Simile. | Parallel.
A Fool is one that knows not what is good, what is best for him; he is a Man of no Understanding. | SO wicked Men know not what is good and right in it self; they know not what is good for themselves, they are Men of no Understanding; they cry, Who will show us any Good? That is,1 saith Mr. Caryl, any good Cheer, Plenty of Corn and Wine. They esteem Gold and Silver, and other outward good Things, before Pardon, Peace of Conscience, and the Favour of God, and are therefore Fools.
II. A Fool or Idiot will hurt, wrong, or abuse himself. Perhaps you have heard of the Gentleman's Fool, who happened to be in Company with a Carpenter, and the Carpenter making himself merry with him, hid his Hat: But it so fell out (as the Matter is related) the Carpenter some time after chanced to fall asleep with his Head upon a Block, which the Fool observing, he took an Axe, and chopped off his Head, and hid it amongst the Chips, and then went laughing away; but being asked, wherefore he laughed? O (saith he) I have cut off the Carpenter's Head, and have hid it amongst the Chips; and I wonder how he will do to find it when he awakes. But for this he was committed to Prison, and when he was brought to his Trial, the Judg was informed that he was a natural Fool; but that he might be convinced it was true, he ordered a Knife to be given to him, and accordingly it was; then said the Judg to the poor Idiot, Cut ⟨p. 212⟩your self with that Knife; and he (poor Soul!) did so immediately: by which the Judg knew he was indeed a Fool, and so acquitted him. | II. Wicked Men hurt themselves: Nothing wrongs or wounds a Man more than Sin, hence called a Dart, Sting, &c. Yet so void are all ungodly Men of Understanding, that they consent to Sin, yield to Sin, run (as it were) this Spear into their own Bowels, wound themselves to the very Heart, and yet say, Are not we in Sport? Can there be any greater Folly, or a more palpable Sign of a Fool, than for a Man to whip, lash, scourge, and do thus unto himself? When Satan tempts Men to sin, he doth (as it were) put a Knife into their hands, and then bids them cut and slash themselves with it; and yet no sooner doth Satan thus tempt and entice them, but they presently consent to him, until they have wounded themselves from the Crown of their Heads, to the Soles of their Feet. What Man but a Fool would run into the Hornets Nests?
Simile. | Parallel.
A Fool is one that knows not what is good, what is best for him; he is a Man of no Understanding. | SO wicked Men know not what is good and right in it self; they know not what is good for themselves, they are Men of no Understanding; they cry, Who will shew us any Good? That is,1 saith Mr. Caryl, any good Cheer, Plenty of Corn and Wine. They esteem Gold and Silver, and other outward good Things, before Pardon, Peace of Conscience, and the Favour of God, and are therefore Fools.
II. A Fool or Idiot will hurt, wrong, or abuse himself. Perhaps you have heard of the Gentleman's Fool, who happened to be in Company with a Carpenter, and the Carpenter making himself merry with him, hid his Hat: But it so fell out (as the Matter is related) the Carpenter some time after chanced to fall asleep with his Head upon a Block, which the Fool observing, he took an Ax, and chopp'd off his Head, and hid it amongst the Chips, and then went laughing away; but being asked, wherefore he laughed? O (saith he) I have cut off the Carpenter's Head, and have hid it amongst the Chips; and I wonder how he will do to find it when he awakes. But for this he was committed to Prison, and when he was brought to his Trial, the Judg was informed that he was a natural Fool; but that he might be convinced it was true, he ordered a Knife to be given to him, and accordingly it was; then said the Judg to the poor Idiot, Cut ⟨p. 212⟩your self with that Knife; and he (poor Soul!) did so immediately: by which the Judg knew he was indeed a Fool, and so acquitted him. | II. Wicked Men hurt themselves: Nothing wrongs or wounds a Man more than Sin, hence called a Dart, Sting, &c. Yet so void are all ungodly Men of Understanding, that they consent to Sin, yield to Sin, run (as it were) this Spear into their own Bowels, wound themselves to the very Heart, and yet say, Are not we in Sport? Can there be any greater Folly, or a more palpable Sign of a Fool, than for a Man to whip, lash, scourge, and do thus unto himself? When Satan tempts Men to sin, he doth (as it were) put a Knife into their hands, and then bids them cut and slash themselves with it; and yet no sooner doth Satan thus tempt and entice them, but they presently consent to him, until they have wounded themselves from the Crown of their Heads, to the Soles of their Feet. What Man but a Fool would run into the Hornets Nests?
- 1Psal. 4.6.
