who hateth those who clap hands is secure The rash person who standeth bound to pay anothers debt smarteth throughly for his follie but he is not onely without trouble but without feare who misliketh such as vse to enter vndaduisedly into suretiship 16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor and strong men obtaine riches See examples in Hester and Abigail A woman indued with vertue especially if also she haue a comely personage is in her standing place greatly reuerenced and esteemed On the other side the mightie men who are strong in bodie get store of wealth by their diligent labour 17 The liberall person doth good to himselfe but he vvho is cruell troubleth his owne flesh Herein the holy Ghost intreateth of almes or liberalitie Psal 112. after 24 25. First whereas it is sayd that a liberall man doth good vnto himselfe the meaning is that he who releeueth other shall him selfe in his weldoing find a blessing from the Lord who will increase his store or otherwise do him good So much this phrase signifieth both here and Eccles 12.4 Secondly whereas it is added that he who is cruell troubleth his owne flesh the sense is that the niggard the cruell oppressor of the poore by this meanes hurt them selues drawing the vengeance of God on their owne pates 18 The wicked man getteth him selfe a deceiptfull reward but he who soweth righteousnesse hath a sure recompence Euery wicked man who soweth vnto the flesh Gal. 6.7.8 Ioh. 5. shal of the flesh reape corruption but the godly person who soweth vnto the spirit shall of the spirit reape life euerlasting 19 The righteous man soweth to life but he who followeth wickednesse vnto his owne destruction He who walking with a sincere heart is not wearie of well doing shall inherit Gods kingdome as contrariwise the wicked shall find the wages of sinne to be death 20 The froward in heart are abhominatiō to the Lord but the vpright in way are acceptable to him God hateth such as suffer sinne to raigne in them Rom. 8.1 but he fauoureth those who walke not after the flesh but after the spirit 21 Though hand ioyne in hand the wicked man shall not escape scotfree but the seed of the righteous deliuereth it selfe Albeit the euildoer hath often many friends which seeke to bring him out of trouble when he is therein The Israelites may be an example yet in spite of the pie as we say he is oftentimes condemned or punished neither can the whole country saue him as we speake On the contrary side the innocent not indeed without the wonderfull power of God but without the helpe of any mortall man escape out of danger and affliction euen maugre the heads of most mightie aduersaries 22 As a iewell of gold in a swines snout so is a faire woman * or Voyd of reason which lacketh discretion In this comparison beautie is compared to a ring or ouch of gold in regard of the excellencie good vse thereof The woman voyd of discretion is resembled to a sow which is a most brutish filthie and abhominable creature yet not so bad as the wanton or wicked woman who walloweth in the mire of vnchastitie riot scolding pride or such other vices Is there any thing more vncomely or more lothsome to behold then that such beasts should shamefully abuse the good graces and gifts of God as beautie eloquence knowledge of the word But that which is set downe in this true prouerbe hath befallen thē they returne as dogges to their vomit 2. Pet. 2.22 Rom. 2.9 or as swine to their wallowing in the mire 23 The desire of the iust findeth good the hope of the wicked indignation The godly haue at the last that prosperitie which they wished but the vngodly contrarie to their expectation meet with troubles and Gods vengeance 24 Some there are who scattering are the more increased and some who sparing otherwise then is meete come to pouertie 25 The liberall mind shall waxe fat and he which giueth bountifully shall powre foorth Examples hereof we haue in the widow of Sarepta Abraham Iob. In the former of these two verses is shewed that the stocke of the franke giuer is increased by giuing as on the contrary side the substance of the niggard waxeth lesse and lesse by sparing For in deede God blesseth the liberall enriching them both with outward benefits the gifts of his spirit but he curseth and crosseth the couetous In the fiue and twentith verse is declared that the liberall person shal not only waxe richer but be exceedingly wealthie so that he shall become fat in goods and possessions yea that the more he giueth the more he shal be able to giue being herein like vnto the wels which the more they are drawne the more they abound with water For he giueth and lendeth all day long Psal 37.26 and his seede is full of blessings 26 The people will curse him who keepeth in his wheate but a blessing shall be on his head who selleth it See an example Nehem. 5.2.3 It is an execrable thing to withhold the selling of prouision to this end that men may make a priuate commoditie thereof not caring though they vndoe the cōmon wealth On the contrarie side it is a blessed thing to set corne or other prouision to sale in the time of dearth and to sell it at a reasonable rate For by this meanes the poore people are fed preserued aliue who therefore wish all good to him who hath brought foorth necessaries in time of extreme want and famine 27 He who earnestly followeth after that which is good getteth good will but him who seeketh after euill it shall befall Such a one as euen setteth him selfe to do good to the people among whom he liueth in their goods bodies or soules shall winne and haue their hearts and find Gods fauour Againe he who bendeth him selfe to annoy his neighbours or anie shall meet with their hatred or some euill 28 He which trusteth in his riches shal fall but the iust shall flourish as a branch The man who putteth confidence in his wealth Psal 52.9 Psal 92.13 shall fall from prosperitie and wither as the naughty frute or leafe which falleth from the tree On the other side he who walking vprightly trusteth in the Lord shall be in a flourishing estate 29 He which troubleth his owne house shal inherit the wind and the foole shall be seruant to the wise in heart The prodigall foole and improuident housholder who doth not rightly gouerne his familie or dispose his houshold affaires but spendeth his goods prodigally See an example in the prodigall sonne or suffreth them to wast and consume for want of good husbandrie shall at last want money foode and all necessaries yea be constrained to sell him self to be a drudge to some rich man or other who hath bene a wiser housholder then he For commonly vnthrifts are brought to
With the fruite of a mās mouth shall his belly be satisfied with the reuenue of his lips shall he be filled 21 Death and life are in the power of the toung as euery one deliteth to vse it he shall eate the fruite thereof The toung herein is compared vnto a fruitefull tree to declare that euen as a man eateth of such fruites as he hath so shall he haue such an estate as he hath a toung With the fruite of a mans mouth shall his belly be satisfied c. According as euery one vseth his toung so good things or euils do befall him and that in great aboundance Death and life are in the power of the toung c. A man by abusing his toung in teaching accusing witnessing and speaking may vndoe and destroy him selfe and other On the contrary side againe a man by vsing his toung aright in exhorting testifying giuing aduise and talking with euery one may saue his owne soule and his neighbours 22 He who findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth fauour of the Lord. Now the spirite of God intreateth of matrimonie He who findeth a wife findeth a good thing Whosoeuer meeteth with a vertuous wife meeteth with an excellent blessing In deede some wiues by reason of their corruption are crosses to their husbandes but here the spirite of God alluding to the institution of God that it is not good for man to be alone Gen. 2. commēdeth such a wife as is an helper to her husband in all good things And obtaineth fauour of the Lord euen as that poore man vpon whom a Prince bestoweth his daughter findeth grace in his eyes so that person is accepted fauoured by the king of heauen to whō he graunteth in mariage a godly wife who is one of his owne daughters 23 The poore man speaketh with * Or speaketh supplications prayers but the rich man answereth roughly The course of mens behauiour both in the state of aduersitie and of prosperitie is touched in this verse The poore man speaketh with prayers beggers bondmen prisoners and such like afflicted persons See an example in the Israelites speech to Pharao Exod. 5. carie them selues very submissely toward the wealthie and the mighty But the rich mā answereth roughly On the cōtrary side they who haue aboundance of goods or are in authoritie vse to reuile to rate the poore as dogs Commonly thus it is but yet not alwayes For some of the lowest sort speake most disdainefully and againe some great personages behaue them selues most curteously This sentence then is thus to be vnderstood that vsually poore people are lowly in their behauiour and the rich scornefull and haughtie Neuerthelesse it may also generally be taken thus that they who are poore in spirite alwayes shew humilitie in their speeches and actions whereas the rich according to the world manifest their insolencie by word and deede continually 24 A man that hath many friendes is * Or to mainteine frēdship to shew him selfe friendly but some one louer there is who * Or cleaueth to wit in hartie good will aboue a brother is nearer then a brother Amitie is intreated of in this sentence A man who hath many friendes is to shew him selfe friendly he who hath great acquaintance is to hold in with euery one of his well wishers to which end he is not onely to take heede least by strangenesse of offring of discourtesie he loose the liking of any but to endeuour by all signes and pledges of good will to knit the hearts of all faster and faster vnto him But some one louer there is who is nearer then a brother Now moreouer among many friendes there is some one especiall and extraordinarie louing mate whose heart aboue all other yea aboue a natural brother is glued vnto his neighbour in such sort as that he is ready to do any thing for his good yea euen to dye for him which no common friend or kinsman lightly will doe Wherefore aboue the rest See an example in Dauid and Ionathan such a one is to be loued and made much of for indeed the onely load stone of loue is shewing of loue againe not onely in wordes but in deedes THE XIX CHAPTER 1 Better is the poore man who walketh in his vprightnesse then he who is of froward lips for he is a foole THe prayse of vprightnesse is set downe in this verse Better is the poore man c. The godly poore soule who feareth the Lord and dealeth iustly with men albeit he wanteth necessaries or is litle set by in the world yet is in a more happie estate seeing he is acceptable to the Lord then a wealthie wicked man who getteth his goods by lying or abuseth his toung to euill speaking 2 He whose minde discerneth not that which is not good offendeth as he doth who is hastie in his feete As he who wanteth the eyes of the body or with his feete is too swift runneth too hastely wandreth out of the right way or stumbleth at some stone so he who wanteth discretion the eye of the minde or followeth his affections in such post hast as that he will not or cā not marke or see what is vnlawfull or vncōuenient for him sinneth and transgresseth 3 The foolishnesse of a man ouerthroweth his way his heart fretteth against the Lord. Repining against God is here condemned The foolishnesse of a man ouerthroweth his way Iam. ◠13. concupiscence and sinne draweth vpon a sinner sundry troubles yea sometimes death it selfe And his heart fretteth against the Lord. Now when the offendour seeth him selfe to be plagued he accuseth God as the author of his euill and aduersitie or murmureth against him for dealing so sharpely with him 4 Riches gather many friends but the poore man is seperated from his neighbour New friendes dayly ioyne them selues to the wealthie but euery one forsaketh and disclaymeth him who is afflicted or needie 5 A false witnesse shall not be vnpunished Exod. 23.1 and a forger of lyes shall not escape All those who testifie or deuise lyes shal surely and seuerely be reuenged 6 Many sue vnto the face of the francke person and euery one is a friend to him who giueth giftes 7 All the brethren of the poore man hate him Deut. 19.18 See an example in Iobs friendes Iob. 6.14.15 c. how much more are his friendes farre off from him though he be instant in wordes yet they are not disposed to heare A great number faune vpon those who are rich liberall to the end that they may receiue some profit by them but as concerning him who is in aduersitie euen his nearest kinsmen despise him and what maruaile is it then if they who are of no kinne vnto him at all be so chaunged and estranged from him as that when he requesteth their helpe they do not relieue him nor will heare on that eare 8 He which possesseth his * soule Or heart
a little paltrie gaine for a dinner yea for a morsell of bread Not onely Magistrates are to take heed that they be farre from this sinne but other also If Ministers are giuen to this vice they will teach false doctrine or smoother the truth that they may still enioy the rich mens trenches If people be caried away with it you shall see them extoll a Papist for a litle relief at his doore 22 A man of an euill eye maketh hast to get riches but he knoweth not that pouertie shall befall him Of the crew before spoken of are moreouer miseserable niggards who are noted to be men of an euill eye because with the eye they desire other mens goods enuie their neighbours prosperitie grudge those who come vnto their tables the very meate which they eate Such Labans spare care and toyle exceedingly imagining through their industrie and pinching both to attaine to abundance and alwayes to liue in plentie Yet at last by some casualtie or by death pouertie which they flie by all meanes commeth vnto them Luke 12. Luke 16. as may appeare in the rich glutton described in the Gospell See this parable expounded in the Psal 39.49 Also oft before in this booke 23 He which reproueth a man in the * Or after me 〈◊〉 Tremellius taketh it end shall rather finde fauour then he * Softeneth his tongue vvhich flattereth with his tongue The vaine and needie people of this world seeking by all meanes to enrich them selues vse flattering speeches to this intent knowing that faire words make fooles faine But yet as here is shewed they which reproue shall finde more fauour then they which flatter Indeede many finde fault with other and controll them but because they do this with an harsh spirite and in an vndiscreet manner their speeches make them rather odious theÌ„ gracious vnto the parties rebuked But he which reproueth his neighbours iustly wisely charitablie that to a good end and as Paule speaketh to Titus that they may be sound in the faith he shall reape a pretious frute after his labour True it is the wicked and sottish people of the world will hate them most which rebuke them most for sinne For with such flatterie getteth friends and truth hatred Neuerthelesse they which haue any sparke of grace or are wise will beare good will to a reprouer and hate a flatterer The consideration of the reprouers affection his reasons will winne the partie reproued to amendment and raise vp in him a great liking of that man or that woman who told him of his fault as may appeare in the example of Dauid Psal 141. Let vs then rather by wholesome rebukes labour to profit our frieÌ„ds then seeke to please them by soothing speeches O saith flesh and bloud I shall loose my friend and gaine if so I do But fie vpon such lothnesse to displease as betrayeth a friend eueÌ„ vnto Sathan him selfe Let rather the commaundement of our Sauiour moue vs to reproue our brother betweene him and vs. Ezech. 13. Let wo threatned by Ezechiell hold vs backe from sowing pillowes vnder euery elbo◠〈◊〉 He vvhich spoiling his father or his mother saith it is no sinne is companion to a man vvho is * Destroyer or spoiler as Exod. 32.23 before 13. â—0 a murderer Robbing of parents or spoyling of them by any meanes is a great and grieuous sinne To steale from a stranger is no small fault which sinne those who commit are iustly punished with death It must needs then be a detestable kinde of robberie and iniurie when not strangers but parents shal be not lighty endamaged but spoiled by their children and that without scruple of conscience and securelie A notable example hereof we haue in Micha of whom meÌ„tion is made in the bookes of Iudges Iud. 17. who although he had stolne from his mother eleueÌ„ hundred shikles of siluer yet made he no conscience to disclose his theft or to restore it vntill such time as he heard his mother wish a bitter curse vnto the theef then he acknowledged his fact not of any remorse of heart but onely to auoyde the curse which his mother had pronounced Thus doth the heart of vngodly childreÌ„ seduce them oftentimes who say these goods belong vnto me they are mine own I haue my part in them why should I not take them vse them spend them But howsoeuer such a wretch may delude him selfe he is in the fault and punishment to be ioyned not a common theefe and robber but with a destroyer and murderer That the word here vsed signifieth thus much may appeare 64. Esay Exod. 12.23 The Lord in Deut. 21. expresly commaundeth that such children be stoned to death Of this generation are all childreÌ„ who pilfer from their parents spend their goods riotously incurre debt and make their parentes pay it put their mothers by from their right after their fathers decease or as Lords ouer their parents goods do what they list with them 25 He vvhich * Broad is high minded stirreth vp strife but he which trusteth in the Lord shal be made fat The high minded are here beaten downe for that such are meant by those who are of a large soule may appeare by that expectatioÌ„ of Paul to Timothy â— Tim 7.17 which may serue as a perfect exposition of this sentence CoÌ„mauÌ„d the rich of this world not to be high minded nor to trust in the vncertaintie of riches but in the liuing God who giueth vnto vs all things richly vnto fruition The which last words also declare what is meant here by being fat which being a borowed speech taken from those who are in good plight of body noteth out the abundance of Gods blessings He then which is high minded secure and frolike in regard of his outward prosperitie â—uke 12. as was the rich glutton saith that he shall neuer be remoued Psal 30. as Dauid did and despiseth his neighbours oppresseth them and raiseth vp vnnecessarie warres and strifes â— Chro. 18. as did Iehosaphat when he prouoked the Syrians by the which iarres and contentions he must needes be vexed and somewhat pulled down in his estate But he which is humble in all estates and trusteth in the Lord Psal 131. as the Prophet willeth Israell to do shall prosper in body and in soule and be satisfied with peace of heart and many good things Psal 63. 92. as it were with marrow 26 He which trusteth in his owne * Heart soule is a foole but he vvhich vvalketh * In wisedome vvisely shall deliuer him selfe They that are wise in their owne eyes fall into the sinne before coÌ„demned and are here fitly reproued Such trust in their heart as imagine that they haue no neede of the helpe or aduise of other and refuse to follow the direction of the godly wise giuing theÌ„ sound couÌ„saile out of the word For these deuise new conceites