ſhall be puniſhed.
We ought to be tractable to the will of God, without reſiſting Doct. or gainſaying. To this duetie Saint Iames doth admoniſh Men moſt obay where God commands. Iames. 1. 19.vsus ſaying: Let eueryevery man be ſwift to heare, and ſlow to ſpeak: his meaning is not to perſwade men to come ſodainely, and raſhly to the word without preparation: but to hearken deſirouſly, with reuerence and attention when they are prepared, and not to picke quarrels againſt that which is deliuered, vnaduiſedly and out of a diſtempered affection, but vponupon mature deliberation with a minde willing to be reſolued, to propoſe their doubts.
Firſt, the Lord hath abſolute authoritie ouer vsus, and therefore Reaſons. 1 he iuſtly may lay his commandements vponupon vsus.
Secondly, his whole will, and all his waies are perfectly righteous, and therefore to take exception againſt them muſt needes be vnrighteous.
Thirdly, they are altogether full of wiſedome, and therefore none but fooles will prefume to charge them with folly.
Inſtruction to caſt off, and remoue away the ſinfull luſts of Vſe. 2 our hearts, the fleſhly diſcourſe of carnall reaſon, and the reſolute and ſetled purpoſe of any wicked way. For all theſe will imbitter the ſoule, and whet the tongue to withſtand and reſiſt the holy commandements of God. Iames. 1. 21. 1. Pet. 2. 1. Ier. 44. 16. 17.
Reproofe of them that are willing to receiue the promiſes of God, but not the commaundements: or if they doe, it is in ſuch things as bee agreeable to their owne will, or at leaſt not contrary to it. So they dealt with Ieremiah, ntreating him to Ier. 42. 20.declare vntounto them, all that the Lord ſhould ſay, and they would doe it, and they would hauehave beene as good as their word, if he had incouraged them to take their voyage into Egypt, whither they were bent to goe: but when he diſwaded them from it, by expreſſe prohibition and threatnings, they grew to another point, that it was not God which ſpake that, but Ieremie, and Ieremie did not ſpeake truely, but falſely, and it was not of himſelfe, but from Baruch, and Baruch had no good meaning in it, but to deliuer them into the hands of the Chaldeans to be ſlaine, or carryed away captiues. Ier. 43. 2. 3.
Conſolation for them that ſubmit themſelues to learne and obay the doctrine of gods will, though it many times do croſſe them in their affections, and deſires, in their reaſon and conceits, in their pleaſures and delights, in their profits and commodities: this manifeſteth true wiſedome, this declareth a faithfull heart, this giueth a cleere teſtimony of ſinceritie. The rich young man attained not to this, nor Herod went ſo far though he did many things by Iohns perſwaſion, yet hee would not wholy conforme himſelfe as to the will of God, to doe eueryevery thing, or to leaue eueryevery thing according as he required. Mat. 19. 22. Mar. 6. 17. 18. 20
Terrour for the braue gallants of our age which exerciſe their ripe heads, and freſh wits in wreſtling with the truth of God, and take it for a glory to giuegive it a foyle. But howſoeuer their prompt wits, & ready tongues together with art, and Sathans aſsiſtance, may ſometimes perplexe and trouble a poore Chriſtian, yet ſhall they nothing preuaile againſt Chriſt, and his veritie, nor gaine any thing at his hands, but ſhame and puniſhment. It were ſafer for them to incounter with tenne Sampſons then to try their manhoode with one point, or article of Gods holy doctrine. But their caſe is worſt of all, which obſtinately, peruerſely, and of wilfull malice doe reiect all that is taught them out of the word. It is in vaine to admoniſh them, as the Prophet ſaith, Hoſ. 4. 4. Thy people are as they that rebuke the Prieſt: that is, preſumptuous perſons, ſinning with an high hand, in refuſing to heare, or be directed by the Prieſt, then of the law. Deut. 17. 12. or to giuegive eare to the miniſters of the Goſpel now: but contentiouſly diſobey the truth, and ſo bring vponupon their owne ſoules indignation, and wrath, tribulation, and anguiſh. Rom. 2. 9.