John Trapp on Proverbs 8:13

Verſ. 13. The fear of the Lord] Which is an high point of heavenly wiſdome (Chap. 1.7.) to the praiſe whereof this therefore appertaineth. There are that make this verſe an explanation of the former, thus; I finde out the knowledge of witty inventing, ſuch as are the fear of the Lord, the hatred of evil, yea, of inward evils, as Pride, Arrogancy, &c. Odi faſtum iſtius Eccleſiae. I hate the pride of that Romiſh Church, ſaid Baſil long ſince. I hate vain thoughts, But thy Law do I love, Pſal. 119.113. I hate and abhor lying, verſ. 163. Yea, I hate every falſe way, both in my ſelf, and others, verſ. 104. Thou hateſt the works of the Nicolaitans, which I alſo hate, Rev. 2. Gods people partake of the Divine nature, and ſo have God-like both ſympathies and antipathies; they not only leave ſin, but loath it, and are at deadly feud with it. They purge themſelves (by this clean fear of God, Pſal. 19.7.) from all pollutions, not of fleſh onely, worldly luſts, and groſs evils, but of ſpirit alſo, that lye more up in the heart of the Country, as Pride, Arrogancy, &c. ſo Perfecting holineſs in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1. There may bee ſome kinde of pride in ſincerity, and of humility in hypocriſie. But hypocriſies humility is followed with pride, and ſincerities pride with humility: This latter humility is the better. And here onely it is ſeemly for vertue to come behinde vice. Hypocriſie is proud, becauſe it is humble; Sincerity is humble, becauſe it is proud.

And the evil way] That is, Cuſtome of committing ſin. Viam pro frequentatione accipiunt Hebraei. And this the godly man doth, not that hee may appear to do ſo,Velleius. ſed quia aliter facere non potuit, (as one falſly and flatteringly ſaid of Cato) but becauſe having his heart ſeaſoned with this holy fear, hee can do no otherwiſe.