Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Proverbs · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. Verſ. 1. So honour is not ſeemly for a fool.
HOnour is the reward of vertue, dignity ſhould wait upon deſert. Sed dignitas in indigno eſt ornamentum in luto, as Salvian. Honour is as fit for a fool, as a Gold-ring for a Swines ſnout. Sedes prima & vita ima, will never ſuit. The order of nature is inverted when the vileſt men are exalted, Pſal. 12.8. it is a foul incongruity, and of very evil conſequence.Cicer. de divina… lib. 2. For thereby themſelves will be hardened, and others heartened to the like proſperous folly (Felix enim ſcelus virtus vocatur, ſaith Tully) The ſtudy of vertue alſo will be neglected when fools are preferred, and Gods heavie Wrath poured out in full meaſure upon theſe uncircumciſed Vice-gods (as I may in the worſt ſenſe beſt term them) who miſ-repreſent him to the world by their ungodly practices, as a wicked, crooked, unrighteous Judge.
Verſ. 2. As the Bird by wandring, and the Swallow] i. e. As theſe may fly where they will, and no body cares or is the worſe. So here. And as Birds tired with much wandring, and not finding where to reſt, return again to their Neſt, after that they have beat the air with weary wing: ſo the cauſeleſſe curſe returns to the author. Curſing men are curſed men.
So the curſe cauſleſſe ſhall not come] What was David the worſe for Shimei's raſh raylings? or Jeremy for all the Peoples curſings of him? chap. 15.10. Or the Chriſtian Churches for the Jewes curſing them in their daily Prayers, with a Maledic Domine Nazaraeis? or the reformed Churches for the Popes Excommunications, and Execrations, with Bell, Book and Candle? The Pope is like a Waſp, no ſooner angry but out comes a ſting: which being out is like a fools dagger, ratling and ſnapping without an edge. Sit ergo Gallus in nomine Diabolorum, The Devil take the French, ſaid Pope Julius the ſecond,Annal. Gallie. (as he was ſitting by the fire and ſaying his Prayers) upon news of his Forces defeated by the French at the battel of Ravenna. Was not this that very mouth that ſpeaketh great things and blaſphemies? Revel. 13.5. And (as qualis herus talis ſervus, like maſter, like man) a certain Cardinal entring with a great deal of pomp into Paris, when the people were more than ordinarily earneſt with him for his fatherly benediction; Quandoquidem, ſaid he, hic populus vult decipi, decipiatur in nomine diaboli. Foraſmuch as this people will be fooled, let them bee fooled in the Devils name. And another Cardinal, when at a Diet held at Ausborough, the Prince Electors Ambaſſadour was (in his Maſters name) preſent at Maſſe, but would not as the reſt did, kiſſe the conſecrated Charger; the Cardinal, I ſay, that ſung Maſſe, being diſpleaſed thereat, cried out, Si non vis benedicticum, Anno Dom. 1559. Bucholcer.habeas tibi maledictionem in aeternum. If thou wilt not have the bleſſing, thou ſhalt have Gods curſe and mine for ever. Let them curſe, but bleſſe thou: when they ariſe, let them be aſhamed, but let thy ſervants rejoyce, Pſal. 109.28.
Verſ. 3. A whip for the horſe] Viz. To quicken his ſlow pace. A bridle for the aſſe, wherewith to lead him in the right way: for he goes willingly but a foot-pace, and would be oft out, but for the bit, and beſides, he is very refractory, and muſt be held in with bit and bridle, Pſal. 32.9.
And a rod for the back of fools] foreign. A fool will be the better for beating. Vexatio dat intellectum. Due puniſhment may well be to theſe horſes and aſſes (ſo the Scripture terms unreaſonable and wicked men) both for a whip to incite them to good, and for a bridle to reign them in from evil. God hath rods ſticking in every corner of his houſe for theſe froward fools, and if a rod ſerve not turn, he hath a terrible ſword, Eſay 27.1. So muſt Magiſtrates. Cuncta prius tentanda. If a rod will do, they need not brandiſh the ſword of Juſtice; nor do as Draco did, who puniſhed with death every light offence. This was to kill a fly upon a mans forehead with a beetle, to the knocking out of his brains.
Verſ. 4. Anſwer not a fool according to his folly] When either he curſeth thee, as verſe 2, or cryeth out upon thee for giving him due correction (verſe 3.) for every publike perſon had need to carry a ſpare handkerchief, to wipe off the dirt of diſgrace and obloquy caſt upon him for doing his duty. Paſs ſuch an one by in ſilence,Chryſoſt. as not worthy the anſwering. Sile, et funeſtam dediſti plagam, ſay nothing, and you pay him to purpoſe. Hezekiah would not anſwer Rabſhakeh, nor Jeremy Hananiah, chap. 28.11. nor our Saviour his adverſaries, Mat. 26.26. John 19.9. he reviled not his revilers, hee threatned not his open oppoſites, 1 Pet. 2.23.
Leſt thou alſo be like unto him] As hot and as head-long as he; for a little thing kindles us, and we are apt to think that we have reaſon to be mad, if evil-intreated: to talk as faſt for our ſelves, as he doth againſt us, and to give him as good as he brings: ſo that at length there will be never a wiſer of the two, and people will ſay ſo.
Verſ. 5. Anſwer a fool according to his folly] Caſt in ſomewhat that may ſting him, and ſtop his mouth. Stone him with ſoft words, but hard arguments, as Chriſt dealt with Pilat: leſt he lift up his creſt, and look upon himſelf as a conquerour, and be held ſo by the hearers. In fine, when a fool is among ſuch as himſelf, anſwer him, leſt he ſeem wiſe. If he be among wiſe men anſwer him not, and they will regard rather quid tu taceas, quam quod ille dicat, thy ſeaſonable ſilence, than his paſſionate prattle.
Verſ. 6. He that ſendeth a meſſage by the hand of a fool] The worth of a faithfull meſſenger he had ſet forth, Chap. 15.13. here, the diſcommodity of a fooliſh one: Such as were the Spies Moſes ſent, Num. 13. and 14. So when the Prophet proves a fool, the ſpiritual man is mad (Hoſ. 9.7.) things go on as heavily, as if feet were wanting to a traveller, or as if a meſſenger had loſt his legges.
Rodulph. Bain.Verſ. 7. The legs of the lame are not equal] Locum habet proverbium cum is qui male vivit, bene loquitur, ſaith an Interpreter. This Proverb hits ſuch as ſpeak well, but live otherwiſe. Uniformity and Ubiquity of obedience are ſure ſigns of ſincerity; but as unequal pulſe argues a diſtempered body, ſo doth uneaven walking ſhew a diſeaſed ſoul. A wiſe mans life is all of one colour like it ſelf: and godlineſs runs thorow it, as the woof runs thorow the warp. But if all the parts of the line of thy life be not ſtraight before God, it is a crooked life. If thy tongue ſpeak by the talent, but thine hands ſcarce work by the ounce, thou ſhalt paſs for a Phariſee, Mat. 23.3. They ſpake like Angels, lived like Devils; had heaven commonly at their tongues end, but the earth continually at their fingers end. Odi homines ignavâ operà, Philoſophâ ſententiâ, ſaid the Heathen, that is, I hate ſuch Hypocrites, as have mouths full of holineſs, hearts full of hollowneſs. A certain ſtranger coming on Embaſſage to the Senate of Rome, and colouring his hoary hair and pale cheeks with vermillion hiew, a grave Senatour eſpying the deceit, ſtood up and ſaid, What ſincerity are we to expect at this mans hand, whoſe locks, and looks, and lips do lye?
Verſ. 8. As he that bindeth a ſtone in a ſling] A precious ſtone is not fit for a ſling (where it will ſoon be caſt away and loſt) no more is honour for a fool. See verſ. 1. Aben-Ezra ſaith, that Margemah here rendered a Sling, ſignifies Purple, and ſenſeth it thus; As it is an abſurd thing to wrap a Pibble in purple, ſo is it to prefer a fool, as Saul did Doeg, as Ahaſueroſh, Human.
Verſ. 9. As a thorn goeth up into the hand, &c.] He handleth it hard, as if it were another kind of wood, and it runs into his hand. So do prophane perſons pervert and pollute the holy Scriptures, to their own and other mens deſtruction. By a Parable here the Hebrews underſtand either theſe Parables of Salomon, or the whole Book of God. At this day no people under Heaven doe ſo abuſe Scripture as the Jewes doe. For commending (in their familiar Epiſtles) ſome Letter they have received, they ſay, Eloquia Domini, eloquia pura: The words of my Lord are pure words. When they flatter their friends, Pateat, ſay they, acceſſus ad aditum ſanctitatis tuae. Weemſe.Let me have acceſſe to the ſanctuary of thy holineſſe. When they would teſtifie themſelves thankful, Nomini tuo pſallam, I will ſing praiſe to thy Name. When they complain, friends forſake them, Lord, ſay they, thou goeſt not forth with our armies. When they invite their friends to a Banquet or a Wedding, In thee have I truſted, let me not be put to confuſion. Loe thus doe theſe witleſſe wicked wretches abuſe Gods Parables, and take his Name in vain. Whereas the very Heathen could ſay, Non loquendum de Deo ſine lumine, God is not to be talked of lightly, looſely, diſreſpectively. Thou ſhalt fear that glorious and fearful Name, Jehovah thy God, ſaith Moſes their own Law-giver, Deut. 28.58.
Verſ. 10. The great God that formed all things] As he made all, ſo hee maintains all; even the evil, and the unthankful. God deals not as that cruel Duke of Alva did in the Netherlands, Grimſton.ſome he roſted to death (ſaith the Hiſtorian) ſtarved others, and that even after quarter, ſaying, Though hee promiſed to give them their lives, he did not promiſe to find them meat. But as hee hath given them their lives (forfeited in Adam) ſo hee allows them a livelihood, gives them their portion in this life, fills their bellies with his good treaſure, but withall ſends leanneſſe into their ſouls: or if he fat them, it is to fit them for deſtruction, as fated ware is fitted for the ſhambles.
Verſ. 11. As a dogge returneth to his vomit] A homely compariſon (able to make a true Chriſtian ready to lay up all) but good enough for the odious Apoſtate, to whom it is applied. Such an one was Judas, Julian, Ecebolius, Baldvinus, Iſlebius, Agricola that firſt Antinomian, who did many times promiſe amendment, and yet afterwards fell to his errour again. After that, he condemned his errour, and recanted it in a publike Auditory, and printed his revocation; yet when Luther was dead, he relapſed into that errour; ſo hard a thing is it to get poyſon out, when once ſwallowed down. Harding (Biſhop Jewels Antagoniſt) was in King Edwards dayes, a thundering Preacher againſt Popery, wiſhing he could cry out againſt it as loud as the Bells of Oſeney: ſo that by his preaching many were confirmed in the truth. All which to be ſo, they can teſtifie that heard him, and be yet alive, ſaith Mr. Fox. See an excellent Letter of the Lady Jane Grays to him, whiles ſhe was Priſoner in the Tower, Act. & Mon. fol. 1291. wherein ſhe wills him to remember the horrible Hiſtory of Julian of old, and the lamentable caſe of Spira alate, &c.
Verſ. 12. Seeſt thou a man wiſe in his own conceit?] This fooliſh wiſe-man, or wiſe fooliſh-man (for whether of the two to call him I know not, as the Chronicler ſaith of Sir Thomas Moore) is that Dog ſpoken of in the former verſe; that fore-thinks not the evil that followeth upon his returning to his filthy vomit; which being made much worſe by the heat of the Sun and open air, maketh him much more ſick than before he had been. Semblably, the witleſſe wicked man, inſenſible of the evil of his way, and highly conceited thereof, goes boldly on till there be neither hope of better, nor place of worſe. See the Note on chap. 3.7. and my common-place of Arrogance.
Verſ. 13. The ſlothful man ſayeth, There is a Lion] See the Note on cha. 22. verſ. 13.
Verſ. 14. As the door turneth upon his hinges] But comes not off, unleſſe lifted or knocked off: So neither comes the ſluggard out of his feathered neſt, (where he lyes ſoaking and ſtretching) unleſſe hard hunger or other neceſſity rouſe and raiſe him. As abroad there is a Lion, ſo at home there is a Lurk, a Lurdain, and a Loſel, that lives in the world to no purpoſe, yea to bad purpoſe; and being wiſe in his own conceit, will not accept of better counſel. Thoſe whoſe heads are laid upon down-pillows, are not apt to hear noyſes; no more are thoſe that live at eaſe in Zi…n, to hearken to wholſome advice. Or if ſometimes they have a kind of willingneſſe and velleity to doe better; yet it is but as the door that turns on the hinges, but yet hangs ſtill upon them.
Verſ. 15. The ſlothful hideth his hand in his boſome] See the Note on ch. 19.24.
Verſ. 16. Than ſeven men that can render a reaſon] Yea though they were the ſeven Wiſe-men of Greece, they were all fools to him. The proud Phariſees rejected the counſel of God, and would not be baptized of John, Luke 7.30. Belly-policy teaches the Sluggard a great many excuſes, which hee thinks will goe for wiſdom: becauſe by them he thinks to ſleep in a whole skin.
Verſ. 17. He that paſſeth by and medleth, &c.] Two kind of ſtudies have I alwayes hated (ſaith one) ſtudium partium, & ſtudius novarum rerum. They that enter ſtrife without calling (ſaith another) doe commonly hazzard themſelves into trouble without comfort. This was Jehoſaphats folly at Jabeſh Gilead, and (as ſome think) Joſiah's when he went up againſt Pharah Necho: thinking thereby to ingratiate with the Aſſyrian, Pharaohs profeſt enemy. It is from idleneſs uſually, that men are thus buſie in other mens matters, without thank, or other benefit. 1 Tim. 5.13. and 1 Theſſ. 4.11. and therefore this Proverb fitly follows the former. Howbeit this is not alwayes true: for charity may move men to interpoſe for a right underſtanding, and a good accord betwixt diſagreeing parties. Neither in this caſe muſt a man affect to be held no medler, ſith bleſſed are the peace-makers. And though it bee for moſt part a thankleſs office (for if a man have two friends, he oft loſeth one of them) yet our reward is with God: and if by ſeeking to part the ſcuffle, we derive ſome blows upon our ſelves, yet the Euge of a good conſcience will ſalve that well enough. That which is here forbidden, is, for a man to make himſelf a party and maintain one ſide againſt another. And yet where it is for God and his truth, this may be done too: as when Queen Elizabeth not only ſate as Umpire betwixt the Spaniard, French, and Hollanders (ſo as ſhe might well have taken up that ſaying of her Father,Camdens Eliz. 196. Cuiadhaereo, praeeſt, He whom I ſide with, carries it) but afterwards, when ſhe ſaw her time, undertook the protection of the Netherlanders againſt the Spaniard: wherein all Princes admired her fortitude; and the King of Sweden ſaid, that ſhe had now taken the Diadem from her head, and ſet it upon the doubtful chance of war.Ibid. This was done, Anno 1585.
Is like one that taketh a Dog by the ears] Where he loves not to bee handled, but about the neck rather. The Dutch have a like Proverb, To take a dogge by the tayl. foreign.The Greeks, To take a Lion by the beard, or a Bear by the tooth, to thruſt ones hand into a Waſpes-neſt, to ſtir up a Scorpion, &c.
Verſ. 19. Am not I in jeſt?] The wicked mans mirth is uſually mixed with miſchief; it is no ſport, unleſs he may have the Devil his Play-fellow: no good fellowſhip without Horſe-play. Salt-jeſts, and dry flouts, to the juſt grief or diſgrace of another, is counted facetious and fine. But St. Paul calls it fooliſh, Epheſ. 5.4.foreign. and further ſaith, that for ſuch things ſake the wrath of God commeth upon the children of diſobedience. Quid mihi cum fabulis, cum jocis? ſaith Bernard, what hath a Chriſtian to doe with jeſting and jearing? Wee allow an Horſe to praunce and skip in a paſture; which if he doth when backt by the Rider, we count him an unruly and unbroken Jade. So, howſoever in Heathens and Atheiſts, God may wink at jocularity and dicacity, yet he looks for better things from his own people. Crede mihi, res ſevera eſt verum gaudium, ſaith Seneca. True mirth is a ſevere buſineſs. But what a mad man Robert de Beliaſme Earl of Shrewsbury, Anno Dom. 1111. delighting to doe miſchief, and exerciſe his cruelty, and then to ſay, Am not I in jeſt? An example hereof he ſhewed upon his own Son; who being but a child and playing with him, the father for a paſtime,Speeds Chron. 473. put his thumb in the boys eyes, and thruſt out the balls thereof.
Verſ. 20. Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out] Lignis ignis conſervatur: ſo is ſtrife by evil tongues, theſe are the Devils bellows and boutefeaus. Ye ſhall conceive chaff, yee ſhall bring forth ſtubble, your breath as fire ſhall devour you, Iſa. 33.11. Such is the breath of Tale-bearers. A cover-feu bell would doe well for theſe Incendiaries, that elſe may ſet on fire the whole courſe of Nature, Jam. 3.6. See the Note on Chap. 16.28.
Verſ. 21. So is a contentious man] Hebr. A man of contentions, Vir bilioſus & bellicoſus, a man made up of diſcords (as Democritus ſaid the world was) that loves to live in the fire, as the Salamander doth: the dog-dayes continue with ſuch all the year long, and like mad doggs, they bite and ſet a madding all they can faſten on, as did Sheba, Korah, and Judas, who ſet all the Diſciples a murmuring at the oyl poured on Chriſts head. So Arrius ſet all the Chriſtian world on a light fire, and Pope Hildebrand caſt abroad his firebrands.
Verſ. 22. The words of a tale-bearer, &c.] See chap. 18.8.
Verſ. 23. Burning lips and a wicked heart, &c.] The tongue of the righteous is as fined ſilver, but gloſing lips upon a falſe heart is no better than droſſe upon dirt: counterfeit friends are naught on both ſides, having os maledictum & cor malum, as Luther renders this Text; a bad mouth, and a worſe heart. Wicked men are ſaid to ſpeak with an heart and a heart, Pſal. 12. as ſpeaking one thing, and thinking another, drawing a fair glove on a foul hand. Theſe are dangerous to be dealt withall: for like Serpents, they can ſting without hiſſing; like curre doggs, ſuck your bloud only with licking, and in the end kill you and cut your throats without biting: ſo cunning and cloſe are they in the conveyance of their colluſion. Squire ſent out of Spain to poyſon Queen Elizabeth, annoynted the pummel of her ſaddle with poyſon covertly,Camd. Eliz. …7. and as it were doing ſomewhat elſe, praying with a loud voyce, God ſave the Queen. When thoſe Romiſh Incendiaries, Gifford, Hodgeſon, and others, had ſet Savage a work to kill the ſaid Queen, they firſt ſet forth a Book to perſwade the Engliſh Catholicks to attempt nothing againſt her. So, Parſons, when hee had hatched that nameleſs villany the Powder-plot, ſet forth his book of Reſolution, as if hee had been wholly made up of devotion. Caveatur oſculum Iſcarioticum. It is the property of a godly man to ſpeak the truth from his heart, Pſal. 15.
Verſ. 24. He that hateth, diſſembleth with his lips] And ſo heaps ſin upon ſin, till he be transformed into a breathing devil. This is meant not ſo much of the paſſion of hatred, as of the habit of it; when it hath wholly leavened the heart, and lies watching its opportunity of doing miſchief. The Devil is at Inne with ſuch (as Mr. Bradford phraſeth it) and was as great a Maſter,Serm. of Repent. long before the Florentine Secretary was born, as ſince.
Verſ. 25. When he ſpeaketh fair, beleeve him not] foreign. Take heed whom you truſt, beware of men, Matth. 10.17. bleſſe your ſelves from your pretended friends, and pray with David to be delivered from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. Admit they not only ſpeak us fair,Pſal. 120.1. but doe us many kindneſſes, yet beleeve them, as little as David did Saul. foreign. Soph. Virgil. MartialEnemies gifts are giftleſſe gifts, ſaid one Heathen. And — timeo Danaos & dena ferentes, ſaith another.
Munera magna quidem miſit, ſed miſit in hamo:
Et piſcatorem piſcis amare poteſt?
Verſ. 26. Whoſe hatred is covered by deceit, &c.] He ſhall be detected and deteſted of all, ſooner or later. God will waſh off his varniſh with rivers of brimſtome. Love, as it is the beſt armour, ſo it is the worſt cloak, and will ſerve diſſemblers, as the diſguiſe Ahab put on, and periſhed 1 King. 22.
Verſ. 27. Whoſo diggeth a pit, ſhall fall thereinto] This is the ſame with Pſal. 7.15. Where-hence it ſeems to be taken. See the Note there. Heathen writers have many Proverbs to like purpoſe. See Eraſm. Chiliad.
And he that rolleth a ſtone, it will return upon him] Cardinal Benno relates a memorable ſtory of Pope Hildebrand, or Greg. 7. that he hired a baſe fellow to lay a great ſtone upon a beam in the Church, where Henry 4. the Emperour uſed to pray, and ſo to lay it, that it might fall (as from the top of the Church) upon the Emperours head, and kill him. But whilſt this Caytiff was attempting to doe it, the ſtone with its weight drew him down, and falling upon him, daſhed him in peeces upon the pavement. The Thracians in Herodotus being offended with Jupiter for raining unſeaſonably upon them, ſhot up their arrows at him, which ſoon after returned upon their own pates.
Verſ. 28. A lying tongue hateth thoſe that are afflicted by it] Falſe love proves to be true hatred, by the evil conſequent of its ruine and deſtruction to the party flattered, and betrayed by a ſmooth ſupparaſitation. There are that thus read the Text, The falſe tongue hateth thoſe that ſmite it, &c. Truth breeds hatred: as the fair Nymphs did the ill-favoured Fauns and Satyrs.