Exposition of Proverbs 9-10, Exposition 2 · Verse 5
Hee that gathereth in ſommer is a ſonne of vnderſtanding, Verſe. 5 and hee that ſleepeth in harueſt is a ſonne of confuſion.
The drift of theſe wordes is to teach men to redeeme the time and make the beſt aduantage of the ſeaſons, comparing oportunitie to ſommer or harueſt, when the fruits of the earth are ripe, and ready to be gathered; and the perſons to whom it is offred, to husbandmen that hauehave commodities growing in the fields. And therefore we iudge him prudent which ſo ſtirreth himſelfe, and haſteneth his people to cut downe his corne, and to inne it when it is ripe, and the weather is ſeaſonable: ſo God heere calleth him a ſonne of vnderſtanding, that is, a wiſe man which taketh time while time ſerueth, for any good purpoſe and occaſion. And as the world cryeth, fie on him that ſleepeth in harueſt, that is, doth no more labour or looke to his affaires, then if hee were in a dead ſleepe, and ſo ſuſtaineth the loſſe of all his croppe, by meanes whereof hee ouerthroweth the ſtate of all his familie: ſo the Lord termeth him a ſonne of confuſion, or which bringeth confuſion, that is to ſay, miſery, and ſhame vponupon himſelfe, and his friends, which ſtriueth not to take his part of Gods bleſsing in due ſeaſon.
It is a matter of great importance to make our vſe of a good Doct. oportunitie when it is offred. The example of the Ant is to that Oportunitie not to be omitted.end propoſed. Chap. 30. 25. That we might learn of the vnreaſonable creatures, and thoſe which are alſo of no account and reckoning. They are led onelyonly by ſence, and inſtinct of nature, we hauehave reaſō that may perſwade to it: they hauehave none to giuegive them admonitiō, or to call vponupon them: we hauehave guides to direct vsus and the word of God ſeriouſly inſtructing vsus in the duetie. And that is there commended in them, which incomparably will be more effectuall in Chriſtians: namely, that wiſedome ſupplyeth the defect of ſtrength and prouidence effecteth that which other things cannot bring to paſſe by their power.
Examples heereof we hauehave in Ioſeph, who in the time of great plentie, prouided againſt the yeares of ſcarcitie: and in the Church of Antiochia, who beeing foretold of the famine to come, made prouiſion beefore hand for the Saints of Ieruſalem.
Firſt, it is a thing pleaſing to God to accept of his gifts when Reaſons. 1 his gracious hand doth reach them out vntounto vsus: and very offenſiue to him when we put by the fauour and kindeneſſe that he maketh offer of. For he taketh it, either as a contempt of the things which he would beſtow: or as controlement of his wiſedome, as though he did not ſee far inough into the fitneſſe of eueryevery ſeaſon.
Secondly, the euents that fall out on both ſides doe make this manifeſt: they that open their hands to receiue, when God openeth his to giuegive, they that are prepared to accept with thankefulneſſe, as hee is ready to beſtow in merciemercy, ſuch ſhall hauehave the bleſsings of God confirmed vntounto them with newbleſsings; and to them will he communicate much and often, and that which is excellent, which vſe ſpeedy intertainment to his graces. But on the other ſide when men hold him off with delaies, and grow nice, and coye, and turne his benefits backe vponupon him, they ſhall be ſoone rid of them, and ſtript of all his mercies: they ſhall call and cry at another time and hauehave no anſwere, they ſhall ſearch and ſeeke, and finde no ſucceſſe, they ſhall feele their wants, and faile of ſupply to releeue them.
Reproofe of them that be euill husbands for themſelues, in Vſe. the things of this preſent life, pretermitting the precious time of getting skill in any profitable trade or ſcience, and onelyonly learne the art of vanitie, and bee many yeares apprentiſes to dogs, and dice, and hawkes, and boules, and to eueryevery ruffianly companion, that ſhall teach them to ſwagger, and ſweare, to ſwill, and quaffe, and play all the parts of profeſſed Atheiſts. And ſo at laſt (their wits beeing worne out for want of wiſedome, which would hauehave preſerued them, their ſtrength conſumed in ſtriuing to doe miſchiefe, and age periſhing in them as neuer yeelding fruite to themſelues, or any others) they come to that condicion as did the vagabonds that Iob ſpeaketh of, that eueryevery man will be readie to prefer his dogs before them (as in equirie it is fit for the maſter to take the better hand of the ſeruant) and to let his very dunghill hauehave preheminence aboue them. Their wretched and curſed courſes in miſpending their time do worke them the fulneſſe of woe and miſery, and make them odious and hatefull to God and godly men, and to ciuill men, and burthenous and loathſome to vngodly and ſinfull men. Secondly, of them that be vnthriftie for their ſoules, which neuer apply themſelues to prepare for another life, before they be departing out of this. They doe not once thinke of ſeeking heauen and euerlaſting ſaluation, vntill they bee ſinking into hell, and perpetuall perdicion They imagine that earthly things will require long labour to compaſſe them, but pietie, and grace, repentance, and faith, may be gotten in a moment: they be ready at their will, and their will wilbe flexible to their wiſh, and neither abilitie, nor will, nor wiſh will bee wanting at the time of their deathes. Oh miſerable men, how long will their eyes bee blinded? How long will their hearts be hardned? do they not perceiue that ſinne and Sathan hauehave power ouer their affections and deſires, and purpoſes, and will, and all the faculties of their whole ſoules? Euen this maketh it cleare that it is ſo, becauſe they doe not perceiue it to be ſo. And if their ſoules bee in ſuch bondage and ſubiection, and held at the wil of the diuell, that now in their freſh age & health (their ſences being more capable of inſtruction, and the miniſterie of the word readie to yeeld inſtruction) that they cannot attaine to ſound and godly ſorrow, and conuerſion: let them not deceiue themſelues, as though in ſickneſſe, and paine, and dotage, and ſenceleſeneſſe, and affected blindneſſe of minde, they can by their owne diſpoſition returne ſincerely to the Lord.