these things builde thine house i. doo that that thou art to doo for thine owne good and the good of thy people and furnish so thy whole house with things necessarie to which purpose thou must of necessitie get in such things as are abroad wherevpon thou mayest liue within doores This may bee a good sense and yet I take this rather to bee his meaning that before he attempt any thing hee should be furnished with all the meanes whereby hee might performe it whether thinges in his owne ground or in other mens possessions Vers 28. Be not a witnesse vz. in any matter nor for any mans cause against thy neighbour i. against any speciallie against him that dwelleth nigh vnto thee without cause i. falsely for otherwise he doth not forbid to beare witnesse in a trueth for wilt thou deceaue vz. other men with thy lippes i. with thy words which thy lippes shall vtter a reason why men should not vse false witnes bearing because there is ioyned with it deceipt Vers 29. Say not i. neither thinke nor speake for if it be vnlawfull to speake it is vnlawfull to thinke J will if I liue or be able doo to him vz. that hath done me iniurie as hee hath done to me i. doo him iniurie or wrong I will recompense euery man vz. that dealeth iniuriously with me according to his worke vz. which he hath practised or performed against me see Chap. 20.22 Vers 30. I vz. trauailing passed by the field of the slothfull i. ground appertaining to an idle and sluggish person and by the vineyard of a man destitute of vnderstanding i. by a negligent and careles mans vineyard whom he saith to bee destitute of vnderstanding or as it is in the Hebrue voide of a heart because he seldome or neuer thinketh vpon his busines or affaires Vers 31. And lo it was all growne ouer with thornes i. lying vntilled and vnhusbanded it was barren and vnfruitfull for thornie ground is not good see Matth. 13.7 and nettles had couered the face thereof i. the vpper or outward part of it he noteth thereby the barrennes and vnfruitfulnes of it and the stone wall thereof i. that which was made for the defence of it was broken downe vz. so that it lay as it were a wast or common plot readie to be spoyled see Isaiah 5.5 Also Psalme 80.12 He noteth in this verse the confusion that idlenes worketh Vers 32. Then I beheld vz. both the ground and the discommodities which followed of idlenes and I considered it well i. I weighed it déepely in my minde and he speaketh of them both together as it were of one thing because they followe one another as the shadowe doth the bodie I looked vpon it vz. attentiuely and diligently and receiued instruction vz. thereby that I might learne by his example to beware of idlenes and sloth Vers 33. Yet a little sleepe These bee the words of the idle person who though he haue slept neuer so much yet desireth more a little slumber q.d. besides that I haue had counting notwithstanding euen a great deale but a litte a little folding of the hands to sleepe see Chapter 6.10 And also Chapter 19.15 where it is sayd that slothfulnes causeth sléepe Vers 34. So vz. as is before expressed by meanes of thy idlenes and slothfulnes thy pouertie i. the néede and want that thou must indure commeth vz. vppon thée and thine as one that trauaileth by the way i. very sodainlie and speedelie as the wayfaring man will not stay long or much till such time as hée come to his iornies end and thy necessitie i. that necessitie and want which through idlenes shall fall vppon thee and pinch thée like an armed man i. with great force and violence so that thou shalt not be able to resist or withstand it see Chap. 6.11 Verse 1. Teacheth vs to shunne fellowship and societie with the wicked Do. Verse 2. Doth not onely teach the disposition of the wicked and vngodlie but instructeth good men also to labour the reformation of their thoughts and words Vers 3. Teacheth vs that wisedome is able to bring great and hard things to passe Verse 4. Teacheth vs that wisedome is many times crowned with great store of pleasure and profite Vers 5. Teacheth vs that wisedome is better than strength Verse 6. Setteth out not onely the commodities that come by wisedome but also teacheth vs to attempt nothing but in a wise consideration of the same before hand Vers 7. Teacheth vs that wicked and worldly minded men cannot attaine heauenlie wisedome Vers 8. Teacheth vs to bridle our hearts from imagining euill Verse 9. Teacheth vs that wicked thoughts are sinne also to auoide scorning and scoffing Verse 10. Teacheth vs in the daies of affliction to striue to bee of good courage Verse 11. Teacheth vs to vse all the power and lawfull meanes that GOD hath indued vs withall to deliuer the innocent being oppressed Verse 12. Teacheth vs that ignorance of any matter will be no excuse before God it setteth out also the knowledge and prouidence of God and manifesteth Gods great and eternall iustice Vers 13. Teacheth vs with moderation and thankes giuing to receiue and vse the blessings of God Verse 14. Teacheth vs to imbrace holie and heauenlie wisedome for the fruites and effects that it will worke in vs. Verse 15. Teacheth vs to doo no iniurie to any but specially to the good people Verse 16. Teacheth vs that many are the miseries of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth them out of all Verse 17. Teacheth vs not to reioyce at the miserie hurt or hinderance of any Verse 18. Teacheth vs first that God seeth all things secondly that for the sinne of hard hartednes he punisheth very sharply Verse 19. Teacheth vs that the prosperitie of the wicked should not make vs either to murmur against God or to bee malitious against the vngodly themselues Verse 20. Teacheth vs that the prosperous and florishing estate of the wicked shall soone come to an end Vers 21. Teacheth vs to obey first God and then in and for God the Magistrate also to beware of seditious and rebellious people Verse 22. Doth teach vs not onely what great iudgement shall ouertake the wicked but also how sodainlie it shall come vpon them Vers 23. Teacheth vs to cast from vs all respect of persons Vers 24. Teacheth vs not to flatter or commend the vngodly in their sinne Verse 25. Teacheth vs to rebuke plainlie according to the notoriousnes of the offence any offending partie Verse 26. Teacheth vs that vpright and faithfull dealing both in words and deedes is the way to obtaine both reuerence and loue Verse 27. Teacheth men in wisedome to bee sure of the meanes to performe a thing by before they attempt the same Vers 28. Teacheth vs to beware of vniust of false witnes bearing Verse 29. Teacheth vs that we should not recompense euill with euill but rather ouercome euill with weldoing Verse 30 31 32 33
beléeue bare words only Vers 17. Stollen waters are sweete I take these to be the words of the harlot intising the foolish and simple man q.d. wee will secretly commit whoredome which to the flesh in deede seemeth very pleasant and sweet and not only because it is not seene or knowne but also because the desire and vse of strange flesh which is called in this place the euerie is or at the least seemeth delectable for the time and hidde bread is pleasant i. bread eaten in corners which they dare not eate openly either because it was forbidden them or because it was stollen Vnder these two similitudes she meaneth one thing that is secret or close committing of whoredom and here we may see that euen by the account of whores and harlots whoredome is condemned as a vile sinne Vers 18. But he vz. who is so intised of her knoweth not vz. being deceiued through the sweetnes and pleasures of sinne which indure but for a while that the dead are there i. that such as vse her house and frequent her companie are dead alreadie as 1. Timoth. 5.6 and that her guestes i. such as she hath bidden and doo yéeld to her bidding are in the depth of hell i. are alreadie condemned some referre it to the graue but the other sense also is true vnlesse it please God to giue them vnfeigned repentance and amendment of life Do. Verse 1 2 3. Set out the great loue that God beareth towardes man which teacheth vs on the otherside not to requite it with vnkindnesse as when he louinglie calleth we should chorlishly refuse to come but thankfully to accept of the time of his gracious and fatherly visitation Vers 4. Teacheth vs that our ignorance or wickednesses should bee no cause of estranging our selues from God but rather spurres to prouoke vs to drawe nigh vnto him for the amendement thereof Verse 5. Teacheth vs reuerently and louingly to imbrace Gods graces offered Vers 6. Teacheth vs that Christian righteousnes consisteth of these two partes in hating the euill and doing the good things Vers 7. Setteth out rather the nature of the wicked who cannot away with the word of reproofe than discourage vs any whit at all from performing of that great duetie of charitie and loue Verse 8. Teacheth vs that godly admonition bringeth not foorth the like fruites and effects in all Verse 9. Teacheth vs that the godlie can alwaies well away to be reproued and admonished Vers 10. Teacheth vs the right and reuerent feare of Gods Maiestie and also the true feeling of the societie and fellowship of the brethren Verse 11. Teacheth vs that whosoeuer vnfeignedly imbraceth Gods heauenly wisedome shall haue abundance of graces bestowed vpon him Verse 12. Sheweth that scorners and scoffers shal not escape vnpunished Verse 13. Sheweth that these are two properties of a harlot brauling and ignorance Verse 14. Teacheth vs that this is another note of a light person gadding and fisking abroad Vers 15. Teacheth vs that harlots are for the most part impudent and shamelesse Verse 16. Teacheth vs not to beleeue all words for harlots many times will labour to allure with the same words that holie wisedome doth and all to make her perswasions more plausible Verse 17. Teacheth that adulterie is a notorious kind of the euerie or robbing Verse 18. Teacheth that how pleasant soeuer the delights of sinne be for a while yet their end is sharpe and miserable CHAP. 10. Co. HEtherto the holie Ghost was occupied speciallie in the commendation of holie wisedome which chiefly respecteth our dueties towards God now hauing dispatched and finished that poynt he proceedeth in this and the other Chapters following to speake both of the generall and particular dueties that in God and for God we owe one of vs to another and this he doth not in any curious methode or order no more than they doo which take vppon them in few wordes to deliuer rules of life such as amongst the heathen were sundrie as Cato Isocrates and others And yet wee will indeuour and assay to make as apt both connexions and diuisions of the Chapters as it shall please God to giue vs grace Di. TRue it is that sundrie and seuerall instructions of doctrine are contained in this Chapter as also in the Chapters following and therefore can hardlie admit any apt diuision notwithstanding I suppose it may well be diuided into three parts In the first the holie Ghost speaketh of wise and Di. 1 foolish children of goods wickedly gotten of Gods prouidence towards the good and his iustice against the bad of idlenes and sloth of Gods fauour and iustice towards the godly and vngodly of the waies of the wicked and the godlie of hypocrites and of good men and this reacheth from verse 1. to the end of the 11. In the second he intreateth of hatred and loue Di. 2 of wise men and fooles of riches and pouertie of obedience hypocrisie babling the godly mans words and the wicked mans heart from verse 12. to the end of the 21. In the third he intreateth of Gods fauour of fooles Di. 3 and their feare and destruction of slothfull persons of the good and the bad and of their vnlikely fruites and rewardes and this reacheth from verse 22. vnto the end of the Chapter Se. THis Chapter hath as it were a title thus The Parables of Salomon see the same wordes expounded before Chapter 1.1 Vers 1. A wise sonne i. a good and godlie child whether it be sonne or daughter maketh a glad father i. causeth the father much to reioyce vnderstanding by father both the parents and kinsfolkes because he is chiefe see Chapter 15.20 but a foolish sonne i. a wicked and a lewd childe is an heauines vz. of heart and great griefe to his mother i. to his parents c. as before one being put for manie Vers 2. The treasures of wickednes i. such treasures as wicked men get by wicked meanes how much soeuer it be and thinke will stand them in stead see for this phrase Luke 16.9 profite nothing vz. at all that is can not stand him in stead against the euils which are readie to fal vpon him and death that hangeth presently ouer his head see Psalme 49.6 7 c. but righteousnes i. vpright and faithfull dealing yea though a man haue no treasure at all deliuereth from death i. ouercommeth all euilles and dangers whatsoeuer and causeth that euen death it selfe is not hurtfull to the righteous Vers 3. The Lord vz. who is faithfull and iust in all his promises will not famish vz. through any want or neede the soule of the righteous i. the good mans life see Psalme 34.10 Also Psalme 37.25 He meaneth that howsoeuer they be afflicted on euery side yet shall they not bee distressed or destituted for euer see 2. Cor. 4.8 but he casteth away or scattereth vz. as a thing of no account the substance of the wicked i. all that he hath and possesseth and this he doth
loftie a parte for the whole and yet he mentioneth the heart because from thence pride groweth and floweth see Chap. 11.2 also 16.18 and before glorie i. before a man come to glorie and estimation amongst men goeth lowlines vz. of heart and bodie q.d. humilitie is a meane to come to glorie see chap. 15.33 as pride is a meane to come to contempt Vers 13. Hee vz. whosoeuer he be that answereth a matter i. that taketh vpon him to shape an answere to a thing before he heareth it vz. thorowly out or els thus before he heare it i. before he vnderstand it it i. that manner of dealing and his answere also is follie and shame vnto him i. bewrayeth his owne follie and purchaseth him great discredit because he will bee so rash and hastie Vers 14. The spirit of a man i. a man that hath a bold spirit and good courage specially giuen him from God will susteyne i. indure and beare and that with great patience and constancie his infirmitie i. all outward griefs and discommodities whatsoeuer but a wounded spirite i. a man striken with the wrath of God and wounded in conscience for his sinnes or other great causes see Psal 51.17 who can beare it i. who is able to indure it long without great and gracious assistance from God q.d. there is no man nor any thing els for as for the bodie it cannot doo it because it is not his office to rule the spirite and minde but rather the minde and soule it selfe although it be caried about in the bodie to rule guide and gouerne it see Prouerb 15.13 and the note of the Geneua bible is very good also Vers 15. A wise heart i. he that hath obteyned some measure of wisdome alreadie getteth vz. daylie more and more knowledge vz. of Gods will reuealed in his worde and the eare of the wise i. the wise man himself by attentiue harkening seeketh learning i. seeketh daylie increase of the same he ioyneth the heart and the eare together though vnder eyther of them he vnderstand the whole man because that from a heart desirous of knowledge procéedeth the attentiue eare which is apte to learne and earnestly seeketh after it Vers 16. A mans gifte vz. which hee giueth or bestoweth vpon another enlargeth him i. deliuereth him from distresse and leadeth him before great men i. bringeth him into their presence so that he may tell his owne tale and speake for himselfe And here he teacheth what men are wont to doo and not what may bée done though sometimes a man may giue gifts to be deliuered from danger when otherwise he cannot but he must beware with all that he be not thereby iniurious to any other Vers 17. He that is first vz. before the iudge or magistrate in his owne cause i. in laying out his owne cause and the things apperteyning thereto is iust i. so seemeth to bee meaning that he seemeth to haue a iust and good cause then i. afterwards commeth vz. before the iudge his neighbour i. he betweene him and whomthere is some controuersie and vz. the iudge vpon his appearance and speach maketh inquirie of him i. inquireth of either of them how the case standeth laboring by demaunds and questions to get the certeintie thereof q.d. hee that first bringeth his cause to the Iudges seemeth to pleade a right cause til his aduersarie bee heard and the Iudge vnderstand the trueth of the matter Vers 18. The lot vz. whose direction is from the Lord as Chap. 16.33 causeth i. ought to cause contentions to cease vz. amongst men vnlesse they will after the manner of giants fight against God and his decree and maketh a partition vz. iustly and vprightly among the mightie i. yea euen among them that are at great dissention and by reason of their strength and power might hurt one another very much Ioyne this with the other verse thus If the matters betweene men bee so hard and doubtfull that the trueth of them cannot bee knowne then let the lot decide the controuersie Vers 19. A brother offended i. greeued and that with his brother for some one cause or other is harder to winne i. it is a harder matter to winne him to reconciliation than a strong citie i. than a citie well defenred so hard a matter is it to master mens affections see Chap. 16.32 and their contentions i. the strifes betweene them are like the barre of a pallace which must of necessity bee strong sure to keepe the gates of such a great and sumptuous building wherein also many times things of great price are layed vp he meaneth that the angers of brethren one of them towards another are so sharpe and vehement that they can no more easilier be subdued than strong defenced townes conquered or easilier broken then most strong barres Vers 20. With the fruite of a mans mouth i. with his words which are called the fruite of his mouth because they come from it as fruite from a tree shall his bellie be satisfied i. hee shall haue inough of it and with the increase of his lippes i. with the abundance of wordes that his lippes shall vtter and the increase that shall come thereof shall hee be filled i. he shall haue plentie and abundance he meaneth that euery man shall receaue the fruite of his owne speach either good or euill euen as hee hath spoken either wel or euil and these Metaphors of the bellie satisfying and so forth serue but to note the abundance that he shall haue either the one way or the other see before Chap. 12 13 14. also Chap. 13.2 3. Ver. 21. Death and life i. all manner of euill and good all prosperitie and aduersitie are in the power of the tongue i. in the tongue itselfe rightly vsed or abused and they that loue it i. to vse it either the one way or the other shall eate the fruit thereof vz. accordingly meaning that they shall receiue according to the goodnes or illnes of their speach see Matth. 12.37 It is of the same sense and meaning that the other verse before going is Thus we see that such as speake well doo themselues and others good and they that speak euill hurt both themselues and others Vers 22. He that findeth vz. by the special appointment of God a wife i. a good diligent and wise wife findeth a good thing i. a profitable and pleasant thing and receaueth vz. euen in that fauor of the Lord. i. a sure testimonie and token of Gods fauor towards him see Chap. 19.14 he meaneth that a good and godly wife is a singular blessing from the Lord Vers 23. The poore vz. man or men putting one for many speaketh vz. vnto others with praiers i. humbly and beseechingly as a man may say but the rich vz. man or persons answereth vz. when he is demanded any thing or els answering here is put for speaking as before chap. 15.1 28. Also chap. 16.1 roughlie i. bitterly and sharply wee see the truth
vz. moderately and with good discretion thy sonne i. thy child as sundrie times before while there is hope vz. that thy correction will amend him and doo him good meaning while hee is yong for if he growe to a head of stubbornes it will be a hard matter to reforme him and let not thy soule i. thy fatherly affection and pittie which are called the soule because they haue their seate in the soule spare vz. him or correcting of him so it be done as before is prescribed for his murmering vz. against thée q.d. though hee murmur and grudge yet forbeare not to correct him when he deserueth the same Vers 19. A man of much anger i. he that is oftentimes angrie shall suffer punishment vz. either publikely or priuatly for the transgressions which his wrath causeth him to commit and though thou i. any man deliuer him vz. by good perswasion from committing euill or by intreatie and sute set him frée from the hand of the Magistrate yet will his anger come againe q.d. he will be little or no whit at al the better but fall to his rage wrath againe Other men read it otherwise and giue other senses but me thinketh this is plaine Vers 20. Heare vz. diligentlie and carefullie counsell i. good counsell giuen thee and receaue whilst thou mayest haue it instruction◠vz. in the waies and trueth of the Lord that thou maist be wise i. atteyne wisdome in thy latter end vz. when thou art ready to departe from the world and goe to GOD not but that he would haue him to be wise before also but to note that then heauenly wisdome shall stand him in best steed when he is to wrastle with death Vers 21. Many deuises are in a mans heart i. many men tosse many matters too and fro in their imaginations and yet bring them to no effect or issue but the counsell of the Lord i. whatsoeuer hee hath determined in his counsell shall stand vz. stedfast and sure both in the purpose and in the performance thereof hee mindeth to note the difference betweene Gods waies and works and mans Vers 22. That that is to be desired i. the thing that a man ought speciallie to desire and wish in this life is his goodnes i. that he deale religiously towards God and vprightly towards men and it may be turned for or but without any iniurie to the text a poore man vz. though he be neuer so poore if he be godly is better vz. by many degrées both before God and also in the iudgement of all goodmen not meaning hereby that a lyer being poore is good than a lyer i. than one that giueth himselfe to lying though he be neuer so rich Vers 23. The feare of the Lord i. a reuerence of his Maiestie ioyned with an vnfeyned loue thereof settled in mens hearts leadeth to life i. to a blessed life in this world and to eternall life in the world to come and hee that is filled therewith i. hee that hath receaued it fréely and plentifullie from the Lorde euery one according to his measure shall continue vz. safe sound and stedfast and shall not be visited with euill vz. to his hurt and destruction for his purpose is not here to exempt Gods children from chastisements and corrections Vers 24. The slothfull vz. man or person hideth his hand in his bosome vz. in the time of some great cold and will not put it to his mouth againe vz. that thereby he might feede himselfe q.d. he is so giuen to idlenes and sloth that euen when great neede and occasion requireth his labor for himselfe and his owne good he will not doo it much lesse would he performe it for others sée Chap. 26.15 Vers 25. Smite i. correct and chastise either by wordes or stripes see Chap. 17.26 a scorner i. one of whome there is no hope of amendment for a scorner is in the highest degrée of transgression Psal 1.1 and the foolish i. such as thorowe simplicitie and ignorance are caried forward to euill will beware vz. of the like fault for which thou smitest the scorner and reprooue the prudent vz. for some thing wherein hee hath sayd or done amisse and he i. the simple ignorant person will vz. in processe of time vnderstand i. atteyne to vnderstand by that meanes knowledge vz. of a better trade and course of life He sheweth that there are two waies to instruct simple ones the one is sharpe correction of the obstinate and the other is louing reproofe of the godly Vers 26. He that destroyeth his father vz. by bringing him to great losses and hinderances on the one side or by greeuing him thorowe leudnes on the other side or chaseth away his mother either out of the house wherein shee dwelleth or from his presence with his froward speach is a leud and shamefull childe i. is a very wicked fellowe and must looke for shame to fall vpon him and all manner of confusion Others reade it otherwise but the sense is all one vz. that wicked children waste many times thorowe their leudnes their fathers goods and so turne away their minds from them that they are glad when they are out of their sight Vers 27. My sonne see Chap. 1.10 and other places heare no more i. be so farre of from obeying that see thou heare not any longer the instruction that causeth to erre from the wordes of knowledge i. such instruction as carrieth thee away from the right way of holie wisedom q.d. applie thy selfe altogether to holie doctrine and therefore withdraw thy minde and thy thought from the vse or custome both of euill words and euil deeds Vers 28. A wicked witnes i. a corrupt and false witnes mocketh at iudgement i. maketh no more account eyther of right causes themselues or of Magistrates that are placed to execute iustice or of God himselfe that will punish false witnesses for so largely I suppose the worde iudgement may bee taken than of a iest or thing to bee laughed at and the mouth of the wicked i. the wicked and vngodly person himselfe and yet he mentioneth the mouth because of the Metaphor swalloweth vp following swalloweth vp vz. with great delight and pleasure as dronkards doo strong wine and gluttons delicate meates meaning also thereby the abundance of iniquitie which the vngodlie commit iniquitie vz. against God and men One readeth it thus so iniquitie swalloweth vp the mouth of the wicked q.d. in that wicked witnesses doo scorne iudgement they doo it euen of obstinacy and malice which doth wholy possesse them euen swallowe vp as it were all their words so that they can speake or vtter nothing but iniquitie An other sense also may be giuen as when our text sayth swallowe vp iniquitie it meaneth thereby hiding and couering of the same as meates and drinkes deuoured and swallowed vp are not seene q.d. with the color of their words and shewe of their reasons they indeuor to couer their iniquitie Vers 29. But q.d.
decay or dye the righteous increase vz. both in number and in courage because those that for feare kept themselues close before doo then boldly bewray themselues see verse 12. of this Chapter Do. Vers 1. Teacheth what great difference there is betweene the testimonie of a good conscience and an euill conscience Verse 2. Teacheth vs that the sinnes of the people pull vpon them all alterations of state also what a good blessing it is to haue a good Magistrate Verse 3. Teacheth vs that there is no oppression to the oppression that one poore man exerciseth towards another Verse 4. Teacheth vs to be so farre off from commending the vngodlie that wee must rather by all meanes lawfull oppose and set our selues against them Verse 5. Sheweth that God reuealeth his will and all good things to them that seeke him vnfeignedly Vers 6. Teacheth vs that no good man should be despised for his pouertie nor no wicked man esteemed for his riches Verse 7. Teacheth vs to haue care and conscience to walke in the obedience of Gods lawe also to beware of keeping companie with gluttons and dronkards and to take heede that we bring not our parents name into discredite and obloquie Verse 8. Teacheth vs to auoide vsurie and interest also that man purposeth one thing but that God doth according to his pleasure dispose it another way Verse 9. Teacheth vs to beware that we offer no contempt to the word nor any exercises therof also that the praiers of such as despise Gods word are abominable in his sight Verse 10. Teacheth vs what punishments shall fall vppon the intisers and prouokers of other men to mischiefe and also what graces GOD will powre vpon his owne seruants Vers 11. Teacheth vs that a poore man which is wise is better than a rich man that is foolish Verse 12. Teacheth vs that it is a great blessing to haue good gouernours and that it is a great testimonie of Gods wrath when the Magistrates are euill Verse 13. Teacheth vs humblie and vnfeignedlie to confesse our sinnes and not at any hand to couer them Verse 14. Teacheth vs alway to stand in awe of Gods iustice and iudgement and of offending his Maiestie and to take continuall heede that wee haue not our hearts hardened through the deceitfulnes of sinne Vers 15. Setteth out the crueltie and rapine of wicked Magistrates Verse 16. Doth the same declaring further that it is a goodly vertue for al but especially for magistrates to hate couetousnes Verse 17. Teacheth vs that God will neuer suffer man murtherers to be vnpunished Verse 18. Teacheth vs holie conuersation and that we should decline from euery crooked path Verse 19. Teacheth vs to be diligent in our callings and to auoide idlenes Vers 20. Teacheth vs faithfulnes and vprightnes in all our dealings and to beware of desire to be sodainlie rich Verse 21. Teacheth Iudges and Magistrates not to respect any mans person in iudgement Verse 22. Doth liuely paint out the mind and condition of miserable and niggardly men shewing also that none can bee rich without Gods especiall blessing Verse 23. Teacheth vs as on the one side plainlie and charitablie to reproue so on the otherside to beware of flatterie and dissimulation Verse 24. Teacheth vs first to beware of vnnaturalnes towards our parents secondlie to take heed that we doo not iustifie our sinnes and thirdly it declareth how grieuous disobedience and vnnaturalnes towards parents is Verse 25. Teacheth vs to trust in nothing neither within vs nor without vs but in the Lord onelie Verse 26. Teacheth vs that obedience to godly wisemen shall be a meane to deliuer men from many dangers Vers 27. Teacheth vs to be liberal towards the poore and to beware of hard heartednes towardes them Verse 28. Sheweth in what a miserable case good men are when euill Magistrates are set vp and in what good case they are when it pleaseth the Lord to remoue them and to take them away CHAP. 29. Co. IN the 23. and 28. verses of the former Chapter he had spoken of rebukes and of wicked Magistrates and now as it were resuming those matters againe he sheweth in the beginning of this Chapter and namely vers 1 2. what an euill thing it is to harden a mans heart against rebukes and to haue an euill Magistrate and ruler and so from these proceedeth on to other matters in the Chapter Di. Di. 1 THis Chapter may bee diuided into three parts The first reacheth from verse 1. to the end of the 9. wherein he speaketh of such as contemne admonitions of wicked Magistrates of whorehunters of bribers of flatterers of the wicked and the godlie of scorners and such as can endure no reproofe Di. 2 howsoeuer vttered The second reacheth from verse 10. to the end of the 18. wherein he speaketh of cruell men of fooles of credulous Magistrates of the poore and vsurer of a good King of correction of children of the wicked and the godlie and of the want of the word how hurtfull it Di. 3 is The third reacheth from verse 19. to the end of the Chapter wherein he dealeth against euill seruants against hastie men against angrie persons against proude men against theeues and theft and sheweth what it is to trust in the Lord and not in men declaring that the godlie cannot abide the vngodlie nor the vngodlie the godlie Se. Vers 1. A Man i. any man of what calling so euer he be that hardneth his necke i. that willingly submitteth not himself it is a metaphore taken frō oxen or other beasts that refuse the yoke which should bée put vpon their necke and will not bowe their necke vnto it when he is rebuked vz. iustly of others for his transgressions and the hebrue phrase as I take it importeth some what more for hee is called a man of rebukes that is such a one as hath been sundrie and seuerall times reprooued of others for his naughtines shall sodainely be destroyed vz. euen then when he thinketh least of it and cannot bee cured vz. by any meanes of the afflictions that God shall lay vpon him for the contempt of corrections and admonitions which God himself and his children gaue him he meaneth that he shal be destroyed and that there shall be no remedie nor hope of restoring Vers 2. When the righteous are in authoritie vz. ouer others the people reioyce i. they haue good cause giuen them to bee merrie and glad but when the wicked beareth rule the people sigh vz. euen for griefe and sorrow of heart or at the least they haue a good cause so to doo see Chap. 11.10 also Chap. 28.12 28. Vers 3. A man that loueth vz. vnfeynedly wisdome i. heauenly wisdome reioyceth his father i. maketh his parents glad thereby see Chap. 10.1 also Chap. 15.20 but hee that feedeth harlots vz. with the goods and substance hee hath meaning hereby not onely keeping companie with them but mainteyning them also wasteth his substance i. consumeth all that