John Trapp on Proverbs 14:18

Verſ. 18. The ſimple inherit folly] Acceperunt per ſucceſſionem ſeu hareditario jure, ſo one renders it, they are as wiſe as their fore-fathers, and they are reſolved to bee no wiſer. Me ex ea opinione quam à majoribus accepi de cultis deorum, nullius unquam movebit oratio, ſaid Tully. I will never forſake that way of divine ſervice, that I have received from my fore-fathers, for any mans pleaſure, or by any mans perſwaſion. The Monarch of Morocco told the Engliſh Ambaſſadour for King John, that hee had lately read Saint Pauls Epiſtles, which he liked ſo well,Heyl. Geog. that were he now to chuſe his Religion, he would, before any other, embrace Chriſtianity. But every one ought, ſaith he, to dye in the religion received from his Anceſtors, and the leaving of the faith wherein he was born, was the only thing that he diſliked in that Apoſtle.

But the prudent are crowned with knowledge] They know that dies diem docet: and therefore are not ſo wedded to their old Principles, Superſtitions and Fopperies, but that they can, as right reaſon requires, relinquiſh and abjure them, glorifying the Word,Acts 13.48 Acts 13. And receiving the truth in love, 2 Theſ. 2.10. whereby it ſoon comes to paſſe, that they get good repute and report of all men (as Demetrius had) yea and of the truth it ſelf, 3 Joh. 12. which is the Crown of all commendation. Haud velim Eraſmi gloria aut nomine vehi, ſaith Luther. I care not to be cried up as Eraſmus is, &c.