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 The hart of him that hath vnderstanding, seeketh know∣ledge: but the mouth of the foole is fed with foolish∣nesse.

Wee doe not gladly suffer ourselues to be called fooles, neither do we desire to be counted such, but we are glad whē we are coun∣ted wise, learned, and discreete: and this is also a great delight vnto vs when wee can knowe that our wisedome answereth vnto the e∣stimation, and that we are truely such as wee desire to be esteemed, and that wee can giue token and proofe thereof to our neighbours. Now for to come by such knowledge, and to giue such a significati∣on, we must not folowe the worldly and carnal people, the supersti∣tious and idolaters, the ambitious and proude: whereof some doe thinke themselues to bee verie wise and discreete, when they haue wit, and cunning to guide wel their particular affaires, and to make their temporal gaine, though it be to the hurt & detriment of their

neighbours. Some wil attribute wisedome and discretion to them¦selues, when they shal folow their owne fantasies and good intents, and that they shal labour to shewe themselues verie zealous of the honour of God, though they doe cleane contrarie vnto his worde. Other some will thinke themselues wel learned, when they can so worke that the world may wonder at them, and honour them, and can finde the meanes to haue credite, and to bee in authoritie and to beare rule. But wee shall then haue certaine know∣ledge to be wise, and shal giue true signes therof, when we shal haue al our affection set to driue al ignoraunce from vs, and to giue our¦selues vnto the pure worde of God, that we may learne perfectly to gouerne ourselues thereafter. Solomon doeth thus pronounce it, when he saith, The heart of him that hath vnderstanding, &c. For this only word is our wisdome & our knowledge. Without it there is nothing but foolishnes, ignorance, darknes & blindnesse: albeit that in sight & outward maner of doings, there seemeth to be great wisdome without this word. But as alreadie hath bin handeled not long agone, there is neither wisdom, nor knowledge, but that which the Lord giueth from his mouth, the which he giueth and imparteth by the wise, which are his instruments. It is the word of God which is the true foode of our soules, seeing that by it, & in it, Iesus Christ doeth giue himself vnto vs with al his goodnes, euen hee which is the bread of life. And although that man is not wise, except his hart be armed with this knowledge, & that it seemeth we haue no need to seeke for that which wee alreadie possesse: neuertheles because we neuer haue such perfect knowledge as were necessarie, and that wee haue neede of increase, therefore the heart of the wise seeketh knowledge, vntil that he come vnto the measure of the full age of Christ: whose disciples & schollers we must be, and to learne of him so long as we liue. If in this wise wee seeke knowledge, wee shall finde it. Let vs not then be like vnto those which are full of ser∣mons before they haue throughly tasted them. For if they had wel tasted thē, they would desire them more: seeing that it is so delicate and daintie meate, and doeth neuer grieue nor wearie the children of God, but doe so long as they liue earnestly desire it: though they haue the same abundantly, but doe neuer cease to adde knowledge vpon knowledge: and as they abound in knowledge, and that they haue their hearts wel fenced, euen so do they gladly talke therof, for

to make their neighbours partakers of the same. For they which are truely wise and learned, haue no straight and close hearts, for to re∣teine knowledge with themselues, but large and open for to spread and distribute the same with their mouthes. Solomon doeth signifie this same after a sort, when against the heart of the wise, hee setteth the mouth of fooles: and against seeking of knowledge, hee setteth to be satisfied or fed with foolishnes. It is as much as if he did say, Euen as the wise with al the desire of his heart doeth giue himselfe vnto knowledge, doeth delight and feedeth himselfe with the same in communicating and opening of it: euen so the fooles giue their heartes vnto foolishnesse: as it is manifest, when they haue theyr mouthes filled therwith, that they neuer cease for to babble out the same. Nowe wee are al of such nature, and can be no better of ourselues. Wherfore we haue need to pray vnto God, that it may please him to change euerie one of vs according to the state wherin we are placed, and that he would giue vs an heart to s••eke knowledge, that our mouthes or our faces be not fed with follie: that is to say, that we take al our pleasure and pastime in things contrarie vnto know∣ledge. For after the common maner of speaking, To feede himselfe with any thing, is to be giuen thereunto, and to haue therin his de∣light, and to spende therein his time. And it is not without cause, that some doe so speake: for there is nothing in this worlde that some had rather do, then to eate and to drinke: as experience tea∣ceth when they will forsake al kinde of work for to goe to it. Wher∣in the children of God ought to learne to be shamefast if they bee not desirous to be fed with knowledge.

Notes

• Ioh. 6. 35.
• 1. Cor. 13. 9. Ephe. 4. 12. 13.
• Pro. 2. 3.