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 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not blesse their mother.

God at the beginning created man like vnto his image and like∣nesse, that hee shoulde walke in al holinesse: as the Apostle Saint * 1.1 Paule declareth. And since that, for to correct his corruption and his wickednesse, hee hath giuen him commandements: and the better to drawe him, to frame his life after them, hee made him promises: and woulde that wee shoulde order ourselues with al our affection and in true humilitie, with al softnesse and gentlenesse vnder the o∣bedience of his commandementes, and shoulde trust altogether vp∣on his promises. And to the ende that wee shoulde feare to forsake them, hee addeth threatninges against the disobedient and vnbelee∣ning, and condemneth them vnto death. But there are but fewe people that make any great account to maintein this image in them, which obey the commandements, which trust in the promises, and which feare the threatninges and condemnation of death: as wee feele the same but too much in our time: and as hath beene seene in olde time, euen as the holy histories doe declare. And with these proofes we haue also now the wiseman which maketh great com∣plaint therof in this present sentence, and in other following: in the which he accuseth not one man alone, or some familie, but a great number. For he saith not, there are some men: but he saith, There is a generation. By the which word he signifieth a very great num∣ber, and a continual stocke: and is as much as if he saide, that from father to sonne, and from sonne to sonne, the euil continueth, & that the successours doe follow the corruption and the wickednes of their predecessours, in a great number, and in a long time toge∣ther. And as touching this present sentence, we must note, it is not without cause why the wise man maketh such complaint. For nature teacheth vs that we should greatly esteeme our fathers & mothers, and should honour them in obeying them, in helping their necessi∣ties, and in being altogether at their commandement without vex∣ing or troubling them: seeing we condemne those which do the contrary. Although that young children doe not thinke nor take suche heede vnto this natural lawe, as they ought to doe:

yet is it not to say, but that it shoulde bee grauen in their heartes: as wee may see it, when they are come to age, and haue children: For without the Scripture they coulde wel enough aske their chil∣dren the duetie they owe them. And the Heathen likewise, which neuer knewe any thing of the holy scripture, coulde very wel say, That wee cannot yeelde any recompence vnto our fathers and mo∣thers. But in the time of the wise man, and long time before, God, for to helpe nature, and to waken him vp, had giuen his com∣mandements by writing: amongest the which hee commandeth, Honour thy father and thy mother, and to mooue the children to obey them, he addeth a promise, saying, that thy dayes may be long * 1.2 on the lande which the Lorde thy God giueth thee. And albeit that the promise doeth closely import and carry with it a threatning and condemnation against the disobedient: neuerthelesse, to the end that wee shoulde feare and bee more giltie and vnexcusable, if wee failed in the duetie towards our parentes, God expresseth the threa∣tening. Hee woulde haue the parentes to procure the punishmente of their rebellious children, and to bring them before the iudges. Forasmuch as there is such natural light, suche commaundements, such promises and threatenings, and such condemnation, it is not * 1.3 therefore with out cause that the wise man complaineth or wonde∣reth at this, that in al ages there are so many disobedient children vnto their fathers and mothers, not onely ignorantly or carelesly, contemning their cōmandements, but also of set malice resisting thē with wronges and iniuries: as the wise man doeth signifie by the curse that hee repeateth, when he is not satisfied in saying, Curseth his father, but addeth, and doeth not blesse his mother, as it is the manner of the Scripture, to rehearse one very thing vnder diuers wordes. Orels wee may say that the wise man maketh heere an ar∣gument of consequence, from the greater to the lesser: as if he saide forasmuche as there is a generation of children, so corrupted, that they forbeare not to curse their fathers and mothers, which are the heads and lordes of the house, it followeth wel that they make no account to doe any good vnto their mothers, who are inferiours to their fathers. For it is also the custome of wicked children, that though verily they seeme to feare and honour their fathers, least they shold be beaten or driuen out of the doores, or dishinherited:

yet wil they boldly shewe, that they greatly despise their mother, & labour to perswade themselues, that they need not to make any ac∣count of them, because they are women, and haue no power nor authoritie to depriue them of their portion of the goods. Wherein there is great pride and great vnthankefulnesse: for seeing God hath giuen thē this honour to be mothers, the children ought to be sub∣iect vnto them in al humblenesse and obedience. And sith they haue * 1.4 suffered so much paines in bearing them in their wombes, and haue suffered so great sorowes in bringing them foorth, & haue so much care to nurse them and to bring them vp, they shoulde be ready and diligent to doe them good againe. The which the wise man doeth teach them to doe, when he complaineth, they blesse not their mo∣thers. And forasmuch as it happeneth most often that those childrē which haue beene wantonly brought vp, are the soonest ready to curse their fathers, and to greeue and trouble their mothers, the fa∣thers and mothers ought to learne that they are heere taught too nurse and bring vp their children in instruction and doctrine of the Lorde. And when also it is saide, Thou shalt not speake euil of the iudges of thy people, &c. princes are taught to be careful too keepe * 1.5 their subiectes vnder.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Collo. 3. 10
• * 1.2

  Exo. 20. 12.
• * 1.3

  Exo. 21. 17. Deut. 21. 12
• * 1.4

  Iob. 4. 4. Eccle. 7. 24
• * 1.5

  Exo. 22. 28.