Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 12 · Verse 1
Verſe 1. He that loueth correction, loueth knowledge: but he that hateth correction, is brutiſh.
HE that loueth inſtruction,] Which doth applie himſelfe to ſeeke it, by thoſe meanes which are ordained of God for his people to be inſtructed by, and accepteth and maketh vſe of it, when it is offered to him, he loueth knowledge, that is, hath it in due eſtimation, and truly deſireth it, and therefore ſhall alſo accordingly obtaine it. But he that hateth correction, which refuſeth all inſtruction, but eſpecially will not indure to be reproued, or corrected, he is brutiſh, a beaſt in a mans ſhape, a foole in a high degree of follie, both for an ignorant minde, and rude behauiour, and wretched condition.
Doct. 1 EueryEvery mans deſire of grace and ſaluation, may be tried by his affection to the meanes thereof. He that is diligent in ſeeking is willing to finde, as he that ſetteth himſelfe to make ſpeede in his way, hath a minde to his iournies end. So the Lord ſpeaketh of the godly in one place of Iſaiah, that they ſhall ſay: Come, let vsus Iſai. 2. 3.goe vp to the mountaine of the houſe of the Lord, that he may teach vsus his waies, and we may walke in his paths. And ſo the godly ſpeake to the Lord in another place of Iſaiah: The deſire of our ſoule is to Iſai. 26. 8. 9.thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my ſoule hauehave I deſired thee in the night, and with my ſpirit within me will I ſeeke thee in the morning.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, the ſame ſpirit that draweth men to liking of the one, doth alſo worke a louelove of the other: for both are wrought by the Holy Ghoſt.
Secondly, all the ordinances of God for mans ſaluation are contrarie to fleſh and blood, and therefore no man can take any delight in them further than hee looketh to the end, and is refreſhed with comfortable effects in the way.
Thirdly, no man can deſire the holy knowledge of God with truth and feruencie, vnleſſe he hauehave had ſome taſte of the fruit of it, and he that hath taſted of the fruit, hath profited by the means, and he that hath profited by the meanes, will louelove them euer afterwards. They that finde the comfort of life, hauehave formerly felt the benefit of food: and they that are deſirous to continue their life, are not vnwilling to receiue their foode: and they that hunger after foode for the continuance of life, hauehave alſo an appetite to it in regard of the reliſh.
Vſe. 1 Refutation of their boaſtings, that goe before all in ſpeaking of their deſire and forwardnes to pleaſe God, and be ſaued, and come behinde eueryevery one, in ſhewing any good notes of it. They make their mouthes and not their hearts, the principall ſeate of their louelove: and likewiſe their words, and not their deedes, their onelyonly arguments doe proue that they doe louelove. It is very burdenous for them to liue conſtantly vnderunder a faithfull Miniſterie. Euerie godly ſermon is tedious vntounto them: for length, if it bee not ended within the houre: for the manner, if it ſauour not of humane wit and eloquence: for the matter, if it be wholeſome, and liuely, and come home to the rebuking of any ſinne, which they are not minded to forſake. And yet they would hauehave vsus all to know, that none are better friends than they to knowledge. And yet they muſt giuegive vsus leaue againe to tell them, that eueryevery friend of knowledge is better affected than they are, to inſtruction.
Conſolation to them that thinke it no paines to be painfull in labouring for the bread of life. They feele not, they ſay, the louelove of the word of God, the deſire of faith and care of repentance, &c. But from whence proceedeth that? is it not hence, that they are greedie and couetous of getting abundance of louelove and deſire, and therefore they thinke that which they hauehave to bee nothing, in compariſon of that which they would hauehave. But theſe men muſt be well confuted: their troubles, their attention, their meditations, their paines, their reading, their queſtions, their conference, their ioy in Chriſtian companie, their diligence in all good exerciſes with willingnes, doth manifeſtly ſhew the error of their doubts and feares. But may not an hypocrite do all theſe things, and yet hauehave no touch in him? But may an hypocrite doe all theſe things in good earneſt with reſiſtance of hypocriſie? May an hypocrite continue an hypocrite, and yet bewaile his want of ſinceritie in the preſence of God alone, with promiſe, and purpoſe to performe eueryevery ſeruice more ſincerely, if poſſibly by any meanes he may be able? It was an argument wherewith Dauid confirmed his owne heart in aſſurance that he truly loued the Lord, and vnfainedly ſought his owne ſaluation, becauſe he loued the law of the Lord, meditated in his word and kept his precepts. And Iob taketh it for a ſure effect of his vprightnes, that he had not departed from the commandements of Gods lips, but eſteemed the words of his mouth more than his appointed foode.
Doct. Is brutiſh, &c. They that will not be ſchooled of God to learne Chriſtian knowledge, are no better than if they had no manner of knowledge. They are not all children that hate this kinde of correction: they are not all naturals: they are not all idiots, but they are all ſtarke fooles. Then many hauehave been fooles, and yet learned Philoſophers: and many hauehave been fooles, and yet deep Politicians: and many hauehave bin fooles, and yet eueryevery way worldly wiſe men. This doth God charge vponupon the multitude, the greater number of a whole people: They are a nation voide of Deut. 32. 28. 29.counſell, neither is there any vnderſtanding in them. Oh that they were wiſe, then they would vnderſtand this, they would conſider their latter end. Yea the wittieſt of them are ſo reputed in the prophecie of Ieremy: My people is fooliſh, they hauehave not knowne me: Ierem. 4. 22.they are fooliſh children, and hauehave none vnderſtanding: they are wiſe to doe euill, but to doe well they hauehave no knowledge.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, their carnall wiſedome is altogether vnſufficient to make them ſeruiceable to God, or any thing which they doe to be acceptable vntounto him, and it ſtandeth them in no ſteed for their credit. For thoſe which bee vile in his eyes, ſhall in time be baſe in the ſight of men: and the puniſhment of their follie in the end, ſhall make it appeare they were fooles all the time before. Of this point ſpeaketh the Prophet: The wiſe men are aſhamed, they are afraide and taken: loe, they hauehave reiected the word of the Lord, and what wiſedome is in them?Ierem. 8. 9.
Secondly, their carnall wiſedome can neither preſerue them from death, nor prepare them to die bleſſedly. It cannot ſtay their life from going, neither can it ſtop the curſe from comming.
Thirdly, it cannot deliuer them from damnation in the world to come, but rather increaſe the grieuouſnes of their puniſhment. It hath kept poſſeſſion againſt this holy vnderſtanding: it hath made them vncapable of all good inſtructions: it hath made them impatient of any rebuke: it hath held them in ignorance and diſobedience al their life, and ſee what their ignorance will bring them vntounto after their death: The Lord Ieſus ſhall ſhew himſelfe from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire, rendring 2. Theſſ. 1. 8.vengeance to them that know not God, and which obey not the Goſpell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Now lay all theſe things together, and ſee wherein any man is bettered by any knowledge or wiſedome which is ioyned with contempt of grace. Doth hee thinke to pleaſe God the better? the more is he offended. Doth he hope to winne credit by it? it will bring him to ſhame. Would he hauehave it to keepe him from troubles? it will draw him into them. His death is made the more vncomfortable and bitter, and his deſtruction following much more horrible and fearfull.
Vſe. Admonition to take heed that we conforme not our opinions to the iudgement of the world: for that is directly contrarie to the teſtimonie of God. Carnall reaſon, and ſturdie affections, and vnbrideled tongues ſay, that they are fooles which will digeſt reproofes and checks, and ſuffer themſelues to be cenſured: but the heauenly wiſedome and diuine trueth, the ſacred ſcriptures ſay, that they are wiſe which hearken to the rebukes of Gods holy word: and fooles as bad as beaſts that deſpiſe them. Ob. But men will laugh at our ſimplicitie, if wee ſit downe by ſuch indignities. Reſp. But God will laugh at our miſeries if we quarrell with admonitions and counſels when hee vouchſafeth them vntounto Prou. 1. 26.vsus.