John Trapp on Proverbs 14:10

Verſ. 10. The heart knoweth his own bitterneſs] None can conceive the terrors and torments of a heart that lyes under the ſenſe of ſin, and fear of wrath. A little water in a leaden veſſel is heavy. Some can bear in their grief better than others: But all that are under this affliction have their back burden. Jobs ſtroak was heavier than his groaning, and yet his complaint was bitter too. Chap. 23.2. Some holy men (as Mr. Leaver) have deſired to ſee their ſin in the moſt ugly colours,Dr. Sibbes. and God hath heard them. But yet his hand was ſo heavy upon them, that they went alwayes mourning to their graves: And thought it fitter to leave it to Gods wiſdome to mingle the portion of ſorrow, than to bee their own chooſers.

And the ſtranger doth not intermeddle with his joy] None but ſuch as are of the family of Faith, can conceive the ſurpaſſing ſweetneſs of ſpiritual joy.Gal. 6. The Cock on the dunghil knows not the worth of this Jewel. It is joy unſpeakable, 1 Pet. 1.8. Such as none feel but thoſe that ſtir up ſighs unutterable, Rom. 8.26. It is joy unſpeakable, and full of glory, a hanſel of Heaven, a foretaſte of eternal life. It is the peace that paſſeth all underſtanding; they that have it,Phil. 4.7. underſtand not the full of it, nor can relate the one half of it. Paul ſaid ſomewhat to the point, when hee ſaid, I do over-abound exceedingly with joy: [non-Latin text not transcribed]. 2 Cor. 7.4. Chryſoſt. but words are too weak to utter it. Father Latimer ſaid ſomewhat, when hee ſaid it was the ſweet-meats of the feaſt of a good conſcience. But ſermo non valet exprimere, experimento opus eſt. It is a thing fitter to bee beleeved, than poſſible to bee diſcourſed. Tell a man never ſo long what a ſweet thing hony is, hee can never beleeve you ſo well, as if himſelf taſte it. Thoſe that never yet taſted how good the Lord is, are far from intermedling with the juſt mans joy.Act. & Mon. fol. 1668. The World wonders (ſaith Mr. Philpot Martyr) how wee can bee ſo merry in ſuch extreme miſery. But our God is omnipotent, which turneth miſery into felicity. Beleeve mee, there is no ſuch joy in the world, as the people of Chriſt have under the Croſs: I ſpeak it by experience, &c. Another holy Martyr, Richard Collier, after his condemnation ſang a Pſalm: Ibid. 1533. Wherefore the Prieſts and the officers railed at him, ſaying, Hee was out of his wits.