Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Proverbs · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Verſ. 1. My Son forget not]
WEE ſhould bee able to ſay to Wiſdome, as Coenis did to her Lady Antonia, Fruſtra, Domina, juſſiſti: haec enim atque caetera omnia quae mihi imperas, Dio in reſponſ.ita ſemper in memoria habeo ut ex ea deleri non poſsint. You need not, Madam, bid mee do your buſineſs, for I ſo remember your commands, as I need never bee minded of them.
Juſſa ſequi tam velle mihi, quam poſſe, neceſſe eſt,
I am ready, to my power, to do your pleaſure.
But let thine heart keep] As the Ark kept the two Tables, as the Pot kept the hidden Manna.
Verſ. 2. For length of dayes] A ſweet mercy, and generally deſired, Pſal. 34.12. Short life is reckoned as a curſe, Pſal. 55.24. yet in ſome caſe, it is a bleſſing,foreign. Dion. Pruſ. Orat. 28. 1 King. 14.13. Iſa. 57.1. foreign, God taketh away his from the evil to come; as when there is a fire in an houſe or Town, men carry out their Jewels; but then God makes them up in his Cabinet, they do enter into peace, their ſouls go to heaven, they reſt in their beds, their bodies reſt ſweetly and ſafely in the grave till the reſurrection of the Juſt, Iſa. 57.2. And is not this far better than the longeſt life here? Length of dayes may prove a curſe, when it brings ſhame, ſorrow, &c. as it did to Cain, Cham, &c.
And peace ſhall they adde to thee] Without which, to live is nothing elſe but to lye a dying. Rebecca for want of this, was weary of her life; ſo was Elijah when hee ſate under the Juniper tree. All the dayes of the afflicted are evil, Prov. 15.15. foreign, they dwell together, they do not live together, ſaid Themiſtocles of married folk that agree not. Non ille diu vixit, ſed diu fuit, ſaid Seneca of one. And again, Non multum navigavit, ſed multum jactatus eſt. Hee was toſſed much up and down, but ſailed not far, as being driven about by contrary winds.
Shall they adde to thee] Multiplicem pacem ſignificat, ſaith one, Peace, peace, as Iſa. 26.3. that is, a multiplied peace with God, with ones ſelf, with others, or a renewed continued peace, to day, to morrow, and every day: Or a perfect, ſheer, pure peace.
Verſ. 3. Let not mercy and truth forſake thee] That is, true mercy, not that which is natural or moral onelyonly, but that which is right, both quoad fontem, & quoad finem. They that do otherwiſe, as heathens and hypocrites, lay up their treaſure in the eyes and ears of men, which is a cheſt that hath neither lock nor key to keep it.
Binde them] That is, my Commandements. Hee ſeems to allude to Deut. 6.8. See the Note there.
Verſ. 4. So ſhalt thou finde favour] As did Joſeph, Moſes, David, hee was a man after Gods own heart, and whatſoever hee did pleaſed the people. It is God that gives credit, hee faſhioneth mens opinions, and inclineth their hearts, as Ezra oft acknowledges with much thankfulneſs, Chap. 7.27. &c.
Verſ. 5. Truſt in the Lord] To truſt in God is to bee unbottomed of thy ſelf, and of every creature, and ſo to lean upon God, that if hee fail thee thou ſinkeſt. Confidence is the leaſt, and yet the beſt wee can render to the Lord, for hereby wee acknowledge his Soveraignty, and ſet the Crown upon his head, as it were. See Judg. 9.15.
And lean not to thine own underſtanding] Which becauſe men do, hence it is many times, that the faireſt bloſſoms of their endeavours wither, and the unprobableſt things do come to paſs: God loves to confute men in their confidences, as hee did the Philiſtims in their Champion Goliah. Wee muſt not therefore truſt, no not Truſt it ſelf, but God on whom it relies, who is therefore called our Truſt. They truſt not God at all, that do it not alone. He that ſtands with one foot on a rock, and another foot upon a quickſand, will ſink and periſh as certainly, as he that ſtands with both feet on a quickſand. Lord lead mee to a Rock that is higher than I, ſaith David. Whither when hee was once got, then hee ſate and ſang, The Lord is my rock and my ſalvation, &c. Pſal. 27.1. Surely as one ſaid of general Councils, they ſeldome were ſucceſſeful, becauſe men came with confidence, leaning to their own underſtanding, and ſeeking for victory, rather than verity: ſo it holds as true in other like caſes.
Verſ. 6. In all thy waies acknowledge him] Ask counſel at his mouth, aime at his glory, bee evermore in the ſenſe of his preſence, and light of his countenance. It is reported of a worthy Divine of Scotland, Zacheus convert. preface.that hee did even eat and drink, and ſleep eternal life. This is to walk with God, this is to live by Faith, this is to ſee him that is inviſible (Moſes his optick) this is to go the upper way, even that way of life that is above to the wiſe, that hee may depart from Hell beneath, Prov. 15.24. See the Note there.
And hee ſhall direct thy paths] As hee carefully choſe out the Iſraelites way in the wilderneſs; not the ſhorteſt, but yet the ſafeſt for them: So will God do for all that make him their guide. The Athenians had a conceit, that their Goddeſſe Minerva turned all their evil counſels into good unto them. The Romans thought that their Vibilia (another heatheniſh Deity) ſet them again in their right way, when at any time they were out. All this, and more than this, is undoubtedly done by the true God for all that commit their waies unto him, and depend upon him for direction and ſucceſs. Loe this God is our God for ever and ever: hee will bee our guide even unto death.Pſal. 4….14
Verſ. 7. Bee not wiſe in thine own eyes] Bis deſipit qui ſibi ſ…pit. Hee is two fools that is wiſe in his own eyes. This foreign marres all. Socrates his Hoc ſcio quod nihil ſcio, gat him the name of the wiſeſt among men.Arachu… apud Ovid. Metamor, lib. 6. Conſilii ſati… in me mihi — is the proud mans poſi…. Hec that would bee wiſe, muſt bee a fool, that hee may bee wiſe, 1 Cor. 3.18. Intus exiſtens prohibet alienum: A conceit of wiſdome bars out wiſdome.
Fear the Lord] This makes a modeſt opinion of a mans ſelf. Joſeph a man famous for the fear of God, when Pharaoh expected from him an interpretation of his dream, as having heard much of his skill, It is not in m…, ſaid hee,Gen. 41.16. God ſhall give Pharaoh an anſwer of peace. Loe hee extenuates his own gifts, and aſcribes all to God. Wherefore ſuddenly after, as Joſeph had ſaid to Pharaoh, Without mee ſhall God make anſwer to Pharaoh, ſo Pharaoh is heard ſay to Joſeph, Without thee ſhall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the Land of Egypt, verſ. 44. So that here was exemplified that holy Proverb… Prov. 22.4. By humility and the fear of the Lord, are riches, and honour, and life. The Original runs thus, By humility the fear of the Lord are riches, &c. There is no And in the Hebrew. Humility and the fear of the Lord are ſo near akin (this being the Mother of that) as if the one were predicated of the other, as if they were one and the ſame grace.
And depart from evil] Another effect of this clean fear of God, as David calleth it, Pſal. 19.9. Cave, spectat Ca…o, was a watch word among the Romans. A reverend and religious man had theſe words following written before him in his ſtudy, Noli peccare: Nam Deus videt, Angeli aſtant, Diabolus accuſabit, Conſcientia teſtabitur, Infernus cruciabit. Take heed of ſin; for God ſeeth thee, Angels ſtand by thee, the Devil will accuſe thee, thy Conſcience will teſtifie againſt thee, and Hell will torture thee.Pſal. 134.4 Hoſ. 3.5. But beſides all this, there is mercy with God that hee may bee feared: and the children of Iſrael ſhall fear the Lord and his goodneſs.
Verſ. 8. It ſhall bee health to thy navel] That is, Thou ſhalt bee in good plight both for the outward and inward man: Thy bones full of marrow, thy breaſts full of milk, thy ſpirit alſo lively and lifted up in the waies of the Lord. And as it is with children in the womb (for to theſe is the alluſion here) that by the navil nouriſhment is miniſtred unto them, yea, even to the ſtrengthening of the inward parts: So the godly in the Church are …ed and bred by the Faith and fear of God; And as without marrow in the bones,Munſter. Mercer. T.W and others in loc. no part of man, no not that which is of greateſt value and force, is able to do any thing: So the ſtrength that they have from God, is as the marrow which ſtrengtheneth the bones, and maketh them apt to do good things; And as a man that hath his bones filled with marrow, and hath abundance of good blood and freſh ſpirits in his body, hee can indure to go with leſs cloaths than another, becauſe hee is well lined within: So it is with a heart that hath a great deal of grace and peace, hee will go through difficulties and troubles, though outward comforts fail him.Act. & Mon. fol. 1358. It is recorded of Mr. Saunders Martyr, that himſelf ſhould tell the party that lay in the ſame bed with him in priſon, that even in the time of his examination before Steven Gardiner, hee was wonderfully comforted, not onelyonly in ſpirit, but alſo in body hee received a certain taſte of that holy Communion of Saints, whileſt a moſt pleaſant refreſhing did iſſue from every part and member of the body to the ſeat and place of the heart, and from thence did ebbe and flow to and fro unto all the parts again.
Verſ. 9. Honour the Lord with thy ſubſtance] Freely expending it in pious and charitable uſes, Exod. 25.19. Deut. 26.2. See the Notes there. See alſo my common place of Almes.
Verſ. 10. So ſhall thy Barus bee filled] The Jews at this day, though not in their own Country,Godw. Heb. Antiq. 277. Thegualer …iſchilſhe the guaſher. nor have a Levitical Prieſt-hood, yet thoſe who will bee reputed Religious amongſt them do diſtribute the tenth of their increaſe unto the poor, being perſwaded that God doth bleſs their increaſe the more; for their uſual Proverb is, Decima, ut dives fias. Pay thy Tythes, that thou mayeſt bee rich. See the Note on Mat. 5.7.
Verſ. 11. Despiſe not the chaſtening of the Lord] Slight it not, but ſit alone, Lam. 3.28. and conſider, Eccleſ. 7.14. Some think it a goodly thing to bear out a croſs by head and ſhoulders, and wear it out as they may, never improving it: As a Dog, that getting out of the water into which hee is caſt, ſhakes his cars; or as a man, that coming out of a ſhower of rain, dryes again; and all is as before. Perdidiſtis fructum afflictionis, ſaith Auſtin of ſuch Scapethrifts. Thus the proud Greeks (having loſt two Caſtles in Cherſoneſus, Miſerrimi facti eſtis, & peſſimi permanſiſtis. Aug. de civit. Dei, l. 1. c. 33. Turk Hiſt. fol. 185.taken from them by the Turks) commonly ſaid, that there was but an Hogſty loſt, alluding to the name of that Country: Whereas that was the firſt footing that the Turks got in Europe, and afterwards poſſeſſed themſelves of the Imperial City of Conſtantinople. Shortly after, Anno 1358. Callipolis alſo being loſt, the mad Greeks, to extenuate the matter, when they had any talk thereof, in jeſting-wiſe commonly ſaid,Ibid. 186. that the Turks had but taken from them a bottle of Wine. So Galicum the Roman Emperour, hearing that Aegypt was revolted, ſaid, Quid? fine lino Aegyptio eſſe non poſſumus? What? cannot wee bee without the hemp of Aegypt? So when Callice was taken from us by the French, the Court-Paraſites to eaſe Queen Maries minde (which yet they could not) ſaid,Englands Eliſab. that it was onelyonly a refuge for runnagate Hereticks; and that no true Roman Catholick ought to deplore, but rather rejoyce at the damage.
Virgil.At Regina gravi jam dumdum ſaucia cura
Vulnus alit veni… —
…eyl. Geog.Monſieur de Cordes uſed to ſay, that hee would bee content with all his heart to lye in hell ſeven years, on condition that Callice were taken from the Engliſh. And a conſiderate Engliſh Captain being asked by a proud Frenchman, When will yee fetch Callice again? Gravely replied, Quando peccata veſtra erunt noſtris graviora, when your ſins ſhall weigh down ours. God is to bee ſeen in every thing wee ſuffer ſith light afflictions not improved, are but as a drop of wrath fore-running the great ſtorms, a crack fore-running the ruine of the whole.
Neither bee weary of his correction] This is the other extream, deſpair and deſpondency of ſpirit.Non quia dura, ſed quia molles patimur. Sen. See my Love-tokens, pag. 44. &c.
Verſ. 12. For whom the Lord loveth] The Saints afflictions proceed oft from love diſpleaſed, offended. And yet wee have ſome now that tell us that God is never diſpleaſed with his people, though they fall into Adultery, or the like ſin, no not with a Fatherly diſpleaſure; that God never chaſtiſeth his people for any ſin, no not with a Fatherly chaſtiſement. But hee (though a Father) doth alter the ſet of his looks towards his childe, who is wanton upon his love, and lets down the diligence of his juſt obſervance and duty.
In whom hee delighteth] Quem unicè diligit, whom hee cockers above the reſt of his children. That Son in whom hee is well pleaſed, ſaith Mercerus, quem approbat, whom hee makes his White-boy, So Theophylact, Qui excipitur à numero flagellatorum, excipitur à numero filiorum. Hee that eſcapes affliction, may well ſuſpect his adoption. See my Love-tokens p. 54, 55.
Verſ. 13. Happy is the man] Though afflicted, if withall inſtructed, Si vexatio det intellectum. Bought wit is ever beſt prized. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſteneſt, O Lord, and thereby reachest him out of thy Law, Pſal. 94.12. Schola crucis, ſchola lucis. Gods houſe of correction, is his School of inſtruction. See my Love-tokens, p. 145, 146. &c.
And the man that getteth underſtanding] Heb. That draweth out underſtanding, viz. de theſauro ſuo, out of the good treaſure of his heart, as that good Scribe inſtructed to the Kingdome of Heaven. The Chaldee hath it, ja…iang, Matth. 13.5….ſcaturire facit, that hath ſo profited in ſpiritual underſtanding, that hee can readily bring it forth to the benefit of others.
Verſ. 14. For the Merchandize of] That is, the profit that is gotten by making uſe of it. foreign, ſaith a Father. Seldome is any man weary of taking money. Sing a Song of Utile, and men will lend their ears to it. The Jaſſians in Strabo, delighted with the Muſick of an excellent Harper, ran all away, as ſoon as the Market-bell rang, ſave a deaf old man, and hee too, as ſoon as hee heard of it. Now Godlineſs is profitable to all things, as having the Promiſes of both lives, and the Promiſes are exceeding great and precious things, 2 Pet. 1.4. even the unſearchable riches of Chriſt, Eph. 3.8. who brings gold tried in the fire, and that which is better, Rev. 3.18. For one grain of Grace is far beyond all the gold of Ophir, and one hours enjoyment of God to bee much preferred before all the King of Spains annual Entradoes. What is Gold and Silver but the guts and garbage of the earth? And what is all the pomp and glory of the world, but dung and dogs-meat? Phil. 3.7, 8. I eſteem them no better (ſurely) that I may win Chriſt, ſaid St. Paul, that great trader both by Land and Sea, 2 Cor. 11.23.25, 26. Let mee bee put to any pain,Phil. 3. to any loſs, tantundum ut Jeſum nanciſcar, ſo I may get my Jeſus, ſaid Ignatius. This gold wee cannot buy too dear, what ever wee pay for it. The wiſe Merchant ſells all to purchaſe it, Matth. 13.44, 46. Every true Son of Jacob will bee content to part with his broth for the birth-right, to purchaſe ſpiritual favours with earthly, Pſal. 134.3. The Lord that made heaven and earth, bleſs thee out of Sion, which is to ſay, the bleſſings that come out of Sion, are choice, peculiar, precious, even above any that come out of heaven and earth. Hag. 2.7. When God is ſhaking all Nations, the Saints ſhall come with their deſirable things (ſo ſome read the words) Colligent omnes theſauros ſu…s, ſaith Calvin, they ſhall gather up all their treaſures.
Verſ. 15. Shee is more precious than Rubies] Or, Pearls, Principium cul…enque omnium rerum precii Margarita teneus. Plin. Geſner. hist. de Aquat. lib. 4. Card. ſu…t. lib. 7.which of old were moſt highly eſteemed, as Pliny teſtifieth; Noſtra aetate mult is aliis gemmis poſt ponuntur. Now adayes there are many other gems of greater price, as Rubies, Carbuncles, &c. Cardan tells us, that every precious ſtone hath an egregious vertue in it: Every ſpiritual grace hath wee are ſure, and is of more value than large demains, ſtately buildings, and ten thouſand rivers of Oyl. If the Mountains were Pearl, the huge Rocks Rubies, and the whole Globe a ſhining Chryſolite, yet all this were not to bee named in the ſame day with wiſdome.
Verſ. 16. Length of dayes is in her right hand] This is the ſame in effect with verſ. 2. See the Note there, foreign, ſaid Socrates, the ſame again may bee profitably ſaid over; Solomon wanted neither matter, nor words, and yet hee repeats and inculcates (for his Readers greater benefit) the ſame matter in the ſelf-ſame words almoſt.Seneca. Nunquam ſatis dicitur quod nunquam ſatis diſcitur. As to the Text, health and long life is that which every man covets. Now, Non domus & fundus, He….non aris acerv… & auri Aegroto domini deducant corpore febres. Riches avail not in the day of wrath, but righteouſneſs delivereth from death, Prov. 10.2. The honourable garter cannot cure the Gout, nor the chair of eſtate eaſe the Colick, nor a Crown remove the head-ach. Nugas the Scythian deſpiſing the rich preſents and ornaments, that were ſent unto him by Michael Paleologus Emperour of Conſtantinople, Pachymer. Hiſt. lib. 5.asked, whether thoſe things could drive away calamities, diſeaſes, or death? No; this they cannot do; as Henry Beauford (that rich and wretched Cardinal) found by woful experience in the reign of Henry the ſixth. For perceiving death at hand, hee asked, Wherefore ſhould I dye being ſo rich? If the whole Realm would ſave my life, I am able either by policy to get it, or by riches to buy it.Fox Martyrol. vol. 1. p. 925. Fye, quoth hee, will not death bee hired? will mony do nothing? No; mony in this caſe bears no maſtery. Death (as the jealous man) will not regard any ranſome, neither will hee reſt content though thou offer many gifts, Prov. 6.35.
Aug. de civit. Dei. l. 5. c. 25.And in her left hand riches and honour] Bonus Deus Conſtantinum Magnum tantis terrenis implevit muneribus, quant… optare nullus auderet. The good Lord heaped ſo much outward happineſs upon his faithful Servant Conſtantine the Great, as no man ever durſt to have wiſhed more, ſaith Auſtin. If God give his People a Crown, hee will not deny them a cruſt: If they have bona throni, the good things of a Throne, they ſhall bee ſure of bona ſcabelli, the good things of the footſtool.
Verſ. 17. Her waies are waies of pleaſantneſſe] Such as were thoſe of Adam before his fall, ſtrawed with Roſes, paved with Peace. Some degree of comfort follows every good action, as heat accompanies fire, as beams and influences iſſue from the Sun. Which is ſo true, that very Heathens, upon the diſcharge of a good conſcience, have found comfort and peace anſwerable. This (ſaith One) is praemium ante praemium, a fore-reward of well-doing. In doing thereof (not onelyonly for doing thereof) there is great reward, Pſal. 19.11.
Verſ. 18. Shee is a tree of life] A tree that giveth life, and quickeneth: or (as one interprets it) a mo… aſſured ſign of eternal life: whatſoever it is, hee alludeth, no doubt, to the tree mentioned, Gen. 2.9. & 3.22. See the Notes there.
And happy is every one that retains her] Though deſpiſed by the world as a poor Sneak, a contemptible caytiff. We uſually call a poor man, a poor ſoul: a poor ſoul may be a rich Chriſtian: as Roger ſirnamed Paupere cenſu was Son to Roger Biſhop of Salisbury, Goodwins Catal. p. 338.who made him Chancellour of England.
Verſ. 19. The Lord by wiſdome] By his eſſential wiſdome, by his eternal word, Prov. 8.30. the Lord Chriſt, who is the beginning of the Creation of God, Rev. 3.14. See the Note on John 1.3. In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth, Gen. 1.1. that is, In his Son, as ſome interpret it, Heb. 1.2. Col. 1.16. This interpretation is grounded upon the Jeruſalimy Targum, who tranſlates that, Gen. 1.1. bechochmatha, in ſapientia. So doth Auguſtine and others: and for confirmation they bring Joh. 8.25. but that is a miſtake, as Beza ſhews in his Annotations there.
Hee eſtabliſhed the Heaven] Heb. Hee aptly and trimly framed and formed them in that comelineſs that wee now ſee. The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament ſheweth his handy-work, (Pſal. 19.1.) Upon the third Heaven hee hath beſtowed a great deal of curious skill and cunning workmanſhip,foreign. Heb. 11.10. But of that no natural knowledge can be had, nor any help by humane arts, Geometry, Opticks, &c. For it neither is aſpectable, nor moveable. The Viſible Heavens are (for the many varieties therein, and the wonderful motion of the ſeveral ſphears) fitly called foreign.Coelum maximè co nomine intelligunt Graci. Mercer. The Original word here uſed, ratione conjugationis plus aliquid ſignificat quam paravit, vel ſtabilivit. Conen, Mirum in modum dispoſuit. Hee hath cunningly contrived. And hence haply our antient Engliſh word Koning, and by contraction King, comming of the Verb Con, which ſignifies (as Becanus noteth) Poſſum, Scio, Andeo, I can, I wot, I dare do it.
Verſ. 20. The depths are broken up] viz. Thoſe great chanels and hollow places made in the earth, to hold the waters, Gen. 1.9. that they may not overflow the earth; and this the very Philoſophers are forced to confeſs to bee a work of divine wiſdome. Others by depths here underſtand fountains and floods breaking out, and as it were flowing from the nethermoſt parts of the earth, even as though the earth did cleave it ſelf in ſunder, to give them paſſage.
And the clouds drop down the dews] Clouds (the bottles of rain and dew) are veſſels as thin as the liquor that is contained in them; there they hang, move, though weighty with their burden. How they are upheld, and why they fall here, and now, wee know not, and wonder.
Verſ. 21. Let not them depart] Ne effluant haec ab oculis tuis, ſaith the Vulgar: Ne haec à tuis oculis deflectant in obliquum huc & illuc. So Mercer. Let thy eyes look right on, Chap. 4.25. look wiſhly and intently on theſe great works of God, and his wiſdome therein ſet forth and conſpicuous, as on a theatre. Eye theſe things, as the Steerſman doth the Load-ſtar,foreign. as the Archer doth the mark hee ſhoots at, 2 Cor. 4.18. or as the Paſſenger doth his way, which hee findes hard to hit, and dangerous to miſs. Yea let them bee the delight of thine eyes, with the ſight whereof thou canſt not bee ſated or ſurfeited.
Verſ. 22. So ſhall they bee life unto thy ſoul] For by theſe, men live, and this is the ſpirit of my life, ſaith Hezekiah, Iſa. 38.16. Even what God hath ſpoken, and done, verſ. 15. A godly man differs from a wicked, as much as a living man from a dead carkaſs. The wicked are ſtark dead, and ſtone cold. The Saints alſo want heat ſometimes, but they are ſoon made hot again; becauſe there is life of ſoul in them, as Charcoal is quickly kindled, becauſe it hath been in the fire.
And grace unto thy neck] Or to thy throat, that is, to thy words uttered through the throat. See the Note on chap. 1.9.
Verſ. 23. Then ſhalt thou walk in thy way ſafely] Fidneialiter, ſaith the Vulgar, confidently and ſecurely. Every Malvoy ſhall bee a Salvoy to thee: thou ſhalt ever go under a double guard, the Peace of God within thee, Phil. 4.7. and the Power of God without thee, 1 Pet. 1.5. Thou ſhalt bee in league alſo with the ſtones of the field, and the beaſts of the field ſhall bee at peace with thee, Job 5.23.
Verſ. 24. Thou ſhalt not bee afraid] See this exemplified in David, Pſal. 3.5, 6. Peter, Act. 12.6. and Mr. Rogers our late Protomartyr,Act. & Mon. fol. 1356. who when hee was warned ſuddenly to prepare for the fire, hee then being ſound aſleep in the priſon, ſcarce with much ſhogging could bee awaked.
Thy ſleep ſhall bee ſweet] As knowing that God (thy Keeper, Pſal. 121.4, 5.) doth wake and watch for thee, Pſal. 120.1. Wicked mens ſleep is often troubleſome, through the workings of their evil conſciences;Daniel… Hiſt. of Eng. as our Richard the third (after the murther of his own two innocent Nephews) had fearful dreams, inſomuch that hee did often leap out of his bed in the dark, and catching his ſword (which alway naked ſtuck by his ſide) hee would go diſtractedly about the Chamber, every where ſeeking to finde out the cauſe of his own-occaſioned diſquiet. So Charles the ninth of France, after that bloody Maſſacre of Paris, was ſo inwardly terrified, that hee was every night laid to ſleep,Thu…n. lib. 57. and wakened again with a ſet of Muſicians.
Verſ. 25. Bee not afraid] Or, thou ſhalt not bee afraid. Nec ſi fractus illabatur orbis. Sudden evils do commonly diſ-ſpirit people, and expectorate their abilities, they be at their wits end. But let a David walk through the vale of the ſhadow of death (that is, the darkeſt ſide of death, death in its moſt horrid and hideous repreſentations) hee will not fear, no though hee ſhould go back again the ſame way: for thou art with mee, ſaith hee. Hee had God by the hand, and ſo long hee feared no colours, Pſal. 23.4.
Verſ. 26. For the Lord ſhall bee thy confidence] The Hebrew word here uſed, ſignifies both unconſtant folly, Eccleſ. 7.27. and conſtant hope, Pſal. 78.7. And Rabbi Solomon ſaith, that hee had found in the Jeruſalem-Targum this Text, thus cenſured and expounded, The Lord ſhall bee with thee in thy folly; that is, hee ſhall turn to thy good, even thine inconſiderate and raſh enterprizes, if thou addict thy ſelf to the ſtudy of wiſdome.
And ſhall keep thy foot from being taken] In the ſnare which thou waſt near unto, by chuſing, rather to bee held temerarious, than timorous.
Verſ. 27. With-hold not good from them to whom it is due] Either by the Law of equity, or of charity: For there is a debt of love, Rom. 13.8. that wee muſt ever bee owing, and ever pay. And as wee ſay of thanks, Gratiae habendae & agendae, Thanks muſt bee given and held as ſtill due, ſo muſt this debt of love. Quicquid Clerici habent, pauperum eſt, ſaith Hierome; Its true (in a ſenſe) of others, as well as of Miniſters. The poor (Gods poor) are the owners of that wee have, wee are but ſtewards and diſpenſers of Gods bounty to his neceſſitous ſervants: Now if our receits bee found great, and our layings out ſmall, God will caſt ſuch bills back in our faces, and turn us out of our ſtewardſhip. They are fools that fear to loſe their wealth by giving, but fear not to loſe themſelves by keeping it.
When it is in the power of thy hand] When thou haſt opportunity and ability; for wee muſt not ſtretch beyond the ſtaple, that were to marre all: Neither when a price is put into our hands, may wee play the fools and neglect it: But whereſoever God ſets us up an Altar,Prov. 17.16 wee muſt bee ready with our Sacrifice of Alms: for with ſuch Sacrifices God is well-pleaſed, Heb. 13. See my common place of Alms.
Verſ. 28. To morrow] Bis dat qui cito dat, while yee have time, do good to all: your beneficence muſt bee prompt and preſent; who can tell what a great-bellyed day may bring forth? Ethiopia ſhall ſoon ſtretch out her hands unto God, Weo…ſ….Pſal. 58.32. currere faciet manus ſuas ad Dominum, to note their ſpeedineſs in giving,Iſa. 23.18. ſaith one. Tyrus alſo, when converted once, makes haſte to feed and cloathe Gods poor Saints with the money and Merchandiſe ſhee was wont to heap up and hoard.
Verſ. 29. Deviſe not evil againſt thy neighbour] Heb. Plow not evil, i. e. plot not. One of the Rabbines renders it, Suſpect not, ſhun evil ſurmiſes, 1 Tim. 6.4. Moſt unkindneſſes among friends grow upon miſtakes, miſpriſions; charity is candid, and takes every thing in the beſt ſenſe, and by the right handle. 1 Cor. 13.
Verſ. 30. Strive not with a man without cauſe] If mens hearts were not bigger than their ſutes, there would not bee half ſo many. It is a fault to go lightly to Law, but eſpecially with ſuch as have done thee no harm. Zuinglius renders this Text thus: Ne temere litem cum quoquam ſuſcipias, quo minus ſuperior factus, malum tibi retribuat. Others, ſim mendax, niſi rependat tibi malum. Life of Card. Wolſey.How Cardinal Wolſey, when hee became Lord Chancellour, paid home Sir James Paulet, for ſetting him by the heels, when as yet hee was but a poor School-maſter, is well known. How much better Arch-biſhop Cranmer, of whom the proverb paſſed, Do my Lord of Canterbury a ſhrewd turn, and you ſhall have him your friend for ever after: Act. & Mon.And Robert Holgat Arch-biſhop of York, of whom it is recorded, that in the year 1541. hee obtained a benefice in a place where one Sir Francis Askew of Lincolnſhire dwelt, by whom hee was much troubled and moleſted in Law; Upon occaſion of theſe ſutes, hee was fain to repair to London, where being, hee found means to become the Kings Chaplain, and by him was made Arch-biſhop of York, and Preſident of the Kings Council for the North. The Knight before-mentioned, happened to have a ſute before the Council there, and doubted much of hard meaſure from the Archbiſhop, whoſe adverſary hee had been. But hee, remembring the rule of the Goſpel,Godw. Catalog. 625. to do good for evil, yeelded him all favour, that with juſtice he might; ſaying afterwards merrily to his friends, hee was much beholden to Sir Francis Askew: for that had not hee been, hee muſt have lived a hedge-Prieſt all the daies of his life.
Verſ. 31. Envy not the oppreſſor] That grows rich by unjuſt quarrels and vexatious Law-ſutes. It is not for nothing ſurely that our Saviour, Luke 12.15. after, Who made mee a Judge? adds, Take heed and beware of covetouſneſs: Implying, that moſt men go to Law with a covetous o… a vindictive mind: whereas if they will needs wage Law, they ſhould do it as Charles the French King made war with our Henry the ſeventh, more deſiring peace, than profit or victory. It ſhould bee with men in this caſe, as it was with St. Auſtin and Hierom in their Diſputations; It was no matter who gained the day, they would both win by underſtanding their errours.
Verſ. 32. For the froward is abomination] The Vitilitigator, the Wrangler, the Common-barreter, though hee may proſper in the world, yet God cannot abide him, his money will periſh with him. Hee will one day ſay to his curſed heaps of evil-gotten goods, as Charles the fifth, Emperour,Phil. Morn. in his old age did of his victories, trophees, riches, honours; hee curſed them all, ſaying, Abite hinc, abite longe. Avaunt, bee packing, hence, away.
But his ſecret] They ſhall bee of his Cabinet-councel, that chuſe rather to lye in the duſt, than to riſe by evil arts, by wicked principles; ſuch were Joſeph, Micaiah, Daniel, &c.
Verſ. 33. In the houſe of the wicked] His wife, children, family, poſſeſſions; all are accurſed; his fine cloaths have the plague in them: Or his houſe, which is his Caſtle, the flying roul of Curſes (that is ten yards long, and five yards broad) ſhall remain in the midſt of it, and conſume it, Zach. 5.4.
But hee bleſſeth the habitation of the juſt] …abvenaki, caſam expouit & tuguriolum egregio ſenſu, ſaith Mercer. The poor little cottage or tenement of the righteous, there is a bleſſing in it, there is contented godlineſs which is greateſt gain; the beſſing of God which maketh rich, foreign. Here are the gods (could the Philoſopher ſay of his poor habitation, meaning his heatheniſh houſhold gods) what ever elſe is wanting to mee. How much more may a Saint ſay ſo of his God, who will awake for him, and make the habitation of his righteouſneſs proſperous? Job 8.6.
Verſ. 34. Surely hee ſcorneth the ſcorner] Thoſe proud haughty ſcorners (Prov. 21.24. with 1 Pet. 5.5.) who jeer at this Doctrine,Facit ut aliis ſiut ludibrio, ubi in calamitatem incider…nt, Rab. Levi. and at thoſe that beleeve it. Surely God ſcorneth theſe ſcorners (for hee loves to retaliate) hee that ſitteth in heaven laughs a good at them, Pſal. 2.4. hee makes them alſo (in his juſt judgement) a deriſion to others, and puniſheth them with the common hatred of all; Contempt being a thing that mans nature is moſt impatient of, and in carnal reaſon, Tallying of injuries is but juſtice.
But hee giveth grace to the lowly] Though oppreſſed by ſcorners, yet ſhall they bee no loſers, for God will give grace, and hee will give glory, verſ. 25. (grace and glory? what things bee theſe!) and no good thing will hee withhold from them that walk uprightly, Pſal. 84.11. Humility is both a grace and a veſſel to receive grace. And as hee that goeth into a Pond or River to take up water, puts the mouth of his veſſel downward, and ſo takes it up: In like ſort, hee that looks for any good from God, muſt put his mouth in the duſt, and cry out, Lord, I am not worthy, &c: Non ſum digniis, at ſum indigens. Pſal. 70.5.I am poor and needy, make haſte unto mee, O God, &c.
Verſ. 35. The wiſe ſhall inherit glory] Not have it onelyonly, but inherit it, Hoc eſt proprio, perfecto & perpetuo jure poſſidebunt, as Pellican, they ſhall have it as their proper, perfect, and perpetual right.
But ſhame ſhall bee the promotion of fools] A fair promotion they come to, but good enough for them, unleſs they were better. If they attain to high places and preferments, theſe prove but as high Gibbets to bring them to more diſgrace in this world, and torment in the next. Some there bee that read the Text thus, But ſhame taketh away the fooliſh; that is, it carrieth both them and their hope away in a pinch of time, or twinkling of the eye, as it were.