A PLAINE AND FAMILIAR EXPOSITION OF THE Fifteenth Sixteenth and Seuenteenth Chapters of the Prouerbs of Salomon CERVA CHARISSIMA ET GRATISSIMVS HINNVLVS LONDON Printed by THOMAS HAVELAND for THOMAS MAN 1609. TO THE RIGHT VVORshipfull our approoued good friend ERASMVS DRIDEN Esquire Grace and peace be multiplied SIR hauing had long experience of your Christian and constant loue and fauour as also of your willingnes to read our bookes and your godly wisdome to iudge and discerne of all that you read we are bold to offer vnto your worship this testimonie of our vnfained thankfulnesse and to craue your fauourable patronage for the same Our former writings comming only as strangers yet alwaies found all good and kinde entertainment at your hands Therefore we cannot doubt but that this present treatise shall be welcome and well accepted not only for that it is like to the former for matter and manner but also because it shelters it selfe vnder your name and in speciall manner craueth our countenance And thus beseeching almightie God to blesse and prosper the faithfull indeuours of all that truly seeke the peace and welfare of his Church and daily more and more to multiplie his gratious mercies vpon your selfe your godlie wife and hopefull familie wee humblie take our leaue Yours in the Lord to be commanded John Dod Robert Cleauer TO THE READER THis briefe and summary collection of all the doctrines of the 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 and 17. Chapters of the Prouerbs which was intended for priuate vse I haue thought good with the Authors consent to prefix vnto this booke as that which I hope may be vsefull for many for by this direction those that cannot read all may make choice of that which most concernes them and those that haue read all may more easilie finde that againe which most contents them The reason why some verses with the doctrines are omitted is because they haue beene handled before A briefe Recapitulation of all the Doctrines of Mr. Cleauers bookes on the PROVERBS CHAPTER IX Verse 1. Doctrine 1. AL true wisdome is contained in the holy word of God Doct. 2. It belongeth onely to Christ both to build and beautifie the Churcb Doct. 3. The best way for good safetie is to become a faithfull Christian. Verse II. Doct. 1. The best cheere is that which is made for the soule in Gods house Doct. 2. It is not the wit of man but the wisdome of God that doth make the word comfortable Doct. 3. Gods fauour and grace is alwaies ready to bee found when it is faithfully sought Verse III. Doct. 1. They that will come to saluation must be brought to it by the ministerie Doct. 2. Christ Iesus hath appointed the preaching of the Gospell to be most publike that all might be instructed by it Verse IV. Doct. Ignorance should not hinder vs from hearing the word but incite vs to it Verse V. Doct. It concerneth vs duly to embrace the mercies of God when he doth offer them vnto vs. Verse VI. Doct. When we begin to cleane to God and good men wee must foortwith breake off all league with wicked men Verse VII Doct. The most faithfull Ministers are commonly exposed to greatest reproches Verse VIII Doct. Christian counsell is not to bee offered to an obstinate sinner Verse IX Doct. 1. The best men must be admonished Doct. 2. It is a note of a man that is truly religious to increase in grace and vnderstanding Verse X. Doct. 1. No man can be truly wise before he be vnfainedly religious Doct. 2. Sound knowledge is the mother of true deuotion Verse XI XII Doct. 1. Grace prolongeth mens daies on earth Doct. 2. Christians are most prouident to procure their owne good prosperitie Doct. 3. The wicked are most their owne foes Verse XIII Doct. 1. It is not a sure note of a good cause to bee set foorth with many words Doct. 2. So farre as any man giues himselfe to be an agent for sinne so farre he bewraieth his owne ignorance Verse XIV Doct. 1. Great men without grace are as much subiect to sinne and follie as poore men Doct. 2. Great meetings are seldome without the companie of sinfulnesse and Satan Verse XV. Doct. So soone as any one begins to seeke God the diuell and diuellish men will be ready to turne him out of the way Verse XVI Doct. Ignorant persons that regard not knowledge are the fittest prey for deceiuers Verse XVII Doct. Those things that be most vnlawfull doe best satisfie the humours of vnregenerate men Verse XVIII Doct. As euery sinne is more delightfull so it is more dangerous and deceitfull CHAPTER X. Verse I. Doct. THE comfort or sorrow of parents standeth much in the behauiour of their children Verse II. Doct. 1. No worldling is any thing the better for his wealth Doct. 2. The goodnesse of a Christian will worke him that happinesse which no outward goods could euer procure Verse III. Doct. Poore Christians are in better estate than wealthy wicked men euen in outward respects Verse IV. Doct. 1. False dealing rather hurteth than helpeth them that vse it Doct. 2. They greatly helpe their owne estate that are painfull and faithfull in their callings Verse V. Doct. Vse is to be made of good opportunitie Verse VI. Doct. 1. The greatest reward that God giueth his seruants in this life is to blesse them Doct. 2. When God entreth into iudgement with wicked men he will cause the plague so to manifest their sinnes that they shall not be able to denie them Verse VII Doct. The credit of good men will grow and the reputation of sinners will be turned into shame Verse VIII Doct. We ought to be tractable to the will of God without resisting or gainsaying Verse IX Doct. All sound safetie and boldnesse proceedeth from sincerity of heart and integritie of life Verse X. Doct. It is not safe to vse any member or gesture though neuer so closely to commit sinne Verse XI Doct. A good man is neuer barren of good speeches Verse XII Doct. 1. Not actions and speeches but ill affections of the hart are the cause of debate Doct. 2. Christian loue causeth men to bee mercifull to the soules and names of their brethren Verse XIV Doct. 1. It is not enough to bâ—ing the eare to heare holy instructions but the heart must also receiue and keepe them Doct. 2. The tongues of vngodly men are alwaies pernicious and hurtfull Verse XV. Doct. The extremitie of euery estate is dangerous and no estate safe without grace Verse XVI Doct. Riches are either profitable or hurtfull according to the owners vsage of them Verse XVIII Doct. 1. The Lord hath dissemblers in detestation Doct. 2. It is a note of a â—infull person to haue a bitter railing and slanderous tongue Verse XIX Doct. The multiplying of words doth make a bad cause rather worse than better Verse XX. Doct. 1. The best wealth of a Christian is laid vp in his heart and disbursed
they grow weary of their attempts or are defeated of their purposes or though they seeme to succeed well for a time yet their hopes are frustrate in the end but by the multitude of Counsellers which are wise and giue faithfull counsell if their faithfull counsell be harkened vnto and obeied they are established in the Hebrew text the Verbe is of the singular number but collectiuely spoken meaning that all and euery one of those thoughts which are so directed by counsell shall haue a constant prosperous successe at the last if not at the first Doct. Hee dealeth best for himselfe which ordereth his affaires with good aduice The lesse confident any man is of his owne iudgement and skill the better hee is like to speed in his actions and waies And for this cause the spirit of God elswhere giueth this precept Establish thy thoughts by counsell and by Prouer. 10. 18 counsell make warre So Dauid did vsually inquiring of the Prophets and Priests what he ought to doe and therefore vsually he had good successe and heereof he failed sometimes as in the numbring of the people and therefore sometimes hee brought troubles vpon himselfe as it fell out after the people were numbred This wholesome instruction Rhehoboam refused when he declined from the counsell of his ancient Senators and Achab despised when he quarrelled with Micaiah and therefore Rhehoboam had a rent made in his Kingdome and Ahab fell into vtter destruction Reasons 1 First no mortall man can attaine vnto such depth of iudgement and vnderstanding to be able sufficiently by his owne knowledge to manage all his affaires God will haue euery man stand in need of his brothers direction That is reuealed to some which is hid from others and many eies may cleerely apprehend that which no one could possiblie haue pierced into Secondly euery man by nature is somewhat partiall to his affection and may easily be induced to adde weight by colour of reason to that end of the scale whereunto his desire more inclineth whereas hee that leaneth on neither side may discerne the stronger motiues to bee on the other side Vse 1 Reproofe of rash heady persons which commit all their affaires to happe-hazzard without any dread of after-claps to fall out or prouidence of good successe to follow And it serueth also for the reprehension of others which earnestly desiring and certainly concluding of all good prosperitie and happinesse doe yet repose so much affiance in their owne vnderstanding and wisdome as that they thinke they haue no need either to bee taught of God or aduised by man But these haue beene already spoken of vpon the like occasion Chap. 11. 14. Instruction not to be slacke to aske counsell in all matters of importance nor slow to obserue it whensoeuer it is offered Thou maist with more assurance expect a blessing from God because heerein thou yeeldest obedience to God but though the euent should seeme not to be answerable to thy wish yet were not thy labour altogether lost neither should thy heart faile of the comfort of thy endeuours forasmuch as thou hast performed a duty in auoiding of rashnesse Verse 23. A ioy commeth to a man by the answer of his mouth and how good is a word in due season A ioy commeth to a man A good man shall finde either sooner or latter comfort and gladnesse by the answer of his mouth by the wholesome words which hee vttereth with his mouth whether hee answer to things demanded or otherwise And how good is a word in due season that is to say maruellous profitable and delightfull to himselfe and others aâ—e faithfull speeches discreetly deliuered all meet circumstances of time place and persons being duly obserued Doct. Whosoeuer applieth his tongue to doe good therewith shall haue the gâ—â—atest 〈◊〉 by â—â— himselfe A man shall eat Prouerb 13. 2. good things by the 〈…〉 as it 〈…〉 Prouerbe A man shall bee sacâ—aâ—e 〈◊〉 good things by the fruit of his mouth Prouer 12. 14 as 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 â—he Prouerbe Reason 1 First he will learne that which he teacheth others and praâ—â—â—sâ— that whâ—â—â—â—â— he perswadeth others and haue feeling of that wherewith 〈◊〉 affecteth others And by all this doth commodit◠〈…〉 Secondly his loue doth make his brethrens good to become his owne and then especially when hee hath beene by counsell or consolation or the like a meanes and instrument of the same And therefore S. Paul telleth the faithfull Philippians who were conuerted by his ministerie that they were his ioy and his crowne Philip 4 1. Thirdly the hope of reward for that good which they haue done by their fruitfull speeches refresheth their hearts for the present heere and will bring them fulnesse of glorie and gladnesse for euermore heereafter Vse 1 Incouragement to vse our lips constantly to holy and profitable communications sithence the greater part of the profit will redound to our selues And albert none should make vse of them but euery one reiect them nay what though we should be maligned and molested for telling the truth Yet if our hearts be vpright together with our endeuours wee may truly say with that Prophet whose strength seemed to bee spent in vaine and his labour vtterly lost For all this my Isa 49. 4 5. iudgement is with the Lord and my worke with my God yet shall I be glorious in the eies of the Lord and my God shall be my strength Instruction not only to finde out good points to speake of but also to chuse a fit time to speake in that matter and manner and all the helpes that we can vse may further the effect that we desire By this meanes euery sentence shall be of greater force and excellencie than a long Oration vnseasonaby made which may appeare by that elegant comparison A Prouer. 25. 12. word spoken in his place is like apples of gold vpon pictures of siluer and by that which Iob affirmeth and S. Paul intendeth that Iob 6. 6. Col. 4. 6. true word without discretion are as vnsauoury as egges or meats without salt and seasoning Verse 24. The way of life is on high to the prudent to auoid from hell beneath THE way of life The way that leadeth to life yea the very true life it selfe is on high to the prudent is not worldly carnall and earthly but spirituall holy and heauenly and therefore so farre as any man is wise to saluation he thinketh or heauenly things and in all his behauiour tendeth towards heauen to auoid that so walking therein hee may escape from hell beneath from death and destruction and the place of eternall torment which a sensuall course of life and the desire of earthly things will bring men vnto Doct. He that would attaine to glory in heauen and will not bee damned in the world to come must liue after an heauenly manner in this present world The Apostle foretelleth that they who haue theiâ— belly for their God and minde earthly
fishes and fowles and creeping things Psal 1. 48. as occasions and meanes thereof When the Lord was sending the Prophet Isaiah about a most vncomfortable message euen by his ministerir to harden the hearts of the people to their destruction the Seraphims cried Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hoasts Isa 6. 3. When S. Paul had discoursed of the reiection of the Iewes from being a Church for many hundred yeeres which miserie he could haue beene content to preuent with the price of his owne soule he concluded the point in this manner Of him and through him and for him are all things To him be glorie Rom. 11. 36. for euer Amen Reason 1 First the holy and only wise God cannot possibly doe any thing that is vaine and fit for nothing as euery thing is that serueth not for his glory A prudent man will aime at some vse of those things which hee taketh in hand and therefore much more will he which maketh men prudent and giueth them their wisdome and can turne all things to such vse as best pleaseth him Secondly the Lord is prouident for his creatures in all his workes and regardeth their good especially of the principall and most excellent as men and Angels Now hee respecteth none so much as his owne honour nor matcheth any in equality with himselfe for whatsoeuer happinesse is conferred vpon them it is subordinate to his praise and that is the scope and chiefe end whereunto all other ends and proceedings are directed Vse 1 Instruction to obserue matter in all his workes and waies whereby we may be mooued to yeeld him that praise which is proportionable to the obiect offered vnto vs. If we see punishments executed there is cause that wee should bee humbled and made to tremble at his iustice if mercies bee performed let vs blesse his name for his goodnesse And so when things come to passe that are stranger than we thought of or greater than wee expected let vs wonder at his wisdome and be guided by it and magnifie his power and repose vpon it And because we our selues are of his making and hee doth giue vs life and breath and all things yea because we are of his second making and hee doth giue vs eternall life and grace and all blessednesse therefore ought we to be for him and his glory against sinne and his enemies And this may be a forcible motiue to make vs patient in all the afflictions which he imposeth vpon vs because they are his worke and for his honour which will be the more procured by our humble and fruitfull submission to him in the same Terrour for vngodly men which giue all the members of their bodies and faculties of their soules as weapons of vnrighteousnesse to fight against God and yet thriue in their wicked waies and prosper in their sinnes They are reserued as S. Peter testifieth to the day of iudgement to bee punished 2. Pet. 2. 9. though they should not be plagued sooner The Lord will shew himselfe to be admirable in righteousnesse when all the world shall see them miserable with torments Verse 5. All that are proud in heart are abomination to the Lord though hand ioine in hand he shall not be vnpunished AL All sorts and degrees of men male or female yoong or old high or low and euery particular person of what condition soeuer that are proud in heart whose hearts are lofty and void of humilitie and the heart is therefore specified because pride is seated in it and floweth from it and that no man should challenge to himselfe any immunitie from the wretched estate of the proud vnlesse his heart bee seasoned with humilitie He that hath an high minde though he beare a low saile and keepe a small port without pompe and brauery may be as loathsome in the eies of the Lord as some others that set foorth themselues with greater shewes Yet note that he saith not all that haue pride in their hearts for who can be fully freed from it so long as he is cloathed with mortalitie but they that are proud in heart and so be none that vnfainedly feare God for that manner of speech intendeth the habit or dominion of pride which is only in the vnregenerate are an abomination to the Lord he hath them in detestation and cannot abide them though hand ioine in hand notwithstanding that they vnite their forces and combine themselues together for their defense and safety he shal not be vnpunished not one of them shall escape the strokes of God though for a time he deferre his iudgements Doct. The better that men doe like of themselues the worse the Lord doth like of them The mischiefes that ensue vpon pride haue beene more at large intreated of in the second verse of the eleuenth Chapter and the vanitie of wicked mens association for impunity in the 21. verse of the same Chapter Verse 6. By mercy and truth shall iniquitie bee purged and by the feare of the Lord men depart from euill BY mercy That kindnesse and free loue which the Lord beareth to his elect and truth the faithfull accomplishment of his promises and in the same sense are the same words taken in Chap. 14. 8. 22. To them that thinke on good things shall be mercy and truth iniquitie shall be purged as well originall guilt as actuall transgressions and all that is amisse in the nature and hearts and waies of Gods chosen shall bee remitted and washed away through the blood of Iesus Christ That this is the meaning of this sentence it appeareth by the force of the word that signifieth to make expiation which properly belonged to Christ to doe though typically the Priests of the Law were said to expiate by the sacrifices which they offered For he as S. Iohn witnesseth which is our Aduocate with the father is likewise the propitiation for our 1. Iohn 2. 2. sinnes and by the feare of the Lord the knowledge of his will the reuerence of his maiestie and the regard of his fauour men depart from iniquitie they decline from wicked waies and doe those things which are lawfull and good Yet neither of them are in full perfection though both of them in sinceritie and truth So that he declareth the causes of iustification in the former clause and the exercise of sanctification in the latter shewing by whom sinnes are pardoned in the one and to whom the assurance thereof pertaineth in the other Doct. 1 Remission of sinnes and saluation are giuen by God and not bought by men That pride and presumption to arrogate to ones selfe the praise of making himselfe happy is most loathsome to the Lord and therefore he hath stored the Scriptures with testimonies and proofes to helpe our hearts against it And to this purpose is that in Isaiah I euen I am he that putteth away Isa 43. 25. 26. thine iniquities for mine owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes Put mee in remembrance let