Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 27
Verſe 27. A wicked perſon diggeth vp euill, and in his lips is as it were burning fire.
A Wicked perſon] A naughty, leaud, and wicked man, [diggeth vp euill] ſecretly vnderunder hand laieth plots for the ſubuerſion of his neighbours ſtate, whom hee maligneth, as pioners vndermine the foundations of Cities or houſes: [and in his lips is as it were burning fire] he breatheth out pernicious and euill words, tending as much to the ruine and deſtruction of the parties againſt whom they are ſpoken, as fire kindling vponupon an houſe doth to the conſumption both of the building, and ſtuffe that is in it.
Doct. 1 A malicious man is alwaies practiſing of miſchiefe, whether he pretend friendſhip, or profeſſe enmitie.
At one time Dauid muſt be Sauls ſonne in law, he is ſo farre 1. Sam. 18.in his fauour, and no dowrie required at his hands, but an hundred foreskins of the Philiſtims: but Sauls purpoſe was to make Dauid fall into the hands of the Philiſtims. Another time Dauid is reputed a Traitor that hath conſpired againſt Saul, a rebell that ſeeketh to kill the King: and why is this charged vponupon him? Not becauſe Dauid was guiltie thereof, but that Saul might hauehave ſome colour of reaſon to kill Dauid.
Micah complained, that eueryevery man hunted his brother with a Micah 7. 2.net. And Dauid ſaith, that his aduerſaries were fierce Lions, that they were ſet on fire, that their teeth were ſpeares and arrowes, Pſal. 57. 4.and their tongue a ſharpe ſword. So craft and crueltie are euer at the hand of malice, ready to ſerue her turne, and each of them to be imploied for great aduantage. See Chapter 12. verſe 6.
Doct. 2 And his lips, &c.] Many and great euils are wrought by the poiſon of a miſchieuous mouth.
A few euill words, quickly ſpoken, may miniſter a multitude of troubles and ſtirres for a long time, as the hot breath of Rehoboam and his Counſellers did againſt himſelfe and the whole nation for many ages. What a flame was kindled by the mouth of Sheba the ſonne of Bichri, who by one mutinous ſaying cauſed all Iſrael to goe from Dauid, and follow him, ſo baſe a companion? And how many millions, by the like meanes, hauehave beene drawen from the Lord himſelfe, to fall to Poperie and treaſons, and to follow ſinne and Satan?
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, all the corruption that is in mans nature, and the ſinfulnes that is in his heart, doe gather vntounto it, and there breake out, whereby it becommeth ſo fierce and violent.
Secondly, the Diuell himſelfe hath the rule and managing of it, and hee putteth force into it, beſide the venome that it hath in it ſelfe. Hee fireth that matter that hee findeth there, and addeth to the ſame fuell of his owne, to feed the flame thereof. Behold (ſaith S. Iames) how great a thing a little fire Iam. 3. 6.kindleth. And the tongue is fire euen a world of wickedneſſe: ſo is the tongue ſet among our members, that it defileth the whole bodie, and ſetteth on fire the courſe of nature, and it is ſet on fire of Hell, that is to ſay, by Satan that helliſh ſpirit.
Vſe 1 Inſtruction, to refraine as much as we may from the ſocietie of thoſe firie fellowes, as we would preſerue our ſelues, our houſes, and goods from the flame of burning fire, leſt otherwiſe their friendſhip doe ſcorch our ſoules, or elſe falling out deuoure our ſtates.
And it is needfull alſo for godly men alwaies to hauehave innocencie, wiſdome, and patience in a readineſſe to preuent the hurt that may grow from theſe Iuniper coles, and firebrands: for though they will take occaſion, by maligning theſe graces, to blaze the more, yet they ſhall bee reſtrained by the ſame from burning ſo much, or annoying them whom they maligne. And withall it ſhall be very expedient to hauehave often recourſe to God for remedie againſt them, without whoſe helpe there is no hope of ſafety: the whole Church, and euerie part of it would be burnt to the ground (there are ſo many eueryevery where that ſpit fire againſt the faithfull) were it not that the Lord ſendeth water from heauen to extinguiſh the force of their maledictions. Dauid knew that Achitophel had a virulent tongue, and ſuch an one as was like to doe much miſchiefe, if it were permitted to take place, and therefore he ſought ſuccour at Gods hand againſt it, for he praied that his crafty counſell might bee turned into fooliſhneſſe, as it fell out, to 2. Sam. 15. 31.the deſtruction of the giuer and receiuer of it, and the preſeruation of him againſt whom it was deuiſed.
See the violence of an euill tongue more largely deſcribed Chap. 12. verſe 18.