Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:1

to eate] feed not without fear. Jude verse 12.

Proverbs 23:2

a knife] Bridle thy appetite. Or, otherwise thou dost put a knife to thy throat, and diggest thy grave with thy teeth; for meat and the board, kils more then the musket, and the sword, Luke XXI. 34.

Proverbs 23:3

deceitful] An hook under that bait.

Proverbs 23:4

to be rich] 1 Tim. VI. 9, 10. James III. 15. 1 John II. 15, 16, 17.

Proverbs 23:5

wilt thou] Cast a leering eye after such vanities? and flie a fooles pitch?

is not] Hath no solid subsistence; though we call riches substance, 1 Cor. VII. 31. Earth is hanged upon nothing, as Job speaketh. And so all earthly things, Amos VI. 13. Esay XXVIII. 15.

Proverbs 23:6

eate thou not] A miserly fordid muckworme.

thinketh] Grudgeth at his guests: as one willing to starve even his own genius.

Proverbs 23:8

sweet words] Which he hath spoak to thee; or rather thy chearful words at his table.

Proverbs 23:9

speak not] Chap. IX. 7, 8. Matth. VII. 6.

Proverbs 23:10

land mark] Chap. XXII. 28. Deut. XIX. 14. and XXVII. 17. Ovidius ad Deum Terminum, Omnis erit sine te litigiosus ager.

Proverbs 23:11

Plead] Chap. XXII. 23. Job XXXI. 23. and XXVI. 14. Psal. XC. 11. Eccles. VI. 10. God is the great Master of the wards.

Proverbs 23:12

apply] Busie them about the best things.

Proverbs 23:13

withhold not correction] Chap. XIII. 24. and Chap. XIX. 18. and chap. XXII. 25.

Proverbs 23:14

and shalt deliver] This a means for it. And if it succeed not, yet thou hast done thy duty, and so shalt deliver thine own soul; and have thy reward. As the Phisitian hath his fee whether the Patient live, or die.

Proverbs 23:15

Shall rejoyce] Chap. X. 1. and chap. XV. 20. 3 John. 4. 1 Thes. III. 9.

Proverbs 23:17

envie sinners] Chap. XXIV. 1, 19. and chap. III. 31. Psal. XXXVII. 1. and LXXIII. 3.

feare] This cures one of the fret.

all the day long] Waking, walking, and lying down in his fear; in continual communion with him, and conformity to him, ch. XXVIII. 14. 1 Pet. I. 17. Phil. II. 12. 2 Cor. VII. 11.

Proverbs 23:18

an end] Chap. X. 28. An end of the sinners prosperitie, Job VIII. 13, 14. and chap. XI. 20. and XVIII. 14. Psal. CXII. 10. And an end and reward to those that fear God, Psal. XXXVII. 37, 38. and LVIII. 11.

Proverbs 23:20

Wine-bibbers] Verse 29,-35. Rom. XIII. 13. Ephes. V. 18. Mat. XXIV. 49.

Proverbs 23:23

Buy the truth] Tit. I. 9. Phil. I. 27. Iude 3. Either live with it, or die for it.

Proverbs 23:24

The father] Chap. X. 1. and chap. XV. 20.

Proverbs 23:26

thy heart] This the seat of our affections, and fountain of our actions, Mark VII. 21. Matth. XII. 34, 35. And therefore that care and caveat is given of it, Prov, IV. 23. And God so craveth, and wisheth it, Deut. V. 29. and complains of the want of it, Matth. XV. 8. yea, and deals, as Ioseph with his brethren concerning Benjamin, Gen. XLIII. 3. no seeing his face without it.

thine eyes] Look well to this patterne and copie, get a ful prospect, and fix and feed thine eyes hereupon.

Proverbs 23:27

a whore] Chap. XXII. 14. See chap. V. 15.

Proverbs 23:29

who hath woe?] Chap. XX. 1.

Proverbs 23:30

mixt wine] Chap. IX. 2. Psal. LXXV. 8.

Proverbs 23:31

moveth] Sparkleth; as the most generous wine useth to do.

Proverbs 23:33

strange women] Drunckennesse ushers in whordome. Wine the milk of Venus; and strange things and sights, disturbing the braine. Et geminum Solem, & duplices consurgere Thebas.

Proverbs 23:34

midst of the Sea] Thy braines shall turne round; thy self reel as a ship tossed at Sea, Psal. CVII. 27. Or, thy braines swim, as if at Sea; and so drunckenly dream as if thou wert at Sea. Or, be so stupid and senselesse in this druncken lethargie, as to be fearlesse and carelesse in the greatest danger whatsoever; and not refuse or forbear to sleep on the top of ma.

Proverbs 23:35

not sick] A druncken man, we say, takes no hurt, feels no blows, no smart: is turned into a beast; yea, a block.

I will seek it yet again] Though they be sick with it, yet after their recoverie, and that fit past, they will to it again. For drunckennesse inflaming, increaseth thirst, Deut. XXIX. 19. and thirst drunckennesse; and so the drunckard irrecoverable!