Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 12 · Verse 5
Verſe 5. The thoughts of the iuſt are right: but the counſels of the wicked are deceit.
GOdly men are not altogether voide of thoughts, that are not right and allowable: ſometimes Sathan caſteth in matter to turne them out of the right courſe: ſometimes their owne fleſh will play it part, and ſtirre vp deſires of commoditie and praiſe, and pleaſures and ſuch like in them; but theſe are as the muddines that may be for a time in a good fountaine that is troubled: theſe they allow not: theſe they reſiſt, and iudge themſelues for, and therefore God taketh notice only of thoſe that are good, tending to his ſeruice, and glorie, their owne ſaluation, and the benefite of their brethren. On the other ſide, the counſels of the wicked, that is, their deuiſes, plots, and purpoſes in themſelues (for they are here rather the worke of the mind, then of the tongue, and oppoſed to the thoughts of the godly) are deceit, tending either to the circumvention, and wronging of others, or to the cloaking and hiding of their owne ſinfulneſſe.
Doct. The godly differ as much from the wicked in inward cogitations and purpoſes, as in outward conuerſation and practiſe. At the firſt creation man was made to excell the bruite beaſts more by the reaſon and gifts of the ſoule, then by the faſhion and ſhape of the bodie: and at the ſecond, a Chriſtian is made to excell ſinfull men more by the holineſſe and working of the ſoule, then by the actions and workes of the bodie. This cauſed the Apoſtle S. Paul to vrge the Epheſians with ſo earneſt an aſſeueration and atteſtation, that hereby they ſhould cleere their regeneration vnfalliblie, and put it out of all doubt and queſtion. This I ſay, and Epheſ. 4. 17.teſtifie in the Lord, that yee henceforth walke not as other Gentiles walke in vanitie of their mind, hauing their cogitations darkned, &c. And Iſaiah commeth to ſpeake of ſome ſpecials, and ſheweth what a contrarietie there is betweene their thoughts and meditations. The heart, ſaith he, of the niggard will worke iniquitie, he deuiſeth euill counſels to vndoe the poore with lying words: but the liberall man will deuiſe of liberall things, and will continue his liberality, Iſa. 32. 6. 7. 8.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, the one ſort are led by the word and ſpirit of God, and therefore will thinke of ſuch things as they worke in them, and perſwade them vntounto: the other are led by the fleſh, and Sathan, and therefore will thinke of ſuch things as they ſuggeſt.
Secondly, the hearts of the one are repleniſhed with Chriſtian louelove, and therefore they will meditate how they may beſt exerciſe it in doing good: and the other are poſſeſt with ſelfe-louelove, and they will deuiſe how they may ſerue their owne turnes though with neuer ſo much hurt and miſchiefe.
Thirdly, the treaſures of the one are in heauen, and therefore their hearts are there, and their thoughts are taken vp about heauenly things; and the happines of the other is in earth, and ſinne, and therefore they are alwaies pondring of earthly and ſinfull matters.
Fourthly, the heart and purpoſe is the roote from whence the actions ſpring and receiue their life, and therfore good men could not performe ſo many good ſeruices, and hauehave them ſo well accepted of God, and the wicked would not fall into ſo many foule ſinnes, and be ſo much hated of him, vnleſſe they had contrarie mindes and affections, the godly holy and righteous, and the wicked impious and deceitfull.
Vſe. 1 Inſtruction to examine and trie the ſtate of our ſoules by this rule, let ws conſider not onelyonly what we hauehave done, and how men conceiue of vsus, but with what mind wee hauehave performed eueryevery good dutie, and how the Lord doth eſteeme of vsus. He trieth the raines, he ſearcheth the heart, hee looketh vponupon the purpoſes, and deſires. That which no creature ſeeth or taketh knowledge of, he praiſeth, and rewardeth: that which the world admireth and magnifieth, he hateth and abhorreth. So our Sauiour told the Phariſes, Yee are they which iuſtifie your ſelues before men: but God Luk. 16. 15.knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly eſteemed among men, is abomination in the ſight of God.
Reproofe of them that turne their hearts looſe, permitting their thoughts to ſtraggle whitherſoeuer they will at their pleaſure, and thinke it ſafe to ſatisfie themſelues in filthie luſts, in proud imaginations, in bitter grudgings, and in diuers idle, vaine, and fooliſh conceits. It is accounted by many for a part of mans libertie that thought is free: but they that take that libertie are brought into the moſt grieuous ſeruitude, to become ſlaues and bondmen to thoſe free thoughts. Now if deceitfull counſels conuince men to bee euill, as the Scripture ſaith they doe, what can the Papiſts ſay for themſelues, why they ſhould be reputed good? Did euer any kinde of people lay their plots for greater miſchiefes? Did euer any ſeeke to act their purpoſes with greater falſehood and treacherie? What fidelitie is to bee found in their words, in their proteſtations, in their ſolemne oathes? They ſay many things, which the purpoſe of not doing them is the cauſe why they ſay them. Then they pretend the moſt obedience, when they intend the greateſt diſobedience: and looke for ſome notable diſloialtie from them, when they are readie to ſweare to be loyall.