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.

14 A man shall be satiate with good things by the fruite of his mouth: and the recompence of a mans handes shall God giue vnto him.

Solomon exhorteth vs to vse wel our mouthes, and to imploy them to speake trueth, to thanke, to praise and to cal vpon God our Father by prayer, when hee promiseth vs that a man shalbe satiate, &c. And heerein hee somewhat alludeth vnto the olde sacrifices. For as they which offred the sacrifices, did eate of them by the permission and ordinance of God: euen so by following the counsel of the Prophete O seas, if we take the wordes with vs, and returne vnto the Lord, and say vnto him, Take away al iniquitie, & receiue vs graciously: so wil wee render the calues of our lippes,

And that in al thinges wee giue thankes alwaies vnto God by Ie∣sus Christ, that is, the frute of the lippes which confesse his name: If (I say) in folowing the doctrine of the aboue named holy men, wee apply our mouthes to speake trueth, and that by them we giue good counsel vnto our neighbours, admonishing, exhorting, cor∣recting, and threatening them, for to bring them vnto true re∣pentance, and to strengthen them in the fayth: if feeling our ne∣cessities wee open our mouthes, for to require and cal vpon God for to helpe vs, and truely confessing that hee is the authour of all goodnesse, and doe occupie our tongues in giuing of thankes vn∣to him, and to sing foorth his praises: hee wil not suffer vs to lacke or want any thing, but wil giue vs ynough and contenta∣tion. The auncient Leuites and Sacrificers by the ordinance of GOD, were nourished and sustained by vsing their ministery. Dauid ordeined of them to be ouer the arte of singing, according as was commaunded in the lawe of Moyses. And the Psalme 81. ha∣uing respect vnto this order of the seruice of GOD, doeth bid vs, Sing ioyfully: and afterwardes doeth promise vs that wee shalbee satisfied, saying, Open thy mouth wyde, and I shal fill it. For to do this wel, it suffiseth not for the mouth alone to bee occupy∣ed, but the song must come from the minde, &c. That which proceedeth from the mouth of Papistes is no fruite, but poyson: as wee may vnderstande and gather. And therefore this pro∣mise doeth nothing appertaine vnto them: as also they are no∣thing partakers thereof: for they burne so much with auarice, that they are neuer satisfied, and make themselues beleeue that they serue GOD and his Churche wel, when they can make the water come to the mill (as is saide) or increase the goods of the Churche. Of such kinde of people Saint Paule saieth, that they are of a corrupted minde. After this promise, he ad∣deth, And the recompence of the hands, &c.

This sentence conteineth partly a promise, and partly a threatening: as wee may vnderstande by other places. This sentence, as also the former promise, shal chiefly bee accom∣plished at the last day. Yet notwithstanding in looking for it, the Lorde doeth shewe some proofes thereof: for euen in this

life present, the good are so wel recompensed that they con∣tent themselues: Contrarily, wee may see feareful punishe∣mentes, fal and lighte vpon the wicked, the which are payde them after their desertes: but that which is giuen vnto the good, commeth of meere grace: as aboue in the 11. chapter, 18. verse, and chapter 12. verse, 2.

Notes

• Deut. 12. 7. & 14. 23.
• Ose. 14. 2
• Heb. 13. 15.
• Num. 18. 9. Deut. 10. 9. &. 18. 1. 1. Chro. 6. 31. Num. 10. 10 Psal. 8. 2. & 11.