CHAP. XVIII.
THrough desire a man having separated himselfe, seeketh and intermedleth with all wisdome; The vulgar, He that will depart from his friend seekes * 1.1 occasions, he shall be exprobable at every time; Jun. A haire-brained man, Cerebrosus, Seeks according to his desire, in all things that are he mingleth him∣selfe. Muffet, He that separateth himselfe seeketh a quarrell, he medleth in every matter; Hebr. The separated seeketh according to his desire, he ming∣leth himselfe in every matter; And the meaning is, the separated in affection from such as he formerly loved, seeketh occasion of quarrelling, even as his owne evill will or desire leadeth him; and to this end he pryeth into, and sifteth every thing, whereupon he may take occasion to quarrell, and fall out with his friends, al∣though there be no just occasion given him.
Here then is set forth the evil quality of contentious men, and false-hearted to their friends, they are not like the friend before spoken of, chap. 17. 17. but in∣constant in their love, now loving; now from loving, turning to hating, and practi∣cing against their friends, seeking occasion where none is, and where there is the least occasion aggravating it, and making it more. This is a foule evil, and there∣fore by all men to be abhorred; it was the sinne of Achitophell against David, [Note.] and let every one take heed of such a friend, and therefore of making friend∣ship with the quarrelsome, and busie-bodies: for what love soever he pretend∣eth to thee, he is not to be trusted, within a while he will shew his nature towards thee, as well as towards others, and so will get more advantage against thee, to doe thee hurt.
A foole hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover it * 1.2 selfe; Junius, but in the things that are in his owne minde. This seemeth fitly to answer the former verse, according to the New Translation, and intermedleth with all wisdome; if thereby we understand, as some doe, will be talking of all manner of learning, for when he doth thus, it is not with a minde to learne, or to get understanding, as it is here said, but hereby the foolishnesse, and want of under∣standing in his owne heart is discovered to his shame; or following the reading of Junius, In the things that are in his owne minde; That is, his owne foolish Phantasies, and imaginations; but the first reading is according to the Originall, that his heart may discover it selfe; That is, in his intermedling with all mat∣ters, seeking occasion from hence to separate, or alienate his affection, as hath been said, he bewrayeth, that he is not delighted in understanding, in his witty inqui∣ring into things, he sheweth no heart, taken with the love of true wisdome, but pos∣sessed with foolishnesse.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy re∣proach; * 1.3 That is, contempt, shame, and reproach follow the wicked, wheresoever they become, viz. they shall think to change their places of habitation to come, where