John Trapp on Proverbs 17:13

Verſ. 13. Who ſo rewardeth evil for good, &c.] Ingratitude is a monſter in nature, and doth therefore carry ſo much more deteſtation,Nihil eſt tam inhumanum, &c. quam committere, ut beneficio non dicam indignus ſed victus eſſe videare, Cic. as it is more odious even to themſelves that have blotted out the image of God. Some vices are ſuch as nature ſmiles upon, though frowned at by divine Juſtice; not ſo this. Licurgus would make no law againſt it, becauſe hee thought none could bee ſo abſurd as to fall into it. Amongſt the Athenians there was an action [non-Latin text not transcribed] of a Maſter againſt a ſervant ungrateful for his manumiſſion, not doing his duty to his late Maſter: Such were again to bee made bond-ſlaves. Val. Max. lib. 2. cap. 1. Zonaras in Annal. Turk. hiſt. 642. Who can chuſe but abhor that abominable act of Michael Balbus, who that night that his Prince (Le[illegible: 1 letter] Armenius) had pardoned and releaſed him, got out and ſlew him? And that of Mulcaſſes King of Tunes, who cruelly tortured to death the Manifet and Meſner, by whoſe means eſpecially hee had aſpired to the Kingdome; grieving to ſee them live, to whom hee was ſo much beholding: And that of Dr. Watſon Biſhop of Lincoln in Queen Maries dayes,Act. & Mon. fol. 1843. who being with Bonner at the Examination of Mr. Rough Martyr (a man that had been a means to ſave Watſons life in the dayes of King Edward the ſixth) to requite him that good turn, detected him there to bee a pernicious heretick, who did more hurt in the North parts than a hundred more of his opinion. Whereunto may bee added that of William Parry, who having been for Burglary condemned to dye, was ſaved by Queen Elizabeths pardon: But hee (ungrateful wretch) ſought to requite her by vowing her death, anno Dom. 1584. Speed. fol. 1178. To render good for evil is divine, good for good is humane, evil for evil is bruitiſh, evil for good is Deviliſh.

Evil ſhall not depart from his houſe] i. e. From his Perſon and Poſterity, though haply hee may eſcape the laſh of mans Law for ſuch an abhorred villany. See this fulfilled in Sauls family, for his unworthy dealing with David; in Muleaſſes and many others. Jeremy (in a ſpirit of Prophecie) bitterly curſeth ſuch, and foretelleth the utter ruine of them and theirs, Chap. 18.20, 21. &c. ſhall evil be recompenced for good? ſaith hee, Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and let their wives bee widows. Let a cry bee heard from their houſes, &c.