13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.



Ver. 13. Who is a wise man] Not he that words it most; for multiloquio stultiloquium; follish excessive talking and as any one is more wise, he is more sparing of his censures; but every fool will be meddling. Sapiens is est, cui res sapiunt prout sunt, saith Bernard (lib. iii. cap. 30). He is a wise man that judgeth aright of everything. And all the wisdom of a man is in this one thing, saith Lactantius, ut Deum cognoscat et colat, that he know and worship God.



With meekness of wisdom] As it is said of Athanasius, that he was high in worth and humble in heart; a loadstone in his sweet, gentle, drawing nature, and yet an adamant in his wise and stout deportment towards those that were evil. (Nazianzen in encom. Athan.) Jerome and Austin in their disputations, it was no matter who gained the day; they would both win by understanding their errors. What a sweet resolution was that of Calvin, Though Luther call me devil, yet I will honour him as a servant of God.