Salomons diuine arts, of 1. Ethickes, 2. Politickes, 3. Oeconomicks that is; the gouernment of 1. Behauiour, 2. Common-vvealth, 3. Familie. Drawne into method, out of his Prouerbs & Ecclesiastes. With an open and plaine paraphrase, vpon the Song of songs. By Ioseph Hall.

§. 3.

• Humility,
• Pride—
  • ouerweening
    • Wherein it is,
    • How absurd,
    • How dangerous.
  • scornefulnesse.

NExt to the modest, is the humble in spirit;* 1.1 Hee saith, Surely,* 1.2 I am more foolish then a∣man, & haue not the vnderstan∣ding of a man in me;* 1.3 for I haue not learned wisedome, and haue not attained to the knowledge of holy things: But doth he want it ere the more?* 1.4 No: With the lowly is wisedome,* 1.5 and The eare that hearkeneth to the corre∣ctions of life, shall lodge among the wise:* 1.6 Better it is, therefore, to bee of an humble mind with

the lowely, then to diuide the spoyles with the proud: for be∣fore honour goeth humilitie;* 1.7 and hee that confesseth and for∣saketh his sinnes,* 1.8 shall haue mer∣cy; yea,* 1.9 the humble of spirit shall inioy glory:* 1.10 and the rewarde of humilitie, & the feare of God, is riches, and glory and life.

Contrary whereto;* 1.11 There is a generation, whose eyes are hau∣tie, and their eye lids are lift vp;* 1.12 There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceit, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse. Yea, All the wayes of a man are cleane in his own eies:* 1.13 but the Lord pondereth: the spirits; and not sonnely, but Many men will boast of their goodnes;* 1.14

but It is not good to eate much honie,* 1.15 so to search their owne glory is not glory; Let another man prayse thee,* 1.16 and not thine owne mouth; a stranger and not thy owne lips: This ouer-weening is commonly incident to great men. The rich man is wise in his owne conceit,* 1.17 but the poore that hath vnderstanding can trie him: Hence it is, that he affects singu∣larity;* 1.18 According to his desire, he that separates himself, will seeke, and occupy himselfe in all wise∣dome:* 1.19 but Seest thou a man thus wise in his owne conceit, there is more hope of a foole then of him: yea, he is a foole in this: In the mouth of the foolish,* 1.20 is the rod of pride;* 1.21 I thought, I will be

wise, but it went farre from me; it is farre off, what may it bee?* 1.22 and that, a wicked foole;* 1.23 A hautie looke, and a proud heart which is the light of the wicked is sin: If therefore thou hast bene foo∣lish in lifting vp thy selfe,* 1.24 and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thy hand vpon thy mouth, for God hateth an hauty eye;* 1.25 yea he so hateth it,* 1.26 that al that are proud in heart, are an abomination to the Lord: and tho hand ioyne in hand, they shall not be vnpuni∣shed; and what punishment shall be bane?* 1.27 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud man; and his very pride is an argument of his ruine: Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty:* 1.28 Pride

goeth before destruction,* 1.29 and an hie mind before the fall: Be∣fore it?* 1.30 yea with it: When pride commeth, then cōmeth shame. Now the height of pride is scorne∣fulnesse. Hee that is proud and haughty,* 1.31 scornefull is his name, who worketh in the pride of his wrath:* 1.32 and this man despiseth his neighbour, and therefore is desti∣tute of understanding: when the wicked commeth▪* 1.33 then com∣meth contempt; and with the vile man is reproche, but▪ of all, him that reproues him:* 1.34 Hee that reproueth a scorner, purchaseth to himselfe shame, and hee that rebuketh the wicked, getteth himselfe a blo••;* 1.35 therefore Iudge∣ments are prepared for the scor∣ners,

and stripes for the backe of fooles; so, as others are hurt by his sinne;* 1.36 for a scornefull man bringeth a whole citie into a snare: so they shall bee likewise bettered by his iudgement; when the scorner is punished,* 1.37 the foo∣lish is wise.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pr. 29.23.
• * 1.2

  Pr. 30.2.
• * 1.3

  Pr. 30.3.
• * 1.4

  Pr. 11.2.
• * 1.5

  Pr. 13.31.
• * 1.6

  Pr. 16.19.
• * 1.7

  Pr. 15.33 Pr. 18.12
• * 1.8

  Pr. 28.13.
• * 1.9

  Pr. 29.23.
• * 1.10

  Pr. 22.24.
• * 1.11

  Pr. 30.13.
• * 1.12

  Pr. 30.12.
• * 1.13

  Pr. 16.2. Pr. 21.2.
• * 1.14

  Pr. 20.6.
• * 1.15

  Pr. 25.27.
• * 1.16

  Pr. 27.2.
• * 1.17

  Pr. 28.11.
• * 1.18

  Pr. 18.1.
• * 1.19

  Pr. 16.12.
• * 1.20

  Pr. 14.3.
• * 1.21

  Ec. 7.25.
• * 1.22

  Ec. 7.26.
• * 1.23

  Pr. 21.4.
• * 1.24

  Pr. 30.32.
• * 1.25

  Pr. 6.17.
• * 1.26

  Pr. 16.5.
• * 1.27

  Pr. 15.25▪
• * 1.28

  Pr. 18.22
• * 1.29

  Pr. 16.18.
• * 1.30

  Pr. 11.2.
• * 1.31

  Pr. 21.24.
• * 1.32

  Pr. 11.12.
• * 1.33

  Pr. 18.3
• * 1.34

  Pr. 9.7.
• * 1.35

  Pr. 19.2••.
• * 1.36

  Pr. 29.8.
• * 1.37

  Pr. 21.11.