Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ver. 13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, &c.] Ingratitude is a monster in nature, and doth therefore carry so much more detestation, as it is more odious even to themselves that have blotted out the image of God. a Some vices are such as nature smiles upon, though frowned at by divine justice; not so this. Lycurgus would make no law against it, because he thought none could be so absurd as to fall into it. Among the Athenians there was an action, αποστασιου, of a master against a servant ungrateful for his manumission, not doing his duty to his late master: such were again to be made bond-slaves. b Who can choose but abhor that abominable act of Michael Balbus, who that night that his prince (Leo Armenius) had pardoned and released him, got out and slew him? c And that of Muleasses, king of Tunis, who cruelly tortured to death the manifet and mesner, by whose means especially he had aspired to the kingdom; grieving to see them live to whom he was so much beholden. d And that of Dr Watson, bishop of Lincoln in Queen Mary's days, who, being with Bonnet at the examination of Mr Rough, martyr (a man that had been a means to save Watson's life in the days of King Edward VI), to requite him that good turn, detected him there to be a pernicious heretic, who did more harm in the northern parts than a hundred more of his opinion. e Whereunto may be added that of William Parry, who having been for burglary condemned to die, was saved by Queen Elizabeth's pardon; but he (ungrateful wretch) sought to requite her by vowing her death, anno dom. 1584. f To render good for evil is divine, good for good is human, evil for evil is brutish, evil for good is devilish.
Evil shall not depart from his house,] i.e., From his person and posterity, though haply he may escape the lash of man's law for such an abhorred villany. See this fulfilled in Saul's family, for his unworthy dealing with David; in Muleasses, and many others. Jeremiah, in a spirit of prophecy, bitterly curseth such, and foretelleth the utter ruin of them and theirs, Proverbs 18:20,21 , &c. "Shall evil be recompensed for good?" saith he. "Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and let their wives be widows. Let a cry be heard from their houses," &c. Jer 18:20-22
a Nihil est tam inhumanum, &c., quam committere, ut beneficio non dicam indignus sed victus esse videri. - Cic.
b Val. Max., lib. ii. cap. 1.
c Zonaras, in Annal.
d Turk. Hist., 642.
e Acts and Mon., fol. 1843.
f Speed., fol. 1178.