Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 17 – Verse 18
Verſe 17. The path of the righteous is to decline from euill: and he keepeth his ſoule that keepeth his way.
THE path of the righteous] The wonted and moſt conſtant conuerſation of all good men, that which they moſt deſire and endeuour, [is to decline from euill] to abſtaine from ſinne and iniquitie, and all that may allure thereunto: and contrariwiſe to performe, as farre as in them lieth, eueryevery Chriſtian dutie that is required at their hands: [and he keepeth his ſoule] he preſerueth himſelfe, both ſoule and body, from deſtruction, and all kinde of plagues, [that keepeth his way] which ordereth his life aright, and walketh vprightly in obedience to Gods holy Commandements.
Doct. Though godly men doe ſometimes ſlip into ſinnes, yet they haunt them not, nor walke in them.
S. Paul confeſſeth, that diuers things he did amiſſe, but Rom. 7. 15.with no allowance, for hee hated them: and ſundry good workes he failed to doe, but not to deſire, for his will was to hauehave performed them. And God giueth a teſtimonie of integritie, and a promiſe of happineſſe to his faithfull ſeruants, in that diuine and holy Pſalme. Bleſſed (ſaith he) are thoſe that Pſal. 119. 1. 3.are vpright in their way. Surely they worke none iniquitie, but walke in his waies.
Reaſon 1 Firſt, the Lord doth miniſter aſſiſtance to them, his word to be a light, and his ſpirit to be a guide in their waies; and both of them to diſcouer the deceitfulneſſe and danger of euill, to the end that they may with the more wiſdome and warineſſe auoid it.
Secondly, they hauehave the louelove of God in their hearts, and that doth cauſe them to abhorre iniquitie for the Lords ſake: and ſo they hauehave alſo his feare, and that doth driue them from ſinne for their owne ſake, to eſcape puniſhment: for they know that whoſoeuer will propoſe heauen and ſaluation for the end of his iourney, muſt walke in holineſſe and ſanctification, as the way vntounto it: and that he which would not feele Gods curſes, and beare the weight of his diſpleaſure, muſt feare Gods threatnings, and ſhunne the cauſe of his anger.
Vſe 1 Confutation of their preſumptuous ſelfe-liking, which walke in wicked and damnable waies, and yet arrogate to themſelues the titles of iuſt and godly men. What prophane Atheiſt, what ſuperſtitious Papiſt, what blaſphemous ſwearer, what impious Sabaoth-breaker, will indure to be charged with vngodlineſſe? And who is he, among the worſt of all, that will acknowledge himſelfe, or beare it wel at other mens hands, to be tearmed or deemed vnrighteous? Proud perſons will not: contemptuous perſons will not: contentious perſons will not: nor violent oppreſſors, nor filthie whoremongers, nor luxurious Epicures, nor the couetous, nor Vſurers, nor gameſters, nor liers, nor railers, nor any other malefactors. EueryEvery man (ſay they) committeth euill, and the beſt hauehave their faults: but no vpright man (ſaith the Scripture) walketh in euill, nor alloweth himſelfe to continue faultie. Shall a rebellious traitor, that conſpireth againſt his Prince, or taketh vp armes againſt him, be therefore iuſtified for a good ſubiect, becauſe the moſt faithfull ſubiects may be conuinced of the breach of ſome penall lawes?
Conſolation to Gods people againſt the frailties wherewith they are many times ouertaken. The Lord obſerueth and approoueth of the way that they vſually and conſcionably trauell in, though now and then they ſwarue from it: He marketh that their minde is moſt bent to the right path, though their feet be ſometimes in the wrong.
Doct. And he keepeth his ſoule] So much aſſurance hath eueryevery man of his ſaluation and ſafety, as hee is carefull to keepe himſelfe innocent and righteous.
To this end tendeth that ſaying of Moſes after hee had deliuered and declared the Law of God to the Iſraelites: Behold, I hauehave ſet before thee this day life and good, death and euill, Deu. 30. 15. 16in that I command thee this day to louelove the Lord thy God, to walke in his waies, and to keepe his Commandements, &c.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, no man can order his behauiour aright, but he that is lead by the ſpirit of God: and he that is lead by the ſpirit of God, is a member of Chriſt: and a member of Chriſt can no more poſſibly be deſtroied, than Chriſt himſelfe can periſh.
Secondly, the promiſe of al Gods mercies is made to them that liue a godly life; and the Scripture pronounceth them bleſſed that are vpright in their way, and walke in the Commandements of the Lord, and therefore they are farre from danger of damnation.
Thirdly, they that looke well to their waies, hauehave God and his Angels to looke well to their ſoules and bodies: and who ſhall be able to reſiſt ſuch puiſſant Keepers? And who can do hurt to them that are ſo powerfullie kept?
Vſe. Incouragement againſt all thoſe ſcoffes and calumniations which this godleſſe age doth caſt vponupon them that take heed to their ſteps, and will not run with the wicked in the race of Atheiſme and iniquitie. For that is now verified in our time which the Prophet bewailed in his, that he that refraineth from Iſa. 59. 15.euill, maketh himſelfe to be thought a mad man. As who ſeeth it not, that they are little better accounted of, which flie from thoſe ſinfull delights which others follow? That dare not ioine with ſwearers, Sabbath-breakers, and men of other leaud conditions, in faſhions or fellowſhip? That dare not lift vp themſelues in pompe and pride, and will not reuenge the wrongs that are offered vntounto them? That chuſe rather to liue poore and godly, than wealthy and worldly, and to get goods by guile and falſhood? What are you the better (ſay the ſonnes of Belial) for your preciſe courſe of life, and ſtrict reſtraint of your ſelues from that libertie which other men take? Heere is an anſwer to them, and a comfort to vsus: This text telleth wherein we are the better, and what gaine wee doe get by the exerciſe of godlineſſe, ſhunning of licenciouſneſſe, than which nothing is more contrarie to libertie. Wee keepe ourſelues in keeping our way: We eſcape much miſchiefe in ſhunning of ſinne: We are deliuered from deſtruction by ordering well our conuerſation. Who now doth call into queſtion the wiſdome and prouidence of Noah in declining the vniuerſall corruptions of his daies, though then all generally derided him? Was not he protected when others were puniſhed? Was not hee preſerued when all the world periſhed? Right wiſe then, and happy is that man which proceedeth in the good way, though it bee neuer ſo rough, that is ſafe, and leadeth to ſaluation; as hee is moſt ſottiſh and miſerable that turneth to the pathes of ſinne, how ſmooth ſoeuer they ſeeme to be, which are full of perils, and will bring him to perdition.
Verſe 18. Pride goeth before destruction, and an high minde before the fall.
PRide goeth before deſtruction, &c.] That commonly commeth to paſſe, that before any great plague befall the wicked, they grow inſolent and preſumptuous, ſetting foorth themſelues ambitiouſly, and ſeeking vaine glorie, in words and deeds, in geſtures or countenance: or at leaſt their hearts are lifted vp, as it is teſtified in the latter clauſe. And where either ſtately or ſtubborne behauiour, or an hautie minde do goe before, there ſome notable iudgement of God will certainly follow after, vnleſſe humiliation and repentance come betweene. See Chap. 11. verſe 2.