Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 32
Verſe 32. Hee that is ſlow to wrath, is better than the mightie man; and he that ruleth his owne minde, is better than he that winneth a City.
HE that is ſlow to wrath] which will not be prouoked to anger without due cauſe, neither hauing due cauſe to bee angry, will paſſe the bounds of moderation and meaſure, [is better than the mighty man] is more to be commended for his ſtrength and fortitude than hee that is boiſterous, and ſtrong of bodie: [and he that ruleth his minde] which repreſſeth and keepeth vnderunder his intemperate paſſions and violent affections of euerie ſort, [is better than hee that winneth a Citie] hath greater power, and doth a more worthy exploit, than hee which by force of armes doth ouercome and conquer whole Cities, Caſtles, and Countries.
Doct. It is a point of greater valour to ſubdue corruptions in ones ſelfe, than to preuaile againſt other men.
The Scripture teſtifieth of the force and might of Eſau, that from the wombe hee was farre more ſtrong and ſturdie than Iacob: but it praiſeth the patience and mortification of Iacob, that hee was incomparably more meeke and moderate than Eſau. And that ſtaiedneſſe of affection which was ſeene in poore lame Mephiboſheth, who was neither perplexed with perils, nor imbittered with wrongs, hath wonne him more honour than Ioab could get by all his martiall proweſſe, or Sampſon himſelfe by his admirable power.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, the enemies of the ſoule, as luſts and inordinate affections, are more powerfull and dangerous than the enemies of the body; and therfore the victorie ouer them is ſo much the more notable and praiſe-worthy.
Secondly, he that vanquiſheth Cities and people, doth preuaile by a bodily power, which will decay together with the bodie, and may at another time be ouer-matched: but hee that maſtereth his affections, doth it by a ſpirituall puiſſance, which age impaireth not, and that retaineth the victory for euer.
Baſe men may ſubdue Kingdomes and Nations, and yet themſelues remaine the bondmen of ſinne, Satan, death, and hell, as Zenacherib, and the ſtately Kings of Aſhur, and Nebuchadnezzar, and the mighty Monarkes of Babel: the Medes in like manner with the Perſians: the Grecians alſo and Romanes. But all that rule their owne minde, are truly noble, and euer free, and hauehave already the liuerie and ſeiſen of an eternall libertie.
Vſe 1 Inſtruction, more to labour for the command of our ſelues, than for domination and authoritie ouer our brethren. All men, almoſt, deſire to rule, and in this caſe eueryevery man may well be a Ruler. God doth offer to the meaneſt men and women the iuriſdiction of their owne hearts: let him bee ſoueraigne there. And hee would hauehave them to be his ſubſtitutes vnderunder him: and they that will vndertake that office, and ſet themſelues ſeuerely to ſuppreſſe thoſe diſordered paſſions, luſts, and motions, that keepe euill rule in their ſoules, ſhall want no backing, countenance, or preferment from him.
Reproofe of thoſe that are ambitious, and would hauehave all men vnderunder them abroad, and ſuffer all vile affections to rule ouer them at home.
They thinke to make themſelues very glorious by ſhewing themſelues ſo wrathfull, fierce, and furious; and hope to bee reputed ſo much the more excellent, as they can make their poore neighbours to feele their hands to be more heauy and violent: but like fooliſh creatures, in ſo doing they make many of their vnderlings become their ſuperiors, and debaſe themſelues beneath their meaneſt inferiors. Their humble, poore, patient, oppreſſed tenants, ſeruants, and people, hauehave gotten a preheminence aboue them by the Lords owne appointment: hee hath depoſed the one ſide (and will in time make it manifeſt) for their ſinful hearts and cruell behauiour: And he hath exalted the other ſide (and once will declare it) for the meekneſſe of their mindes, and their ſober conuerſation.