in deede confoundeth First it ouermatcheth and ouerthroweth all the craft of Reasons 1 cunning men and the subtiltie of Sathan himselfe for whatsoeuer plots or practises of mischiefe hee hath seemed most to preuaile in haue alwayes turned to the ruine of his owne kingdome and albeit he suggest new temptations and raise vp new errors and deuise sinnes of new fashions yet the Scriptures are euermore readily appointed with new arguments to repell them Secondly it is the fountaine from whence is deriued all sound vnderstanding without which no man can attaine to true wisedome it sharpeneth the wit of the most sillie and ignorant Chap. 1. 4. 5. and addeth to the knowledge of the most iudicious and learned Reprofe of them that condemne Gods holy ordinances of Vse 1 folly and be ashamed of the practise and profession of them but as for the inuentions of flesh and bloud the sayings of men and the painted shewes of humane wit those they haue in high admiration Instruction to renounce and put off our owne carnall reason and to be directed onely by the commaundements and counsels of God in the Scriptures Chap. 3. 5. 6. Consolation against the craftie heads of subtile foxes which goe about to circumuent poore simple and harmelesse christians if we can pray against their practises as Dauid did their purposes and counsels shal be turned into folly as Achitophels was Built her house c. It belongeth onely to Christ both to Doct. 2 build and beautifie the Church which caused Dauid though he Christ onely is the builder beautifier of the Church Psal 51. 18. was king and seemed to haue the whole disposing of the matter in his owne hand yet to intreate the Lord to shew mercie to Zion and to build vp the wals of Ierusalem that is to prouide for the safetie increase and good estate of the godly If no man no not Salomon bee able by his industrie to build an earthly Psal 127. 1. familie much lesse can any erect a Church which is Gods spirituall habitation and to this purpose tends all that is heere ascribed to Wisedome her house her pillars her vittailes her wine her table her maides that is Christ his spirituall house protection feast and messengers for notwithstanding the ministers be men and not spirits yet their function is spirituall and not humane First hee alone hath the disposing of the word vouchsafing Reasons 1 it to some and denying it to others according to his owne God giues his word where he will will Psal 147. 19. 20. Secondly no man nor meanes can bee sufficient to make sufficient ministers vnlesse hee both furnish and send them forth Rom. 10 25. Thirdly his spirit conuerteth mens soules and begetteth them to euerlasting life and so they become stones of this building for were not the word made mightie and effectuall by him Sathan would keepe his hold against the preachers and proude hearts would neuer be brought into subiection 2. Cor. 10. 4. 5. So far as wee wish well to the Church let vs by prayers to Vse 1 God procure the welfare thereof as was practised by Daniell Psal 122. 6. Nehemiah and others notwithstanding the great accompt they were in with their Princes Reproofe of Papists and others that resist God in his work attempting to plucke downe that which hee hath set vp as to hinder the increase of Christians to stop the passage of the Gospell and as much as in them is to restraine the course of all Christianitie who as they walke in the steps of their brother Elimas so may they looke for the like successe with him Act. 13. 10. Consolation that the case of the Church were not desperate though it should come to passe that men eyther durst not or would not or could not promote religion or protect such as proues it for Christ will not faile of his faithfulnesse Isa 59. 16. as hee is no way disappointed of his help for his sufficiencie is in himselfe and the worke belongeth to himselfe and he will neuer desist from it vntill it be accomplished Seauen pillars The best way for good safetie is to become a Doct. 3 faithfull Christian Of such the Prophet speaketh Psal 125. Christians onely are in safety They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be remoued wicked men be like to chasse or dust that hath no stabilitie but is easilie driuen by the winde into puddles and Psal 4. all other filthie places without any resistance but it is as easie to ouerturne a great mountaine as to ouerthrow the hope and good estate of the godly First his tender care is continually watchfull for their safetie Reasons as the eye and wings of the henne are alwayes ready to succour her young ones Psal 91. 4. and nearer are they to him than the chickens to their damme as beeing members of his owne body and the very apple of his eye Zach. 2. 8. Secondly his power is alwaies exercised for their preseruation which was figured by the two brasen pillars in the Temple the one called Iachin that is the Lord will establish and 1. Kings 21. the other Boaz that is in him is strength both these conioyned doe make the safetie of his seruants compleate if he had power and not applyed it for our help our case were nothing the better if he should set himselfe to vphold vs and faile of power we could not stand and therefore they were assured by these signes both of the one and the other Thirdly it concerneth him in equitie to stand for his owne people that haue cast themselues vpon him and labour in his seruice especially he giuing warrantize for their safety Psal 91. 4. Obiect But they are wronged and spoyled and sometimes also killed Answer Gods prouidence doth not free vs from troubles but preserue vs in them for then it is most seasonable Wisedome did foresee that there would bee assaults else why did shee make her castle so strong But this is the happy estate of Christians that though they bee persecuted yet they bee not forsaken and though they bee slaine yet not ouercome beecause the loue of God remayneth with them and a blessed reward is prepared for them Reproofe of fearefull persons which haue no courage for Vse 1 the truth that dare not shew themselues in any good cause which may procure displeasure nor exercise those seruices which are necessary for their saluation Secondly terrour for persecutors and such as oppose themselues against godly Christians they set themselues to beate downe Gods house vpon his head to hew out the stones and dig downe the walles to plucke downe the timber from off the roofe and they imagine that there is neither difficultie nor danger in this attempt but that they may easily and with impunitie effect their purpose But howsoeuer they esteeme it a cottage that standeth on rotten props they shall finde it a castle that standeth on mightie pillars and if
6. They are sensible carkeses breathing carrions For though they haue a reasonable soule which maketh them to bee men yet they want the spirit of grace which maketh them to be Christians Fourthly in regard of their future misery for which Saint Iames wisheth them to weepe and howle and make all kinde of lamentation For howsoeuer all reprobates shall be damned yet they shall sink to the bottome of terrors and torments in hell that haue risen vp to the top of pleasures cursed prosperitie on earth Instruction First to foresee that which will follow when Vse 1 baytes are layde for vs by Sathan or wicked men and accompt the threatnings of God as certaine as executions and feare the plagues to follow heereafter as if wee were foorthwith to feele them Secondly that no example preuaile so far as to draw vs into a wicked way Consider not what they bee in outward appearance that dwel in follies house but what their state is presently by Gods testimonie and how they shal finde it heereafter by their owne experience Thirdly that wee illude not our owne hearts by hoping to shift for one for neuer any one could auoid the punishment by shifting Sinne maketh sure work withall her guests to giue them their deadly wound at the entrance so that death waites on folly to take them presently at her hands hell followeth death to receiue them afterwards at his hands A Plaine Exposition vpon the tenth Chapter of the Prouerbes of Salomon CHAPTER X. The Parables of Salomon A wise sonne maketh a Verse 1 glad Father but a foolish sonne is a he auinesse to his mother PARABLES That is wise and graue sentences written by Salomon but inspired by the spirit of God for the imformation of the minde and the institution of the life according to the rules of Wisedome Iustice and Pietie The other nine Chapters being presixed as a preface to these contained a continued discourse wherein the commendation of Wisedome and the exhortations to manie good duties were prosecuted with varietie of arguments wheras in these that follow for the most part are set downe briefe sayings euery verse almost comprehending a whole point in it selfe not growing vpon dependance of that which went before nor ministring th' occasion of that which commeth after Yet sometimes it falleth out otherwise and diuers verses together haue dependance one with another as will appeare in some place of this present Chapter A wise sonne that is a vertuous towardly sonne or daughter maketh a ioyfull father or mother and a foolish sonne that is a sinfull and vngratious childe is an heauinesse and griefe to his mother or father yet it is not without cause that the mother is rather put in the latter clause than the father for that sex is the weaker more impatient of such a crosse and vsually contemptuous children be bolder to contemne the mother then the father as Chap. 15. 20. A foolish man despiseth his mother as Rebeccah was more troubled with Esau then Isaac was and very often the mothers by too much indulgence and fondnesse are meanes of their childrens vices and so it is said A childe set at libertie maketh his mother ashamed Chap. 29. 15. The comfort or sorrow of parents standeth much in the behauiour Doct. of their children This is euident by the example of A good sonne makes a glad father Iacobs sonnes whereof Ioseph a gracious child was neuer but a refreshing to him but Simeon and Reuben and Leny and most of the rest by their sinfull actions did fill him with griefe and afflictions and so had Dauid experience both waies being peirced with sorrow on the one side by the villanous practises miserable ends of Absolon and Ammon and abounding with ioy on the other side for the singular wisedome of Salomon First these affections doe proceede from the loue that godly Reason parents doe beare vnto God that thinking all too little that is done in his seruices they haue now helpers euen out of their owne loynes that will ioyne with them in the same and when they haue finished their course and ended their owne daies worke yet the worke shall still bee continued by their posteritie We see in humane affaires that euery good subiect will be glad to breede vp a sonne that will bee sit and able to serue his soueraigne and how can it then but cheere vp the heart and refresh the spirits of Christian fathers or mothers to haue their children the Lords Souldiers valiantly sighting his battailes against sinne and Sathan and that in their owne sight and presence euery good master as was Abraham will think it a benefite to haue his seruants to be the seruants of the Lord and euery Christian will gladly heare of Godly men in another familie in another towne in another countrie in another kingdome and therefore much more will religious parents be rauished with ioy to see with their owne eyes the feare of God in their owne houses in their owne children by the blessing of God vpon their owne gouernement and prayers but they cannot but conceiue as great griefe by the sinfulnesse of impious children which wholy cast off the yoke of all holy obedience that dispite him whom they honour and blaspheme that name which they sanctifie and reiect that word which their soules doe liue by The Prophets eyes gushed out with riuers of waters because strangers and aliants and euen his very enemies obserued not the commandements of God and therefore much Psal 119. 136. more would he haue mourned when his owne sonnes rebelled against them Secondly loue to the people of God will worke gladnesse when faithfull men discerne their children to bee inclining to goodnesse For they are growing to be fruitfull plants in the Lords orchard and so many shall haue profit by them many waies whereas the wicked are as thornes and bryars and noysome brambles Thirdly the happy condition of gracious and godly children themselues doth procure to the parents much consolation for besides their spirituall promotion and dignitie being made the sonnes of God and kingly heires of euerlasting glory the fauour and blessing of God doth vsually appeare towards them for the things of this life when rebellious and wicked children haue the curse of God vpon them doing mischiefe and hurt and receiuing the reward of it by shame and infamy by debts and arearages by slight and lurking by bonds and imprisonment and oftentimes by an ignominious death and destruction Fourthly wise children yeeld matter of comfort to their parents in being officious vnto them and vsing all good behauiour towards them for they are most forward to obay their commandements they are most cheerefull to releeue their necessities they are most faithfull and prouident to preserue their life and health and welfare In which respect the Scripture compareth them to arrowes or any other weapons whereby men may be defended Psal 127. 4. And as they are prest and ready to performe euery
maketh him able and readie to exercise euery good dutie in his calling First the store and plentie of riches and possessions doth Reasons 1 nothing help the state of vnrighteous men in the time of their prosperitie for that which they haue is none of their owne they haue neither right nor vse of any thing that is about them Isay 61. 5. They plow other mens grounds and plant Isa 61. 5. other mens orchards and keepe other mens cattell and beecome other mens diudges And for this cause the Prophet Habbakuk doth cry out shame vpon their follie when they thinke themselues to bee very wise and prudent Ho hee that Hab. 2. 6. increaseth that which is not his and hee that hideth himselfe with thicke clay They make themselues packhorses or at least seruile porters which bow their backes to other mens burdens and shall bee recompensed onely with feeling the weight of the same Or let the best be made of it and be it their owne yet their owne is nothing but a loade of heauy morter And this were well if this were all but the worst remayneth to bee spoken of namely their burdens of wicked treasures bee as it were bags or purses obtayned by stealth or robberie which will therefore bring their liues into perill Secondly the abundance of outward things cannot succour them in the time of their calamitie for so the Prophet threatneth Neither their siluer nor their gold shall bee able to deliuer them in the day of the Lords wrath Zeph. 1. 18. If their danger grew from the heat of mens wrath there might bee hope that wealth would help them for either a summe of mony would quench the flame of the aduersaries displeasure or kindle courage in some others to defend them But now that God is prouoked against them it is in vaine to offer gold or siluer to pacifie him or to ransome themselues for hee standeth in no Psal 49. 7. neede of them hee admireth them not as men doe and they be his already and at his owne will to be disposed of Then to oppose them against him in way of resistance it were absurd for there is no power in them to doe vs good without him and much lesse therefore to maintaine any man against him Nay they be so far from ayding sinfull men against the Psal 62. 10 11. hand of God as that they bee many times weapons in their hand to plague them with stroaks of iudgement It hath neuer beene heard that the purse hath preserued the man from the sword of the robber or the chest from the assault of the theefe but the contrary falleth out often that men bee made a spoile for their money and brought to ruine as a tree that hath great bowes and a little roote is ouerturned in a mightie tempest But there especially doth wealth bring woe to wicked men when God awaketh their consciences â—o behold their owne crueltie and falsehood and the heauie punishment now readie to be inflicted vpon them for the same This was Iudas his case and such the Prophet speakes of Ezek. 7. 19 They shall cast their siluer into the streetes and their gold shal be cast a far off That which was dearest to their hearts beefore and brought them to sinne they remoue furthest from them now when they feele the sorrow of it And beesides this although riches had some greater vertue and power in themselues yet they could stand vngodly men in no stead because they cease when misery beginneth when death commeth to men and they câ—me before the iudgement seate of Christ the wicked haue horrible sorrowes and terrors vpon them and all their wealth Reue. 6. 15. and substance is fled from them Instruction that we neuer corrupt our hearts or peruert our Vse 1 waies to encrease our estate and augment our wealth This maketh a wound but ministreth no plaister to heale it It will assuredly bring trouble and affliction but neuer any strength and abilitie eyther to preuent or to beare it And therefore it shall be our wisedome to foresee the euents that will ensue vpon any vnlawful course of gayning We would not willingly enter into an house visited with the pestilence though great cheare were prouided for vs. We would not put on infectious apparell though they were made of silke or satten or stuffes that were dearest And shall we be more prouident for the body then for the soule Nay for body singly more then for body and soule together Nay for meate body more then for body and soule and state and name and seede and posteritie For iniquitie will bring a curse vpon all these and goods preserue not one of them Terrour to the wicked that thriue by iniustice as vsury oppression or any indirect meanes of getting Euery good man may say of them as Iob did say in the like case Let the counsell Iob. 21. 16. of the wicked be far from mee their candell will be put out and distruction will come vpon them vnlesse they breake off their iniustice All their commoditie is to them as the baâ—t vnto the fish with the hooke as the corne that is scattered for the birds vnder the net and as the sweete sops that are set for the rats with poyson But righteousnesse c. The goodnesse of a Christian will Doct. 2 worke him that happinesse which no outward goods could euer A Christian mans happinesse consisteth in his grace not in his goods Hab. 2. 4. procure This was the message that Habba was to deliuer to the people of God to confirme them against the dangerous inuasion of the Babylonians that the righteous should liue by his faith It is opposed to the proud conceits of the wicked on both sides The high minded Chaldeans intended to destroy all and the stubbern hearted Iewes presumed to escape all destruction Now the Lord shewed that neither side of them should haue their wils For the faithfull should be deliuered from death or the euill of it nowithstanding all the power and weapons of the Babilonians And onely the faithfull had assurance of happy deliuerance notwithstanding all the armour and riches of the Israelites First the efficacie of the spirit and the merit of Christ doth Reason 1 free them from the first death and giue them a part in the first resurrection Ephes 2. 1. Secondly the prouidence and power of God doth sheeld them from the hurtfull sword which would bring them to an vntimely end And they can at all times open heauen gates by the key of prayer and haue accesse to God in all distresses Haman was stored with riches and aduanced to dignitie and backed with great friends and yet on a sodaine with the turning of an hand his life and power and whole estate was ouerturned And Mardocay was a poore man a captiue maligned and condemned and came so neere to the chawes of death that after a sort it breathed vpon him yet being a righteous man and crying to
aboue it is no gift of God it is sensuall carnall and diuellish Secondly not to hearken to the reports of such wicked persons that seeke to defame others and detract from their good name they are but foolish and base pedlers that vtter such infectious wares and therefore they cannot be wise chapmen that trafficke with them and receiue them at their hands It is the propertie of the wicked to giue heede to false lips and lyars hearken to naughtie tongues Prou. 17. 4. Consolation for them that are molested and vexed vniustly for the Gospels sake by clamorous and false accusers let them consider what account God maketh of their malicious aduersaries he calleth them fooles and derideth their practises and therefore in the end it shall be seene that when they haue spat all their venome they haue but shotte a fooles bolt and procured shame and sorrow to themselues The sinne ceaseth not by the multitude of words but hee that refraineth his lips is wise Verse 19 He seemeth still to proceede in the prosecution of the matter spoken of in the seauententh verse that men take an euill way for themselues which refuse to be reprooued The words immediately going before these declare how some reiect it by inward hatred and bitternes of heart and yet outwardly make semblance of great loue and friendship others breake out into open profession of their discontentiment and malice by reproching those that would help them out of their sinnes and heere commeth a third sort which would shift off all rebukes by denying defending cloaking or colouring their faults by excusing and extenuating matters that are charged vpon them But all is in vaine the sinne will not bee blowen away with breath and therefore hee sheweth that it is a poynt of wisedome to giue place by silence and to take the blame vpon them The sinne ceaseth not c. The multiplying of words doth make a bad cause rather worse then better So Ieremie telleth the impenitent people that were very forward to cleare themselues Doct. of their sinnes whereof they are accused Thou sayest A fault excused is oft times inrcesed Ier. 2. 35. because I am guiltlesse surely his wrath shall turne from mee behold I will enter with thee into iudgement because thou sayest I haue not sinned Their excuses were accusations their denials were conuictions their seeking impunitie without repentance did hasten and augment their punishment First when they defend or make things small trifles which are vnlawfull to be done they contradict the word of God and his truth which no wit nor art nor eloquence shal be able to preuaile against Secondly when they hide their facts by deniall or labour to supply their omissions by assuming that to themselues which they neuer performed the eye of the Lord doth beehold their falsehood his eares doe heare how vntruly they iustifie themselues he knoweth all their guiltinesse and he will make the world to know their guilfull haulting Though Saul failed of obedience to the will of God yet hee arrogated the praise of fulfilling it though Samuel by demonstration declared his sinne yet he sought to make an Apologie for himselfe and to lay all the offence vpon the people but that course tooke none effect it did him no good for body or soule it nothing preserued his honor or state he was conuicted and censured sentenced and vtterly cast off notwithstanding all his excuses Thirdly their owne consciences apprehend euery action and word and intent of the heart and the mouer of their whole life and they will not bee illuded by the fraud of the lips but take occasion thereby to passe a more heauie sentence vpon them Fourthly it is a sinne of it selfe to bee giuen to ouer much talke as hauing selfe liking and rashnesse for the rootes thereof and therefore it cannot possibly be a medecine to cure other sinnes Instruction to leaue off speaking to men for the mitigation Vse 1 of our transgressions and to speake to our owne hearts for iudging and aggrauation of them to the Lord by acknowledgement that we may be pardoned Prou. 28. 13. Consolation to them that humbly yeeld to a rebuke without replies that their state is good though their actions were bad they are wise now in restrayning their lippes from speaking of sinne though they were foolish before to commit it The tongue of the iust man is as fined siluer but the heart Verse 20 of the wicked is little worth Hee setteth foorth the excellencie of the speech of Godly men by comparison resembling it to siluer that is purged and fined from the drosse that was in it Because a good man will be carefull of his tongue not onely that there bee no mixture of filthines and lewdenesse in his words but also to auoyde all superstuous and idle babling and so to open his mouth with holy wisedome Which is contrary in the wicked because there is a contrary fountaine in him of sinfulnesse and corruption and no matter of vertue and grace which are the springs of all wholesome speeches Thus therefore standeth the Antithesis the tongue of the iust man is as fined siluer because his hurt is precious but the tongue of the wicked is as drosse because his heart is nothing worth The tongue of the iust man c. The best wealth of a Christian Doct. 1 is laid vp in his heart and disbursed with his lips And Good mens wealth is in their hart and is vttered with the lippes Math. 12. 25. that is the meaning of our Sauiour when he saith that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth foorth good things An euill man may haue coyne and plate and iuels in his treasury and yet haue no treasure and may draw money out of his purse yet haue no good yet haue no good therewithall but to haue grace in the soule and to vtter gracious words with the tongue is proper to a good man and the exercise good and the fruite of it good to himselfe and others And albeit here seeme to be a comparison of equall as though the tongue were iust of the same value and worth that fined siluer is yet it is to be vnderstoode that at least it is so pure and precious but in deede far beyond it in excellencie First this is one of the good and perfect giftes which is from Reasons 1 aboue and commeth downe from the father of lights whereas Iames. 1. 17. siluer is a tertestiall matter euen earth it selfe digged out of the earth and neuer did but grow in the ground Secondly this is currant in heauen and acceptable to God himselfe with whom gold and siluer are of small estimation Thirdly such things are obtained by it which no money can purchase as wisedome and grace and the assurance of Gods eternall fauour and all good things that concerne both Prou. 2. 3. 5. soule and body Ezekias and Iehosophat with other good kings could not haue preserued