Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 11 · Verse 12
Verſe 12. Hee that is deſtitute of wiſedome deſpiſeth his neighbour: but a man of vnderſtanding will keepe ſilence.
A Fooliſh man which hath a beggerly heart, as the words ſignifie, being voide of ſound iudgement, and ſanctified knowledge of Gods holy will, deſireth to vilifie others, eſpecially ſuch as feare God, and to make them appeare baſe and contemptible. And this is done ſometimes in bitter anger, by rayling, reuiling, and contumelious reproches; and ſometimes in ſcurrill mirth, by girding ieſts, and laughter; and ſometimes in hidden craft, by falſe reports and ſlaunders. But they which hauehave more wiſedome, will frame themſelues to better behauiour: they will not onelie keepe ſilence from offering that indignitie to them that prouoke them not thereunto, but will alſo forbeare to requite them with reproaches, which hauehave not ſpared to ſeeke their diſgrace. For ſo doth Dauid teſtifie of himſelf in this caſe: I am as a man that heareth not, and as a dumbe man that openeth not his mouth. Pſal. 38. 13.
They which are the moſt contemptible perſons, are the greateſt contemners of others. As wiſedome aboue all other things doth make a man to be excellent, ſo needes muſt the want of it make him to be baſe: and yet ſuch as come not only too ſhort of the perfection, but not at all to the beginning thereof, are readie to ſport at them which are moſt graced with it. When the wicked Prou. 18. 3.commeth, ſaith Salomon, then commeth contempt, and with the vile man, reproach. None ſcoffed ſo much at Dauid as the abiects, and Pſal. 35. 15.the drunkards made ſongs of him. None mocked Iob ſo much as the vagabonds who were no better then their fathers, and their fathers not ſo good as dogges. They were the children of fooles, and the children of villaines, which were more vile then the earth. And yet he was their ſong, and their talke, they ſpared not to ſpit in his face. Iob 30. 1. 8. 9. 10.
Reaſons. Firſt, where wiſedome is wanting, there pride aboundeth (as an emptie ſtomack is full of winde) and pride bringeth diſdainefulneſſe, becauſe they conceiue of wonders in themſelues, and diſcerne of nothing but wants in others. The blinde bragging Phariſie was not aſhamed to come into Gods owne preſence, to depraue the humble poore Publicane, who was incomparably the Luk. 18. 9. 11.better man.
Secondly, they are deſpiſers of God himſelfe, reiecting his counſell, and caſting his word behind their backes, and therefore it is no ſtrange thing that they ſhould offer deſpite to mortall men.
Thirdly, contempt is in all equitie, their owne due portion, and God hath appointed in his iudgements, that they ſhall recouer their right to themſelues, by making an offer.
Vſe. 1 Confutation of them which take it to be the fruit of their wiſdome, and ripenes of their wit, to hauehave a dexterity in breaking of ieſts vponupon men to make thē to be laughed at. So farre they think they ſhew the rarenes of their vnderſtanding, as they can make men to feele the keenenes of their tongues. But God which beſt knoweth who be wiſe, and what is wiſedome, doth charge them to be vnwiſe, and void of wiſedome. He to whom it belongeth to conuince fooles, and to puniſh them, doth marſhall theſe among the great fooles that ſhall be puniſhed.
Inſtruction as to keepe our ſelues from the ſocietie of ſuch companions, vnleſſe we be duely called into place; ſo not to bee diſmaied, though in our callings, and for weldoing, they ſhoote their bolts at vsus. Their ſtrongeſt arrowes are but ſtrawes, and their ſtrongeſt archers are but dwarfs and Pigmees. The Lord himſelfe doth animate vsus againſt the greateſt of them by the Prophet: Feare yee not, ſaith he, the reproach of men, neither be yee Iſai. 51. 7. 8.afraide of their rebukes. For the moath ſhall eate them vp like a garment, and the worme ſhall eate them like wooll. If a worme, and a maggot will proue ſtronger then they, and get the victorie of them, why ſhould their words be more regarded then wormes, and maggots? Ideots, and naturals we care not for though they ſhould raile vponupon vsus, and giuegive reuiling ſpeeches: poore creatures they are to be pitied, they want wit, they know not what they ſay: and why then ſhould theſe bee ſo much reſpected, which are to bee lamented for want of wiſedome, and ſay they know not what?