FOOL, Folly, Imprudence. These words are to be understood in Scripture not only according to their natural and literal meaning, for one who has lost his senses, and for the discourses and notions of Fools and Madmen; but they are taken likewise for sin, for those sins more particularly which Psalm xxxviii. 5.are contrary to purity. My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishness, my sin. Lord, thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins are not hid from thee. He that is soon Prov. xiv. 17. Prov. xxiv. 9. Jer. iv. 22.angry, dealeth foolishly; and, the thought of foolishness, is sin. And Jeremiah, My people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have not understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good, they have no knowledge. The Fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. Lord, says Ps. xiv. 1.David, I have sinned greatly, do away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done very foolishly. And Tamar said to her brother 1 Chr. xxi. 8.Amnon, who would have robbed her of her honour; Do not this folly; whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the Fools in Israel, &c.
The Wisdom of this world is Foolishness with God. St. Paul says, Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them 1 Cor. iii. 18, 19.that believe. And again, If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 2 Tim. ii. 23. Tit. iii. 9.The same Apostle advises Timothy and Titus, to avoid foolish questions, which are of no use, and proper only to create disputes. 1 Cor. i. 18.And elsewhere, The preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us, which are saved, it is the power of God, &c.