Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 15 – Verse 16
Verſe 15. In the light of the Kings countenance is life; and his fauour is as a cloud of the latter raine.
THE meaning of this ſentence is, that where the King and great perſonages doe affect, and make manifeſt their louelove, there is ioy, and credit, and protection, and preferment, and all ſuch proſperitie as man may be a meanes of: for ſo much the word [life] doth import: and the ſame is amplified by the two ſimilitudes of lightſome and comfortable ſun-ſhine, and of fruitfull and profitable ſhowres; eſpecially thoſe which they called the latter raine, whereby the ground was refreſhed after the drought, and the corne was ripened before the harueſt. And yet are not all promiſcuouſly, without difference, in ſo happy an eſtate when ſuperiours doe ſet by them, vnleſſe the Lord doe alſo grace them: for mans friendſhip can neuer doe good vntounto Gods enemies, as may appeare by the condition of Doeg, and of the noble man, vponupon whom the King of Jſrael leaned; and of the Prieſts of Baal, whom 2. King. 7.Jezabel maintained; and of the falſe Prophets, whom Ahab reſpected.
Doct. Great account is to be made of the fauour and good countenance of Princes, and ſuch as hauehave authoritie ouer vsus.
The cheerefull lookes of a good ruler vponupon a worthy perſon is as a bright morning after a darke night, and as dew vponupon Prouer. 19. 12the graſſe after a great drought, as the holy Ghoſt maketh reſemblance. It was not a ſmall comfort to Mephiboſheth to finde ſo much grace at Dauids hand; nor a little honour to Daniel to be ſo much eſteemed of Darius, and other Kings vnderunder whom he liued. And the like may be ſaid of Joſeph and Heſter, of Mordecai and Nehemiah, whom the Scripture mentioneth to hauehave beene in great credit with thoſe Monarchs whom they ſerued, and were in ſubiection vntounto.
Reaſon 1 Firſt, a good man may diſcerne the fauour of the Lord in the face of his gouernour, who, as S. Paul witneſſeth, is the Miniſter of God for the wealth of them that doe well.Rom. 13. 4.
Thoſe whom mighty men doe ſet by, the moſt of inferior places will be ready to make much of, ſo that one great friend will occaſion many others to be very friendly, though not alwaies with ſound affection, yet often times with good profit and comfort.
Thirdly, they which enioy the louelove and good liking of Princes and principall Commanders, hauehave opportunitie put into their hands, whereby they may ſuccour the diſtreſſed, and pleaſure their brethren, and promote righteous cauſes, as may bee exemplified in thoſe faithfull fauorites formerlie ſpecified.
Vſe 1 Inſtruction to them whom the Lord hath aduanced to thrones and dignities, or to any degree of authoritie, though not the higheſt, that they ſhew moſt courteſie to them that be moſt honeſt, and giuegive beſt countenance to them that be of beſt behauiour. Sithence God hath deputed them to keepe his roome, it doth well become them to follow his example, whoſe gracious fauours neuer faile the righteous, nor the light of his countenance at any time ſhineth on the wicked.
That was one of the principal clauſes of Dauids Vow which he made to God before hee entred into the poſſeſſion of his Kingdome, that he would know (or rather acknowledge by any kinde and familiar vſage) no euill man. Mine eies (ſaith hee) Pſal. 101. 4. 6.ſhall be vntounto the faithfull of the Land, that they may dwell with me. He that walketh in a perfect way, hee ſhall ſerue me. Great mens kindneſſes hauehave as much operation in the people, as ſeaſonable ſhowres in the hearbes and plants. And is it not then to be wiſhed that they were reſtrained from ſinfull weedes and nettles, leſt they grow ranker, and ſmell the worſe; and reſerued for vertuous hearbs and flowers, which may be the more odoriferous, and flouriſh the better? Certaine it is, that the hands of vngracious wretches are greatly ſtrengthened, and made able to doe much miſchiefe, by being fauoured of men in eminent places, which may eaſily be preuented, or ſtaied, by frownes, or checks, or diſgracings from them.
And this ſerueth alſo for a motiue to inferiours, to incite them to ſeeke by due deſert in good ſeruices, to be well eſteemed of, and in credit with thoſe that beare rule ouer them. Who knoweth whether the Lord may not direct their eies to take notice of them, and incline their hearts to bee affected towards them? But becauſe it is ſcarſe poſſible for a Prince to grace all, or to know eueryevery one of his dutifull ſubiects, therefore they which (according to S. Peters precept) doe religiouſly feare God, and loyally honour the King, hauehave cauſe to comfort themſelues in the fauour of the moſt mighty Monarke of heauen and earth, which doth infinitely more exceed the greateſt kindneſſe that all the greateſt ſtates in the world can ſhew to their deareſt friends, than the Sunne-beames at noone, in the cleareſt Summer daies, doe excell the ſmalleſt ſparke of fire in the earth in brightneſſe. It is euerlaſting, as he is eternall: It is vnchangeable, as hee is immutable: It is effectuall, as he is almightie: It is moſt glorious and comfortable, as he is the God of glorie and conſolation.
Verſe 16. How much better is it to get wiſdome than gold? And to get vnderſtanding is more to be deſired than ſiluer.
HOw much better] It is ſo farre better to ſeeke and finde heauenly wiſdome, and the knowledge of God rather than gold, yea euen that which is fine and pretious, (as the word importeth) and ſiluer, as that the ods and difference is inexplicable; the greatneſſe of it cannot be vttered.
Doct. They are of all others moſt thriftie, which preferre heauenly graces before earthly riches.
Which point is more amplie proſecuted by the holy ghoſt himſelfe, Chap. 3. 14. &c. and 8. 10. 11.