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.

11 The riche mans riches are his strong Citie: and as an high wal in his imagination.

Albeit that Saint Peter doeth teache vs, that al our strength and safetie standeth in the name of the Lorde: and that it is also the * 1.1 trueth, as diuers holie men haue prooued, and amongst other the people of Israel, as they doe acknowledge it with Moyses, yet the worldlings can not receiue it into their mindes, but despising what∣soeuer is saide of the prouidence of God, and of the care that God * 1.2 hath ouer vs, doe occupie themselues about that which they thinke, and looke for, and staye vppon that which they see, and thinke they can laye holde on, or vppon that which alreadie they haue possession of as they thinke. The ambitious wil think them¦selues to bee verie strong, and to be in safetie, if many doe com∣mende and prayse them, and bowe vnto them, if they haue cre∣dite, and that they thinke they are esteemed and had in admira∣tion. Wee might heere make a discourse of al the vices, and of al the vanities whereby men are so deceiued, that they make their fortresse of them: not so that they be truely assured: for if there commeth to them neuer so little affliction, but that they tremble as an Aspine leafe, though they shewe a great bragge: for the in∣fallible trueth hath pronounced, that there is no peace to the wic∣ked.

Nowe leauing suche discourse, let vs come to consider the ri∣ches * 1.3

of this worlde, the which of themselues are good, after the vse wheretoo GOD hath created them, and it is laweful to pos∣sesse them, and to vse them with thankesgiuing. If wee looke nar∣rowlie howe they are vsed, howe they are esteemed, wee shall see that they which are without them, or which haue not ynough, doe tremble and quake oftentimes, with feare they haue, either that the earth (as it is saide) shoulde faile them: or that if strife, dissenti∣ons and warres shoulde arise and bee moued against them, that they shoulde not haue wherewith to defende them: on the other side, that they which haue abundance of them, wherewith they are con∣tented as they seeme, except they haue the feare of God, and that they knowe howe they must vse the abundance of riches that God giueth: wee shal see that such kinde of people wil so abuse them∣selues, that they wil make of their riches their God, or themselues to bee gods: and wil perswade themselues to beleeue, that none e∣uil, howe greate soeuer it bee, shal light vpon them, but that they shal ouercome it wel ynough: for they haue this Diuellish opinion, that al things obey vnto money. And therefore, Solomon speaking vpon their opinion, saith,

The riche mans riches are his strong citie, &c. Wherein So∣lomon doeth closely reprooue the opinion of the worldlings and carnal minded, which thinke and say, that the riche of the worlde are happie and good men: for when hee discouereth the imaginati∣on and fantasie of the riche, which is, to haue no trust nor assurance but onely in his riches: In that hee saith that the riches of the riche are his strong citie: hee sheweth wel that the worldly riches are not righteous: and so they are not good men, otherwise they would holde the name of God for a strong tower, and would thereto haue recourse and woulde not imagine their riches to be their strong ci∣tie, nor their high wall. In such imaginations there is no righteous∣nes, but all iniquitie, wrong, extortion, and violencee: for sith that they haue such imagination, and such estimation, of their riches, no thanke to them though they do not spoyle and rauish away the sub∣stance of other. And therefore it is not without cause that riches haue and beare the title of iniquitie, and that our Lord Iesus Christ * 1.4 doeth set them against God, and that he doeth depriue them of the kingdome of heauen. Solomon then speaketh not of al rich men:

for many haue bene riche, which haue trusted in God, and haue ser∣ued him according to his woorde: but hee speaketh of those which contemne God and his woorde, and haue al their affection set and giuen to the riches of the worlde, of whose number Saint Paule woulde not haue vs to bee. Saint Iames also laboureth earnestly to * 1.5 turne vs away from them. Solomon also hath trauailed to pul vs away from them. If wee wil folowe and obey them, let vs take heed to chalenge to ourselues any force, as doe the riche worldly men: euen as Solomon doeth signifie it, when hee saieth, not simplie, a strong cite: but his strong Citie. Let vs not also folowe our imagi∣nation, for by it wee coulde not giue ourselues vnto goodnesse. As touching the rest, let vs note that Solomon doeth not here pro∣nounce what the riche ought to thinke or to say: as hath bene han∣dled. It shal not bee also vnfruiteful to note that Solomon hath compared the name of God onely to a tower: and heere hee com∣pareth riches vnto a Citie, which is much greater then a tower. It commeth not because that he esteemeth riches more then the name of the Lorde: but wee may say that it is because that the worlde∣lings and carnal minded esteeme more the temporal goods, and are more in loue with them, then are the righteous with the graces and giftes of God: and also that they which desire and loue riches, and thereuppon set their heartes, and trust in them, are much more in number, then are they that haue their refuge vnto God. And there∣fore, the riche haue need of a citie, where the righteous haue y∣nough of a tower. Moreouer, a citie which is often more faire to see too, & of greater shew then a tower, ought to be attributed vn∣to worldly riche men, for they wil bee greatly seene.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Act. 4. 11. 12
• * 1.2

  Exo. 15. 1 Psal. 48. 2.
• * 1.3

  Esai. 48. 22.
• * 1.4

  Luke. 16. 9. 13 Mat. 19. 23.
• * 1.5

  1. Tim. 6. 6. 17. 18. Iam. 1. 9. & 2. 5. & 5. 1. P••o. 10. 22. &. 11. 28.