Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 3 · Verse 25
VERSE 25. Be not afraid of ſudden fear, neither of the deſolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
THE wiſe man having ſhewed the benefits of wiſdom before, now exhorts the young man to make ſuch uſe of it, that though fearfull things, ſuch as are moſt horrid to mortall men, as hoſtile incurſions that lay all deſolate and waſt, all by fire and ſword, to the great conſternation of mens minds, ſhould come ſuddenly, befo…e wiſdom could foreſee them, yet he be not ſhaken thereby, and although ſuch things ſhould not onelyonly come, but alſo prevail over wicked men, yet he ſtartle no… at it, as if he thought, he ſhould be ruined by it alſo.
For the words.
Be not afraid. Some read, Thou ſhalt not be afraid. Theſe make it a promiſe, and joyn it to the former words, intimating that wiſdom will keep ſuch fears away. But the common, and ſafeſt ſignification of foreign is imperative, not indicative: and that is to be followed, where it will ſtand well. Neither doth God here attribute it directly to wiſdom, but charges us to uſe wiſdom to that end, when we have gotten it. Nature will make a good man afraid of evills, and troubles; but hee muſt by wiſdom ſo recollect his ſpirits, that he be not overcome by that fear, as if it ſhould ruine him, but expect a ſure deliverance from God. For the word, ſee on ver. 7.
Of ſudden fear. Of troubles that come unexpectedly, and therefore affright men the more. For the word, Fear, ſee on Chap. 1.26. The word foreign Sudden, comes from a word, that ſignifies a fool, for ſuch do all things ſuddenly without any deliberation, as not having wit to forecaſt conveniencies or inconveniences ariſing from their actions.
Neither of the deſolation. Such troubles as lay all things waſt, See on Chap. 1.27.
Of the wicked. For the word, ſee on Chap. 2.22.
When it cometh. Some underſtand it actively. Be not afraid, when wicked men lay all things waſt, and ſeek to deſtroy thee. So the Doway Bible reads, Dread not at ſudden terrror, and the power of the impious falling upon thee. But it is better underſtood paſſively, when wicked men are deſtroyed for their ſins, fear not thou, that thou ſhouldſt periſh with them. So the word uſed, is Chap. 1.2. It may be read, That it ſhould come, to wit, on thee. So foreign is uſed, what is my ſtrength, that I ſhould hope? and what is mine end, that I ſhould prolong my life? Job 6.11. Figures; Fear, For the thing feared. The adjunct for the ſubject. Cometh. A metaphor form living things, for troubles come not of themſelves, but are brought on us by others.
Note. 1. An Aſſertion.
2. An Explication. The deſolation of the wicked is that, which a good man ſhould not need to fear. In the aſſertion note
1. The Act forbidden. Be not afraid.
2. The Object. Of fear, or terrible things.
3. The Adjunct. Sudden. That comes unexpected. In the Expoſition note
1. The Adjunct of quality. Neither of the deſolation.
2. The Subject. Of the wicked.
3. Another adjunct of time. When it cometh. Thou needeſt not fear the like, not onelyonly when it is threatned, or hangs over the heads of wicked men, but when it actually, and unexpectedly falls upon them.
1. Doct. A godly man ought not to fear ruine. Thou ſhalt be hid from the ſcourge of the tongue, neither ſhalt thou be afraid of deſtruction when it cometh. Job 5.21. Thou ſhalt not be afraid of the terror by night: nor for the arrow that flieth by day. Nor for the peſtilence, that walketh in darkneſſe: nor for the deſtruction, that wasteth at noon day. Pſal. 91.5, 6.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe thoſe things, that ruine men, come from God. And he will ſo order things, that whomſoever they undoe, they ſhall not ruine his. A good child fears not ruine by any thing, that comes from his father. Gods children know, that their enemies can go no further, then God permits, and therefore they fear nothing.
2. God will keep his children out of thoſe troubles, that ruine others, if he ſee it fit, as he did Noah, and Lot: and that oftentimes ſtrangely, and miraculouſly, as he did the three Jews out of the fiery furnace, which devoured their enemies. Dan. 3. And Daniel himſelf from the Lions, which conſumed his adverſaries. Dan. 6.
3. If God ſuffer them to come on thee, hee will keep thee, that they ſhall not ruine thee, though they undo wicked men. He will take away the poiſon of thoſe ſnakes, and then we may play with them.
4. He will bring the out of them, when thou art neareſt to ruine, and when they fall thickeſt upon thee. Though thou fall ſeven times, yet ſhalt thou riſe up again. Prov. 24.16. And when they are gone from thee, they cannot hurt thee.
5. If thou die by them with wicked men, yet thou art not ruined with them. Their troubles are a gulf ſinking them down into Hell: thine are a ladder mounting thy ſoul up to Heaven Saeviant perſe quendo, nihil in me moritur, niſi mortale: erit in me aliquid, ubi perſecutor pervenire non poſſit, ubi Deus meus habitat. Auguſt. in Pſal. 26. Let men be ſharp in perſecuting, nothing dies in me, but what is mortal: there will be ſomthing in me, at which the perſecutor cannot come, where my God dwells.
Uſe. It ſerves to uphold the hearts of godly men in ſad times. Ye may be troubled, ye cannot be ruined. Be not then caſt down in thy ſpirit, but ſtand upright in all ſtormes, like the Mount Zion, which cannot be removed but abideth for ever. Pſ. 125.1. Sabeans rob Job, yet he fears not, but bleſſes God, and God gives him more then he loſt. Let a David walk through a valley of the ſhadow of death, ye he will fear no evill. Pſal. 23.4. Dreadfull things in the Heavens will appear in the end of the World, yet they need not fear, whoſe redemption draweth nigh. Luk. 21.28. Quia dum finitur mundus, cujus amici non eſtis, propè ſit redemptio quam quaeſiſtis. Greg. Hom. 1. in Evang. Becauſe when the world is ended, whoſe friends ye are not, the redemption draws nigh which ye have ſought. It is not ſo with ungodly men, they may well fear ruine when troubles come; for fear is due unto them which have not the fear of God: they think themſelves ſafe, becauſe God forbears them for a time, but they ſhall be overtaken with evills, which they cannot eſcape, and this is the ſudden fear that good men need not be affraid of, but will overtake wicked men, as followes in the Text, The deſolation of the wicked, when it commeth.
Doct. 2. Troubles often come unexpectedly. Your deſtruction commeth as a whirlewind. Prov. 1.27. So ſhall the eternall deſtruction of ungodly men come at Chriſts ſecond appearing. The day of the Lord commeth as a thief in the night, For when they ſhall ſay peace and ſafety, then ſudden destruction commeth upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they ſhall not eſcape. 1 Theſ. 5.2.3. This appears
1. In invaſions by enemies, who come before looked for, and ſuddenly lay waſt a whole country: and foes come often out of ambuſhes, and deſtroy ſtout men, overpowring them with multitudes, before they be aware. Thus the old world, and Sodom and Gomorrah, and Corah, Dathan, and Abiram periſhed.
2. In Gods judgments, as in the three former examples.
Uſe. In the Sunſhine of your proſperity, get God to be your refuge, leſt a ſudden ſtorm deſtroy you, then need you not fear any ſtorm, elſe every ſtorm will ruine you.
Doct. 3. Sudden troubles are very terrible to wicked men. So Jobs friends ſpeak of him, conceiving him to be a wicked man. Therefore ſnares are round about thee, and ſudden fear troubleth thee. Iob 22.10. When Nabal heard of the miſchief intended to him, his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 1 Sam. 25.37.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe they come unexpectedly; for wicked men are fooles, and neither look nor prepare for changes, as godly men do, who are wiſe.
2. Becauſe they have no ſure refuge to fly to at hand, as godly men have.
Uſe. Wonder not that wicked men ſuddenly ſink in troubles: they are neither forewarned, nor fore-armed.