be inherited vnto his Childrens Childerne i. vnto his posteritie for many generations see Psalme 128.6 he meaneth that the Lord will in mercy shewe such fauour to good men that not onely they themselues shall enioye their landes and liuing but euen their issue after them vnto many generations and the riches of the sinner i. the goods and lands that he possesseth is laid vp vz. safe and sure for the iust vz. that they may possesse and enioye them Hee meaneth that neither the wicked themselues nor their vngodly seede and posteritie after them shal inioy them but the good shall haue them How true this is see Iob. 27.16 17. see also Ester 8.7 11. Vers 23. Much foode i. much graine and corne méete for foode so is the word taken Gen. 42.2 is in the feild vz. that is well tilled and manured though perhapes the soyle it self be somwhat barren of the poore i. of that man who though he be poore yet notwithstanding is diligent in his labour but the field is destroyed without descretion he meaneth that the corne in the field can come to little or no profit where there is not good husbandrie and good gouernement One readeth it thus But there is vz. a man who consumeth himselfe i. both himselfe and all that he hath thorowe sluggishnes or els vnskilfulnes for the word importeth both and is set here against the knowledge and diligence of the poore laboring man q.d. by idlenes and want of skill hee commeth to nothing and is vtterly consumed Ver. 24. He that spareth i. withholdeth from the correction and chastising of his child his rodde i. the rodde of correction which God hath committed into his hands hateth his sonne i. his child as ver 1. of this chap. meaning that he is euen as though he did hate him because that not correcting him he is a cause that he falleth into euill by meanes whereof he doth at the length pul vpon him his owne destruction but he that loueth him vz. vnfeinedly and with the loue of a godly father chasteneth him vz. measurablye and according to the offence committed betime i. in good season and while that he is tender and yong least growing in yeres he growe in strength and courage and so either little regarde or vtterly refuse all fatherly correction Vers 25. The righteous eateth vz. of the giftes and blessings which God hath bestowed vpon him to the contentation of his minde i. to the satisfying of himself for he noteth vnder that word not onely contentednes but abundance also but the bellie of the wicked i. the wicked himselfe a part for the whole putting also bellie for the stomack wherein resteth appetite shall want vz. many times great store of Gods blessings he meaneth that good men haue alwaies sufficient and abundance but the wicked neuer see Psal 34.10 also Psalme 37.16 Do. Verse 1. Teacheth children their duty vz. to obey the good instructions of their parents it teacheth vs also to beware of scorning and of contempt of admonition Vers 2. Teacheth vs that the good wordes of good men are profitable both to themselues and others also that the wicked shall not escape iudgement Vers 3. Teacheth vs to be warie and circumspect in our words and to auoyde babling and much speech Vers 4. Teacheth vs to auoyde sluggishnes and to bee painefull and faithfull in our callings Vers 5. Teacheth vs to abhorre lying Vers 6. Setteth out the vnlikelie rewarde of righteousnes and wickednes Vers 7. Teacheth to beware as of vayne boasting on the one side so of counterfeiting pouerty on the other side Vers 8. Teacheth vs that riches and pouertie haue either of them their profite and their disprofits Vers 9. Teacheth vs Gods fauour towards the good and his iudgements vpon the wicked Vers 10. Teacheth vs that pride is the mother of strife but they that are humble will yeeld to good counsell and peace Vers 11. Teacheth vs that euill gotten goods shall come to nothing also that diligence and labor is a meane to get and increase riches Vers 12. Teacheth vs to doo good quicklie and in good season least otherwise the gift either come too late or be not so acceptable Vers 13. Teacheth vs that the contempt of Gods word shall neuer escape vnpunished Vers 14. Teacheth vs that good counsell is a good meane to make men to auoyde the snares of sinne Vers 15. Teacheth vs that Gods gifts in any must be reuerenced and sinne and iniquitie abhorred Vers 16. Teacheth vs to doo all things according to iudgement and discretion and to take heed that either by word or deede wee bewray not the follie of our harts Vers 17. Teacheth vs to deale faithfullie in the charges wherein we are placed both that wee may thereby auoyde euill and also procure good vnto our selues and others Vers 18. Teacheth vs that contempt of good counsell is a meane of beggery and shame as on the other side obedience to good speeches is the high way to honor and estimation before GOD and men Vers 19. Teacheth vs that we may reioyce when lawfull and holy things are done for vs also that it is a very harde matter to drawe the vngodly from sinne Vers 20. Teacheth vs to make choyce of our companie cleauing to such as are good and flying from the euill Vers 21. Setteth out the vnlikelie reward of the good and the bad from God Vers 22. Teacheth vs that good men thorowe Gods blessing leaue their goods and lands to their posteritie euen many ages togeather one after another also that God in his iustice doth many times depriue the wicked of their wealth and giueth it to the good Vers 23. Teacheth vs that labor is a meane to make men rich also that for want of labor and good gouernement many things are consumed Vers 24. Teacheth parents to correct their children but yet so that they doo it in measure and in such sort and at such a time as it may doo the parties corrected most good not onely for the time present but also for the time to come Vers 25. Setteth out Gods fauor towards the good and his iustice towards the wicked and vngodlie CHAPT 14. Co. IN the latter end of the other chapter he had spoken of Parents and children and now he beginneth this chapter with a tâ—eatie of women passing on from thence to describe generall dueties appertayning to all states ages and sexes whatsoeuer Di. Di. 1 THis chapter may bee diuided into foure partes In the first hee intreateth of a wife and foolish woman of the feare and contempt of God of pride and humilitie of labor and husbandrie of a faithfull and lying witnesse of the scorner and wise person of the foolish and the prudent or righteous Di. 2 man from vers 1. to the end of the 9. In the second he intreateth of the heart or conscience of the wicked and the Godly of an vpright way of heauinesse of heart of a wicked heart of easines to beleeue
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
For the Lord shall be for thine assurance i. he shall be in stead of a defence and an assured place of refuge vnto thee and shall preserue vz. by his almightie power thy foote i. thee thy selfe a part for the whole and yet he doth not without cause vse this speech because things are many times taken by the foote from taking i. that thine enemie shall not catch thee or thou thy selfe sticke fast in any manner of euill see for all these promises Psalme 91. vers 1 2 c. where thou shalt finde the like things almost Vers 27. Withhold not the good vz. which thou hast of another mans from the owners thereof i. from them to whom it belongeth as by the way of debt or of Christian duetie as in giuing almes counselling c. though there bee power in thine hand i. though thou bee presentlie and fullie able to doo it i. to hurt him and harme him by the detaining of that which doth appertaine vnto him Vers 28. Say not thou vnto thy neighbour vz. when he is in distresse and neede goe vz. from me now and come againe vz. another time as we are wont to say and to morrow i. some other time hereafter will I giue thee vz. somewhat toward the reliefe of thy néede see Iames 2.16 if thou haue it vz. in thy power and kéeping hée meaneth the same thing that he did in the other sentence sauing that he teacheth not only to doo well but quicklie and with speede to doo well for as it is in the Prouerb he doth a double good turne that doth a good turne in good season and againe the fauour that commeth too late is little or nothing worth Vers 29. Intend none hurt vz. by thought word or déede but specially in thought for if that be repressed the rest will easlie be beaten downe against thine neighbour i. against any but chiefly against those that dwell about thée and haue dealt friendly with thée seeing that he doth dwell vz. as he supposeth and thinketh without feare vz. of any hurt from thée meaning that he doth not so much as suspect that thou wilt doo him any harme by thee i. nigh vnto thée and thy house Vers 30. Striue not vz. either by priuate quarrelling or publike iustice with a man i. with any man or sundrie men as verse 13. of this Chapt. causeles i. without iust and good cause why when he hath done thee no harme i. iniured or wronged thée either by word or déede He meaneth that wee should not without cause debate any matter with any man speciallie with him that hath wrought no euill against vs for it is a great offence and will vtterly ouerthrowe humanitie and fellowship to complaine of one and to thunder out against him that hath nothing at all offended him and yet in the meane while no lawe of God or man forbiddeth vs to expostulate either priuatlie or publikelie before the Magistrate with him which hath offended and wronged vs yea to conuince him of the iniurie if we be able alwaies prouided that wee doo it not with a reuenging minde nor burst forth into priuate reuenge Vers 31. Be not enuious vz. either inwardly or outwardly for the wicked man i for the good successe and abundance of prosperitie that thou seest him to inioye see Psalme 37.11 neither chuse any of his waies i. followe not his order and trade of life he yeeldeth a reason in the next verse why he would not haue men to doo so Vers 32. For the froward vz. person vnderstanding by this terme one that regardeth not admonition but giueth himself to al violence crueltie and oppression is an abhomination vnto the Lord i. the Lord hateth abhorreth and cannot abide such a one see Psalme 37.20 but his secret is with the righteous i. continually abideth with them vnderstanding by secret a most close but yet most familiar communicating of his good will towards them as may appeare by the verses following Vers 33. The curse of the Lord i. iust plagues and punishments sent from God see Malach. 2.2 c. is in the house of the wicked i. continueth abideth there howsoeuer they seeme to abound and flourish in all worldly wealth but he blesseth vz. continually with his fauour the habitation of the righteous i. not onely the place where he dwelleth but euen him himselfe and al that he hath Vers 34. With the scornefull i. such as giue themselues to iesting scoffing and contempt of all goodnesse he scorneth i. he laugheth at them or mocketh them and deceiueth their hope see Psalme 2.4 also Psalme 18.26 Prouerb 1.26 but he giueth vz. freelie and of his owne mercie grace i. all manner of goodnes both outward and inward to the humble i. such as thinke lowlie of themselues see Iames 4.6 also 1. Pet. 5.5 Vers 35. The wise i. such as are instructed with heauenlie wisedome shall inherite glorie i. shall haue renowne and good report as a perpetuall inheritance but fooles vz. shall inherit or possesse dishonor i. shame and contempt and that before God and man though they be exalted i. how much soeuer they bée exalted by their flatterers and clawbackes Others reade this latter parte thus but shame taketh away the foolish i. it carrieth both them and their hope away in a pinch of time or twinckling of the eye as it were The other sense and reading is in my iudgement as good as this if not better Do. Vers 1. Teacheth vs to haue good counsels in continuall remembrance to the end we may be guided thereby Vers 2. Teacheth vs that all blessings shall be to such as obediently walke in the lawe of the Lord. Vers 3. Teacheth vs to haue care and conscience of the performance of our dueties towards God and our brethren Vers 4. Teacheth vs that obedience to the worde maketh vs acceptable before God and man Vers 5. Teacheth vs two thinges first vnfeignedly to hang vpon the Lord secondly not to trust in our selues or any thing that is in vs. Vers 6. Teacheth vs that the meane to haue all our waies and workes blessed is to beleeue and confesse Gods wonderfull power and prouidence Vers 7. Teacheth vs first not to stand too much in our owne conceites secondlie that Christianitie consisteth of doing good specially to Godward and of absteining from euill Vers 8. Teacheth vs that obedience to God procureth all blessings Vers 9. Teacheth vs that this is one principall end of our riches to referre them to the aduancement of Gods honour and glorie Vers 10. Teacheth vs that God is no niggard in his gifts to his seruants Vers 11. Teacheth vs not to murmure or repine against GOD for his fatherly corrections vppon vs. Vers 12. Teacheth vs that Gods visitations vpon his children are testimonies not of his displeasure but of his great good will toward vs. Vers 13. Teacheth vs that true blessednes consisteth in sound and holie wisedome Vers 14. Teacheth vs that Gods word must be preferred
tye him so that hée shall not escape q.d. he staying himselfe vpon his wickednesses worketh his owne hurt and maketh a halter to hang himselfe in so that God needeth no tormentor seeing he is so tied with his owne sinne that he cannot onely not escape punishment but also is punished in them Vers 23. He shall dye i. he shall surely suffer both the first and the second death for fault of instruction i. because he would not receiue it when it was giuen him and not for want of it for he had it bestowed vpon him as verse 13. of this Chapter and go astray vz. from the right way prescribed him through his great folly i. by reason of his gréeuous sinnes q.d. he shall certainlie bee punished for his sinnes and neuer finde fauour but liuing he shall abide in perpetuall death Do. Vers 1. Teacheth vs to yeeld to good counsell while it is offered vs. Vers 2. Teacheth vs that our words and all that commeth from vs should sauour of holie wisedome Vers 3. Teacheth vs what flatterie and intising perswasions harlots will vse to drawe men to filthines Vers 4. Teacheth vs that euery thing is not continuallie good and sweet that seemeth so at the beginning Vers 5. Teacheth men to beware of whores seeing they carrie death and destruction with them Vers 6. Teacheth vs that persons or parties giuen to filthines haue little or no regard of godlines and eternall life Vers 7. Teacheth vs in time to yeeld obedience to the word of good exhortation Vers 8. Teacheth vs to withstand the beginning of euill and the first prouocations to sinne Vers 9. Teacheth vs that whoredome carrieth with it the impayring of a mans good name credite and power Vers 10. Teacheth vs that whoredom adulterie consumeth mens goods and substance Vers 11. Teacheth vs that it wasteth euen their bodies and bones also Vers 12 13. Teach vs that the contempt of good counsell is the mother and cause of all corruption and naughtines Vers 14. Teacheth vs to haue an eye in time to returne from wickednes and sinne Vers 15. Teacheth vs to liue soberly and contentedly with those thinges that God hath blessed vs withall and not to catch and snatch other mens goods Vers 16. Teacheth vs to auoide niggardlines to striue to vse true liberalitie Vers 17. Teacheth vs to beware of prodigalitie inspending wastfully either our owne or other mens goods Vers 18. Teacheth men to liue ioyfully and peaceably with their wiues Vers 19. Teacheth men to loue and affect their owne wiues only and that continually also Vers 20. Teacheth vs that there is no goodnesse or profite at all that can come by following strange flesh but much hurt rather as verse 9 10. c. of this Chapter do sufficiently proue Vers 21. Teacheth vs that nothing that we do though we doo it neuer so secretly can be hidden from Gods knowledge Vers 22. Teacheth vs that the more sinne the wicked and vngodlie commit the faster they doo binde themselues with the cordes of iustice punishment and wrath Vers 23. Teacheth vs that whosoeuer will not regard good counsell out of Gods word shall surely dye the death CHAP. 6. Co. SAlomon in the other Chapter taught them to beware of whoredome and other wickednesses and continuing his exhortation he instructeth them in this Chapter to flie from rashnes and hastines in doing anything to auoide idlenes and many other wickednesses whereunto men are very prone through the continuall malice of Sathan prouoking them and their owne naturall corruption stirring them Di. Di. 1 THis Chapter may be diuided into three parts in the first are comprehended certaine admonitions instructing men to beware of suretiship Di. 2 and idlenes or sloathfulnes from verse 1. to the end of verse 11. In the second there is liuely set out the nature of wicked men and their destruction with a particular enumeration of certaine things which God abhorreth Di. 3 from verse 12. to the end of the 19. In the third part he exhorteth to imbrace Gods worde which rightly receiued shall deliuer vs as from the subiection of all sinne generallie so particularly of whoredome and this reacheth from vers 20. to the end of the Chapter Se. Vers 1. MY sonne see Chapter 1.8 if thou bee suretie i. hast giuen thy word or promise for thy neighbour i. for thy friend or companion for so much I thinke doth the word import because men be not suretie but for them whom they knowe and hast striken handes i. hast giuen thy faith or made a bargaine to pay that thou promisest he putteth the signe for the thing it selfe for wee vse giuing and striking of hands for assurance and performance of a bargaine with the stranger i. with an other man whom thou knowest not so well as he His meaning is not here vtterly to forbid suretiship for wee see the contrarie practised by good men Genes 42.37 Also Genes 43.8 9. but to teach men to take héede that they bee not rash in giuing their worde or hand by writing or otherwise and if they haue béen ouertaken to seeke to set themselues free from the same as soone as can be Vers 2. Thou art snared i. thou hast certainlie though at vnwares cast thy selfe into a perilous snare and danger with the wordes of thy mouth i. with these words which thou speakest thou art euen taken vz. fast so that thou canst not escape till thou hast payed and performed with the words of thine owne mouth q.d. thou maiest thanke thine owne hastie rash speach for thine intanglement for whereas perhaps thou tookest them to be but bare naked words thou feest thou art snared for bargaines euen as nature the Lawiers say are free before they are made but whē they are made they bind the parties bargaining therfore they say words bind men Vers 3. Do this vz. that followeth and which I counsell thee now i. very spéedilie without delay as may appeare by the verses following my sonne see Chapter 1.8 and sundrie other places in this booke and deliuer thy selfe vz. from the dangers thou art in and in this verse he sheweth two meanes wherby he may performe it the first is submitting thy selfe to him to whom thou art bound the second intreating him for whom thou art bound and other thy friends to pitie thy case and their owne in thee seeing thou art come vz. through thine owne carelesnes and rashnes into the hand of thy neighbour i. into his power by giuing thy hand or word goe vz. quicklie without any delay Math. 5.25 and humble thy selfe vz. to him to whom thou hast giuen thy word vnderstanding by humbling all things whereby a man may be moued to pitie as beseeching words pitifull countenances al other meanes either inward outward whatsoeuer and solicite i. earnestly call vpon by words labour to soften and make gentle towards thee thy friends i. both him to whom thou art bound him for whom thou art bound
the worde hands here because they are the instruments of murther and when he saith shed innocent bloud he meaneth such as kill men and take away their liues without any good cause Vers 18. An heart vz. of a man that imagineth wicked enterprises vz. against other men speciallie those which are good and marke that the heart is put here in the fourth place and in the middest betwéene the sixe because it is as it were the fountaine and roote of all these euilles feete that be swift in running to mischiefe i. to accomplish and performe mischiefe he meaneth by this speach such as are whollie set vppon working of mischiefe of whom see before cap. 4.16 17. Vers 19. A false witnesse that speaketh lyes i. such a one as before a Magistrate either vppon his owne word or oath vttereth an vntruth and so it is diuers from the second thing because the tongue may be giuen to lying without false witnes bearing and him that raiseth vp vz. by any manner of meanes as by tale-carrying c. contention i. any manner of quarrelling or chiding among brethren vz. who should bee ioyned fast together he meaneth here such a one as is an author of quarrelles and contentions Vers 20. My sonne keepe thy fathers commandement i. practise the thing which thy father commandeth thee and forsake not thy mothers instruction i. set not light by at any hand such good things as thy mother shall instruct and teach thee in see Chapter 1.8 where you haue almost the very same words Vers 21. Bind them alway vpon thy heart i. thinke vpon them and remember them continually and tye them about thy necke vz. that thou feeling and seeing them maiest be put in minde to practise them see Chapter 3.3 Vers 22. It i. the wholesome counsell of thy parents giuen thee out of the law and word of God and receiued by thee shall leade thee vz. into all truth and weldooing when thou walkest i. whatsoeuer thou takest in hand or whether soeuer thou turnest thee it shall watch for thee vz. to keepe thée safe and sound both in minde and bodie when thou sleepest i. laiest thee downe and takest thy naturall rest and when thou wakest vz. to goe about thy busines and affaires it shall talke with thee i. it shall not onely counsell thee but also teach thee what how to speake Vers 23. For the commandement vz. of God meaning by commandement the whole word because it consisteth specially of commandements see Psalm 19.8 is a lanterne vz. to lighten the beléeuers and to go before them in the way of eternall life see Psalme 119.105 and instruction vz. out of Gods word a light vz. to our darke and blind consciences and corrections for instructions i. sharpe reproofes to instruct men specially when they cannot otherwise bée reclaimed for instruction so vsed see Chapt. 5.12 are the way of life i. the high and readie way or as a man would say effectuall meanes to bring vs to life and I would reade this verse by a Parenthesis and so ioyne the 22. and 24. together Vers 24. To keepe thee i. the word shal instruct thee to kéepe thée farre from the wicked woman i. from a woman whollie giuen ouer to wickednesse and from the flatterie of the tongue of the strange woman i. from the flatterie which the harlot vseth in the wordes which she vttereth with her tongue of this see before Chapter 5.3 He meaneth that heauenly wisedome out of Gods word shall kéepe him vntouched from all the assaults of pleasure and from all hinderances in the doing of his duetie so that neither by fleshly pleasure nor other euilles whatsoeuer he shall be carried away Vers 25. Desire not her beautie in thine heart i. take héed that thy heart be not ouertaken with desire and lust of her beautie see Math. 5 28. neither let her take thee vz. leading thee from the right way and stealing thy heart from thée with her eye lids i. either with the fairenes of her eyes or with the twinckling of the eyes or with setting thy eyes vpon her or els with any other either wanton lookes or whorish gestures Vers 26. For because of the whorish woman i. for satisfying of her in her greedie desire a man is brought vz. to seeke to a morsell of bread i. to extreame neede and beggerie so that begging from dore to dore he would be glad of a morsell of bread see Prouer. 29.3 and a woman i. a wicked adulterous and whorish woman will hunt for i. by all the meanes that she can seeke and neuer leaue of labouring till she haue gotten the precious life of a man i. mans life which is a very precious and deare thing and in this verse is contained a reason why adulterie is vile to wit because it bringeth with it losse of goods and destruction both of bodie and soule Vers 27. Can a man take fire in his bosome and his clothes not be burnt q.d. It is impossible Vers 28. Or can a man go vppon coales i. hot burning coales and without any thing vpon his feete and his feete not be burnt q.d. it cannot be for by this propounding of it in the way of a question he noteth the hardnes or impossibilitie rather of the thing And here note that he compareth whoredome to a fire of which see Iob. 31.12 shewing by two very apt similitudes that he cannot auoide both bodilie hurt and spirituall danger that hath any thing to do with a harlot or hath any acquaintance or familiaritie with her Vers 29. So he that goeth into his neighbours wife i. lieth with her and knoweth her he vseth an honest and sober speach to expresse a filthie and vile act see 2. Sam. 16.21 see also Psalme 51. in the title shall not be innocent i. cleare either before God or man but subiect to iudgement not onely to that which is inward and eternall from God but also that which is outward amongst men to which he is subiect if he be taken in it and this sense is confirmed by that which followeth where he compareth an adulterer to a chéefe shewing the one to bee a greater offence than the other Vers 30. Men do not despise vz. very much a theefe i. he that stealeth any thing when he stealeth q.d. no though he be taken in the fact of théeuerie if it be to satisfie his soule i. his life and maintaine it when he standeth in neede for wee knowe that the soule eateth not because he is hungrie vz. and he stealeth to satisfie his hunger onely Vers 31. But if he be found q.d. yea though the hardest fall out that he bée found in the deede doing he shall restore vz. to him from whom he hath stollen seauen fold i. very much for otherwise the Scripture maketh mention what he shall restore and in what cases see Exod. 22.1 2 c. or vz. if he be not able to restore he shall giue all the substance of his house i.
indeuour to attaine it and to seeke for it And here he commendeth his doctrine for the easines Vers 10. Receiue vz. readilie and with a good will mine instruction i. the instruction that I shall giue you and not siluer i. rather than siluer as may appeare by that which followeth for it is not his purpose here to condemne siluer but to shewe that Gods word must bee preferred before it and knowledge vz. of the heauenly mysteries and that from me rather than fine gold vz. how pure and precious so euer it be And note that in this verse and in the next he commendeth his doctrine because it is most precious and profitable Vers 11. For wisedome i. the wisedome of God is better vz. by thousands of degrees than precious stones though they bee most rich and neuer so much esteemed and all pleasures vz. of this life how great many or sundrie soeuer they be are not to be compared vz. at any hand or in any respect vnto her i. vnto true and holie wisedome see Chap. 3.14 15. Vers 12. I wisedome i. who am the eternall wisedome of the father for this must bée vnderstood not of the written word onely but of the person of the Sonne who is made of God vnto vs wisedome 1. Corint 1.24 30. dwell with prudence i. after some am most familiarly acquainted with her after other some am most prudent and wise my selfe both are good but I rather allowe of this latter q.d. I call you not to mée without cause for I am she without whom no man can be wise and I finde forth i. not only of my selfe but cause also them that reuerence and esteeme me to seeke and find knowledge and counsels vz. of the will of God reuealed in his word which otherwise should be but a sealed booke to all them that looked into it Vers 13. The feare of the Lord is to hate euill This appertaineth though perhaps it seeme not so to some to the praise of wisedome because the reuerence and feare of God is the speciallest part of wisedome as Chap. 1.7 Also Chap. 9.10 Some ioyne it with the former verse thus I haue with me the feare of the Lord and the hatred of euill q.d. I am most iust teaching to doo euery good thing and to lothe euery wicked thing and then addeth J hate vz. vnfeignedly pride and arrogancie vz. both of hart bodie and countenance and the euill way i. euery wicked order and course of life whatsoeuer and a mouth that speaketh lewd things i. euery person or man that giueth his mouth to speake wicked and peruerse matters Vers 14. I haue vz. with me and in my power counsell and wisedome i. abundance of all good foresight counsell and holie knowledge J am vnderstanding q.d. without mée there can be no sound iudgement and I haue strength vz. in my selfe meaning by strength power and authoritie also to doo what he would all this verse is as much q.d. I am most wise in taking of counsell and I am most mightie in performing my deuises Vers 15. By me i. by the authoritie which I communicate vnto them Kings i. all Kings how great or little so euer they be reigne vz. vpon earth and amongst their owne people meaning that all the authoritie they haue they haue it from him as Daniel 2.21 Rom. 13.1 and Princes vz. of the earth decree iustice i. establish ordaine and execute iust and holie things Vers 16. By me i. by my permission and appoyntment Princes rule vz. others and the Nobles vz. doo so likewise and all the Iudges of the earth vz. doo the selfe same thing by the authoritie which I haue giuen vnto them And marke that in these two verses the holie Ghost vseth foure wordes which though they serue all to expresse one thing yet euery word in signification differeth from another He putteth Kings in the first place as the highest and greatest of all to these he ioyneth Princes who were as it were of counsell with Kings and did vnder them constitute and ordaine lawes concerning both these see Psalme 2.2 Next he addeth Nobles who haue their name of the largenes and liberalitie which they exercise to their vnderlings and lastlie in a generall terme of Judges he comprehendeth all them that gouerne the world and handle matters of state Vers 17. I loue them vz. vnfeignedly and continually that loue me vz. with a good hart He meaneth that Gods grace by his meanes floweth vppon all such as loue him see Iohn 14.21 and they that seeke me earely i. painfully carefully and diligently shall finde me vz. assuredlie and without all faile q.d. I will voutchsafe to shewe my selfe vnto them Vers 18. Riches and honor i. true riches and honor specially Gods great blessings vpon the minde are with me i. in my power to giue and bestowe them when and vpon whom I list euen durable riches i. such riches as shal continue when other mens melteth away as waxe before the Sunne and righteousnes i. vpright dealing which indeede is one good meane to make wealth firme and stable see Chapt. 3.16 Vers 19. My fruite vz. which I communicate to them that loue me I dwelling in them and they also walking in the righteousnes that I prescribe vnderstanding by fruite the graces also which he bestoweth vpon them of which he seemeth to make two sortes the one temporall for this life vers 20. the other eternall for the life to come vers 21. is better vz. by many degrees than gold vz. how pure or precious soeuer it bee yea than fine gold q.d. yea than all the finest gold that can be got and my reuenues i. the giftes which I bestowe vppon mine speaking here as great Princes doo who according to the largenes of their rents and reuenues giue great gifts to their subiects and seruants better than fine siluer q.d. yea though it haue béen neuer so often fined and tried see Psalme 12.6 Vers 20. I cause vz. men and those that imbrace me to walke vz. vprightly without going either on the right hand or on the left and that continually also in the way of righteousnes i. in equall vpright and iust waies meaning thereby a holie order and conuersation of life and in the middest of the pathes of iudgement i. in such a plaine way of vpright dealing that it is impossible for them to goe out of the way and this is the fruite that wee receiue in this life to wit sanctification Vers 21. That vz. by the meanes of guiding them in the right way I may cause them that loue me vz. vnfeignedly meaning that for their sakes he might bring this to passe to inherite substance i. the thing that is and shall neuer cease to be to wit eternal life and I will fill vz. with al abundance and store their treasures meaning it not only of worldly but also of spirituall and heauenlie blessings and thus hetherto he hath commended wisedome for her excellent effects as afterwards he
another and goe hether and thether to gather vp tales to tell to other men and yet many times tell them otherwise than they heard them discouereth a secret which is a wicked thing specially if it bée committed to a man this gadding from place to place with tales is forbidden by God Leuit. 19.16 but he that is of a faithfull heart vz. towards God and his brethren conceileth i. keepeth close a matter vz. committed vnto him meaning it of such matters as ought to be kept close Vers 14 Where no counsell is i. In what place soeuer there is not holie and right counsell for otherwise there is no state so corrupt but hath a counsell wherby we see that a wicked counsell is as no counsell before God the people fall vz. by sundrie meanes into sundrie mischiefes that cannot be auoyded but where many counsellers are i. where there is store of graue wise and holie men to giue good counsell and their counsell bee accepted and regarded there is health vz. to the people and subiects meaning by health all outward blessings as prosperitie peace abroad quietnes at home and a great number of such like The Rabbins referre this to warre but I take it to be such a sentence as verse 11. of this Chapter is and to be general stretching it selfe to the right gouernment of Magistrates and their wholesome counsels Vers 15. He shall be sore vexed vz. amongst men and euen in himselfe that is suretie vz. to another man for a stranger i. for one whom he knoweth not and he that hateth suretiship vz. vnlesse he haue good cause to enter into the same is sure vz. from danger griefe and vexation How this must be vnderstood see Chapt. 6. vers 1 c. Vers 16. A gracious woman i. such a one as is indued with a right reuerence of God and decked with that hidden man of the heart which consisteth in a méeke and quiet spirite which spirite also is acceptable before God obtaineth fauour amongst men 1. Pet. 3.4 atteineth honor vz. amongst men by her good and vertuous demeanes and so consequently praise and commendation as Pro. 31.30 and and I suppose this would rather be turned as the strong men in Hebrue it is violent meaning such as being terrible and fearefull to others get riches by all manner of meanes whether lawfull or vnlawfull it skilleth not atteine riches vz. amongst men Vers 17. He that is mercifull vz. towards others specially when they are distressed and néedie rewardeth his owne soule i. doth good vnto himselfe also as well as vnto others for so it pleaseth God to reward the good workes of his seruants but he vz. whosoeuer he be that troubleth vz. vniustly and without cause by what means so euer it be either in word or déed his owne flesh i. his neighbour or other men as Isaiah 58.7 is cruell vz. not only to them but euen against himselfe also Some reade it thus but the cruel man i. he that is hard hearted and cruelly bent against others troubleth his owne flesh i. hurteth himselfe while he casteth from him all lawes of nature and curtesie Indéede I confesse that the Antithesis or opposition of this verse more plainlie appeareth so and yet I see no reason why the other sense may not as well stand Vers 18. The wicked worketh a deceitfull worke vz. both to himselfe and against others to himselfe because he is deceiued of that which he thought to obtaine as a reward many times getting a cleane contrarie thing as miserie for prosperitie and against the good because he seeketh by deceitfull meanes to destroy them but he that soweth righteousnes i. is plentifull in vpright and well doing see Galath 6.7 8 c. shall receiue vz. from the Lord yea and many times from men also a sure reward i. a reward that shall not deceiue him neither whereof he shall be deceiued Vers 19. As righteousnes leadeth to life vz. both here and in the world to come vnderstanding by righteousnes the sound fruites of a holy conuersation both towards God and men so he that followeth euill i. fostereth and feedeth the same within him and seeketh the performance therof seeketh his own death vz. both of bodie and soule without vnfeigned repentance and amendment of life Vers 20. They that are of a froward heart vz. either against God or men meaning such as are neuer pleased with any thing are abomination to the Lord i. are such as the Lord abhorreth and cannot abide see verse 1. of this Chapter but they that are vpright in their way i. haue care of a holie and iust conuersation towards God and man see Psalme 119.1 are his delite i. are such as he much delighteth in Vers 21. Though hand ioyne in hand i. though the wicked indeuour by all the strengthes subtilties and aydes that they haue or can procure the wicked shall not be vnpunished q.d. for all that they cannot escape Gods punishments see Chapter 16.5 but the seede of the righteous i. euen his posteritie shall escape vz. iudgements and punishments sent from God though sometimes it pleaseth him to correct them to their amendement q.d. not only the godlie but their posteritie shall be deliuered whereas the vngodlie though he get many to take his part shall not escape when as the godlie shall deliuer both himselfe and others Vers 22. As a iewell of gold vz. is an vnseemely thing in a swines snout vz. because the swine will defile it with dirt and myre so is a faire woman i. so is it vnseemely for one to be indued with beautie which indeede is a good gift from God which lacketh discretion vz. to gouerne her selfe modestlie soberlie and in the feare of God q.d. beautie doth as little become a mad or foolish woman as a precious iewell doth become a sowe Vers 23. The desire of the righteous is only good i. they desire nothing but that which is good for that word only is an exclusiue particle shutting out euill things Not meaning that they neuer wish euill but rather that for the most part they desire good but the hope of the wicked i. the wicked may hope or looke for nothing els but indignation i. vengeance from God or els such thinges as shall vexe and grieue them and make them angrie Vers 24. There is vz. a man putting it also for a certaine number of men that scattereth i. liberally bestoweth the goods and possessions which God hath blessed him with all see Psalme 112.9 and is more increased vz. in riches and abundance through the speciall blessing of God and the right vse of these things but he that spareth more vz. either from himselfe or others which is the common fault of couetous persons and niggards then is right i. than he may and ought to doo surely commeth to pouertie vz. notwithstanding all his pinching and sparing q.d. so farre off is it that the niggardly man shall increase and waxe rich as the liberall doth that
righteous shall continuallie enioy felicitie glorie life gladnes c. see Psalme 97.11 but the candle of the wicked shall be put out i. that little estate of felicitie and prosperitie which they seeme to haue in this life shall sodainlie vanish away q.d. there is as great difference betweene the ioyes of the good and the bad both in respect of the greatnes and continuance thereof as is betwéene the Sunne and a candle and their seuerall lights and continuance see Chapt. 4.18 19. Vers 10. Only by pride i. through pride of heart meaning vnder the word only that pride is not the only cause of contention but one of the chiefest for many times men braule euen of peruersnes and of fond emulation and enuie against other doth man i. doo men for he speaketh of them all as though they were but one make contention i. stirre vp strife one of them with another but with the well aduised i. with such as both can giue good counsell and will humblie hearken to other mens good speaches is wisedome vz. to take heede that they kindle not strife or foster contention Vers 11. The riches of vanitie i. after some vaine riches which are so called because they vanish away but I suppose that he meaneth such riches as are gotten by any vaine false or vngodlie way whatsoeuer shall diminish vz. certainlie meaning that indeede they should bee brought to nothing and consumed but he that gathereth vz. riches and goods with the hand i. with the labour of his owne hands shall increase them vz. through Gods especiall blessing for otherwise it cannot bee see Chapt. 10.2 4. Also Chapt. 12.24 His purpose is to commend diligence and to teach men to auoide idlenes craft and whatsoeuer els Vers 12. The hope that is deferred i. the thing hoped for if it be put off from time to time and not quicklie performed is the fainting of the heart i. it maketh a mans minde to faint and quaile but when the desire i. the thing desired wished and looked for commeth vz. vnto men i. is granted them it is as a tree of life i. it is a most sweete and pleasant thing and as a man would say a very proper and healthfull medicine for a minde that languisheth in lusting and desiring see Chapt. 3.18 Vers 13. He that despiseth the word vz. of almightie God or the good word of exhortation drawne from the same he shall be destroyed vz. certainly and assuredly through the iust iudgement and vengeance of GOD vppon him but he that feareth the commandement vz. of GOD vnderstanding by feare an humble reuerence and loue and by one commandement all commandements of God whatsoeuer yea euen the whole lawe he shall be rewarded vz. from the Lord neither can the Papistes gather neither neede any man feare out of this merites because there is a great difference betwixt desert and reward Vers 14. The instruction of a wise man i. such holie and wise instructions as hée giueth is as the welspring of life i. is not onely plentifull of good thinges but also bringeth with it both to himselfe and those whome he instructeth life in this life and afterwards eternall life see chap. 10. vers 11. to turne away vz. men q.d. it serueth also to this ende for this is added for the more plaine and full declaration of the matter from the snares of death i. from such snares as if men be caught therewith kill them he meaneth specially sinnes which bring with them eternall death Vers 15. Good vnderstanding vz. of such things as God hath manifested vnto vs in his worde vnderstanding also hereby good wit holy wisedome and the gift wisely and learnedly to vtter good things maketh vz. men that haue it acceptable vz. both before God and men see chap. 3.4 but the way of the disobedient i. their order of life and course of conuersation is hated vz. both of God and also of good men Vers 16. Euerie wise man i. euery one that is truely wise will work vz. the things that he doth by knowledge i. sound and right knowledge q.d. whatsoeuer he doth he will doo it with wisedome and iudgement and not rashly but a foole will spread abroad i. bewray and publish folly i. his owne folly see chap. 12.23 Vers 17. A wicked messenger i. an vnfaithfull one and such a one as dooth not truely execute his message or charge falleth vz. many times thorowe Gods iust iudgements and that or euer he thinketh of it into euill i. into affliction sorrowe grief and punishment and so hurting himself also smarteth iustly for his vnfaithfulnes but a faithfull Ambassador i. hee that faithfully performeth his charge is preseruation vz. to himselfe to him or them that send him and to those also for whose cause he is sent Vers 18. Pouertie and shame vz. from God but yet in the presence of men is to him vz. whosoeuer he bee that refuseth instruction vz. of goodnes q.d. he that will not regarde good and holy counsell shall fall into beggery and be made a shame amongst men but he that regardeth correction vz. to followe it and to become the better by it shall be honored i. he shall florish with riches and honor and be accepted both of God and men Vers 19. A desire i. the thinge desired as vers 12. of this chap. accomplished vz. by good and holy meanes for here he speaketh of the desiring of good things and the lawfull accomplishment thereof delighteth vz. very greatly the soule i. the party wishing or desiring the same one parte put for the whole and yet hee dooth not without cause make mention of the soule because in it is the quality or faculty of desiring but it is an abhomination vnto fooles i. a lothsome and tedious thing yea such a matter as their affection dooth vtterly abhorre to departe from euill i. from that euill whereunto they are naturally giuen and which they foster and feede in themselues thorowe a vaine pleasure and delight in the same Vers 20. He that walketh with the wise i. is conuersant and familiarly acquainted with wise persons shall be wise i. thorowe Gods blessing shall become wise by meanes of wise speeches and talkes that shal passe from them but a companion of fooles i. he that ioyneth himselfe in society and fellowship with the wicked shall bee afflicted vz. euen as they themselues either because he committeth sinne with them or consenteth to euill as Rom. 1.13 Vers 21. Affliction i. punishment and vengeance sent from the Lord followeth vz. euen as the shadowe doth the body meaning also that it dooth euen pursue them so egerly that it leaueth them not till they be vtterly destroyed sinners i. peruerse and obstinate sinners see chap. 11.31 but vnto the righteous God will recompence vz. of his large liberality and goodnes good i. all good things for this life and the life to come Vers 22. The good man shall giue i. leaue behind him inheritance i. goodes and lands to
euerie tale and of the foolish and the wise man from vers 10. to the end of the 18. In the Di. 3 third he speaketh of the euill persons of the poore and rich of the proud and the mercifull of euill thinkers and good men of painfull labor and wicked words of riches and follie of a faithfull and lying witnes and of the reuerence and feare of the Lord from vers 19. to the end of the 27. In the Di. 4 fourth part hee speaketh of kings and their power of bridling anger of enuie of oppression and pitie of the ends of the wicked and the godlie of wisdome iustice and the fauor or displeasure of a Prince and this reacheth from vers 28. to the end of the chapter Se. Vers 1. A Wise woman i. euery woman that is truely wise fearing God and regarding their houshold affaires in holines and modestie buildeth her house vz. not so much with outward furniture and shewe as while that by hir labor and the right gouernement of her houshold she doth by all meanes keepe defende and increase the same but the foolish vz. woman who is set against the wise woman mentioned before destroyeth it i. her house and familie with hir owne hands i. whilst that vnheedely by hir naughtie deedes negligence and euill gouernement she suffereth all things to goe to wracke Vers 2. He that walketh in his righteousnes i. leadeth an vpright life voyde of hypocrisie and it is called his righteousnes not because he hath it of himselfe but because God in great mercie hath communicated the same vnto him feareth the Lord vz. vnfeinedly but he that is leaude in his waies i. leadeth a leaud and lose life despiseth him i. offereth as much as in him lyeth despite and contempt against the Lorde because he despiseth his lawe q.d. by the order of a mans life euen as it were by certaine fruites may a man be knowne whether he be godly or wicked Vers 3. In the mouth of the foolish i. in wicked mens wordes vttered with their mouth is the rodde of pride i. is there great and wonderfull pride wherewith in the height of his minde hee dooth not onely strike sometimes and hurt other men but giueth other men standing by and hearing staues and clubbs as it were to strike himselfe but the lippes of the wise i. words vttered with their lippes as sundrie times before preserue vz. from hurt and danger them i. both the wise themselues and others that depende vpon them the reason is because they obserue a measure and wisedome in their speeches that they neither hurt themselues nor others see chap. 12.6 Vers 4. Where none Oxen are vz. such as can worke and goe to plowe being accustomed to the yoke and tillage Vnderstanding hereby all workemen and whatsoeuer appertayneth to husbandrie there the crib is emptie i. there is nothing no not for the beastes to eate much lesse is there any thing in the barnes or storehouses for vnder one hee vnderstandeth all the rest but much increase commeth vz. to the good husbandman by the strength of the Oxe vz. that laboreth in tillage meaning thereby all husbandrie and tillage with al things thereto appertaining whatsoeuer Vers 5. A faithfull witnesse i. a faithfull man being called foorth to witnesse any thing will not lye vz. for any cause whether it be for fauor feare flatterie or otherwise but a false record vz. against men will speake lies vz. for euerie cause and in euerie place meaning that hee that hath falsified his faith in publike iustice will not spare to strayne it in priuate speeches see chap. 6.19 Vers 6. A scorner i. he that scoffeth and scorneth at all good things see chap. 1.22 seeketh i. maketh as though he would seeke for or els indeede seeketh for it but not to a right end wisedome i. Gods heauenlie wisdome and findeth it not q.d. for all that hee findeth it not the reason is because he seeketh it not as he should that is diligently and earnestly and to a right end that is Gods glorie and the comfort of his children but knowledge vz. of God and his mysteries is easie to him that will vnderstand i. that hath a minde and laboureth to atteyne it and he saith it is easie meaning to be founde because she offereth hir selfe vnto all as chap. 1.20 And Chapter 8.1 Vers 7. Depart vz. quickely and with hast from the foolish man i. from the wicked man that hath his heart seased and possessed with all manner of follie and euill When thou perceauest not in him i. so soone as thou findest that he hath not the lippes of knowledge i. words that sauor of sounde knowledge iudgement and wisedome Vers 8. The wisdome of the prudent i. the wisdome that he hath is i. consisteth specially in this to vnderstand i. to haue a diligent and watchfull eye to his way i. his whole life and the course thereof whether he imploye it in words déeds or both q.d. this is his duety and herein his wisdome appeareth diligently and with iudgement to weigh whatsoeuer hee attempteth auoyding alwaies rashnes but the foolishnes of the fooles is deceit i. tendeth wholy and altogether to deceit q.d. the fooles in their folly regard this thing specially to deceaue others Vers 9. The foole i. all foolish and wicked persons as appeareth because the word is of the plurall number in the Hebrewe text maketh a mocke of sinne i. maketh no more account of it than of a matter of sport or play see Chapter 10.23 but among the righteous there is fauour i. vnfeyned good will one of them towards another Some readeth it farre otherwise and maketh another sense of it which also I rather allow of thus Sinne vz. which the wicked and vngodlie men commit and they knowe one by another maketh fooles to agree vz. one of them with another q.d. their partaking in wickednes ioyneth the wickeds minds one of them towards another but among the righteous i. the good and holy people that which is acceptable vz. before God good men maketh agreement vz. among themselues q.d. good things only tie good mens minds together Vers 10. The heart vz. onely knoweth vz. perfectly and thorowly the bitternes of his soule i. the heauines and grief that the soule indureth and the stranger i. whatsoeuer is without shall not meddle with his ioye i. with the ioye of the heart or soule For the inward ioye which wee haue in the heart none knoweth so well as wee our selues neither are wee able by any outward signes to expresse the greatnes of the inward ioye In the meane while we learne not to giue our selues too much ouer to sadnes or ioy but to kéepe the golden rule of measure or mediocritie in both Ver. 11. The house of the wicked i. he and all that he hath shall be destroyed vz. through Gods iust iudgement but the tabernacle of the righteous i. he himselfe and all that appertaineth to him shall florish vz. through the
he may haue his desire satisfied in obtaining holie and heauenlie wisedome Di. Di. 1 THis Chapter may bee diuided into three parts The first reacheth from vers 1. to the end of the 8. wherein he speaketh of the desire of wisedom of the foolish and wicked man of wise words of respect of persons of the words of fooles and tale bearers and the hurt which commeth by them Di. 2 both The second reacheth from verse 9. to the ende of the 16. wherein he speaketh of the slothfull person of Gods power of riches of pride and humilitie of hastie answers of the griefe of bodie and soule of paines to get Di. 3 wisedome and of the power and force of gifts or rewards The third reacheth from verse 17. to the end of the Chapter wherein he speaketh of the first complainer of the vse of the lot of the wrath of brethren of good words and speaches of a good wife of the poore and rich and of a true frend or brother Se. Vers 1. FOr the desire thereof i. for the earnest affection that hee hath to obteyne holy and heauenly wisdome hee i. a good man will seperate himselfe vz. from all that hee hath that may let him to seeke it i. to the end hee may seeke and finde it see Matth. 13.44 45 46. and occupie himselfe i. he will carefullie imploy himselfe and diligentlie also in all wisdome i. in wisdome it selfe and in all the meanes whereby hee may growe and increase in the same others I knowe reade it otherwise and giue anosense but me thinketh this is plaine inough Vers 2. A foole hath no delight vz. at all in vnderstanding i. either in the thing it selfe or in the meanes whereby it may be obteyned but vz. his delite is that his heart i. the things that be in his heart may be discouered vz. to other men and that by his vaine babbling and speaking of euerie thing that commeth into his mind q.d. he is onely delighted with his owne follie which he laboreth to publish and make knowne to all men Verse 3. When the wicked commeth i. wheresoeuer there is a wicked man then commeth vz. with him i. there is contempt vz. of other men hee meaneth that this is proper to the wicked and is as it were his inseperable companion to despise others and with the vile man vz. there is alwaies reproach i. disdainefull vttering of reproches against others I denie not but that this verse may be taken as though God should punish the wicked and vile men with contempt and reproach but the other sense in my iudgement is more simple and plaine Vers 4. The words of a mans mouth i. such words and speaches as proceed from a wise mans mouth are like deepe waters vz. which cannot be drawne emptie neither can a man come to the bottome of them so the wisdome and learning of a wise man neuer ceaseth but the more he vttereth the more he may and the welspring of wisdome i. the great plentie and abundance he hath of it meaning hereby also the wise mans mouth powring it out and largely communicating it to others is like a flowing riuer i. is like to a riuer that floweth continuallie hee meaneth by these Metaphors and similitudes that there is neuer scarsitie of wisdome in him Vers 5. It is not good i. it is verie euill and hurtfull as chap. 17.26 to accept i. to regard or looke vpon the person of the wicked i. any thing in him at all as his authoritie wit words giftes c see this forbidden Deutero 1.17 to cause vz. thereby the righteous to fall i. to bee ouerthrowne in iudgement i. where iudgement is to be pronounced This belongeth to Iudges and Magistrates who are many times so moued with the power c. of the wicked that the iust and porer sorte come to ruine thereby which fault should bee corrected Vers 6. A fooles lippes i. the wordes which a foole vttereth with his lippes commeth with strife i. haue alwaies strife annexed vnto them as an inseperable companion and are mingled altogether with contentions and his mouth i. the wordes which hee speaketh with his mouth calleth for stripes vz. to bee layde vppon him for his follie meaning that his owne wordes are meanes to hurte himselfe Verse 7. A fooles mouth i. words spoken with his mouth is his owne destruction i. bring hurt and destruction vnto himselfe and his lippes i. speaches vttered with his lippes are a snare for his soule i. are instruments and meanes to bring him within the danger of the losse of his life see chap. 10.14 also chap. 13.3 Vers 8. The words of a talebearer vz. which he vttereth to some against other some are as flatterings i. they seeme pleasant and sweete yea to be more gentle than oyle or butter see Psal 55.21 and i. but for all that or els thus and vz. yet notwithstanding they go downe into the bowells of the bellie i. into the bowels which are within the bellie meaning that they wound euen the verie entrailes which being once perished there is no hope of life and therefore it is as much q.d. they wound men most grieuouslie yea deadlie Vers 9. Hee also vz. as well as the talebearer is to be misliked that is slothfull i. giuen to idlenes and loytering in his worke i. in dooing the thing he is set about and should indeed performe is euen the brother of him that is a great waster vz. of the things which he hath he meaneth that he is cosin german as it were with the prodigall person because looke what the one looseth by superfluitie and ryot the other forgoeth thorow sloth and idlenes Vers 10. The name of the Lord i. his Maiestie goodnes and power as sundry times in the Psalmes and namelie Psalme 20.1 is a strong tower vz. to all such as stedfastly trust therein meaning by strong tower a mightie defence to shielde him and to keepe him safe from all the dangers of such as would anoye him see Psal 61.3 the righteous vz. at all times but speciallie in the dayes of his distresse runneth vz. with all possible hast and speed vnto it i. to this assured tower of Gods strength might power goodnes c. and is exalted i. lifted vp vz. into a high place where hee shall be safe and sound from the attemptes of all his enemies Vers 11. The rich mans riches i. the riches which he presentlie possesseth are his strong citie i. hee maketh them vnto himselfe a defence against all attemptes and assaultes made against him see before Chap. 10.15 and as an hie wall in his imagination i. hee fondlie imagineth that they are sufficiently able not onely to keepe him from the violence of men but also to shield him and couer him so that neyther God nor man shall behold his leudnes Vers 12. Before destruction i. before the calamitie fall or hurt of any man come the heart of a man is hautie i. a man himselfe is proude and
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
himselfe could well wish and desire and thy hope shall not be cut off see Chap. 23.18 These two verses may be resolued by a similitude thus as honie is both profitable and pleasant to them that haue it and vse it so is heauenly wisdome though perhaps it seeme not so at the first Vers 15. Lay not waite i. deale not subtillie nor craftely O wicked man vz. whosoeuer thou art against the house of the righteous i. against himselfe or any thing appertayning vnto him and spoyle not vz. by might and crueltie his resting place i. the things that apperteyne vnto him one that is his house being put for all So hee forbiddeth two meanes whereby the wicked molest the good the one is fraude or crafte the other is force or might Vers 16. For this is a reason why he should ceafe from working iniurie a iust man falleth vz. into dangers and distresses and that many times by meanes that wicked men procure against them seauen times i. many and sundrie times a number certeine for an vncertaine Psalm 119.164 and riseth vz. thorowe the ayde strength and fauor of God againe vz. out of those dangers and euills q.d. though thou mayst be incouraged to tread him downe thorowe his often calamities yet knowe that the Lord will rayse him vp for which see Psalm 34.19 And for the number of seauen see Iob. 5.19 Vers 17. Be not thou glad vz. in thy heart neither yet declare any such thing by any outward shewe when thine enemie falleth vz. into calamitie and miserie as vers 16. of this Chap. and let not thine heart reioyce i. be not so much as inwardlie ioyfull when he stumbleth vz. at any thing or any manner of waye and so commeth into miserie he forbiddeth men to reioyce at the distresse of their foes yea though that they iustlie suffer or haue deserued the same by some one meanes or other Vers 18. Least this is not spoken as though he doubted whether God sawe it or no but here he speaketh of GOD according to the manner of men see for the same word Malach. 4.6 and it is rather a particle of threatning here and there also than of doubting the Lord see it i. thy hard hartednes and wickednes and it displease him vz. greatlie yea so much that he turne his wrath from him vz. that is afflicted and distressed and powre it foorth vpon thee And this is a reason why men should not reioyce in other mens miseries because it is the next way to pull miserie vpon themselues Vers 19. Fret not thy selfe i. be not angrie or greeued in thy selfe because of the malicious vz. men that is because they either florish and prosper or els in the malice of their hearts attempt hard things against thee neither bee enuious at the wicked see before Chap. 23.17 also vers 1. of this Chap. Vers 20. For there shall be no end of plagues to the wicked man i. he shall bee as it were by one plague in anothers necke punished in this life and if he escape them yet shall he be punished eternallie in the life to come and the light of the wicked shall be put ott i. both his felicitie and whole life shall be voide of all glorious remembrance see Chap. 13.9 Vers 21. My sonne see Chap. 1.8 10. feare vz. withall thine heart and that with the reuerence and feare of children the Lord vz. thy God who is iust and powerfull and the King vz. who is his substitute and deputie hée setteth God before magistrates because in God and for God they must bee feared and obeyed see 1. Peter 2.17 and meddle out vz. at any hand q.d. haue nothing at al to doo with them that are seditious the worde signifieth such as varie vz. from the commandements of God and the kings commandements a greeing therewith Vers 22. For a reason of the premisses taken from the sodaine and continuall euill that shall fall vpon such people their destruction i. destruction layde vppon them from the Lorde shall rise vz. vp against them sodainely i. when they thinke least of it 1. Thessal 5.3 and who vz. amongst men knoweth the ruine i. the great and horrible destruction for so much I suppose the manner of propounding it in a demand importeth of them both i. that shall fal vpon those two sortes of men mentioned vers 19.20 21. of this Chapter Vers 23. Also these things vz. either following or going before or both of them pertaine to the wise vz. to know and vnderstand them It is not good i. it is euill and hurtefull as sundrie times before and namely Chapter 17.26 Chap. 18.5 to haue respect of any person vz. of what state or condition soeuer he be whether poore or rich good or badde in iudgement i. in the place of publike iudgement or in pronouncing of sentence see Chap. 18.5 also Deutero 1.17 q.d. it is a very euill thing to looke vpon any mans person the thing that is to be regarded is the matter and not the man and accordingly must the magistrate proceede either in iustifying or cōdemming Vers 24. He vz. whosoeuer he be that sayeth vz. in good earnest to the wicked vz. man thou art righteous i. thou art a good man mainteynest a good cause him shall the people curse i. either they haue a good cause so to doo or els in the frowardnes of their owne hearts shall doo it not allowing hereby cursing of others which is condemned Rom. 12.14 but shewing that such mens wicked dealings prouoketh other men to great extremitie also and the multitude vz. of men and people shall abhorre him i. loth and detest him as a leude and euill man see Prouerb 17.15 also Isaiah 5.20 23. Vers 25. But to them vz. whether they be priuate men or magistrates but specially magistrates for of them hee seemeth to speake in this place that rebuke vz. sharpely and according to the notoriousnes of the fault him i. the wicked and the vngodly person shall be pleasure i. great store abundance of pleasant and good things yea euen from the Lord and vpon them shall come vz. without all fayle and most assuredlie the blessings of goodnes i. good and gracious blessings Some vnderstand it thus as though al good mē should blesse that is not onely speak well of but pray for and wish all good things to bee bestowed vpon them Vers 26. They i. the people shall kisse the lippes of him i. both loue and reuerence him hee putteth the signe for the thing it selfe see 1 Samuel 10.1 1. King 19.18 Psalm 2.12 and Hosea 13.2 that answereth i. speaketh as Matt. 11.25 vpright wordes vz. in iudgement meaning also hereby iudging iustly Vers 27. Prepare thy worke without i. haue an eye to those things of thine that are abroad as corne cattell c. and make readie vz. with what speede conueniently thou mayest thy things in the field i. such things as thou hast abroad and after i. when thou hast performed
of color light ruddie with holes like a spunge it is of some corruptibly taken for salte peeter or like him that singeth songes to a heauie heart vz. who is so farre off from being comforted thereby that he rather hath his griefe increased This may be a sense but I approoue his text and sence rather that readeth it thus as hee that putteth vpon him a garment in the time of cold vz. doth thereby depell and put back cold or vineger vpon niter vz. doth thereby dissolue and waste it and that very easily because it is most cold for that this is the nature of niter which is a certaine workmanship of the earth made thick by a dry heat as Aristotle sheweth lib. 4. Meteoro cap. 6 7. so is he that singeth songes vz. of mirth and ioy to a heauie heart i. to one that is distressed and oppressed with heauines q d. as garments put backe the force of cold and vineger dissolue niter so dooth musick or singing put away sadnes and heauines of heart see examples hereof in Saule 1. Samuel 16.23 in Elisha 2. King 3.14 15. in Darius Daniel 6.18 Vers 21. If he that hate thee be hungrie i. be distressed any manner of way hee putteth one kinde of distresse for all giue him bread to eate i. relieue him and succor him and if he be thirstie i. distressed any manner of waie as before in the word hungrie giue him water to drinke i. relieue and comfort him what in thee lyeth by hunger and thirst hee meaneth any miserie whatsoeuer by bread and water he vnderstandeth all kind of vitaile yea euery good turne whereby a man may helpe another q.d. do good to them that hate and persecute you Matt. 5.44 see also Rom. 12.20 Exod. 23.4 5. Ver. 22. For this verse conteyneth a double reason why we should doo good to our enemies the one taken from their persons the other from Gods large liberalitie thou shalt lay coales vpon his head i. by that meanes thou shalt so mooue him that laying downe his hatred he shall become thy frend for thy benefits bestowed vpon him shall be euen as light burning coales shewing the earnestnes of thine affection towards him and the lord shall recompence thee vz. that kindnes that thou hast done vnto him q.d. though he should bee vngratefull and would not acknowledge thy loue yet the Lord will requite that vnto thee that thou hast bestowed vpon him Vers 23. As the north winde driueth away the raine vz. out of that quarter especiallie not meaning that it dooth alwaies so but sometimes it doth so doth an angrie countenance vz. either of a man or magistrate into whose presence slanderers and backbiters come putting also the signe of displeasure for displeasure it self the slandering tongue i. him that with his tongue is giuen to slander and backbite other the reason is because that when hee seeth his tales are not regarded hee will bee quicklie trudging Vers 24. It is better vz by many degrees to dwell vz. solitarie and alone in a corner of the house toppe i. in a very narrowe straite and incommodious place than with a contentious woman i. one giuen to brawling and chiding in a wide house i. in a most large and commodious house see before chap. 19.13 yea the very same sentence and words chap. 21.9 Vers 25. As are the cold waters i. as cold waters are pleasant and profitable to a wearie soule i. to a person or man wearied with labor and by that meanes also waxen dry for so much I think the word wil beare properly signifying wearie and yet because drought cleaueth to them that are wearie including them also so is good newes vz. brought from a farre countrey vz. either concerning any thing he hath there or any friend of his not meaning also but that good newes brought from a more nigh place is profitable also Vers 26. A righteous man falling downe i. humbling himselfe or otherwise cast downe thorowe aflictions before the wicked vz. or vngodly man is like a troubled well i. is disgraced and defaced as the clearenes and sweetenes of the well is by the grauell or other thinges in it when they are stirred vp and a corrupt spring i. like a spring of water which of it selfe is good yet by the accesse of other hurtful waters is marred he meaneth hereby not onely that it is against all right and reason that the wicked trouble the good but also that the good themselues are by such meanes much disturbed yea and many times vnles God wonderfully kéepe them greatly corrupted Vers 27. It is not good i. it is hurtfull see Chap. 18.5 also Chap. 24.23 to eate much honie vz least thou surfet through the sweetenes thereof and be driuen to vomit thereby see vers 16. of this Chap. so vz. for men or for any man to searche their owne glorie i. to seeke prayse glory commendation vnto themselues is not glory vz. but shame and confusion rather yea a dishonest and wicked thing see Iohn 5.44 Vers 28. A man that refraineth not his appetite vz. euen by all the meanes that possiblie he can of which see before chap. 23.2 is like a citie which is broken downe vz. by the enemies that besieged it or else by inward factions and stirres in it selfe meaning that he is in a dangerous and desperate case and without walls and therefore the enemie may more easilie enter meaning thereby that he hath not onely been once conquered but that he is subiect dayly and howrely euen at the will of the enemie to a new spoyle Do. Vers 1. Teacheth vs to haue a care to reserue monuments and coppies of good things Verse 2. Teacheth vs what is the duetie of good Princes vz. to search into all causes Verse 3. Doth not onely confute the Astronomers that will measure the height of the skie but sheweth that the imaginations of mens hearts cannot be searched out Verse 4 5. Teach kings and princes this that they are to remoue from about them wicked and vngodlie persons Verse 6. Teacheth vs to beware of pride vaineglorie and boasting Verse 7. Teacheth that humilitie is the way to come to honor Verse 8. Teacheth vs quicklie to cut off the occasions of strife and contentions Verse 9. Teacheth vs two things first in matters of controuersie to vse charitable conference one of vs with another secondlie faithfullie to conceale matters committed to our credit Verse 10. Teacheth vs to labour to preuent and put away shame and ignominie amongst men Vers 11 12 13 14. Doo by excellent similitudes teach vs first to speake wiselie and seasonablie secondlie to reproue others charitablie and discreetlie thirdlie to deale faithfullie in the matters or messages committed vnto vs and lastlie to beware of boasting when we haue no cause Verse 15. Teacheth vs to represse wrath and to vse curteous and gentle words Verse 16. Teacheth vs to beware of surfetting specially in those things that are sweet and pleasant and drawe
man may be couered vz. for a season by deceit vz. of the partie whom it possesseth as by glorious words faire countenances and such like hypocriticall dealings but the malice thereof i. the chiefe mischiefe that it deuised and the extremitie and rigour of the same shall be discouered vz. in good time and that manie times without the hurt of him to whom mischiefe is pretended in the congregation i. before the people q.d. openly and plainely Ver. 27. He that diggeth a pit vz. for to take another man in it or to hurte him shall fall therein i. thorowe Gods iust iudgement shal be taken in the same snare see Psalm 7.15 also Ecclesiastes 10.8 and he that rolleth a stone vz. vpwards and as it were towards the top of an hill it shall returne vz. with violence vnto him i. vpon him and to his owne hurte Vers 28. A false tongue i. a man that vseth his tongue to falshoode and lying howsoeuer he flatter with his words for a time yet he hateth vz. in heart and deede the afflicted i. him that is in pouertie and miserie and a flattering mouth i. the partie that vseth his mouth to flatterie causeth i. worketh and that by his flatterie ruine i. hurt and destruction and that to another man whilst beleeuing his fayre words he thinketh to bee in good estate when indéede he is nigh to danger and hurt Do. Vers 1. Teacheth vs that godlie and wise men shoulde bee aduanced to titles and places of honor Vers 2. Teacheth vs that we should not feare rash curses and such as are vttered without cause and aduise Vers 3. Teacheth vs that correction is a good meane to amend men that goe astray Vers 4. Teacheth vs to beware that we fall not into the furie or follie of the vnwise Vers 5. Teacheth vs according to the notoriousnes of an offence committed in word to reprooue it Vers 6. Teacheth vs to make speciall choyce of them whome we will imploy about our affayres Vers 7. Teacheth vs that wise and graue speaches are vnseemely in the mouthes of foolish persons Vers 8. Teacheth vs not to giue glorie to any but to them to whome indeede it doth appertaine Vers 9. Teacheth vs that wise words in a fooles mouth are very hurtfull things Vers 10. Setteth out the iustice and iudgement of God against the wicked Vers 11. Teacheth vs that the vngodlie performe with greedines all naughtines and are hardly or not at all reclaymed from the same Vers 12. Teacheth vs to beware of trusting in our owne wit and wisdome Vers 13. Teacheth vs that the slothfull fayneth many excuses because he would not bee imployed in labor Vers 14. Teacheth vs that the sluggish person loueth his bed well Vers 15. Teacheth vs what fruites idlenes bringeth foorth vz. neglect and contempt euen of a mans selfe Vers 16. Teacheth vs that commonly the slothfull man standeth high in his owne iudgement and contemneth other men in respect of himselfe Vers 17. Teacheth vs to beware of busying our selues in other mens matters Vers 18 19. Teacheth vs neither to vse deceitfull dealings with our frendes neither to cloake it with any colorable words Vers 20. Teacheth vs to beware of tale carying Vers 21. Teacheth vs to shun the fostering of contention either in ourselues or others Vers 22. Teacheth vs not to beleeue euerie tale that is tolde vs though they seeme pleasant and profitable vnto vs. Vers 23. Teacheth vs that a friend in words onely and not in deede and trueth is not to bee much regarded Vers 24. Teacheth vs that with hatred there is commonly ioyned hipocrisie the better thereby to performe wickednes pretended Vers 25. Teacheth vs not by and by to trust euerie faire and fawning word Vers 26. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer hatred lye lurking a while yet God will discouer it in the end Vers 27. Setteth out Gods iustice against the imaginers deuisers and performers of wicked things Vers 28. Teacheth vs to beware of false speaches and flattering words CHAP. 27. Co. IN the last verse of the other Chapter hee spake against such persons as abused their tongues in lying and flatterie And now because such men are puffed vp into pride and boasting perswading themselues that with their tongues they will preuaile and doo great things he beginneth this Chapter and willeth men to take heede of vaine glorious boasting saying wee will doo this and wee will doo that c. Di. I Would diuide this Chapter into three partes The first reacheth from Di. 1 vers 1. to the ende of the 10. Wherein hee speaketh against boasters and vaineglorious persons and against anger and enuie hee speaketh also of rebukes of full and hungrie persons of inconstant men and of the pleasure and profit that commeth by old and faithfull frends The second reacheth Di. 2 from vers 11. vnto the end of the 19. Wherein he setteth out the duetie of parents and prouident persons teacheth men to beware of suertiship and flatterie and speaketh against contentious women and haste to wrath and prouoketh men to diligence in their calling The third reacheth from vers Di. 3 20. to the end of the Chapter wherein he speaketh of mans eyes of magistracie or gouernement of foolish persons of prouident painefull and rich men and of the bodilie giftes of this life which we receaue from the Lord and of the sole and right vse thereof Se. Vers 1. BOast not thy selfe vz. of any thing thou wilt doo to morrow i. against to morrow as though thou wouldst doo this and that see Iames 4.13 c. for thou knowest not vz. at any hand what a day may bring foorth i. what thinges may fall out in a dayes space q.d. In a dayes space some things may fall out which may hinder thee from the performance of that thou diddest boast thou wouldest doo the day following Vers 2. Let another man prayse thee vz. for well doing and not thine owne mouth i. thou thy selfe for it is not seemely for a mā to praise himself a stranger i. one that knoweth thee not and not thine owne lippes i. thine owne words vttered with thy lippes qd let another man praise thee rather than thou thy selfe Vers 3. A stone is heauie as may appeare by that it is carried downeward and the sande weightie vz. specially by reason of moisture in it but a fooles wrath vz. conceaued or vttered against another is heauier i. more intollerable and hard to be borne than them both i. than stones or sand Vers 4. Anger vz. conceaued against another man is cruell i. neuer leaueth off or is satisfied till it haue committed crueltie and wrath is raging i. ful of rage and furie see Iob. 5.2 but who can stand vz. fast and sounde without hurt before enuie i. before an enuious person q.d. enuie is more dangerous by much than anger or wrath Vers 5. Open rebuke vz. for a faulte committed is better vz. by many degrees than secret loue i. loue kept close and not
manifested by word or deede shewing it selfe when neede is Ver. 6. The woundes i. the graue and sharpe reprehensions which seeme for the time euen as it were to wound of a louer i. of one that dooth vnfeynedly loue and beare good affection are faithfull i. such as a man may trust because they proceede from a louing and faithfull heart but the kisses of an enemie i. the fayre and flattering countenances or behauior of one that hateth a man In the woord kisses he alludeth to the manner vsed in the Eastern countries who did vse to kisse one another are pleasant i. seeme to be so but indeede are bitter and therefore to bee shunned looke in Ioabs example 2. Samuel 3.27 also 2. Samuel 20.9 And for reproofe see Psal 14.4 5. Vers 7. The person that is full i. hath meate and drinke at his wil and that in all abundance despiseth a honie combe i. al delicate and sweete meates but vnto the hungrie soule i. to him that is indeede pinched with hunger and wants euerie bitter thing is sweete i. he alloweth and liketh of most meane and base fare Vers 8. As a bird vz. is in great danger that wandereth vz. without good cause from hir nest vz. wherein hir yong ones are or she hir selfe resteth so is a man vz. in great danger that wandreth from his owne place i. that strayeth from the standing or place wherein God hath placed him q.d. he that rashly changeth his dwelling place and stayeth not in the state wherein God hath set him but enterpriseth newe things and that not being well assured of Gods wil and his owne calling is no wiser or better stayed than a bird that fluttereth hither and thether Vers 9. As oyntment vz. applyed outwardly to the bodie and perfume vz. being put into the fire by their sweete sauor and smel reioyce the heart i. euen affect and pearce the inward partes and that to their great good and delight so dooth the sweetnes of a mans frend vz. much delight and reioyce him speciallie when it is declared by hartie counsell i. by sounde and sincere aduise in euerie thing and by mutuall conference and communication speciallie of the best matters see Psal 55.14 Vers 10. Thine owne frend i. one whome thou haste had triall of to be frendlie to thee and thy fathers frend i. hee that hath continued frendship to thy father also forsake not i. cast him not off at any hand nor breake not friendship with him he willeth men to continue friendship with those whom they haue had good triall of In which respect one saith well forsake not an old friend for the new shall not be like him a newe friend is as new wine when it is olde thou shalt drinke it with pleasure neither enter into thy brothers house i. thinke to haue as little succour from thy brother and the things that he hath as may be for all the brethren of the poore hate him Chapter 19.7 in the day of thy calamitie i. when thou art distressed and in pouertie for better i. more comfortable and profitable is a neighbour i. any friend or acquaintance whatsoeuer that is neere vz. not onely in respect of place but good will the reason of this is because a friend loueth alwaies Chap. 17.17 see also 18.24 Vers 11. My sonne see Chap. 1.8 10. be wise i. striue by all the meanes thou canst to obtaine and get wisedome and reioyce mine heart i. make me glad by thy wisedome and by thy godly conuersation as a fruit of the same by which thinges indéede parents are made glad as Chap. 10.1 also Chap. 23.24 25. that I may answer vz. boldly and truely him i. any man that reprocheth me vz. either for lacke of doing my duetie towards thee or for thy euill behauiour or for any other cause q.d. let thy life and conuersation approue how faithfully I haue performed the duetie of a good parent see Psal 127.3 4 5. Vers 12. A prudent man i. one that is inlightened with holie and heauenly wisedome seeth the plague vz. approching or drawing néere vnderstanding by plague calamities and afflictions of all sorts sent from God and hideth himselfe vz. from it meaning that he laboureth by all meanes to put it from him and to escape it but the foolish i. the wicked and vngodlie goe on still vz. forward in their sinne and naughtines and are punished vz. iustly for the same q.d. God doth iustly afflict them seeing they will not be reclaimed see this very sentence Chap. 22.3 Vers 13. Take his garment c. This verse is also word for word put downe before Chap. 20.16 where you may see it also wholly expounded Vers 14. He vz. whosoeuer he be that praiseth his friend vz. with a flattering minde and fauning words I suppose the Hebrue word would better stand here it selfe and the sense also be more plaine thus He that blesseth his friend i. wisheth wel vnto him in words only not in heart and that to this end that he may be seene of men with a loud voyce i. so that he may bee heard of others and by that lewd meanes purchase fauour from the partie rising early in the morning vz. for to doo it and that before others it shall be counted to him as a curse i. it shall be so farre off this kind of dealing of his from being esteemed as a blessing or good wishing that it shall bée taken rather as a certaine kind of cursing because it sauoureth of flatterie not that he forbiddeth vs either to salute or to commend our friends iustly but alwaies to haue an eye to auoide flatterie and ostentation in the same q.d. the false flatterer which maketh a shewe as though he did at all times his duetie is rather cursed of God and men than well liked of Vers 15. A continuall dropping vz. into a mans house or vpon the goods in the same in the day of raine i. when it raineth much and a contentious woman i. a woman giuen either altogether or very much to brauling and chiding are a like vz. both dangerous and discommodious for as the raine rotteth the things it falleth vpon and consumeth in time the same so doth contentions and braulings a man and his familie see Chap. 19.13 Also Chap. 21.9 Vers 16. He that hideth her i. he that laboureth to keepe close her braulings and iarres hideth the winde i. laboureth as much in vaine as if he would goe about to couer keepe close or shut vp in a place the winde it selfe she is the oyle in his right hand that vttereth it selfe vz. by the smell and sauour thereof though perhappes it may not bee seene by reason it is kept close or hidden in some vessell q.d. her rage can be restrained by no meanes no not by shame amongst people but spread abroad it will be for a man may sooner keepe the winde in his hand or represse the sauour of ointment that other should not smell it than stoppe her in
her course or kéepe backe the flander that she pulleth vppon her selfe Vers 17. Iron sharpneth iron i. as man by one iron maketh sharpe another which wee may see to bee true by daylie experience by whetting one knife vpon another so doth a man sharpen the face of his friend i. so doth one man stirre vp and prouoke another which I referre not to wrath and anger as the Geneua note doth but to the partaking of studies counsels conferences c. One readeth this whole verse more plainlie and giueth a better sense of it thus As a man sharpeneth iron by iron so doth the face of his friend sharpen a man i. a friend by the friendship and presence of his friend is instructed doth increase and is as it were whet on to good things Vers 18. He that keepeth vz. diligently and carefully trimming and dressing it that it may yeeld fruite the figge tree i. his owne figge tree which God hath giuen him meaning hereby he that looketh to the things wherein God hath blessed him shall vz. in good time eate the fruite thereof vz. through Gods especiall blessing so he that waiteth vz. diligently and painfully vpon his master vz. whom the Lord hath placed ouer him shall come to honor i. shall be highly estéemed both of his master and other and in the end also be much aduanced And here he maketh mention of figge trées because Iudea was full of them and beareth as we knowe a most swéet fruite besides as one of their owne Rabbins doth note the fruite of it is not all at one time ripe together but as it were one after another wherevpon a man doth by the diligent keeping thereof receiue a continuall profite as it were and so shall he that faithfully and diligently obeyeth his master Vers 19. As in water face answereth to face i. as a man may in water see the face of another man that is there with him and looketh into the water as he doth so the heart of man vz. is seene and knowne to man i. to another man True it is that mans heart is secret and God onely is the searcher thereof yet it is many times declared by outward shew as the semblance proportion of the face in the water see Chap. 20.5 Vers 20. The graue vz. receiuing dead corpses and destruction i. death that bringeth them thether can neuer bee full i. are neuer satisfied but alwaies receiue though a man bring daylie newe see Chap. 30.15 16. so the eyes of a man i. either his bodilie eyes or the eyes of his mind can neuer be satisfied vz. with looking seeing or beholding specially of newe and pleasant things see Eccle. 1.8 we may vnderstand also by eyes either the lust of the eyes as 1. Iohn 2.16 or els the minde which vseth the eyes as ministers and meanes to conuay things to it Vers 21. As is the fining pot vz. serueth for siluer i. for the fining of siluer and the fornace vz. serueth for gold i. for the trying of it that it may appeare good see for this part Chap. 17.3 so is euery man vz. to be esteemed and thought of according to his dignitie vz. whereunto he is aduanced and that for good causes q.d. As siluer is fined in the pot and gold in the fornace purged from the drosse so by the laudable workes that any man hath done or by the authoritie whereunto he is iustly exalted he is to be knowne and allowed what manner of man he is Vers 22. Though thou shouldest bray a foole in a morter among wheate braied with a pestle yet will not his foolishnes depart from him q.d. Though thou wouldest vse great and vehement meanes to reforme some yet it will not preuaile not that he forbiddeth vs to labour the amendment of wicked persons but that there are some such as by no meanes can be bettered Some ioyne these two verses 21 22. together thus All things and instruments haue their vse and a way or order to bring them to their vse gold and siluer are tried and purged after their manner and all things are through mans skill made fit for their good and laudable vse but there is no way to purge prepare make fit or instruct a foole Vers 23. Be diligent to knowe the state of thy flocke by one particular he meaneth all q.d. looke carefully to thy household affayres and take heed to the heards vz. of beastes that thou hast that if they be wel thou maiest see them so continued or if they bee otherwise thou maiest in good time labour their redresse Vers 24. For riches remaine not alway vz. with a man nor the crowne i. glorie and estimation to wit continueth from generation to generation i. for euer this is a reason why he should haue a diligent eye q.d. Doest thou thinke that thy riches are glewed to thée and that thou canst neuer forgoe them thou art much deceiued so to déeme for they are brittle and flitting things yea though they bee neuer so great and glorious therefore looke to thy things well and rest not slothfully in another mans labour Vers 25. The hey discouereth it selfe vz. when it is méete and readie for cariage and the grasse appeareth i. springeth out of the earth and that in great abundance and the hearbes of the mountaines i. the grasse that the mountaines yéeld are gathered vz. together that they may be food and nourishment for the cattle q.d. all these things shew themselues and doo after a sort craue thee as it were to gather them for thine owne good and the good of thy beasts as shéepe oxen horses c. Vers 26. The lambes are for thy clothing i. serue to minister cloath vnto thée and thine and the goates i. the increase that commeth of them are vz. sufficient enough not onely to pay the price of the field i. the rent of the grounds wherein they go but also to inlarge thine owne possessions and to make thee a purchaser of lands And in this verse he setteth out Gods great goodnes in giuing man these gifts as in the next he setteth out the moderate and sober vse of them Vers 27. And let the milke of thy goates bee sufficient for thy foode he meaneth not to tye men onely to this kinde of sustenance but to teach them frugalitie and sparing for the foode of thy familie q.d. good reason there is that thy household should be content with it when thou thy selfe art and for the sustenance of thy maides i. of the maidseruants that thou hast Do. Verse 1. Teacheth vs to hang vpon God and not vpon our selues for the accomplishment of all our purposes Verse 2. Teacheth vs to take heede that wee praise not our selues but rather to indeuour that others for our good dealing may do the same Verse 3. Teacheth vs to beware that wee prouoke not fooles to wrath Verse 4. Teacheth vs to beware of anger wrath and enuie Verse 5. Teacheth vs that open rebukes are many times better
than secret loue Verse 6. Teacheth vs not to condemne our friends reprehensions nor to regard of our foes flatteries Verse 7. Teacheth vs to beware that we be not ouertaken with excesse and that hunger is the best sawce Verse 8. Teacheth vs to stand in the callings wherein God hath set vs. Verse 9. Teacheth vs what an excellent thing holie friendship and sound aduise is Verse 10. Teacheth vs not to forsake old friends for newe Verse 11. Teacheth children to striue to all goodnes Vers 12. Teacheth vs to labour to preuent Gods iudgement and to take heede of continuance and growth in sinne Verse 13. Teacheth vs to beware of rash and hastie suretiship Verse 14. Teacheth vs to beware of flattering or fanning vppon any speciallie without good cause Verse 15. Declareth what a continuall consumer a contentious woman is Verse 16. Teacheth vs that the rage of women will hardlie if at all bee kept vnder Verse 17. Teacheth vs that presence and conference of friends is a great meane to increase loue Verse 18. Teacheth vs that as the diligent reape profite by increase of their fruites so doth the painfull seruant promotion by obedience and diligence to his master Verse 19. Teacheth vs that a man many times either by his owne experience or other mens behauiours may enter deeplie into other men Verse 20. Teacheth vs that the sight and concupiscence of a man is vnsatiable Verse 21. Teacheth vs that men are to be esteemed according to the good things that God hath bestowed vpon them Vers 22. Teacheth vs that some men are so hardned in their sinne that there is no hope of their amendement Verse 23. Teacheth men to haue a prouident eye to the things wherewith God hath blessed them Verse 24. Teacheth vs the instabilitie and vncertaintie of riches Verse 25 26. Shewe that God giueth all his creatures for mans vse and great good Verse 27. Teacheth vs the moderate and sober vse thereof CHAP. 28. Co. THe holy Ghost in the beginning of this Chapter passeth from oeconomicall and houshold affaires which hee had dealt in in the latter ende of the other Chapter to more generall poynts as to the euill conscience of the wicked and the bold perswasion of the righteous and to speake of euill and good Magistrates c. Di. THis Chapter may be diuided into fowre partes In the first he speaketh Di. 1 of a good and euill conscience of godly and wicked magistrates of oppressors of godly and vngodly persons and of their seueral qualities of the godlie poore man and the wicked rich from vers 1. to the end of the 7. In the second he speaketh against vsurers contemners of Gods worde deuisers Di. 2 of wicked practises vngodly rich men also against keeping close of sinnes and against hardning of mens hearts in their iniquitie from vers 8. to the end of the 14. In the third he dealeth with wicked magistrates violent and froward people idle and slothfull men couetous and partiall persons Di. 3 and sheweth by the contrarie what good fruites come of vpright walking painefulnes faithfulnes c. from vers 15. to the end of the 21. In the fourth he intreateth of making haste to be rich of rebukes or reproofes of Di. 4 leud children of pride and hautines of heart of liberalitie towards the poore and of the exaltation and perishing of the wicked from vers 22. to the end of the Chapter Se. Vers 1. THe wicked i. euerie one of the wicked for hee vseth a nominatiue case singular with a verbe plurall as though hee would declare that one of the wicked flying the rest followe after flee i. indeuor to escape by all the meanes that they can when none pursueth vz. them except it be the testimonie of their owne conscience sée Psalm 53.5 And this seemeth to be taken from the great threatning which is pronounced in Gods lawe against the wicked Leuit. 26.36 but the righteous are bold vz. not with any trust in themselues but by the faith they haue in God and that in all their afflictions how great or how little so euer they be as a Lyon i. fearing nothing for as a Lyon feareth no other beasts so shal not they dread any tempests whatsoeuer Vers 2. For the transgression of the land i. for the sinnes that the people inhabiting the land doo commit there are many princes i. rulers and gouernors of it not at one time as some haue thought though that be a great confusion but by often changing euery one of them raigning but a small season but by a man of vnderstanding and knowledge i. by wise men and magistrates specially such as feare God he putteth one for many a realme likewise indureth long i. a kingdome on the contrarie side is preserued a great while see Hosea 13.11 The holy ghost meaneth that whereas in any common wealth or kingdome either the princes or the people or both departe from their duetie there are often changes but where either both states or any one of them yea some wise man amongst them dooth by his authoritie guide and gouerne the whole or some parte of them in vprightnes there the state is durable and florishing see 2. Samuel 20.16 c. Vers 3. A poore man i. a man of a meane estate if he oppresse vz. either by fraude or by force by bargayning or otherwise the poore vz such as he himselfe is whose cause he should tender and pittie because in them hee is put in minde of his owne estate is like a raging rayne i. is like great riuers and floods which arise by abundance of rayne or els like a great storme and tempest of rayne that leaueth vz. remayning vpon the land or behind it no foode vz. for cattel or men to liue vpon whereupon must followe of necessitie great famine Vers 4. They that forsake the lawe vz. of God and will not haue it to be the rule of their life prayse vz. very highly the wicked vz. man or men euen such as are like themselues but they that seeke the Lord vz. earnestly and with an vnfeined heart striue to performe it set themselues vz. both in word and déed against them i. against such notorious wicked persons Vers 5. Wicked men i. giuen to wickednes vnderstand not iudgement i. knowe not or regarde not to performe their dueties to God and man but they that seeke the Lord vz. earnestly and with an vnfeigned heart vnderstand all things i. knowe and indeuor to performe the dueties which they owe both to God and man see 1. Corinth 2.15 Vers 6. Better vz. by many degrees is the poore vz. man that walketh i. leadeth a life and conuersation in his vprightnes i. vprightly and it is called his vprightnes not because he hath it of himselfe but because the Lord hath giuen it him than he vz. whosoeuer hee bee that peruerteth his waies vz. from the light and trueth of the word of God which is the onely way of righteousnes though he be
more than he hath and will not seeke by any vnlawfull meanes to get money shall prolong his dayes vz. vppon the earth before men for I take it to bee but the promise of a temporall blessing Vers 17. A man that dooth violence against the blood of a person i. hee that in rage and violence doth shed mans blood or take away his life shall flie vnto the graue i. shall make haste vnto destruction because all meanes that hee looked and hoped for shal fatle him and they i. neither men nor meanes which he reposed some confidence in shall not stay him i. shall not bee able to staye him or deliuer him from death and destruction q.d. it shall so fall out that the murtherer thinketh himselfe in no place safe and flying from place to place as Caine saith of himselfe according to Gods iudgement pronounced before Genes 4.12 14. shall fall into such great danger as none shall haue either abilitie or will to deliuer him there from see Genesis 9.6 Exodus 21.14 Vers 18. He that walketh vprightly i. he that leadeth a godlie and iust conuersation see Chap. 10.9 Also verse 6. of this Chap. shall be saued vz. not onely from hurt and danger in this life according to Gods good pleasure but brought at the end to eternal saluation but he that is froward in his waies i. leadeth a peruerse and dissolute life both towards God and men shall once vz. at the last though presently he seeme to stand strongly fall vz. into Gods most horrible and fearefull iudgements see 1. Cor. 10.12 Also Hebr. 10.31 Vers 19. He that tilleth his land i. painfully trauaileth in the vpholding and maintenance of the things wherewith God hath blessed him vnder one kind comprehending all the rest shall be satisfied with bread i. shall haue abundance of all necessarie and good things see Chap. 12.11 but he that followeth the idle vz. in their idlenes and is idle as they are shall be filled with pouertie i. shall bee most poore and miserable for beggerie is the end of idlenes Chap. 23.21 Also Chap. 24.34 Vers 20. A faithfull man i. he that dealeth vprightly and soundly with men deceiuing none which may appeare because in the Hebrue text he calleth him a man of faithfulnesse shall abound in blessings vz. both from God and man q.d. All men shall wish him good and speake well of him and he shall be blessed also of the Lord and I would rather turne it but he that maketh hast to be rich vz. not respecting whether it be by right or by wrong so he haue it but dealing vnfaithfully with men shall not bee innocent i. shall not bee counted cléere nor escape punishment before God and good men for this phrase see Chapter 6.29 For making hast to be rich see Chapter 20.21 Vers 21. To haue respect of persons vz. in iudgement as to regard a great man and to despise a poore man is not good i. it is hurtfull and euill not onlie to the partie vsing it but to the man that thereby is iniured and wronged yea to the partie that hath that fauour shewed him because he is flattered as though he had a good cause when indeed he maintaineth a bad one see chap. 24.23 for that man vz. that so respecteth or regardeth mens persons will transgresse vz. Gods lawe and mans lawe by peruerting iudgement for a peece of bread i. for a very small matter or a thing of no importance for this phrase see Chap. 6.26 Vers 22. A man with a wicked eye i. that hath a wicked eye meaning thereby a miserable niggardly and couetous person as Chap. 23.6 hasteth to riches i. maketh hast to be rich which how dangerous a thing it is see before verse 20. of this Chap. and knoweth not that pouertie shall come vpon him vz. sodainly and or euer he looke for it so doth God dispose of mens purposes and practises Vers 23. He that rebuketh a man vz. vpon iust cause and in the spirit of loue and méekenes shall finde more fauour vz. of him which is so rebuked at the length q.d. though at the first the one seeme to be displeased the other to get no good than he that flattereth vz. another man with his tongue i. with his speach and words vttered with his tongue Some reade it otherwise and giue another sense but this is as good and plaine in my minde if not better Ver. 24. He that robbeth his father and mother i. spoyleth them of the goods and things they haue and saith vz. either within himselfe or to others it is no transgression vz. against God or man is the companion of a man that destroyeth vz. himselfe or others q.d. he is to be reckoned with a murtherer And the holie ghost doth not onely speake this as though hée would haue men so to esteeme of such prodigall and wastfull children who if they could tarie the Lords leisure should bee heires of their fathers goods but that hée would also haue Magistrates to punish them for it q.d. a stubborne childe that ryotously consumeth his fathers goods and scorneth at the admonition of his parents should as well be punished by death as a man murtherer see Deut. 21.18 19 c. Vers 25. He that is of a proude heart vz. either against GOD or man trusting in himselfe and not in the Lord stirreth vp strife vz. amongst others and that to his owne hurt but he that trusteth vz. stedfastly and vnfeignedly in the Lord vz. onely shall be fat i. shall bee abounding with all manner of blessings from the Lord see Chap. 11. verse 25. and the text according to the Hebrue set in the margine Ver. 26. He that trusteth in his owne heart i. in himselfe or any thing belonging vnto him is a foole i. a wicked man and therefore cannot chuse but perish but he that walketh in wisedome i. wisely q.d. he that prudently behaueth himselfe and continually hearkeneth to the counsell and precepts of wisedome following the same and not his owne minde and fond perswasion leaning vpon himselfe onely shall be deliuered vz. through Gods goodnes and that from manifest and manifold euills Vers 27. He that giueth vz. liberallie willinglie and freelie vnto the poore i. to such as are in néede and distresse shall not lacke vz. any thing that God shall see to be good and méete for him but he that hideth his eyes vz. from the poore or beholding of their miserie meaning hereby he that wanteth compassion towards them shall haue many curses vz. laied vpon him from God and become himselfe most miserable and needie He meaneth not that the people should curse him as though that were allowable in them but that God should pursue him with most grieuous plagues Vers 28. When the wicked rise vp vz. to honor and are exalted to gouernment men hide themselues vz. euen for feare q.d. there is great occasion giuen of feare and trembling but when they perish i. when the wicked and vngodly
it cannot be auoyded but that they must come to ruine both of body and soule but he that keepeth i. striueth vnfeinedly to keepe the lawe vz. of God is blessed vz. from the Lord meaning also that he shall bee blessed for the Scripture vseth to speake of things to come as if they were present or done already by reason of the certaintie of them Vers 19. A seruant i. a stubborne and rebellious seruant will not bee chastised i. corrected and amended with words vz. onely but men must now and then vse stroakes as the faultes shall deserue though he vnderstand i. though he knowe what you meane by your words yet he will not answere vz. according to that you speak and propound vnto him this is a reason why stripes must be ioyned with words q.d. bare reproofe of words mendeth not a seruant which is deafe to good exhortation or reproofe Vers 20. Seest thou a man hastie in his matters i. one that is headlongly caried without aduise to take in hand euery thing there is more hope of a foole vz. that thou shalt reclaime him than of him vz. that is so hastie in dooing his things see Chap. 26.12 Vers 21. He that delicately bringeth vp his seruant vz. both in meate drinke apparell c. from youth i. from his first beginning euen a long season after at length he wil be euen as his sonne i. hee wil at the length through that delicacie take state vpon him and bee as it were a sonne and a Lord to the rest One readeth it thus at length he shall be voide of children i. that delicate seruant shal goe about either to displace his masters children or to slay them as Ieroboam and other of the kings of Israell did Vers 22. An angrie man i. a man giuen to anger stirreth vp strife vz. both to himself and others by the meanes of his strife see Prouerb 15.18 and a furious man i. he that giueth his furie and rage the raines aboundeth in transgression i. is not onely prone to many euills but committeth sundrie sinnes Vers 23. The pride of a man vz. either in his heart or expressed by worde deede countenance gesture apparrell or such like shall bring him low i. shall be a meane to debase him see Chapter 15.33 Chap. 18.12 but the humble in spirit i. such as are of a lowly mind shall inioy glorie vz. both before God and man see Iob. 22.29 also Luke 14.11 Vers 24. He that is partner with a theefe vz. any manner of way either by counsell or consent or in the act of the euery or in receauing of stolne goods hateth his own soule i. dooth after a sorte lay violent hands vppon himselfe and his owne life for not onely they that doo euill but such as fauor them that doo it are guiltie Rom. 1.31 he heareth cursing vz. either against God or man and declareth it not vz. abroad and therefore consenteth to sinne see Leuit. 5.1 This latter parte may be taken as a reason of the former Vers 25. The feare of man i. that feare that a man hath in himselfe as while hee dooth not whollie commit himselfe to God and depend of him being perswaded of his good will towards him bringeth a snare i. great danger to him that is seased therewith for snare see vers 8. of this Chap. but he that trusteth vz. continually and assuredly in the Lord vz. onely shall bee exalted vz. into such an high place as he shall not neede to feare Vers 26. Many vz. men doo seeke vz by all meanes possible the face of the ruler i. his fauor and to obtaine his good will and that they may obtaine right at his hands they doo humbly intreate him see chap. 19.6 but euerie mans iudgement i. the iudgement of euerie mans cause commeth from the Lord vz. who vseth man as his instrument to pronounce the same q d. men may well goe to Magistrates and Iudges but yet they should first goe to GOD in whose hand the kings heart is Chap. 21.1 Vers 27. A wicked man is an abhomination to the iust i. a good man loatheth and cannot abide a wicked man not because he is a man but because he is wicked and he that is vpright in his way i. leadeth an vpright godly and holy life is abhomination to the wicked i. the wicked and vngodly cannot abide such a man see vers 10. of this Chap. Do. Vers 1. Teacheth vs readily and willingly to yeeld to good counsell for feare of destruction Vers 2. Teacheth vs what a great blessing it is to haue good magistrates and what a miserie it is to haue wicked ones Vers 3. Teacheth vs that whoredome bringeth with it beggerie and pouertie Vers 4. Teacheth vs that iustice is the proppe of kingdomes and briberie the ruine thereof Vers 5. Teacheth vs to auoide flatterie and sheweth the danger thereof to him that is flattered Vers 6. Teacheth vs that a wicked mans sinnes are cords strong inough to tye him so that hee shall not stirre Vers 7. Teacheth vs to looke into and to defende the iust cause of the poore Vers 8. Setteth out the discommodities of scorning and the commodities which insue of holy wisdome Vers 9. Teacheth vs that there is no way to reclaime a man that is frosen in the dregges of his owne sinne Verse 10. Teacheth vs that the vngodlie cannot abide the good but the godlie for all that yea the rather for that should make much of foster and defend one another Verse 11. Doth teach vs not onely not to blabbe out our owne secretes but to reserue the vttering of them to a most conuenient time and place Vers 12. Teacheth vs that wicked men and Magistrates haue many times wicked seruants and officers Verse 13. Teacheth vs that al the being that al men either good or bad haue they haue it from the Lord. Verse 14. Teacheth vs that execution of iustice is a notable meane to make a kingdome sure Verse 15. Sheweth what difference there is betweene a reasonable correction and letting children and seruants runne as they list Verse 16. Sheweth that the vngodlie may florish for a time but they shall come downe at the last Verse 17. Teacheth parents moderatly to correct their sonnes and seruants Verse 18. Declareth in what a miserable case those people are that haue not the word preached amongst them Verse 19. Teacheth men to correct froward seruants not with words onely but with stripes also Verse 20. Sheweth that it is easier to reclaime a foole than a man giuen ouer to hastines and vnaduisednes in his affaires Verse 21. Teacheth vs to beware that wee bring not vp our seruants ouer daintilie Vers 22. Teacheth vs to auoide anger and furie Verse 23. Teacheth vs to shunne pride and to imbrace humilitie Verse 24. Teacheth vs to beware of all consenting to any manner of euill whatsoeuer it be Verse 25. Teacheth vs that such as trust stedfastly in the Lord shall neuer bee confounded Verse 26. Teacheth
vs to goe to God in our iust causes before wee goe to the Magistrate and afterwards to goe to him for iustice and then no doubt wee shall speede better Verse 27. Teacheth vs that the wicked cannot abide the godly and that the godly on the other side should loath them in their wickednes CHAP. 30. Co. THis Chapter cannot well bee connexed to the former otherwise than thus that the holie Ghost proceedeth in deliuering other holie and wholesome instructions concerning faith and manners but yet by the ministerie and mean of another than Salomon as may appeare by the title and inscription of this Chapter Di. I Would diuide this Chapter into foure parts In the first he sheweth how Di. 1 blind we are in the comprehension of GOD and his matters how pure and perfect Gods word is and putteth downe a praier desiring to bee deliuered from vanitie lying pouertie abundance of wealth pride despaire from verse 1. to the end of the 9. In the second he dealeth against vniust accusers Di. 2 disobedient children hypocrites proud persons cruell and outragious men couetous men and contemners of parents and this reacheth from verse 10. to the end of the 17. In the third he intreateth of things beyond Di. 3 his reach of the trade or order of an adulteresse and of certaine things that breed great disorder and confusion in the earth also of some creatures which in their kinde doo instruct men and this reacheth from verse 18. to Di. 4 the end of the 28. In the fourth he speaketh of the lyon of a grayhound of a goate and of the maiestie of a King teaching men to beware of pride and wrath from verse 29. to the end of the Chapter Se. I Would make but one verse of the title of this Chapter the first verse it self reade them both together thus Vers 1. The words of Agur vz. which hée spake are these that followe Some would haue this Agur to bée Salomon but I see no likelihood of it and me thinketh the petition which is made verse 7. of this Chap. should plainlie proue it because Salomon was a King and had great store of riches and a promise giuen vnto him thereof see 1. Kings 3.13 I rather thinke some other good man whose name is not expressed saue here was the writer and that these were ioyned to Salomons Prouerbes both for the likenes of the argument and the breuitie or shortnes of the sentences the sonne of laketh He expresseth also his fathers name of which name we reade in no place of the scripture but in this onely the holie Ghost teacheth vs thereby not curiouslie to search into these things seeing it hath not pleased him to reueale more concerning them The prophecie i. the good and holie speach for prophecie is taken here for a speach concerning good and holie matters which the man vz. Agur himselfe spake vz. plainlie and pithilie also as followeth to Ithiel euen to Ithiel and Vcal i. to these these men who were as it is well noted either his schollers or his friends who also he did instruct in good and necessarie matters I knowe some both reade it otherwise and from the interpretation of the names giue another fense applying it to Christ the Messiah but with the good leaue of so good men I hope I may vpon some good reason dissent from them in it for though the sense may be good and the doctrine gathered vpon it yet I would not so allegorise vpon the scripture specially when we haue other plaine places euen in the olde Testament that are plaine prophecies indéede of our Sauiour Christ and therefore I take Ithiel and Vcal to be mens names for whose causes he propounded these poynts following Vers 2. Surely J am more foolish than any man It may be and I doo not much dissent from some of the Rabbins in this that Ithiel and Vcal demanded his iudgement concerning hard matters and that he beginning to speake of them setteth out his owne vnméetnes q.d. you thinke thus and thus of me but I surely may rather say vnto you why aske you these things of me that am so vnskilfull my selfe as no man more and so he extenuateth or debaseth his iudgement beginning euen in his speach to them with that and haue not the vnderstanding of a man in me i. haue not so much vnderstanding in me as a meane man for he vseth the word Adam here which in the Hebrue tongue signifieth for the most part one of the common sort of people as the word Isph doth a noble and excellent personage Vers 3. For I haue not learned wisedome a reason of his debasing of himselfe q.d. so farre of is it that I can well speake of these things that I haue not yet attained wisedom or knowledge nor attained to the knowledge of holie things vz. such as God and his word are of which he speaketh in the next verses some reade of the saincts meaning thereby Angels and such faithfull ones as are alreadie gathered to God in heauen but the other is more plaine q.d. I am not instructed with the knowledge of diuine things that I should bee able to declare such hard poynts as these are Vers 4. Who vz. amongst men hath ascended vp to heauen vz. that he should fetch from thence the knowledge of God descende vz. from thence that he might tell vs what things he hath seene and learned there see Deutero 30.12 c. It is true that Paule and others haue béen rapt vp thether but yet not of themselues but by God and withall they haue seene things that it was not lawfull for man to speake see 2. Cor. 12.2 3 4. who hath gathered the winde in his fist i. who doth hold the wind in his hand that it bloweth not and letteth it lose when he will to blowe This onely can God aboue doo and not any man see Isaiah 40.12 who hath bound the waters in a garment i. as it were in a garment q.d. is it not God onely that kéepeth the waters in the clowdes as it were in a garment and afterward when he seeth it good dissolueth them into raine that falleth vppon the earth see Psalme 104.3 Some vnderstand by the waters here the waters which are aboue the firmament and are vpholden by the wonderfull power and prouidence of almightie God of which you may reade Genesis 1.6 7. and in other places but I thinke it better to vnderstand them of the waters in the ayre and firmament which is often in scripture called heauen who hath established all the ends of the world q.d. by whose meanes is it that the earth and all the wastes thereof remaine so firme and stable as they are is it not by the onely power of the almightie what is his name q.d. canst thou name a man that can performe these things and what is his sonnes name he speaketh this according to the custome of the Iewes who vsed to make men knowne by
their kindred as Isaiah the sonne of Amos Michaiah the sonne of Imlah and such like q.d. that he may bee the more knowne and famous tell what is his kindred or stocke and what is his sonnes name if thou canst tell q d. if thou canst name any let vs heare I am not ignorant that many good writers applie â—his to God the Father and to his sonne Christ but the former is the more plaine and simple sense His meaning is that none can doo or tel these things but God onely and therefore he is most méete to deale in those hard matters and speaches concerning the same And thus hauing laied downe as it were by the way of extenuation his owne insufficiencie he entereth in his measure to discourse of the points and first he treateth of the word of God Vers 5. Euery word of God i. both the whole word of GOD generally and euery part and particle of the same is pure i. true iust holie and frée from all corruption whatsoeuer see Psalme 12.6 Psalme 18.30 Psalme 19.8 he i. God himselfe is a shield vz. of defence and protection against the rage and assaults of their enemies see Psalm 18.2 to those i. to all those both generally and particularly that trust vz. stedfastly and vnfeignedly in him vz. onely see Chap. 29.25 Vers 6. Put nothing vz. of thine owne inuention and deuise vnto his words i. vnto the word that he hath deliuered vnto thée and he speaketh nothing here of taking away because men be more prone to adde vnder the shewe of interpretation and fense than to take away see Deutero 4.2 Also Deutero 12.32 Reuelat. 22.18 c. least he reprooue thee vz. for thy sawcines and malapertnes vnderstanding also by reprouing correcting and punishing and thou be found vz. by that meanes a lier for lying is committed not onely by speaking lesse than the trueth but also by speaking more So he sheweth that there is a double sinne committed by adding to the word the one is the sinne of pride and presumption the other is the sinne of lying Vers 7. Two things vz. particularly and by name as may appeare verse 8. haue I required of thee vz. earnestly and oftentimes yea I require and craue them still for the phrase see Psal 27.4 denie them me not i. graciouslie grant me the same before I dye He meaneth that he would haue and inioye the same so long as he should liue here for after the course of this life were once finished they would stand him in no stead Vers 8. Remoue vz. of thy goodnes farre from me vz. yea so farre that it may neuer take hold of me vanitie i. all vaine delights as Psal 119.37 and lyes i. all vniust and vnfaithfull dealing vnderstanding also by one all manner of transgressing q.d. pardon all my former sinnes and giue me grace daylie more and more to preuaile against the seede of all corruption in me giue me not pouertie nor riches i. not too much of either he sheweth the reason in the next verse and wee must note that though the condition be not here expressed yet he meaneth according to Gods will and so farre foorth as he should see it good for his glorie feede me vz. of thy gracious goodnes and liberalitie see Psalme 104.27 28. with foode conuenient for me I take it to bée the same in other wordes that our Sauiour Christ teacheth vs to pray Matth. 6.11 meaning as much or as little as God shall thinke méete to maintaine this life Vers 9. Least vz. if thou giue mee abundance of riches I be full vz. of all plentie and aboundance and deny thee vz. to beare sway ouer me and forget thee for fulnes worketh many times pride securitie and forgetfulnes see Deutero 8.10.12.14 also Deutero 31.15 Ezech. 6.49 and say vz. either within my selfe or openly vnto others who is the Lord vz. that I neede to care for him sée Exod. 5.2 or least I be poore that is a reason why he would not be pinched with pouertie and steale vz. for the satisfying of my neede see Chap. 6.30 31. and take the name of my God in vaine either by false swearing as the poore people doo to get somewhat or els by my theueerie and loose life slander that glorious name and profession after which I am called marke that both riches and pouertie are from the Lord. Vers 10. Accuse not vz. falsely or without good and great cause a seruant to his Master i. any to his superior for by a seruant he vnderstandeth all in subiection to others hee meaneth by this that hee would haue men to haue peace and frendship with all yea euen with the meanest and to foster concord amongst all sortes least he curse thee i. least by his prayer vnto God he pull a curse from him vppon thee who is the defender and reuenger of the poore see Exod. 22.23 when thou hast offended vz. against him accusing him falsely and without any iust cause Vers 11. There is a generation i. a sorte and kinde of people that curseth their father i. both wisheth and speaketh all manner of euill against him and doth not blesse their mother i. doth not wish well vnto hir meaning thereby cursing of hir for the punishment of such children read Exod. 21.17 And this kinde of hebrue speach where one and the selfe same thing is repeated by the contrarie with a deniall is vsuall in Scripture see Deuteron 33.6 and other places his meaning is q.d. such children as prouoke contemne and despise their parents and vtter slanderous and cursed speaches against them are a vile kinde of people and shewe themselues to be rebellions persons Vers 12. There is a generation see before vers 11. that are pure in their owne conceit i. thinke themselues holy iust c. and yet vz. for all their owne imagination and outward shewe to others are not washed vz. by the water of the worde and spirit he meaneth that they are not made cleane for washing see Psal 51.2 7. from that filthines vz. from that filthines of sinne which they haue both in body and in spirit see 2. Cor. 7.1 In the other verse hee spake against peruerse stubborne people and here he dealeth against hipocrites a perilous kinde of people who outwardly making shewe of holines of life are notwithstanding in their minde most impure and many times euen by deedes declare the same though that they think by an outward vizard of holines to couer their filthines Vers 13. There is a generation see verse 11. of this Chap. whose eyes are hautie i. who doo declare the pride of their heart by their verie lookes and their eye liddes are lifted vp vz. on high farre aboue others he putteth the signe of pride for pride because euen in the eyes and countenance there is a manifestation of pride as chap. 6.17 or els for proude persons themselues vsing the same against whom hee here dealeth Ver. 14. There is a generation whose