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.

5 The wise man is mightie, and the man of knowledge for∣tifieth his vertue.

It seemeth that the fooles and wicked which are giuen to rauine and molestation, are mightie and strong, because that according to out∣warde apparance, they doe what they wil, and haue suche authori∣tie, that there is none which can nor dare resist them. And contra∣riwise, it seemeth that there are no kinde of people so weake, nor so miserable and abiect as the good and wise are. As they themselues are tempted, to thinke also when they regarde not but that which is present before their corporal eyes. But withdrawing ourselues from suche regarde, which is false and deceiueable, wee ought to beleeue in the spirite of al trueth, which speaketh to vs by Solomon and saieth,

The wise man. &c. And so hee teacheth vs that wee ought not to constitute our power and might in thinges which are present vn∣to vs corporally, but in the wisedome and knowledge which wee learne by the worde. For also Solomon saieth not the man simplie, who of himselfe can not bee strong and fortified: But the wyse

man, and the man of knowledge. As if hee saide, It is by wisedome and knowledge, that a man is strong, and encreaseth more and more in force: not bodily force which is a verie smal thing, but force of the spirite, which consisteth in constancie and patience, which sur∣mounteth al mundane force, and escapeth the dangers wherein the strong men of the worlde perishe. This same was seene at al times in Noe, and the Giants which were of his time, in Moyses, and Pharao: In Ioseph, and his maistresse: In Daniel, and his enuyers: In Dauid and Saule, and in many others: as in the Prophetes and their enemies: the Apostles, and their persecuters: and nowe in the poore faythful, and their aduersaries, which are the great sages of the worlde: as the Pope, and his Supposts, Kings, & their flatterers, and tormenters.

Wherefore wee ought to vnderstande that wee shoulde not aspire to the puisance and force of this worlde, which maketh a man proude: and so of force hee must perish, seeing hee hath God for partie against him: but being feeble and abiect according to the worlde wee ought to fortifie ourselues in humilitie of spirite, and then wee shal haue the Almightie on our side.