Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 1 · Verse 20
Verſ. 20. Wiſdome eryeth without, ſhe uttereth her voyce in the ſtreets.
Solomon like a good Phyſician, having firſt ſhewed the danger of the diſeaſe, to make willing to take phyſick; and like a good Chirurgeon, having uſed corraſives, now gives curing medicines, and lenitive plaiſters. Or, having before given antitodes to keep men from ill courſes, now he gives cordials to encourage them to good. Having forewarned the young man to take heed of bad company, now he brings in Wiſdome inviting him to her ſchool. So the Pſalmiſt firſt diſſwades them from ungodly wayes, and then invites men to delight in the Law of the Lord, Pſal. 1.1, 2. Firſt depart from evill, then do good, Pſal. 34.14. This is the way to dwel for ever…are, Pſal. 37.27. He had ſhewed the arguments of ſinners before to ſeduce men, and anſwered them; now, that his admonition might have the more weight, be by a Proſopopeia brings in Wiſdome her ſelf to the confuſion of fooliſhneſſe and ignorance, ſoliciting him to good wayes. If the young man ſhould ſay, that he deſires nothing more then to avoyd the ſociety of ſinners, and follow the dictates of wiſdome, but he is diſcouraged by the difficulty of attaining it. No, ſaith Solomon, it is eaſie to attain, it is not hidden any where, nor far off to be ſought after, but offers it ſelf to all, rich and poor, &c.
For the words of Wiſdome note,
1. A preface, v. 20, 21.
2. The ſpeech it ſelf, to the end of the Chapter.
In the preface note,
1. The beginning of Wiſdomes proclamation. In the fields and villages, v. 20.
2. The progreſſe of it in more publick places, as in walled Towns and Cities, v. 21.
For the words of this verſ.
Wiſdome, Heb. Wiſdomes. For the word it ſelf, ſee on v. 2. But why Wiſdomes, in the plurall? Some think the reaſon to be, becauſe it includes all true wiſdome in it, and all befide this holy wiſdome is but folly. And becauſe it gives us divers and many documents for the good of our ſouls. It contains many things to direct us in faith and life. So ſeven Spirits are mentioned, Rev. 1.4. to ſet forth the manifold graces of Gods Spirit. Or, it is called Wiſdomes, becauſe it is the moſt excellent wiſdome, divine, heavenly wiſdome, which teacheth us how to attain eternall life. So Behemoth is put for a great beaſt, Job 40.15. Thus this word may be uſed here for principall wiſdome. As alſo chap. 9.1. Wiſdomes hath builded her a houſe. And Pſal. 49.3. My mouth ſhall ſpeak of wiſdomes. Some would read, wiſdome of wiſdomes. So ſome read for Behemoth, the beaſt of beaſts, Job 40.15. And, Remember to remember to keep boly the Sabbath day, in the fourth Commandement. And, The Song of Songs, Cant. 1.1. that is, the beſt Song, as appears by Gods choyce, who preſerved that when all the reſt were loſt. Hereby is meant the higheſt wiſdome, called by St. James, the wiſdome from above, Jam. 3.17. Wiſdome is brought in here as ſome great Lady or Princeſſe, the word is feminine, calling on young men as her growing Subjects, to hearken to her godly counſels. And the word is plurall, as God is called foreign, and foreign in the plurall number, to ſet out his ſtate and majeſty, to may Wiſdome. Others take it to be meant of Chriſt, the eternall wiſdome of God the Father. And ſo it is commonly interpreted, ch. 8.1. And may be here. For he did cry before he was born, even in the dayes of Noah, 1 Pet. 3.19, 20. And he is called Wiſdome here, becauſe he is the eternall wiſdome of God, and alſo to fit the title to the matter. As God is called the Father of mercies in promiſes, to comfort afflicted ones; and the juſt God in threatnings, to ſcare ſinners; and the Lord in commandements, to move to obedience: ſo here, Chriſt may be called Wiſdome, to counſel ſimple ones.
foreign, Cryeth. The word ſignifies a ſtrong cry, ſuch an one as Souldiers uſe to ſend forth in the beginning of a battle, or after a victory. Thus men cry out in finging for joy, or weeping for ſorrow; in prayer, or praiſe; in teaching, or admoniſhing others, as here. She ſpeaks not low, but loud, that all men may hear, and to ſhew forth her earneſtneſſe. It may be meant either of this proclamation of Wiſdome here, and in other places of Scripture left on record to be publiſhed all the world over; or of Chriſt ſpeaking by his Miniſters in all ages, and inviting men to look after ſaving wiſdome.
foreign, Without. Some take this to be all one with the words following, to ſhew, that Wiſdome ſpeaks, and that boldly to, in all places. But more particularly the word ſignifies ſometimes the ſtreets of a City, which are without in reſpect of the houſes. Jeremy muſt have a piece of bread out of the Bakers ſtreet, Jer. 37.21. Sometimes, the Countrey villages and fields, which are out of the walled Townes, and lie open to all comers. The ſuburbs of the City ſhall reach from the wall of the City, and outward, a thouſand cubits round about, Numb. 35.4. So here, for all other places are mentioned after. Countrey-men as well as Citizens may hear Wiſdomes voyce.
She uttereth, Heb. ſhe giveth. That is, ſhe giveth out, or putteth forth her voyce. The Hebrews want compounds. For the word, See on v. 4. Wiſdome, as ſhe ſpeaks loud, that all may hear, ſo ſhe ſpeaks freely, plainly, and diſtinctly, that all, even the meaneſt, may underſtand.
Her voyce. The word foreign, ſometimes fignifieth a voyce, or ſound in generall, though not articulate. That there be no more thunderings, Heb. voyces of God, Exod. 9.28. Sometimes it ſignifies words diſtinctly ſpoken. In all that Sarah hath ſaid unto thee, hearken unto her voyce, Gen. 21.12. So is it uſed here.
foreign, In the ſtreets. The Hebrew word hath its originall from foreign, to be broad, as foreign in Gr. becauſe ſtreets of Towns and Cities are wide, for men, horſes, and carts to paſſe by one another. She cryes not in a corner, or within dores onelyonly, or in fields or villages alone, but in the ſtreets of Towns and Cities, where houſes are neerer then in the Countrey, that ſo all men may hear, City and Countrey ring of her inſtruction.
Figures. Wiſdome, either a Proſopopeia, if it be meant of Wiſdome it ſelf: or a Metonymie of the ſubject for the adjunct, if ſpoken of Chriſt, the fountain of wiſdome. Voyce Heb. Sound. A Synecdoche of the generall for the ſpeciall. A ſound for a voyce, which is the beſt ſound. More is to be gotten by mens words then by lowing of oxen, or bleating of ſheep. The beginning of Wiſdomes ſpeech in villages is in the beginning of this verſ. The progreſſe of it,
1. In Streets, Cities, and Towns, in the end of this verſ.
2. In other places there, verſ. 21.
In the beginning of the ſpeech note,
1. The Cryer, Wiſdome.
2. The act, cryeth.
3. The ſubject place, without.
In the Country Villages, and unwalled Towns. In her progreſſe in the ſtreets, note,
1. The act, ſhe uttereth.
2. The object, her voyce.
3. The ſubject place, in the ſtreets.
1. Doct. Heavenly wiſdome is worth the looking after. As things publickly cryed and proclaimed are worth taking notice of. Hence the ſearch of it is ſo much preſſed, and the worth of it ſo much ſet out in this Book, chap. 2.2. & 4.5, &c. The hear, heart, voyce muſt be uſed, as men do to get ſilver, and hid treaſures. This wiſdome muſt be gotten, and not forgotten, and kept as the principall thing.
Reaſon 1. In regard of the excellency of it. It excells all humane arts and ſciences, more then gold doth iron.
2. In regard of the laſting of it. All objects of humane ſcience periſh, but the object of heavenly Wiſdome laſts for ever in another world.
Ʋſe. Chooſe theſe ſtudies then. Diſcamus ea in terris, qua nobiſcum maneant in caelis. Hieron. Let us on earth learn thoſe things which may remain with us in heaven. It is a fools part to look after bables, and neglect ſerious things. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wiſdome, ſeeing he hath no heart to it? Prov. 17.16.
2. Doct. This heavenly wiſdome is to be found onelyonly in Jeſus Chriſt. In whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſdome and knowledge, Col. 2.3. The onelyonly begotten, which is in the boſome of the Father, he hath declared him, Joh. 1.18. Neither knoweth any man the Father, ſave the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Matt. 11.27.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe as the Son of God he knew the Fathers will from eternity.
2. Becauſe God ſpake by him even before his incarnation, as in the delivering of the Law. Chriſts voyce then ſhook the earth, Heb. 12.26. Therefore he is called foreign, the Word, or Speech, Joh. 1.1.
3. Becauſe God hath given him the Spirit beyond meaſure, Joh. 3.34. He hath more wiſdome and holineſſe then any man or Angel. He is the moſt lively image of God, Heb. 1.3. And a principall part of Gods image is knowledge, Col. 3.10.
4. All wiſdome that others have in heavenly things is from him. Chriſt of God is made unto us wiſdome, 1 Cor. 1.30. No Philoſophy can teach is. They had good Morall precepts, but wilde ones in Divinity.
Ʋſe. Go to the right ſhop for heavenly knowledge. To Chriſts ſchool. Search not on earth, for it is vain. Neither man, earth, nor ſea can afford it. Neither gold, ſilver, nor precious ſtones can purchaſe it, Job 28.12. Seek it then from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is the wiſdome of God, 1 Cor. 1.24.
3. Doct. God is very deſirous men ſhould get heavenly wiſdome. Therefore he cryes loudly, earneſtly, affectionately, Ʋnderſtand, O ye bruitiſh among the people, when will ye be wiſe? Pſal. 94.8. God hath written to the people the great things of his Law, and will be angry if they be counted as a ſtrange thing, Hoſ. 8.12.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe as he gives light naturall in creatures, and arts, ſo ſupernaturall in Scripture revelations.
2. He gives ſight of ſuch things ordinarily by reaſon, extraordinarily by illumination, and common graces.
Ʋſe. To admire why men are poor in this heavenly knowledge, ſeeing God is ſo willing men ſhould have it. Who would ſtarve where a Prince keeps open Court to entertain all comers?
4. Doc… This heavenly knowledge is offered to the meaneſt. It is preached in villages. The poor have the Goſp…l preached to them, Mat. 11.5. God hath hid theſe things from the wiſe and prudent, and hath revealed them unto babes, Mat. 11.25. Bring in hither the poor and the maimed, and the halt, and the blinde, Luk. 14.21.
Reaſon 1. To ſhew that God reſpects no perſons, Act. 10.34. A thing that brings much hurt in the world.
2. To binde them the more to God, as a begger-woman without bloud, or portion, married to a King, is the more engaged to him.
Ʋſe. To perſwade mean ones to get this heavenly wiſdome. They cannot get Arts perhaps for want of means of breeding. This is offered freely. Ho, every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: Come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money, and without price, Iſa. 55.1.
5. Doct. The way to this heavenly knowledge is plain, and eaſie. It is cryed about the ſtreets. It is taught in all languages. Knowledge is eaſie to him that underſtandeth, Pro. 14.6. That is, that gives his minde to underſtand it. Parthians, Medes, &c. We do hear them ſpeak in our tongues the wonderfull works of God, Act. 2.9, 11. It is taught by earthly ſimilitudes, as in parables abundantly, Matth. 13.
Ʋſe. Seek earneſtly for it then. The way is eaſie, and the end profitable.
6. Doct. Means of ſalvation are offered to great Towns. To Chorazin and Bethſaida, Mat. 11.21. To Capernaum, Mat. 11.23. To Corinth, Act. 18.1, 4.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe much good may be done there, as much fiſh may be catcht in the Sea.
2. God may have much work to do there. Therefore Paul muſt preach boldly at Corinth, becauſe God hath much people there, Act. 18.9, 10.
Ʋſe. Bleſſe God for the means here. The Goſpel is more plentifully preached, then in other places. Walk worthy of it.