A Brief Explanation of the Whole Book of Proverbs, Explanation · Chapter 7
CHAPTER. VII.
Verſe 1. My ſonne, keepe my words, and lay vp my commandements with thee.
IN this chapter Salomon confirmeth from his owne experience, that which in the two former chapters, or elſewhere hee had teſtified, touching the fraudulent and pernitious practiſes of the harlot. The parts are three: the firſt is, an inſtigation to the ſtudious keeping of wiſedome and knowledge, in the fiue firſt verſes. The ſecond is, a narration of thoſe things which hee had ſeene and obſerued in her impudent behauiour, and anſwerable ſucceſſe, to the 24. verſe. The third is an application of the ſame vntounto his readers, as an admonition and warning vntounto them, in the foure laſt verſes.
In the firſt verſe, the Prophet returneth againe to his generall exhortation of receiuing, and keeping the doctrine, which he propoundeth, and is the ſame with the beginning of the ſecond chapter.
Verſe 2. Keepe my commandements, and liue; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
TO ſet an edge vponupon his exhortation, that it might preuaile the better with vsus▪ he addeth a promiſe of life, and that he doth after a moſt emphaticall manner, commanding vsus to liue; thereby teaching, how preſent, and certaine the happines is that belongeth to the obedience of his precepts. After he expreſſeth the manner how he would hauehave vsus to keepe his doctrine, by a ſimilitude, viz. as the apple of the eye, as that which is moſt precious vntounto thee: for a man will ward, and keepe off violence from his head, before all other parts of his body, and regardeth the face more then any other part of his head, and he reſpecteth the eye more then any other part of the face: for the eye is the light of the whole bodie, and therein the blacke, or apple of the eye, is moſt deare vntounto him; which appeareth alſo by the other Scriptures: as Pſal. 17. 8. Keepe me as the apple of thine eye. And, He that toucheth you, toucheth Zach. 2. 8.the apple of his eye.
Verſe 3. Binde them vponupon thy fingers, write them vponupon the table of thine heart.
Verſe 4. Say vntounto Wiſedome, Thou art my ſister, and call Vnderstanding thy kinſwoman.
HE deliuereth the ſame precept in allegoricall ſpeeches: and firſt, he requireth to binde them vponupon our fingers, that they may be as rings thereon, and for memorandums, as wee vſe to tye a thread or ſilke about our fingers, to put vsus in mind of matters not to bee forgotten, and to write them vponupon the table of our heart, viz. that they may be as a tablet hanging on our breaſt: as chap. 3. 3.
As if he could not ſatisfie himſelfe in this argument, he deliuereth the ſame thing in another ſimilitude, wherein hee attributeth a perſon to Wiſedome, and requireth that there bee ſuch inward friendſhip and familiaritie betwixt vsus and her, as if ſhe were our ſiſter, and neereſt kinſwoman. It is a pleaſing thing to brothers and ſiſters, if they louelove as they ought, to liue together in one houſe, as Lazarus, Martha, and Mary: Ioh. 11or if by occaſion of mariage they liue in diuers houſes, yet they delight one in another, and feaſt together, as did Iobs Iob 1.ſonnes and daughters. And thus conuerſant and familiar ought we to be with Wiſedome, and ſo much the rather becauſe we are ſtrangers in the world, and hated of the world, becauſe by this kindred and affinitie with Wiſedome, we become of kindred and alliance with our Sauiour Chriſt.
Verſe 5. That they may keepe thee from the ſtrange woman, from the ſtranger that flattereth with her words.
LAſtly, hee vrgeth this precept thus often and many waies deliuered, by an argument from the end and fruite, which is to keepe vsus from this foule and grieuous ſinning againſt God, whereof he nameth one in ſtead of all, namely, adulterie, which he did before. Chap. 2. 16. the 5. 3. and 6. 24.
Verſe 6. For at the window of mine houſe, I looked through the caſement.
Verſ. 7. And behold among the ſimple ones, I diſcerned among the youths, a young man voide of vnderstanding,
Verſe 8. Paſſing through the ſtreete neere her corner, and he went the way to her houſe.
Verſe 9. In the twilight in the euening, in the black and dar… night.
THere followeth now a liuely repreſentation of the former doctrine touching adulterie, vnderunder an example in fact; whereof the wiſe man himſelfe who relateth it, was an eye witnes. And firſt he ſheweth the occaſion, or opportunitie that was offered vntounto the harlot, whereby ſhe had matter to worke vponupon, in theſe two verſes. Secondly, the meanes which ſhe vſeth to effect her purpoſe, and draw an vnwarie perſon to this ſinne, vntounto the 21. verſe. Laſtly, the euent and iſſue, in 21. 22. 23. verſes.
The occaſion and opportunitie was that ſhe eſpied a heedleſſe perſon within her danger, whom ſhe might ſeaze vponupon as a fit pray for her. And he is deſcribed firſt, by his ignorance, and ſimplicitie, hee calleth him a foole, yea, which is more, … man voide of heart, viz. of vnderſtanding, iudgement, an… wiſedome. Now he is ſo called, not that hee is a naturall, (for harloss are not wont to ſingle out them aboue other men) b… becauſe he had not the feare of God, which is the beginning … wiſedome, nor any good regard to keepe himſelfe from ſinne by auoiding the inducements to it.
Secondly, by his age, calling him a young man, youth, or ſtripling; thereby noting, that that age is the moſt ſlipperie time of our life, and moſt prone, as to many other ſinnes, ſo eſpecially to this.
Thirdly, the place is noted where he ſaw him, viz. in the Verſe 8.ſtreete, at the corner that leades to the harlots houſe, like a ſillie flye in the cobweb, where the ſpider had libertie to come vponupon him at her pleaſure.
Laſtly, by the time when hee wandred that way, that is, in Verſ. 9.the twilight, when it began to grow darke, at the cockſhote time, as it were, the ſeaſon that fitteth the whoremaſter, or harlot: according to the ſaying of Iob: The eye of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight.
Verſe 10. And behold, there met him a woman, with the attire of an harlot, and ſubtill in heart.
Verſe 11. She is loud and ſtubborne, and her feete abide not in her houſe.
Verſe 12. Now ſhe is without, now in the ſtreetes, and ſhe l… eth in waite at eueryevery corner.
THe former words declare how the ſimple young fellow caſt himſelfe into perils, by approching ſo neere to the harlots denne: in theſe, and others that follow, wee ſee her taking the aduantage by comming out vntounto him, and artificially getting him into her pawes. And for this purpoſe the wiſe man noteth both what a one ſhe is, in the whole courſe of her behauiour, to the 13. verſe, and with what art and skill ſhe manageth this buſineſſe, in the others following. And one thing whereof hee taketh notice, and whereby hee deſcribeth her, is her apparell, wherein ſhe was tricked, and trimmed, vnbeſeeming the modeſtie of a ſober Matrone, or the honeſtie of a chaſt woman. The ſecond is, her inward deceit, and guilefulnes, in that ſhe was of a ſubtill heart. The third is, her vnwomanlyVerſ. 11. 12 diſpoſition, and properties▪ ſhe is a babler, and full of tattle, ſhe is ſtubborne, peruerſe, and rebellious to God, and her husband, ſhe is a gadder abroad, and eueryevery where giuen to allure, and corrupt all thoſe whom ſhe can intice into her companie.
Verſ. 13. So ſhe caught him, and kiſſed him: and with an impudent face ſaid vntounto him.
NOw wee ſhall ſee how ſhe plaieth her part in exerciſing h… craft and crueltie, to worke the ruine of the warileſſe foole, which is caſting himſelfe into her hands. And this ſhe doth partly by vncomely actions: partly by countenance, ſhewing a braſen face, without feare, or ſhamefaſtnes: and partly by diſſembling ſpeeches, ſuch as hereafter follow. Her vncomely actions here ſpecified are three. The one is, that ſhe laid hold on him: ſhe ſhould not hauehave indured him to lay hold on her; but for her to lay hold on him, was beyond all womanly modeſtie: the other, that ſhe kiſſed him. A wife can ſcarce without baſhfulnes kiſſe her huſband, but is rather to expect it from him, then to preuent him in it; but for a woman to offer it to a ſtranger is a moſt ſhamefull part.
Verſe 14. I hauehave peace offerings with me: this day hauehave I paid my vowes.
Verſe 15. Therefore came I out to meete thee, diligently to ſeeke thy face, and I hauehave found thee.
FIrſt, by her diſſembling and inchanting ſpeeches, as with a call, ſhe allureth him into her houſe, offering him a baite which might perſwade him vntounto it, and couering the net or hooke that might terrifie him from it; the baite is, good cheare a motiue that preuaileth much with young men, who commonly are much giuen vntounto their appetite. The manner of the Iſraelites, and that according to the law of God, was, that in the Lords offerings, the fat and blood being offered, part of the fleſh ſhould goe to the Prieſts, and part to him that brought it: whereof they made a feaſt, (for it was ſomewhat rare to eate fleſh:) And (alluding to this) S. Iames ſaith, Yee hauehave nouriſhed your ſelues as in the day of ſlaughter. Now the better to couer her plot, and that hee ſhould not ſuſpect her treacherie, and miſchieuous purpoſe, ſhe pretendeth firſt, pietie and deuotion towards God, to whom ſhe had offered ſacrifice, which was an ordinary worke of religion, yea ſhe had made vowes, and performed them, which was extraordinary, and leſſe vſuall: ſecondly, great louelove, and good affection towards him, whom ſhe much deſired to bee better acquainted with, and to make partaker of her beneficence and kindneſſe. For this cauſe I am come foorth to meete thee: as if ſhe ſhould hauehave ſaid, Becauſe I beare thee moſt entire good will, as ſoone as I ſaw thee, I longed for thy companie, and therfore I hauehave not ſent a meſſenger, which peraduenture would be more remiſſe, and ſlacke in intreating of thee, but am come my ſelfe to requeſt that I may bee beholden to thee to goe with me, and what good lucke is this that I meete ſo happily with thee?
Verſe 16. I hauehave deckt my beds with couerings of tapestrie, with carued worke, linnen of Egypt.
Verſe 17. I hauehave perfumed my bed with …irrhe, aloes, and cynamom.
HAuing preuailed to bring him to ſupper, ſhe now perſwades him to ſtay all night, and take a lodging with her, and (which ſhe would h…ue him vnderſtand) that ſhe needeth not to excuſe, as too homely, baſe, and courſe, but ſuch a one as will well ſerue a right good man, and to that end doth ſet it foorth by the ornaments, furniture, and ſweetes of it: as if ſhe ſhould ſay, Thou ſhalt hauehave a very commodious bed, and chamber, with curious curtaines, and couerings, with a carued bedſted, with fine ſheetes, with ſweete perfuming of all: I hauehave prouided to delight all, or moſt of thy ſenſes; as thy taſte hath alreadie been pleaſed with meates and drinkes, ſo ſhall thy ſight be with the ornaments of thy roome, and lodging, thy touch with the ſoftnes of thy lawnes, and thy ſmell with odoriferous perfumes: take a good offer therefore, and refuſe it not, thou ſhalt perceiue thy welcome, and thy good entertainemen, thou ſhalt be lodged like a Prince.
Verſ. 18. Come, let vsus take our fill of louelove till the morning:N…h. let vsus ſolace our ſelues with loues.
NOw that the whore hath brought him to his chamber, or got him to bed, ſhee beginneth to diſcouer her purpoſe, and ſoliciteth him to the very act of adultery; and for the ſame alleageth ſuch reaſons as may perſwade him vntounto it, and preuenteth ſuch doubts as may diſſwade him from it; Come (ſaith ſhee) let vsus take our fill, and as it were make ourſelues drunke with louelove; meaning thereby the ſatisfying of her filthy deſire and luſt all night long. Her reaſons are two, one from the cauſe, that it is an act of louelove and good fellowſhip, that thereby they ſhall beſtow the time together like friends: the other is the effect, that it will bee ſweet, pleaſant, and delightſome to them both.
Verſ. 19. For the husband is not at home, hee is gone a long iourney.
Verſ. 20. He hath taken a bag of money with him; and wil come home at the day appointed,
HEre the naughty-packe doth ſecure him of ſafety, th… he needs not to caſt perils, nor dread any hurt that wil come by it, for he might hauehave ſaid:
What if thy husband come in the meane time, and take… Obiect. with the manner, we are both vndone.
No feare of that, for hee is not at home; neither doth ſhe Anſw. ſay, my husband is not at home, but the husband, ſpeaking contemptuouſly & diſdainefully of him, as if hee were a ſtranger to her.
But what if he come home, though it be late, and finde me Obiect. in his bed, what ſhould become of me?
That cannot be; for he is gone a long iourney, and hath taken Anſw. a bag of money with him accordingly, he will come ba… by ſuch a time, and not afore: for the long abſence of her huſband is confirmed by two ſignes: the one, the great ſumme of money which hee tooke with him for his expences; and the other, the ſet day wherein he appointed to returne.
Verſ. 21. With much faire ſpeech ſhee cauſed him to yeeld,Likchah. with the flattering of her lips ſhe forced him.
HItherto of the inticement; heere followeth the lamentable and tragicall iſſue and effect thereof, which was, that he firſt did yeeld vntounto the ſinne, and after did ſuſtaine the grieuous puniſhment thereof. The principall meanes whereby ſhe did perſwade him, was her ſpeech, which was both large and delightfull; for ſhe vſed many arguments: ſhee anſwered all obiections, her habite, her catching and kiſſing of him no doubt did worke vponupon him, but the poyſon which did moſt intoxicate him was from her tongue. That which wee tranſlate faire ſpeech, is in the originall, doctrine, or diſcipline, and hee vſeth the ſame as comparing her vntounto a ſchoole-miſtriſſe, but of impurity, and impiety, and her followers to ſchollers, or …ouices learning of her: becauſe fooliſh men in their ſottiſhneſſe doe put themſelues to ſchoole to ſuch a teacher, rather then to lend their eare to the holy doctrine of the Lord. The holy Ghoſt alſo declareth the degrees of his falling, and as it were the ſteps of his deſcending. For firſt, ſhe bowed and enclined him; that is, ſhe moued his heart, and made it tractable to her perſwaſions; and after drew, or rather draue him violently to it with her words.
Verſ. 22. He goeth after her ſtraight way, as an oxe goeth to the ſlaughter, as a foole to the correction of the ſtockes.
Verſ. 23. Till a dart ſtrike through his liuer, as a bird haſteth to the ſnare, and knoweth that it is for life.
BEfore it is ſaid ſhe moued him, yea ſhe inforced, and now ſhe hath ſped him: for ſhee hath made him to follow her into her houſe, vntounto her table, into her chamber, into her bed, and into her ſhamefull ſinne: thus we ſee the firſt effect of her practiſes, the corrupting of him with that abominable filthineſſe: the other, namely, the puniſhment and miſery is heere deſcribed by three compariſons of the like, as an oxe to the ſlaughter, hoping that he is going to his ſtall or paſture, when he is led to the ſlaughter-houſe, or ſhambles to be knockt on the head, or hauehave his throat cut. The ſecond is, as a foole led to the ſtockes for correction as a malefactor carried to priſon, and kept in bonds, vntill a dart ſtrike through his liuer, vntill the day of execution, when the dart, or ſword, or other inſtrument wherewith offenders were wont to be put to death, did pierce his body, and take away his life. The third, as a bird haſteth to the prey, flying ſwift, and making ſpeed to the place, where ſhe looketh for food, and findeth a net, grinne, or limetwigs, whereby ſhe is intangled, caught, and killed.
Verſ. 24. Hearken now therefore, O children: attend to the words of my mouth.
Verſ. 25. Let not thine heart decline to her waies, goe not aſtray in her pathes.
HE applieth here that which in the premiſes he had reported, exhorting his ſcholers to hearken vntounto him, and not ſuffer their hearts to encline to her waies, or their feet to wander in her pathes: as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, GiueGive eare to mee my ſons, and liſten not to the harlot, whom God forbiddeth you to heare, and to whom if yee hearken, yee may euidently foreſee your owne ruine in this ſimple young mans deſtruction.
Let not thine heart decline to her waies, viz. doe not ſo much as in thy minde like of her leaud or wicked dealing, and wander not in her pathes, ſuffer not thy ſelfe to be beguiled by her to follow her courſes, or bee induced to conſent to her wicked motions.
Verſ. 26. Shee hath cast downe many wounded: yea, many ſtrong men hauehave been ſlaine by her.
Verſ. 27. Her houſe is the way to hell, going downe to the chambers of death.
HE fortifieth his exhortation with reaſons: the one is the miſchiefe which ſhe hath done to others: the other is the certaine perill to all them that haunt her. The former he alleageth by way of preoccupation, to preuent a ſhift of him that is vnwilling to be admoniſhed, and take warning by the example formerly produced: Obiect. It was but one mans hap and misfortune to ſpeed ſo ill (ſaith he) I will not be diſcouraged by the hard ſucceſſe of one, or of a few. Anſw. She hath been hurtfull to diuers, many hauehave been cast downe and wounded by her, vtterly ouerthrowne and ſpoiled in their ſtate, credit, ſoule and body. Obiect. But a few ſimple fellowes. weake men, of no parts, wanting wit to look vntounto themſelues, or power to maintaine their owne ſafety. Anſw. Yea, many ſtrong men hauehave been ſlaine by her, whereof one amongſt the reſt was Samſon, &c. To ſhew the certainty of the perill, hee ſaith, her houſe is the way to hell: touching which, ſee chap. 2. 18. and chap. 5. 5.