Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 1 · Verse 25
Verſ. 25. But ye have ſet at nought all my counſell, and would none of my reproof.
Wiſdome proceeds in ſetting down the cauſe of the great judgement threatned, v. 26. which was obſtinacy and perverſeneſſe in them, illuſtrated by her kinde dealing with them, and their ingratitude towards her, and contempt. This was ſet out in two particulars in the former verſ. Her call, and their refuſing to come; her beckening, and their diſregarding. In this verſ. it is amplified by two more. She not onelyonly calls and beckens, but alſo gives good counſel, which they ſet at nought. And when that was ſlighted, ſhe chid and reproved them, as ſhe had juſt cauſe, but they would none of that neither.
For the words.
foreign, But, Heb. And. Yet it is often tranſlated But, and carries with it an oppofition to what went before, with an aggravation. As ch. 10.14. Wiſe men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the fooliſh is neer destruction. See the like, ch. 12.12. and in moſt verſes of that Chapter. So here, though ye refuſed to come to me when I called you, and would not hearken when I made fignes to you, yet I neglected nothing fit for me to doe. I might have let you go on and periſh. But I was mo…e carefull of you, then ye were of your ſelves. I came to you, and gave you good counſel, which ye deſpiſed. Yet, I went further and reproved you, but ye would not regard it neither. See more on ch. 2.22.
foreign Ye have ſet at nought. The word ſignifies,
1. To reject a thing, as eſteeming it not worth the looking after, or receiving. Poverty and ſhame ſhall be to him that refuſeth inſtruction, ch. 13.18.
2. To go back from a thing ſpoken, as if it were not worthy to be performed. I the Lord have ſpoken it, it ſhall come to paſſe, and I will do it; I will not go back, &c. Ezek. 24.14.
3. To make one naked, and liable to ſhame, fit to be contemned. Aaron had made the people naked unto their ſhame among their enemies, Exod. 32.25.
4. To revenge and deſtroy men, as eſteemed not fit to live any longer. Praiſe ye the Lord for the avenging of Iſrael, Judg. 5.2.
5. To make to ceaſe, or to be idle Wherefore do ye Moſes and Aaron let the people from their works? Exod. 5.4.
Here it is taken in the firſt ſenſe for rejecting a thing as vile. The Latins call it deſpicere, to look down upon a thing as beneath us, lying on the ground, and not worthy of a look from us; as on the contrary, ſuſpicere, to reverence, is to look up at a thing, as above us, and worthy of reverence from us. We ſet a thing at nought, when out of contempt we never look after it. Others preſſe the word further, to the deriding of good counſel, but I doubt whether the word will carry ſo much or no. And there be other words for that, as foreign, verſ. 22. foreign, verſ. 26. Yet this implyes more than bare refuſing; ye counted it of no value at all.
All. See on ch. 1.13.
My counſell. Some take it for advice, how to do well; and reproof, for diſſwaſion from evill. But Counſel here is to be taken for all the wholeſome precepts and admonitions given by Wiſdome, whether to do good, or avoyd evill. And reproof is chiding men for not hearkening to counſell. I would by my counſell have kept you from much evill, and done you much good. I ſhewed you how to eſcape hell, and attain heaven. But ye regarded not my counſel at all, though given for your good. It is a fault to refuſe good counſell given by any, though by a ſimple man; but a greater fault to refuſe Wiſdomes counſell, which alwayes gives good counſel. It is a fault to refuſe any of Wiſdomes counſels, a greater to refuſe all.
And would none of, Heb. would not have. That is, ye rejected it, or ye reſolved not to obey it. Meioſis. Some ſtretch it further, to refuſing to hear. But the word properly ſignifies, to reſt in a thing as well pleaſed with it, and being willing to follow it. And here is intimated the not liking of Wiſdomes reproof, and reſolving not to be amended by it. And this is more then ſlighting it, or counting it a thing unprofitable.
My reproof. Neither counſelling nor chiding would mend you. For the word ſee on v. 23.
The ſumme is. Ye deſpiſed all my wholeſome counſels which I gave you for your good, and continued in bad wayes that tend to deſtruction, that you might ſpend your time unprofitably, and take no pains to get wiſdome, and therefore ye muſt needs periſh.
Figures none. In the third charge note,
1. The note of oppofition, But.
2. The parties accuſed, Ye. Ye ſimple ones, ſcorners and ſools, v. 22. for all theſe were guilty.
3. The act, have ſet at nought.
4. The object, counſell. Aggravated,
1. From the giver, my. Wiſdomes counſell.
2. From the extent, all. Not ſome onelyonly. This is a great ſlighting of Wiſdome, as if ſhe ſpake fooliſhly always, and were not worthy to be heard at any time.
In the fourth charge note,
1. The note of conjunction, which ſhews it to be a new charge, And.
2. The act, would none of. Ye utterly refuſed it.
3. The object, my reproof.
1. Doct. Good counſell is profitable to men in it ſelfe. Elſe would not Wiſdome have blamed men for ſlighting it. Therefore Chriſt gives it to the Angel of Laodicea. I counſell thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire, &c. Rev. 3.18. David praiſes God for it, though given him by a woman: Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, which ſent thee to meet me this day; And bleſſed be thy advice, and bleſſed be thou, 1 Sam. 25.32, 33. It is profitable,
1. To inform our ignorance. For no man knows alwayes what is beſt for himſelf. A ſtander by may ſee more then a Souldier, and give good warning.
2. To cure our heedleſneſſe. Many of the faults of Gods ſervants come from hence, and may by others good counſell be prevented.
3. To repair our falls; for we lie in ſin ſometimes till we be admoniſhed by others. Nathan tells David of his ſin before he thought of repenting, 2 Sam. 12.
4. To comfort our ſouls. As it is an eaſe to let out our ſorrows, like corrupt matter, into our friends boſome, ſo to receive oyl of conſolation from them.
Ʋſe 1. It ſhould make us willing to give good counſell. This they may give that have no ſilver nor gold, and it is worth giving. And then may we ſay as Peter in another caſe, Silver and gold have I none, but that which I have (good counſel, which is better) give I unto thee, Act. 3.6.
2. It ſhould make us willing to take good counſell. We would take good money of any, why not good counſell, which is far better, though given by mean men?
3. It ſhews us the excellency of the Miniſtery, whoſe main end is to give good counſell to miſerable men, yea the beſt counſel. We love them that will ſhew us the way to live with comfort here, much more ſhould they highly be eſteemed, that teach us the way how to live for ever. How beautifull are the feet of them that preach the Goſpel of peace, and bring glad tydings of good things? Rom. 10.15. It is alſo one of Chriſts titles, he is called, Counſellour, Iſa. 9.6.
2. Doct. Though good counſell be very profitable, yet are ſome ſo bad, that they will not take it. So Elie's Sons hearkened not to the voyce of their Father, 1 Sam. 2.25. So Rehoboam forſook the counſell of the old men, 1 King. 12.8.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe of love of ſin. Men love not them that ſpeak againſt their friends.
2. Becauſe of cuſtome in fin. This ſtops mens ears to good counſels.
3. For pride of heart. They think it a diſparagement to be guided by others, as if they were not wiſe enough to guide themſelves.
4. For prejudice. Either they that counſel them are inferiour, and ſo thought not wiſe enough, nor good enough to adviſe; or ſuch againſt whom they have taken diſpleaſure, and ſo think they ſpeak out of ill will; or elſe they are aged, and would have them grave before their time (as in Terence, Volunt nos illicò naſci ſenes; They would have us old men, as ſoon as we are born.) Or laſtly, they are Miniſters, and would bring all under their girdle.
Ʋſe. Let us like good counſell the better, becauſe many deſpiſe it. The greater part are ſeldome good husbands for the world, much leſſe for heaven. Wicked mens deſpiſing Gods law, made David love it the more. They have made voyd thy law, therefore I love thy commandements above gold; yea, above fine gold, Pſal. 119.126, 127.
3. Doct. It is a dangerous condition not to hearken to good counſell. Elie's Sons not hearkening to the good counſell of their Father, was a ſigne the Lord would ſtay them, 1 Sam. 2.25. So ſaith the Prophet to Amaziah, I know that God hath determined to deſtroy thee, becauſe thou h…ſt not hear…ened to my counſel, 2 Chr. 25.16.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe it layes a man open to ſpirituall evils, a… to hardneſſe of heart. My people would not hearken to my …yce, ſo I gave them up unto their owne hearts luſt; and they walked in their owne counſels. Pſal. 81, 11, 12.
2. It …ayce a man open to temporall evils. So ſaith Jeremy to Zedekiah, If thou wilt not go forth to the King of Babylons Princes, th…n ſhall this City be given into the hands of the Chaldeans, and they ſhall burn it with fire, and thou ſhall not eſcape out of their h…, Jer. 38.18.
3. It brings death here, as it did to good Joſiah. He was warned to avoyd the danger, but would not, 2 Chron. 35.21, &c.
4. It brings eternall death, 2 Theſſ. 1.8. They that obey … the Goſpel, muſt periſh for ever.
Ʋſe. It reproves thoſe that not only are naught of themſelves, but alſo ſo bad that they are paſt all good counſell. They lay themſelves open to many rocks and quickſands. Their condition is very bad, and well-nigh deſperate.
4. Doct. Reproof, although it ſeem rough, is very profitable. David deſires it as an excellent oyl, Pſal. 141.5. Paul requires it for a good end, Rebuke them ſharply, that they may be ſound in the faith, Tit. 1.13.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe it is a glaſſe to ſhew us our ſins, when we cannot ſee them our ſelves, nor admonition will not make us look into our ſelves. If a Fathers telling wil not ſerve, he muſt chide.
2. It is a bridle to keep us from ſin for time to come, when no warning will ſerve. For it carries anger with it in the reprover, and ſhame in the reproved.
Ʋſe. Let us not be offended at reprovers, but love them. Reproofs may work, when promiſes, exhortations, admonitions will not.
5. Doct. Though reproof be very profitable, yet many regard it not. Ʋzziah was wroth, when reproved by the Prieſt, 2 Chr. 26.19. The Jews regarded not Iſaiah's reproof, Iſa. 1.4, 5. Aſa was wroth with the reproving Seer, and puts him into priſon, 2 Chr. 15.10. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, Amos 5.10. Ahab cryes out to Elijah, Haſt thou found me, O mine enemy? 1 King. 21.20. Nulli grata reprehenſio. Reproof is a bitter pill, it goes down with few men.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe it is a kind of diſgrace unto them, and an accuſation of folly. Had they done well, they needed not to have been reproved.
2. It croſſes their decreſt ſins, and men cannot abide to be croſſed in what they love.
Ʋſe. Let us ſhew our ſelves wiſe men, by looking rather, what is profitable for us, then what is pleaſing to us▪ Intemperate perſons feed on ill meats, and die; ſober men forbear, and live. So muſt we in ſpirituall things. Look on reproofs as profitable, look off the bitterneſſe of them, and be amended by them.
6. Doct. It is a dangerous condition to reject all reproofs. Poverty and ſhame ſhall be to him, that refuſeth inſtruction, but he that regardeth reproof ſhall be honoured, ch. 13.18. If the ear that heareth the reproof of life, abideth among the wiſe, Prov. 15.31. then he that rejecteth it, muſt dwell among fools.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe then Gods Word hath delivered them over to Gods ſword, which is very ſharp. If Gods Word be ſharper then any two edged ſword, Heb. 4.12. (which yet can kill a man) how ſharp is Gods ſword then?
2. Such a man may take David's oath ſafely, As the Lord liveth, there is but a ſtep between me and death, 1 Sam. 20.3. Nothing but ſome heavy judgement between him, and hell. Little elſe likely to recover him. He is like a man at Sea, ſome three inches from death.
Ʋſe. It blames them that think they are ſafe, becauſe no reproof will ſtir their conſcience. This is their miſery, not their liberty. No Canon will make a dead man afraid, yet a living man is far better. No danger will fright a mad man; yet a man in his wits is in a far better condition. Hearken then to reproof, that ye may live in ſafety.