The Book of Proverbs Paraphrased, Part 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
ARGUMENT.
The dulneſs, ſluggiſhneſs and forgetfulneſs of Mankind in their principal concernments, are ſo notorious, that we need not wonder the Wiſe Man repeats the very ſame things, and quickens our attention to them, in the beginning of this Chapter. Which he thought neceſſary to excite again (v. 10.) and again (v. 20.) becauſe all his pains, he knew, would be loſt without ſerious conſideration of what he ſaid: and the very firſt ſtep to Wiſedom, is to have a mind to be wiſe.
And to make his Exhortations the more acceptable, he acquaints the Reader with the Leſſons which his own Father and Mother were wont to teach him (v. 3, 4, &c.) and the great benefit he had received by them. Which gave him the greater confidence to preſs every one to follow his example of obſequiouſneſs to good counſels, as the ſureſt way to be happy: and by no means to imitate the examples of the wicked, from which he diſſwades by many arguments (v. 14, 15, &c.) and beſeeches they may be ſo duly pondered (v. 20, 21, &c.) that they produce in every one a watchfulneſs over his heart, his mouth, his eyes, his feet; as may be ſeen in the concluſion of the Chapter.
The whole Chapter from v. 4. may be conceived to be the words of David, as well as Solomon's. But I have extended David's advice no further than unto v. 10. and there make Solomon to reſume his exhortation; and urge upon his Son what his Father had taught him.
There is one Proverbial ſpeech in v. 27. which needs no explication. Some would have another, v. 16. but I can ſee no reaſon for it.
The Principal Inſtructions in this Chapter are theſe. The care that Parents ought to take, to inſtruct their Children diligently: and the greater they are (ſuppoſe Princes) the more accurate ought their Education to be, as Solomon's was, v. 3, 4, &c. And above all things the excellence of Wiſedom and Vertue is to be inculcated: for this excites a deſire of it; and that's the very beginning of it, as ſome expound thoſe words, v. 7. In which ſenſe they are admirably explained in the Book of Wiſedom, VI. 12, 13, 14, 17. Next to this they are to be cautioned againſt evil Company, as the bane of Youth: and the wretchedneſs of their life that live wickedly is to be repreſented; and the happineſs, comfort and ſatisfaction of theirs that live vertuouſly; which increaſes as their days and their vertues do, v. 18. Next they are to be taught how neceſſary it is to be conſtant in reading pious Books, eſpecially the holy Scriptures, v. 21. And to have an upright heart, ſincerely diſpoſed to follow ſuch directions; upon which all depends, both their well or ill doing, and their well or ill being. Watchfulneſs alſo over the Senſes is commended, as of great uſe to preſerve the Affections from being corrupted.
1. HEar, ye children, the inſtruction of a father, and attend to know underſtanding.
1. LIſten then all ye, that are deſirous to learn, unto the Inſtructions which, out of a paternal affection, I bring from God unto you: hearken to them, though they correct your preſent manners; and let your mind be ſo attentive, that you may know what it is to have a right underſtanding in all things.
2. For I give you good doctrine, forſake you not my law.
2. They are no frivolous or indifferent matters which I teach you; but the moſt excellent things, and abſolutely neceſſary to your happineſs: therefore do not merely attend to them, but ſtrictly obſerve my Precepts, as the Law and Rule of your life.
3. For I was my father's ſon, tender and onelyonly beloved in the ſight of my mother.
3. Doe as I my ſelf did, who remember, that, when I was a Child, the Son of a moſt wiſe and pious Father, and under the carefull eye of an affectionate Mother; who loved me moſt dearly above all her Children, and while I was ſoft and flexible, and apt to receive good impreſſions, lookt to my education with great circumſpection;
4. He taught me alſo, and ſaid unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live.
4. My Father was wont to tutor and inſtruct me (1 Chron. XXVIII. 8. XXIX. 2.) ſaying; mind my words, and faithfully retain them, not onelyonly in thy memory, but in thy affections: obſerve my Commandments, and thou ſhalt enjoy long happineſs.
5. Get wiſedom, get underſtanding: forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.
5. And this is the thing I require of thee, not ſo much to ſeek after Riches, as to treaſure up Wiſedom; and endeavour to underſtand how to behave thy ſelf upon all occaſions; and when thou art well informed in thy duty, do not forget it, nor turn aſide from the way, into which I will direct thee.
6. Forſake her not, and ſhe ſhall preſerve thee: love her, and ſhe ſhall keep thee.
6. Quit all things in this World rather than forſake the Precepts of Wiſedom; ſtick to them, and they will preſerve thee from innumerable miſchiefs; love them ſincerely, and they will be a ſtronger guard than money can procure thee.
7. Wiſedom is the principal thing, therefore get wiſdom: and with all thy getting get underſtanding.
7. And as there is nothing comparable to Wiſedom, ſo the firſt ſtep to it is to know as much, and to prize it accordingly. Begin therefore to be wiſe, by looking upon the fear of God as above all earthly Poſſeſſions, and by being willing, if it were needfull, to give all thou art worth to know what is pleaſing to him.
8. Exalt her, and ſhe ſhall promote thee: ſhe ſhall bring thee to honour when thou doſt embrace her.
8. Thou canſt not ſpeak nor think too highly of this Wiſedom, as thou ſhalt find by happy experience. For if thou magnify it, above all things, it will raiſe thy eſteem and make thee great in the World; yea, when thou entertaineſt it with ardent love, thou ſhalt become moſt illuſtrious in the ſight of God and Men.
9. She ſhall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory ſhall ſhe deliver to thee.
9. Whatſoever elſe thou haſt to commend thee and gain thee honour, this ſhall add unto it, and make it far more amiable: the faireſt ornaments or the moſt beautifull Crown that can be ſet upon thy head, ſhall receive luſtre from hence; and be ſetled there the more ſecurely.
10. Hear, O my ſon, and receive my ſayings: and the years of thy life ſhall be many.
10. Thus my Father was wont to diſcourſe to me, as I do to thee, My Son; whom I earneſtly again intreat (v. 1.) to conſider what I ſay; and to believe it: and then I promiſe thee, what he did me (v. 4.) that thou ſhalt lead a long and happy life.
11. I have taught thee in the way of wiſedom: I have led thee in right paths.
11. I have already taught thee, and will ſtill inform thee in the wiſeſt courſe unto it; not in thoſe crooked ways of fraud and falſeneſs, &c. which many take; but in the directeſt paths of integrity and truth, in which I intend, as I have done hitherto, to lead thee.
12. When thou goeſt, thy ſteps ſhall not be ſtraitned, and when thou runneſt, thou ſhalt not ſtumble.
12. And if thy actions and deſigns have no other rule, thou ſhalt be at eaſe, and free from thoſe ſtraits and difficulties which others meet withall: and in caſe thy buſineſs ſhall require haſte, this will be the ſafeſt, as well as the moſt inoffenſive (if not the ſhorteſt) way to accompliſh thy ends.
13. Take faſt hold of inſtruction, let her not go; keep her, for ſhe is thy life.
13. Reſolve to try it, and, though it ſhould be contrary to thy preſent ſenſe yet, do not refuſe this Inſtruction which I give thee; but take ſuch faſt hold of it, as never for want of care and pains, to let it ſlip out of thy mind: keep it as a moſt precious treaſure, for all thy happineſs depends upon it.
14. ¶ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
14. ¶ And if thou really intendeſt to be guided by me, remember the advice I gave thee in the beginning (ch. 1.10.) not ſo much as to enter upon their wicked courſe of life, or to keep them company, who regard not God and are injurious to Men: or if thou haſt been ſeduced into it, be not perſwaded by their ſeeming proſperity and thriving condition to continue in it.
15. Avoid it, paſs not by it, turn from it, and paſs away.
15. Avoid it therefore with a juſt abhorrence; come not near it, but get as far as thou canſt from their Society: and decline all occaſions that might invite thee into it, as dangerous temptations.
16. For they ſleep not except they have done miſchief: and their ſleep is taken away, unleſs they cauſe ſome to fall.
16. For as miſchief is their buſineſs, ſo they purſue it with a reſtleſs diligence: there being thoſe among them, for inſtance, that cannot be quiet, nor have any ſatisfaction, till they have executed their villanous intentions; but perpetually diſturb themſelves, that they may ruine others.
17. For they eat the bread of wickedneſs, and drink the wine of violence.
17. For they live by robbery and ſpoil; having no other meat and drink, but what is the fruit of rapine and violence, and not of their honeſt labours.
18. But the path of the juſt is as the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day.
18. Which makes a wide difference between them and righteous Men; whoſe pure and innocent life is full of honour as well as joy: which increaſes continually together with their vertue; proceeding (like the ſplendour of the Sun, which nothing can extinguiſh, nor hinder in its courſe) till it come to the higheſt pitch of joy and glory.
19. The way of the wicked is as darkneſs: they know not at what they ſtumble.
19. Whereas thoſe wicked People live moſt uncomfortably, as well as baſely and vilely; going on blindly to their own deſtruction (of which they are in conſtant danger, and grows more and more upon them) and yet they know not (no more than men in thick darkneſs) what miſchief it is that ſuddenly may befall them.
20. ¶ My ſon, attend to my words, incline thine ear unto my ſayings.
20. ¶ Therefore I do not without reaſon once more repeat my requeſt unto thee (v. 1, 10.) that thou wilt give diligent heed to my advice; and ſeriouſly conſider thoſe exhortations, which proceed from a ſincere affection to thy welfare.
21. Let them not depart from thine eyes: keep them in the midſt of thine heart.
21. Reade them over and over again, and keep them perpetually in mind; or rather preſerve them ſtudiouſly, and lay them up, as a moſt precious treaſure, in the cloſeſt affections of thy heart.
22. For they are life unto thoſe that find them, and health to all their fleſh.
22. For they will make all thoſe exceeding happy, both in body and ſoul, that come thoroughly acquainted with them: and, how various ſoever their temper and condition be, will prove an univerſal remedy for all their grieſs and troubles.
23. ¶ Keep thy heart with all diligence: for out of it are the iſſues of life.
23. ¶ And charge thy ſelf with this, above all other cares, to ſet ſuch a ſtrict guard upon the inward thoughts, motions and affections of thy ſoul (which are beſieged with many enemies) that thy conſent be never obtained to any thing, which thou oughtſt to refuſe: for thy living well or ill depends on this; and ſuch as thy caution and watchfulneſs is in this, ſuch will the actions of thy life be, which flow from thence.
24. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverſe lips put far from thee.
24. And as they that defend a City againſt an Enemy, ſet a ſtrong guard at the Gates and Poſterns, ſo do thou upon thy Ears and upon thy mouth: never ſpeaking things contrary to Truth, Honeſty, and Religion thy ſelf; nor liſtning unto thoſe that do, but baniſhing both, as far as is poſſible, from thy familiarity.
25. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look ſtreight before thee.
25. The Eyes alſo are dangerous inlets into the heart; and therefore watch them well that they do not gaze about, and faſten on every object that invites them: but be fixed upon one ſcope, as thy thoughts ought to be, from which let nothing divert them.
26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be eſtabliſhed.
26. And before thou fixeſt and reſolveſt upon any action, examine and weigh it thoroughly, whether it be agreeable to the rule of life, and the end thou aimeſt at: and ſo thou ſhalt be conſtant to thy ſelf, and confirmed in a ſtedfaſt courſe of well doing.
27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
27. From which do not ſuffer thy ſelf to be drawn aſide, either to ſuperſtition on the one hand, or to contempt or neglect of Religion on the other: let neither love of Friends nor hatred of Enemies, neither hope of pleaſure and gain, nor fear of pain and damage, neither proſperous nor croſs events, ever move thee to turn into either extremes from the rule of vertue: but, whatſoever inclination thou findeſt that way, do not proceed to commit the leaſt ſin againſt God or againſt thy Neighbour.