Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 1 · Verse 16
Verſ. 16. For their feet run to evil, and make haſt to ſhed blood.
The Dehortation was in the former verſ. the Reaſons follow. That it might appear that he had more weighty reaſons to diſſwade them, then the Theeves had to perſwade. Wherein note,
1. The arguments, v. 16, 17, 18.
2. A generall concluſion out of them, verſ. 19.
The arguments are very ſtrong, not onelyonly in their owne weight, but quoad hominem, fit to convince them, as being all taken out of their owne confeſſions.
1. From the cruelty of their intentions, verſ. 16. out of verſ. 11.
2. From the cauſeleſneſſe, out of verſ. 11. alſo. For they ſought innocent blood without cauſe.
3. From the craftineſſe of their plots, verſ. 18. out of v. 11. From laying wait, and lurking privily.
The concluſion follows, verſ. 19. that not onelyonly Robbers, but alſo Cheaters, and all other ſorts of covetous perſons will fall to ſhedding of blood in the end.
For the words.
For. See on v. 9. This the word of coherence, and uſhers in a reaſon of the former dehortation. They may give thee good words, and colour over their bloody intentions, as if they meant onelyonly to enrich themſelves out of other mens eſtates, and not to meddle with their perſons. But theſe are but figleaves. They will not ſtick at blood, rather then loſe their booty. Therefore joyn not with them, for they are not onelyonly covetous, but cruel alſo.
Their feet. See on v. 15.
foreign, Run. The word running intends not onelyonly aiming at it, as at a goal, or prize, but alſo making haſte to attain it, 1 Cor. 9.24. It ſignifies out of a readineſſe of minde, and great deſire of the prey, to make haſte to obtain it. The ſame words (all but one) are uſed, Iſa. 59.7. Here feet run, but Pſal. 68.31. hands are ſaid to run, or ſoon to be ſtretched out to God, to ſhew the great haſſe of thoſe Nations to imbrace Religion. Their miſchievous intention is here amplified by the haſte they make to effect it, and by their violent proſecution of it. They haſten with both feet.
foreign, To evill. It is taken ſometime for evill of ſin. I have done this evill in thy ſight, Pſal. 51.4. Sometime for evil of trouble. And that,
1. To themſelves. Woe be to him that coveteth an evill covetouſneſſe to his houſe, Hab. 2.9.
2. To others. If it pleaſe my Father to do thee evill, 1 Sam. 20.3. So it is intended here of evill to others, as appears by the words before, verſ. 11. Let us lay wait for blood. And by the words immediately following to the ſame purpoſe. It may be meant either of rapine, or of murder. Both are evill.
foreign, And make baſte. This ſhews the meaning of the former word running. Their feet are ſwift to ſhed blood, Rom. 3.15. The word ſignifies,
1. To doe a thing quickly, or ſpeedily. Their ſorrows ſhall be multiplyed that haſten after another God, Pſalme 16.4.
2. To give a dowry to one. He ſhall ſurely endow her to be his wife, Exod. 21.16.
3. To do a thing raſhly, as things done in haſte lightly are. The counſel of the froward is carried headlong, Job 5.13. Here it is taken in the firſt ſenſe, to ſet forth ſpeed in accompliſhing their evil deſignes.
foreign, To ſhed. Not to let out ſome part of the blood for good, but to pour it out abundantly, till one be dead; for the life is in the blood, Gen. 9.4.
Blood. See on verſ. 11. Some underſtand it of their owne blood. They rob, till they come to the gallows. And ſometimes falling out about dividing their prey, they kill one another. Stobaeus tit. 10. de Avar. quotes Ariſtotle, ſaying, that eight theeves falling out about the diviſion of the prey, four of them firſt killed the other four. Then two of them which were left, killed the other two. Laſtly, of the two yet left, one killed the other. There was no end of ſlaughter, til one only was left. But here it is meant of others blood, as appears by v. 11. & v. 18.
This is the firſt reaſon, and a ſtrong and powerfull one to diſſwade the young man from joyning with them, or ſo much as entring into their way, becauſe they minde nothing that is honeſt, but breath out bloodſhed, and horrible ſins againſt nature, which may make them and their courſes juſtly odious to all men. Few beaſts will kill others of the ſame kinde. Much leſſe ſhould men that have reaſon. This is a very great wickedneſſe. Therefore thou muſt not look ſo much at the riches and ſpoyls they promiſe thee, as at the groſſe evill they provoke thee to, which even nature it ſelf abhors.
Thus ye ſee the ſtrength of Solomon's firſt reaſon to diſſwade the young man from joyning with evill men in their ſinfull wayes.
Figures. To ſhed blood. To commit murder. A figure of the cauſe for the effect.
Note 1. The coherence, For.
2. The ſentence. And in it,
1. A generall accuſation.
2. A particular. In the generall,
1. The agent, their feet.
2. The act, run.
3. The object, to evill.
In the particular,
1. The act, they make haſte.
2. The object, to ſhed blood.
1. Doct. Good counſels muſt be backt with reaſons. God muſt be praiſed by righteous men, becauſe it becomes them, and God deſerves it, Pſal. 33.1, &c. We muſt not fret at evill men, becauſe they ſhall be cut off, Pſal. 37.1. So Prov. 1.8, 9. & 3.1, 2.
Reaſon 1. To draw mens affections; for it is not enough to inform the judgement. The will and affections are more corrupt then it. The Heathen woman could ſay, Video meliora, probo que , deteriora ſequor: I ſee and like the beſt, but follow the worſt. It is not the leaſt work of a Teacher, to move the affections. There may be light, but no life without this. What had the Sun been good for, if God had made no living creature to behold it? Vela damus, quamvis remige puppis eat. Ovid. Tide, and oars, and ſails are needfull on the water. So are Doctrines, Reaſons, and Uſes in a Sermon.
2. To dead objections, and oppoſitions, as mud-wals dead bullets. The devil will have ſomething to object againſt all Theorical and Practical truths. We muſt have ſome ſolid reaſons to weigh down his ſeeming arguments.
Ʋſe. It ſhews the need, and juſtifies the practiſe of Miniſters, in not onelyonly laying down, but alſo backing truths with reaſons, that they may work both on head and heart.
2. Doct. There is no member of the body ſo vile or mean, but may be an inſtrument of ſin and miſchief. Ye have yeelded your members ſervants to uncleanneſſe, and to iniquity unto iniquity, Rom. 6.19. So many uſe their throat, tongues, lips, mouth, feet, Rom. 3.13, 14, 15. As birds uſe their beaks and talons; wilde beaſts, their teeth, claws, and tails; tame beaſts, their horns and hoofs to do hurt. And men have eyes for adultery. As David, 2 Sam. 11.2. and ungodly men, Having eyes full of adultery, 2 Pet. 2.14. Others have eyes for covetouſneſſe, as I ſaw a goodly Babyloniſh garment, &c. Then I coveted them. And Ahab had eyes to covet Naboth's vineyard, 1 King. 21.1. Men have ears ready to hear wanton ſongs, ſlanders, &c. Tongues for ſwearing, lying, flattering, back-biting, called the third tongue in Chaldee, becauſe it hurts the ſpeaker, hearer, and perſon ſpoken of. Hands to ſtrike, kill, ſteal. Feet to carry the whole body to miſchief.
Ʋſe 1. It teacheth us to bewail the ſpreading of corruption in us. It cannot be encloſed in the ſoul, but runs over every member of the body. No Phyſician can tell all the diſeaſes of the eye, much leſſe the ſins of it.
2. It ſhews us our great account, that beſides ſecret ſins, have ſo many to anſwer for in every member.
3. It calls upon us for ſuſpicion of, and watchfulneſſe over every member. Not of the Eye, or Ear alone, but of all.
3. Doct. Wicked men have a great affection, deſire, and proneneſſe to wickedneſſe. As men have to thoſe things they run after, who yet hate thoſe things from which they fly. Wickedneſſe is ſweet in his mouth, he hides it under his tongue. He ſpares it, and forſakes it not, but keeps it ſtill within his mouth, Job 20.12, 13. Why boaſteſt thou thy ſelf in miſchief, O mighty man? Pſal. 51.1. And ſure men greatly affect what they boaſt of.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe it is pleaſing to their corrupt nature. The Iron follows the Loadſtone by a naturall ſympathy. So do wicked men purſue ſinfull courſes.
2. Cuſtome makes it dear to them. Men are pleaſed with cuſtomes without a reaſon.
Ʋſe. Hence may we diſcern the vileneſſe of our nature. It were a ſtain to it to be drawn to ſin, but to love that which is evill, and delight in it, and run to it, without ſolicitation, argues a deſperately corrupted nature.
4. Doct. Sin is truly evill and hurtfull. I have done this evil in thy ſight, Pſal. 51.4. Evill ſhall hunt the violent man, to overthrow him, Pſal. 140.11. Sin is evill by name, and evil by nature. For it is foreign, a breach of Gods Law, or an unlawfull act, 1 Joh. 3.4. It may be ſaid of ſin as Abigail ſpeaks of her Husband, Nabal (or fool) Is his name, and folly is with him, 1 Sam. 25.25. So evill is the name of ſin, and evill is in it. It is the brood of that evill one. It is evill before God whom it diſhonors, and who cries out againſt it. Before men, who make laws againſt it. Hurtfull to others, as all fins againſt the ſecond Table, being hurtfull to mens lives, wives, children, ſtates, liberty, credit. Sin will pull down Church and Common-wealth. It is hurtfull to our ſelves, bringing down many judgements on us. It is evill privatively, depriving us of much good. Evill poſitively, inflicting much ſorrow. Evill ſpiritually, bringing ſpirituall judgements on the ſoul. Evill corporally, bringing much pain to the body. Evill eternally, making ſoul and body for ever miſerable.
Ʋſe 1. Hate all ſin, God is the object of love: Evill, of hatred. Ye that love the Lord, hate evill, Pſal. 97.10. Amat Deum? debes odiſſe quod odit: Loveſt thou God? then muſt thou hate what he hates. August.
2. Beware of acting ſin. It is a diſgrace to thee, and matter of danger.
5. Doct. Sinners are very nimble and induſtrious about ſinfull actions. Jezabel quickly findes a way to get away Naboth's vineyard, 1 King. 21.7, &c. And Judas to bewray Chriſt, Mat. 26.15.
Reaſon 1. From an internall principle of love of ſin. Men are very nimble about what they love.
2. From an externall principle of cuſtome. It is their trade, and men are very nimble about their trade, that go dully about other things. They are in their element. Elementum in loco ſuo non ponderat: An element is not weighty in its own place. How ſwift is water in the river? How dull out of it?
Ʋſe. Marvell not at ſudden villanies, as robberies, murders, treaſons. Wicked men are quick at ſuch things.
6. Doct. Great ſins are readily ſwallowed by ungodly men. As murder, and oppreſſion. Ahab can ſwallow Naboth's vineyard and life at a morſel, 1 King. 21. And Judas can digeſt the murder of Chriſt, and thirty pieces of ſilver to boot, Matt. 26.15. Some are ſo wicked they can murder Father and Mother, 1 Tim. 1.9. Cain killed his owne Brother, Gen. 4.8.
Reaſon 1. They ſee not the evill of them.
2. They foreſee not the danger of them.
Ʋſe. Marvell not at great wickedneſſes, while there be wicked men in the world. Fire will burn down, water overflow all before it.