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.

11 Hee that tilleth his land, shalbe satisfied with bread: but he that foloweth the idle, is destitute of vnderstanding.

For to giue courage vnto the man which is seruant for himself, and his owne man, hee maketh vs a promise, the accomplishement whereof is very needeful for vs, yea necessary to mainteine vs in this life, he promiseth Satisfiyng with bread: that is to say, that the mā which shalbe diligēt & careful to do his office, to folow his estate and vocation, shal want nothing that is necessary for to liue in this

worlde, but shal haue enough and contentation. For by bread are signified al thinges necessary for to vpholde this life: and by satis∣fiyng is ment contentation. Now hee that is contented with things necessary, is rich enough.

Albeit thē that Solomō doth not name but bread only, yet doth hee not promise any smal thing, as might seeme at the first sight: but doeth promise riches, as afore in the 10. Chapter and 4. verse. And sith that these riches are necessary, and that he doth not promise thē but vnto the labourer, it followeth that hee exhorteth vs vnto la∣bour, and doth shewe vs that it is necessary for vs to labour. And albeit that of our nature wee are not so much giuen to do pleasure and seruice vnto our neighbours, as that wee wil leaue our owne worke to doe theirs: and also are not so diligent nor so earnest in taking of paine that wee shoulde take other mens worke in hande with our owne: yet notwithstanding because there are many curi∣ous and vndiscrete, which forsaking their office, woulde gladly take both the office and worke of others in hande, Solomon would not omit to teach vs, that we should keep ourselues within our limits: And therefore he hath not saide simply, That whosoeuer doeth tyll the earth, but hee that tilleth his lande. Let vs therefore learne not to take in hande that which doeth not belong vnto vs, other∣wise wee shoulde not be compelled to leaue our vocation: for wee are not able to deale in diuers estates, neither haue shoulders strong enough for to beare many burdens. Wee are like vnto a body whose members haue diuers operations and offices, and where eue∣ry member doth his owne office without intermedling in the office of the other: and in this sort there is no confusion of disorder in the body, but the members are careful & help one another. S. Paul doth teach vs such similitudes, for to shewe vs that none ought to thinke * 1.1 and esteeme of himselfe more then behoueth, that euery one ought to imploy himselfe after the measure of the grace that he hath recei∣ued, and that euery one vse his estate, so as hee shoulde also care for his neighbour. But because hee speaketh but of the tilling of the lande, it might seeme that the promise to be filled with bread, doth not belong but onely vnto them which tyll the lande, which do plant the vines, which doe sow and reape, and which are occupied about the lande: but let vs knowe that al they which busie themselues

in any woorke that is meete and agreeable vnto their vocation which is allowed of God, are woorthy to bee satisfied with bread. And therefore, albeit Solomon doeth not speake but of the tilling of the lande, yet doeth hee not exclude other vocations which are not forbidden of God, but vnder one kinde, hee comprehendeth all occupations and woorkes, and al estates which God hath ordeined for men to bee occupied, that they shoulde not eate their bread for nought, in slouthfulnesse and ydlenesse. If any man demande * 1.2 why Solomon hath rather named the tilling of the earth, then any other estate: there may be twoo reasons assigned for the same. The first is, that the tilling of the lande was first ordeined. The seconde is, that thereby the earth doeth bring foorth vnto vs that which is most necessary for the maintenance of this present life: that is to say, bread, by the meanes whereof wee obteine al other necessaries & corporal profits. Wee may wel vnderstand it when Christ tea∣ching * 1.3 vs to aske that which is needful for this life, doeth not make mention but of bread. Moreouer let vs note, that sithens Solomon doth promise that we shalbe satisfied with bread, that it is lawful for vs to desire riches, but only such as are necessary. It is not lawful for vs to desire a great superfluous abundāce, but we should contēt our¦selues with a smal thing, as Solomō doth signifie it, though he doth promise vs but bread. Not so but that God doeth giue vs al other meates the which we may vse with thanks giuing: but we must not be curious of them, as are the gluttons and dainty mouthed which care only for their mouths & bellies, & care no whit for their neigh∣bours. Albeeit such maner of people haue plently of bread yet are they not filled: for they are neuer satisfied. After this promise hee addeth a threatning to the contrarie, the which hee expresseth by a reproofe, saying, but hee that foloweth the ydle, is destitute of vn∣derstanding. For to expresse and to describe the man which wil not labour, he saith that he is slouthful, that is to say, that hee laboureth to be like vnto them, and heerein he closely doth chide and threaten them: as before in the 16. chap. & 6. verse, &c. And to finishe the re∣proofe, he saith he is destitute of vnderstanding, & by such repre∣hension which is commō in the world against the slouthful, he she∣weth that he that foloweth them, is wel woorthy to dye for hun∣ger: for sith he is voide of vnderstanding, his outward members, as

armes and legges doe feele therof, whereof doth folow pouertie. A slouthful hand maketh poore, &c. And if man for want of labou∣ring * 1.4 to get his corporal bread, deserueth to bee called destitute of vnderstanding: by a more strong reason, hee which hath no care of the health of his soule, hath a very faint hart.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 12. 4. 1. Cor. 12. 12
• * 1.2

  Gen. 2. 15. & 3. 17.
• * 1.3

  Mat. 6. 12
• * 1.4

  Pro. 10. 4.