A short, yet sound commentarie; written on that woorthie worke called; the Prouerbes of Salomon and now published for the profite of Gods people.

CHAP. 22.

Co.

IN the end of the other Chapter, he intreateth of matters concerning God, to wit of his power and goodnes, sauing men from danger and distresses: and now he passeth from them in the beginning of this Chapter, and dealeth with some things which directlie concerne men, as a good name, fauor, wise dealing, &c.

Di.

I Would diuide this Chapter into three partes. In the first hee speaketh of [Di. 1] good reporte and fauor, of the rich and poore, of the wise and foolish, of humilitie and the feare of God, of a froward and circumspect person, of childrens bringing vp, of the borower and the lender, of the wicked and the liberall man, and of the scorner and contentious person, from vers. 1. to the end of the 10. In the second he entreateth of purenes of heart, of Gods sauor [Di. 2] and iustice, of the idle man, of a whore, of foolishnes and correction, of op∣pression of the poore, of obedience to the word, and the fruites that shall come thereby, from vers. 11. to the end of the 21. In the third, he speaketh a∣gainst [Di. 3] oppression of the poore, acquaintance with angriemen, rash and vn∣aduised suertiship, remoouing of auncient bounds, and exhorteth to dili∣gence, from vers. 22. to the end of the Chapter.

Se.

Vers. 1. A Good name [vz. amongst men: meaning hereby a good reporte] is to bee chosen [vz. by such as loue and feare the Lord, and the fellowship of his saints] aboue great riches, [i. more than any riches a man can attaine too in this life: see Ec∣clesiast. 7.3.] and a louing fauor [vz. from good men, obteyned also, by good dealing: and hee speaketh here of the fauor and good will of men, because it is a common com∣panion of good reporte, and is no more sundred from it, then the shaddowe from the bodie] is [vz. more worth, or more to be desired, or as hee saide be∣fore, to be chosen] aboue siluer and aboue golde. [i. aboue all the rich and pre∣cious treasures of this world whatsoeuer: see for this phrase Psalm. 19.10.] [unspec 2] Vers. 2. The rich [vz. men of the world,] and the poore [vz. people also] meete togeather, [vz. many and sundrie times, euen as it were waifaring men, the Lord thereby sensiblie preaching as it were vnto them, that riches and pouertie are not natural, but laied vpon them according to his good plea∣sure] the Lord [vz. alone,] is the maker of them all, [i. hee maketh one rich and another poore: see Chapter. 14.31. also Chap. 17.5. for making of the poore. And in this, God hath shewed his singular prouidence and wisdome, for if all were rich, no man would labor, and if all were poore, they could not [unspec 3] ayde and succor one another, see Chap. 29.13.] Vers. 3. A prudent man, [i. he that hath learned holy and heauenlie wisdome] seeth [vz. by the eye of faith] the plague [vz. comming: vnderstanding by plague, any euill or dan∣ger whatsoeuer,] and hideth himselfe, [i. laboreth by all lawfull meanes to escape the same: or els committeth himselfe to the prouidence of God vntill those dangers bee ouerpast, as Dauid saith in one of his Psalmes] but the foolish, [i. the wicked and vngodlie] goe on still [vz. in their iniquitie and transgression, and are euen rashlie, and impudentlie caried, whether so euer their minde leadeth them,] and are punished [vz. from God, and that iustly, by reason of their sinnes committed against God and their brethren.] Vers. [unspec 4] 4. The reward [vz. both from God and men] of humilitie, [i. that true hum∣blenes of minde hath] and the feare of God [i. the rewarde, which the feare of God bringeth with it,] is [vz. certainely and assuredly] riches and glorie and [unspec 5] life: [i. all good things both in this life, and in the life to come.] Vers. 5. Thornes and snares, [i. most greeuous calamities and punishments] are [vz. to be found] in the way of the froward, [i. in those waies and courses which he taketh: q.d. for his wicked and froward behauiour, such and such calami∣ties hang ouer his head: and so it is set, as it were against the other verse] but he that regardeth his soule [i. hath care and consideration of his owne sal∣uation: a parte put for the whole,] will departe [vz. with all possible and con∣uenient speede] farre from them, [i. either from the men themselues, or from such miseries as hang ouer their heads, or from such misdemeanors, as haue [unspec 6] pulled such iudgements vpon them.] Vers. 6. Teach a childe, [i. euerie

childe, for the commandement is generall] in the trade of his way, [i. in the order and course of his life, meaning thereby, vertuous and good education: in holy and good things,] and when he is old, [i. growne to more age] he shall not departe from it, [i. hee shall verie hardlie, or not at all departe from that good course: q.d. Instruct him, to passe his life godlie, iustlie, honestlie and lawfullie, in all the things, which concerne Gods worship, or holy fellow∣ship amongst men.] Vers. 7. The rich [vz. man] ruleth the poore, [i. is pre∣ferred [unspec 7] before him, and exerciseth an authoritie ouer him, many times vniust∣ly] and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth: [vz. vnto him, in the time of his neede: q.d. it commonly so falleth out amongst men, that the rich rule the poore, and that the detters are seruants to their creditors, whe∣ther this be don rightlie or wrongfullie he expresseth not, but onely teacheth, what is vsuallie don.] Vers. 8. He that soweth iniquitie, [i. he that giueth [unspec 8] himselfe ouer with greedines to commit sinne] shall reape affliction, [i. pu∣nishment and calamitie, speciallie from God: see Iob. 4.8. also Galath. 6.7, 8.] and the rodde [i. the power, and force, the signe of a thing, put for the power thereof,] of his anger [vz. towards others,] shall fayle. [vz. in such sorte, that he shall not be able to accomplish any mischiefe.] Vers. 9. Hee [unspec 9] that hath a good eye, [i. he that is mercifull and liberall towards others, as an euill eye, is put for an enuious or euill affection, see Matth. 20.15.] Hee shall be blessed: [vz. mightilie, and that from the Lord] for hee giueth [vz. freely and liberallie] of his bread: [i. parte of his foode and sustenance] vn∣to the poore. [vz. that wanteth the same, and is in need thereof.] Vers. 10. [unspec 10] Cast out [vz. of thy companie, countrey, common welth, Citie, or house, wherein thou dwellest] the scorner, [i. him that giueth himselfe to scoffing and deriding, speciallie at good men and matters,] and strife [vz. betweene him and others well affected] shall goe out [vz. from amongst you, and that immediately: q.d. there is no way to auoide contention with scorners, but by thrusting them out of companie, for while they giue themselues to scof∣fing, and take a certaine pride and pleasure therein, they doo nothing but prouoke brawling and quarrells,] so [i. by that meanes, of throwing them out] contention [vz. amongst men, whilst many times there is partaking,] and reproach, [i. shame, following such contention] shall cease [vz. both quicklie and assuredlie; he meaneth, that the scorner being present, strifes are stirred vp, and from strife, shame, and reproach, but if he be once absent, all those things cease.] Vers. 11. He that loueth [i. maketh much of, and [unspec 11] fostereth] purenes of heart, [i. soundnes, sinceritie, and vprightnes in the in∣ward man] for the grace of his lippes [i. because he vttereth also gracious and grateful things, & not such as tickle the eares, but proceed from the soundnes of the inward man: q.d. hee that is indued with these two holy giftes, vp∣rightnes of heart, and wisdome of speach,] the king shall be his friend. [i. hee shall be well and frendlie vsed of great personages, for the king either will, or should delight in such persons.] Vers. 12. The eyes of the Lord [i. his [unspec 12]

gracious mercie and great prouidence: for he speaketh of God according to the manner and capacitie of men,] preserue [vz. safe and sound, from all hurt and danger,] knowledge [i. men indued with true knowledge and wisdome, the giftes and qualities of the minde being put for the persons indued there∣with,] but he ouerthroweth [vz. vtterly, and that in his great iudgement] the wordes [i. the thoughts, wordes, and deedes, for vnder this speach, hee comprehendeth them all] of the transgressor. [i. of all such, as transgresse his [unspec 13] holy commandements, by one meaning all of the like.] Vers. 13. The slothfull man, [i. he that is giuen to sloth and idlenes,] saith [vz. openlie e∣uen in the hearing of many, speciallie of those that are to imploy him:] a Li∣on is without [vz. in the way, that hee shoulde goe,] J shall bee slaine in the streate: [i. hee bringeth in the idle person, who shunning labor, imagineth many dangers and difficulties, where either there are none at all, or els ve∣ry [unspec 14] smallones, see Chap. 15.19.] Vers. 14. The mouth, [i. the faire spea∣ches, and flattering words, vttered with the mouth] of strange women: [i. of harlots, or whores,] is as a deepe pit, [i. full of great danger, into which if a man fall, he can hardlie get out againe: see Chap. 2.16. also Chap. 7.25, 26, &c.] he with whome the Lord is angrie [vz. for his greeuous sinnes and transgressions committed against him,] shall fall therein. [vz. as a punish∣ment [unspec 15] for his iniquitie and transgression.] Vers. 15. Foolishnes [i. wanton∣nes and wickednes] is bounde [vz. very fast, because he hath it by nature] in the heart [hee toucheth this parte because it is the seate of affections] of a childe, [i. of euery childe, as vers. 6. of this Chap.] but the rodde of correcti∣on [i. a rodde vsed to correct, or els correction with a rodde] shall driue it a∣way from him, [i. shall bee a very good meane to remooue it: q.d. follie, though it be fast fixed in youth, may yet notwithstanding by correction be re∣moued, and therefore, the father must not spare to correct the childe while he [unspec 16] is yong: see Chapter. 19.18.] Vers. 16. He, that oppresseth [vz. by any meanes, either by fraud, force: or otherwise, for so much I suppose the word importeth] the poore [i. the needie and such as bee in want] to increase him∣selfe: [i. to make himselfe more rich and mightie thereby] and giueth [vz. giftes and bribes] vnto the rich, [vz. that therby he may purchase and pro∣cure his fauor, speciallie in wrong causes] shall surelie come to pouertie, [vz. for the indirect and vnlawfull meanes, which he vseth to vphold himselfe by: q.d. they sinne alike, and therefore shall haue alike punishment, that gather their gayne, by the hurte of the poore, and bestowe vpon the rich, that which [unspec 17] they should giue to the needie.] Vers. 17. Incline thine care [vz. vnto the good things that I shall propound] and heare [vz. with thy heart and vn∣derstanding] the words of the wise: [i. such excellent matters, as the godlie wise shall vtter] and apply thine hand, [i. bend all the partes and powers of thine outward and inward man] vnto my knowledge. [i. vnto the knowledge that I shall teach thee, it is a graue exhortation, to receaue the Doctrines, [unspec 18] both going before, and following after.] Vers. 18. For it [i. the doctrine

that I shall truely and soundly propound] shall be pleasant, [vz. vnto thee: meaning by pleasant, sweete and comfortable: and this is one argument that he vseth to perswade men to the imbracing of his doctrine] if thou keepe them [vz. safe and sure] in thy bellie, [i. in thy minde or heart: and here is a Metonomie, the thing containing for the thing cōtained, which also is vsual amongst the Hebrues] and if they be directed together in thy lippes. [i. if to∣gether with thy knowledge inwardly, thou ioyne the expressing of them by wordes outwardly.] Vers. 19. That thy confidence [i. thy hope and trust] [unspec 19] may bee [vz. firmely and stedfastly fixed] in the Lord, [i. vpon him, and the trueth of his word and promises] I haue shewed thee [vz. openlie and plain∣lie, euen the will and word of God] this day: [i. all this while, as Psalme 95.7. And so he sheweth what is the ende of Gods word, vz. to strengthen our faith in God] thou therefore take heede. [vz. to the things that I speake: q.d. It standeth thee in hand so to doo; for what art thou without hope and trust in God, which thou canst neuer attaine without his word.] Vers. 20. [unspec 20] Haue I not written vnto thee [vz. excellent and notable things: vnderstan∣ding also by writing, all the meanes of publishing the same] three times [i. sundrie and many times, as 2. Corinth. 12.18.] in counsels and knowledge, [i. such things as consist in knowledge and counsels: q d. I haue, for to that ende serueth the demand.] Vers. 21. That I might shewe thee [vz. plainlie [unspec 21] and manifestly] the assurance of the words of the trueth, [i. the great certaintie that these words containe] to answer [i. that thou also maiest thereby bee in∣structed to answer] the words of trueth [i. true and sound words] to them that send to thee? [vz. to the ende they may knowe the same, and be instruc∣ted by thee therein. And this is another commendation of his doctrine ta∣ken from the excellencie and profite thereof.] Vers. 22. Robbe not [vz. by [unspec 22] any meanes] the poore, [vz. man or person] because he is poore, [and there∣fore not able to put backe iniurie offered] neither oppresse [vz. any manner of way] the afflicted [i. he that is alreadie in miserie] in iudgement. [i. vnder the pretence and shewe of iustice and iudgement. In Hebrue it is in the gate, putting the place where iudgement was executed, for iudgement and iustice it selfe. He toucheth two faultes: the one oppression of the poore, be∣cause great men may the more easilie doo it: and the other is spoyling of them, vnder pretence of iustice and equitie. And marke here, that the sen∣tences following from this place, euen to the fiue and twentie Chapter, bée for the most part comprised in two or three verses together, one hanging vpon another, and are as it were the causes, effects, or euents of the same.] Vers. 23. For the Lord [vz. himselfe, if men should neglect it] will defend [unspec 23] their cause, [i. the right of the poore: see Chapter 23.11.] and spoyle the soule [i. take away from them, sometimes by one meanes, sometimes by ano∣ther] of those that spoyle them. [i. of all such as take any thing by any wicked way from them. And this is a reason why they should surcease from wic∣kednes.]

Vers. 24. Make no friendship [i. seeke not to bee acquainted or familiar] with an angrie man, [i. with one that cannot rule and subdue his outragious and angrie affections] neither goe [vz. in the way, as though thou wert familiarlie acquainted] with the furious man, [i. with him that is [unspec 25] whollie giuen to heate and furie: see Prouerb. 15.18.] Vers. 25. Least thou learne [vz. by kéeping companie with him] his waies, [i. to bee like vnto him in his furie, rage, and vnbridled affections] and receiue [vz. either from God or men, yet so that thou hast by thy misdemenour, pulled it vpon thy head] destruction to thy soule. [i. to thy selfe, a part put for the whole, and here is contained a double reason why men should auoide furious persons [unspec 26] companie.] Vers. 26. Be not thou of them [i. be not thou like them, or take héed that thou bée not reckoned in the number of them] that touch the hand, [vz. of another man: meaning thereby, striking of hands, or making of a bargaine] nor among them [i. of that sort and number] that are suretie [vz. to other men] for debts. [vz. of other men: q.d. shunne suretiship, least thou hazard thine owne goods, and at lengeth bée brought to necessitie, for that I take to bée the meaning of the next verse: see Chapter 6.1, &c. Also Chap∣ter [unspec 27] 11.15.] Vers. 27. If thou hast nothing to pay, [i. if thou bée not able to performe that which thou hast promised] why causest thou [vz. through thy negligence and rashnes] that he [vz. to whom thou hast giuen thy hand and word] should take thy bed [vz. wherevpon thou lyest] from vnder thee? [vz. as thou lyest vpon it: a reason against rash suretiship: q d. Why doest thou through thine owne follie commit, that if thou be not able to pay that which thou art become suretie for, thy bed, if thou hast nothing els to giue, should with thy great losse and shame bée taken from thée, and so thou haue no∣thing [unspec 28] to lye on: see Chapter 20.16.] Vers. 28. Thou shalt not remooue [vz. either by force or fraude, openly or secretly, in the day or in the night] the ancient bounds [vz. of landes or grounds, labouring thereby to inlarge thine owne, and to pull from other] which thy fathers [i. thy ancestors many yéeres before thee] haue made. [i. haue set: q.d. If they had no right, how [unspec 29] canst thou pretend any? see Deuteronomie 19.14] Vers. 29. Thou seest [q.d. thine owne experience and knowledge teacheth thee] that a diligent man in his busines [i. he that faithfully and painfully occupieth himselfe in his vocation, and in the things he hath to doo] standeth before Kings, [i. is much in great personages presence, and they vse them much in the accom∣plishment of their affaires] and standeth not before the base sorte. [i. is not much conuersant with the common people, nor much regarded of them: the reason is, because he is more highly called and preferred, for otherwise all would bée glad of him: all is as much, q.d. seeing diligence aduanceth men, imbrace and practise the same.

Do.

Vers. 1. Teacheth vs, to esteeme and make much of good report amongst

good men and their fauour. Ʋerse 2. Teacheth vs, that riches, and pouer∣tie, and all come from the Lord. Ʋerse 3. Teacheth vs, in a holie wise∣dome, not onely to foresee, but also to preuent what wee may, dangers hanging ouer our head. Verse 4. Teacheth vs, to striue to attaine true humblenes of minde, and a right and reuerent feare of Gods Maiestie in our hearts. Ʋerse 5. Teacheth vs to auoide, both the waies and companies of froward and peruerse men. Ʋerse 6. Teacheth parents, in time to traine vp their children in the nurture and information of the Lord. Ʋerse 7. Sheweth, how that man in the corruption of his heart, abuseth many times those things, to the maintenance of his pride and tyrannie, that God hath giuen him for the good of others. Ʋerse 8. Teacheth vs, that the vngodlie shall reape a iust reward of that wickednes which they sowe. Vers. 9. Tea∣cheth vs, vnfeignedly to imbrace liberalitie. Verse 10. Teacheth vs, to a∣uoide the scorners companie, shewing vs what good shall insue thereof. Vers. 11. Teacheth vs, to imbrace vprightnes and soundnes of heart. Vers. 12. Teacheth vs, that God is gracious to his children, but a sharpe punisher of the words and works of the wicked. Vers. 13. Teacheth vs, to auoide sloth and idlenes. Verse 14. Teacheth vs, to auoide whores and whoredome. Verse 15. Teacheth vs, that moderate and ordinarie correction, is a good meane to reforme things amisse in children. Verse 16. Teacheth vs to flie from oppression and briberie. Ʋerse 17. Teacheth vs, to hearken to good counsell. Verse 18. Setteth out the sweetnes and pleasure of the word of God. Verse 19. Teacheth vs, that the word is published to begin and to confirme faith in vs. Verse 20. Teacheth vs, that a good lesson may be often times deliuered vnto vs. Verse 21. Setteth out both the certaintie of Gods word, and also what effect it worketh in them that imbrace it, to wit, it ma∣keth them able to answer al things demanded of them. Verse 22. Teacheth vs, to beware of oppression, whether it bee committed by force, the partie being not able to resist, or by fraud, and namely vnder the pretence of iu∣stice. Ʋerse 23. Setteth out Gods fauour towards the afflicted, & his iudge∣ments against them that afflict. Vers. 24. Teacheth vs, to auoide anger, and wrath, and all the meanes whereby we may be prouoked thereto. Vers. 25. Teacheth vs, how hurtfull and dangerous a thing it is to keepe companie with the vngodlie. Ʋers. 26. Teacheth vs to beware of rash and hastie suretiship. Ʋers. 27. Teacheth vs to take heede, that by our owne vnad∣uisednes, wee bee not the authors of our common woe and miserie. Verse 28. Teacheth vs, not to incroch vpon any, but to bee content with the portion which the Lord hath giuen vs from our ancestors. Ʋerse 29. Teacheth vs, to bee diligent, painfull, and faithfull in all our actions and affaires.