Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Proverbs · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Verſe 1. My Son, attend unto my Wiſdome.]
ARiſtotle could ſay, that young men are but croſs and crooked hearers of moral Philoſophy, and have much need to bee ſtirred up to diligent attendance.Ethic. lib. 7. cap. 3, 4. Fornication is by many of them held a peccadillo: And Ariſtotle ſpareth not to confeſs the diſability of moral wiſdome to rectifie the intemperance of nature: which alſo hee made good in his practice; for hee uſed a common ſtrumpet to ſatisfie his luſt.
Verſ. 2. That thou mayeſt regard diſcretion] Or, that thou mayeſt keep in thy thoughts, as Job did, Chap. 31.1. Why then ſhould I think upon a Maid? Out of the hearts of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, &c. ſaith our Saviour, Mark. 7.21. Many mens hearts are no better than ſtews and brothel-houſes,Pſal. 104. by reaſon of baſe and beaſtly thoughts and luſts that muſter and ſwarm there, like the flies of Aegypt. There is that Leviathan, and there are creeping things innumerable. Yea, the hypocrite, who outwardly abſtains from groſs ſins, yet inwardly conſenteth with the theef, and partaketh with the Adulterer, that is, in his heart and fancy, ſuppoſing himſelf with them; and deſiring to do what they do, Pſal. 50.18, 19. This is mental adultery, this is contemplative wickedneſs. So it is alſo to recall former filthineſs with delight, Ezek. 23.21. Shee multiplied her whoredomes in calling to remembrance the daies of her youth, wherein ſhee had plaid the harlot. Surely as a man may dye of an inward bleeding; ſo may hee bee damned for theſe inward boilings of luſt and concupiſcence, if not bewailed and mortified, Jer. 4 14. The thoughts of the wicked are abominable to the Lord. Prov. 15.26. To look and luſt is to commit Adultery, Matth. 5.28. Therefore deſire not her beauty in thy heart. Prov. 6.25.
And that thy lips may keep knowledge] As Joſeph did in anſwering his wanton Miſtreſs, Gen. 39. as hee in St. Auſtin did, that replied to his minions, Ego ſum, It is I, At ego non ſum, but it is not I.
Verſ. 3. For the lips of a ſtrange woman drop] Take heed therefore how thou exchange any words at all with her. But if thou bee firſt ſet upon,Jun in vita ſua. as Joſeph was by his Miſtreſs, and as Franciſcus Junius was by thoſe impudent Queans at Lions in France (whither hee was ſent by his Father for learning-ſake) who night and day ſolicited him; then to keep thee from the bitter-ſweet lips of theſe Enchantreſſes, let thy lips keep knowledge, anſwer them (as Joſeph did) with the words of truth and ſoberneſs, Act. 26.25. with gracious and wholeſome words, 1 Tim. 6.3. ſuch as have a cooling and healing property in them, with Scripture-language, which the Devil and his Agents cannot anſwer or away with. When therefore thou art tempted to this of any like ſin, ſay, No; I may not, I dare not; for it is forbidden in ſuch a place, and again in ſuch a place, How then can I do this great wickedneſs, and ſin againſt God? Gen. 39.9. Lo this is the way, walk in it. Let thy lips keep knowledge, and it ſhall keep thee from the lips of a ſtrange woman, though they drop as an hony-comb, and ſeem to have plenty of pleaſure and ſweetneſs in them.
Drop as an hony-comb] But is like that hony ſpoken of by Pliny, that had poyſon in it, as being ſucked out of poyſonous herbs and flowers. In the Cadiz voyage, at Alvelana three miles from Lisbon, many of our Engliſh Souldiers under the Earle of Eſſex periſhed by eating of hony, purpoſely left in the houſes, and ſpiced with poyſon, as it was thought.Speed. 12.10. How much better is it to bee preſerved in brine, than to rot in hony? to mortifie luſts, than to enjoy them? Rom. 8.13. Voluptatem viciſſe voluptas eſt maxima, ſaith Cyprian, nec ulla major eſt victoria, quam ea, quae è cupiditatibus refertur. De bon… pudicit.There is no ſuch pleaſure, as to have overcome an offered pleaſure; neither is there any greater conqueſt, than that that is gotten over a mans corruptions.
Verſ. 4. But her end is bitter as wormwood] The pleaſure paſſeth,In amore …iltum eſt amari. the ſting remaineth; for in the froth of this filthy pleaſure is bred that hell-worm of guilt that never dyeth.
Principium dulce eſt, ſed finis amoris amarus:
Laeta venire Venus, triſtis abire ſolet.
Diana of the Epheſians was ſo artificially pourtrayed, that ſhee ſeemed to ſmile moſt pleaſantly upon ſuch as came into her Temple,Dulcis acerbita… amariſſima voluptas. Tertul. but to frown at thoſe that went out: So doth ſenſual pleaſure. Heus tu ſcholaſtice, dulce & amarum guſtulum carpis, &c. ſaid the Harlot to Apuleius. Hark Scholar, it is but a bitter ſweet that you are ſo fond of. Plus aloes quam mellis habet, knoweſt thou not that there will bee bitterneſs in the end?Speed, Walſing. The Chroniclers have obſerved of our Edward the third, that hee had alwayes fair weather at his paſſage into France, and foul upon his return: Such is the way of the Harlot: The ſin committed with her is as the poyſon of Aſpes. When an Aſp ſtings a man,Plutarch. it doth firſt tickle him ſo as it makes him laugh, till the poyſon by little and little get to the heart, and then it pains him more than ever before it delighted him. See Luke 6.25. & 16.25. Heb. 12.15, 16. Job 13.26. Eccleſ. 7.27, 28.
Verſ. 5. Her feet go down to death] The Romans were wont to have their Funerals at the gates of Venus Temple, to ſignifie that luſt was the harbinger,Plutarch. and haſtener of death, ſaith Plutarch. As for Whores, they were of old ſhut out of the City, and forced to ſeek places among the graves.Lib. Adverſ. 13.19. Hence they were called Maechae buſtuariae; de ſcortis dictum inter buſta prostrantibus, ſaith Turnebus. See the Note on Chap. 2.18.
Her ſteps take hold on hell] Whither ſhee is haſtening, and hurrying with her all her ſtallions and paramours. (See the Note on Chap. 2.18, 19.) and where, by how much more deliciouſly they have lived, by ſo much more they ſhall have of ſorrow and torment, Rev. 18.7.
Verſ. 6. Leſt thou ſhouldeſt ponder] q. d. Leſt thou ſhouldeſt perſwade thy ſelf that thou mayeſt imbrace the boſome of a ſtranger, and yet lay hold upon the paths of life by repenting thee of thy folly (this was Solomons errour ſometimes, Eccleſ. 1.17. and 2.3.) thou art utterly deceived herein, for her wayes are moveable, ſo that thou obſerveſt not whither ſhee tendeth, ſhee wanders here and there (and thou with her) yet not ſo wide as to miſs of hell; lo that is the center whereunto ſhee is rowling, that is the rendezvouz for all her aſſociates in ſin.
Verſ. 7. O yee children] See Chap. 4.1. Shechem though at ripeneſs of age, yet is called a childe, Gen. 39.19. Neque diſtulit puer. And the young man (or the childe) deferred not to do the thing. A childe hee is called, that is, a fool, quia non ratione ſed affectu rapitur, ſaith an Interpreter, becauſe not reaſon, but luſt over-ruld him.Vere…. As for thee, thou ſhalt bee as one of the fools in Iſrael, ſaid ſhee to her libidinous brother Amnon, 1 Sam. 23.13.
Verſ. 8. Remove thy way far from her] The Jeſuits boaſt (but beleeve them who will) that they can dally with the faireſt women without danger. But hee that would not bee burnt, muſt dread the fire: Hee that would not hear the bell, muſt not meddle with the rope.
Quid facies facies Veneris cum veneris ante?
Non ſedeas, ſed eas; ne pereas, per eas.
Rom. 13.13. Exod. 23.7.Chambering and wantonneſs, is a deed of darkneſs and diſhoneſty.
Come not nigh the doors] Keep thee far from an evil matter, ſaith Moſes; The plague (and worſe) is at the Harlots houſe;foreign. 1 Tim. 6. ſtand off. To venture upon the occaſion of ſin, and then to pray, Lead us not into temptation, is all one, as to thruſt thy finger into the fire, and then to pray that it may not bee burnt. Was not hee a wiſe man that would haunt Taverns, Theatres, and Whore-houſes at London all day,Sheph. Sincere convert. 232. but yet durſt not go forth without private prayer in the morning, and then would ſay at his departure, Now Devil do thy worſt?
Verſ. 9. Leſt thou give thine honour] i. e. Whatſoever within thee, or without thee, may make thee honourable or eſteemed, as the flower of thine age, the comelineſs of thy body, the excellency of thy wit, thy poſſibility of preferment, that good opinion that the better ſort had of thee, &c. How was David ſlighted by his own children and ſervants after hee had thus ſinned? Confer, 1 Sam. 2.30. with 2 Sam. 12.10. Chaſtity is a mans honour, 1 Theſſ. 4.4.
Caſtus quaſi foreign ornatus. foreign ab foreign v…erabilis. Deut. 32.33.And their years] i. e. according to ſome, thy wealth, that thou haſt been many years in gathering, foreign quaſi foreign.
To the cruel] That is, to the harlot, and her baſtardly brood, whom thou muſt maintain. The Hebrews expound it of the Devil. To the cruel, i. e. Principi gehennae, ſaith Solomon, Angelo mortis, ſaith another, to the Prince of Hell, to this Angel of Death; Aczar the Hebrew word properly ſignifieth (ſaith one) the poyſon of the Aſp, which paineth not at firſt, but is deadly.
Verſ. 10. Lest ſtrangers bee filled] This ſin is a purgatory to the purſe, though a paradice to the deſires. How ſoon had the Prodigal (foreign quaſi foreign) waſted his portion when once hee fell among Harlots (thoſe ſordida poſcinummia, Luke 15.thoſe crumenimulgae?) Ask mee never ſo much gift, and I will give it, ſaid Shechem, Gen. 34.12. what pledge ſhall I give thee? and ſhee ſaid, Thy ſignet, thy bracelets, &c. Gen. 37.18. and if ſhee had asked more, ſhee might have had it. Ask what thou wilt, and it ſhall bee given thee, ſaid Herod to his dancing Damoſel: Nay, hee ſware to her, that whatſoever ſhee ſhould ask, hee would give it her to the half of his Kingdome, Mar. 6.22. ſo ſtrongly was hee inchanted and bewitched with her tripping on the toe, and wanton dancing, This deteſtable ſin is able to deſtroy Kings, as Solomons Mother taught him. Prov. 31.3.foreign tripudiabat Baccharum m…re. And ſurely Solomon by the many women that hee kept, was ſo exhauſted in his eſtate (for all his great riches) that hee was forced to oppreſs his ſubjects with heavy taxes and tributes, which occaſioned the revolt of ten Tribes. The whore lyeth in wait for a prey, Prov. 23.20. and by means of a whoriſh woman, a man is brought to a morſel of bread, to extream beggery, Prov. 6.26.
Verſ. 11. And thou mourn at the laſt] Heb. And thou roar, Zeph. 3.5.as being upon the rack of an evil conſcience, and in the ſuburbs of Hell, as it were: whiles the juſt Lord makes thee, even here, poſſeſs the ſins of thy youth, and writes bitter things againſt thee. The word ſignifies to roar as a Lion, or as the Sea,foreign est m…rit agitatio. Hom. Iliad. H. vide Euſtath. Venus ab antiquis foreign dicta. or as the Devil doth. For the Devils beleeve and tremble, or roar, James 2.19. Grecians aſcribe the Original foreign to the roaring of the Sea.
When thy fleſh and thy body] By the word here rendred body, there are that underſtand the radical humor, the natural moiſture that maintains life: and is much impaired by this ſenſual ſin. Avicenna doubted not to ſay, that the emiſſion of a little ſeed more than the body could well bear, was a great deal more hurtful, than the loſs of forty times ſo much blood; Gouts, Palſies, Epilepſies, &c. oft follow upon this ſin: But the French diſeaſe is the natural fruit of it, ſuch as will ſtick by men when their beſt friends forſake them. Jeſabel is caſt into a bed, and they that commit adultery with her, into great tribulation, Rev. 2.20. The Popiſh libidinous Clergy are ſmitten with ulcers, Rev. 16.11. Their Pope Paul the fourth died, ex nimio Veneris uſu, Runius de vit. Pontif.ſaith the Hiſtorian, by waſting his ſtrength in filthy pleaſure, as the flame conſumeth the candle.
Verſ. 12. And ſay, How have I hated, &c.] When caſt out with the Prodigal, and hath nothing left him but a diſeaſed body, a diſtreſſed ſoul, then all too late, hee fills the air with doleful complaints of his former folly, and cries out as hee did, Totum vitae meae tempus perdidi, quia perditè vixi. Bern.O what a wretch, what a beaſt, what a madded Devil was I, ſo wofully to waſte the fat and marrow of my dear and precious time, the flower of mine age, the ſtrength of my body, the vigour of my ſpirits, the whole of mine eſtate, in ſinful pleaſures, and ſenſual delights, &c. Loe here is a kind of repentance,Nunquam ſero ſi ſerio. which though late, yet if it were true, would bee accepted. The Mole, they ſay, begins to ſee when hee dies, and not till then. Oculos incipit aperire moriendo, quos clauſos habuit vivendo. But it is a rare thing, and ſeldome ſeen,To ſtat. ex Plinio. Eccleſ. 7.28. that any whoremonger doth truly repent. One ſuch man among a thouſand have I found, ſaith Solomon (perhaps hee meant himſelf) but a woman among all thoſe have I not found. And yet Scultetus tells us, that Dr. Speiſer Miniſter of Anſborough in Germany, preached there ſo powerfully,Anno 1523. Scultet. Annal. pag. 118. that the common harlots there tolerated, left their filthy trade of life, and became very honeſt women.
And my heart deſpiſed reproof] Experience ſhews, that they that are once given up to this ſin, are more graceleſs, prophane, and incorrigible than others, deriders and contemners of all good counſel, having loſt even the very light of nature, and ſo ſet in their ſin, and ſo wedded and wedged to their wicked waies, as that they cannot bee removed, but by an extraordinary touch from the hand of Heaven.
Verſ. 13. Nor inclined mine ear] I would not ſo much as hear them, much leſs obey their voice. Intus exiſtens prohibet alienum. The ſongs of thoſe Syrens had ſo enchanted him, that it was paſt time of day to give him counſel. If you ſpeak againſt his ſweet ſin, and diſſwade him from that, hee ſhrinks back into the ſhell, and lets his hood hearken. All that is of Davy Duttons dream, (as the proverb is) and therefore Surdo fabulam, hee will in no wiſe give ear to you.
Verſ. 14. I was almoſt in all evil] Abraham Ben-Hezra reads it in the future tenſe, Brevi ero in omni malo, I ſhall ſhortly bee in all evil: and ſo his repentance here appears to bee poenitentia ſera, Iſcariotica, ſuch as was that of Judas, and of thoſe Popelings, Rev. 18.19. a deſperate repentance, and not toward God, Act. 20.21. not a repentance for ſin, as it is offen ſivum Dei, & averſivum à Deo, an offence againſt God, and a turning away from him. Such a repentance in this man had been,Plut. in Pom (as the Romans ſaid of Pompey) foreign, a fair and happy daughter of an ugly and odious Mother, of his ſin I mean, the ſight whereof had ſent him to Chriſt.
In the midſt of the Congregation] i. e. openly and before all men. And this hee brings as an aggravation of his miſery, that there were ſo many eye-witneſſes thereof. No unclean perſon can have any aſſurance that his ſin ſhall alwaies bee kept ſecret, no not in this life. The Lord hath oft brought ſuch (ſometimes by terrour of conſcience, ſometimes by phrenſie) to that paſs, that themſelves have been the blazers and proclaimers of their own ſecret filthineſs.Hilderſh. on John 4. Yea obſeve this (ſaith One) in them that are the cunningeſt in this ſin, that (though no body peradventure can convince them evidently of the fact) yet every body (through the juſt judgement of God) condemns them for it. As the Lord ſeeth their ſecreteſt villanies, even ſo oft-times hee teſtifieth againſt them, according to that which hee threatneth, Mal. 3.5. I will bee a ſwift witneſs againſt the adulterers.
Verſ. 15. Drink waters out of thine own Ciſtern] After other preſervatives from fornication (as not to think of, or ſpeak with the harlot, not to come near the doors of her houſe, &c. but to conſider of the many miſchiefs that follow upon it, a diſeaſed body, a damned ſoul, a poor purſe, &c.) Here the Wiſe-man preſcribeth wedlock as a remedy properly ordained by God for that end, 1 Cor. 7.2, 9. And becauſe not the having of a wife, but the loving of her keeps a man honeſt; therefore it follows, verſ. 19. Let her …ee as the loving Hind, &c.
And running waters] Heathen writers alſo ſet forth a wife by waters: as Heſiod bids men not to paſs over a running water without prayers to the Gods;Heſiod. in Ergis. that is, not to render unto their wives due benevolence, till they have ſought God, as Johannes Grammaticus interprets it. A pious Precept, Marriage as well as meats muſt bee ſanctified by the word and prayer: and God bee called in to bleſs this phyſick to the ſoul. Luſt makes the heart hot and thirſty: God therefore ſends men to this Well, to this Ciſtern, Confer Iſa. 65.1. The Hebrews call a woman foreign i. e. perforata, Gen. 1.27.
Verſ. 16. Let thy fountains bee disperſed.] Thy fountains, that is, thy children: Let thine end in marrying bee, that thou mayeſt have a numerous offſpring, that may bee as an Infantry to the Kingdome of Heaven. Lawful Marriage is uſually bleſſed with many children: and the contrary, Hoſ. 4.10. Eraſmus tells of one Combe, Eraſm. in chiliad.a young woman in Euboea, that being married to one whom ſhee liked, became Mother and Grand-mother to a hundred children.Eraſm. de inſtit. matrim. The ſame Author tells of an Engliſh man, a cripple, that married a blind woman, lived very lovingly with her, and had by her twelve luſty boyes that had no defect or deformity.
Verſ. 17. Let them bee onelyonly thine own] Siut, vel erunt, let them bee, or they ſhall bee: It is both an exhortation and a promiſe; q. d. Far bee it from thee to bee a pander to thine own bed (as the Lituanians, of whom Maginus relates, that they have their connubii adjutores, their coadjutours in wedlock, and prize them far above all their acquaintance:) God alſo will bleſs thee with an honeſt wife, that ſhall bee true to thy bed, and not obtrude upon thee children to keep, that are not thine. Saint Paul gives charge, that no man go beyond,Hieronym. Chryſoſt. Heinſius. or defraud his brother in the matter, that is, in re Venerea, in the matter of the marriage-bed (as ſome expound it) but that every one poſſeſs his veſſel, that is (ſay they) his wife, that weaker veſſel, in ſanctification and honour, 1 Theſ. 4.4, 5, 6.
Verſ. 18. Let thy fountain bee bleſſed] Or thy fountain ſhall bee bleſſed, thy wife ſhall bee fruitful, as Pſal. 128. that Pſalm for Solomon, whoſe many wives brought him but few children. Wee read but of one Son that hee had (who was none of the wiſeſt neither) and two daughters, both of them ſubjects. Our Henry the 8th. (though blame-worthy for women too) was more happy in King Edward his Son (that Orbis deliciae) and his two Daughters, both Soveraigns of an Imperial Crown.
Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth] As Iſaac did, who was the moſt loving husband that wee read of in holy-writ. Ezechiels wife was the delight of his eyes, hee took ſingular complacency in her company. This conjugal joy is the fruit of love, which therefore hee commendeth to all married men, in the next words.
Verſ. 19. Let her bee as the loving Hind, &c.] The Hind and the Roe are the females of the Hart and Roebuck: of which creatures it is noted,Inter utrum que ardor amoris ſummus, ut Oppianus de cervis agens ſcribit. that of all other beaſts they are moſt inamoured (as I may ſo ſpeak) with their mates, and even mad again in their heat, and deſire after them. This being taken in a good ſenſe, may ſet forth the ardent affection that husbands ſhould bear to the wives of their boſomes; ſo they are called too, becauſe they ſhould be as dear to them, as the hearts in their boſomes. A wife is the moſt proper object of love, Col. 3.18. above Parent, Friend, Childe, or any other, though never ſo dear to us.
And bee thou raviſhed alwaies] Heb. Erre thou alwaies in her love: Mercer.velut extra te ſis & rerum aliarum obliviſcare. It implies (ſaith one) a lawful earneſt affection, ſo as, firſt, to overſee ſome blemiſhes and defects! Love is blind. In facie naevus cauſa decoris erit. Secondly, ſo highly to eſteem her,Ovid. and ſo lovingly to comport with her, that others may think him even to dote on her. Howbeit muli…roſity muſt bee carefully avoided, as a harmful errour: and that ſaying of Hierome duly pondered and beleeved, Quiſquis in uxorem ardentior eſt amator, adulter eſt. As a man may bee drunk with his own drink, and a glutton by exceſſive devouring of his own meat: ſo likewiſe one may bee unclean by the intemperate or intempeſtive abuſe of the marriage-bed: which ought by no means to bee ſtained or diſhonoured with ſenſual exceſſes.
Verſ. 20. And why wilt thou my Son] The premiſes conſidered, there is no reaſon for it, but all againſt it. Nothing is more irrational than irreligion, and yet nothing more uſual with the Devil than to perſwade his vaſſals that there is ſome ſenſe in ſinning, and that they have reaſon to bee mad. And truly, though there were no Devil, yet our corrupt nature would act Satans part againſt it ſelf: it would have a ſupply of wickedneſs (as a Serpent hath of poiſon) from it ſelf, it hath a ſpring within to feed it. Nitimur in vetitum ſemper, petimuſque negata. Nothing would ſerve the rich mans turn, but the poor mans Lamb; if Ahab may not have Naboths Vineyard, hee hath nothing. The more God forbids any ſin, the more wee bid for it, Rom. 7.8. Nay but wee will have a King ſaid they, when they had nothing elſe to ſay why they would.
Verſ. 21. For the waies of man, &c.] Turpe quid acturus te ſine teſte time. Auſ….A man that is about any evil, ſhould ſtand in awe of himſelf, how much more of God? ſith hee is foreign, All eye, and beholdeth the ſecreteſt of thine actions: The Proverb is, Si non caſte, ſaltem caute, carry the matter, if not honeſtly, yet ſo cloſely and cleanly, that the world may bee never the wiſer. How cunningly did David art it to hide his ſin? but it would not bee: there is nothing covered that ſhall not bee revealed, Luk. 12.2. If I make my bed in Hell (ſaid hee, Pſal. 139.8. as indeed the places where fornicatours uſe to lodge are little better) Behold thou art there: This God alledgeth as a forcible reaſon againſt this ſin, Jer. 13.27. I have ſeen the lewdneſs of thy whoredomes. And Jer. 29.23. Even I know, and am a witneſs, ſaith the Lord.
Verſ. 22. His own iniquities ſhall take the wicked] As ſo many Serjeants ſet on by God: who will ſurely hamper theſe unruly beaſts (that think to ſhift and ſcape his fingers) with the cords of their own ſins, binding them hand and foot, and bringing them to condign puniſhment. So that, ſay the Adulterer bee not puniſhed by the Magiſtrate, or come off by commutation, yet hee ſhall feel himſelf in the gall of bitterneſs, and bond of perdition, hee ſhall finde that hee hath made a halter to hang himſelf. No body can be ſo torn with ſtripes, as a mind is with the remembrance of wicked actions. Tiberius felt the remorſe of conſcience ſo violent, that hee proteſted to the Senate,Taci. that hee ſuffered death daily.
Verſ. 23. Hee ſhall dye without inſtruction] To ſpend the ſpan of this tranſitory life after the waies of ones own heart, is to periſh for ever. But oh what mad men are they that bereave themſelves of a room in that City of Pearl, for a few dirty delights, and carnal pleaſures!