A plaine and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the Prouerbs of Salomon

Verse 26. The troublesome person bringeth trouble to himselfe, for his mouth doth recoile vpon himselfe.

THE troublesome person] which taketh a delight, and see∣keth occasions to molest others which haue done him no hurt, [bringeth trouble to himselfe] procureth his owne hurt or vexation of minde: [for his mouth recoileth vpon himselfe] his false or malicious speeches, whereby hee diffameth his neighbours, or otherwise seeketh to worke their sorrow, turne to his owne shame and discredit, if not losse, or further punishment.

[Doct.] No turbulent man can keepe himselfe safe from trouble and miserie.

It is a righteous thing with God (saith S. Paul to the Thessaloni∣ans) to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you.

Pharaoh with the cruell Egyptians felt this true, and Saul with his malicious Courtiers, and Haman with those violent men that attempted the ruine of the Church in Hesters time. Though Achan minded not to molest Israel, nor had a pur∣pose to doe them harme, yet because hee did it in deed, and drew downe a plague and iudgement vpon them, therefore said Ioshua to him, In as much as thou hast troubled vs, the Lord shall trouble thee this day.

[Reason 1] First, God taketh the matter in hand for the wronged, and repaieth the wrong-doers according to their owne measure wherewith they mete to others, as appeareth by the former testimonies and examples.

[ 2] Secondly, an vnquiet and contentious person doth com∣monly make himselfe hatefull and odious to the people, and so that befalleth him which was spoken concerning Ismael, His hand shalbe against euery man, & euery mans hand against him.

[ 3] Thirdly, their bodies vsually are put to trauell, by going or riding: their purses to charges, for fees or other expences: their hearts to torment, with disappointments and repulses: for their successe will not be answerable to their expectation and desire, as Haman found, to his discontentment, euen whiles Mordecai was vnder him; but felt to his anguish and destruction when Mordecai was ouer him.

[Vse.] Instruction, to preserue our owne peace by liuing peacea∣bly with our brethren; and rather to suffer iniuries with quiet∣nesse, than to reuenge them vncharitably with strife and con∣tention: and especially, than to offer them with molestation and disturbance of any man. Or if we haue faulted too farre already that way, before wee heard, or well harkened to this counsell, that shall be our wisdome, prouidently to preuent the hurts that may ensue, by a timely remedie thereof: and that is, as wee haue vniustly brought griefe to other mens hearts, and hindrance to their states, so we afflict our owne hearts with griefe for the same; and as much as in vs is, pro∣cure them rest, and make them recompence.

Notes

• 2. Thess. 1. 6.
• Ioshua 7. 25.
• Gen. 16. 12.