Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 21
Verſe 21. The wiſe in heart ſhall bee called prudent: and the ſweetneſſe of the lips ſhall increaſe Doctrine.
THE wiſe in heart] Hee which is godly wiſe, and wiſe to ſaluation, who hath knowledge and ſinceritie mixed together in his ſoule, [ſhall be called prudent] ſhall ſhew himſelfe, be knowen, and iuſtly commended, to bee a iudicious and diſcreet perſon, both in the mouthes of godly men, and in the conſciences of wicked men, and by good effects at laſt in the ſight of all men: [and the ſweetneſſe of the lips ſhal increaſe knowledge] The former part of the ſentence declareth what good the wiſe doe get by wiſdome; that they attaine to the vertue and praiſe of prudence: and in this latter, what good they doe by the ſame to others, which is ſpecified onelyonly in their words, in their wel-ſeaſoned and comfortable ſpeeches, called the ſweetneſſe of the lips, that therby groweth [increaſe of doctrine] to eueryevery attentiue and diligent hearer, both for admonition, inſtruction, conſolation, and eueryevery other vſe, as opportunitie ſerueth.
Doct. Sound Religion, and pietie in the ſoule, will make men circumſpect, and proſperous in their waies.
Their wiſe behauiour will ſo well become them, and their good ſucceſſe in the end will ſo much aduantage them, that the eies of many will obſerue their comely conuerſation, and their tongues commend their happy condition.
The Lawes (ſaith Moſes) which I hauehave taught you, keepe and Deut. 4. 6.doe them; for that is your wiſdome and your vnderſtanding in the ſight of the people which ſhall heare all theſe ordinances, and ſhall ſay, Only this people is wiſe, and of vnderſtanding, and a great Nation. And it may be noted thorowout all the Scriptures, that none hauehave with ſo great dexteritie and happy effect diſcharged the duties of their callings, in what place ſoeuer, as they which are moſt praiſed for their godlineſſe, as Ioſeph, and Moſes, and Dauid, and Daniel, and many other Worthies.
Reaſon 1 Firſt, they hauehave Chriſt inhabiting in them, who ſanctifieth their hearts with grace, and directeth their waies with iudgement: and ſo much he teſtifieth of himſelfe, ſaying, I Wiſdome Prou. 8. 12. 14.dwell with prudence, and I finde foorth wiſdome, and counſels. I hauehave counſell, and wiſdome: I am vnderſtanding, and I hauehave ſtrength.
Secondly, the ſame holy writings which miniſter wiſdome to their hearts, do alſo plentifully yeeld precepts of prudence for their behauiour. And that, among all the reſt, this one Booke of Prouerbs doth witneſſe, abounding eueryevery where with rules and inſtructions to that purpoſe: As with admonitions againſt idleneſſe, and raſh ſuretiſhip: perſwaſions to thrift, and good husbandrie: directions for ſeaſonable ſilence, and ſpeaking: leſſons how to deale with ſuperiours: aduertiſements how to gouerne inferiours: counſels how to match in marriage, and well to vſe and liue with a good yokefellow, &c.
Thirdly, the Lord doth bleſſe their waies, and make them fortunate in their workes, as he promiſeth Ioſhua, if he would religiouſly ſeeke to know his will, and faithfully obey his word: Then (ſaith hee) ſhalt thou make thy way prosperous, and Ioſhua 1. 8.then ſhalt thou hauehave good ſucceſſe. And that which is ſaid to him, is ſpoken of eueryevery wiſe hearted man, in the Pſalme: Whatſoeuer Pſal 1. 3.be ſhall doe, ſhall prosper.
Vſe 1 Inſtruction. 1. To lay the foundation of our waies, of our ſtate, and of our credit, in our hearts: It is wiſdome in the breſt, and grace in the ſoule, that muſt guide our affaires, and worke our welfare, and winne vsus good eſtimation; if we would not deale abſurdly, and ſpeed vnhappily, and iuſtly bee cenſured for fooliſh perſons. 2. To imploy them moſt in all our affaires, that are moſt religious and godly wiſe. They will be prudent and faithfull in the managing of thoſe matters which they take in hand, and God will bee mercifull and gracious in proſpering of them.
Abraham found this true by good experience, in ſending of that deuout and truſtie ſeruant to fetch a wife for Iſaac: and ſo did Laban, in viſing Iacob about his flocks: and ſo did Potiphar, in committing ſuch truſt to Ioſeph in his familie.
Reproofe of their follie, that thinke it impoſſible for thoſe that are truly religious, either to ſhew themſelues prudent, or that others ſhould commend them for diſcretion: and therefore they reiect the wiſdome of the word, becauſe they feare it will make them to be derided; and wholly embrace the policie of the world, becauſe they hope it will make them to be admired. Or if at any time profeſſion of pietie and Religion may be for their aduantage, as often it is, they will only make a ſhew thereof with their tongues, but neuer giuegive entertainement thereto in their ſoules. Sorrow and ſhame will teach them in time to know, that neither they which contemptuouſly deſpiſe the wiſdome of the ſpirit, nor they which diſſemblingly pretend a louelove of it, had euer any good forecaſt for themſelues, but only they that are wiſe in heart ſhall be called prudent. Wee are taught by Iobs faithfull teſtimonie, that they which ſay vntounto God, Depart from vsus, wee deſire not the knowledge Iob 21. 14. 17.of thy waies, ſhall hauehave their candle put out, and deſtruction come vponupon them. And we learne by Achitophels wofull example, that no wit nor ſubtiltie can preſerue an hypocrite from working his owne miſerie.
The doctrine that ariſeth out of the other part of the ſentence, concerning the fruit that commeth by wiſe, wholſome, and comfortable ſpeeches, hath beene obſerued and handled Chap. 10. verſe 11. where the mouth of the righteous is called a wel-ſpring of life: and Chap. 11. verſe 13. where the fruit of the righteous is ſaid to be as a tree of life.