Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 12 · Verse 11
Verſe 11. He that tilleth his land, ſhall bee ſatisfied with bread: but he that followeth the idle, is deſtitute of vnderſtanding.
HE that tilleth his land, which is induſtrious and faithfull to doe good in any honeſt vocation, ſhall be ſatisfied with bread, ſhall hauehave competencie of all things that are needfull for him: but he that followeth the idle, vaine fellowes, which giuegive themſelues to no good trade or occupation, and is idle as they are, is deſtitute of vnderſtanding, playeth the foole, and ſhall feele the ſmart and paine of it.
The oppoſition is, he that tilleth his land is wiſe, and ſhall bee ſatiſfied with bread: but he that followeth the idle, or is idle (for that is the meaning) is deſtitute of vnderſtanding, and ſhall bee filled with pouertie. So is the ſupplie made: Chap. 28. 19.
Doct. 1 The exerciſe of husbandrie is a good and commendable vocation. He ſingleth it out, as a paterne or enſample of all the reſt, that if men labour in any worke that is no worſe than that, they ſhall be ſure that no exception can iuſtly be taken againſt it. Many exhortations tend to it; as, Prepare thy worke in the field, Prouerbs 24. 27. Many reproofes and threatnings tend to it, as, The ſlothfull will not plow becauſe of winter, and therefore he ſhall begge in ſummer, Chap. 20. 4. Many promiſes of bleſſings are to that purpoſe, as, Thy barne ſhall be filled with abundance: Chap. 3. 10.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, it is the moſt ancient of all trades. God himſelfe aſſigned it to Adam, and Adam made choiſe of it for his eldeſt ſonne.
It is as much voide of guile and deceit as any, and very profitable and commodious. The labour of men is for good vſe in it; and the labour of beaſts is gainfull; as he ſaith, Where none oxen are the crib is emptie, but much increaſe commeth by the ſtrength of the oxe, chap. 14. 4. And in that reſpect there is a promiſe made vntounto them, that they ſhall hauehave a part in mans plentie, and fare the better by mans welfare. The oxen and the yong aſſes that till the Iſai. 30. 24.ground, ſhall eate cleane prouender, which is winowed with the ſhouell and the fanne.
It is neceſſarie both for Prince and ſubiects, and all ſorts of people. The abundance of the earth is for all: and the King conſiſteth Eccle. 5. 8.by the field that is tilled.
Some can liue without fleſh, and many without fruites, and more without fiſh, but none without bread. The Aegyptians were not without fruits and fiſh, in the yeeres of ſcarſitie, as it is probable, nor Iacob without cattell, as it is certaine, and yet through want of corne they were all in danger to periſh.
Vſe. 1 Incouragement to them whoſe trauell is in it, that they worke cheerefully. They are of as good note with God for their ſeruice, if they be faithfull, as others whoſe trades are more gainfull, and better eſteemed among men. The Merchants, and Goldſmiths, and Iewellers, and others of ſuch places are not ſo often mentioned in the Scriptures as they be, nor animated with ſo many conſolations as they are: the grand promiſes for bleſſing on their labours, is made to them in ſpeciall, and the reſt muſt deduct their comforts from thence by proportion.
Reproofe of them that diſdaine this calling, ſcorning to be of it, or to put their children to it, as accounting, and calling them hindes, and clownes, and peaſants, and contemptible perſons, that be of that profeſſion. It is a righteous hand of God vponupon vsus, that tillage is ſo much decaied, becauſe it is no better regarded: and that there ſhould bee ſo much detracted daily from the imployment of men, becauſe there are ſo few men that are willing to be imployed in it. Notwithſtanding it is their great ſinne, as may appeare by the premiſſes, which doe what they can, for their parts, to defraud the land of ſo ancient, honeſt, profitable, and neceſſarie a trade and vocation.
Doct. But he that followeth the idle, &c. They that diſpoſe themſelues to idlenes, ſhall neither want example nor companie in it.
They ſhall hauehave al inticements and allurements to draw them to it, and hold them in it, ſo ſoone as they hauehave any inclination that way. They ſhall not be the firſt inuentors of that trade, but others hauehave vſed it before them, and diuers will practiſe it with them. They ſhall finde the ice broken to them, and a path beaten out for them, and all inducements to bring them into the ſnare.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, there are very many that are giuen to this finne, as may appeare by the manifold admonitions, rebukes and threatnings to them that liue in it. It is a ſure rule to bee obſerued, that when the holy Ghoſt doth deale often and largely againſt any euill, it is ſuch as is heinous, and dangerous, and many are ſubiect to it.
Secondly, they are ſociable and delight in companie, and take pleaſure to be diuers of them together. Experience confirmeth this, and maketh it apparant and manifeſt. How many doe ſit together at drinking, and quaffing, and ſurfetting? how many doe flocke together to vaine playes, and idle ſports and paſtimes? How many were wont to ſwarme together eueryevery where, as in ſundrie places they do ſtill, in that deteſtable courſe of wandring and rogiſhneſſe? It may ſeeme to hauehave been no delightfull habitation to liue in want and penurie and diſgrace in a ſolitarie wilderneſſe, and yet that was haunted by them, according as Iob teſtifieth: They were chaſed foorth from among men: they ſhouted at Iob 30. 5. 7.them, as at a theefe. They roared among the buſhes, and vnderunder the thiſtles they gathered themſelues.
Thirdly, they poyſon each others heart, when they come together, with ſuch ſpeeches, and exerciſes, as they are not eaſily reduced to any vertuous behauiour afterwards.
Vſe. Admonition to looke to our ſelues, and our people, that the contagion of the ſocietie, perſwaſions, or examples of vnthriftie perſons, bring not either vsus or ours to ioyne with them, or be like vntounto them. Seeing the number of them is ſo great, our watchfulneſſe muſt be the more, that if wee may, we ſhunne their companie, if we may not, yet to take a preſeruatiue that we be not infected by them. Let this be remembred that though their number be great, yet there are none of them wiſe, and though they are preſently full of mirth, yet they will not long be full of wealth: and as they free themſelues from the paines that other men take, ſo they debarre themſelues from the plentie which others enioy, and fall into that want which others eſcape.
Doct. 3 Is deſtitute, &c. EueryEvery idle perſon is fooliſh. Though ſome of them hauehave knowledge, and that more than the greater part of them that be laborious and diligent, yet God will not vouchſafe it the name of vnderſtanding, nor themſelues the credit to bee called wiſe men. The ſame that he affirmeth here, he doth ſtand to, and iuſtifie in another place, repeating againe the ſelfe ſame words: I paſſed by the field of the ſlothfull, and by the vineyard of the Prou. 24. 30.man deſtitute of vnderſtanding. And the conſequence doth alſo argue as much, when he ſendeth him to ſchoole to ſuch a ſimple Miſtriſſe to be taught, ſaying, Goe to the Piſmire, O ſluggard: behold Prou 6. 6.her waies, and be wiſe.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, true wiſedome is neuer ſeparated from faithfulnes in ones calling, becauſe it is euer ioyned with the feare of God, and the feare of God worketh in men obedience to the word of God, and the word of God teacheth eueryevery man to labour with his hands, (or otherwiſe) the thing that is good, Epheſ. 4. 28.
Secondly, the want and miſerie hee plungeth himſelfe into, doth ſhew that wiſedome is away. For wiſedome dwelleth with prudence, and maketh men prouident for themſelues, their ſtate and familie.
Thirdly, his conceitednes doth euict his follie: for, The ſluggard is wiſer in his owne conceit, than ſeuen men that can render a reaſon, Prou. 26. 16. And then ye know how the caſe ſtandeth with him: Seeſt thou a man that is wiſe in his owne eyes? there is more hope of a foole than of him, Prou. 26. 12.
Vſe. Inſtruction, to be affraid of ſo dangerous a ſinne that bringeth ſo much miſchiefe with it. What can be more hurtfull and pernicious than it is? What can bring a man into greater miſeries? It draweth men into euill companie: euill companie will corrupt them with euill behauiour, and it, and euill companie, and euill behauiour will bring them into an euill ſtate, and robbe them both of their wealth, & good wit. No the eues can do ſo much, no tyrants can make ſuch a ſpoyle, no fire can burne vp and conſume thoſe things that it can. They doe no more but bereaue men of their money and ſubſtance as it doth, and it taketh away their wiſedome and credit, as they doe not. When goods be gone, labour may get more, and friends may giuegive more to them that hauehave vnderſtanding, or at leaſt they ſhall hauehave peace in their hearts with God, and fauour with good men: but when vnderſtanding is loſt as well as their wealth, what ſhall become of them? They know not how to recouer their ſtate: they know not how to beare their wants: they hauehave no conſolation in God: they hauehave no countenance from godly men, they hauehave (continuing in that ſin without repentance) no ſure hope of ſaluation in heauen.