Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 12 · Verse 8
Verſe 8. A man ſhall bee commended according to his wiſedome: but the froward in heart ſhall be deſpiſed.
AS eueryevery one is more wiſe and godly, ſo ſhall hee hauehave more true praiſe and honour: Sometimes, and very often the wicked ſhall commend him, commonly the righteous, and alwaies the Lord himſelfe, but moſt of all at the laſt day, before all men, and Angels, as our Sauiour telleth vsus in the fiue and twentith of Matthew. Contrariewiſe the froward in heart, ſuch whoſe hearts reiect all good inſtructions, and graces, ſhall bee deſpiſed, and brought to contempt among men in this life, or their faults breake out after they are dead, or bee manifeſted before all the world at the day of the Lord. This is the oppoſition: Hee that is vpright of heart ſhall be commended for his wiſedome: but hee that is froward of heart, ſhall be deſpiſed for his follie.
Doct. They that are not voide of vprightneſſe and wiſedome, ſhall not be deſtitute of praiſe and honour.
Though ſome be blind that they cannot diſcerne of their vnderſtanding and graces, yet others hauehave their eie-ſight, and behold them. Though ſome be dumbe, and will not ſpeake of their vertues, yet others hauehave their lippes opened to commend them. Though ſome be malitious to carpe at, and depraue them, yet others be faithfull to giuegive them their due teſtimonie. Neither is it a thing incident to ſome few, as though it belonged onelie to principall men and great perſonages, but to all of eueryevery place that are therewith qualified, both hie and low, both puiſſant potentates, and meane bondmen and ſeruants. There is no exception, or limitation of degrees, when it is ſaid, that the wiſedome of a man doth make his face to ſhine. And ſeruants could not adorne the Eccl. 8. 1.doctrine of God, if grace and godlineſſe did not alſo adorne and beautifie them.Tit. 2. 10.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, God himſelfe teſtifieth for them, and that is ſufficient for their commendation: for hee is not allowed that praiſeth himſelfe, nor whom the world praiſeth, but which is praiſed of the Lord.
Secondly, he hath all mens hearts and tongues in his hands to make them to thinke well and ſpeake well of thoſe whom hee would hauehave to be in credit. He appointed that curſing Balaam to ſpeake for his people, and bleſſe them, when he came of purpoſe to caſt out imprecations againſt them. He compelled Saul with his lippes to cleere Dauid, and to pronounce him iuſt and innocent, when he had his weapons in a readines to puniſh him as a rebell.
Thirdly, their owne amiable and louelie behauiour allureth the liking of men towards them, and obtaineth their good teſtimonie of them. This wiſedome that is from aboue, this heauenly wiſedom which the ſpirit of God worketh, is firſt pure, then peaceable, Iam. 3. 17.gentle, eaſie to bee intreated, full of merciemercy and good fruits, without iudging, and without hypocriſie. The ſight of theſe graces, the very report of them doth winne mens hearts, and draw their affections to thoſe that exerciſe them, and much more when they feele the fruite and benefit thereof to themſelues.
Now where wiſedome is wanting, and follie is flowing; where meekeneſſe is a ſtranger, and frowardneſſe a commander, what is to be looked for, but reproach and contempt? Are the pooreſt ſeruants and handmaides commended on the other ſide? then the wealthieſt Lords and Maſters are deſpiſed on this ſide. Doth the Lord praiſe all ſuch as be godly wiſe? then doth he diſgrace all thoſe that be ſinfully fooliſh. Doth hee deriue mens teſtimonies and fauours to thoſe? then will he draine and draw them away from theſe. Is ſoft, and gentle, and mercifull behauiour a meanes to procure the good will of men? then ſowre, and churliſh, and cruell demeanour, will prouoke their offence and diſpleaſure. Generally, that which God ſpake concerning Elies houſe, holdeth true to all of both ſorts: Them that honour me, I will honour, and they that deſpiſe me, ſhall be deſpiſed.1. Sam. 2. 30.
Vſe. 1 Reproofe of them that louelove nothing ſo much as praiſe: for they are as deſirous of it as Phariſies; and yet nothing leſſe than wiſedome, nor practiſe any thing ſo much as follie. Doe they thinke that the dunghill of wickedneſſe is a fit mine to digge honour and credit out of? Doe they thinke that the puddle water of pride, and wantonnes, and vanitie, will make them beautifull to the eyes of men of vnderſtanding? Doe they thinke that the filth comming out of the ſinke of quaffing, and gaming, and ſwearing, and ſinfull exerciſes will ſend out a ſweete ſauour of reuerend eſtimation? Nay, their kind friend follie hath much abuſed them, and yet for her ſake they will ſtill illude themſelues alſo. Good men pitie them, and bad men deride them, the tongues of moſt deſpiſe them, the hearts of all condemne them.
Conſolation to them vponupon whom the Lord hath multiplied the gifts of Chriſtian knowledge and wiſedome. Though all countenance ſhould ſeeke to diſcountenance them: though all wits ſhould ſet themſelues on worke to inuent their diſgrace: though all tongues ſhould be ſharpened to cut downe their credit: though all the vngodly Oratours in the world ſhould be turned into one Tertullus againſt them, yet they ſhould nothing preuaile: the praiſe that God putteth on, they cannot pluck off: they may as well ſtay the ſtarres and planets from ſhining, as take away the brightneſſe of grace and wiſedome.