John Trapp on Proverbs 16:24

Verſ. 24. Pleaſant words are as an hony-comb] Dainty and delicious, ſuch as the Preacher ſet himſelf to ſearch out, Eccleſ. 12.10. Such as his father David found Gods words to bee, Pſal. 119.103. Wells of ſalvation, Iſa. 12.2. Breaſts of conſolation, Iſa. 66.11. The hony-drops of Chriſts mouth, Cant 4. Oh hang upon his holy lips, as they did, Luke 19. ult. Haſt thou found hony with Sampſon? Eat it as hee did, Prov. 25.6. Eat Gods book as John did, Rev. 10.9. finde fatneſs and ſweetneſs in it, Pſal. 63.5. Get joy and gladneſs out of it, Pſal. 51.8. And if at any time the word in ſearching our wounds, put us to pain (as hony will cauſe pain to exulcerate parts) let us bear it, and not bee like children, who though they like hony well, yet will they not indure to have it come near their lips, when they have ſore mouthes.

Sweet to the ſoul, health to the bones] i. e. Satisfactory to the minde, and medicinal alſo to the body, which many times follows the temperament of the minde. Alphonſus King of Sicily is ſaid to have recovered of a dangerous diſeaſe by the pleaſure that hee took in reading Q. Curtius; and ſome others in like ſort by reading Livy, Aventine, &c. But theſe were Phyſicians of no value to that of David: Unleſs thy Law had been my delight, Pſal. 119.92. I ſhould then have periſhed in mine affliction. Look how thoſe that are fallen into a ſwoon, may bee fetched again with cold water ſprinkled on their faces, or with hot water poured down their throats; ſo thoſe that are troubled in mind, may by patience and comfort of the Scriptures recover hope.