Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach
Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 8 · Part 31 · Subpart 3 – Subpart 4
Wicked Men Fools.
Pſal. 14.1. The Fool hath ſaid in his Heart, There is no God.
Eccleſ. 10.3. Yea alſo, when he that is a Fool walketh by the way, his Wiſdom faileth him, and he ſaith to every one that he is a Fool.
Job 5.2, 3. For Wrath killeth the fooliſh Man, and Envy ſlayeth the ſilly One.
Job 30.8. They were Children of Fools, yea, Children of baſe Men, they were viler than the Earth.
Luke 12. Thou Fool, this Night thy Soul ſhall be required of thee.
SIN is Folly, great Folly, and Sinners are Fools; how often in the Proverbs are ungodly Men (tho accounted very worldly-wiſe) called Fools, ſimple Ones, Men of no Ʋnderstanding?
| Simile. | Parallel. |
| A Fool is one that knows not what is good, what is beſt for him; he is a Man of no Underſtanding. | SO wicked Men know not what is good and right in it ſelf; they know not what is good for themſelves, they are Men of no Underſtanding; they cry, Who will ſhew us any Good? That is,Pſal. 4.6. ſaith Mr. Caryl, any good Cheer, Plenty of Corn and Wine. They eſteem Gold and Silver, and other outward good Things, before Pardon, Peace of Conſcience, and the Favour of God, and are therefore Fools. |
| II. A Fool or Idiot will hurt, wrong, or abuſe himſelf. Perhaps you have heard of the Gentleman's Fool, who happened to be in Company with a Carpenter, and the Carpenter making himſelf merry with him, hid his Hat: But it ſo fell out (as the Matter is related) the Carpenter ſome time after chanced to fall aſleep with his Head upon a Block, which the Fool obſerving, he took an Ax, and chopp'd off his Head, and hid it amongſt the Chips, and then went laughing away; but being asked, wherefore he laughed? O (ſaith he) I have cut off the Carpenter's Head, and have hid it amongſt the Chips; and I wonder how he will do to find it when he awakes. But for this he was committed to Priſon, and when he was brought to his Trial, the Judg was informed that he was a natural Fool; but that he might be convinced it was true, he ordered a Knife to be given to him, and accordingly it was; then ſaid the Judg to the poor Idiot, Cut your ſelf with that Knife; and he (poor Soul!) did ſo immediately: by which the Judg knew he was indeed a Fool, and ſo acquitted him. | II. Wicked Men hurt themſelves: Nothing wrongs or wounds a Man more than Sin, hence called a Dart, Sting, &c. Yet ſo void are all ungodly Men of Underſtanding, that they conſent to Sin, yield to Sin, run (as it were) this Spear into their own Bowels, wound themſelves to the very Heart, and yet ſay, Are not we in Sport? Can there be any greater Folly, or a more palpable Sign of a Fool, than for a Man to whip, laſh, ſcourge, and do thus unto himſelf? When Satan tempts Men to ſin, he doth (as it were) put a Knife into their hands, and then bids them cut and ſlaſh themſelves with it; and yet no ſooner doth Satan thus tempt and entice them, but they preſently conſent to him, until they have wounded themſelves from the Crown of their Heads, to the Soles of their Feet. What Man but a Fool would run into the Hornets Neſts? or after this lamentable manner wound himſelf? Sinners are ſuch Fools, that they play with the Aſp, and delight to be at the Mouth of the Cockatrice-Den. Sin in the holy Scriptures is compared to both theſe cruel Serpents; and hence the Poyſon of Aſps is ſaid to be under their Tongues. Who but Fools or mad Men,Pſal. 140.3. Rom. 3.13 will ſport and play with ſuch venemous Serpents, or drink down deadly Poyſon, when told again and again what it is, and what the Effects of it will be, and yet they will do it.Prov. 23.31, 32. Look not upon the Wine when it is red, when it giveth its Colour in the Cup, when it moveth it ſelf aright: That is, whatever Allurements there are to Sin, take heed of it: At laſt it biteth like a Serpent, and ſtingeth like an Adder. |
| III. Is not that Man a Fool, who will harbor a Thief in his Houſe? and tho he be told of it, and that he is in danger of loſing all his Goods, and having his Throat cut by him, (he being a bloody Murtherer) yet laughs at it, and loves his Enemy, and hugs him in his Boſom, and reſolves to eat and drink with him, and lodg him in his chiefeſt Room; and yet is informed this Thief never ſpared any Man that ſhewed him Favour. | III. Wicked Men harbor Sin, and deceitful Luſts in their Souls, which is the bloodieſt Thief and Murtherer that ever was; that ſpares none, nor ever did, who entertained it, or took delight therein. It hath ſlain and utterly undone Thouſands, and Ten Thouſands, yea, many Millions; yet they hug this curſed Traitor, and let him lodg in their Hearts, and lie in their Boſoms, and ſhew him all the Favour and Kindneſs imaginable; and do they not from hence appear to be the greateſt Fools in Nature? |
| IV. Is not that Man a Fool, that ſtriveth with one that is infinitely ſtronger than himſelf? or thinks a Thorn Hedg can ſtand before a conſuming Fire? or ſuppoſes a Potſheard can prevail againſt the Potter? | IV. Wicked Men ſtrive with the great God, and do they not in this ſhew themſelves to be Fools? Have they an Arm like God?Job 40.9. can they thunder with a Voice like him? yet they continually reſiſt him, and fight againſt him. They that go on in their evil Ways, make War with the Almighty, and Dread-Sovereign of Heaven and Earth. Wo unto him that ſtriveth with his Maker: Let the Potſheard ſtrive with the Potſhards of the Earth. Iſa. 45.9. Do you not ſee this day, how Man, ſorry Man, ſets himſelf againſt God! they are reſolved to ſee what they can do, they will not yet lay down the Cudgels; they ſet their Wiſdom againſt God's Wiſdom, and try if they can counter-work him in the Ways of his Providences. Now, what a folly is this! God is as a conſuming Fire, and Man is as Stubble fully dry. See what Jehovah himſelf ſaith upon this account: Who would ſet the Bryars and Thorns againſt me in Battel? I would go through them, Iſa. 27.4. I would burn them together. Now is not he that takes up Arms againſt ſuch an Enemy, that commands Heaven and Earth, a Fool? He whom all the Forces of Earth and Hell are not able to withſtand; who at a Word of his Mouth makes Frogs invade Pharaoh, and Stars to fight againſt Siſera; who makes the Hills and Mountains quake and tremble before him, &c. He is wiſe in Heart, and mighty in Strength; Job 9.4. who ever hardned their Heart againſt him, and proſpered? |
| V. Is not he a Fool, that hath not Wiſdom enough to direct himſelf? But then what will you ſay of him that will not follow the Counſel and Direction of the Wiſe? Tho he is told, the Way that he is in will bring him into a Lion's Den; or if he ſtep one Step further, he will fall into a Furnace of Fire: yet reſolveth to go on, notwithſtanding he confeſſeth he hath no ground to queſtion the Truth of that, which is in Faithfulneſs told him. | V. Wicked Men have not Wiſdom enough to direct themſelves; but that which adds to their Folly is this, They will not take the Counſel of the wiſe God, nor the Direction of his faithful Miniſters. Tho they are told day by day, that if they proceed and go on in the Ways they are in, viz. ſwear, lie, whore, be drunk, &c. they muſt periſh, and be damned for ever; and that they know not, but the next time they commit any of thoſe Sins, they may fall into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimſtone: yet they will go on, and continue in their Sins, contemning all Advice and Counſel, tho they have not the leaſt ground to queſtion the Truth of what is declared to them, ſince the Word of God ſaith poſitively, Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh: And that the Ʋnrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of God; neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, &c. nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners. And now tho they know they are guilty of ſome of theſe, or the like Sins, yet they reſolve to live in them, and therefore are Fools. |
| VI. Is not he a Fool, that is not able to judg of the Nature of Things, or of Times, or Occaſions, and from hence is angry with every thing that ſutes not with his Nature, or fooliſh Humor? He will be angry with the Sun, if it ſhine hotter than he would have it, and with the Winds, if they blow harder than he would have them; he likes not the Winter, nor would have it ever rain. | VI. Wicked Men are ſuch Fools that they know not the Nature of Things, Times, nor Occaſions. He is offended with thoſe Ways of God that croſs his ſinful Appetite; he would fain have God yield to him, and order Things that ſuit his filthy Luſts. If the Word forbid all Sin, and would, if it might kindle upon his Heart and Conſcience, burn up and deſtroy all his Luſts; preſently he cries out, 'Tis too hot, and therefore ſtrives to put it out. In a word, he would be ſaved in a way of Sin, i. e. have his Wounds healed, and yet the Sting let alone in the Fleſh; he would be well, but take no Phyſick; would go to Heaven, but never walk in the way to it; he would not be naked, and yet will put on no Clothes, &c. and therefore a Fool. To vex and be angry at the Troubles that fall upon us, or at the Hand of God which ſends them, is a high Point of Folly. |
| VII. A Fool will take Braſs Counters for Gold, and be pleaſed with Bugles more than with Diamonds. When an Heir (ſaith Mr. Caryl) is impleaded for an Ideot, Caryl on Job c. 5. p. 182. the Judg commands an Apple, or a Counter, with a Piece of Gold to be ſet before him, to try which he will take: and if he take the Apple, or the Counter, and leave the Gold, he is then caſt for a Fool, and unable to manage his Eſtate; for he knows not the Value of Things, or how to make a true Election. | VI. Wicked Men are thus fooliſh, and more; for when Bugles and Diamonds, Counters and Gold are ſet before them, they leave the Diamonds and the Gold, and pleaſe themſelves with thoſe Toyes and Baubles; when (which is infinitely more ſottiſh) Heaven and Hell, Life and Death, are ſet before them, they chuſe Hell rather than Heaven, and Death rather than Life; they take the mean; tranſitory, trifling Things of this World, before the Favour of God, the Pardon of Sin, a Part in Jeſus Chriſt, and an Inheritance amongſt the Saints in Light; they prefer a Moment's time of ſinful Eaſe and Pleaſure, before an Eternity of Joy and Glory in Heaven; they prefer the Creature above the Creator; they labour more for the preſent Good of their Bodies, than for the eternal Good of their Souls, which are ten thouſand times of greater Worth: And do not theſe things demonſtrate fully that they are Fools? |
| VIII. Is not he a Fool, that feeds on Husks, Gravel, and Aſhes, and yet thinks he feeds on the beſt Food? he lives among Swine, and feeds as they feed, and yet is contented? | VIII. Wicked Men are ſaid in the holy Scriptures to feed on Husks, Gravel,Iſa. 45.20. and Aſhes, by which is meant the Pleaſures; Profits, and Honours of this World; for what is it that they feed upon, or take delight in, but theſe Things? Take away their outward Enjoyments, or the Comforts of this World, and their Hearts (like Nabal's) will die within them, or like a Man that pines away for want of Food; for alas! they have nothing elſe to ſupport their Spirits. And whilſt they feed upon theſe things, they conclude they feed upon the beſt Food, and enjoy the chiefeſt Good; yet they never have a real Taſte of the Love of God in Chriſt, nor do they know how good the Lord is, nor will they make Trial, tho they are invited to come and buy, and eat that which is good, and let their Souls delight themſelves in Fatneſs. The Prodigal would fain have filled his Belly with Husks that the Swine eat,Luk. 15.16 (wicked Men being intended by the Swine in that Place) but no Man gave to him. |
| IX. Is not he a Fool, that thinks 'tis time enough to ſow when he ſhould reap? When he ſhould gather in his Harveſt, he begins to ſow his Seed; or when he ſows Tares, thinks to reap Wheat. That Work, that would take up the whole Time of his Life, he thinks may be done on a Death-Bed, or in an Hour or two at the end of his Days: Or who, having a long Race to run, that requires all his Strength, reſolves to defer it until old, decrepid Age? | IX. Wicked Men think 'tis time enough to repent, when they have ſpent all their Days in Sin, and in ſerving the Devil. When they ſhould reap the Harveſt of a godly Life, they think 'tis time enough to begin to ſow to the Spirit, and convert to God. They ſow to the Fleſh, and yet think to reap Life everlaſting; when nothing is more evident than this, viz. Whatſoever a Man ſoweth, that ſhall he reap; therefore ſaith the Apoſtle,Gal. 6.7, 8. He that ſoweth to the Fleſh, ſhall of the Fleſh reap Corruption; but he that ſoweth to the Spirit, ſhall of the Spirit reap Life everlaſting. Shall fooliſh Men think to ſerve the Devil all the beſt of their Days, and yet hope that at laſt God will accept of their Repentance? |
| X. A Fool delighteth to do Miſchief;Prov. 10.23. or, as Solomon ſaith, It is a Sport to a Fool to do Miſchief. We daily ſee how miſchievous Idiots are; 'tis dangerous to let ſome of them at large, or to be in Company with them, tho others are more harmleſs. | X. Wicked Men are full of Miſchief. Hence ſaith David, Pſal. 26.10 Gather not my Soul with Sinners, nor my Life with bloody Men, in whoſe Hands is Miſchief, &c.Pſal. 28.3. Draw me not away with the Wicked, and with the Workers of Iniquity, which ſpeak Peace to their Neighbour, but Miſchief is in their Hearts. Yea, he deviſeth Miſchief upon his Bed, he ſetteth himſelf in a way that is not good. Nothing more evident than this. How reſtleſs have the ungodly been in every Age of the Church, to contrive Miſchief againſt their peaceable Neighbours, eſpecially the wicked Papiſts! What Plots and Sham-Plots have they deviſed, to deſtroy the Quiet and Peace of this Land, nay, to deſtroy the upright and godly People that dwell therein! They care not what Miſchief they do, ſo that they may undo and ſpoil thoſe who hate their idolatrous Church. One while they ſtudy Ways how to blow up the King and Parliament; another while burn our Houſes, and lay our famous City in Aſhes. And, as if this Miſchief were not enough, they have carried on a ſecret and devilliſh Deſign to take away our Religion and Lives, and whatſoever is dear to us; and then, to blind the unwary and credulous Sort of People, invent Sham-Plots, to caſt all upon the innocent Proteſtants. But let them remember, in this they are but Fools; they have the Mark and Brand of Fools upon them, and their Miſchief ſhall fall upon their own Heads. He that ſeeketh Miſchief, Prov. 11.27. it ſhall come upon him. |
| XI. Is not he a Fool, that labours for the Wind, and thinks to feed on the Wind, and purſues a Shadow, and ſets his Heart upon that which is not? | XI. Wicked Men are ſaid to labour for the Wind; Riches are compared to the Wind; and he that purſues after them, purſues after the Wind: and what a Fool is he that doth thus! What Profit hath he (ſaith Solomon) that hath laboured for the Wind? And as Men are ſaid to labour for the Wind,Eccl. 5.16. ſo likewiſe they are ſaid to feed upon the Wind: Ephraim feedeth on Wind, Hoſ. 12.1. and followeth after the Eaſt-Wind. Which (ſaith Mr. Burroughs) is a Proverbial Speech, to note the following after vain and unprofitable Things; that is to feed on the Wind, when Men pleaſe themſelves in their own Conceits, and in their own Counſels and Plots, &c. 1. When they promiſe to themſelves great Matters by Ways of their own, and leave God's Ways and Inſtitutions, they may be ſaid to feed on the Wind; and the Prophet rebuketh the Ten Tribes for this. 2. They feed on the Wind, ſaith he, and ſo their Hearts are puffed up in Pride and carnal Confidence. You know, according to the Food a Man or Woman feedeth upon, ſo will their Bodies be; ſo thoſe that feed upon the Wind, muſt needs have proud Hearts, or be puffed up with Pride and Self-conceitedneſs. 3. Evil Men, that live upon Comforts that are carnal, and ſeek for the Honour and Applauſe of Men, they feed upon the Wind, they ſeek to ſatisfy themſelves with Vanity, they ſtrive to take hold of a Shadow, and follow after the Wind, Things that cannot fill the Soul, nor ſatisfy its Deſires; Things that are uncertain, loſt by one Storm at Sea, conſumed by one Spark of Fire, or gone by a falſe Oath, or waſted by the Badneſs of Trade, or by the Extravagancy of an evil and fooliſh Son, and therefore are Fools. |
| XII. Is not he a Fool, that eſteems the greateſt Evil above the greateſt Good? | XII. Wicked Men ſet their Hearts upon their baſe and curſed Luſts, love their Sins more than God and Chriſt. We read of ſome who are Lovers of Pleaſure more than Lovers of God. Now is not Sin the greateſt Evil, and God the greateſt Good?2 Tim 3.4 There is nothing bitterer than the one, nor nothing b…tter than the other; and yet they chuſe Sin, and refuſe the Good that is in the eternal God, and account Chriſt not worth the Pleaſure of one wicked Luſt, and therefore Fools. |
| XIII. Is not he a Fool, who to avoid a Spark, leaps into the Fire; or to ſave his Hat, loſes his Head? | XIII. Wicked Men, to avoid a little Trouble and Affliction in this World, expoſe themſelves to eternal Torment, before they will deny themſelves of their Luſts, they will burn in Hell for them; rather than go to Priſon for Chriſt, they will go to Hell for denying of him. |
Inferences.
LAment over wicked Men; Fools are to be pitied.
2. Be patient, and thou wilt ſee what will become of theſe Fools.
3. It ſhews what abundance of Folly and Fools there are in the World.
4. It ſhews us how ſtrangely ungodly Men, worldly wiſe Men are deceived in themſelves.
5. It ſhews what true Wiſdom is: The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wiſdom, and to depart from Evil is Ʋnderſtanding; and in another place 'tis ſaid,Pſal 111.10. The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wiſdom, and a good Ʋnderſtanding have all they that do his Commandments.
6. Let it caution thee to take heed leſt thou art a Fool: The Characters of ſuch an one, as given by wiſe Solomon, take as followeth: (1.) He will be medling, Prov. 2.3. (2.) One that is, as you have heard, miſchievous. Prov. 10.23. (3.) One that many Afflictions and Stripes will not work upon nor humble. (4.) One whoſe Sin cleaves to him. Prov. 27.22. (5.) One that is full of Words. Eccleſ. 10.14. (6.) One that will utter all his Mind. Prov. 29.11. ſpeaks that which he ſhould conceal. (7.) One that Proſperity deſtroys. Prov. 1.32. (8.) One that is ſlothful. Eccleſ. 4.5. (9.) One that truſteth in his own Heart. Prov. 28.26. (10.) One that holdeth it Folly to depart from Evil. Prov. 13.19.
Wicked Men compared to painted Sepulchers.
Mat. 23.27. Wo unto you Scribes and Phariſees, Hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited Sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful without, but within full of dead Men's Bones, and all Ʋncleanneſs.
THey are principally Hypocrites which our Saviour reſembles to whited Sepulchres; and how fitly they may be compared thereunto, is ſhewed in the following Parallel.
| Simile. | Parallel. |
| A Painted Sepulchre appears, as the Text ſaith, beautiful without. | SO vile Hypocrites appear glorious and beautiful to Men, as if they were real Saints; they ſeem very devout in appearance, and outward Shew, to thoſe that only behold their Outſide, 'tis God only that ſees the Heart. |
| II. Sepulchres, tho they appear beautiful without, yet they are very loathſom within. | II. So Hypocrites, tho they may appear holy and religious to Men, or to the outward Eye, yet are within vile and ungodly, full of Pride, Vain-Glory, Envy, Malice, Covetouſneſs, and every horrid and abominable Luſt, which makes them as loathſom in the ſight of God, as a ſtinking Sepulchre is to us: A wicked Man, Prov. 13.5 ſaith Solomon, is loathſom. |
| III. Thoſe that make and beautify a Sepulchre, do it that its inward Filth and Pollution may not eaſily appear, or offend thoſe that behold it; much Pains, Coſt, and Curioſity is beſtowed upon the Out-ſide of it, whereas Men matter not how filthy they are within. | III. So the vile Hypocrites, in all their outward Shews, Zeal, Religion, and ſeeming Piety, do it to hide their curſed Ends, abominable Luſts and Wickedneſs; for did they appear outwardly to all Men what they are inwardly, they would be loathſom to all that fear God. They beſtow much Pains and Coſt, and ſhew their Skill and Cunning, to carry it religiouſly and warily to Men, whereas they take little or no care how filthy they are inwardly. |
| IV. Tho a Sepulchre appears never ſo beautiful without, yet Men know 'tis loathſom within. | IV. So tho Hypocrites appear never ſo much like Saints to the Eyes of Men; yet God knows and ſees they are polluted and vile Wretches inwardly. |
Inferences.
THis ſhews what the abominable Nature of Sin is; 'tis here compared to a dead, putrified, and ſtinking Carcaſe; what is more loathſom?
2. It ſhews alſo the filthy, unclean, and abominable State of painted Hypocrites, &c.