John Trapp on Proverbs 18:14

Verſ. 14. The ſpirit of a man will ſuſtain his infirmity] Some ſorry ſhift a man may make to buſtle with, and to rub thorow other aylements and aggrievances, diſaſters or diſeaſes, ſores or ſickneſſes of the body (as the word here properly importeth) Let a man bee ſound within, and (upon good terms) at peace with his own conſcience, and hee will bravely bear unſpeakable preſſures, 2 Cor. 1.9, 12. Paul was merry under his load, becauſe his heart was cheary in the Lord; as an old beaten Porter to the Croſſe, maluit tolerare quàm deplorare, his ſtroak was heavier than his groaning, as Job, chap. 23.2. Alexander Aphrodiſeus gives a reaſon why Porters under their burdens go ſinging; becauſe the mind being delighted with the ſweetneſſe of the muſick, Problem. 1. Numb. 78. the body feels the weight ſo much the leſſe. Their ſhoulders while ſound, will bear great luggage; but let a bone bee broken, or but the skin rubbed up and raw, the lighteſt load will bee grievous. A little water in a leaden veſſel is heavy; ſo is a little trouble in an evil conſcience.

But a wounded spirit who can bear?] q. d. It is a burthen importable, able to quail the courage, and cruſh the ſhoulders of the hugeſt Hercules, of the mightieſt man upon earth; who can bear it? The body cannot, much leſſe a diſeaſed body (And if the ſoul bee at unreſt, the body cannot but co-ſuffer.) Hence Job preferred, and Judas choſe ſtrangling before it. Bilney and Bainbam, Act. & Mon. fol. 938. after they had abjured, felt ſuch an hell in their conſciences, till they had openly profeſſed their ſorrow for that ſin, as they would not feel again for all the worlds good. Daniel choſe rather to bee caſt into the den of Lions, than to carry about a Lion in his boſome, an enraged conſcience. The primitive Chriſtians cried likewiſe, Ad Leones potiùs quàm ad Lenones adjiciamur. What a terrour to himſelf was our Richard the third, after the cruel murther of his two innocent Nephews; and Charls the ninth of France, after that bloody maſſacre? Hee could never endure to bee awakened in the night, without muſick, or ſome like diverſion. But alaſs! if the ſoul it ſelf bee out of tune, theſe outward things do no more good, than a fair ſhooe to a gowty foot, or a ſilken ſtocken to a broken legg.