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.

24 The steppes of man are in the handes of the Lord: how then shall a man knowe his owne waies?

There is none of vs, but hee naturaly, attributeth to himselfe power to conduct and gouerne himselfe, ann thinketh that hee hath free will and libertie to doe wel or euil. In which thoughts there is great pride: for by this meanes man rauisheth to himselfe the ho∣nour and glory of God, and maketh himselfe his God and his Saui∣our, and leaueth his creature, as if hee had not too doe with him, whereas man ought to humble himselfe, and knowe that he ought in no wise to attribute that to himselfe which is appertinent to * 1.1 God. Therefore it is hee that guideth and gouerneth vs. We may also see it in many praiers. Solomon following his praiers saith,

Now the steppes of man are in the handes of the Lorde, &c. Whervnto Ieremie accordeth. But we must note that Solomō spea∣keh not, of manners, deedes, deliberations, and affections of man according as he were the sonne of Adam: for therein is nothing but corruptiō, of the which God is not the authour: It is mā which hath corrupted himselfe by his owne wil. But Solomon speaketh of a man, who renouncing himselfe, and declining from his infirmitie and naturall corruption, striueth to thinke wel, say wel, and do wel. We ought to knowe manifestly, that God is the authour of suche steppes according to the testimonies aforesaide: and that Solomon speaketh heere of the steppes of him that forceth himselfe. Hee she∣weth it som what, whē he vseth in his speach here a worde taken of force and puisance, and signifieth man: whereby wee are admoni∣shed that if we haue any powerto apply ourselues to wel doing, that we shold acknowlege it to come of god, & not attribute any praiers to ourselues for the same, but let vs say, The Lord is my strength & * 1.2 praise, & he is become my saluatiō, with him is wisdom & strēgth,

counsel, and vnderstanding. Then seeing it is so that our steppes are the Lordes, whose works are incomprehensible to man, it fol∣loweth * 1.3 that man of himselfe, knoweth not what hee hath to thinke deliberate, say or doe, to flye from vice and followe vertue, as So∣lomon sheweth, saying,

Howe then shall a man knowe his owne waies? Heere hee speaketh of man according as if hee were sonne of Adam, and of na∣ture corrupted: also hee sheweth it somewhat, when in his speach to signifie man, hee vseth this worde Adam: and though hee vsed it not, yee wee ought to vnderstand it so, seeing that God hath crea∣ted man from the beginning to his owne Image, and likenesse, and hath made him right or streight: but being corrupted by sinne, hee hath made himselfe ignorant, dul, and bruitishe, not because he hath not naturally sufficient knowledge of the good way which he ought to holde, to the ende hee bee made inexcusable, if his life and con∣uersation bee not such, that by the same, God may bee glorified as hee ought. When therefore Solomon addeth this present interro∣gation, it is as though he saide: If man indued with vertue, haue * 1.4 neede to beeguided, and gouerned by the Lorde: by a farre more reason the sensual man, which makes no account to resist the affe∣ctions of his fleshe, shal haue no vnderstanding to knowe that which hee ought to follow, neither maketh he account therof, but rather goeth astray.

To knowe therefore and to vnderstande our way, not that which we imagine or finde good in our owne sight, but that which God sheweth vs by his worde, (which is called ours, because wee ought to followe it, without declining either this way or that way, but to obey vprightly our Lord god) it is meet we renoūce our na∣tural corruption, to wit, our first Adam, & that the holy Ghost for∣tifie vs, and giue vs courage, and teache vs the right wil of God, wherein lyeth our way, otherwise wee shal remaine dul and igno∣rant. It is not therefore in vs, nor in our free wil, to doe or vnder∣stande that which is our duetie. Neuerthelesse, when God calleth vs, and teacheth vs by his worde, wee ought to striue to walke in the way which hee sheweth vs, and not ceasse to craue his conduict without attending newe inspirations, nor that hee should take vs visibly by the hande, for to leade vs: for the worde that is spoken

to vs dayly, is sufficient to doe that same: for by it the holy Ghost teacheth vs, and guideth vs, if we stop not our senses, and drawe backe ourselues.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 15. 13. Deut. 32. 10, 11. 12. Ps. 6. & 25. 45. 89. & 27 11. Ier. 10. 23.
• * 1.2

  Exod. 15. 2. Iob. 12. 13.
• * 1.3

  Psa. 28. 7. 6•• 35. Esay. 12. 2.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 1. 18.