tame him, he shall yet be burnt and tormented by the testimony of his own conscience, on finding
himself overwhelmed with our kindness.^398
21.Be not overcome by evil, etc. This sentence is laid down as a confirmation; for in this case
our contest is altogether with perverseness, if we try to retaliate it, we confess that we are overcome
by it; if, on the contrary, we return good for evil, by that very deed we show the invincible firmness
of our mind. This is truly a most glorious kind of victory, the fruit of which is not only apprehended
by the mind, but really perceived, while the Lord is giving success to their patience, than which
they can wish nothing better. On the other hand, he who attempts to overcome evil with evil, may
perhaps surpass his enemy in doing injury, but it is to his own ruin; for by acting thus he carries
on war for the devil.
(^398) Calvin has in this exposition followed Chrysostom and Theodoret. The former part no doubt contains the right view; the
following verse proves it, “Overcome evil with good.” The idea of “heaping coals of fire” is said to have been derived from the
practice of heaping coals on the fire to melt hard metals; but as “the coals of fire” must mean “burning coals,” as indeed the
word in Proverbs 25:22, whence the passage is taken, clearly means, this notion cannot be entertained. It seems to be a sort of
proverbial saying, signifying something intolerable, which cannot be borne without producing strong effects: such is represented
to be kindness to any enemy, to feed him when hungry and to give him drink when thirsty, has commonly such a power over
him that he cannot resist its influence, no more than he can withstand the scorching heat of burning coals. Of course the natural
tendency of such a conduct is all that is intended, and not that it invariably produces such an effect; for in Scripture things are
often stated in this way; but human nature is such a strange thing, that it often resists what is right, just, and reasonable, and
reverses, as it were, the very nature of things.
It is not true what Whitby and others have held, that “coals of fire” always mean judgments or punishments. The word
indeed in certain connections, as in Psalm 18:13; Psalm 140:10, has this meaning, but in Proverbs 25:22, it cannot be taken in
this sense, as the preceding verse most clearly proves. There is no canon of interpretation more erroneous than to make words
or phrases to bear the same meaning in every place. — Ed.