John Trapp on Proverbs 30:8

Verſ. 8. Remove farre from me vanity and lyes] i. e. All ſorts of ſins, thoſe lying vanities that promiſe much happineſs to thoſe that purſue them, but perform little enough: ſhame at the beſt, but uſually death, Rom. 6.21, 23. Free me both from the damning, and from the domineering power of ſin, both from the ſting and ſtaine of it, from the guilt and filth, from the crime and curſe, from the power and puniſhment. Let my perſon be juſtified, and my luſts mortified. Forgive me my treſpaſſes, and deliver me from evil.

Give me neither Poverty nor Riches] So that God muſt give to be poor as well as to be rich. He makes holes in the Money-bag, Hag. 1.6. and hee ſtops the ſecret iſſues and drains of expence, at which mens eſtates run out, they know not how nor when. Agur would have neither Poverty (for the many inconveniences and diſcomforts that attend it) nor yet riches, (for the many cares, cumbers, and other evils not a few that follow them) but a mediocrity, a competency, a ſufficiency without ſuperfluity. A ſtate too big (hee knew) is troubleſome, as well as a ſhooe too bigge for the foot. They ſay, it is not the great Cage that makes the Bird ſing: ſure we are, it is not the great eſtate that brings alwayes the inward joy, the cordial contentment. Glaſs keeps out wind and rain, but lets in the light, and is therefore uſeful in building. A moderate eſtate is neither ſo mean, as to expoſe a man to the injuries, nor ſo great, as to exclude a man from the influence of heaven. A ſtaff may help a Traveller, but a bundle of ſta[illegible: 1 letter]es may be a burden to him: ſo may too great an eſtate to a godly man.

Feed me with food convenient for me] Heb. with food of mine allowance, or which thou ſeeſt fit to allow me: ſo much as my demenſum comes to, the piece that thou haſt cut for me, the portion that belongs unto me, the bread of the day for the day; Give me daily bread, that I may in diem vivere, as Quintilian ſaith the Birds doe, the little Birds, that have their meat brought in every day by their Dams without defeatment. And hereunto the original here ſeems to allude. Pomponius Atticus thus defineth riches, Divitiae ſunt, ad legem naturae compoſita paupertas. Riches are ſuch a Poverty or Mediocrity, as hath enough for Natures uſes. If I may have but offam & aquam, a morſel of meat, a mouthful of water, and convenient cloathing, I ſhall not envie the richeſt Craeſus or Craſſus upon earth. See the notes on Matth. 6.11. and 1 Tim. 6.8.