The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going.
Ver. 15. The simple believeth every word.] You may draw him any way with a wet finger, persuade him to anything, as Rehoboam, that old baby. Nηφε και μεμνησο απιστειν, was a very good rule of Epicharmus. Be not light of belief; try before you trust; look before you leap. Alioqui saliens antequam videas, casurus es antequam debeas, a Wisdom would, that as men should not be too censorious ("This man blasphemeth," said they of our Saviour), so neither too credulous, as the giddy headed Galatians were to their seducing doctors; - "I Gal 1:6 wonder that ye are so soon removed," &c. Let us leave to the Papists Ministrorum muta officia, populi caeca obsequia - their ministers' dumb services, their people's blind obediences; and ever count it a singular folly to take men's bare authority in matters of faith, and not to "prove the spirits whether they are of God," 1Jn 4:1 as those "noble" Bereans did, and are worthily renowned for it. Act 17:11
But the prudent man looketh well to his goings.] He looketh not so much what others believe, or not believe, do or not do, as what he is bound to believe or do. He pins not his faith to another man's sleeve; he frames not his pace by another man's practice, but walks by line and by rule, treads gingerly, steps warily, lifts not up one foot till he finds sure footing for the other, as those [of] Psalms 35:6. This is to "walk exactly, accurately, b not fools, but as wise." Eph 5:15
a Bern. de bono desert.
b ακριβως