openeth the waters, that diggeth downe the heads of ponds, or bankes of riuers, whereby the waters are held in; which be∣ing by this meanes let loose, can neither be brought in againe, nor restrained from doing of hurt; but the breach increaseth, and cannot easily bee stopped: and the streame is violent, and cannot easily bee staied: Wherefore, before the contention be medled with, leaue off.] If it be possible, let there be no begin∣ning of strife; but if there be, withstand the proceeding, and giue vp before the matter grow to heat, & the suit to charges.
Vers. 15. He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condem∣neth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.
HE that iustifieth the wicked] Which either publikely or priuately doth either warrant the vnlawfull actions of sinfull men, or cleereth them of the practise of that whereof they are guiltie, or freeth them from the punishments which their faults doe iustly require, and he that condemneth the iust, imputing those things vnto them for faults, which indeed are vertues, or not at all any offences, (as they did to the Disciples of Christ, for plucking, rubbing, and eating the eares of corne on the Sabbath day, which in that case might bee done with∣out sinne) or laying those crimes to their charge, whereof they are innocent and faultlesse: they both are abomination to the Lord, the one as well as the other is loathed and disliked of him, and neither of them shall escape the iudgements which are to be executed by him.
Verse 16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a foole to buy wisedome, seeing he hath no heart?
WHerefore is there a price in the hand of a foole] Whi∣therto serueth it that a foolish wicked man hath wealth, time, and other meanes, to buy wisedome, procure the knowledge of God, seeing he hath no heart, when hee hath neither wit, nor will to vse them to that holy end? The mea∣ning is, that a sinfull man is nothing the better for all his ri∣ches,