Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 1 · Verse 28
Verſ. 28. There ſhall they call upon me, but I will not anſwer; they ſhal ſeek me early, but they ſhall not finde me.
Wiſdome having ſet out their miſery before, now removes all help from them in their miſery. And their anguiſh is encreaſed by the fruitleſneſſe of their prayers. A ſad condition to be miſerable and helpleſſe, yet a moſt juſt puniſhment, that they that would not hear God, ſhould not be heard of God. Ye heard the cauſe of their crying in the laſt verſe, extremity of miſery, now ye have the fruitleſneſſe of it in this verſe.
For the words.
foreign, Then, In that moment when they ſee their deſtruction coming upon them. I called in their proſperity, and they would not hear. They ſhall call in their adverſity, and I will not hear. There is both an Emphaſis in that particle, and an Antitheſis. Now I call, and they will not hear. Then they ſhall be glad to call to me, but I will not hear. When their hearts are full of diſtreſſe and anguiſh, then their tongues ſhal be compelled through extremity of torment and danger, to cry to me.
They. They, who have thus ſlighted me. Which ſlighting Wiſdome takes ſo unkindly, that ſhe will no more ſpeak to them in all the Chapter. OnelyOnly, ſhe tells other men what ſhall become of them. She ſpeaks not in the ſecond perſon, as before, but changes it to the third. No more ye, but ſtill they; ſpeaking at a diſtance, as if they were unworthy to be ſpoken to directly any more.
Shall call. They ſhall pray for help. For the ſeverall ſignifications of this word, See on v. 21.
Ʋpon me. Whom they would not hear before.
But. See on v. 25.
foreign, I will not anſwer. This word ſignifies,
1. To ſpeak, or begin a ſpeech. And Job ſpake and ſaid, Job 3.2.
2. To cry out, or ſpeak aloud. And the wilde beaſts of the Iſlands ſhattery, Iſa. 13.22.
3. To ſing. Sing unto the Lord with thankſgiving. Sing praiſe, Pſal. 147.7.
4. To ſpeak for or againſt one, or bear witneſſe. Thou ſhalt not bear falſe witneſſe, Exod. 20.16.
5. To hear what is ſaid, or regard it. Behold, I ery out of wrong, but I am not heard, Job 19.7.
6. To give an anſwer to what is ſaid. Then anſwered Bildad, Job 8.1.
7. To grant what is deſired, which is a reall anſwer. They cryed, but there was none to ſave them; even unto the Lord, but he anſwered them not, Pſal. 18.41.
8. To be afflicted. I was greatly afflicted, Pſal. 116.10.
Here it is taken in the ſeventh ſenſe. I will not grant what they pray for, ſo that they ſhall pray to no purpoſe, and without ſucceſſe. And none elſe can help them, therefore their caſe is deſperate, and they muſt needs periſh, being forſaken both of God and men.
foreign, They ſhall ſeek me early, Heb. They ſhall ſeek me in the morning. For then comes the light, by the benefit whereof things ſought for may be found out. They ſhall ſeek me not coldly nor faintly, but as diligently, as men that riſe betimes in the morning, as ſoon as they can ſee, to ſeek ſomewhat loſt. The greatneſſe of their diſtreſſes ſhal make them to ſeek me quickly, very diligently and carefully, they ſhal ſpare for no pains, they ſhall break their ſleep in the morning to do it. So diligent men uſe to ſeek things they would finde. So the Iſraelites went early in the morning to ſeek for Manna. They ſhall ſeek me diligently, as men that begin in the morning betimes, and hold on till night.
But. See on v. 25.
They ſhall not finde me. They ſhall not finde me gracious and mercifull unto them in the time of their perplexities. Seeking here is praying, and finding is ſpeeding. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is neer, Iſa. 55.6. Ask, and it ſhall be given unto you; ſeek, and ye ſhall finde, Mat. 7.7. For the word, ſee on v. 13.
Figures. Call upon me. A figure of the generall for the particular. The meaning is, Pray to me.
Anſwer. I will not grant what they ask. The ſame figure as before. For a man may anſwer and deny. Seek me early, Pray earneſtly to me, as men ſeek good things loſt. So ſhall they pray fervently to me to deliver them. A Metaphor. Not finde me, Not have their deſires of me, nor be ſatisfied, as men are that finde what they ſeek for. A Metaphor.
Note a double threatning.
In the firſt note,
1. Mans call.
2. Gods refuſall.
In mans call note,
1. The adjunct of time, Then.
2. The act, ſhall they call.
3. The object, upon me.
In Gods refuſall note,
1. The perſon, but I.
2. The act, will not anſwer.
In the ſecond threatning note,
1. Mans endevouring.
2. Gods rejecting.
In mans endevouring note,
1. The perſons, They.
2. The act, ſhall ſeek early.
3. The object, me.
In Gods rejecting note,
1. The parties, They. They that ſeek me.
2. The act, ſhall not find.
3. The object, me.
1. Doct. Affliction makes men ſeek to God, that ſlighted him before. So the Iſraelites did, Their cry came up unto God by reaſon of the bondage, Exod. 2.23. When they were ſmitten down by their enemies they would pray, 1 King. 8.33.
Reaſon 1. Poena aperit oculos, quos culpa tenebat clauſos. Greg. Men are dull ſighted in proſperity, and quick ſighted in adverſity.
2. Becauſe they know not where to get help elſe. As the prodigall child, when none elſe would relieve him, thought of returning to his Father, Luk. 15.16, 17. Wicked men will try all wayes ere they will ſeek to God, he is their laſt refuge.
3. Suſpicion begins to work when trouble begins to come. Wicked men are often called Fools in this Book. Fools fear nothing, till they feel ſomething, and then they fear more then needs.
4. Conſcience then begins to terrifie them, ſetting fin before them in its colours, with death and hell attending it, Rev. 6.8.
Ʋſe. 1. To mitigate our ſorrows in our afflictions. They bring ſome good. They have honey as well as a ſting. They oftentimes drive men to God. Foelix neceſſitas quae cogit ad Chriſtum: Happy neceſſity that drives men to Chriſt.
2. To condemne thoſe that keep aloof from God even in affliction. Men may keep out at Sea in a calm, but they that keep out in a ſtorm are deſperate. So are ſuch as call not on God in trouble. Sea-men will pray in a ſtorm, that ſwear in a calm.
2. Doct. Prayer is an invocation or calling upon God. Call upon me in the day of trouble, Pſal. 50.15. They call not upon the Lord, Pſal. 14.4. A man that in want or trouble calls upon his neighbour for help, 1 ſees that he needs help, 2 deſires to be helped, 3 ſues to another for it, 4 to one that is able. So do we in prayer, confeſſe our want, defire relief, ſue to God for it, who is able to deliver us, Heb. 5.7.
Ʋſe. It inſtructs us in the nature of prayer. It is not with Papiſts or ignorant perſons, mumbling over words we underſtand nor, but ſpreading our wants before God, and ſuing for ſupply. O Lord, I am oppreſſed, undertake for me, Iſa. 38.14.
3. Doct. God will not give eaſe to them that never call on him but in trouble. They cryed, but there was none to ſave them; even unto the Lord, but he anſwered them not, Pſa. 18.41. Though they cry in mine ears with a loud voyce, yet will I not hear them, Ezek. 8.18.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe they had no acquaintance with God before. Men look after their acquaintance in time of trouble, not after ſtrangers, that have no dependence on them.
2. Becauſe they look meerly after their own eaſe for the moſt part, and have no love to God, elſe they would have regarded his ſervice in their proſperity, Hoſ. 7.14.
Ʋſe. It teacheth us to get intereſt in God betimes, even in proſperity, to follow Solomon's counſell, Eccl. 12.1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth. We would be glad to have God to hear us in the troubles of old age. Let us then be mindefull of him in youth.
4. Doct. Affliction makes men earneſt in prayer. In their affliction they will ſeek me early, Hoſ. 5.15. When he ſlew them, then they ſought him, Pſal. 78.34.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe affliction is compared to fire. When thou walkeſt through the fire, Iſa. 43.2. and fire will heat. So doth affliction heat mens affections.
2. Becauſe they finde much need of help, which in their proſperity they felt not. A begger wil pray earneſtly.
Ʋſe. It condemns our cold prayers both in faſts and other times in theſe ſad dayes. If ye will not pray earneſtly now, when will ye? Wicked men will riſe in judgement againſt you. They pray earneſtly in trouble.
5. Doct. Prayer is a ſeeking of God. Neither do they ſeek the Lord of hoſts, Iſa. 9.13. Seek ye the Lord, Iſa. 55.6.
Reaſon 1. He is as it were loſt when he doth not help us. God is departed from me, and anſwereth me no more, 1 Sam. 28.15.
2. He may be found an helper upon intreaty.
Ʋſe. No marvell if many never found God. They never ſought him by hearty prayer in all their lives, and muſt quite loſe him at their death.
6. Doct. There is a time when God will not be found of ſome men, though they ſeek him earneſtly. Though they ſhall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them, Jer. 11.11. When ye make many prayers, I will not hear, Iſa. 1.15. Then ſhall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear, Mic. 3.4.
1. For the time.
2. For the perſons.
For the the time. That is twofold:
1. After a time of long calling on them to return, yet ſlighted by them. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer ſhall be abominable, Prov. 28.9. Yea, true repentance then, though it may deliver from the curſe, yet ſometimes not from the croſſe. God would deſtroy Jeruſalem for Manaſſes his ſins, though he repented, and Joſiah reformed, 2 King. 23.26.
2. After this life. It is too late to cry for mercy in hell. Not a drop of water to be gotten, Luk. 16. God hears not impenitent finners here, much leſſe in hell. Here is time of repentance, there none. The dore of mercy is ſhut up for ever by death, Mat. 25.10. When the golden time of life is gone, no trading for ſouls health. No phyſick after death. For the perſons, they are,
1. Impenitent ſinners. God heareth not ſinners, Joh. 9.31. Prayer and repentance muſt go together, elſe no audience.
2. Unbelievers. The Word without faith doth no good No more doth prayer. An unbeliever muſt not think that he ſhall receive any thing of the Lord, Jam. 1.7.
3. Hypocrites, that have no religion, but in ſhew, and pray accordingly. Will God hear the hypocrites cry, when trouble cometh upon him? Job 27.9. Sure he will not.
4. Uncharitable men. A father will not hear them that are cruel to his children.
Ʋſe 1. It teacheth us to take heed of putting off repentance. We may be in hell in a moment; or God may be ſo offended with our peeviſh wayes, that he will not give us true repentance, nor hear us. A great revenge. It would vex a man that his friend would not hear him in extremity. If we follow not Gods inſtruction in our proſperity, he will not follow us with help in our miſery. He that meant to ſay, Lord have mercy on me, cryed out at his death, Horſe and man, and all to the Devill. Perkins government of the tongue.
2. Let us hearken to God in our proſperity, that he may hearken to us in our extremity, elſe we periſh eternally. Quid aequius? quid juſtius? non reſpeximus, non reſpicimur; non audivimus, non audimur. Salv. What more equall? what more juſt? we regarded not, we are not regarded; we heard not, we are not heard. I ſpeake unto thee in thy proſperity, but thou ſaidſt, I will not hear; this hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyeſt not my voyce. The wind ſhall eat up all thy paſtours, and thy lovers ſhall go into captivity; ſurely then ſhalt thou be aſhamed and confounded for all thy wickedneſſe, Jer. 22.21, 22. To conclude, God will hear a penitent ſinner at any time; yea, even at the houre of death, as he did the penitent thief; but he often denies true repentance to thoſe that ſlight the means of grace, and alwayes denies audience to thoſe that cry not with their hearts to him, when they howle on their beds for corn and wine, Hoſ. 7.14. Let not then an impenitent ſinner ever preſume, nor a penitent deſpair.