As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
Ver. 19. As if a man did fly from a lion] And so by running from his death should run to it; by seeking to shun the shelves should split against a rock, Incidit in Scyllam, &c., as Nicodemus Frischline (that famous poet, orator, and philosopher), endeavouring to escape out of close prison, by casting himself out at a window, the rope broke, and he perished by falling headlong upon a rock: so fareth it with those that fear not God. Aliud ex alio malum, one mischief treadeth on the heels of another, as Job's messengers. The clouds return after the rain, Ecclesiastes 12:2, as in April weather one shower is unburdened, another is brewed: "and deep calleth upon deep at the noise of the waterspouts," Psalms 42:7. "Evil shall hunt the violent man to destroy him," Psalms 140:11, your sins shall find you out as a bloodhound, Numbers 32:23, as it did that Popish priest in London, who, having escaped the fall of Blackfriars, A.D. 1623 (where Drury had his brains knocked out of his head, together with his sermon), and taking water, with a purpose to sail into Flanders, was cast away (together with some others) under London bridge; the boat being overturned. And as Philip II, King of Spain, who, going from the Low Countries into Spain by sea, fell into a storm in which almost all the fleet was wrecked, his household stuff of very great value lost, and himself hardly escaped. He said he was delivered by the singular providence of God to root out Lutheranism, which he presently began to do. But the hand of God was upon him in an extraordinary manner; for beside the invincible Armada here defeated, to his great heartbreak (for his pretended patience was but as the fever called Epialis, wherein men are cold without but as hot as fire within), he fell into that most loathsome lousy disease, called Phthiriasis, whereof at length he died.
And a bear met him] A bear robbed of her whelps (which she licketh into form, and loveth above measure) is a very fierce and fell creature. To meet her in such a rage is to meet death in the very face; and yet that danger may be sooner shifted and shunned than the heavy wrath of God avoided or averted without true and timely repentance: there is no way to run from him but by running penitently to him; as in a tempest at sea it is very dangerous to strike to the shore; the safest way is to have sea room, and to keep in to keep in the open main still.
Or went into the house] To shelter himself from the bear; as every creature in danger runneth to its harbour, Pro 30:26 Psalms 104:18 .
And leaned his hand on the walls] As being breathless in running, and glad to stay himself on what he can next lay hold on. Man, like the vine, must have somewhat to lean on, if it be but a broken reed or bulging wall, Psalms 62:3; he shifts and shirks in every bycorner for comfort, as the Papists (stung by the friars' sermons) do by pardons and penances, which are but palliate cures.
For a serpent bites them] The guilt of sin abiding, "biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder," Proverbs 23:32 .