A plain and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…A plaine and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…

Verse 7. The lips of the wise do spread abroad knowledge; but the heart of the foolish, that which is not right.

Verse 7. The lips of the wise doe spread abroad knowledge; but the heart of the foolish, that which is not right.

HE compareth the lips of wise men to the hands of good seedsmen; who skilfully, and in due manner and measure, at every steppe, do scatter the corn into the tilth: ⟨p. 6⟩showing it to be a note of sound understanding, to take opportunity wheresoever it is offered, at home or abroad, to direct their talk to the benefit and edification of the company. On the contrary side, the wicked, out of the evil treasure of their hearts, bring forth evil things, uttering vanity, and errors, and noisome speeches, like those that make it their work to sow Cockle, and Tares, and Darnell, or other weeds, which are only venomous and hurtful. In the former part of the sentence, the heart is to be understood, which ministereth matter to the lips: And in the latter, the lips are also meant, which are the instruments of the heart: as if he should have said, The lips of the wise, out of that grace which is in the heart, do spread abroad knowledge, and that which is right: and the heart of the foolish, by the perverseness of the lips, doth spread abroad ignorance, and that which is not right. For the former part, see Chap. 11. 30. For the latter, Chap. 12. 18.

HE compareth the lips of wise men to the hands of good seedesmen; who skilfully, and in due manner and measure, at euery steppe, doe scatter the corne into the tilth: ⟨p. 6⟩shewing it to be a note of sound vnderstanding, to take opportunitie wheresoeuer it is offered, at home or abroad, to direct their talke to the benefit and edification of the companie. On the contrarie side, the wicked, out of the euill treasure of their hearts, bring foorth euill things, vttering vanitie, and errours, and noisome speeches, like those that make it their worke to sow Cockle, and Tares, and Darnell, or other weeds, which are only venomous and hurtfull. In the former part of the sentence, the heart is to bee vnderstood, which ministreth matter to the lips: And in the latter, the lips are also meant, which are the instruments of the heart: as if he should haue said, The lips of the wise, out of that grace which is in the heart, doe spread abroad knowledge, and that which is right: and the heart of the foolish, by the peruersenesse of the lips, doth spread abroad ignorance, and that which is not right. For the former part, see Chap. 11. 30. For the latter, Chap. 12. 18.