mit to the Learned and judicious. y Who are fo far from makin a mock of ſin, or excuſing it, that they do not allow themſelves ro commit it. z They find favour both with God and men, as this very word thus generally exprefled is uſed, Prov: 11: 29: becauſe they make conſcience of ordering their lives ſo that they offend nei- ther God nor men; or if they offend either, they heartily repent + of it, ſo far are they from excuſing it or pleaſing themſelves with it. Or, there is zood will, as the word properly and uſually is ta- ken : they have a real love, andare ready to do all offices of kindneſs one to another, and therefore neither fin againſt others,nor rejoyce in the fins of others. :
lo The heart knoweth | hisown bitterneſs a, and + Heb.
a ſtranger b doth not intermeddle with his joy ec. bitterueſ; of a The ſenſe of the Verſe is this, The inward griefs and joys of ## Si, mens Hearts,though ſometimes they may be guelled at by outward ſigns, yet are not certainly known to any but a mans feit.Compare I Cor: 2:11. The ſcope of the Parable may be to heep men from murmuring under their own troubles or envying other mens happi- neſs, b Any other Perſon without or beſides a Mans ſelf. c Doth not partake of it, nor underſtand it. 11 The houſe « of the wicked ſhall be overthrown ;
but the tabernacle e of the upright ſhall proſper.
d Their dwelling and family. e Which is a weak, and poor, and unſtable thing, ſoon reared up, and ſoon taken down, and is here oppoſed to the large, and ſtrong, and magnificent Houſe of wicked men.
12 * There is a way which ſeemeth right unto a*cyg
man f, but the end thereof ;s the ways of death g.
f There are ſome evil a&ions or courſes which men may think to
|
be lawful and go: d, either through grols and affected ignorance ; lor through partiality, or ſelf-flattery ; or through want of aeceſlary diligence in examining them by the rule of Gods will or word : all which are culpable cauſes of the miſtake, and therefore do not ex« cuſe the error. g The event fheweth that they were ſinful and de- {tructive. ;
13 Even in laughter the heart is ſorrowful,and * the Ch:5-4
end of that mirth 3s heavineſs hs
h The outward ſigns of joy are commonly mixed with or end in real and hearty ſorrow. The deſign of the Proverb is to declare the vanity of all worldly joys and comforts, and to teach men mo« _ in them, and to perſwade usto ſeek formore ſolid and du able joys:
14 * the backſlider in heart ; ſhall be * filled with *PC4g.t; his own ways &; and a good man ſhall be ſatisfied from *Ch:1:;1 himſelf /. | & 12! 1+
f He who departeth from God and from the way of his Precepts with all his Heart, which implies the doing it upon deliberation, with free,choice,and full purpoſe, and cuſtomary practice,as ungod- ly men commonly do,and is oppoſed to the ſlips of humane frailtyz for otherwiſe every fin is a revolt from God: k With the fruit of his ways or doings, the puniſhment of his ſins. /7z.e. From his wzys,as appears by the oppoſition:from the pious temper of his own own Heart which cleaveth to the Lord, when the hearts of ſinners rorſake him, and fromthe holy and righteous courſe of his life, from which he ſhall receive unſpeakable comfort and ſatisfaction, both here and hereafter to all Erernity.
15 The ſimple » believerh every word z ; but the prudent wan looketh well to his going o.
m Either the harmleſs Man : or rather a fooliſh Man, becauſe he is oppoſed to the prudent. = Is eaſily deceived with the ſmooth words and fair pretences of falſe and deceitful men. o Either 1, to his own going, as this is generally underſtood ; he ordereth his converſation and dealings in the World with due circumſpeccion, not conſidering ſo much what other men ſay as what he ought to do. Or, 2.-to the going of the deceiver, whoſe the word in the former clauſe is ſuppoſed to be. So the ſenſe is, he judgeth cf mens words and profeſſions by their converſations ; which is a 'Chrr.s good rule, my
16 A wiſe mas feareth p,and departeth from evilq ; but the fool rageth.r and is confident 5.
p Trembleth at Gods judgments when they are either inflicted or threatned. q From ſin,which is the procuring cauſe of all cala- mities, r Freteth againſt God 3 or is enraged againſt his Meſſen« gers who bring the threatning ; or diſquieteth himſelf in vain. Or trauſgreſſeth, asthis Verb in its ſimple form and firſt Conjugation commonly ſignifies; or, goeth on in ſim conſtantly and reſolutely, accor- ding to the Emphaſis which this Conjugation commonly aids to the ſimple Verb. And this is moſt fitly oppoſed toldepariing Fom evil ; as being confident is oppoſed to fearing. 5 Secure and inſenſible of his danger till Gods judgments overtake him.
'17 Hethat is {(oonangry dealeth fooliſhly f,and a man
of wicked devices « is hated x.
t His paſſion hurries him into many rafh and fooliſh ſpeeches and ations. « One who ſuppreſlerh his paſſion, but deſigneth and meditateth revenge, watching for the fiteſt methocs and oportu- nities of executing it. x Both by God and men, as being molt deeply malicious and like the Devil, and moſt dangerous and per* nic!1ous to humane Society 3; whereas men that are ſoon angry g'Ve a Man warning and are quickly pacitied, and therefore piticed and pardoned.
18 The ſimple inherit folly y ; but the prudent are
in the next Clauſe. x Picale and ſupport themſelves with their own | CI owned with knowledge V. and other mens ſins, which is an high offence and proyocetion to
faſt,
WR«
5 They poſf:fs it as their Inheritance or portion, holding ut
Chap. Xty. |;
Heb. ths treru; of Sou,
chk 26 |
Ch: 5:4
22.3
X1y
Chap XIV.
the word is the ſame : withall he may imply that folly is Natural and Hereditary to them. z They place their houour and happineſs in a ſound and praQica], and ſaving knowledge of God and of their own duty, and therefore earneſtly purſue after it, and Heartily em- brace it.
19 Theevil bow before the good a, and the wicked at the gates b of cherighteous.
4 Giving Honour to them, and ſapplicating their favour and help, either for ſupply of their wants, as being brought low for their ſins, or for Counſel or comfort, or for their Prayers to God for them. h As Clients, and Petitioners, and Beggars uſe to wait at the Doors and Houſes of great and potent Men. The ſenſe is, Good Men hgHare the Pre-eminency over the wicked oft times in this Life, When God ſees it expedient, but afſuredly in the next