Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Proverbs · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Verſ. 1. A wiſe ſon heareth his Fathers inſtruction.]
HEbr. Is the inſtruction (or diſcipline) of his Father; Philoſtratus.hee was not natus ſapiens (as Apollonius) ſed factus, not born wiſe to ſalvation, but made ſo by his Fathers diſcipline, as Solomon, Prov. 4.4. See the Note there.
But a ſcorner heareth not rebuke] Or, heareth and ſcareth, as Lots ſons in law, as Elies ſons, and (afterward) Samuels. Samuel ſucceeds Eli in his croſs, as well as in his place, though not in his ſin of indulgence. God will ſhew, that grace is by gift, not by inheritance, or education. Ciceroni degenerem fuiſſe fili… conſtat, & ſapiens ille Socrates liberos habuit matri ſimiliores quam patri, ſaith Seneca. Cicero had a ſon nothing like him; ſo had Socrates.
Verſ. 2. A man ſhall eat good by the fruit of his mouth] See the Note on Chap. 12. verſ. 14. and on Chap. 10. verſ. 6. and on Mat. 12.37.
Verſ. 3. Hee that keepeth his mouth] As the guard keepeth the gates in a ſiege. God hath ſet a double guard of lips and teeth before this gate; and yet unleſs hee himſelf ſet the watch, and keep the door, all will bee loſt, Pſal. 141.3.
But hee that openeth wide his lips] As ſhee did her feet, to multiply her Whoredomes, Ezek. 16.25. foreign Gaping-mouthed men are noted for fools by Lucian and Ariſtophanes. Scalig Arab, Prov. cent. 1. Prov. 75.An open mouth is a purgatory to the Maſter ſay wee. And cave ne feriat lingua tua collum tuum, ſay the Arabians in their Proverb; Take heed that thy tongue cut not thy throat.
Verſ. 4. The ſoul of the ſluggard deſireth, &c.] Vult, & non vult piger (ſo the Vulgar reads it) The ſluggard would, and hee would not: hee would have the end, but hee would not uſe the means; hee would ſit at Chriſts right hand, but hee would not drink of his cup, or bee baptized with his baptiſm. Lyra compares theſe men to Cats that would fain have fiſh, but are loath to wet their feet. (This is an Engliſh Proverb; for Lyra was a famous Engliſh Jew, and flouriſhed in the year of Grace, 1320.) Affection without endeavour is like Rachel, beautiful, but barren.
But the ſoul of the diligent ſhall bee made fat] i. e. Thoſe that work as well as wiſh, that adde endeavours to their deſires, as 2 Cor. 8.11. David raviſhed with the meditation of the good mans bleſſedneſs, preſently conceives this deſire and purlues it; not, Oh that I had this happineſs! but, Oh that I could uſe the means, that nay wayes were ſo directed, Pſal. 119.4, 5.
Verſ. 5. A righteous man hateth lying] Hateth it as hell, Rom. 12.9.foreign I hate and abhor lying ſaith David, Pſal. 119.163. and yet among other corruptions, hee had an inclination to this ſin. See how roundly hee tells three or four lyes together, 1 Sam. 21.2.8. and 1 Sam. 27.8, 10. but hee both hated it in himſelf, and prayed againſt it, Pſal. 1…9.29.
But a wicked man is loathſome] Stinks above ground; a lyer eſpecially is looked upon as a Peſt. Riches cannot make a man ſo graceful, as lying will diſgrace him; for a poor man walking in his integrity, is better than a rich man that is a lyer, Prov. 19.22. Hence the lyer denies his own lye, becauſe hee is aſhamed to bee taken with it. Some read it thus; A wicked man maketh others loathſome, and caſteth ſhame upon them, ſc. by raiſing or reporting lyes of them, by blaſting or blemiſhing their good names. Thus Core and his Complices ſought to caſt an odium on Moſes; the Phariſees upon our Saviour, the Arrians upon Athanaſius, the Papiſts upon Wicliffe, whom Bi…ius ſlanders for his miſſing the Biſhoprick of Worceſter, to have fallen upon that ſucceſsful contradiction;Epiphan. like as the ſpiteful Jews ſaid Paul did, becauſe hee could not obtain the High-prieſts daughter to wife.
Verſ. 6. Righteouſneſs keepeth him that is upright] That, though belyed or otherwiſe abuſed, hee will not let go his integrity, Job 27.5. Davids feet ſtood on an even place, Pſal. 26.12. The Spouſe, though deſpoiled of her veil, and wounded by the watch, yet cleaves cloſe to Chriſt, Cant. 5. Not but that the beſt are ſometimes diſquieted in ſuch caſes; for not the eveneſt weights, but at their firſt putting into the ballance; ſomewhat ſway both parts thereof, not without ſome ſhew of inequality; which yet after ſome little motion, ſettle themſelves in a meet poize and poſture.
But wickedneſs overthroweth the ſinner] Hebr. the ſin, as if the man were transformed into ſins image. What is the tranſgreſſion of Jacob? Is it not Samaria, Lipſ. Antiq. lect.Mic. 1.5. Tubulus quidam paulo ſupra Ciceronem Praetor fuit… homo tam projecte improbus ut ejus nomen non hominis ſed vitii eſſe videretur, ſaith Lipſias. The Pope is called the Man of ſin, 2 Theſſ. 3.2. to note him Merum ſcelus, ſaith Beza, made up meerly of ſin.
Verſ. 7. There is that maketh himſelf rich] Such foreign (as the witty Gretian calleth them) there are not a few, that ſtretch their wing beyond their neſt, that bear a port beyond their eſtate, that trick up themſelves with other mens plumes, laying it on above meaſure in cloaths, fair building, &c, when not worth a groat, but dye in priſon, or make a fraudulent compoſition. This is no better before God than rapine and robbery.
There is that makes himſelf poor, &c.] As the new-elected Pope doth, when in his Lateran proceſſion, hee caſts among the people peeces of braſs and copper,B. Halls Serm. ſaying, Silver and gold have I none, but ſuch as I have I give you. So the Friats are a race of people (ſaith one that hath been long amongſt them) that are alwaies vowing obedience,Spec. Europ. but ſtill contentio…s: Chaſtity, yet moſt luxurious: Poverty, yet every where ſcraping and covetous. No Cappucine may take or touch ſilver; at the offer of it hee ſtarts back, as Moſes from the Serpent;B. Halls Epiſt. 5. D c. 1. Godw▪ Catal. yet hee carries a boy with him that takes and carries it, and never complains of either metal or meaſure. Wee had in King Stephens dayes a rich Chancellor of England, who yet was, and would bee called Roger paupere cenſu.
Verſ. 8. The ranſome of a mans life are his riches] They may help a man out at a dead lift, and get him a releaſe out of captivity, or a leaſe of his life. Slay us not, ſay they, Jer. 41.8. for wee have treaſures in the field, &c. So hee forbore and ſlew them not among their brethren. Some read it thus, The price of a mans life are his riches. It coſts him his life that hee is rich, as Naboth, and as many Turkiſh Viſiers. Dio in Calig.In the dayes of Caligula the Tyrant, publicum crimeu fuit, divicem fuiſſe, it was crime enough to bee rich: And in the reign of Henry the ſecond of France, many were burned for Religion as was pretended: but indeed,Hiſt. of Councel of Trent. 387. to ſatiate the covetouſneſs of Diana Valentina the Kings Miſtreſs, to whom hee had given all the confiſcations of goods made in the Kingdome, for cauſe of hereſie.
But the poor heareth not rebuke] Hee ſcapes many times as not conſiderable, as not worth a chiding, as under law. In a Tragedy there is no place for a poor man but onelyonly to dance, as Arrian hath obſerved upon Epictetus.
Sol non patitur celipſin, ſed videtur tautum p…i.Verſ. 9. The light of the righteous rejoyceth] As the Sun rejoyceth to run his race, and ſeemeth ſometimes to ſuffer eclipſe, but doth not. A Saints joy is as the light of the Sun, fed by heavenly influence, and never extinct, but diffuſed through all parts of the world.
But the Lamp of the wicked ſhall bee put out] Their joy is but as the light of a Candle, fed by baſe and ſtinking matter, ſoon waſting and ending in an offenſive ſnuffe. The light of the wicked ſhall be put out, and the ſpark of his fire ſhall not ſhine. The light ſhall be dark in his Tabernacle: and his Candle ſhall be put out with him. Job 18.5, 6. Ecquandone vidiſti ſtammam ſtipula exertam claro ſtrepitu, largo fulgore, cito incremento, ſed enim mater alevi, Apuleius in Apolog.caduco ine endio, nullis requiis? Salomon compares it fitly to a handful of bruſh-wood, or ſ…are thorn under the pot. Eccleſ. 7.6.
Verſ. 10. Only by pride cometh contention] Hebr, dabit jurgium. Pride if there be no cauſe of contention given will make it. Tranſcend…, non obedio, perturbo, is the Motto written upon prides tripple-crown. A proud perſon is full of diſcontent: nothing can pleaſe him, &c. Juſt like one that hath a ſwelling in his hands, ſomething or other toucheth it ſtill, and driveth him to out-cries. Pride maketh a man drunk with his own conceits, Hab. 2.5. The proud man is as he that hath tranſgreſſed by wine: And drunkards we know are quarrelſome. The Corinthians had riches, and gifts, and learning: and carried aloft by theſe waxen wings, they domineered and deſpiſed others, 1 Cor. 4.8. they were divided and diſcontented, 1 Cor. 3.3. and theſe over-flowings of the gall and ſpleen came from a fulneſſe of bad humours. Pride is a dividing diſtemper: gowty ſwoln leggs keep at a diſtance: bladders blown up with wind ſpurt one from another, and will not cloſe: but prick them, and you may pack a thouſand of them in a little room.
But with the well-adviſed is wiſdome] The meekneſſe of wiſdome (as St. James hath it, Chap. 3.13.) of the which we may well ſay as Tertullus ſaid to Felix, Acts 24.2. By thee we enjoy great quietneſſe. It was a great trouble to Hama… to lead Mordecai's Horſe, which another man would not have thought ſo. The moving of a ſtraw troubleth proud fleſh: whereas humility if compelled to goe one mile, will goe two for a need: yea, as far as the ſhooes of the Goſpel of peace can carry it. The wiſdome from above is peaceable, Jam. 3.
Verſ. 11. Wealth gotten by vanity ſhall be diminiſhed] De malè quaſitio …ix gauget tertius haeres. Horat.Ill gotten goods fly away without taking leave of the owner: leaving nothing but the print of talons to torment him. Prov. 23.5. Many when they have a loſſe in their riches, it is as it were raked out of their bellies, Joh 20.15. A piece of their very heart goes with it.
But he that gathereth by labour, ſhall encreaſe] Howbeit ſometimes it is otherwiſe; Maſter, we have laboured all night and taken nothing. Behold,Luke 4. is it not of the Lord of Hoſts, that the people ſhall labour in the very fire, and the people ſhall weary themſelves for very vanity? Hab. 2.13. There is a curſe upon unlawful practices, though men be induſtrious, as in Jehojakim, Jer. 22.
Verſ. 12. Hope deferred maketh the heart ſick] Hopes hours are full of eternity: and how many ſee we lye languiſhing at Hopes Hoſpital, as hee at the Pool of Betheſda? Spes in terronis incerti nomen boni ſpes in divinis nomen eſt certiſſimi, Heb. 11.1. Hope unfailable, Rom. 5.5. is founded upon faith unfained, 1 Tim. 1.5.
But when the deſire cometh] As come it will to thoſe that wait patiently upon God: (for waiting is but hope and truſt lengthened) Deo confiſi, nunquam confuſi. The viſion is but for an appointed time; therefore wait, Hab. 2.3. you ſhall be well paid for your patience. Wee are apt to antedate the Promiſes, and to ſet God a time, as they (Jer. 8.20.) looked for Salvation at Summer at furtheſt: We are ſhort breathed, ſhort-ſpirited: But as God ſeldome comes at our time, ſo he never fails at his own: and then he is moſt ſweet, becauſe moſt ſeaſonable.
Verſ. 13. Who ſo deſpiſeth the Word, ſhall be deſtroyed] Biſhop Bonners Chaplaine called the Bible (in ſcorn) his little pretty Gods Book.Lindan. pa…. lib. 1. cap. 9. Commonitorium. Bell. Gifford and Rainold, ſaid, it contained doctrinam peregrinam ſtrange doctrin, yea, ſome things profane and Apocryphal. The more modeſt Papiſts account Traditions the touch-ſtone of doctrin, and foundation of faith: And repute the Scriptures to be rather a kind of ſtore-houſe for advice in matters of Religion. We account them the Divine beam, and moſt exact ballance. Cor & animam Dei, the heart and ſoul of God, as Gregory calleth them; the beſt fortreſſe againſt errours, as Auſtin, &c. though ſome of our ſublimated Sectaries blaſpheme that bleſſed Book as a dead letter, and a beggerly element.
But he that feareth the Commandement] That honoureth the Scriptures, and trembleth at the Word preached, as King Edward the ſixth did (that ſecond Joſiah) and as Queen Elizabeth (his ſweet ſiſter Temperance, as he uſed to call her) who when the Bible was preſented to her as ſhe rode triumphantly thorow London after her Coronation, ſhe received the ſame with both her hands: and kiſſing it, laid it to her breaſt, ſaying, that it had ever been her delight, and ſhould be her Rule of Government.
Verſ. 14. The law of the wiſe is as a well of life] Or, the Law to the wiſe is a fountain, &c. whence he may draw the beſt directions and helps to holineſſe and happineſſe. It confines him to live in that element where hee would live, (as if one were confined to Paradiſe where hee would be) though there were no ſuch Law. The wicked, on the contrary, leaps over the pale after profit and pleaſure, and falls upon the ſnares of death; as Shimei ſought his Servants, loſt himſelf.
Verſ. 15. Good underſtanding giveth favour] See this exemplified in Joſeph, David, Daniel, Paul, Acts 27.43. & 28.2. God oft ſpeaketh for ſuch in the hearts of their enemies, who cannot but admire their piety and patience, and ſpend more thoughts about them than the world is aware of; as Darius did about Daniel when caſt into the Den. Natural conſcience cannot but doe homage to the Image of God ſtamped upon the natures and works of the godly; when they ſee in them that which is above the ordinary nature of men, or their expectation, they are afraid of the Name of God, whereby they are called, Deut. 28.9, 10. and are forced to ſay, Surely this is a wiſe and underſtanding Nation, Deut. 4.6. God is in this people of a truth, 1 Cor. 14.25. Certainly this was a righteous man, Luk. 23.47.
But the way of tranſgreſſors is hard] Or rough and rugged. Satan is a rough harſh Spirit, (hence Devils are called Sheguirim, hairy ones, Levit. 17.7. Satyres, Iſa. 34.14.) So are all his; foreign, fierce, heady, high-minded, 2 Tim. 3.3, 4. living in malice and envie, hateful and hating one another, Tit. 3.3. Such were Iſhmael, Eſau, Saul, Antiochus, (that little Antichriſt) the Pope, that foreign, and our Richard the third; who well knowing it was no good policy to play the Devil by half deal, reſolved to leave never a rub to lye in the way that might hinder the running of his bowl: and hence was he ſo infinitely hated of all.
Verſ. 16. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge] Obſerves circumſtances, and deports himſelf with diſcretion: thruſts not himſelf into unneceſſary dangers, carves not a piece of his heart but to thoſe hee is well aſſured of. See an inſtance of this prudence in Ezra, chap. 8.22. in Nehemiah, (chap. 2.5. Hee calls it not the place of Gods Worſhip, (ſuch an expreſſion that Heathen King might have diſguſted) but the place of his Fathers Sepulchres,) in Eſther, who concealed her Stock and Kindred till ſhe ſaw her time; in Chriſt, when he was tried for his life: in Paul, Acts 23.6. & Act. 19.10. he lived two years at Epheſus, and ſpake not much againſt the Worſhip of their great Goddeſſe Diana, verſ. 37. The prudent ſhall keep ſilence in an evil time. Amos 5.13. 'Tis not good provoking evil men that are irreformable: nor ſafe pulling a Bear or mad Dog by the ear.
But a fool layeth open his folly] Plaſheth it, and ſetteth it a ſunning, as it were, by his head-long head-ſtrong exorbitances: by his inconſiderate courſes hee openly bewraies and proclaims what he is: he ſets his folly upon the cliffe of the rock, that it ſhould not be covered, Ezek. 24.7.
Verſ. 17. A wicked meſſenger falleth into miſchief] Incurs the diſpleaſure and juſt revenge of them that ſent him: Or at leaſt, of God, in caſe of their ſlackneſſe. How much more then wicked Miniſters, thoſe Meſſengers of the Churches,Jer. 4….10. foreign. 2 Cor. 8.23. that doe the Lords work negligently, that corrupt his Meſſage, 2 Cor. 2.17. that huckſter it and handle it craftily and covetouſly, good evil, and evil good, &c. Who is blinde but my ſervant? or deaf as my meſſenger? Iſa. 42.19. Such an Ambaſſadour was once worthily derided in the Roman State. As at another time, a certain ſtranger coming on Ambaſſage to the Senators of Rome, and colouring his hoary hair, and pale cheeks, with vermilion hue, a grave Senator eſpying the deceit, ſtood up, and ſaid, What ſincerity are wee to expect at this mans hands, whoſe locks, and looks, and lips do lye? It was an honeſt complaint of a Popiſh Writer, Wee (ſaith hee) handle the Scripture, tantum ut nos paſcat & veſtiat, that wee may pick a living out of it, and are therefore fain to preach placentia, and ſo to put men into a Fools Paradiſe. But ſhall they thus eſcape by iniquity? Pſal. 56.7. have they no better Medicums?
But a faithful Ambaſſador is health] To him that ſendeth him, to thoſe hee is ſent to, and to himſelf: So is a faithful Miniſter that delivers the whole counſel of God, all that hee hath in Commiſſion, Jer. 1.17. Ezek. 3.17.
Verſ. 18. Poverty and ſhame] Theſe two are fitly ſet together; for poverty is uſually ſlighted, if not ſhamed, Jam. 2.16.
Nil habet infelix paupertas durius in ſe
Quàm quod ridiculos homines facit.—
The world looks over a poor, though vertuous man. Luke 15. This thy ſon, not this my brother. And why? but becauſe in poverty. How much more an uncounſelable and incorrigible man, as here, and that Prodigal had been, till hee came to himſelf.
But hee that regardeth reproof, ſhall bee honoured] Though not haply inriched, hee ſhall bee of good account with the wiſe and godly, though in meaner condition. Mr. Fox being asked whether hee knew ſuch an honeſt poor man, who had received ſuccour and good counſel from him in time of trouble, anſwered, I remember him well; I tell you I forget Lords and Ladies to remember ſuch.
Verſ. 19. The deſire accompliſhed is ſweet to the ſoul] Tota vita boni Chriſtiani ſanctum deſiderium eſt, ſaith Auguſtine. The whole life of a good Chriſtian is one holy deſire; hee even ſpends and exhales himſelf in continual ſallyes as it were, and expreſſions of ſtrongeſt affection to God, whom hee hath choſen, and with whom hee hath much ſweet intercourſe; hee cannot bee at reſt without ſome comings in from him every day: And then, O the joyes, the joyes, Mrs. Kath. Brettergh.the unconceivable joyes! as ſhee once cryed out. O that joy! O my God, when ſhall I bee with thee? Theſe were the dying words of the young Lord Harrington: Hee was in heaven aforehand, as having let out his holy ſoul into God,Fun. Serm. by Mr. Stock. the fountain of all good.
But it is abomination to fools to depart from evil] To bee pulled from their vain delights, though never ſo ſinful, never ſo deſtructive: Eſau for a meſs of pottage ſold his birth-right. Cardinal Burbon would not part with his part in Paris, for a part in paradiſe. Theotimus in Ambroſe, being told that intemperance would bee the loſs of his eye-ſight, cried out, Vale lumen amicum. Hee would rather loſe his ſight, than his ſin; ſo doth many a man his ſoul. The Panther loves mans dung, they ſay, ſo much, that if it bee hanged a height from him, hee will leap up, and never leave till hee hath burſt himſelf in peeces to get it; and this is the way they get that creature. Like policy uſeth Satan, by baſe luſts to draw many to hell. It was a ſpeech of Gregory Nyſſen, Hee that doth but hear of Hell, is without any further labour or ſtudy taken off from ſinfull pleaſures. Mens hearts are grown harder now adayes.
Verſ. 20. Hee that walketh with wiſe men, ſhall bee wiſe] Hee that comes where ſweet ſpices and ointments are ſtirring, doth carry away ſome of the ſweet ſavour, though hee think not of it; ſo he that converſeth with good men, ſhall get good. Holineſs is ſuch an Elixar, as by Contaction (if there bee any diſpoſition of goodneſs in the ſame mettal) it will render it of the property. A childe having been brought up with Plato, Sen. de ita l. 3. c. 11.and afterwards hearing his Father break out into rage and paſſion, ſaid, I have never ſeen the like with Plato.
But a companion of fools ſhall bee broken] There is an elegancy in the Original that cannot bee Engliſhed. Bede by a companion or friend of fools here, underſtands thoſe that take delight in Jeſters, Stage-players, and ſuch idle companions, unprofitable burdens, — fruges conſumere nati, the botch and canker of the Commonwalth.Plutarch. Theatra juvenes corrumpunt, ſaith Plato, — ludi praebeut ſemina nequitiae, ſaith Ovid. The Lacedemonians would not admit of them, that ſo they might not hear any thing contrary to their laws, whether in jeſt, or in earneſt.Func. Chron. And Henry the third Emperour of Germany, when a great ſort of ſuch fellows flocked together at his wedding, ſent them all away, not allowing them ſo much as a cup of drink, Anno Dom. 1044.
Verſ. 21. Evil purſueth ſinners] Hard at heels. Flagitium & flagellum, ut acus & filum. Sin and puniſhment are linked together with chains of adamant. Of ſin wee may ſay as Iſidore doth of the Serpent, Tot dolores, quot colores, ſo many colours, ſo many dolours: The wages of ſin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, Rom. 6. ult. The ſame in effect with this ſentence of Solomon.
But to the righteous good ſhall bee repaid] Or hee (that is God) ſhall repay good. Now hee is a liberal pay-maſter, and all his retributions are more than bountiful. Never did any yet do, or ſuffer ought for God, that complained of an hard bargain.L. Brooks diſcourſe of Epiſcop. God will recompence your loſſes (ſaith that thrice noble Lord Brook, who loſt his precious life in this late unhappy wars at Litchfield) as the King of Poland did his noble ſervant Zeliſlaus; having loſt his hand in his wars, hee ſent him a golden hand. Caius (Agrippa having ſuffered impriſonment for wiſhing him Emperor) when hee came afterwards to the Empire, the firſt thing hee did was to prefer Agrippa, and gave him a chain of gold, as heavy as the chain of iron that was upon him in Priſon. Thoſe that loſe any thing for God, hee ſeals them a bill of Exchange, of a double return, nay an hundred fold here, and eternal life hereafter.
Verſ. 22. A good man leaveth inheritance to his childe] Perſonal goodneſs is profitable to Poſterity: God gives not to his ſervants ſome ſmall annuity for life onelyonly (as great men uſe to do) but keepeth mercy for thouſands of generations of them that fear him, Exod. 34.7. Where the Maſorites obſerve Nun. Rabbath, a great N in the word Not for keepeth; to note the large extent of Gods love to the good mans poſterity. God left David a Lamp in Jeruſalem, 1 Kings 15.4. although his houſe were not ſo with God, 2 Sam. 23.5.
And the wealth of the ſinner is laid up for the juſt] as Nabals was for David, Hamans for Mordecai, the Canaanites for the Iſraelites. Howbeit this holds not perpetually and univerſally in every wicked perſon; for ſome of them are full of children, and leave the reſt of their ſubſtance for their babes, Pſal. 17.14. Hereupon their inward thought is, that their houſes ſhall continue for ever, &c. they call their Lands after their own names (as Cain called his new built City after the name of his ſon Henoch, Gen. 8.4.) This their way is their folly, or is their conſtant hope (for the word ſignifies both) and their Poſterity approve their ſayings, and vote the ſame way, Pſal. 49.11, 13. But together with their lands, they bequeath their children their ſins and puniſhments, which is far worſe than that legacy of Leproſie that Joab left his iſſue, 2 Sam. 3.29. Confer Job 27.16, 17. Iſa. 61.5.
Verſ. 23. Much food is in the tillage of the poor] Who have but a little, and look well to it. That of the Poet is well known — Laudato ingentia rura, Exiguum colito — It is beſt for a man to have no more than hee can maſter, and make his beſt of.Vigil. Geog. lib. …. Lib. 1. cap 3. The ground ſhould bee weaker than hee that tills it, ſaith Columella. The earth is a fruitful mother, and brings forth meat meet for them by whom it is dreſſed, Heb. 6.7.
But there is that is deſtroyed for want of judgement] viz. in plowing and ſowing, Iſa. 28.26. or in managing and husbanding what hee hath gotten, for the beſt. For non minor eſt virtus quam quaerere, parta tueri. Wee muſt bee good husbands, and ſee that Condus bee fort…or Promo, our comings in more than our layings out. Bonus Servatius facit bonum Bonifacium, ſaith the Dutch man in his blunt Proverb, A good ſaver, makes a well-doer.
Verſ. 24. Hee that ſpareth his rod, hateth his ſon] It is as if one ſhould bee ſo tender over a childe, as not to ſuffer the wind to blow upon it, and therefore hold the hand before the mouth of it, but ſo hard as hee ſtrangleth the childe: It is ſaid of the Ape, that ſhee huggeth her young one to death; ſo do many fond Parents, who are therefore peremptores potius quam parentes, rather Paricides than Parents. Eli would not correct his children: God therefore corrected both him and them. David would not once croſs his Abſolom, and his Adonijah, Bern.and hee was therefore ſingularly croſt in them ere hee dyed. The like befell old Andronicus the Greek Emperour, in his unhappy Nephew of the ſame name; and Muleaſſes King of Tunes, in his ſon Amida, whom hee cockered ſo long, till Abſolom-like hee roſe againſt his father;Turk hiſt. 745.747. and poſſeſſing himſelf of the Kingdome, put out his father and brethrens eyes, ſlew his Captains, polluted his Wives, and took the Caſtle of Tunes.
But hee that loveth him, chaſteneth him betimes] And this is a God-like love, Prov. 3.12. Rev. 3.19. See the Notes there.foreign. Ariſt. Ethic. l. 2. Correction is a kinde of cure ſaith the Philoſopher, the likelieſt way to ſave the childes ſoul; where yet, curam exigeris, non curationem, ſaith Bernard, it is the care of the childe that is charged upon the Parent, not the cure, for that is Gods work alone. But hee uſually worketh by this mean, and therefore requires that it bee ſoundly ſet on, if need ſo require. A fair hand, wee ſay, makes a foul wound. A weak doſe doth but ſtir bad humours and anger them, not purge them out. In ſome diſeaſes the Patient muſt bee let blood, even ad deliquium animae, till hee ſwoon again. So here. Quintilian tells us of ſome faults in a childe that deſerve not a whipping. And Chryſippus is ill ſpoken of by ſome, becauſe he firſt brought the uſe of the rod into the Schools. It was hee (I trow) that firſt offered that ſtrict and tetrical diviſion to the world, Aut mentem aut reſtim comparandam. Either a good heart, or a good halter for your ſelf, and yours. The condemned perſon comes out of a dark priſon, and goes to the place of Execution; ſo do children left to themſelves, and not nurtured, come from the womb their priſon to the fire of hell their execution. Severitas tamen non ſit tetra, ſed tetrica: Corrections muſt bee wiſely and moderately diſpenſed.Sidonius Ep. lib. 4. Col. 4.21. Parents provoke not your children to wrath, leſt they bee diſpirited, and, through deſpondency, grow deſperate, or heartleſs. Our Henry 2. firſt crowned his eldeſt ſon Henry whilſt hee was yet alive, and then ſo curbed him, that, through diſcontent, hee fell into a Feaver, whereof hee dyed before his Father. A Prince of excellent parts,Daniels hiſt. who was at firſt caſt away by his Fathers indulgence; and afterwards by his rigour.
Verſ. 25. The righteous eateth to the ſatisfying of his ſoul] Have hee more or leſs, hee hath that which ſatisfies him. Nature is content with a little, grace with leſs; Cibus & potus ſunt divitia Chriſtianorum. If Jacob may but have bread to eat, and cloaths to put on, it ſufficeth him; and this hee dare bee bold to promiſe himſelf. Beg his bread hee hopes hee ſhall not; but if hee ſhould, hee can ſay with Luther (who made many a meal with a broyled herring) Mendicato pane hic vivamus; Luth. in Pſal. 132.annon hoc pulchrè ſarcitur in eo quod paſcimur pane cum angelis, & vitâ aterna, Chriſto, & ſacramentis? Let us bee content to fare hard here: Have wee not the bread that came down from heaven?
But the belly of the wicked ſhall want] Becauſe their belly prepares deceit, Job 15.35. not their heads onelyonly;Job 20.22. Mic. 6.14, 16. they take as much delight in their witty wickedneſs, as the Epicure in his belly-timber, therefore in the fulneſs of their ſufficiency they are in ſtraights, they are ſick of the bulimy, or doggiſh appetite.