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.

10 The name of the Lorde is a strong Tower: the righte∣ous runneth vnto it, and is exalted.

There is no man but desireth to liue in peace, and to bee out of danger of his aduersaries. And for to obteine the same, euerie man according to the power hee hath, doeth arme himselfe with leagues of friendship, and retyereth into strong places, and if he can, hee wil remaine in places which seemeth him inuincible. In olde time it was thought that the highest places were the surest, for that the enemies had not easie accesse to the same. We may see the same in the building of the Tower of Babel.

Likewise Dauid signifying the safetie either that hee had had before, or that hee desired presently to haue, speaketh of the high places and of high rockes, and heerein hee sheweth vs, that all our trust is and ought to bee set in one onely GOD, and when he keepeth vs, that wee are strongly armed, and defended against al contrarie power, and that there is no violence either earthly or hellishe that can hurt vs. Solomon doeth signifie the same, when hee saieth,

The name of the Lorde is a strong Tower, &c. Wherein wee haue to note, that the name of the Lorde, is not this woord, God or Lorde, or any other worde that wee speake of, for to sig∣nifie that we speake of God: neither is it also this writing of foure Hebrewe letters, Iehouah, which the Iewes doe say, is the name of God, and that it is ineffable: And not knowing what this name of God ineffable is to say. (The which is none other thing then that there is nothing either in heauen, earth, hel, depthes vnder the earth, nor tongue, nor voice that is able to expresse the least prayse which belongeth to God, because of his great glory and excellencie) they obserue a foolish & foule superstition, and dare not pronounce

these foure letters aboue saide, and in their place they say, Adonaie But the name of the Lorde, is himselfe, as he is named the Euerla∣sting, Creatour, Gouernour, and disposer of al thinges: according as hee is called wise, iust, holie, mightie, merciful Father and Saui∣our: and according to the fame of these vertues & blessings which are without number, incomprehensible, and can not be expressed. The holie Scripture doeth shew it vs. For this word of God ought not to be called vpon. Hee expresseth wel this name. And when he would haue vs to sweare in his name, hee meaneth not this worde, God, or Lorde, in witnesse of trueth. His name therfore is himself, which is compared vnto a strong Tower: not as touching himself, that hee can or ought to be compared vnto any corruptible thing, howe excellent soeuer it can be: but the Lorde for to humble him¦selfe vnto our rudenesse and weakenesse, doeth compare himselfe vnto earthly thinges. As here by Solomon he is compared vnto a strong Tower, for to teache vs that as the worldlinges doe thinke themselues out of the danger of their enemies, when they are inclosed in a strong Tower: euen so, if hee keepe vs, wee shal not perish. Now for to obtein such safetie, we must fly al wickednes, infidelitie and incredulitie, al slouthfulnesse, and carelesnesse, and giue ourselues vnto al goodnesse, and with care & diligence com∣mende ourselues vnto the keeping and protection of our God. So∣lomon doeth teach vs this same, when he saieth,

The righteous runneth vnto it, and are exalted. For the wicked, vnbeleeuing, negligent and contemners of the grace and helpe of God, are cast off from him: and thus they are not exal∣ted out of the dangers of their enemies, but are giuen vnto them to doe with them as they wil: as diuers wicked men haue felt, and doe feele. For if they be not at the wil of their carnal enimies, yet are they at their spiritual, to wit, the Deuils: as finally, they shall feele it in eternal tormentes, being thrust downe into the infernal gulfes.

Let vs therefore vnderstande, that Solomon doeth exhort vs ••o loue righteousnes, and to delight therein, and that in folow∣ing carefully our vocation, and walking straight in our wayes, iwee should depend wholly vpon the protection of our God, and he

shal exalt vs high, and set vs in so strong a Castle, that our enemies shal not be able to doe any thing against vs: and also wee shal not feare them, but holding fast the promises of our God, wee shal say, The Lorde is my light and my saluation, whome shal I feare? Bee vnto mee a strong Tower, and as an house wel fenced, for to saue mee. Let vs also vnderstande that hee teacheth vs to knowe who they are that are righteous, what their rewarde is. Whereupon we may gather who they are that are wicked, and what their destruc∣tion is. And when hee saieth not, Hee shal exalt himselfe: But he is exalted, hee doeth teache vs to renounce our merites and free wil.

Notes

• Gen. 11. 4. Psa. 18. 3. 34 & 27. 5. 40. 3 & 16. 3.
• Gen. 4. 26. Exo. 3. 13. 14. 15. & 34. 6. 7. Deut. 6. 13
• Psal. 9. 16.
• Psal. 9. 10. & 12. 6. & 33. 18. 19 & 34. 8. & 18. & 37. 39. & 27. 1. & 31. 2.