John Trapp on Proverbs 10:23

Verſ. 23. It is a ſport to a fool to doe miſchief] He is then merrieſt, when hee hath the Devil for his play-fellow: He danceth to Hell in his bolts, and is paſſing well a paid for his woful bondage. Was hee a Father or a Monſter (think you) that playing with his own Childe, for a paſtime, put his thumbs in the boyes eyes, and thruſt out the balls thereof?Speed. This was Robert de Beliaſme Earl of Shrewsbury in the reign of our Henry the firſt, Anno Dom. 1111. And what a mad ſport was that of Joab and Abner, 2 Sam. 2.14. to ſee and ſet thoſe youngſters of Helkath Hazzurim to ſheath their ſwords in their fellows bowels? And that of Nero, who ſet the City of Rome on fire for his pleaſure, whiles he plaid on his Harp the deſtruction of Troy?

But a man of underſtanding hath wiſdome] Viz. For his ſport or delight. It is his meat and drink, his Hony and Hony-comb, &c. Lib[illegible: 1 letter]nter omnibus omnes opes conceſſerim, ut mihi liceat, vi nulla interpellante, iſto modo in literis vivere, ſaith Cicero. I would give all the wealth in the world,Lib. 9. Epiſt. that I might live altogether in my Study, and have nothing to trouble me. Leo. Digges. Slatt. o[illegible: 1 letter] 1 Ep. to Theſſal. Ep. dedic Peach. Comp Gentle. Idem in his vally of vanity. p. 116. Crede mihi extingui du[illegible: 1 letter]ce eſſet Mathematicarum artium ſtudio, ſaith another; Beleeve me, it were a dainty death, to dye ſtudying the Mathematicks. Nuſquam requiem inven[illegible: 1 letter] niſi in libro & clauſtro, ſaith a third; All the comfort I have is in a Book, and a Cloyſter, or Cloſet. Mentior if my ſoul accord him not, ſaith learned Doctor Slatter. The old Lord Burley (Lord high Treaſurer) to his dying day would carry always a Tullies Offices about him, either in his boſome or pocket. And the Emperour Charls the Fifth, took ſuch delight in the Mathematicks, that even in the midſt of his whole Army, in his Tent, he ſate cloſe at his ſtudy; having for that purpoſe as his inſtructer, Turrianus of Cremona evermore with him. So ſweet is the knowledge of Human Arts to thoſe that have taſted them: How much more the knowledge of the Holy (which ſaith Agur, is to aſcend up into Heaven, Prov. 30.3, 4.) to thoſe mature ones, who by reaſon of uſe have their ſenſes exerciſed to diſcern both good and evil? Heb. 5.14. See Pſal. 119.103. Job 23.12. Rom. 7.22.