Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 2 · Verse 3
Verſ. 3. Yea, if thou cryeſt after knowledge, and lifteſt up thy voyce for underſtanding.
The third help to get true wiſdome follows, and that is, earneſt prayer unto God.
For the words.
foreign, Yea. This word here adds an Emphaſis to this means above the former. As if he had ſaid, A docible nature is good, and inſtruction of men; but both theſe cannot beget knowledge without Gods bleſſing. Prayer therefore muſt be added. So this particle adds increaſe. Yea, ten acres of vineyard ſhall yeeld one Bath, Iſa. 5.10. & Pſal. 21.3. where it ſhould be rendred, yea thou preventedſt him. Thou not onelyonly gaveſt him what he deſired, v. 2. but much more, verſ. 3. See more of this word, ch. 1.9. on the word For.
If. See on ch. 1.10.
Thou cryeſt. See on ch. 1.21. Some underſtand this of an earneſt deſire of knowledge, as a Childe hath of the breaſt, when he cryes for it. Others underſtand it better of prayer to God, which alſo includes the former.
After knowledge, or for knowledge, as it is tranſlated in the end of the verſ. for underſtanding. And that is neerer to the Hebr. text. For the word, ſee on ch. 1.2. on the word know.
And lifteſt up thy voyce, Heb. giveſt or uttereſt thy voyce. See on ch. 1.20.
For underſtanding. See on verſ. 2.
Figures. Cryeſt. Lifteſt up thy voyce. Synecd. generis. If thou pray. For a man may cry and ſpeak loud, and yet not pray. Hereby is meant the particular earneſtneſſe of a man in prayer for wiſdome. The ſame thing is ſet out in two ſeveral expreſſions. to ſhew the neceſſity of prayer for wiſdome, and earneſtneſſe that ſhould be in it.
In the firſt expreſſion note,
1. The aggravation, Yea.
2. The act, if thou cryeſt.
3. The object, after knowledge.
In the ſecond expreſſion note,
1. The act, And lifteſt up.
2. The ſubject, thy voyce.
3. The object, for underſtanding.
As if Solomon had ſaid, Though humane inſtruction and a docible diſpoſition be needfull to get wiſdome, yet they are not ſufficient to get it. God muſt be fought to for a bleſſing.
1. Doct. There is more help from God to get wiſdome, then from men. Every good, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, Jam. 1.17. And ſure wiſdome is one. I have planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increaſe, 1 Cor. 3.6. I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, Iſa. 48.17.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe God is the principall cauſe, men but inſtrumentall. The chief builder in making a houſe, and the chief Pilot in guiding a ſhip, afford moſt help, and deſerve moſt praiſe. The Husband-man can caſt ſeed into the ground, but God muſt quicken it.
2. Becauſe ſome grow wiſer then their Teachers, therefore God gives them the overplus of wiſdome. Men cannot give what they had not. Such a Scholar was David, I have more underſtanding then all my Teachers, Pſal. 119.99. And therefore, David prays ſo often in that Pſalm, that God would teach him.
Ʋſe. Give God the praiſe, if thou get much wiſdome. Look not with the Swine to the earth where the acorns lie, but up to the tree where they grow.
2. Doct. Prayer muſt be uſed for the getting of knowledge. So did Solomon, Give thy ſervant an underſtanding heart, 1 Kin. 3.9. So St. James bids us. If any man of you lack wiſdome, let him ask of God, Jam 1.5.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe we are not able to root out the thorns, and diſpel the clouds of errors in our hearts, which will hinder the good ſeed of the Word.
2. We are not able to bring in the light of truth. Pray then to God to doe it. It grows not in Natures garden, elſe we need not ask it, nor God would not bid us ask, if he meant not to give it, for he is not covetous to promiſe much, and give little.
Ʋſe. Add prayer to diligence. Sine ope divina vacillat humanum ſtudium. Without Gods help mans ſtudy faints. Valer. Max. Pray before Sermon, and after, for a bleſſing.
3. Doct. Prayer for knowledge muſt be earneſt. We muſt cry, and lift up our voyce, as if our voyce were conſecrated to that work onelyonly. We muſt ask, ſeek, and knock for it, Mat. 7.7. The need is great and the benefit will be anſwerable.
Ʋſe. Add fire of vehemency to your incenſe of prayer for wiſdome. A cold Suitor ſpeeds not in the Court of heaven. Wilſon.