Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Ecclesiastes · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Verſ. 1. Dead Flies cauſe the ointment, &c.]
THe Preacher had ſaid, that One ſinner deſtroies much good, chap. 8.18. here hee affirms the ſame of one ſin; bee it but a ſmall ſin, a peccadillo, no bigger than a few dead flies fallen into a pot of ſweet odours; it is of that ſtinking nature, that it ſtains a good mans eſteem, and fly-blows his reputation. A great many flies may fall into a tarr-box, and no hurt done. A ſmall ſpot is ſoon ſeen in a Swan; not ſo in a Swine. Fine Lawn is ſooner and deeper ſtained, than courſe Canvaſe. A City upon an hill cannot bee hid, the leaſt eclipſe or aberration in the heavenly bodies is quickly noted and noticed. If Jacob a plain man deal deceitfully,foreign. Sept. the banks of blaſphemy will bee broken down in a prophane Eſau thereby. If his unruly ſons falſifie with the Shechemites, hee ſhall have cauſe to complain, Yee have made mee to ſtink among the inhabitants of the Land, Gen. 34.30. If Moſes marry an Ethiopian woman, it ſhall be laid in his diſh, by his deareſt friends, Numb. 12.1. If Sampſon go down to Timnah, the Philiſtims will ſoon have it by the end, told it will bee in Gath, publiſhed in the ſtreets of Askelon. If David do otherwiſe than well at home,2 Sam. 12. the name of God will ſoon ſtink abroad. If Joſiah go up unadviſedly againſt Pharoah Neeho, and fall by his own folly; this ſhall bee his deriſion in the Land of Egypt, Hoſ. 7.16. The enemies of God will ſoon compoſe Comedies out of the Churches tragedies, and make themſelves merry in her miſery. Shee is ſaid to bee fair as the Moon: which, though it bee a beautiful creature,Cant. 6.10 and full of light, yet is ſhee not without her black ſpots and blemiſhes (Galileus uſed perſpective-glaſſes to deſcry mountains in her.) Theſe the Church Malignant is ever eying and aggravating, paſſing by or depraving the better practices of Gods people. As Vultures, they hunt after carkaſſes, as Swine,Vultures ad male olentia feruntur. Baſil. they musk in the muck-hill: As Beetles, they would live and dye in horſe-dung. It muſt bee our care as much as may bee, to maintain our reputation, to cut off all occaſion of obloquie, to bee blameleſs and harmleſs, Phil. 2.15. fair to the eye, and ſweet to the taſte, as that tree in Paradiſe; without blemiſh from head to foot, as Abſolom was;Tertul. ad Scapul. Non aliunde noſcibiles quam de emendatione vitiorum priſtinorum (as Tertullian ſaith of the Chriſtians of his time) known from all others by their innocence and patience. That was a good choice (for this purpoſe) that hee himſelf made,Tert. de fuga perſ. Malo miſerandum quam erubeſcendum, I had rather bee pittied, than juſtly reproached. Strive wee ſhould to bee as Paul was, a good ſavour, 2 Cor. 2. and not to go out, as they ſay the Devil doth, in a ſtench.
Verſ. 2. A wiſe mans heart is at his right hand] Hee doth his buſineſs diſcreetly and dexterouſly, hee is handy and happy at it.Pſal. 110. And as hee ordereth his affairs with diſcretion, ſo hee doth his affections too, reigning them in with his right hand, and not ſuffering them to run riot, as the fool doth oft to his utter ruine. As the wiſe mans eyes are in his head, chap. 2.14. ſo his heart is at his right hand; hee hath it at command, to think of what hee will, when hee will; it is as an hawk brought to the Faulkners lure; or as an horſe that is taught his poſtures. Hence hee keeps his credit untainted, hee retains the reputation of a wiſe man, hee rightly owns that honour that the Italians arrogate to themſelves, in that proverbial ſpeech of theirs; Italus ſapit ante factum, Hiſpanus in facto, Germanus poſt factum, i. e. The Italian is well adviſed before the deed done, the Spaniard in, the German after it.
But a fools heart at his left] At his left ſide (ſo it may bee rendred) where nature placed it; hee never yet ſorrowed (as thoſe Corinthians did, 2 Epiſt. 7.9.) to a tranſmentation, to a thorow change both of mind and manners;foreign. his heart is yet ſtill in the old place, hee follows the courſe of depraved nature, hee is a perfect ſtranger to the life of God.
Or his heart is at his left hand] i. e. Hee raſhly ruſheth upon buſineſs without due deliberation; and doth it aukwardly, as with the left hand, and like a bungler, invita Minerva, & collachrymantibus Muſis, he brings it to no good upſhot. See an inſtance of this in Hanun and his Counſellors, 2 Sam. 10. Ahab and his claw-backs, 1 King. 22. Antichriſt and his adherers. Bellarmine bewails it in theſe words: Ab eo tempore, quo per vos Papa Antichriſtus eſſe coepit, non modo non crevit ejus imperium, ſed ſemper magis ac magis decrevit. Lib. 3. de Pap. Rom. c. 2, 3. Ever ſince you Proteſtants have made the Pope to bee Antichriſt, his authority hath not onelyonly not encreaſed, but ſtill more and more decreaſed. Or thus, his heart is at his left hand, that is,Ut quae averſantur homines fere ſiniſtra depelluntur. hee puts away reaſon and wiſdome from himſelf; as, for the moſt part, thoſe things which men diſlike, are put away with the left hand. Thus Junius expounds it.
Verſ. 3. Yea alſo when hee that is a fool walketh, &c,] In his very gate, geſtures, looks, laughings, &c. hee bewraies his witleſneſs, as Jehu did his furiouſneſs by the manner of his marches, 2 King. 9.2. Hee winketh with his eyes, speaketh with his feet, teacheth with his fingers, frowardneſs is in his heart, &c. Prov. 6.13, 14. (See the Note there) ſuch a froward fool was Julian the Apoſtate, as Nazianzen deſcribes him, with his colli crebrae converſiones, oculi vagi, pedes inſtabiles, &c. frequent turning of his neck, toſſing up his head, wilde eyes, wandring feet, &c. And ſuch were thoſe haughty daughters of Sion, that walked with ſtretcht-forth necks, and wanton eyes, mincing and making a tinkling as they went, Iſa. 3.16. their haughtineſs and hauntineſs ſpake them little better than harlots.
And hee ſaith to every one that hee is a fool] Upon the matter hee ſaith it, though hee ſay nothing: Prov. 17.28. it is ſaid, that a fool, whiles hee holds his tongue, is held a wiſe man; that is, if neither by his tongue nor any other part of his body hee diſcover himſelf: but that can hardly bee, ſith folly flows from man (as excrements do from ſick folk) and they feel it not, will hardly be perſwaded of it. Symmachus, Hierome, and others refer the laſt Hee in this ſentence,Dicit de omnibus, Stultus est. not to the fool himſelf, but to every one elſe whom hee looks upon as ſo many fools, like himſelf; ex ſuo ingenio univerſos judicans, judging of others according to his own diſpoſition. For as the Philoſopher ſaith, Qualis quiſque eſt tales exiſtimat alios: Ariſt. Polit. lib. 3. cap. 6.Such as any one is, the ſame hee thinks others to bee: and as men muſe, ſo they uſe, whether it bee for the better or the worſe. Jacob could not imagine that his ſons were ſo baſe, as to make away their brother Joſeph, Gen. 37.32.but ſaid, Surely ſome evil Beaſt hath devoured him. Joſhuah never ſuſpected the falſe Gibeonites, nor the reſt of the Diſciples, Judas, when our Saviour ſaid, What thou doſt, do quickly; and again, when hee ſaid, One of you ſhall betray mee. On the other ſide, fools conceit the whole world to bee made up of folly; as the Lacedemonians once, neminem bonum fieri publicis literis columna inciſis ſanxerunt, Plut. in quaeſt. Graec. Dio.ſcored it upon their publick poſts, that there was none good, no not one: as Clodius and Caligula (being themſelves notorious whoremongers) would not bee perſwaded, that there was any chaſte perſon upon earth: as the Devil charged God with Envy, which is his own proper diſeaſe, Gen. 3.5. The old Proverb ſaith, The Mother ſeeks the Daughter in the Oven, as having been there ſometime her ſelf. I dare ſay (quoth Bonner) that Cranmer would recant,Acts and Mon. if hee might have his living; ſo judging of another by himſelf.
Verſ. 4. If the ſpirit of thy Ruler riſe up, &c. leave not thy place] Thine office,Ne foreign andiat. Horat. duty, and obedience: A metaphor from military matters. A ſouldier muſt not ſtart from his ſtation, but keep to the place aſſigned him by his Captain: So here, Perdidit arma, locum virtutis deſeruit, &c.
Others render it, do not perſiſt in thy place, do not ſtand to affront anger; but go aſide a little out of ſight, as Jonathan, when his Father had thrown a javeling at him, went forth a ſhooting. See the Note on Chap. 8.3. and on Prov. 15.1.
For yeelding pacifieth great offences] Thus by yeelding, David pacified Saul, Abigail, David. See Prov. 25.15. with the Note. Salve the wound, and ſave thy ſelf. The weak Reed, by bending in a rough wind, receiveth no hurt, when the ſturdy Oak is turned up by the roots.
Verſ. 5. As an errour which proceedeth from the Ruler] Or an ignorance (as Hierom renders it) foreign (ſo the Septuagint) as a thing unwillingly done. An errour, an infirmity it muſt bee called, becauſe committed by great ones; but in true account it is a groſs evil, the very peſt of vertue, and cauſe of confuſion, viz. the advancement of moſt unworthy and incapable perſons, and that for the Princes pleaſure ſake, becauſe hee will ſeem abſolute. An Earl of Kildare was complained of to our Henry the Eighth:Heyl. Geog. pag. 506 and when his adverſary concluded his invective with, Finally, all Ireland cannot rule this Earl, the King replied, Then ſhall this Earl rule all Ireland; and ſo, for his jeſt ſake, made him Deputy.
Verſ. 6. Folly is ſet in great dignity] Sedes prima & vita ima, theſe ſuit not,Salvian. Dignitas in indigno eſt ornamentum in luto. Royalty it ſelf, without righteouſneſs, is but eminent diſhonour. When a fool is ſet in dignity, it is (ſaith one) as when an handful of hay is ſet up to give light; which with ſmoak and ſmell offendeth all that are near. When as the worthy ſit in low place,Ca…tw. it is as when a goodly candle (that on a table would give a comfortable and comely light) is put under a buſhel.
And the rich in low place] i. e. The wiſe (as appears by the oppoſition) who, in true account, are the onelyonly rich, James 2.5. rich in faith, 1 Tim. 6.18. rich in good works, Luk. 12.21. rich to God-ward, who hath highly honoured and advanced them, though vilipended and under-rated by men: digni etiam qui ditentur, worthy they are alſo to bee ſet in higheſt places, as being drained from the dreggs, and ſifted from the branns of the common ſort of people. Dignity ſhould wait upon deſert, as it did here in England, Sen. Epiſt. 91.in King Edward the Sixths daies, that aureum ſaeculum, in quo honores melioribus dabantur, as Seneca hath it, that golden age, in which honours were beſtowed on thoſe that beſt deſerved them. But in caſe it prove otherwiſe, as it often doth, (the golden Biſhoprick of Carthage fell to the lot of leaden Aurelius, and little Hippo to great Saint Auſtin. Damaſus the ſcholar was advanced to the See of Rome, when Hierome his Maſter ended his daies in his cell at Bethlehem) yet virtue is its own competent incouragement, and will rather chuſe to lye in the duſt, than to riſe by wickedneſs: Cato ſaid, hee had rather men ſhould queſtion why hee had no ſtatue or monument erected in honour of him, than why hee had. The wiſe Hiſtorian obſerved,Tacit. Annal. that the ſtatues of Brutus and Caſſius, eo praefulgebant quod non viſebantur, were the more glorious and illuſtrious, becauſe they were not brought out with other Images in a ſolemn proceſſion at the funeral of Germanicus. Abſtruſum in deſpecto corpore margaritam conſpicatus.God pleaſeth himſelf (ſaith Baſil) in beholding a hidden pearl, in a diſ-reſpected body. A rich ſtone is of no leſs worth, when locked up in a wicker casket, than when it is ſet in a royal diadem.
Verſ. 7. I have ſeen ſervants upon horſes] i. e. Servile ſouls,Muſcovites are noted to bee ſlaves by nature, deſtitute of all gifts to rule or govern. Quint. lib. 9. c. 2 Subita a diabolo dignitate perflati vias publicas manus terunt. Hieronym. baſe-ſpirited abjects, ſlaves to their luſts, homines ad ſervitutum paratos, as Tyberius ſaid of his Romans, natural ſlaves born to bee ſo (as the Cappadocians) brute beaſts made and taken to bee deſtroied, 2 Pet. 2.12. Hi perfricant frontem & digniores ſe dicunt quam Catonem, qui praetores fierent, as Vatinius did. Theſe ſet a good face upon it, many times; and leap into the ſaddle of authority, ride on ſtrong and ſhining palfries, ride without reigns in the proſecution of their ambitious ends, till, unhorſt with Haman, they that were erſt a terrour, become a ſcorn. See the Note on Prov. 30.22.
And Princes walking as ſervants upon the Earth] In Perſia at this day, the difference between the Gentleman and the ſlave is, that the ſlave never rides, the Gentleman never goes on foot; they buy, ſell, confer, fight, do all on horſe-back. When Doeg Sauls heards-man the Edomite, and Tobiah the ſervant the Ammonite were got on cock-horſe, there was no hoe with them, but they would needs ride to the Devil: When Juſtinian the ſecond was Emperour, Stephen the Perſian, being made Lord High Chamberlain, grew to that height of inſolency, that hee preſumed to chaſtiſe with rods the Emperours own Mother, as if ſhee had been ſome baſe ſlave. In the year of Grace, 1522.Func. Chron. the Boars of Germany roſe up againſt their Rulers, and would lay all levil, that ſervants might ride check by joul (as they ſay) with Princes. Sed miſerabilis & lamentabilis tandem hujus ſtultitiae exitus fuit, ſaith Lavater. Lavat. in hanc loc.But theſe fools paid dear for their proud attempt; and after a miſerable ſlaughter of many thouſands of them, were ſent home by the weeping croſs, ad beatos raſtros, benedictum aratrum, ſanctamque ſtivam, (as Bucholcerus phraſeth it) to handle again (inſtead of guns and ſwords) their bleſſed rakes, plow-ſtaves, and horſe-whips. Their General Muncer was tortured to death;Bucholc. Ind. Chron. being ſo mated and amazed, that hee was not able to repeat his Creed, &c.
Verſ. 8. Hee that diggeth a pit ſhall fall into it] As heedleſs hunts-men do. Hee that being of baſe beginning, and unmeet for Government, ſeeks to ſet up himſelf upon better mens ruines, and where hee findes not a way, to make it, ſhall fall from his high hopes into remedileſſe miſery, as hee hath made a match with miſchief, ſo he ſhall have his belly-full of it. As hee hath conceived with guile, ſo (though hee grow never ſo big) hee ſhall bring forth nothing but vanity, and worſe, Job 15.35.
Prov. 23.32And whoſo breaketh an hedge] The hedge of Gods Commandements (as our firſt Parents did, to come to the forbidden fruit) a Serpent bites ſuch, and the poyſon cannot be gotten out. Others ſenſe it thus (and I rather incline) Hee that ſeeks to over-throw the Fundamental Lawes, and eſtabliſhed Government of a Common-wealth, and to break down the fences and mounds of Soveraignty and ſubjection, ſhall no leſſe (but much more) imperil himſelf, than hee that pulls up an old hedge, wherein Serpents, Snakes, and Adders, doe uſually lurk and lye in wait to doe miſchief.Speed. Wat Tiler the rebel dared to ſay, that all the Lawes of England ſhould come out of his mouth. Strafford uttered ſomewhat to the like ſenſe in Ireland. Our good Lawes are our hedges, ſo our Oathes (foreign quaſi foreign) Let us look to both, or wee are loſt people. Det Deus ut admonitio haec adeo ſit nobis omnibus commoda quam ſit accommoda.
Verſ. 9. Who ſo removeth ſtones ſhall be hurt therewith] So he that attempteth to looſe and remove the joynts and pieces of a ſetled Government, there is danger, that like Sampſon, he'l be cruſht in the ruin: So one gives the ſenſe of it.Pemble. Hee that goeth about to remove a Ruler out of his place, and to divide a ſetled Government that is at unity in it ſelf, undertaketh a dangerous peice of buſineſſe.Granger. As he undertaketh a deſperate work, ſuch ſhall his reward be. It is evil medling with edged tools, &c. ſaith another Interpreter. Some by ſtones here underſtand Land-marks, which to remove was counted Sacriledge among the Romans, Dim. Halic.and worthy of death. What are they guilty and worthy of then,Jerem. 6. that abrogate the good old Lawes of a Land, or the good old wayes of God, that have given reſt to ſo many ſouls? See the Note on Prov. 26.27.
And he that cleaveth wood, ſhall bee in danger thereby] viz. of breaking his tools, if not his ſhins: ſpecially if hee bee a bungler at it. This is to the ſame ſenſe with the three former ſimilitudes. Cyprian makes uſe of this text againſt Schiſmatiques,Teſt. ad Quirinum. lib. reading it thus; Scindens ligna periclitabitur in eo ſi exciderit ferrum, Hee that cleaveth wood ſhall be indangered thereby, if that the iron fall off. Hierom by wood here underſtands Hereticks; as being unfruitful and unfit for Gods building; and makes this Note upon it, Quamvis ſit prudens & doctus vir, &c. Although he be a wiſe and a learned man, who with the ſword of his diſcourſe cutteth this knotty wood,Hieron. in loc. he will bee endangered by it, unleſſe he be very careful.
Lib. 34. cap. 14Verſ. 10. If the Iron be blunt] Pliny calls iron the beſt and worſt inſtrument of mans life, and ſhewes the many uſes of it: as in plowing, planting, pruning, plaining, &c. but abominates the uſe of it in warre and murthering weapons. Porſena enjoyned the Romans, Ne ferro niſi in agricultura uterentur, ſaith hee,Plin. that they ſhould not uſe Iron but only about their Husbandry. The Philiſtims took the like order with the diſarmed Iſraelites, 1 Sam. 13.19. among whom ſwords and ſpears were geaſen, ſhares and coulters they allowed them, but ſo as that they muſt go down to the Philiſtims for ſharpening. Gregory compares the Devil to theſe Philiſtims, blinding and blunting mens wits and underſtandings, leſt the light of ſaving truth ſhould ſhine unto them. Theſe Edge-tools therefore muſt bee whetted by the uſe of holy Ordinances, and much ſtrength put to,2 Cor. 4.4 great pains taken, virtutibus corroborabitur, (ſo the old Tranſlation hath it.) But when all is done, he muſt needſly be obtusè acutus, which ſeeth not that wiſdome is profitable to direct: that is, that (whether the iron be blunt or ſharp, whetted or not whetted, more ſtrength added, or not added) 'tis wiſdome that rectifies all, or the benefit of rectifying is wiſdome. There is none to that, as David ſaid of Galiah's ſword.
Verſ. 11. Surely the Serpent will bite without enchantment] It is for want of wiſdome that the babbler, or tongue-master (as the Original hath it) is nothing better, than the moſt poyſonous ſerpent: nay, in ſome reſpects, worſe. For one Serpent ſtings not another, as back-biters doe their beſt friends. And whereas Serpents may be charmed, or their poyſon kept from the vitals, contra Sycophantae morſum non eſt remedium, as the Proverb hath it, there is no help to be had for the biting of a Sycophant: His tongue is full of deadly poyſon, ſaith St. James. Again,Jam. 3. Serpents uſually hiſſe and give warning (though the Septuagint here read non in ſibilo, the vulgar in ſilentio, in ſilence and without hiſſing, for, without enchantment) ſo doth not the ſlanderer, and detractor: he is a ſilent Serpent, and like the Doggs of Congo which bite, but bark not.Purth. Pilg. And therefore, as all men hate a Serpent, and fly from the ſight of it: ſo will wiſe men ſhun the ſociety of a ſlanderer. And as any one abhorres to be like to that old Serpent the Devil, ſo let him eſchew this evil.
Verſ. 12. The words of a wiſe mans mouth are gracious] Heb. Are grace, Ne ſons quae grace. Col. 4.they are nothing but grace (ſo the French Tranſlatour hath it) ſuch as render him gracious with God and men, (ſo Lyra gloſſeth it) as being uſually ſeaſoned with Salt, and miniſtring grace to the hearers.
But the lips of a fool ſwallow up himſelf] Suddenly, utterly, unavoydably, as the Whale did Jonas, as the devouring ſword doth thoſe that fall under it, as the grave doth all the living. How many of all ſorts in all ages have periſhed by their unruly tongues, blabbing or belching our words, Quae reditura per jugulum, (as Pliny phraſeth it) that were driven down their throates again by the wronged and aggrieved parties?Cave ne feriat lingua tua collum tuum. Scal. Ar. Prov. Take heed (ſaith the Arabick Proverb) leſt thy tongue cut thy throat: it is compared to a ſharp razour doing deceit, Pſal. 52.3. which inſtead of cutting the hair, cuts the throat.
Verſ. 13. The beginning of his words are folly] Hee is an inconſiderate Ideot, utters incoherences, pours forth a floud of follies, his whole diſcourſe is frivolous, futilous. To begin fooliſhly may befall a wiſe man; but when hee ſees it, or hath it ſhewed unto him, he will not perſiſt: Once have I ſpoken, ſaith holy Job, but I will not anſwer again: yea twice, but I will proceed no further, Chap. 40.4, 5. Much otherwiſe the fool, and becauſe hee will bee dicti ſui dominus, (as verſ. 11.) having laſht out at firſt, he lancheth further out into the deep, as it were, of idle and evil prattle. And if you offer to interrupt or admoniſh him, the end of his talk is miſchievous madneſſe, he bluſters and lets fly on all hands, laying about him like a mad-man. And ſo wee have here, (as one ſaith) the Serpent, the Babbler (ſpoken of in the eleventh verſe) wreathed into a circle: his two ends, head and tayl, meeting together.D. Jerm. And as at the one end, he is a Serpent, having his ſting in his head; ſo at the other end he is a Scorpion, having his ſting in his tavl.
Verſ. 14. A fool alſo is full of words] A very wordy man he is,Boni oratoris eſt ſermonem habere rebus parem. Plut. and a great deal of ſmall talk he has: voces ſuſque de que effutit inanes, as Thuanus hath it, he layes on more words than the matter will well bear. And this cuſtom of his is graphically expreſſed by an imitation of his vain tautologies. A man cannot tell (ſaith he) what ſhall be after him, and what ſhall be after him, who can tell? He hath got this ſentence, (that may well become a wiſe man, chap. 6.12. and 8.7.) by the end, and hee wears it thread-bare, hee hath never done with it, miſapplying and abuſing it to the defence of his wilful and witleſſe enterpriſes. Thus the Aſſe in the Fable would needs imitate the Dogge, leaping and fawning in like manner, on his Maſter: but with ill ſucceſſe. The lip of excellency becomes not a fool, Prov. 17.17. (See the Note there: See alſo Prov. 10.19. Prov. 17.27. Eccleſ. 5.3, 7. with the Notes) But empty casks, we know, ſound loudeſt, and baſer metals ring ſhrilleſt: things of little worth are ever moſt plentiful. Hiſtory and experience tells us, that ſome kind of Mouſe breedeth one hundred and twenty young ones in one neſt; whereas the Lion and Elephant bears but one at once, foreign; ſo the leaſt wit yeelds the moſt words, and as any one is more wiſe, he is more ſparing of his ſpeeches. Heſiod ſaith, that words, as a precious treaſure, ſhould bee thriftily huſbanded, and warily waſted. Chriſtians know, that for every waſte word account muſt be given at the great day, Mat. 12.36. See the Note there.
Verſ. 15. The labour of the fooliſh wearieth every one of them] Whileſt hee laboureth in vain, and maketh much adoe to little purpoſe. Hee medleth in many things, and ſo createth himſelf many croſſes: hee will needs bee full of buſineſſe, and ſo muſt needs be full of trouble, ſith hee wants wit to manage the one,Iſa. 57.10. & 47.13. and improve the other. Thou art wearied in the greatneſſe of thy way. And again, Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counſells, ſaith God to ſuch, as had wearied him alſo with their iniquities, and made him to ſerve with their ſins, Iſa. 43.24. Yea even then, when they think they have done him very good ſervice. Thus Paul, before his converſion, perſecuted the Saints ſo eagerly,Acts 26. and was ſo mad upon it (as himſelf ſpeaketh) that, like a tired Wolf, wearied in worrying the flock, hee lay panting as it were for breath: and when hee could doe no more,Acts 9.1 Act. & Mon. 1684. 1843 yet breathed out threatnings. Thus Bonner would work himſelf windleſſe almoſt, in buffeting the Martyrs, and whipping them with rods, as hee did Mr. Bartlet Green, Mr. Rough, and many others. So the Philoſophers wearied themſelves and their followers in their wild diſquiſitions after, and diſcourſes of the chief Happineſſe: which, becauſe it lay not in their walk, therefore ab itinere regio deviantes ad illam metropolim non potuerunt pervenire, ſaith Caſſian, they wandring from the King of Heavens High-way, they could never be able to get to that Metropolitan City, called Jehovah-ſhammah, or the Lord is there, Ezek. 48.34. They wandred in the Wilderneſſe, in a ſolitary way, they found no City to dwell in, Pſal. 107.4. Fools many times beat their wings much, as if they would fly farre and high, but with the Buſtard, they cannot riſe above the earth: or if they doe, they are ſoon pulled down again by the Devil, to feed upon the worſt of excrements,Picrius. as the Lapwing doth, though it hath a coronet on the head: and is therefore fitly made an hieroglyphick of infelicity.
Verſ. 16 Woe to thee O Land, when thy King is a Childe] ſc. In underſtanding, though not in years, ſuch as was Shechem (Gen. 34.19. Neque diſtulit puer) and Rehoboam, 1 King. 14.21. with 2 Chron. 13.7. Solomon was a Childe-King, ſo was Joſiah, Ʋzziah, our Edward the Sixth: and yet it was well with the Land in their dayes.
Hic regum decus & juvenum flos, ſpeſque bonorum,
Deliciae ſaecli, & gloria gentis erat.
Acts and Mon.As Cardan ſings of King Edward in his Epitaph. As hee was the higheſt, ſo I verily beleeve hee was the holieſt in the whole Kingdom, ſaith Mr. Ridley Martyr. And whileſt things were carried on by himſelf, in his health time, all went very well here: and ſi per leges fas illi fuiſſet omnia proprio nutu & voluntate regere, if by the Lawes of the Land hee might have done all himſelf, without Officers, all ſhould have been farre better done, ſaith Mr. Cartwright upon this text. By Childe is here therefore meant a weak or wicked King, that lets looſe the golden reigns of Government, is carried by his paſſions, lyeth heavie upon his Subjects: See Eſay 3.6. compared with verſ. 13. Such Princes are threatned as a plague to a people, Levit. 26.17. and they prove no leſſe: this child-hood of theirs is the maturity of their Subjects miſery, the Land it ſelf is woe, and woe it ſelf the Land, as one Expoſitor obſerved from the word foreign here uſed; which ſignifieth both Woe and Land. See Job 34.30.
And the Princes eat in the morning] As children uſe to call for meat, as ſoon as they have rubbed ſleep out of their eyes. If the King be a Childe, the State-Officers will be looſe and luxurious: yea, like morning Wolves, will devour the prey,Jam. 5.4 and nouriſh themſelves as in a day of ſlaughter. The morning is a time to ſeek God, and ſearch for wiſdome, Prov. 8.17. to ſit in Counſel, and diſpatch buſineſſe, as was Moſes his manner, Exod. 18. and the ancient Romans. Scipio Africanus was wont before day to goe into the Capitol, in cellam ſovis, into Jupiters Chappel, and there to ſtay a great while, quaſiconſultans de republica cum Jove, ſaith Gellius, Lib. 7. cap. 1as if hee were conſulting with Jupiter, concerning the Weal publick: whence his deeds were pleraque admiranda, admirable for the moſt paſt, ſaith that Heathen Author.
Verſ. 17. Bleſſed art thou O Land, &c.] Ita nati eſtis ut bona malaque veſtra ad Remp. pertineant. You Governours are of ſuch condition, as that your good or evil deeds are of publick concernment, ſaith hee in Tacitus. Annal. lib. 4.It is either weal or woe with the Land, as it is well or ill governed.
When thy King is the Son of Nobles] Well-born, and yet better bred: Princeps bonis moribus & liberaliter inſtitutus. Hieron. in loc. Speed.for elſe they will bee noti magis quam nobiles, notable, or notorious, but not Noble. Our Henry the Firſt (ſirnamed Beauclark) was often heard to ſay, that an unlearned King was no better than a crowned Aſs. Sure it is, that royalty without righteouſneſs is but eminent diſhonour, gilded rottenneſs, golden damnation. Godly men are the excellent Ones of the Earth, Pſal. 16. the Beraeans were more Noble, or better Gentlemen, than thoſe of Theſſalonica, foreign. Act. 17.11non per civilem dignitatem, ſed per ſpiritualem dignationem, not by civil, but by ſpiritual dignity; without which, riches, revenue, retinue, high birth, &c. are but ſhadows and ſhapes of Nobleneſſe. Since thou haſt been precious in my ſight, thou haſt been honourable, ſaith God, (Iſa. 43.4.) who is the top of good mens kin, as Religion is the root. But for want of this it was that Jehoiakim, though royally deſcended, is likened to an Aſſe, Jer. 22.19. and Antiochus, though a mighty Monarch, is called a vile perſon, Dan. 11.
And thy Princes eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength, &c.] Being modeſt and moderate, not diffluent and debauched. Great men ſhould not cater for the fleſh, Rom. 13. ult. but ſo ſerve the body, that the body politick may bee ſerved by it, and the Lord by both. Did e…er any one ſee King Deiotarus dancing or drunken? ſaith Cicero: and this hee holds to be a ſingular commendation.Orat. pro Rege Deiotaro. See Prov. 31.3, 4, &c. with Notes: See my common place of Abſtinence.
Verſ. 18. By much ſlothfulneſs the building decayeth] So doth the Common-wealth, not ſheltered with good Government: For as the houſholder is in his houſe, ſo is the Magiſtrate in the City, and the King in his Dominions. In his palace hee may ſee a pattern of his Kingdome, a draught of his City: Eſpecially if it bee, as George Prince of Anhalts was, Eccleſia, Academia, Curia, a Church, an Univerſity, and a Court.Melch. Ad. in vit. For the better diſpatch of civil buſineſſes, there was daily praying, reading, writing, yea and preaching too, as Melanchthon and Scultetus report. Here was no place for ſloth and ſluggiſhneſſe within this moſt pious Princes Territories.Cant. 1.17 1 Pet. 2. His houſe was built of Cedar-beams, of living-ſtones: his polity a Theocratie, as Joſephus ſaith of the Jewiſh Government: and of his people it might bee ſaid, as Polydor Virgil ſaith of the Engliſh, Regnum Angliae Regnum Dei: O the bleſſedneſſes of ſuch a Country!
And through idleneſs of the hands, the houſe droppeth, &c.] Stillicidia praecedunt ruinam, ſic poenas graviſſimas, leviores, ſaith Hierome. If courſe bee not timely taken, the houſe will run to ruine for want of people or reparation: So will that perſon that takes not warning by lighter puniſhments. Surely as one cloud follows another, till the Sun diſperſeth them: So do judgements; greater ſucceed leſſer, till men meeting God by repentance diſarm his wrath.
Verſ. 19. A feaſt is made for laughter; Daniel.and wine maketh merry] Slothful Governours, Regni dilapidatores, (ſo our Henry the Third was called for his pride and prodigality) are all for feaſting and frollicking. See Prov. 31.4. with Dan. 5.3, 4. This cannot bee maintained without money: for the getting and gathering in whereof, the poor people are pilled and polled, and rich mens gifts are received, to the perverting of Juſtice, by thoſe corrupt Rulers, qui vili precio nihil non humile & vile parati ſunt facere, as Gregory Thaumaturgus ſpeaketh in his Note upon this verſe.
But money anſwereth all things] It gives a ſatisfactory anſwer to whatſoever is deſired or demanded. Seneca ſaith, circa pecuniam multum vociferationis eſt, foreign. Lib. 1. excid. Hieroſol. cap. 14 foreign of foreign ſtrong and foreign to prepare.that about mony there is much noiſe, great crying; but though never ſo much, never ſo great, mony anſwereth all, it effects all. What great deſigns did Philip bring to paſs in Greece by his gold? the very Oracles were ſaid foreign to ſay as Philip would have them; Antipater non tenuis fuit pecuniae, & ideo praevalidae potentiae, ſaith Egeſippus, hee was a well-monyed man, and therefore a very mighty man. The Hebrew, or rather Chaldee word uſed for mony, 1 Chron. 29.7. Ezra 8.27. ſignifies to do ſome great work, becauſe mony is the Monarch of the world, and therein bears moſt maſtery; Among ſuitors (in love and in Law eſpecially) mony drives the bargain and buſineſs to an upſhot.
Verſ. 20. Curſe not the King, no not in thy thought] Or, In thy conſcience: but in this or any other kinde, Auſon.Turpe quid acturus, te ſine teſte time.
foreign. Thucyd.The preſent Government is ever grievous] And nothing more uſual than to grudge againſt it: but take heed of wiſhing hurt to Rulers (thought is not free) much more of uttering it, though in hugger-mugger; Kings have long ears, heavy hands, walls alſo and hedges have ears. Some may over-hear thee, as Mordecai did the two Traitours, Eſth. 2.22. or thou mayeſt unwittingly and unwillingly betray thy ſelf, as our Powder-plotters.
That which hath wing, &c.] It was a quill, a peece of a wing, that diſcovered that helliſh plot. Wilful murder and treaſon will out by one means or other.Turk. Hiſt. fol. 460 Fr. Hist. Thoſe two Traitours ſent by Mahomet to kill Scanderbeg, falling out betwixt themſelves, let fall ſomething that brought all to light, and themſelves to puniſhment. The like befell that Gentleman of Normandy that confeſſed to a Prieſt his intent to have killed King Francis.