Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 3 · Verse 29
VER. 29. Deviſe not evill againſt thy neighbour, ſeeing he dwelleth ſecurely by thee.
THE wiſe man having perſwaded before to the payment of debts, and ſpeedy giving to the door, now he diſſwades from evill offices, as from miſchievous plots in this verſe, from contentious ſuits. ver. 30. From envy. ver. 31. Then gives reaſons both why theſe good offices ſhould be done, and why the bad ones ſhould be avoided; and that to the end of the Chapter. The words run ſo, as if a man were allowed to plot miſchief againſt a ſtranger, or enemy, becauſe it forbids it onelyonly againſt a neighbour. But this is ſet out as a grievous ſin with its aggravations: yet the other not permitted. He doth not tolerate ſmall ſins, but ſet out greater, to make them the more odious. As if he had ſaid, Though thou muſt not deviſe evill againſt any man, yet eſpecially not againſt ſuch as live near thee, and expect no ill from thee; Deceive not their expectation.
Fore the words.
Deviſe not. Plot not evill againſt him in thy mind. The word foreign ſignifies to plow, or fit the ground for the ſeed.
They that plow iniquity. Job 4.8. And ſecondarily to imagine, and plot miſchief in the mind, by thinking and ſtudying, that ſo it may be ready for execution, when occaſion is offered. Sometimes, but rarely, it is uſed for deviſing good things. Mercy and truth ſhall be to them that deviſe good. Ch. 14.22. It ſignifies alſo to be ſilent. O Lord keep not ſilence. Pſ. 35.22. Here it is taken in the ſecond ſenſe, for plotting and deviſing. Bain tells us, that one of the Hebrew writers interprets this word of ſuſpition of evill in a neighbour. But himſelf likes it not. The Doway Bible reads it, Practiſe not. But I find not the word any where ſo uſed.
Evill. See on Chap. 1.33.
Against thy neighbour. Deviſe nothing, that may tend to his hurt. For the word, ſee on ver, 28.
Seeing. One cauſe why thou ſhouldſt not hurt him, is, becauſe he ſuſpects no harme from thee, and therefore cannot prevent it. This particle. I is tranſlated thus elſewhere, Seeing he judgeth thoſe that are high. Iob 21.22.
He dwelleth. The word foreign ſignifies
1. To ſit. He that ſitteth in the Heavens. Pſal. 2.4.
2. To abide or remain. Hee that abideth of old, Pſal. 55.19.
3. To dwell. He that dwelleth in the ſecret place of the moſt high. Pſal. 91.1. So here.
Securely. Fearing no hurt from thee, but rather expecting a good, as from a neighbour. See on Verſe 23. on the word ſafely.
By thee. Near thy dwelling.
Figures none. Note. 1. A prohibition.
2. The reaſon thereof.
In the prohibition note
1. The Act forbidden. Deviſe not.
2. The Object of the thing. Evill.
3. The Object of the perſon. Against thy neighbour.
In the reaſon note
1. The ſubject. Seeing he dwelleth by thee.
2. The Adjunct. Securely.
1. Doct. Plotting to hurt others is a great ſin. It is made a note of a wicked man. He deviſeth miſchief upon his bed. Pſ. 36.4. Hee deviſeth wicked devices to deſtroy the poor. Iſa. 32.7.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe it is an abuſe, and ill imployment of the moſt noble faculty of the ſoul, as of reaſon, and affections, which ſhould be uſed to do good to others, and not to hurt men; But are often uſed to plot evill againſt men contrary to Gods command.
2. It is a concatenation of divers ſins, as of malice, craft, voluntary iniquity, and wilfull contempt of Gods Commandment.
Uſe. To condemn thoſe who think there is no ſin, where there is no hurt done to others, but place all ſin in outward actions. This was the Phariſees religion. Math. 5. yet Chriſt ſhews there; that though a man, or woman have not hurt, yet anger, and luſt are ſins. If we ought to ſtudy, how to do men good, though not deſired, then is it a ſin to deviſe evill againſt them, though not executed.
2. Doct. It is a greater ſin to deviſe evill againſt a neighbour. Let none of you imagine evill in your hearts againſt his neighbour. Zech. 8.17. He muſt go to Heaven, that doth not evill to his neighbour. Pſal. 15.3.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe of cohabitation. If he like thee ſo well, that he chuſe to live by thee, do not thou deviſe evill againſt him. Continuall converſe ſhould keep thee from doing it.
2. Becauſe thou maieſt get good by him, more then by ſtrangers, that are farther off, when thou ſhouldſt need their help. Aliquid boni propter vicinum bonum. Some good comes by a good neighbour. An heathen man being to ſell, or let his houſe, put in this commodity among the reſt, that it ſtood among good neighbours.
Uſe. Baniſh all ill cauſeleſſe thoughts againſt thy neighbours good out of thy heart. This is the way to live with comfort.
3. Doct. It is yet a greater ſin to deviſe evill againſt ſuch as take us for their friends, expecting no hurt, but good from us It was not an enemy, that reproached me; But it was thou a man, mine equall, mine guide, and mine acquaintance. Pſal. 55.12.13. If I have rewarded evill to him, that was at peace with me; Pſal. 7.3, 4.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe ſuch ſuſpect no evill from us; and therefore may more eaſily be ruined by us. Natures Law will teach us not to imagine evill againſt them that truſt to us, and ſuſpect it not. The Italian Proverb is, God keep me from them I truſt; and I will keep my ſelf from them I trust not. Antigonus, when he ſacrificed, prayed to be kept from counterſet friends, and being asked why he did ſo, anſwered, Becauſe I can my ſelf take heed of known enemies. Bona fide agendum eſt cum iis, qui nobis bene fidunt. We muſt deal faithfully with them, who faithfully put truſt in us. It is a ſhamefull thing to lay ſnares for them, that ſuſpect no evill from thee, and think thou loveſt them. Thou doſt egregiouſly diſſemble, that under a fai: face, and countenance to them, hideſt a foul heart againſt them.
2. Becauſe they deſerve no evill of us, and thoſe ill offices are worſt, that are done to ſuch as neither deſerve, nor fear ill from us.
3. Becauſe ſuch expect good of thee: and what can be worſe, then to deceive him, that expects good from thee?
4. Becauſe they deſerve good of thee; and therefore thou ſhouldſt not ſo much as cheriſh a thought of evill againſt them.
Uſe. It condemns thoſe that plot evill againſt their neareſt friends. Theſe are traitors. 2 Tim. 3.4.
Judaſſes, that betray with a kiſſe. Such are dangerous enemies. Such we had need take heed of, as the Prophet warnes. Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy boſom. Mic. 7.5. Theſe are the plagues of all meetings, ſocieties, feaſts, which are upheld by love, and faithfullneſſe. Nulla peſtis gravior ad nocendum, quàm familiaris inimicus. Lyra. There is no plague more hurtful, then a familiar enemy.