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.

17 Bee not thou glad when thine enimie falleth: and let not thine heart reioyce, when he stumbleth.

It is saide, that God hath not made death, and that he taketh no pleasure to see the liuing perishe, and it is conformable to that which the Prophet Ezechiel saith, I couet not the death of him that dieth, saith the Lorde, &c. I am liuing, saith the Lorde, I couet not the death of the infidel, but that hee conuert from his way, and liue. Nowe when it is so, that by our sinnes wee are enimies to God, hee declareth and sheweth himselfe very merciful, when hee seeketh not our destruction, but calleth vs to him againe, & giueth vs accesse by Iesus Christ his sonne, by whome hee hath reconciled vs to him, to giue vs life and saluation for euer. And as hee is such a one towards vs, who are his enimies by nature (for the affection of the fleshe, is enmitie against God) euen so wil hee that wee be pitiful and chari∣table towards them which are our enimies: as he declareth it vnto vs sufficiently by the benefites which he sheweth vpon vs dayly, of the which we are not once worthie. But not content herewith be∣cause we are as it were blinde, dul, and sluggish, not caring to consi∣der his meruellous workes, ful of great benignitie and bountie, hee declareth it vnto vs by his worde. He hath also declared it vnto vs

by examples, as of Ioseph towards his brethren: of Dauid towards Saul: of Iesus Christ towardes mankinde, and very manifestly to∣wardes them which put him to death: and of S. Stephen towards his persecutours. And therefore it ought to bee manifest that it is not without cause that Solomon admonisheth vs saying,

Bee not thou glad when thine enimie falleth, and let not thine heart reioyce when he stumbleth. And as it is manifest vnto vs, e∣uen so wee ought to followe it: otherwise wee are not the chil∣dren of God our heauenly father, which maketh his Sunne shine on the good, and on the euil. But some wil say, that the children of Israel sang a songue to the Lord for the destruction of Pharao, and his people. And Debora, & Barac sang to the Lorde for the discōfi∣ture of their enimies. And Dauid reioyced at the fal of his enimies. And God saide, I wil solace my selfe with my aduersaries, & reuenge mee on mine enimies: and therefore that it is laweful to reioyce at the fal of the enimie. I answere, That wee may reioyce at the fall of our enimies, when it serueth to the glory of God, and that by the same fal, wee learne to feare the Lorde, and magnifie him, and exalt him. But if wee haue regarde to followe our proper iniuries, and search our particular profite, if wee mingle our affections ther∣with, which are ordinarily il gouerned: and if because we loue our¦selues, wee are the swifter to reioyce at the ruine of our enimies, our ioy is not righteous. And also it is that which Solomon forbid∣deth vs in this present.

Notes

• Sapi. 1. 13 Ezeh. 18. 32 & 33. 11. Esay. 59. 2. Rom. 5. 10 Col. 1. 21
• Ro 87. 8.
• Exo. 23. 4. 5. Leui. 19. 17. 18. Mat. 5. 44 Rom. 12. 17.
• Mat. 5. 45 Fxo. 15. 1. Ind. 5. 1. Psal. 9 18 & 3. 8▪ Esay. 1. 24.