A godly and learned exposition vppon the Prouerbes of Solomon: written in French by Maister Michael Cope, minister of the woorde of God, at Geneua: and translated into English, by M.O.

12 Hee that despiseth his neighbour, is destitute of wise∣dome: but a man of vnderstanding wil keepe si∣lence.

Wee count a man to be verie couragious, and to haue an vp∣right and stout heart, when hee goeth boldly forwarde with his en∣terprise, be it right or wrong, not caring for any man, and without feare of offending, and is readie to beare iniuries and wronges, dis∣praise, and diffamation, reproches, and cauillations, violences and cruelties, if it appeare vnto him, that he cannot otherwise come to the ende of his purpose and enterprise. This is the iudgement of the carnal, and worldlings, which thinke that their neighbours doe no∣thing belong vnto them. But if by the worde of God wee beholde that wee al come from one Father Adam, wee shal knowe how we belong one vnto an other, and that wee are al one fleshe and one blood. Thus muche for the carnal coniunction, whereby wee are taught that we are faintharted, and without courage, foolishe and voide of care, vnderstanding and right iudgement, if wee despise our neighbours: and chiefly when we shewe openly the contempt, in being mooued and raising noyse and vprores vpon them, in dri∣uing them away, and reiecting them through impatiencie, or arro∣gancie, or choler. Solomon sheweth it, whē he setteth disdain against silence; and want of wisedome, vnto a man of vnderstanding: and that hee calleth him which is despised, neighbour. Nowe in his lan∣guage which hee vseth, Neighbour, signifieth him which pleaseth vs, him that wee desire, him that wee loue, and whose companie wee keepe, or hee to whome wee owe suche gentlenes, familiaritie and louing kindnesse. Whosoeuer therefore doeth despise him, doeth shewe himselfe verie weake, and wanting good wil and pure

affection: for he striueth against his nature, and doeth against that which hee oweth by right of kindred and stocke. Nowe if for the respect that we are al of one carnal parentage, it is not laweful for vs to despise our neighbours, except wee woulde haue men to iudge of vs by the woorde of God, that wee haue a faint hart: by a more strong reason, they which bragge and woulde bee counted Christi∣ans, ought wel to beware from despising their neighbours, nor giue any token of contempt, either by woordes or gesture: & that in folowing the great humilitie and modestie of their head, which * 1.1 wil not cry nor stand vp against them, &c. But seeing they are mem∣bers of one body, vnder one head Iesus Christ, they ought to bee careful the one for the other, without any contempt of the vilest and basest, and without enuie against the most excellent: As Saint Paul * 1.2 doeth shewe it. Thus much for the spiritual parentage, in the which the coniunction is farre more straight and more neere, then is the knitting togither of carnal kindred. Wherfore, the true Christians shoulde bee very careful to mainteine this coniunction, by follow∣ing the exhortation of Saint Paule, Nowe therefore as the elect of God, holie and beloued, put on tender mercy, kindnesse, hum∣blenesse of minde, meekenes, long suffering, &c. Beholde, howe good & howe comely a thing it is, brethren to dwel euen togither. * 1.3 Let them mark this, fulfilled in vs, They shal breake their swords al∣so into mattockes, and their speares into sithes: nation shal not lift vp a sword against nation, neither shal they learn to fight any more. Againe, The woolfe also shal dwel with the lambe, and the Leopard * 1.4 shal lye with the kidde and the calfe, and the Lyon, and the fat beast togither, and a little childe shal leade them. Thus doo∣ing, wee will not disdaine our neighbours, neither shalbee faintharted, but wee shalbee wise and of vnderstanding, wee shalbee quiet and peaceable, gentle and kinde: and this which Solo∣mon saith shalbe fulfilled in vs, But a man of vnderstanding wil keepe silence. The silence or secretnesse whereof Solomon speaketh standeth not in speaking neuer a word, and to be as it were dumbe: but because that in silence al things are quiet, and without noyse, without vprores, and without contention, the Scripture taketh si∣lence for peace, gentlenesse, and lowly behauiour, sweete and louing

conuersion: and also for abstinence, when we forbeare to doe any thing, and that wee abstaine from it, and that wee vexe not our¦selues, or that we bee not grieued for any thing which happeneth, and that we striue not as the amased and witles doe. Silence is so taken in some places, as foloweth: Nowe Iacob hearde that hee had * 1.5 defiled Dinah his daughter, &c. Therfore Iacob helde his peace, vn∣til they were come. The Lorde shal fight for you: therefore holde your peace. So they despised him, and brought him no presents: but * 1.6 he held his tongue. Keepe silence before mee, O Ilands, and let the people renewe their strength. &c. Nowe to bee wise, and to be thus silent, we must learne it of our Lord and receiue it from him. For on him it is that the spirite of the Lorde resteth: the spirit of wisdom and vnderstanding, the spirite of counsel and strength, the spirite of knowledge, and of the feare of the Lorde. Hee shal not faile * 1.7 nor be discouraged, til he haue set iudgement in the earth. And also hee himselfe exhorteth vs to learne of him, and promiseth rest vn∣to * 1.8 to our soules.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Esa. 42. ••.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 15. 1. 1. Cor. 12. 12 Gal. 6. 1.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 133. 1. Esay. 2. 4.
• * 1.4

  & 11. 6.
• * 1.5

  Gen. 34. 5
• * 1.6

  Exo. 14. 14 1. Sam. 10. 27 Esa. 41. 1. Esa. 11. 2.
• * 1.7

  Esa. 42. 4.
• * 1.8

  Mat. 11▪ 29.