Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 12 · Verse 23
Verſe 23. A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fooles publiſheth fooliſhneſſe.
A Prudent man, he that is of good diſcretion, and hath learned to be wary and circumſpect, concealeth knowledge, not that he ſhutteth it vp altogether, without any vſe or benefit of it to others: for that were contrarie to the profeſſion which the Prophet maketh of that wherein eueryevery godly man ought to follow him; I hauehave not hid thy righteouſneſſe within my heart, but I but I hauehave declared thy trueth and thy ſaluation; I hauehave not concealed thy merciemercy and thy trueth from the great congregation. Pſal. 40. 10. And that were contrarie to the teſtimonie which is giuen of wiſe men, chap. 15. 7. The lippes of the wiſe doe ſpread abroad knowledge. But he will obſerue all good circumſtances of ſpeaking, that it be in time and place, when good opportunitie doth require it, and good effect is like to bee wrought by it. And contrariewiſe the heart of a foole which leadeth his tongue (for guide it doth not) doth ſet the tongue on worke either to vtter bad matter, or that which is good in bad manner, that eueryevery man may ſee the folly which is in it.
Doct. It is not good for any man to ſpeake as much, and as often as he can, but as often, and as much as he ought. Many wiſe ſayings and ſentences, are inſerted by the ſpirit of God into this booke, to teach men how to be heedfull for the obſeruation of this rule. As when it is ſaid, that the tongue of the wiſe vſeth knowledge aright; Chap. 15. 2. And that a foole powreth out all his mind: but a wiſe man keepeth in till afterwards; Chap. 29. 11.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, this ſparing of ſpeech, when men reſerue themſelues for fit occaſions, and only vtter that which ſerueth for vſe, doth giuegive a cleere teſtimony of a minde that is ſtored with vnderſtanding and iudgement. And this reaſon our text in hand doth offer vntounto vsus, when it is ſaid, that a wiſe man hideth knowledge, as a foole on the other ſide doth exerciſe the contrarie. Wee deeme them not the moſt thriftie husbands and wealthieſt men that will looke vp nothing in their coffers, nor keepe any thing cloſe in their purſes, but carrie al their monie in their hands, and ſhew it to eueryevery commer by; and ſo doe they that hauehave no more matter within their hearts, then all the ſtanders by ſhall heare their lipes deliuer.
Secondly, it is a point of humilitie to bee ſilent in modeſtie, as pride, and conceitedneſſe maketh men deſirous to heare themſelues ſpeaking.
Thirdly, their words are ſo much more deſireable, and better accepted as they are rare, and few, and ſeaſonable. How good is a word in due ſeaſon? ſaith the Scripture. And a word ſpoken in his Prou. 15. 23. Prou. 25. 11.place is as apples of gold vponupon pictures of ſiluer. The ointment that is cloſe kept in a boxe wil yeeld a ſweter ſauour when it is powred out, then that which is continually open. And wine freſh from the veſſell hath a better reliſh, then that which was drawne long before there was neede of it, or any to drinke it.
Vſe. 1 Inſtruction, to learne moderation and keepe meaſure in ſpeaking, vnlike to them that be talkatiue and exceede too farre in multiplying of words. What though it be true that we ſay, and ſo we know, and are able to proue it? Doth eueryevery trueth befit eueryevery time? Should all men alwaies bee ſpeaking all that they know? It would bee a great meanes to hinder the increaſe of knowledge. Some be talking when they hauehave more neede to heare; ſome be teaching, when they hauehave more neede to learne: and many wrong themſelues, and them that are preſent, in not giuing place to others that are more ſufficient and better able to ſpeake. So did not Elihu, he preferred his elders, though not his betters, before himſelfe. Hee would not open his mouth before his turne came, and that he ſaw Iob, and his three friends to Iob. 34. 4. 5. &c.ſwerue out of the way on both hands.
Reproofe of thoſe that deſtinate all their ſpeehes, and that in the miniſterie of the Goſpell, to the ſetting forth of their owne praiſes. It may truely be ſaid of many, that they preach not Chriſt ſo much as themſelues, contrarie to the faithfulneſſe of Paul, who preached not himſelfe, but the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Their chiefe labour is not to win glory to God, and men to ſaluation: but credit to themſelues, and men to the admiration of their gifts and learning. This they principallie aime at, that all may be affected with their elocution; that al may ſee the fruit of their wits; that al may diſcerne of their skill in the tongues: that al may witnes their paines in reading: that all may wonder at their depth of iudgement. If thoſe be things that their hearts doe chiefly deſire, wee muſt conclude of them that their hearts doe publiſh fooliſhnes.