Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 19
Verſe 19. Better it is to bee of an humble minde with the afflicted, than to diuide the ſpoiles with the proud.
BEtter it is] It is more comfortable, more honourable, more profitable, more ſafe and eaſie [to bee of an humble minde] or as the Hebrew word is, [of an humble ſpirit] not artificially in pride or policie to make ſemblance of humilitie, or only by naturall diſpoſition to be leſſe ambitious than many others; but to hauehave the true habit of humilitie, being beautified and ſanctified with the grace thereof, [with the afflicted] albeit we ſhould be poore, or oppreſſed, or paſſe vnderunder any other croſſes, as many, and the moſt, and welneere all doe, or hauehave done, that are heartily humbled, [than to diuide the ſpoiles with the proud] than to preuaile in our attempts, and get victories for glorie, and riches for ſtate, [with the proud] in that manner, and with that minde, as violent and arrogant oppreſſors vſe to doe.
He alludeth to the winning and ſacking of Cities, and preferreth the condition of the people ſubdued, and ſpoiled of their ſubſtance, if they be lowly, before the ſtate of the warriers conquering, and carrying away the wealth, if they bee puffed vp with pride.
Doct. EueryEvery proud man, though neuer ſo mighty and proſperous, is in worſe caſe than any humble perſon, although hee be but meane and poore.
The one ſort in the booke of Eccleſiaſtes is no more reckoned of than ſeruants and ſlaues mounted on horsbacke: and no Eccleſ. 10. 10.leſſe account is made of the other, than of Princes, and great noble men, walking on foot. And in one place of that booke he commeth as directly in expreſſe tearmes to the point, as in this our text, ſaying, The patient in ſpirit (meaning the humble, Eccleſ. 7. 10.ſo deſcribed by his effects) is better than the proud in ſpirit.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, the one is rich and puiſſant in his ſoule by the endowments and force of the ſpirit, poſſeſſing greater treaſures than all the wealth of the world is worth; and preuaileth againſt ſtrong conceits, and principalities, and powers: and the other hath a beggarly minde, and impotent heart, liuing in ſeruitude to Satan, to luſt, to diſcontentedneſſe, to diſtempered affections, and violent paſſions.
Secondly, the one is acceptable to God, and amiable to godly men; and they that be ciuill, though not religious, doe like of that louely vertue of modeſtie; whereas the Lord doth abhorre the other, and good men ſhun his ſocietie, and all that be prudent, deteſt his inſolencie.
Thirdly, the one is riſing, and growing to a better ſtate, for humilitie will ſurely bring promotion, either heere in this life, as many finde; or heereafter in the life to come, as none ſhall miſſe. And the other is comming downe, and falling into miſerie; for pride will certainly bring ruine, as the former verſe witneſſed, either before death, as is very often to bee ſeene; or after that men are dead, as eueryevery one that is in the power of it ſhall feele.
Vſe 1 Inſtruction. Sithence the Lord extolleth the humble aboue the mighty, and depreſſeth the proud beneath the poore, that wee therefore make a wiſe choice for our ſelues, to embrace that which he commendeth, and labour for that pretious grace of lowlineſſe, and to purge our ſelues, as much as we may, of that which he condemneth, and ſtriue againſt that loathſome ſinne of loftineſſe.
It is not vnlawfull for a man of great ſtate, if God aduance him, to be ranked with men of great degree; but then hee muſt take the more paines to keepe downe his heart, that it may not be lifted vp aboue his brethren of lower place: for he that admireth himſelfe in the opinion of his owne excellencie, maketh himſelfe baſe in the ſight of God, and contemptible in the iudgement of wiſe men.
Conſolation to them that are wronged and reproched with all indignities by proud perſecutors and contemptuous ſcorners: The deſpight that is offered vntounto them doth not cauſe the Lord to deſpiſe them, but to make them contemptible that are deſpiſers of them. No diſgrace can take away any part of their honour, if they be faithfull; and no high lookes ſhall preuent the low fall of their enemies, if they bee cruell. The abiects of the world (as they were accounted of and vſed) the poore diſtreſſed Iſraelites, were Gods ſonnes and dearelings, when the burden was vponupon their backs, and the ſtrokes on their bodies; and the mightieſt Potentate then of the world, as is probable, euen great Pharaoh, that plaied the tyrant with them, was but a great beaſt, a Serpent, or Dragon, when he moſt flouriſhed, and ſate vponupon his throne. They were appointed to an honourable deliuerance, and he was ordained to a memorable deſtruction.