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.

18 The foolish do inherite follie: but the prudent are crow∣ned with knowledge.

When wee despise or reiect any thing, it is very harde to ob∣teine and get it: but if we bee careful as wee ought to followe any thing, wee easily get the possession thereof. Wherefore if the foo∣lishe haue neither knowledge nor wisdome, we ought not to won∣der at it: for as wee haue seene, they reiect it. And in steede of that, * 1.1 they are earnest after folli••▪ and therefore, they obteine it: as Solo∣mon doeth signifie it, saying,

The foolishe doe inherite follie. It is not of late, but of old: as it is heere signified after a sorte by the preterperfectence of the verbe which Solomon in his language vseth, saying, They haue in∣herited. And so this inheritance is come or descended from father

to sonne, and hath beene more carefully kept, than if it had beene any good thing. But suche is the nature of man, when hee is left vnto himselfe, that hee is rather geuen to vanitie, then to any profitable woorke, rather to follie, then to wisedome, and is more delighted with ignorance then with knowledge. Wherefore he is wel woorthie to inherite nothing that excelleth: and they which folowe him can gather no profite thereby, sith hee hath nothing but follie: for a man can not take that of his heritage which it hath not. Let vs therfore first vnderstād that we are here admonished not ea∣sily to beleeue all kind of words, and to suffer ourselues to be decei∣ued * 1.2 as fooles: for of such simplicitie or lightnesse, there can come but folly, which is not onely vnprofitable, but also hurtfull. Second∣ly, let vs not greatly desire the companie of the foolish, and to gette their acquaintance and familiarite: for sith they possesse nothing that is ought worth, we can haue nothing but hinderance to keepe them company, though there were no other euill but this, that wee loose our time amongst them, except we rebuke, chide and threaten them, as they deserue: partly to declare that we will not communi∣cate with their vnfruitefull workes of darkenes: partly, for to labor to bring them againe to a sounde vnderstanding, that they may bee turned away from folly, and to giue themselues vnto wisdom, for to be discrete and well gouerned. By this meanes they shall not come to be blamed nor shamed for their folly, but to bee magnified and honoured. Solomon doeth pronounce it, when he saieth; but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. As good worldly hus∣bandes doe labour to get and to haue their possessions and hereta∣ges about them, and do therin greatly delight, for to see their hou∣ses to be compassed round aboute with goodly fieldes, meddowes and vineyards and other earthly commodities: and when they can safely keepe and defend their goods, they are praised and honoured of the worlde, and esteemed as young kinges: euen so the prudent which do spiritually labour, which are gouerned by the leading of * 1.3 the holy Ghost, and worke all by knowledge, do so abounde in the same, that they are therefore in great estimation and account with them, which do abhor foolishnes & loue knowledge, & whatsoeuer is done and ruled therby.

After this sorte are the prudent crowned with knowledge:

aud it is veey meete so to vnderstande it. For the Scripture hath a crowne, and also vseth to giue a crowne, for ornaments of glory, ho∣nour, and magnificence, & also for abundance: as it is said, He hath spoyled mee of mine honour, and taken the crowne away from my head. For thou hast made him little lower, then God, and crowned * 1.4 him with glory and worship, &c. For abundance. Euen as it is said of the foolishe that they inherite folly, because they haue nothing else about them, & that for this very cause they are cōtemned: euen so it is saide of the prudent, they are crowned with knowledge, be∣cause that the same is abūdantly shewed foorth both in their words and deedes: this is the cause, and why they are esteemed. And that wee bee not deceiued in this worde knowledge, let vs not thinke to be prudent, when wee haue muche read and reteined humane sci∣ences: for humane sciences are but vanitie and folly of themselues, and doe nothing serue but to puffe vp a man, & to make him boast and bragge, which is great folly. But then are we wise and crowned with knowledge, when wee giue our mindes and wittes vnto the worde of the Lorde, following after his wil, studiyng diligently and faithfully euery one in his vocation. Moreouer, let vs first note, that albeit the state of the faithful, which are discrete and wel ru∣led, is bace and naught set by before the worlde, yet before GOD (who giueth them the crowne of knowledge) they are in a kingly state: whereof that wee may bee partakers, let vs followe this ex∣hortation of Saint Paule: Brethren, bee not children in vnderstan∣ding, but as concerning maliciousnes, be children, but in vnderstan∣ding * 1.5 bee of a ripe age. If very constantly wee followe this exhor∣tation, and that wee ceasse not to perseuer (for all the temptations which happen) tyl wee come vnto vnitie of faith: after the crowne * 1.6 of knowledge, wee shal obteine the crowne of life. Secondarily, let vs note that as a crowne is set vpon the head, that it may bee seene: euen so God crowneth the prudent with knowledge, not that they should hide their talent in the earth: but that they should bring it foorth to light and open shewe, by sounde doctrine and * 1.7 good workes: for euen therefore are they crowned kings. And heerein wee must perseuer, what persecution soeuer is raised vp a∣gainst * 1.8 vs. For this is a true saying. For if we bee dead together with

him, wee also shal liue together with him. If wee suffer, we shal also raigne together with him:

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pro. 1. 7. 2••
• * 1.2

  Pro. 1. 26.
• * 1.3

  Pro. 13. 16.
• * 1.4

  Iob. 19. 9. Psal. 8. 6. & 21. 4. & 5. 43. & 65. 12. & 103. 4
• * 1.5

  1. Cor. 1420.
• * 1.6

  Ephe. 4. 13. Iam. 1. 12.
• * 1.7

  1. Pet. 2. 9.
• * 1.8

  1. Tim. 2. 11. 12.