Those that are voluptuous and given to appetite (v. 2) are glad to be
where there is good cheer stirring, and those that are covetous and
saving, that they may spare at home, will be glad to get a dinner at
another man's table; and therefore both are here advised not to be
forward to accept of every man's invitation, but especially not to
thrust themselves in uninvited. Observe, 1. There are those that
pretend to bid their friends welcome that are not hearty and sincere in
it. They have a fair tongue, and know what they should say: Eat and
drink, saith he, because it is expected that the master of the feast
should so compliment his guests; but they have an evil eye, and grudge
their guests every bit they eat, especially if the eat freely. They
would seem to be liberal in making the entertainment, and would have
the credit of it, but they have so great a love to their money, and so
little to their friends, that they cannot have the comfort of it, nor
any enjoyment of themselves or their friends. The miser's feast is his
penance. If a man be so very selfish, and sordid, and mean that he
cannot find in his heart to bid his friends welcome to what he has, he
ought not to add to that the guilt of dissimulation by inviting them,
but let him own himself to be what he is, that the vile person may not
be called liberal nor the churl bountiful, Isa. xxxii. 5. 2. One can
have no comfort in accepting the entertainments that are given
grudgingly: "Eat not thou the bread of such a man; let him keep it to
himself. Do not sponge upon those that are bountiful, nor make thyself
burdensome to any; but especially scorn to be beholden to those that
are paltry and not sincere. Better have a dinner of herbs, and true
welcome, than dainty meats without it. Therefore," (1.) "Judge of the
man as his mind is. Thou thinkest to pay thy respect to him as a
friend, so thou takest him to be, because he compliments thee, but as
he thinks in his heart so is he, not as he speaks with his tongue." We
are that really, both to God and man, which we are inwardly; and
neither religion nor friendship is worth any thing further than as it
is sincere. (2.) "Judge of the meat as the digestion is and as it
agrees with thee. He bids thee eat freely, but, first or last, he will
discover his sordid covetous humour, and as he thinks in his heart so
will he look, and give thee to understand that thou art not welcome,
and then the morsel thou hast eaten thou shalt vomit up; the very
thought of that will make thee even to vomit the meat thou hast eaten,
and eat the words thou has spoken in returning his compliments and
giving him thanks for his civilities. Thou shalt lose thy sweet words,
which he has given thee and thou has given him."