Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Proverbs · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII. Verſ. 1. When thou ſitteſt to eat]
SEe my common place of Abſtinence.
Conſider diligently what is before thee] And feed with fear, Iude 12. Leſt thou loſe by thy luxury that praiſe and preferment, that thou hadſt gotten by thine induſtry, chap. 22.9.
Non minor eſt virtus quàm quaerere parta tueri:
Verſ. 2. And put a knife to thy throat] Put into thy throat, (as Aben-ezra reads it) rather than offend by inordinate appetite. Some read it thus, For thou putteſt a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Thou ſhortneſt thy life, and diggeſt as it were thine own grave with thine own teeth. Meat kills as many as the Musket; the board as the ſword.Chryſoſt. Tennis menſa ſanitatis mater: but much meat, much malady.
Verſ. 3. Be not deſirous of his dainties] It is a ſhame for a Saint to be a ſlave to his Palat. Iſaac loved veniſon too too well, the Diſciples are cautioned by Chriſt, Luk. 21.34. who well enough knew where they were weakeſt.
For they are deceitful meat] There is a hook under that bait: it may prove as dangerous as Ionathans hony, of which he had no ſooner taſted, but his head was forfeited. There is a deceitfulneſs in ſin, Heb. 3.13. a lie in vanity, Jon. 2.8. tranſit voluptas, manet dolor.—dolor eſt etiam ipſa voluptas.
Verſ. 4. Labour not to be rich] The Courtier is ſtill at his leſſon. Many gotten into Princes Palaces, into places of profit, fat offices, mind nothing more than the feathering of their own neſts, raiſing of their own houſes, filling of their own coffers. Such were Shebna, Haman, Sejanus, of whom Tacitus makes this report. Palam compoſitus pudor, intus ſumma adipiſcendi libido, Quicquid non acquiritur damnum eſt. Sen.that he made ſhew of modeſty, but was extream covetous; inſomuch ſaith Seneca, that he thought all to be loſt that he got not for himſelf. How much better Joſeph, Nehemiah, Daniel, &c. who being wholly for the publike, as they had nothing to loſe, ſo they had as little to get, but were above all price or ſale.
Ceaſe from thine own wiſdome] Caſt away that carnal policy that would prompt thee to get rem, rem, quocunque modo rem, wealth of any faſhion. This wiſdome is by Saint James fitly ſtiled, earthly, ſenſual, deviliſh. Earthly, managing the luſts of the eye to the ends of gain: Senſual, managing the luſts of the eye to ends of pleaſure: and Deviliſh, managing the pride of life unto ends of power, James 3.15. with 1 John. 2.14.15.
Verſ 5. Wilt thou ſet thine eyes, &c.] Hebr. Wilt thou cause thine eyes to fly after, &c.? Wilt thou fly a fools pitch, and go hawking after that that cannot be had? or if had, will not pay for the pains, countervail the coſt? Wilt thou caſt a leering look after ſuch vanities?
Upon that which is not] That hath no ſolid ſubſiſtence, though the fooliſh world call it ſubstance. foreign.The faſhion of this world paſſeth away, 1 Cor. 7.31. The Greek word there uſed, intimateth, that there is nothing of any firmneſſe or ſolid conſiſtence in the Creature. Heaven onelyonly hath a foundation. Heb. 11.10. Earth hath none, but is hanged upon nothing, as Job ſpeaketh. Ye rejoyce in a thing of nought, ſaith the Prophet to them that drank wine in bowls &c. Amos. 6.6, 13.
For riches certainly make themſelves wings] As the Heathens feigned of their God Plutus. Under theſe wings let the Maſter hide himſelf, as Eſay 28.15. yet with thoſe wings will they fly away, without once taking leave, leaving nothing but the print of talons in his heart to torment him. Riches (ſaith one) were never true to thoſe that truſted them: To fly from us, they make themſelves great Eagles wings: to fly to us, or after us, Ne paſſerinas quidem, Auguſtin.not ſo much as old ſparrows wings. Temporals (ſaith another) are as tranſitory, as a haſty head-long torrent, a ſhadow, a ſhip, a bird,Mr Bolton. an arrow, a poſt that paſſeth by, or if you can name any thing of ſwifter wing, or ſooner gone.
Verſ. 6. Eate thou not the bread of him that hath an evill eye] That is, of a miſerly muckworm, that wiſheth thee choaked for ſo doing, even then when he maketh greateſt ſhew of hoſpitality and humanity.
Verſ. 7. For as he thinketh in his heart, ſo is he] Mens cujuſque is eſt quiſque. The man is as his mind is, or as he thinketh in his heart, ſo he ſpeaketh; he cannot ſo diſſemble, but that eftſoons he blurteth out ſome word, or ſheweth ſome ſign of his ſordid diſpoſition. Some read it thus: For as he grudgeth his own ſoul, ſo he will ſay unto thee, eat, drink, &c. As he ſtarves his own Genius, and cannot afford himſelf a good meals-meat, ſo he grudgeth at his gueſts whom yet he bids welcome. Chriſt doth not ſo, Cant. 5.1.
Verſ. 8. The morſel which thou haſt eaten] That is, That which thou haſt eaten, ſhall be ſo ill-ſauced, that thou ſhalt wiſh it up again, and thou ſhalt repent thee of thy complements, or of whatſoever other good ſpeech thou haſt uſed at table: which was the ſalt wherewith our Saviour uſed to beſprinkle the diſhes wherever he dined.
Daniels hiſt.Verſ. 9. Speak not in the ears of a fool] That is, Of a wilfull fool, that ſeldome asketh Counſel, but never followeth any, as it is ſaid of James King of Scotland. See the notes on Prov. 9.7, 8. and on Mat. 7.6.
Verſ. 10. Remove not the ancient land-mark] See the Note on chap. 22.28.
Verſ. 11. For their Redeemer is mighty] The thunder of his power who can underſtand? Iob 26.14. And who knoweth the power of his wrath? Pſal. 90.11. Oh contend not with him that is mightier than thou. Eccleſ. 6.10. God Almighty is in a ſpecial manner the Guardian of his Orphans, and the great Maſter of the Wards.
Verſ. 12. Apply thy heart unto inſtruction] Make thine heart to come to it, though never ſo averſe. Call in thy ſcattered thoughts, and buſie them about the beſt things, Anima diſperſa fit minor. This is the wiſe mans Counſel to the younger ſort. But becauſe ſurdis plerunque fabulam, few youths will be better adviſed, therefore he beſpeaks their Parents and Tutors in the next words.
Verſ. 13. With-hold not correction from the Childe] See the Note on chap. 13.24.
He ſhall not dye] Or if he do, yet not by thy default: Thou haſt delivered thine own ſoul howſoever. If a Blackmore enter into the Bath, though he become not white by it, Yet the Bath-maſter hath his pay, ſaith Keyſerſpergius. The Phyſician hath his ſee whether the Patient recover or dye.
Verſ. 14. And ſhalt deliver his ſoul from hell] Fond and fooliſh Parents are peremptores potiùs quam parentes, rather Paricides than Parents:…ern. Epiſt. 12… ſith Qui non, cum poteſt, ſervat, occidit, by not ſaving their Children, they ſlay them; by cockting them in their ſin, they pitch them headlong into Hell.
Verſ. 15. My ſon, if thine heart be wiſe] Si vexatio det intellectum, if either by inſtruction or correction I may make thee wiſe or well-ſpoken, Bonum birum, dicendi peritum (as Quintilians Oratour) cotus laetitia diſsiliam, I ſhall be a joyful man indeed. Saint John had no greater joy than to hear that his children walked in the truth. 3 Joh. ….And St. Paul could never bee thankful enough for ſuch a mercy, 1 Theſſ. 3.9.
Even mine] Or, even as I; viz. was a comfort to my Parents.
Verſ. 17. Let not thine heart envie ſinners] Who have they never ſo much here, they have but a penſion, an annuity, a ſtate of life granted them in the utmoſt and moſt remote part of our Inheritance.
But be thou in the fear of the Lord all day long] An excellent means to cure one of the fret: Probatum eſt. Only it muſt be uſed conſtantly. Men muſt wake with God, walk with him, and lye down with him, be in continual communion with him, and conformity unto him. This is to bee in Heaven aforehand.
Verſ. 18. For ſurely there is an end] Viz. Of their pomp and proſperity, dum fanea quadam felicitate temporaliter floreant, as Auguſtine hath it,Aug. Ep 120. whiles as graſſe they flouriſh, and then de-flouriſh.
And thine expectation ſhall not be cut off] As the wickeds ſhall, Pſal. 37.38. Chear up therefore, and doe not deſpond: Flebile principium melior fortuna ſequatur, as Queen Elizabeth was wont to ſay, whiles ſhe was yet a priſoner. Then ſhe envied the Milk-maid that ſang ſo merrily: But if ſhe had known what a glorious reign ſhe ſhould have had for four and forty years, ſhe would not have envied her.
Verſ. 19. Hear thou my ſon, and be wiſe] Hearing is one of the learned ſenſes, as Ariſtotle calls it. Wiſedome entreth into the ſoul by this door, as folly did at firſt, when the woman liſtned to the old Serpents illuſions. This ſenſe is firſt up in a morning: and this preface the Wiſe-man purpoſely premiſeth to his following diſcourſe; as well knowing how hardly young men are drawn off from drinking matches, and Good-fellow-meetings.
And guide thine heart in the way] That is to ſay, let knowledge and affection be as twins, and run parallel: let them mutually transfuſe life and vigour, the one into the other. Practiſe Gods Will as faſt as thou underſtandeſt it. The Tigurine tranſlation reads it, Ʋt beatum fit in via cor tuum, that thine heart may be bleſſed in the way.
Verſ. 20. Be not amongſt Wine-bibbers] Follow not the cuſtom, nor company of ſuch; thou knoweſt not what thou maiſt be drawn to doe, though of thy ſelf averſe to ſuch evil courſes. Noah got no good by the luxurious old world (Matth. 24.38.) with whom he lived: Nor Lot by the intemperate Sodomites, Ezek. 16.49. Ʋriah (a good man) was at length over-perſwaded to over-drink himſelf, 2 Sam. 11.13. Let him that ſtands take heed laſt he fall. That evil ſervant that preſumes to eat and drink with the drunken, foreign.ſhall be cut off in the middle, Matth. 24.49.
Among …i…tous caters of fleſh] Amongſt fleſh-mongers, qui crapula indulgent, that pamper their panches, In cute curanda plus aequo operaci. See my Common-place of abſtinence. Theſe be all for themſelves, as Nabal was, Helluanturſibi carnem (ſo the Hebrew runs) they ravin up fleſh for themſelves.
Verſ. 21. For the drunkard—ſhall come to poverty] Nay, to eternal miſery in Hell, 1 Cor. 6.10. but few men fear that: beggery they hold worſe than any hell. Per mare pauperiem fuginal, per ſaxa, per ignes. Herat.But poverty to ſuch is but a prelude to a worſe matter.
Verſ. 22. Hearken to thy father, &c.] See the Note on chap. 1.8.
And deſpiſe not thy mother when ſhe is old] Dr. Taylour Martyr ſaid to his Son among other things, when he was to ſuffer; When thy mother is waxed old, forſake her not, Act. & M on. 138.but provide for her to thy power, and ſee that ſhee lack nothing: for ſo will God bleſſe thee, and give thee long life upon Earth, and proſperity.
Verſ. 23. Buy the truth and ſell it not] Every parcell of truth is precious, as the filings of gold, as the Bezar-ſtone, when beaten, are carefully lookt to, and preſerved. Hold laſt the faithfull word, as with both hands, Tit. 1.9. Strive together for the faith of the Goſpel, Phil. 1.27. Be zealous for it, Jude 3. foreign, Either live with it, or dye for it. As we have received it as a legacy from our fore-fathers (who ſealed it with their bloud, and paid dear for it) ſo we muſt tranſmit it to our Poſterity pure and entire,Arrii foreign. Neſtorii foreign. whatever it ſtands us in. They were ſo religious that they would not exchange a letter or ſyllable of the faith, wherewith Chriſt had betruſted them. So zealous in buying the truth, that they would give five marks and more for a good book (and that was more mony than ten pound is now) Some gave a load of hay for a few Chapters of Saint James, or of Saint Paul in Engliſh, ſitting up all night in reading and hearing, &c. What a deal of charge was the Queen of Sheba at for Salomons wiſdome? The wiſe Merchant for the pearl of price?Act. & Mon. fol. 756. Hieron and Reuchlin for their Hebrew-learning? Pro ſingulis horis ſingulos aureos numerabant. Reuchlin gave a crown an hour to the Jew that read to him.Mat. 13.44. Hieron ventured his life to repair by night to a Jew-doctor.
Verſ. 24. The Father of the righteous, &c.] See the Note on chap. 10.1.
Verſ. 26. My ſon give me thy heart] There is a ſtrange ſtrife, not of earthly but of ſpiritual powers after the poſſeſſion of mans heart: and through mans tranſgreſſion Satan hath gotten ſtrong hold thereon, Act. 5.3. Luke 22.3. Once he ſtrove about a dead mans body, Jude 9. but doubtleſſe his purpoſe was therein to have ſet up an Idol for himſelf in the hearts of the living. If Satan can get the heart, he is ſafe: and ſo is Satans Vicar. It was a watch-word in Pope Gregory the thirteenths time; in Queen Elizabeths days, My ſon give me thy heart; Be in heart a Papiſt, and then go to Church, diſſemble, do what ye will. Among the Heathens, when the beaſt was cut up for ſacrifice, the firſt thing the Prieſt lookt upon was the heart: and if the heart were naught, the ſacrifice was rejected. As among the Jews Philo obſerveth, that the heart, and the horns, or brains were never offered with the ſacrifices: for they are the fountains and ſecret cels, wherein lurks, and out of which flows all impiety. But whatever was in the type, this is in the truth: As the heart is by nature, the Lord will have none of it: yet till the heart be renewed and given to the Lord, he will accept nothing can come from man, Eſay 29.13. and 66.3. Jer. 42.20. Of the heart God ſeems to ſay to us, as Joſeph did to his brethren concerning Benjamin, Gen. 43.3. Ye ſhall not ſee my face without it. The heart is Chriſts bed of ſpices, Cant. 6.2. wherein the delights, Pſal. 50.17. and for which he wiſheth, Deut. 5.29. O that there were ſuch an heart, &c.
And let thine eyes obſerve my ways] Look well to thy pattern ſo fairly penſild out unto thee: take true ſtitches out of this perfect ſampler; take right ſtrokes after this incomparable Copy. The Hebr. here hath it, Let thine eyes run through my ways: Get a full proſpect of them, and diligently peruſe them: Fix and feed thine eyes upon the beſt objects; and reſtrain them from gazing up on forbidden beauties, leſt they prove to be windows of wickedneſs, and loopholes of luſt.
Verſ. 27. For an whore is a deep ditch] Fitly ſo called, quod nullus neque modus neque finis ſit in amore meritricio, becauſe luſt is boundleſs, bottomleſs. Hee is a perfect ſlave that ſerves a whore. See the Note on Prov. 22.14.
Verſ. 28. She alſo lyeth in wait] Terence calls harlots Cruces crumeninculgas, ſordida poſcinummia, &c. baſe beg-pennies, pickpurſes, &c. See the Notes upon chap. 7.
And increaſeth the tranſgreſſours amongſt men] Nothing hath ever ſo enriched helas the whoriſh woman. Vide ubi ſupra.
Verſ. 29. Who hath woe? who hath ſorrow?] Whoredome is uſually uſhered in by drunkenneſſe. Eſt Venus in vinis. Hence, Rev. 17.4. the Whore cometh forth with a cup, as with an inſtrument fit for the fulfilling of her luſt; even as of old every one did openly bear in his hand at Rome the badge of that Art that he profeſſed. Salomon therefore having warned his yonker of Whoredome, fitly ſhews him next the miſchief of drunkenneſſe; and this he doth by way of admiration or interrogation, that the Drunkard may (will he, nill he) ſee, as in a glaſſe, and ſo abhor his own abſurdities, miſeries, and miſchiefs. The beſt that can come of drunkenneſſe is repentance (that faireſt daughter of ſo foul a mother) and that's not without its woe and alas, its ſorrow and redneſſe of eyes with weeping for ſin? But few drunkards are taken in that fault.
Who hath babling] A great deal of ſmall, talk, telling all that's within.
Condita cum verax aperit praecordia Liber.Herat.
When the Wine is in, the Wit is out.
Who hath redneſſe of eyes] Oculorum ſuffuſio, the Vulgar reads ſuffoſſio. Drunkards have uſually red and rich faces, Naſos inſtar coctilis cancri, Laveter.Noſes like a boyld Lobſter; plenty of Puſtulaes or Quots, as they call them. Briefly, Drunkenneſſe, like another Africa, is never without ſome new monſter of miſchief.
Verſ. 30. They that tarry long at the Wine] Theſe men doe not want time, but waſte it. Pliny, if he were alive, would ſurely ſay to ſuch, as once he did to his Nephew, Poteras has horas non per didiſſe, Thou mighteſt have ſpent thy time much better. How may thoſe Wine-bibbers more juſtly lament their loſſe, than good Bernard did, and ſay each man for himſelf, Totum vitae meae tempus perdidi, quia perditè vixi?
Verſ. 31. Look not thou upon the Wine] Many men dye of the wound in the eye. It is not unlawful to look; but becauſe of looking comes luſting, therefore Laws are to be laid upon our looks. Vitiis nobis in animum per oculos eſt via, ſaith Quintilian. If we doe not let in ſin at the window of the eye, or by the door of the ear, it cannot enter into our hearrs.
When it moveth it ſelf aright] When it ſparkles, and is Vinum Cos (as they call the beſt Wine at Paris and Lovain) that is, Vinum Coloris, Odoris, Saporis, Bee-hive of Rome, prefac.optimi, Wine of the beſt colour, ſmell, and ſavour.
Verſ. 32. At the laſt it biteth like a Serpent] Loe ſuch is the guilt of ſin, ſuch the end and effect of drunkenneſs, torments here, and tortures in hell.
Verſ. 34. Thine eyes ſhall behold ſtranger women] See the Note on verſ. 29. Venter aeſtuans mero, ſpumat in libidinem, ſaith Hierom. A belly filled with wine,foreign. Ariſtop. Vina parant animos Veneri. Ovid. foameth out filthineſſe. Wine is the milk of Venus, ſaith another. Drunkenneſs is the gallery that lechery walketh through, ſaith a third.
Thine heart ſhall utter perverſe things] Prepoſtorous, diſtorted, diſlocated matters: ſolliciting thy Neighbours Wife to wickedneſs, or otherwiſe vomiting out that which God hateth, and godly men abhor.
Verſ. 35. Yea, thou ſhalt be as he, &c.] Thy brains ſhall crow, and thou ſhalt be of Copernicus his opinion, that the earth turns round. Thou ſhalt alſo be fearleſſe of the greateſt danger, and not refuſe to ſleep upon a Maſt-pole, dance upon a Weather-cock, &c.
Verſ. 36. They have ſtricken me] A drunken man, we ſay, takes no hurt, feels no ſmart, is turned into a very ſtock. Dionyſius the Heracleot felt not needles thruſt into his fat belly. Pliny mentioneth certain Bears, that being ſound aſleep, cannot be wakened with the ſharpeſt prickles.Mathiol. in Dioſcorid. Mathiolus reports of the Aſſes of Hetruria, that feeding upon Hen-bane, they fall into ſuch a dead ſleep, that being taken for dead, they are half hideled, ere they can bee arowſed. Loe ſuch is the Drunkards lethargy: neither is he more inſenſible than ſenſual, and irrecoverable.