Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 11 · Verse 2
Verſe 2. When pride commeth, then commeth contempt: but with the lowlie is wiſedome.
VVHen pride commeth] that is, when it groweth to maturitie, hauing power to puffe vp mens hearts, and ſhewing it ſelfe in words, or workes, in countenance, apparell, or geſtures, then commeth cōtempt, that is, ſhame then approcheth and is neere at hand, marching in the next ranke after this loftie hart, and inſolent behaiuour. As is to be ſeene in many who hauing bin firſt lifted vp in their owne hautie mindes, were afterwards caſt downe by Gods righteous iudgemēts, either into phrenſies, or groſſe ſins, or ruine of ſtate, or obloquie for their former hidden faults now publiſhed at laſt to their great diſgrace. The other part of the antitheſis, containing the honour that doth accompanie humilitie, is argued by conſequent, in this manner: When pride commeth, then commeth follie, which euer bringeth ſhame: but when humilitie commeth, then commeth wiſedome, which is neuer without glorie.
Doct. 1 Pride is a forerunner of ſhame and reproach. It is a common prouerbe ordinarie in the mouth of the people: Pride goeth before, and ſhame commeth after. And it is an holie prouerbe often vſed by Salomon in this booke: Pride goeth before deſtruction, and an high minde before the fall, Prou. 16. 18. & 18. 12. And it is a ſelect poruerbe often vſed by Chriſt in the new Teſtament; Whoſoeuer exalteth himſelfe ſhall bee brought low, and hee that humbleth himſelfe ſhall be exalted. Luk. 14, 11.
We ſee in buildings that when walls waxe thicker by hallownes and ſwelling, they will ſhortlie come lower by downefall and ruine; and ſo ſtandeth the caſe with all proud perſons, their great heart doth threaten ſome great miſcheefe to bee nigh vntounto them. Which may be exemplified by diuers preſidents in the ſcriptures, which are propoſed as real examples, for eueryevery man to take warning by. When Nebuchadnezzar was bragging of his Babell which he had built for his glorie, he was baniſhed from all habitation, not hauing ſo much as a cottage, and like a beaſt made to liue among the the beaſts in the fields, with ignominie. When Haman thought to ride on horſeback and to be waited on like a King, hee was driuen to lackie on foote, and to waite attendance like a page: and purpoſing to hang Mordecay on high to honour himſelfe, he prepared an high gallowes to bee hanged on himſelfe. When Herod thought himſelfe good enough to take vponupon him the ſtate and honour of a god, the Lord declared him to be bad enough to be deuoured of contemptible vermine.
Reaſons. Firſt, they hauehave God to bee their enemie, he reſiſteth them, and they are all an abomination vntounto him: not onelyonly ſome arrogant Iam. 4. 6. Prou. 16. 5.fellowes that hauehave proud hearts and beggars purſes, but euen ſuch alſo as ſit vponupon princely thrones, and beare kinglie Scepters, and weare imperiall Diadems. And if he ſee them to be abomination, and doth therefore abhorre them, they ſhall appeare abominable, and men will deſpiſe them.
Secondly, they are fooles, as the text it ſelfe intendeth, and therefore cannot but behaue themſelues fooliſhlie, like drunkards Hab. 2. 5.which are ouercome with wine. They are ſinfull fooles, more deſtitute of grace then of wit. For proud behauiour is the foame or froath that proceedeth from much wickednes, and a proud heart is a priſon wherein they are withheld from comming to repentance. And ſo their owne follie, and Gods wiſedome; their owne ſinfull waies, and Gods righteous iudgements; their owne impenitencie, and Gods ſeueritie will bring them to the poſſeſſion of their inheritance, and that is ſhame and diſhonour, how highlie ſoeuer they hauehave been exalted. Prou. 3. 35.
Thirdlie, they are ſacrilegious perſons, and robbe God of his glory, which is moſt proper and pretious vntounto him, and therfore it is equall that he ſhould ſtrippe them of the honour which is ſo much deſired of them.
Vſe. Reproofe of their follie that vſe pride as a ſtirrop to mount vp thereby to promotion and credit, that thinke it the onelyonly way to preferment, if they can ſet forth themſelues with ſome oſtentation, and lift vp their eye-brows aboue their brethren. And this is growne almoſt to an vniuerſall contagion, wherewith the greateſt number of ſtates and ages, of ſexes, and perſons in all places, are dangerouſlie infected. Some thereby ſeeking to be admired, others to be aduanced, many to be feared, and al to be better ſatiſfied in the accompliſhment of their deſires. But how manie looſe by ſeeking, and ſinke, by aſpiring, and runne into reproch by hunting after vaine eſtimation? whiles they leaue their ſtanding, and would riſe aboue the toppe of their places, they faile of their footing, and fall downe to the bottome.
Inſtruction to be as much afraid of pride, as of ſhame, and euen of ſecret conceitednes within, no leſſe thē of open diſcredit without, and therefore to vſe al good remedies to cure this dangerous inflamation of ſuch a windie ſtomacke. And firſt for this purpoſe let eueryevery man take heede that he bee not illuded with the gloſſes and colourable appearances of knowledge and wiſdome, or anie other good parts of nature or grace in himſelfe, when in trueth they are nothing but ſhews and ſhadowes. For diuers by an ouerweening conceit hauehave themſelues in hie admiration, when others to whom they are better knowne, hauehave them in great deriſion. And albeit others either in flatterie, or good opinion ſhould commend vsus for thoſe good things which wee are priuie to our ſelues not to be in vsus, yet let vsus not receiue the doubtfull teſtimonie of ſtraungers againſt the euident witneſſe of God, and our owne conſciences. For this were as abſurd as if a needie creature pinched with penurie, and almoſt hunger-ſtaruen, ſhould bee brought to beleeue that he ſwimmed in plentie and were a liberall houſe-keeper, hauing his table alwaies furniſhed with varietie of diſhes; or one deepelie indebted, and readie to breake for want of abilitie, ſhould bee induced to thinke himſelfe the onelie monied man in the countrie, ſufficient in wealth to lend and to giuegive to many others. Secondlie, when God hath graced any with excellent gifts which are not adulterate, and counterfeit, but ſuch as are currant, and able to abide the touchſtone, and to hold weight in the ballance, yet as they feele what they hauehave, ſo let them find what they want: as they ſee their graces and vertues, ſo let them ſearch into their corruptions, and vices: as they hauehave a good conſcience in the performance of many good duties, ſo let them conſider the innumerable ſinnes that they hauehave committed, the multitude of ſeruices which they hauehave neglected, the hypocriſie, infidelity, vnchearefulneſſe, and other imperfections that hauehave ſtained their beſt words and actions: and theſe will helpe to hold downe their hearts in humilitie, and take away all matter of glorying. For the beſt in the world ſhall hauehave cauſe to bluſh and hang downe their heads, if they make compariſon betweene that they are, and that which they ought to be. Though thy knowledge bee great, yet how much art thou ignorant of that thou mighteſt hauehave knowne, if thou hadſt been as diligent to ſeeke it, as God was to offer it vntounto thee? Though thou hauehave faith, and louelove and repentance, and by vertue thereof doeſt ſhew forth the fruites of the ſpirit in holie obedience, yet how ſmall time haſt thou ſpent, how ſoftlie haſt thou trauailed, and how little ground haſt thou gotten in this way that leadeth to eternall life? But in the courſe of ſinfulnes diddeſt thou not begin the race ſoone, and runne ſwiftly, and come backe againe ſlowlie? Thirdly, it will much diminiſh a ſelfe-liking, and too great opinion of our owne excellencie, if wee turne our eyes without enuie to the excellent graces of knowledge and diſcretion of zeale, and moderation, and of all other amiable gifts of our brethren, wherein they goe beyond vsus. And this is the receipt which the holie ghoſt preſcribeth to the Philippians againſt this verie maladie: Let nothing, ſaith he, bee done in contention, or vaine glory, but in meekenes of Phil. 2. 3. 4.mind, let eueryevery one eſteeme others better then himſelfe. Looke not eueryevery man on his owne things, but eueryevery man alſo on the things of other men. Laſtlie, conſider the hand which miniſtreth eueryevery good thing that we enioy, whether it bee gift of nature, or of grace, or of outward poſſeſſion; whether it concerne the bodie, or the minde, the ſtate, or the dignitie. All is of God, all is from God, and all is for God, and therefore let all the glorie be giuen to God. What haſt thou, ſaith S. Paul, that thou haſt not receiued? If thou hast receiued it, why glorieſt thou as though thou haddeſt not receiued it? 1. Cor. 4. 7. It becommeth not a beggar that liues of the almes basket to bragge of his meate, nor inſolentlie to compare with him, or his, that relieueth him in his miſerable neceſſitie.
Doct. 2 But with the lowlie] Euerie humble man is alſo indued with wiſedome. Lowlie and wiſe bee ſo farre conuertible as that the one can neuer be affirmed of any, without the other: the habit of humilitie doth inferre the poſſeſſion of wiſedome, and the want of either doth euict the priuation of both.
Reaſons. Firſt, the fountaine from whence lowlineſſe floweth, doth alwaies in the ſame current ſend forth the ſtreames of wiſedome. The Lord Ieſus doth neuer deriue to any the power and ability of ſubduing his heart, but he giueth him alſo ſound knowledge how to obtaine it, and holie vnderſtanding how to vſe it.
Secondly, God himſelfe is the inſtructour of all humble perſons, and frameth their hearts to be teachable, that they ſhall not faile to learne of him, and therefore muſt needs receiue wiſedome from him. This is agreeable to the promiſe which hee maketh, Pſalm. 25. 9. Them that bee meeke will he guide in iudgement, and teach the humble his way. He giueth grace and guidance with his precepts, for minde, and heart, for knowledge, and affection, for will, and conſcionable practiſe.
Thirdly, the happineſſe which they procure to themſelues doth giuegive a cleere teſtimonie of their wiſedome. They enioy the fauour of God, and the friendſhip of Gods people. In their hearts they hauehave peace, ouer their affections they hauehave power. They are alwaies in the way of preferment, either to come to honour in a great place, or for honour to come to them in a meane place. For euerie ſtate they are fitted: whiles they are to be tried with aduerſitie, they can beare it without impatiencie; when they ſhall be called to proſperitie, they can vſe it without inſolencie: as long Pſalm. 37. 11.as they continue in this world they are rightfull poſſeſſours of the earth; as ſoone as they depart to an other world, they ſhall be glorious inhabitants of heauen. In which reſpects the ſpirit of God ſaith, that it is better to be of an humble mind with the lowlie, then to deuide the ſpoiles with the proud, Prou. 16. 19. The meaneſt and moſt afflicted vnderling that is humble and meeke, is in farre better caſe then the mighteſt and moſt puiſſant conquerour that is proude and haughtie.
Vſe. Reproofe of ſuch as deride their ſimplicitie for vndergoing ſo manie moleſtations, and charge them with follie for not facing out matters with an impudent countenance, and condemne them of madneſſe, becauſe they ſeeke not pompe and earthlie excellencie. But it is not becauſe the humble want wiſedome, but becauſe wiſedome ſeemeth fooliſhneſſe to fooles, and ſuch as are deſtitute of vnderſtanding. They looke vponupon their troubles, but feele not their comforts: they ſee their perſecutions, but foreſee not their deliuerance: they behold their preſent condition in afflictions, but diſcerne not of their happines to come in glorie.
Inſtruction to make moſt account of their counſels and companie, ſeeing they are beſt of all ſtored with wiſedome and knowledge. None are ſo well able to giuegive aduice as they: for though others may hauehave more countenance and greatneſſe, yet they attaine not to ſo much counſell and goodnes. None are ſo readie to giuegive aduice as they: for they doe it moſt willingly, and cheerefullie, with all mildneſſe, and kindenes. None are ſo much bleſſed in the aduice which they giuegive as they: For their prayers are forcible with God, and Gods preſence is effectuall with them for aſſiſtance in ſuch acceptable ſeruices.