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.

7 When the wayes of a man please the Lord, he wil make al∣so his enemies at peace with him.

If wee be stirred to anger, or that wee haue a contentious and troublesome spirite which wil sodenly fight, and doeth delight in fighting, braules, and dissentions, wee shoulde greatly desire peace, and wee thinke that wee can haue nothing to profite vs without it: the worldlings and carnal men, which wil counsel their neighbours how they shal take their ease, saying, Buy peace, and an house alrea∣die made. And indeed peace is a verie great blessing, which is much desired, and chiefly when wee haue to doe with enemies, that wee thinke to be stronger then wee bee, and whome wee feare shoulde hurt vs, and with whome wee shoulde haue mortal warre. But of∣tentimes it happeneth, that willing to auoide one warre, wee enter into a more dangerous. Wee seeke peace with men, and we make

ourselues the enemies of God: for wee folowe vnlawful meanes: as did the children of Israel for to deliuer themselues from their e∣nemies, and to cause warre to cease, had their refuge, sometimes to * 1.1 the Egyptians, sometimes to the Assirians against the commaun∣dement of God, who had forbidden them to make leagues with strange peoples and idolaters. Woe to them which goe downe in∣to Egypt for to seeke for helpe, and haue not enquired of the Lord. The Papistes are of that number which seeke vnlawful meanes: as is seene in al their deuotions in time of warre.

And as touching particular matters betweene man and man, for to get peace and to stay his enemie, hee thinketh there is no way but to suppresse him, against that which Iesus Christ teacheth vs, Resist not euil, &c. But as wee commonly feele by experience, by such kinde of doings the fire is kindeled more strongly, and for one * 1.2 enimie wee get many, as also wee deserue: for in so doing wee fol∣low not the waies of peace, which is to please, & to be an acceptable seruice vnto God, who is the authour of al peace, and giueth it too them which giue themselues to please him: as Solomon doeth pro∣nounce it, saying,

When the waies of a man please the Lord. &c. If then we woulde haue that God shoulde stay our enimies, and that he should quiet them (as there is none but he, that can doe it) let vs looke so honestly to gouerne ourselues, that we neither thinke, speake, nor doe any thing that shoulde displease him. The which we shal do, if wee feare him, and trust in him folowing his commandements, Hee delighteth not in the strength of an horse: but the Lords delight is * 1.3 in them which feare him with lowlines of minde. For the Lord de∣lighteth in his people: and helpeth the meekeharted. Let vs then proceed after this sort, trusting in the Lorde, that wee may protest, Lord, I lift vp my soule vnto thee: in thee my God doe I trust. Thus doing, our wayes shal please the Lorde, and so much as shalbee ex∣pedient, * 1.4 he wil quiet our enemies: as he hath done Laban towardes Iacob, and Esau towards Iacob, Pharao towards Moyses, Saule to∣wards Dauid: euen as we may see by the holy histories. Let vs then walke in humblenesse of minde, fearing our God, depending vppon him, and giuing ourselues to obey him, then may we say, The Lorde

is my light and my saluation: whom then shall I feare? the Lorde is * 1.5 the strength of my life: of whome then shal I be afrayde? The Lord is on my side, therefore I will not feare what man can doe vnto me: We must thus thinke, speake, and woorke with patience. Cast not away your trust the which hath great recompence of reward. True∣ly * 1.6 ye haue neede of patience, that after hauing done the wil of God, you may obtaine the promise.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exo. 3. & 34. 12. Deut. 7. 3. Esay. 31. 1.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 53. 39. Rom. 12. 17. 1. Peter. 3. 9.
• * 1.3

  Psa. 147. 1••. 11. & 149. 4.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 25. 1. 2.
• * 1.5

  Psa. 27. 1. &. 118. 6.
• * 1.6

  Heb. 10. 35. ••6.