Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 12 · Verse 16
Verſe 16. A fooles wrath is made knowne the ſame day: but a prudent man couereth ſhame.
THe meaning of the holy Ghoſt is not to condemne all kind of anger: for it is one of the powers of the ſoule, which God created as an ornament in man: and godly anger is a part of Gods Image in him, and a grace commended in Moſes, Elias, Eliſha, and our Sauiour himſelfe, and he that is alwaies altogether deſtitute of this doth prouoke God to bee angrie with him, for want of zeale and hatred of ſinne. But it is a paſſionate anger that is here reproued, which is not a power of the ſoule but an impotencie. He that conceiueth the other is an agent, and doth a ſeruice to God: but hee that is moued with this, is a mere patient, and ſinne hath in that caſe preuailed againſt him. Now it is ſaid that a foole will be knowne the ſame day, that is, ſuddenlie and ſpeedily, as ſoone as he is prouoked, he will ſhew it by outcries, reuilings, or threatnings, or other ſuch like ſignes of choller: But a wiſe man, ſo farre as his wiſedome worketh, and his naturall corruption and infirmities breake not out, will hide ſhame, that is, will ſuppreſſe his anger, and paſſe by the iniuries offered to him, and not diſgrace himſelf by returning reprochful ſpeeches to him that hath done him the wrong.
Doct. They much be wray and lay open their folly that are giuen to be haſtie to anger.
God did ſee it before within, but now men ſhall alſo diſcerne it without: that which formerlie did lurke in the ſoule will breake out by this into ſight. It will ſhew it ſelfe in their countenance, in their geſtures, in their words, in their actions. And therefore it is ſaid that the diſcretion of a man deferreth his anger: and his glory Prou. 11. 11.is to paſſe by an offence.
Reaſons. Firſt the originall and roote of this raſh and haſtie anger is ſinfull and euill: it proceedeth from the corruption of nature: it is the worke of the fleſh, and a limbe of the old man; Gal. 5. 20. Col. 3. 8. That holy anger againſt ſinne and Gods diſhonour doth not come ſo eaſily, nor is ſo readie at hand; that muſt be labored for, and obtained by prayer and other godly exerciſes; and when there is cauſe of it, our fleſh is very vnwilling to entertaine it.
Secondly more ſpecially, pride and a hie minde that diſdaineth to beare any indignities doth kindle it, and cauſe the flame thereof to breake out ſo violently.
Thirdly for the manner thereof, it is inconſiderate and without all iudgement, taking thoſe to be enemies that are friends, and thoſe to be offences that are kindneſſes, and thoſe offences to be the greateſt that are the leaſt, and that to deſerue much blame and puniſhment which is to be paſſed by with ſilence.
Fourthly the effects of it are daungerous, as S. Iames ſaith, that the wrath of man worketh not the righteouſneſſe of God, Iam. 1. 20. And this ſcripture, that he that is hastie to anger committeth follie, yea exalteth folly, Prou. 14. 17. 29. as ſhall bee ſhewed more particularly in that place: And our Sauiour, that hee that is angrie with his brother vnaduiſedly ſhall bee culpable of iudgement. And he that ſhall raile with all and call his brother foole, ſhall be puniſhed with hell fire, Mat. 5. 22.
Vſe. 1 Inſtruction to vſe meanes that our hearts may bee ſtored with the wiſedome which is from aboue, that is peaceable and gentle. Let vsus not rake in the ſinke of others mens faults to annoy our ſelues with the vnſauorie ſmell of them, and therewith to be defiled and made as vnſauorie to others. Hee that will take all aduantages of wronges done to him ſhall wrong his owne name with infamie: and he that couereth the ſhame of others in priuate iniuries, doth actually publiſh his owne praiſe, as the holy Ghoſt ſaith, It is a mans glorie to paſſe by an offence: it is his honour to ceaſe from ſtrife, Pro. 19. 11. & 20. 3. Conſider how amiable and louely a grace this mildnes, this meekeneſſe, this long ſufferance and forbearance is: it declareth wiſedome, it winneth credit, it draweth louelove, it pearceth their hearts, if any thing can, that are ſo ſpared, it bringeth comfort to our owne ſoules for the aſſurance of Gods merciemercy in pardoning of our ſinnes.
Reproofe of them that for credites ſake, becauſe they would not be counted fooles, will rifle into eueryevery word that is ſpoken, and eueryevery action that is done againſt them. And ſo to auoide the name of fooles, they will doe the workes of fooles, and to hauehave the reputation of wiſe men, they will practiſe that which is contrarie to wiſedome: they will ſhame themſelues in deſire of honour, and bring contempt vponupon their owne heades, in hope to be much regarded. When they ſhew themſelues much diſpleaſed, it ſeemeth to them that they are much feared, and indeede they are much deſpiſed: great heate with offer of reuenge, they thinke will be imputed to great courage and magnanimity, but God and wiſe men aſcribe it to folly and debilitie. It is a certaine rule of truth, that he is moſt valiant, that is moſt patient: and ſo getteth Rom. 12. 21.the victory that ouercommeth euill with goodneſſe: And no conquerer is ſo mightie as he that ſubdueth his owne paſſions and diſtempered affections. For ſo doth the Lord himſelfe who is the fitteſt vmpiere in this and all other cauſes, ſet downe his award: He that is ſlow to anger is better then the mightie man: and hee that Prou. 16. 32.ruleth his owne mind, is better then he that winneth a citie.