Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Proverbs · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Verſ. 1. Whoſo loveth instruction, loveth knowledge.]
HEre is ſhewed, that Adverſity is the beſt Univerſity, ſaith an Interpreter. Schola crucis, ſchola lucis, Corrections of inſtruction are the way of life.Vexatio dat intellectum. Men commonly beat and bruiſe their links, before they light them, to make them burn the brighter. God firſt humbles whom hee means to illuminate; as Gideon took thorns of the wilderneſs and briers, and with them hee taught the men of Succoth, Judg. 8.16. See my Treatiſe on Rev. 3.19. pag. 152. &c. Mr. Aſcham was a good ſchool-maſter to Queen Elizabeth, but affliction was a better, as one well obſerveth. That verſe was much in her mouth.
Non ignara mali miſeris ſuccurrere diſco.Virgil.
But hee that hateth reproof] Whether it bee by the rebukes of men, or the Rod of God, hee is brutiſh: tardus eſt, hee is fallen below the ſtirrop of reaſon, hee is a beaſt in mans ſhape; nothing is more irrational than irreligion. That ſapleſs fellow Nabal would hear nothing; there was no talking to him, no dealing with him; but as Horſe and Mule that have no underſtanding, Pſal. 32.9. Baſil complains of the Weſtern Churches, that they were grown ſo proud,Epiſt. ad Evagr. ut quid verum ſit neque ſciant, neque ſuſtineant diſcere, that they neither knew what was truth, nor would bee taught better. Such are near to ruine, and that without remedy, Prov. 29.1. See the Note there.
Verſ. 2. A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord] Or, Hath what hee will of God, id quod vult a domino impetrat; quia ejus voluntas eſt ipſiſſima Dei voluntas, nec aliud vult. Thus Mercer out of Rabbi Levi. Thus it is written of Luther, that by his prayers hee could prevail with God at his pleaſure. When great gifts were offered him, hee refuſed them with this brave ſpeech, Valde proteſtatus ſum me nolle ſic ſatiari à Deo. I ſolemnly proteſted to God, that I would not bee put off with theſe low things. And on a time praying for the recovery of a godly uſeful man, among other paſſages, hee let fall this tranſcendent rapture of a daring Faith, Fiat mea voluntas, Let my will bee done; and then falls off ſweetly, Mea voluntas, Domine, quia tua; My will, Lord, becauſe thy will. Here was a good man, here was a bleſſed man; according to that Rule, Beatus eſt qui habet quicquid vult, & nihil male vult. Bleſſed is hee that hath what hee will, and wills nothing but what hee ſhould.
But a man of wicked devices] Such as no good man is; hee doth not plot or plow miſchief, hee doth not cater and make proviſion for the fleſh, Rom. 13. there is no way of wickedneſs found in him; the peace is not broken betwixt God and him, becauſe his mind never yeelds to ſin, Rom. 7.25.Pſal. 139 hee walks not after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit, therefore no condemnation, Rom. 8.1. If an evil thought haunt his heart (as eftſoons it befals) it is the device of the man, hee is not the man of ſuch devices. The wicked (on the contrary) is wholly made up of ſinful thoughts and purpoſes, and is in the midſt of them; therefore God will call him to an heavy reckoning, Jer. 6.19. Rev. 2.23.
Verſ. 3. A man ſhall not bee eſtabliſhed by wickedneſs] For hee laies his foundation upon fire-work, and brimſtone is ſcattered upon his houſe top: if the fire of God from Heaven but flaſh upon it, it will bee all on a light flame immediately. Hee walks all day upon a mine of gun-powder; and hath God with his armies ready to run upon the thickeſt boſſes of his buckler, and to hurle him to Hell. How can this man bee ſure of any thing?foreign. Cain built Cities, but could not reſt in them. Ahab begat ſeventy ſons, but not one ſucceſſor in the Kingdome. Phocas having built a mighty wall, heard from Heaven; Though thy walls were as high as Heaven, ſin is under it, and will ſubvert it. foreign. Sin hath no ſettledneſs.
But the root of the righteous ſhall not bee moved] For though ſhaken with winds, yet they are rooted as trees: like a Ship at Anchor, they wagg up and down, yet remove not. God is my Rock, I ſhall not bee greatly moved, Pſal. 62.2. Nay, I ſhall not bee moved at all, verſ. 6. the gates of Hell cannot do it, Mat. 16.18. None can take them out of Gods hands, John 10.28. for hee hath laid help upon one that is mighty, Pſal. 89.19.
Verſ. 4. A virtuous woman is a Crown to her husband] Heb. A valiant woman, an able huſwife, ſuch as Bathſheba commends to her ſon, Chap. 31. and as Paul deſcribes, Tit. 2.4, 5. Shee is ſaid to bee a Crown to her husband, not a Ring for his finger,foreign. Naz. or a Chain of gold for his neck, but a Crown or Garland for his head, a chief and choice Ornament, as Sarah was to Abraham, as Livia to Auguſtus, as Placilla to Theodoſius, as Nazianzens Mother to her Husband &c.
Is as rottenneſs in his bones] Not a diſgrace onelyonly to him, but a diſeaſe, and ſuch a diſeaſe, as is far worſe than a quartan Ague: for there bee two good daies for one bad; but here a continual pain, and hardly curable. The wiſe man here expreſſeth the miſchief of an evil wife, by a very apt ſimilitude. And that of Hierome is not much behinde it, Sicut in ligno vermis, ita perdit virum ſuum uxor malefica. As the worm eats into the heart of the tree, and deſtroies it, ſo doth a naughty wife her husband. All evils (as elements) are moſt troubleſome, when out of their proper place, as impiety in Profeſſors, injuſtice in Judges, diſhonour and diſcomfort in a wife, &c.
Verſ. 5. The thoughts of the righteous are right] Hee feeds his thoughts upon the beſt objects; thoſe eſpecially mentioned in that little Bible, Phil. 4.8. Finally brethren, whatſoever things are true, whatſoever things are honeſt, &c. if there bee any virtue, if there bee any praiſe, think on theſe things. If worſe, break in, as they will, hee juſtles them out, and rids the room of them. See the Note on Chap. 11.23.
But the counſels of the wicked are deceit] Not their raſh thoughts onelyonly, but alſo their deliberate ones are how to circumvent others, or to cloak their own wickedneſs.Gen. 6. Every imagination, the whole frame of their thoughts is evil, onelyonly evil, and continually evil. If good thoughts look into a wicked heart, they ſtay not there, as thoſe that like not their lodging: The flaſhes of lightnings may bee diſcerned into the darkeſt priſons. The light that ſhines into an holy heart, is conſtant, like that of the Sun, which keeps due times, and varies not the courſe for any of theſe ſublunary occaſions.
Verſ. 6. The words of the wicked are to lye in wait for blood] As they think not,Mat. 5. ſo neither ſpeak they the language of the righteous. Yee are the light of the world; and becauſe the light ſtands in the light of their wicked waies, as the Angel in Balaams way to his ſin, therefore they hate the Saints; and (as all hatred is bloody) ſeek their lives, mixing cruelty with their craft, as Cain, Herod, Julian, &c. The old Serpent lends them his ſeven heads to plot, and his ten horns to puſh. Their own ſtudy and exerciſe alſo hath made them expert and skilful in their helliſh trade; and the taſte of blood hath made them as hungry as hounds after it. Thus I kept the ban-dogs at ſtaves end (ſaid Nicholas Shetterden, Martyr) not as thinking to eſcape them, but that I would ſee the Foxes leap above ground for my blood,Act. & Mon. if they can reach it (ſo it bee the will of God) yet wee ſhall ſee them gape and leap for it.
But the mouth of the upright ſhall deliver them] Shall defend harmleſs men that are helpleſs, Prov. 24.11. Hence thoſe many Apologies of Tertullian, Apollonius, Arnobius, and others for the Primitive Chriſtians under perſecution. Hence wee had that unparralleld peece, Calvins Inſtitutions, which was written upon this occaſion. Francis King of France, willing to excuſe his cruelty exerciſed upon his Proteſtant Subjects, to the German Princes (whoſe friendſhip hee then deſired) wrote to them, that hee onelyonly puniſhed Anabaptiſts for their contempt of the Scriptures, and of all Civil Government. Calvin (though then but five and twenty years of age) not able to bear that blur caſt upon the Reformed Religion under the name of thoſe Sectaries,Scultet. Annal. 454. ſet forth that excellent work, as well to vindicate the truth, as to plead for the innocency of thoſe that profeſſed it.
Verſ. 7. The wicked are overthrown, and are not] Say that the righteous cannot prevail by their Apologies for themſelves and others, God will take the matter into his own hand, and avenge them, Luk. 18.7. as he did the Primitive Chriſtians, and the French Proteſtants, upon their mercileſſe Perſecutors. Tu vero Herodes ſanguinolente time. As Beza warned Charls the Ninth, Author of the Maſſacre.
But the houſe of the righteous ſhall ſtand] Gods houſe the Church ſhall (as the Gloſſe applies this Text) The mountain of the Lord ſhall bee exalted above all mountains. The Church, as it is higheſt in the favour of God, ſo it ſhall bee higheſt in it ſelf: when the enemies ſhall be in that place that is fitteſt for them, the loweſt, that is the foot-ſtool of Chriſt. There is a Council in Heaven will daſh the mould of all contrary Counſels upon earth, Pſal. 2. Gaudeo quod Chriſtus dominus eſt: alioqui totus deſperaſſem. I am glad yet that Chriſt is King: For otherwiſe I ſhould have been utterly out of hope, writes Miconius to Calvin, upon the view of the Churches enemies.
Verſ 8. A man ſhall be commended according to his wiſdome] And all wiſdome conſiſts in this, Ut Deum quis cognoſcat & colat, ſaith Lactantius, That a man rightly know and worſhip God. This did not Apollonius, foreign. Plut.whom yet Philoſtratus commendeth, that he was non doctus, ſed natus ſapiens, not inſtructed, but born wiſe. (See the contrary, Job 11.12) Nor Archimides, who yet had the name and note (ſaith Plutarch) of a Divine, and not Human wiſdome. Nor Ariſtotle, whom yet Averroes admires as the very Rule and Copy that Nature invented, wherein to ſet forth the utmoſt of Human perfection: And further ſaith, that his doctrin was the chiefeſt truth, and his underſtanding the utmoſt extent of human wiſdome. Theſe were wiſe, I confeſſe, in their generations, and ſo accounted: But by whom? Not by Saint Paul; he had another opinion of them. See Rom. 1.22, 23. 1 Cor. 2.6. Not by our Saviour, Matth. 11.25. Not by any that are rightly inſtructed to the Kingdom of Heaven, and have their ſenſes exerciſed to diſcern good and evil. The Italians arrogate to themſelves the monopoly of Wiſdome, in that Proverb of theirs, Italus ſapit ante factum, Hiſpanus in facto, Germanus poſt factum. Italians, ſay they, both ſeem and are wiſe: whereas Spaniards ſeem wiſe, and are fools; French-men ſeem fools, and are wiſe; Portugals neither are wiſe, nor ſo much as ſeem ſo. Thus the Jeſuites (thoſe great Clerks, Politicians, and Wiſards of the world) doe vaunt that the Church is the ſoul of the World, the Clergie of the Church, and they of the Clergie. But what ſaith that great Apoſtle that knew more than twenty of them? He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord: for not hee that commendeth himſelf is approved, (no nor hee whom the world cries up for a wiſe man) but he whom the Lord commendeth, 2 Cor. 10.18.
But he that is of a perverſe heart] As all are that are not heavenly-wiſe, and that ſhew not out of a good converſation their works with meekneſs of wiſdome, Jam. 3.13, 17. But ſo did none of thoſe Heathen Sages,Rom. 1.26 whom God for their unthankfulneſſe, gave up unto vile affections, and vitious converſation; and ſo ſet a Noveri…t Univerſi, as it were, upon them, Know all men, that theſe men know nothing aright, and as they ought to know;Rom. 1.22 profeſſing themſelves to be wiſe, they proclaime themſelves fools.
Verſ. 9. Better is he that is deſpiſed] Viz. Of others, and hath no extraordinary opinion of himſelf, but ſticks cloſe to his buſineſs, and hath help at hand when he pleaſes, a ſervant at his beck and check. This was the caſe of Galleacius Caracciolus that noble Marqueſſe, in his exile at Geneva for conſcience ſake. See his life ſet forth in Engliſh by Mr. Craſhaw.
Than he that honoureth himſelf and lacketh bread] That ſtanding upon his Pantofles, and boaſting of his Gentility (as thoſe Spaniſh Hidalgoes) ruffle it out in brave apparrel, but hath not a penny in his purſe, yea, not ſometime food ſufficient to put in his belly. Spaniards are ſaid to be impudent braggers, and extreamly proud in the loweſt ebbe of fortune. If a Spaniard have but a Capon,H…yl▪ Geog. or the like good diſh to his ſupper, you ſhall find the feathers ſcattered before his door the next morning.
Verſ. 10. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beaſt] There bee beaſts ad uſum, & ad eſum. Some are profitable alive, not dead, as the Dogge, Horſe, &c. Some dead, not alive, as the Hogge: ſome both, as the Oxe. There is a mercy to be ſhewed to theſe dumb Creatures, as wee ſee in Eleazar, Gen. 24.32. And the contrary in Balaam, who ſpurred his Aſſe till ſhe ſpake, Numb. 22.27. Otherwiſe we ſhall make them groan under the bondage of our corruption, Rom. 8.21. and he that hears the young Ravens, may hear them: for he is gracious. Exod. 22.The reſtraint that was of eating the bloud of dead beaſts, declared, that hee would not have tyranny exerciſed on them whiles they are alive.
But the tender mercies of the wicked] If any ſuch thing there were; but they have no ſuch bowels left, with Judas, no ſuch tenderneſſe, ſcarce common humanity: Cannibal-like, they eat up Gods people as they eat bread, feeding upon them alive, and by degrees; and dealing by them as the cruel Spaniards doe by the Indians; S. Fran. Drakes World encompaſs.They ſuppoſe they ſhew the wretches great favour, when they doe not for their pleaſure whip them with cords, and day by day drop their naked bodies with burning Bacon, which is one of the leaſt cruelties that they exerciſe toward them. In the ſixth Council of Toledo it was enacted, that the King of Spain ſhould ſuffer none to live within his Dominions that profeſs not the Roman Catholick Religion. In purſuance of which Decree, Philip King of Spain ſaid, he had rather have no Subjects than Proteſtants: And out of a bloudy zeal ſuffered his eldeſt Son Charls to be murdered by the cruel Inquiſition, becauſe he ſeemed to favour that profeſſion. When the Spaniards took Heidelberg, they took Monſieur Mylius an ancient Miniſter: and after they had abuſed his Daughter before his eyes, tied a ſmall cord about his head, which with truncheons they wreathed about till they ſqueezed out his brains. What ſhould I ſpeak of the French Maſſacres, and late Iriſh immane and monſtrous murthers, equalling it not, exceeding that at Athens, taken by Sylla, which yet, ſaith Appian, was foreign, a mercileſs Maſſacre: Or that of Prolomeus, Lathurus King of Aegypt, who ſlew thirty thouſand Jews at once, and forced the reſt to feed upon the fleſh of their ſlain fellows: Or laſtly, that of the Jews committed upon the inhabitants of Cyrene, whom they not only baſely Butchered, but afterwards ate their fleſh, drank their bloud, and cloathed themſelves with their Skins, as Dio relates in the Life of Trajan the Emperour?
Verſ. 11. He that tilleth his Land ſhall be ſatisfied, &c. This is true of all other lawful Callings manual or mental, the ſweat of the brow or of the brain. Sin brought in ſweat, Gen. 3.19. and now not to ſweat increaſeth ſin; Men muſt earn their bread before they eat it, 2 Theſſ. 3.12. and bee diligent in their Callings to ſerve God and Men, themſelves and others, with the fatneſſe, and ſweetneſſe thereof; and then they have the promiſe, they ſhall be fed, Pſal. 37.7.
Dum de mor.But he that followeth vain perſons, &c.] It is hard to bee a good fellow and a good husband too. Qui aequo animo malis immiſcetur, malus eſt, ſaith one, Hee that delights in bad company cannot be good.
Verſ. 12. The wicked deſireth the net of evil men] i. e. He ſo furiouſly purſueth his luſts, as if he deſired deſtruction, as if he would out-dare God himſelf; as if the guerdon of his graceleſneſs would not come time enough, but hee muſt needs run to meet it.Jun. in loc. Thus Thraſonical Lamech, Gen. 4.23. thinks to have the odds of God, ſeventy to ſeven. Thus the Princes of the Philiſtims, (whilome plagued) came up to Mizpeh againſt Iſrael (who were there drawing water, 1 Sam. 7.i. e. weeping abundantly before the Lord…) as it were to fetch their bane. Thus Pope Julius the third will have his Pork-fleſh, al deſpito de dio. And Doctor Story will curſe Queen Elizabeth in his daily grace afore meat, and yet ſay in open Parliament,Act. & Mon. 19…5. that he ſaw nothing to bee aſhamed of, much leſſe to be ſorry for, but that he had done no more againſt the Hereticks, yea againſt the Queen her ſelf in the dayes of her ſiſter Mary. This Story eſcaping out of Priſon, got to Antwerp, and there received Commiſſion under Duke D' Alva to ſearch all ſhips coming thither, for Engliſh books. But one Parker an Engliſh Merchant, trading to Antwerp, laid his net fair to catch this foul bird, cauſing ſecret notice to bee given to Story, that in his ſhip were ſtore of heretical books, with other intelligences that might ſtand him inſtead. The Canoniſt conceiving that all was cock-ſure, haſted to the ſhip, where with looks very big upon the poor Mariners, each Cabbin, Cheſt and corner above-board were ſearched, and ſome things found to draw him further on; ſo that the hatches muſt bee opened, which ſeemed to bee unwillingly done, and great ſigns of fear were ſhewed by their faces.Speeds hiſt. of great Britain, fol. 1174. This drew on the Doctor to deſcend into the hold; where now in the Trap the Mouſe might well gnaw, but could not get out; for the hatches went down, and the ſails hoyſed up, which with a merry gale were blown into England, where ere long hee was arraigned and condemned of high Treaſon, and accordingly executed at Tiburn, as hee had well deſerved.
Verſ. 13. The wicked is ſnared by the tranſgreſſion of his lips] His heart is oft ſo full of venome that it cannot bee hid, but bliſters his tongue, and breaks out at his lips to his own ruine, as it befell Story, Campian, Garnet, and other Popiſh poyſonful Spiders, who were ſwept down by the hand Juſtice, and drew their laſt thred in the Triangle of Tiburn. Detexit facinus fatnus, & non implevit; as Tacitus ſaith of one that was ſent by the Senate to diſpatch Nero, but bewrayed, and betrayed himſelf.
But the juſt ſhall come out of trouble] They ſuffer ſometimes for their bold and free invectives againſt the evils of the times, or otherwiſe for diſcharging their conſciences, but they ſhall ſurely bee delivered. There is yet one man (ſaith Ahab) Micaiah the ſon of Imlah, by whom wee may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for hee doth not propheſie good concerning mee, but evil. It is very probable that Micaiah was that diſguiſed Prophet, who brought to Ahab the fearful meſſage of diſpleaſure and death for diſmiſſing Benhadad; for which hee was ever ſince faſt in Priſon, deep in diſgrace. But God with the temptation made a way for him to eſcape. So hee did for Peter, Act. 12. Paul, 2 Tim. 4. All the Apoſtles, Act. 4. John Baptiſt indeed was without any law, right, or reaſon beheaded in priſon,Act. & Mon. fol. 1423. as though God had known nothing at all of him, ſaid George Marſh the Martyr. And the ſame may bee ſaid of ſundry other faithful witneſs to the truth, but then by death they entred into life eternal. Mors fuit aerumnarum requies, which was Chaucers Motto; beſides that, heaven upon earth they had during their troubles. Philip Lanſgrave of Heſſe, being a long time priſoner under Charles the fifth, was demanded what upheld him all that while, Reſpondit, divinas conſolationes Martyrum ſe ſenſiſſe, hee anſwered, that hee had felt the divine comforts of the Martyrs. The beſt comforts are uſually reſerved for the worſt times.
Verſ. 14. A man ſhall bee ſatiated with good, &c.] There are empty Vines that bear fruit to themſelves, Hoſ. 10.1. And as empty Casks ſound loudeſt, and baſe metal rings ſhrilleſt: ſo many empty Tatlers are full of diſcourſe, ſed cui bono? as hee ſaid. Plato and Xenophon thought it fit and profitable that mens ſpeeches at meals ſhould bee written. And if Chriſtians ſhould ſo do, what kinde of books would they bee?Mat. 12. Mal. 3. And yet for every idle word account muſt bee given; as for every good word there is a book of remembrance. Much fruit will redound by holy ſpeeches, to our ſelves, much to others. Paul ſheweth that the very report of his bands did a great deal of good in Ceſars houſe. A poor captive Maid was the means of Naamans converſion: As afterwards the words of his ſervants were greater in operation with him, than the words of the great Prophet Eliſha. One ſeaſonable truth, falling upon a prepared heart, hath oft a ſtrong and ſweet influence. Sometimes alſo, though wee know that which wee ask of others as well as they do; yet good ſpeeches will draw us to know it better, by giving occaſion to ſpeak more of it, wherewith the Spirit works more effectually, and imprints it deeper, ſo that it ſhall bee a more rooted knowledge than before; for that ſatiates the ſoul that is graciouſly known; and that is graciouſly known, that the Spirit ſeals upon our ſouls. In the morning therefore ſow thy ſeed, and in the evening with-hold not thy hand, for thou knoweſt not whether ſhall proſper, this or that, or whether they both ſhall bee alike good, Eccleſ. 11.6.
And the recompence of a mans hands ſhall bee given unto him] Hee ſhall eat the fruit of his doings, Iſa. 3.10. For the talk of the lips (if that bee all) tendeth onelyonly to penury, Prov. 14.13. Nos non eloquimur magna, ſed vivimus, ſaid they of old. Origens teaching and living were ſaid to bee both one. Hee cannot look to bee ſatisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, qui operibus deſtruit quod recte docet, who ſayes one thing, and doth another. A ſmoothe tongue, and a rough hand carries away double judgement.
Verſ. 15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes] Hee thinks his own wit beſt,Arachne ap. Ovid. Conſilii ſatis eſt in me mihi, hee will not part with his Commonwealth of bables, for the Tower of London. And ſuch a fool is every natural men, Job 11.12. wiſe enough, haply in his generation (ſo is the Fox too) wiſe with ſuch a wiſdome, as (like the Oſtrich-wings) makes him out-run others upon earth, and in earthly things, but helps him never a whit towards heaven; nay hinders him, and hangs in his light, as it fared with the Phariſees, Matth. 21.31. Of ſuch it may bee ſaid, as Quintilian ſaid of ſome over-weeners of themſelves, that they might have proved excellent Scholars if they had not been ſo perſwaded already; ſo might many have been wiſe, if they had not been conceited of their own wiſdome; and ſaved, if not over-well perſwaded of their good eſtate to God-ward. They claſp and hug the barn of their own brain with the Ape, till they ſtrangle it.
—At parit ut vivat regnetque beatus.
Hor. Ep. 2.Cogi poſſe negat.—
But hee that hearkneth to counſel is wiſe] Hee that ſuſpecting his own judgement, takes advice of wiſer than himſelf, ſeldome miſcarries. There is that ſelf-love in many, that they think their Mole-hill a Mountain, their Keſtril an Eagle, their Gooſe a Swan. And being ſelf-conceited, they love to bee flattered. Not ſo the wiſe man; hee knows that humanum eſt errare. And that Triſte mortalitatis privilegium eſt licere aliquando peccare. Hee is therefore glad of good counſel, and thankful for a ſeaſonable reproof. Let the righteous ſmite mee.
Verſ. 16. A fools wrath is preſently known] Hee hath no power over his paſſions. Hence foreign a fool, and foreign ſuddenly, raſhly, is from the ſame root. Like Tow, hee is ſoon kindled, like a pot, hee ſoon boyls, and like a candle whoſe tallow is mixt with brine, as ſoon as lighted hee ſpits up and down the room. A fool uttereth all his minde, Prov. 29.11. The Septuagint render it, All his anger. foreign.For, as the Hebrews well note in a Proverb they have, A mans minde is ſooneſt diſcovered, bekis, bekos, becognos, in loculis, in poculis, in ira, in his purſe, in his drink, in his anger. See my Common-place of Anger.
But a wiſe man covereth ſhame] By concealing his wrath, or rather by ſuppreſſing it, when it would break forth to his diſgrace, or the juſt grief of another.Ovid. Ut fragilis glacies, occidit ira morâ. This was Sauls wiſdome, 1 Sam. 10.27. And Jonathans, when incenſed by his Fathers frowardneſs, hee went a ſhooting, 1 Sam. 12.35. And Ahaſhueroſh, when in a rage againſt Haman, hee walked into the Garden. The Philoſopher wiſhed Augustus when angry, to ſay over the Greek Alphabet; Ambroſe deſired an Angels Authority, Gal. 1.8. Theodoſius to repeat the Lords Prayer, before hee decreed any thing.
Verſ. 17. Hee that speaketh truth ſheweth forth righteouſneſs] will bee ready to help the truth in neceſſity, and will do it boldly (as the word ſignifies) even with a courage, not budging, for Charity rejoyceth not in unrighteouſneſs, but rejoyceth in the truth, 1 Cor. 13.6.
But a falſe witneſs uttereth deceit] Coloureth his ſycophancies with plauſible pretences, and faceth down an untruth, Pſal. 119.69. The proud have forged a lye againſt mee. The Hebrew hath it, Aſſuunt mendacium mendacio, they eek out one lye with another, they are loud and lewd liars; as Egeſippus ſaith of Pilate, that hee was Vir nequam et parvi facieus mendacium. What is truth? ſaid hee ſcornfully to our Saviour, q. d. Thy life is in queſtion, and doſt thou talk of truth?
Verſ. 18. There is that speaketh lies like the piercing, &c.] Falſe witneſſes do ſo, with a witneſs. As Doeg, Pſal. 52.2. And his fellow-hackſters with their murthering weapons in Davids bones, Pſal. 42.10. whereby they killed him alive, and buried him in their throats, thoſe gaping graves, open ſepulchres. Ahimelech and his fellow-Prieſts were killed with the tongue, as with a Tuck or Rapiet; ſo was Naboth and his ſons; ſo was our Saviour Chriſt himſelf. Reckon thou Shimei and Rabſhekeh among the firſt and chiefeſt Kil-Chriſts (ſaith one) becauſe ever an honeſt mind is more afflicted with words, than with blows.Act. 2.23. and 3.15. You ſhall finde ſome (ſaith Eraſmus) that if death bee threatned, can deſpiſe it; but to bee belied they cannot brook, nor from revenge contain themſelves. How was David enraged by Nabals railings? Moſes by the Peoples murmurings? Jeremy by the deriſions of the rude rabble? Chap. 20.7, 8,
But the tongue of the wiſe is health] Or, a medicine, as the Tench is to the wounded fiſhes, or as that Noble Lady Elianors tongue was to her Husband Prince Edward (afterward Edward the firſt) who being traiterouſly wounded by a poiſoned knife in the holy land,Speed. Camden. was perfectly cured by her daily licking his rankling wounds, whileſt hee ſlept, and yet her ſelf received no harm; So ſoveraign a medicine is a good tongue, anointed with the virtue of love and wiſdome. Wholeſome words, as certain ſalves or treacles, cure the wounds of afflicted hearts, and extract the poiſon infuſed by evil tongues.
Verſ. 19. The lips of truth ſhall bee eſtabliſhed for ever] Veritas odium parit: Truth breeds hatred: a good Miſtreſs ſhee is, but hee that follows her too cloſe at heels, may hap have his teeth ſtruck out. Hee that prizeth truth, ſhall never proſper by the poſſeſſion or profeſſion thereof, ſaith Sir Walter Rawleigh. Hiſt. lib. 1. c. 1.This is moſt true (for moſt part) of the truth of the Goſpel, Gal. 2.5. the Doctrine according to godlineſs, 1 Tim. 6.3. ſweet in the mouth, but bitter in the belly, Rev. 10.9. very pleaſant in it ſelf, but the publiſhing of it (whereby the fruit of it might come to the reſt of the members) is full of trouble and anguiſh. How many faithful witneſſes of the truth have loſt their lives in the defence of it? All which notwithſtanding, the lips of truth ſhall bee eſtabliſhed, ſaith the Spirit here. Great is the truth, and ſhall prevail. Hee that loſeth his life in Chriſts cauſe, ſhall finde it in Heaven, his name alſo ſhall bee famous upon earth, the Generation of the upright ſhall bee bleſſed.
The lying tongue is but for a moment] As is to bee ſeen in Gehezi, in Ananias and Sapphira, in Doeg and others, Pſal. 52.5. God ſhall likewiſe deſtroy thee for ever, and root thee out of the land of the living. Did hee not deal ſo by Julian, Ecebolius, Latomus, Bomelius, Pendleton, Harding, and other, both antient and modern Renegadoes and Apoſtates? How are they brought into deſolation as in a moment? they are utterly conſumed with terrour, Pſal. 73.19.
Verſ. 20. Deceit is in the heart of them, &c.] Incendiaries and Make-bates, Counſellours of contention, have twenty devices to make trouble, and to put all into a combuſtion; but they ſhall either bee defeated of their purpoſes, or have ſmall joy of their atchievements; witneſs our late Engliſh Boutifeaus, with the whole Nation of Ignatius, whoſe practice is to machinate miſchief, and breed hate; being herein no leſs dangerous than once thoſe Jews were, who before they were baniſhed hence, threw bags of poiſon into the wells and fountains that the people were to drink of, and ſo endeavoured to poiſon them all. The juſt judgement of God upon Nicholas Saunders Prieſt, (the fire-brand of Ireland, Anno 1580. ſpent with famine, and forſaken of all ſuccour) is moſt worthy to bee kept in perpetual remembrance. Hee being impatiently grieved at the evil ſucceſſe of his rebellion with Earl Deſmond; and ſeeing that neither the Popes bleſſing,B. Carletons thankf. remem. pag. 49. nor the conſecrated banner, nor the plume of Phoenix feathers (ſo ſaid to bee at leaſt) ſent from Rome could do him any help, loſt himſelf, and ran ſtark mad, wandring up and down in the Mountains and Woods, and finding no comfort, died miſerably. Thus God met with a reſtleſſe and wretched man: and that foul mouth was ſtopped with famine, that was ever open to ſow ſedition, and ſtir up rebellions againſt the ſtate.
But to the counſellours of peace there is joy] They ſhall have peace for peace: peace of conſcience, for peace of Country, pax pectoris, for pa… temporis; they ſhall be called and counted the children of peace, yea, the children of God, have the comfort and credit of it, Matth. 5.9. (ſee the Note there) as Auguſtus Caeſar, and our Henry the ſeventh had; who as hee went into baniſhment together with the publick peace, ſo hee brought it back with him at his return; and was afterwards wont to ſay, If wee Princes ſhould take every occaſion that is offered, the world ſhould never bee quiet, but wearied with continual wars.
Verſ. 21. There ſhall no evil happen to the juſt] Firſt, for evil of ſin, God wil not lead him into temptation, but will cut off occaſions, remove ſtumbling-blocks out of his way: devoratory evils, (as Tertullian calls them) hee ſhall be ſure not to fall into. That Evil one ſhall not touch him, 1 John 5.18. viz. tactu qualitativo, as Cajetan expounds it, with a deadly touch; nibble hee may at their heels, but cannot reach their heads; ſhake hee may his chain at them, but ſhall not ſet his fangs in them; or, ſo far thruſt his ſting into them, as to infuſe into them the venome of that ſin unto death, verſ. 17. Next for evil of pain; Though many be the troubles of the righteous, Pſal. 34. and they fall into manifold temptations, Jam. 1.2. they go not in ſtep by ſtep into theſe waters of Marah, but fall into them, being as it were precipitated, plunged over head and ears; yet are bidden to bee exceeding glad, as a Merchant is to ſee his ſhip come laden in. Their afflictions are not penal, but probational, not mortal, but medecinal, &c. By this ſhall the iniquity of Jacob bee purged, and this is all the fruit, the taking away of his ſin, Iſa. 27.9. Look how the ſcourging and beating of a garment with a ſtick, drives out the moths and the duſt, ſo doth afflictions corruptions from the heart; and there is no hurt in that, no evil happens thereby to the juſt.
But the wicked ſhall bee filled with miſchief] To treaſure up ſin, is to treaſure up wrath, Rom. 2. Every bottle ſhall bee filled with wine, Jer. 13.12. the bottle of wickedneſs, when once filled with thoſe bitter waters, will ſink to the bottome: The Ephah of wickedneſs, when top full, ſhall be born into the land of Shinar, and ſet there upon her own baſe, Zach. 5.8, 11. Hee that makes a match with miſchief, ſhall have his belly full of it, Hoſ. 4.17. Prov. 14.14. hee ſhall have an evil, an evil, an onelyonly evil, Ezek. 7.5. that is, judgement without mercy, as St. James expounds it, Chap. 2.13. Non ſurgit hic afflictio, as the Prophet Nahum hath it, Chap. 1.9. affliction ſhall not riſe up the ſecond time: God will have but one blow at him, hee ſhall totally and finally bee cut down at once. The righteous are ſmitten in the branches, but the wicked at the root, Iſa. 27.8. thoſe, hee corrects with a rod (yea, with the rods of men) hominum debilium, of weak or old men, as the word ſignifies, 2 Sam. 7.11. but, theſe, with a grounded ſtaff, Iſa. 30.32, and yet the worſt is behinde too. For whatſoever a wicked man ſuffers in this world, is but hell typical, it is but as the falling of leaves; the whole tree will one day fall upon them. It is but as a drop of wrath fore-running the great ſtorm, a crack fore-running the ruine of the whole building: It is but as a paying the uſe-mony required for the debt that muſt bee paid at laſt.
Verſ. 22. Lying lips are abomination to the Lord] Who hath therefore threatned to cut them off, Pſal. 12.3. and to broil them on coals of Juniper, Pſal. 120.4. which burn ſweetly, fiercely, laſtingly: and to make them eat their falſe words,Act. & Mon. fol. 1825. as Maſter Lewes of Mancheſter made the Summoner (that came to cite his wife) eate the citation, by ſetting a dagger to his heart.
But they that deal truly, are his delight] Hee deſireth truth in the inward parts, Pſal. 51.6. and all his, are children that will not lye, Iſa. 63.8. they will rather dye, than lye; Nec prodam, nec mentiar, ſaid Firmus in Auguſtine: Non ideo negare volo, ne peream; ſed ideo mentiri nolo, ne peccem, ſaid that good woman upon the rack, mentioned by Hierome. As they love in the truth, 2 John 1. ſo they ſpeak the truth in love, Epheſ. 4.15. and are therefore dear to the Father in truth and love, 2 John 3. eſpecially ſince they do truth, as well as ſpeak it, 1 John 6. and do not more deſire to be truly good, than they hate to ſeem to be ſo onelyonly.
Verſ. 23. A prudent man concealeth knowledge] ſcil. Till hee findes a fit time to vent it; for then, the lips of the wiſe do ſpread abroad knowledge, Chap. 15.7. hee is no niggard where there is need, but loves not to outlaſh. Taciturnity is a virtue with him, Tacitus a good hiſtorian.Curtlus. lib. 4 Perſae magnam rem ſuſtineri poſſe non credunt ab eo cui tacere grave ſit. The Perſians hold not him fit for great imployments, that cannot keep counſel, ſaith Curtius.
But the heart of fools proclaimeth fooliſhneſs] In it is, and out it muſt: Pleni rimarum ſunt, they can keep no counſel, hold no ſecrets, muſt needs tell all, whatever come of it: ut qui nec tacere nec prudenter loqui noriut, they can neither hold their tongue, nor uſe it to purpoſe. The Moraliſt adviſeth foreign either to ſay nothing, or that which is better than nothing. And Socrates being asked by one how hee might have the reputation of a wiſe man? Friſt, ſaid hee, thou muſt hold thy tongue oftner than ſpeak: Secondly, thou muſt learn how to frame thy ſpeeches.
Verſ. 24. The hand of the diligent ſhall bear rule] i. e. It ſhall make rich, and ſo get preferment: for regina pecunia, Mony bears the Maſtery, and is a common medler in moſt buſineſſes. Agathocles, by his induſtry, gat to bee King of Sicily, Crumwel to bee Earl of Eſſex, Cranmer to bee Arch-biſhop of Canterbury, &c.
But the ſlothful (or deceitful) ſhall bee under tribute] Cajetan renders it, Dolus erit ad liquefactionem. Deceitful dealing ſhall melt to nothing.foreign tributum, fic dictum quia paulatim liqueſcere facit facultates. Buxtorf. The ſame word ſignifieth both melting and tribute, becauſe too much tribute waſteth mens eſtates; as when the ſpleen ſwells, the reſt of the body conſumes. King Johns exactors received from his ſubjects no leſs ſummes of curſes, than of coin: Hee gathered money the ſinewes of warre, but loſt their affections, the joynts of peace. He had a troubleſome reign, ill beloved of his people; and farre a leſſe King, only by ſtriving to be more than he was; the juſt reward of violations: what tribute hee paid to the Popes Legat at his abſolution (eight thouſand Marks, beſides other huge ſummes,Mat. Paris. inſomuch as that John Florentinus the Legat was nicknamed Ferentinus, for bearing away ſo much mony) I need not here relate.Speed. And yet this King was not ſlothful (for his endleſs turmoils kept his body ſtill in motion, his mind in paſſions, and his proweſſe in ure) deceitful, I cannot deny him, in breaking promiſe with His Subjects about their juſt liberties: But a great part of that blame may well lye upon his Court-paraſites, who ſuggeſted, that now hee was a King without a Kingdome, a Lord without a Dominion, and a Subject to his Subjects, &c. Wicked Counſellours; as if it were not enough to bee above men,Daniel. but to bee above mankind, as thoſe Princes would bee, that would not bee under the Law.
Verſ. 25. Heavineſs in the heart of a man maketh it ſtoop] Grief is like Lead to the ſoul, heavy and cold; it ſinks downward,Homer. Odyſſ. 1. Mans mind is like the ſtone Tyrrhenus, which ſo long as it is whole, ſwimeth, but being once broke, ſinketh. and carries the ſoul with it; foreign. How decrepit was David grown with much grief at ſeventy years of age? The like wee may ſay of Jacob, who attained not to the daies of the years of the life of his Fathers, Gen. 47.9. as being a man of many ſorrows. And this, ſome think, was the reaſon that our Saviour Chriſt, at little paſt thirty, was reckoned to bee toward fifty, Joh. 8.57. Hee was the man that had ſeen affliction by the rod of Gods wrath, Lam. 3.1.
But a good word maketh it glad] Such as was that of our Saviour to the poor Paralytick, Son, bee of good chear, thy ſins are forgiven thee. The promiſes are called a good word, foreign.Jer. 29.10. ſo David found them, Pſal. 119.92. Phyſick for the ſoul (more truly ſo called than the Library at Alexandria) cordials of comfort, breaſts of conſolation, Iſa. 66.11. Wells of ſalvation, Iſa. 12.3. foreign miſeriarum (as Plato ſaid of Wine and Muſick) that which mitigates mans miſeries; and without which Wine, Muſick, merry company, &c. will prove but miſerable comforters, and at the beſt, but the Devils Anodynes.
Verſ. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour] Let him dwell by whomſoever; hee is ever a better man than his neighbours; hee is a Prince of God amongſt them, as Abraham was amongſt the Hittites. The Jews ſay, that thoſe ſeventy ſouls that went with Jacob into Egypt, were as much worth as all the ſeventy Nations in the world. Nemo me major, niſi qui juſtior, ſaid Ageſilaus, when he heard the King of Perſia ſtiled The great King, i. e. I acknowledge none more excellent than my ſelf, unleſs more righteous; none greater, unleſs better. Upon all the glory ſhall bee a defence, Iſa 4.5. that is, upon all the righteous, thoſe onelyonly glorious, thoſe excellent of the earth, Pſal. 16.2. that are ſealed up to the day of redemption, Eph. 4.30. Now whatſoever is ſealed with a ſeal, that is excellent in its own kinde, as Iſa. 28.25. hordeum ſignatum, excellent barly. The pooreſt Vilage is an Ivory palace, in quo eſt Paſtor & credentes aliqui, ſaith Luther, if it have in it but a Miniſter, and a few good people.
But the way of the wicked ſeduceth them] i. e. The wicked will not bee perſwaded of the juſt mans excellency; hee cannot diſcern, nor will bee drawn to beleeve that there is any ſuch gain in godlineſs, any ſuch worth in well-doing, any ſuch difference betwixt the righteous and the wicked, betwixt him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not. Hee therefore goes another way to work, but is fearfully fruſtrated; For who ever yet hardened himſelf againſt God, and proſpered? Job 9.4. They think themſelves far better than the righteous; and ſo they were indeed, if they could finde that felicity in wicked wayes, which their deceitful hearts promiſe them. But this they can never do.
Verſ. 27. The ſloathful (or deceitful) man roaſteth not that which hee took in hunting] Hee ſhall never enjoy his evil-gotten goods; but though hee heap up ſilver as the duſt, and prepare raiment as the clay, hee may prepare it, but the juſt ſhall put it on, and the innocent ſhall divide the ſilver, Job 27.16, 17. I read of a falſe Butcher, that having ſtoln an Oxe, and cauſed it to bee dreſt on his wedding day, was on that very day apprehended, and not long after executed. I read of Tecelius, the Popes Pardonmonger in Germany, that having by ſale of Indulgences ſcraped together a huge maſs of money, and returning for Rome, hee was met, and eaſed of his caſh by an odde fellow, who being afterwards proſecuted for a felon, produced a pardon for future ſins granted him by Tecelius himſelf, and being thereupon acquitted by the Judge, hee roaſted that which that other old Fox had taken in hunting.
But the ſubſtance of a diligent man is precious] Great in value, whatſoever it bee in quantity; as a ſmall box-full of Pearls, are more worth than mountains of pibbles. Pſ. 37.16. Prov. 15.16. and v. 2. The houſe of the righteous hath much treaſure, though there bee but curta ſuppellex, Res anguſta domi, hee is without that care in getting, fear in keeping, grief in loſing, thoſe three fell Vultures that feed continually on the heart of the rich worldling, and diſſweeten all his comforts. Jabal that dwelt in Tents, and tended the herds, had Jubal to his brother, the Father of Muſick, Jabal and Jubal, diligence and complacence, good husbandry and a well-contenting ſufficiency dwell uſually together.
Verſ. 28. In the way of righteouſneſs is life] And life (in any ſenſe) is a ſweet mercy, a precious indulgence. Life natural is but a little ſpot of time between two Eternities, before and after, but it is of great conſequence (for ex hoc momento pendet Aeternitas) and given us for this purpoſe, that glory may bee begun in grace, and wee have a further and further entrance into the Kingdome of heaven here, as Peter ſaith, 2 Ep. 1.11.
And in the path thereof there is no death] Chriſt hath unſtinged the firſt death, and made it of a puniſhment, a benefit;Mors janua vitae, porta coeli. Bern. of a poſtern to let out temporal life, a ſtreet-door to let in eternal life. Surely the bitterneſs of this death is paſt to the righteous, there is no gall in it (as the Hebrew word there ſignifies) nay there is hony in it, as once there was in the corps of Sampſons dead Lion. And for the ſecond death, there is no danger; for they ſhall paſs from the jaws of death, to the joyes of heaven; Yea, though hell had cloſed her mouth upon a childe of God, it could as little hold him, as the Whale could Jonah; it muſt (perforce) regurgitate, and render up ſuch a morſel.