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.

15 A wise hearte getteth knowledge, and the eare of the wise seeketh learning.

It is commonly saide, that knowledge is a faire possession: and therefore many doe aspire vnto it and looke after it, as they thinke: but yet fewe people doe atteine it: for many in steade of folowing knowledge to be indewed therewith and to obteine it, goe backe∣warde, flying from it as from the pestilence, euen as do the simple and idiots in Poperie, when they dare, or wil not reade the holy scriptures, nor heare the pure trueth, lest they should bee poysoned ther with: and as doe the mockers and contemners, which wil not learne so much goodnesse, least they should be too wise, and breake their wits. These fellowes, what worldly knowledge soeuer they haue, yet are they ignorant: what carnal wisdom soeuer they haue, yet are they fooles. And thus they get not knowledge: and so long as they remaine in such fantasies, neither can they nor wil they ob∣teine her: for she entreth not but into the hearte of the wise, as So∣lomon doth pronounce it, saying,

A wise heart getteth knowledge. Wee expounde this same of the pure trueth of the word of God, the which onely is worthy to be named knowledge. Notwithstāding we do not refuse the know∣ledge of men and liberal artes, which are giftes of God & serue this present life: but when wee haue learned them perfitly, yet are wee blinde and ignorant stil, except we haue the pure truth, and that we submit and subiect al other sciences, vnto the same. And therefore for to be partakers of this getting, we must not be like vnto brute beastes which haue no vnderstanding, but we must haue an hart of vnderstanding and knowledge. Solomon doeth teache vs what wee shal doe for to obteine this wisedome and learning, when hee saith,

And the eare of the wise seeketh learning. This is, that wee shoulde haue a true affection to know the wil of God by his word, and that for to attaine this knowledge we should become the schol∣lers and disciples of God, and of our Lord Iesus Christ, reading the scriptures, and hearing them diligently which purely preache the trueth. And let vs note that he calleth not them wise, which neede not to be taught, but those which haue a right affection to learne & to bee taught, otherwise they shoulde not neede to seeke for lear∣ning. Let vs also note that forasmuch as Solomō calleth knowledge a getting, he teacheth vs that in the same is great profit: seeing also that it is gotten by the wise, and that he hath his desire thereuppon: the which is signified by the hart. And also that we must not thinke a wise man wil set his heart vpon a thing of nothing and vnprofi∣table. And as touching the vtilitie and profit of this getting, wee haue seene it handled heere before in diuers places.