Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:6

seeketh] As a coward seeketh his adversarie; in hope not to finde him.

is easie] Chap. I. 20. and chap. VIII. 1, 17.

Proverbs 14:9

a mock at sinne] These dance with the Devil. Chap. X. 23. 2 Thes. II. 12. 2 Pet. II. 13.

favour] From God: or a complacencie in their righteous dealing: or gains them favour among themselves.

Proverbs 14:10

not intermeddle] 1 Pet. I. 8. Phil. IV. 7. 2 Cor. V. 4. It is an hansel of heaven. The cock on the dunghil knows not the worth of this jewel.

Proverbs 14:12

seemeth] Chap. XVI. 25. Sinne comes cloathed with a shew of Reason. Exod. I. 10. And thereupon we willingly deceive our own hearts, James I. 26. as Micah, Iudg. XVII. 13. and Ier. VII. 4. And self-delusion is an epidemical disease, and deadly.

Proverbs 14:13

even in laughter] Some frothy and flashy mirth the wicked may have; but there is a snare or cord in their sinne which strangles their mirth, that they rejoyce in the face, not in the heart, 2 Cor. V. 12. Esth. V. 13

heavinesse] Iob XXI. 12, 13. Luke 6. 25. Eccles. II. 2.

Proverbs 14:14

filled with his own wayes] have made a match with mischief, and shall have enough of it; hath sold himself to wickednesse, and shall be sure of his payment.

from himself] 1 Tim. VI. 6. Heb. X. 34. Psal. XIX. 11. Goodness is its own reward, in hand, and in hope.

Proverbs 14:15

The simple beleeveth] As Ieroboam that old baby.

looketh well] Looks before he leaps; tries before he trusts. 1 Iohn IV. 1. Ephes. V. 15.

Proverbs 14:16

feareth, and departeth] Feareth the judgements whiles they hang in the threatnings: counts them, not words so much, as thunderbolts, Hab. III. 16.

Proverbs 14:19

The evil bow] The worst cannot but think well of them; and do homage to the image of God stamped upon the natures and practises of the good and righteous.

Proverbs 14:21

his neighbour] Poor neighbour, and needy.

Proverbs 14:22

that devise evil? That plot and plough it, dig and delve it; are they not heavenly wide, utterly out?

Proverbs 14:23

labour] That is honest, not that whereby they do wickedly with both hands earnestly.

talk of the lips] Great talkers, are commonly do-littles.

Proverbs 14:24

is their riches] For God gives them wisdome to use them well.

fools] Rich fools. Riches to them is as a sword put into a mad mans hand.

Proverbs 14:26

Strong confidence] Dan. III. 17. 2 Kings XVIII. 5.

Proverbs 14:28

multitude of people] Which wars waste and consume. See 2 Sam. XXIV.

Proverbs 14:29

slow to anger] Anger may rush into a wise mans bosome; not rest there, Eccles. VII. 9. Iames I. 19, 20.

Proverbs 14:30

exalteth] Proclaims it aloud; sets it on the theater.

A sound heart] Well freed from passions and perturbations holds out long.

envie] A corroding disease it is: an hel-hag that feeds upon its own marrow, bones, and strongest parts: it is as rust is to iron; as the viper: It both sinnes, and is punished together, so quick and speedy justice accompanies it, Iob V. 2.

Proverbs 14:31

his maker] 1 Sam. II. 7. A poor mans livelihood is his life, Luke VIII. 43.

honoureth him] That is, honoureth God. God so takes it; chap. III. 8. And God honours him; Matth. XXV. 34. &c.

Proverbs 14:32

driven away] Being arrested by the Serjeant death, in the Devils name and so hurried away, and hurled into hell.

hath hope] Death to them is as the valley of Achor. Iustus etiam dum exspirat sperat.

Proverbs 14:33

in the heart] Is not vainglorious, sets not forth his good parts and practises a sunning, to be seene and cried up.

in the midst of fools] Their zeal must be seene; 2 Kings X. 16. Their pietie must be shored up with popularitie.

Proverbs 14:34

a reproach] Sinnes are the snuffs of our candlesticks, and threaten the removal of it, and will render us a reproach and a taunt; Deut. XXVIII. 37. Ier. XXV. 9. Ezek. V. 14, 15.

Proverbs 14:35

a wise servant] So to Joseph by Pharaoh; so to Daniel by Darius. And much more is the favour of the King of Kings to his servants; Matth. XXIV. 45, 46, 47. and XXV. 21, 23.

his wrath] So to Haman, Shebna, and others.