John Trapp on Proverbs 17:16

Verſ. 16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool? &c.] Wealth without wit, is ill beſtowed. Think the ſame of good natural parts, either of body or mind: ſo, for authority, opportunity, and other advantages. Whereto ſerve they if not rightly improved and employed? Certainly they will prove no better than Uriahs letters to thoſe that have them; or as that ſword which Hector gave Ajax; which ſo long as hee uſed againſt his enemies, ſerved for help and defence; but after hee began to abuſe it to the hurt of hurtleſſe beaſts, it turned into his own bowels. This will bee a bodkin at thy heart one day, I might have been ſaved, but I wofully let ſlip thoſe opportunities that God had thruſt into my hands, and wilfully cut the throat of mine own poor ſoul, by an impenitent continuance in ſinful courſes, againſt ſo many diſſwaſives. Oh the ſpirit of fornication, that hath ſo beſorted the minds of the moſt, that they have no heart to look after Heaven, while it is to bee had, but trifle and fool away their own ſalvation!