Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 1 · Verse 21
Verſ. 21. She cryeth in the chief places of concourſe, in the …ings of the gates, in the City ſhe uttereth her words, ſaying,
The text is a part of the preface of Wiſdomes ſpeech. Her beginning in the Countrey villages was ſet out in the beginning of the former verſ. And her progreſſe to the ſtreets of walled Town in the end thereof. Now follows her further progreſſe in this verſ. And that,
1. To Market-Towns.
2. To Shire-Towns, or places of Judgement.
3. To Cities, or chief places in a Kingdome or Nation.
For the words.
Wiſdome like ſome great Queen cryes out, calling her Subjects from bad courſes to good. foreign, It is a moſt fruitfull word, having abundance of ſignifications in the Scriptures.
1. It ſignifies to cry, or make a noyſe. Iſa. 58.1. Cry aloud, ſpare not, lift up thy voyce like a trumpet. From the Hebrew word foreign, comes our Engliſh word, Cry.
2. To proclaim or publiſh a thing. I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before thee, Exod. 33.19.
3. To exclaim, or cry out. I lifted up my voyce and cryed, Gen. 39.15.
4. To read. He read all the words of the Law, Joſh. 8.34.
5. To impoſe a name. She called his name Reuben, Ge. 29.32.
6. To call one by his name. The Lord called Samuel, 1 Sam. 3.4.
7. To call upon, or pray to God. Call upon me in the day of trouble, Pſal. 50.15.
8. To call one to him. As they called them, ſo they went from them, Hoſ. 11.2.
9. To invite to a feaſt. To morrow I am invited to her with the King, Eſt. 5.12.
10. To call into judgement, or call to account. And the Lord God called unto Adam, Gen. 3.9.
11. To meet with one. Joſeph went up to meet Iſrael his Father, Gen. 46.29.
12. To happen, or come to paſſe unexpectedly. As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, 2 Sam. 1.6. Here it is taken in the ſecond ſenſe, for proclaiming or publiſhing, as appears by the ſpeech following.
In the chief place, Heb. the head. For the word, ſee on v. 9. Here it is taken for the chief place of meeting. Some would take it for an higher place, wherein the Preacher ſtands above others, that he may be heard. But that agrees not well with the reſt, which all mention the place of the hearers, rather then of the ſpeaker.
Of concourſe, Hebr. of tumults, or of ſuch as make a noyſe, foreign, In Market-Towns and Fairs, where great concourſe of people is, and abundance of noyſe and buſineſſe. It is called a place of tumults and tumultuous perſons, becauſe men ſpeak not there by order, as in other meetings, but all will be heard. The word is feminine, becauſe women are frequent in Markets: But principally, to hold on the Metaphor, and to make the hearers like the ſpeaker, for foreign, wiſdomes, was plural and feminine, v. 20 as foreign, concourſes, is here.
In the opening of the gates.
1. Enquire what is meant by the gates.
2. What by the openings of the gates.
For the firſt, foreign, of the gates. The word ſignifies,
1. The gate of a Town or City, where men goe in and out for trading, and therefore much people may quickly be gathered there to hear. And Hamor and Shechem his Son came unto the gate of their City, and communed with the men of their City, Gen. 34.20.
2. The Town or City that hath gates, and lies not open to the fury of the enemies. I will fan them with is fan in the gates of the land, Jer. 15.7. That is, in the Cities, or walled. Towns.
3. The palce of Judicature, that uſed in thoſe dayes to be neer the gates, that all comers in and out might be witneſſes of the juſt proceedings there. Thou ſhalt bring forth that man, or that woman unto thy gates, Deut. 17.5. That is, to be judged, as appears by the production of witneſſes and execution of juſtice there mentioned. So it is taken here, for places of juſtice, where many meet to ſee juſtice done, and that both Citizens and Countrey people, goers in, and comers out, and therefore ſhould be ready to hear good counſel there. Seats of Inſtruction may be where ſeats of Juſtice are.
For the ſecond, foreign, the openings. It ſignifies,
1. The opening of a gate, or dore. Keep the dores of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy beſome, Mic. 7.5. Reveal, not thy ſecret thoughts to her. The entrance of thy words giveth light, Pſal. 119.30. That is, the opening of them.
2. A dore of an houſe or tent. Abraham ſate in the tent dore, Gen. 18.1. Here it is taken in the firſt ſenſe, for juſtice is done, when gates are open, that all may hear; and not when the gates are ſhut, and the people kept out. As ſoon, or when the gates are open, eſpecially for judgement, Wiſdome ſpeaks, as ſome would have it; but the place it ſelf is rather meant, as in the reſt of the verſ.
She uttereth her words, Heb. ſhe ſaith her ſayings. She uttetereth what ſhe hath to ſay, foreign. What her words are, appeares afterwards; words of Reproof, and of Inſtruction.
foreign, In the City. The word comes from foreign, to awake, or ſtir up, becauſe a City is a building awaked, as it were, or ſtirred up out of the duſt, as a man out of ſleep. It is put,
1. For the City it ſelf. The men of the City, even the men of Sodome, Gen. 19.4.
2. For the inhabitants of the City. The Lords voyce cryeth unto the City, Mic. 6.9. Here it is taken in the firſt ſenſe, for a City, or chief place in a Kingdome or Nation. Some take it all to be meant of the ſame place. Wiſdome cryes without in the skirts of the City, within in the Streets, Marketplaces, Courts, and any other place in the City where people meet. But I cannot reſtrain it to Cities alone, but rather take it to be an elegant gradation of heavenly Wiſdome revealing it ſelf by ſeverall degrees, firſt in the Villages, then in greater Towns, after that in Market-Towns, then in Shire-Towns, and places of Judgement; and laſtly, in Cities, the chief places in Kingdomes and Nations.
Figures. She. A Proſopopeia, bringing in Wiſdome her ſelf as ſome great Queen ſpeaking to affect the more. Mens owne words affect far more then other mens relations of them. So Judg. 9.8. the Trees are brought in ſpeaking. Or the adjunct for the ſubject. Wiſdome for wiſe men, godly Prophets, Apoſtles, Miniſters, or Chriſt himſelf, as verſ. 20. Head, for chief place. A metaphor, for ſtreets have no heads. Tumults, or tumultuous perſons, for concourſe; the effect for the cauſe; concourſe breeds tumults. Gates, for the places of Judicature; the ſubject place for the adjunct buſineſſe done there.
Parts. Note 1. The agent, She, Wiſdome.
2. A double act, cryeth, uttereth her words.
3. A threefold place, in the chief place of concourſe, in the openings of the gates, in the City.
Saying, is added in other letters to uſher in the ſpeech.
1. Doct. Common reproofs ſhould be publick. Wiſdome reproves in the chief places of concourſe.
Reaſon 1. That groſſe ſinners may be aſhamed. Private reproofs will hardly work ſhame in them. Rebuke them ſharply, that they may be ſound in the faith, Tit. 1.13.
2. That others may fear, even the ſtouteſt of ſinners. 1 Tim. 5.20. Them that ſin, rebuke before all, that others alſo may fear. It is good to ſtrike the Dog before the Lion.
Ʋſe 1. To reprove faint hearted Miniſters, who are more afraid to reprove then others are to ſin. Wiſdome reproves here openly, verſ. 22. So did Elias reprove King Ahab, and John Baptiſt King Hered. And the Prophets reproved ſinfull people. So God commands, Shew my people their tranſgreſſions, and the houſe of Jacob their ſins, Iſa. 58.1. If Miniſters reprove but faintly, and by the by, ſinners are ſo ſound on ſleep that they will not be awaked. Have no fellowſhip with the unfruitfull works of darkneſſe, but reprove them rather, Eph. 5.11.
2. To reprove open ſinners, that cannot endure open reproof. They would be content that we ſhould damne themſelves and us by ſilence. When I ſay unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou ſhalt ſurely die, if thou doest not ſpeak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man ſhall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand, Ezek. 33.8.
2. Doct. Common inſtructions ſhould be publick. So are Wiſdomes, v. 23. Jeſus went about all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues, Mat. 4.23. I ever taught in the Synagogue, and in the Temple, whither the Jews alwayes reſort, and in ſecret have I ſaid nothing, Joh. 18.20.
Reaſon. 1. To ſhew that we are not aſhamed of the Goſpel, but profeſſe it openly, Rom. 1.16.
2. That we are not afraid to ſuffer for it, if we be called thereunto. This was Paul's reſolution, I count not my ſelfe dear unto my ſelf, ſo that I may finiſh my courſe with joy, and the Miniſtery which I have received of the Lord Jeſus, to teſtifie the Goſpel of the grace of God, Act. 20.24.
Ʋſe. It condemns the enemies of the Goſpel, that can bear any thing better then a powerfull preacher. Theſe are Bats and Owls, that cannot endure the light.
3. Doct. No place is unfit to do good in. Wiſdome cryes in City and Countrey. Chriſt went about doing good, Act. 10.38. He taught at Jacob's Well, Joh. 4.6. Among the Samaritans, Joh. 4.40.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe God is in every place, and looks for ſome good from us there.
2. Becauſe we are allowed to do evill in no place.
Ʋſe. It ſhews the folly of ignorant people, who think they may do what they will, except they be in a Church.
4. Doct. Ignorant perſons are inexcuſable. For Wiſdome cryes to them in all places. He that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, ſhall be beaten with few ſtripes, Luk. 12.48. Chriſt will take vengeance on them that know not God, 2 Theſſ. 1.8.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe Wiſdomes voyce is every where to be heard. In Villages, Towns, &c. Yea, in places of greateſt concourſe to make men inexcuſable. As proclamations are made in great Cities to binde a whole Kingdome or Nation, becauſe all come there to Market, or may hear of them by ſuch as come there, ſo that no man can pretend ignorance.
2. Becauſe no man is ſo ignorant, but acts ſometimes againſt knowledge.
Ʋſe. It takes away the fooliſh plea of the people, that under means of knowledge excuſe all their ſins by ignorance. Chriſt will ſay to them at the day of Judgement, Out of thine owne mouth will I judge thee, O thou wicked ſervant; Luk. 19.22. Thou heardeſt my word, but wouldſt be ignorant, therefore thou art juſtly condemned.
5. Doct. Men may be known by their words. Wiſdome utters her words, words befitting her, ſavouring of wiſdome. A good tree muſt bring forth good fruit, and a good man ſpeak good words, Matt. 12.33, &c. A treaſure of wiſe thoughts is in a wiſe mans heart, and he is willing to vent it, Mat. 12.35.
Ʋſe. Be wary of your words if you would be well eſteemed. For by thy words thou ſhalt be juſtified, and by thy words thou ſhalt be condemned, Mat. 12.37.
6. Doct. All opportunities muſt be taken to do good. Preach the Word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon, 2 Tim. 4.2. Eſter takes occaſion at a banquet to ſet on foot her Petition for the good of Gods Church, Eſt. 5.7, &c.
Ʋſe. Loſe no opportunity of doing good.