A plain and familiar exposition of the eleventh and twelfth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the eleuenth and twelfth chapters of the Prouerbes…

Verse 16. A fools wrath is made known the same day: but a prudent man covereth shame.

Verse 16. A fooles wrath is made knowne the same day: but a prudent man couereth shame.

The meaning of the holy Ghost is not to condemn all kind of anger: for it is one of the powers of the soul, which God created as an ornament in man: and godly anger is a part of Gods Image in him, and a grace commended in Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and our Saviour himself, and he that is always altogether destitute of this doth provoke God to be angry with him, for want of zeal and hatred of sin. But it is a passionate anger that is here reproved, which is not a power of the soul but an impotency. He that conceiveth the other is an agent, and doth a service to God: but he that is moved with this, is a mere patient, and sin hath in that case prevailed against him. Now it is said that a fool will be known the same day, that is, suddenly and speedily, as soon as he is provoked, he will show it by outcries, revilings, or threatenings, or other such like signs of choler: But a wise man, so far as his wisdom worketh, and his natural corruption and infirmities break not out, will hide shame, that is, will suppress his anger, and pass by the injuries offered to him, and not disgrace himself by returning reproachful speeches to him that hath done him the wrong.

THe meaning of the holy Ghost is not to condemne all kind of anger: for it is one of the powers of the soule, which God created as an ornament in man: and godly anger is a part of Gods Image in him, and a grace commended in Moses, Elias, Elisha, and our Sauiour himselfe, and he that is alwaies altogether destitute of this doth prouoke God to bee angrie with him, for want of zeale and hatred of sinne. But it is a passionate anger that is here reproued, which is not a power of the soule but an impotencie. He that conceiueth the other is an agent, and doth a seruice to God: but hee that is moued with this, is a mere patient, and sinne hath in that case preuailed against him. Now it is said that a foole will be knowne the same day, that is, suddenlie and speedily, as soone as he is prouoked, he will shew it by outcries, reuilings, or threatnings, or other such like signes of choller: But a wise man, so farre as his wisedome worketh, and his naturall corruption and infirmities breake not out, will hide shame, that is, will suppresse his anger, and passe by the iniuries offered to him, and not disgrace himself by returning reprochful speeches to him that hath done him the wrong.