Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 1 · Verse 5
Verſ. 5. A wiſeman will bear, and will increaſe learning; and a man of understanding ſhall attain unto wiſe counſels.
The benefit that all men may get by theſe Proverbs, was ſet out before, verſ. 2, 3. For ſimple men, and young men, verſ. 4. Now for wiſemen, whoſe gain is ſet out, verſ. 5. and their profit, verſ. 6. For the firſt. Leſt any man ſhould think, becauſe theſe Proverbs bring benefit to ſimple men, and young ones, therefore they are good for none but children, and fooles, and may be contemned by wiſe men, as too low for them; he ſhews that they are good for wiſe men alſo, to encreaſe their knowledge. Though one main end of writing this Book were to inſtruct young ones, as appears by often repeating My Son, My Son, yet here is excellent matter, worthy alſo for wiſe men to learn.
For the words. A wiſe man, or, That the wiſe man may hear. And ſo it may go on to ſet out the true end of writing this Book, whereas your Tranſlation carries the event onelyonly, which may ſeem to ſome to come rather by the Readers care, then the Writers aim. So that is juſtly added by the Tranſlators, Pſal. 9.20. That the Nations may know themſelves to be but men. So we ſay, Know you are men; that is, Know that you are men. Or, if ye read it as it is in the Tranſlation, it ſhews the readineſſe of wiſe men to make uſe of this Book for increaſe of knowledge. Having invited ſimple ones, he makes no doubt but wiſe men will hear and learn. A wiſe man is one that hath already attained to a good meaſure of heavenly knowledge, yet is willing to get more by this Book.
Will hear. The word foreign, ſignifies,
1. To hear, as in hearing a report. I have heard, that there is corn in Aegypt, Gen. 42.2.
2. To mark what is ſaid, or attend to it. The Lord hath heard, that I was hated, Gen. 29.33.
3. To underſtand what is ſpoken. They knew not, that Joſeph underſtood them, Gen. 42.23. Heb. heard them.
4. To grant what is asked. As for Iſhmael, I have heard thee, Gen. 17.20.
5. To beleeve a thing reported, to be true. They hearkened not unto Moſes, Exod. 6.9.
6. To obey what is commanded. Abraham obeyed my voyce, Gen. 26.5. So ſpeaking is put for commanding, Eſt. 1.10. Here the word is uſed in the ſecond ſenſe, for marking and giving his minde to it. He wil give heed to theſe Proverbs. To ſuch, a bleſſing is promiſed, Rev. 1.3. It ſignifies attending with ears of minde and body. Wiſe men are willing to know more. Fools deſire it not. They know not the worth of learning.
And will increaſe. Heb. Adde; to wit, to that which he had before, and make it more, as an heap is increaſed by addition of ſtones or money. Hence Joſeph had his name, Gen. 30.24. And ſhe called his name Joſeph, and ſaid, The Lord ſhall adde to me another Son. It may be underſtood of adding to others, as well as to himſelf; that not onelyonly he will know more then he did before, but alſo be ſo full, that he will run over to teach others.
Learning, foreign. Received from others by hearing them, as the word imports, and as it were taken out of their knowledge, yet without loſſe to them, as one Candle takes light from another. Homo, qui erranti comitèr monſtrat viam, quaſi de ſuo lumine lumen accendat, facit, Nihilo minùs ipſi lucet, cum illi accenderit. Ennius apud Cicer. offic. l. 1. He that gently ſhews a wandring man his way, doth as if he lighted another mans candle at his. His ſhines nevertheleſſe when the others is kindled.
A man of underſtanding. He that underſtands theſe Proverbs well, or hath a better capacity then others, will gather very profitable Concluſions out of them. Such were the men of Iſſachar, which had underſtanding of the times to know what Iſrael ought to do, 1 Chr. 12.32.
Shall attain to. The word foreign, ſignifies,
1. To get any thing by price or labour, or prayer, or any way of right. Thence Cain had his name, I have gotten a man of the Lord, Gen. 4.1. And Gen. 25.10. The field which Abraham purchaſed, Heb. got.
2. To poſſeſſe a thing when a man hath gotten it. The Lord poſſeſſed me in the beginning of his way, Prov. 8.22. Here it is taken in the firſt ſenſe. He ſhall get by labour and induſtry in learning from others, and ſo have a right to it, and uſe of it, as a labourer at night hath to that which was another mans in the morning.
Wiſe counſeſs, foreign. We want a word to expreſſe it, and are forced to uſe a Periphraſis, or circumlocution to ſet it out in two words, which is but one in the Originall. The derivations are two, but from the ſame root foreign, to govern a ſhip. Some derive it from the Governor that ſits at the Stern, called foreign, who muſt guide the ſhip wiſely, or elſe all muſt be loſt that is in it. Sapientiâ ſuam Gubernator torquet nabem, haud valentiâ. Titin. apud Nonium. The Governor guides his ſhip by wiſdome, not by ſtrength. He is called the Shipmaſter, Jon. 1.6. As the Mariner long rouls up and down thoughts in his minde, what to do in a ſtorm; ſo this wiſe man to guide his actions, that he may chooſe the beſt upon deliberation. The word imports any accurate way of doing any thing, as Sea-men accurately guide ſhips between rocks and quickſands, eſpecially in ſtorms. Others derive it from foreign, a rope. As Sea-men clime up and down the ropes perpetually, yet fall not into the Sea: ſo wiſe men eaſily diſpatch their affairs without damage, though dreadfull to others, as the former employment is to ſuch as are fearfull or unskilfull. Or, it may be of preferment to places of command, to guide others, as a Pilot guides a ſhip by the ſterne, and tackling, and rudder. In this laſt word may be a Metaphor taken from Ship-men, the reſt are literall. In this verſ. is firſt the augmentation of wiſdome by reading theſe Proverbs. Secondly, the height of what is to be gotten.
In the firſt note,
1. The agent, or cauſe, A wiſe man.
2. The action, or tranſitory effect, as building, will hear.
3. The thing made by action, as the houſe, and will increaſe.
Set out by the object, learning.
In the ſecond note,
1. The agent, A man of underſtanding.
2. The effect, ſhall attain unto.
3. The object, wiſe counſels.
1. Dect. No man ſo wife, but he may learn more. And that both in Theoricall and Practicall knowledge, how to think, and how to do better. We are all children, while we are here, and know but in part, 1 Cor. 13.11. Chriſt himſelf increaſed in wiſdome, Luk. 2.52. Before the Law they had but a few Revelations and Traditions. Under it, they had the truth in obſcure ſhadows and ſacrifices. After it, the darkneſſe of the underſtanding remained, though more light appeared. Adam in innocency might know more by reaſoning and occurrents. Angels learn from Gods dealing with his Church. Ʋnto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, is made known by the Church the manifeld wiſdome of God, Eph. 3.10. Which things the Angels deſire to look into, 1 Pet. 1.12.
Reaſon, 1. Want of light. The Sun of knowledge ſhines not ſo cleer here as in heaven, clouds of ignorance come beween▪ There are few clouds in Aegypt, whence comes want of rain, and they are forced to water their gardens with their feet, Deut. 11.10. Seldome a cloud ſeen in Japan. But there are many clouds in the wiſeſt mens brains, to keep them from underſtanding many truths.
2. Want of ſight. We ſee here by the ſpectacles of Gods works. Inviſible things of God are ſeen from the creation of the world, Rom. 1.20. We ſee by the perſpectives of Ordinances, and muſt ſo do till the day of judgement, Eph. 4.11, &c. We cannot ſee ſo cleerly here, as we ſhall in heaven.
1. Ʋſe. Be not content with that meaſure of knowledge ye have, but labour ſtill for more. As men in trading finding the world come on them give not over, but go on to get more riches. Youth muſt learn, middle age increaſe learning, old age attain to wiſe counſels. Bodies grow old, Souls do not. Solon was wont to ſay, foreign: I grow old alwayes learning many things. Platon. Dialog. de Philoſophia, & de Fortitud. & de Repub. l. 7. & in Cicer. de Senect. Marcus Antoninus the Emperor went often to the houſe of Sextius the Philoſopher, ſaying, foreign: It is good even for an old man to learn. Salvius Julianus a moſt famous Lawyer was wont to ſay, Etſ… alterum pedem in ſepulchro haberem, adhuc addiſcere vellem: Although I had one foot in the grave, yet I would learn ſtill. Pandect. l. 4. Nulla dies fine linea, ſaid Apelles: No day without a line. And Auguſtine acknowledges himſelf both a Writer, and a Learner. Ego ex eorum numero me eſſe profiteor, qui ſcribunt proficiendo, & ſcribendo proficiunt: I profeſſe my ſelf to be of the number of them who write by profiting, and profit by writing. Auguſt. Epiſt. 7. Sapiens quamdiu vivit, tamdiu addit: A wiſe man adds as long as he lives. Ambroſe.
Ʋſe 2. It ſhews us what little hope we have of children and young men, that think they know enough already, when old men and wiſe men may learn. Multi potuiſſent ad ſapientiam pervenire, niſi ſe putaſſent jam perveniſſe: Many might have proved learned men, but that they thought they were ſo already. Senec. de Tranq. c. 1. foreign, Opinion is the let of profiting. Diogenes Laertius l. 3. de Bionis vita. Ego ſenex à juvene, & Epiſcopus tot annorum a collega nec dum anniculo paratus ſum doceri. Auguſt. apud Gratian. c. 24. q. 3. I an old man, and a Biſhop of ſo many yeers ſtanding, am ready to be taught by a young man, and a Colleague ſcarce of one yeers ſtanding.
2. Doct. Much knowledge comes in at the ear. We have heard him our ſelves, and know that this is indeed the Chriſt, Joh. 4.42. How ſhall they beleeve in him, of whom they have not heard? Rom. 10.14. Hearing and Seeing are by Aristotle called the learned ſenſes, becauſe by theſe dores learning enters into the ſoul. Yea, and life alſo. Hear, and your ſoul ſhall live, Iſa. 55.3. David Chytreus, when he lay a dying, lift up himſelf to hear the diſcourſes of his friends that ſat by him; and ſaid, that he ſhould die with better cheer, if he might die learning ſomething. Ʋnto you that hear ſhall more be given, Mar. 4.24. The ears are the Conduit-pipes of wiſdome to convey it to us. Argento, auroque non fiunt homines meliores, ſed ditiores virtute ex ſapientum dictis: Men are not made better by gold, and ſilver, but richer in virtue by wiſe mens ſayings. Socrates apud Xenoph. l. 4. The Heathen man Cicero could ſay, Cujus aures clauſae ſunt veritati, hujus ſalus deſperanda eſt: He whoſe ears are ſhut againſt the truth, there is little hope of his ſafety. A man may learn that from another in an hour, which the other hath been ſtudying many hours, & it may be himſelf could not find it out in many days. Therefore Chriſt bids not his Diſciples read, or tels them onelyonly where the Prophets ſpeak of him, but expounds thoſe places to them, Luk. 24.27. So doth Philip to the Eunuch, Act. 8.35. This is the very end of preaching, and conference, that men might be taught by the ear.
1. Ʋſe. Bleſſe God for your ears. It is a great queſtion, which is the greater loſſe of Seeing or Hearing. I ſuppoſe of Hearing, for a man that wants it, cannot reap any good by Sermons, Conferences, Diſcourſes, nor converſe comfortably with others, nor have others to read to him. But a man may have all theſe benefits, that wants his fight, and may have others to read to him alſo. A blinde man hath all theſe helps. A deaf man hath onelyonly Gods works to ſee, and good books to read to help him to knowledge and comfort. The former may be helped by others, the latter muſt do all out of her owne head.
2. Ʋſe. Content not your ſelves with ſtudying the Scriptures, but acknowledging the weakneſſe of your brain, learn of others alſo, even of men that are meaner then your ſelves, whoſe pains or tryals may acquaint them with ſome particulars that ye need, yet know not. Semper mos eſt ſapientum, ut dictis majorum auſcultent, aliquan do minorum: It is alwayes the cuſtome of wiſe men to hearken to the ſayings of their betters, ſometimes of their inferiour. Beda in text. Not onelyonly the Queen of Sheba could learn of Solomon, Paul of Gamaliel, and Nicodemus of Chriſt, but alſo Moſes of Jethro.
3. Doct. The Scripture brings in increaſe of knowledge. Aquila and Priſcilla expounded unto Apollos the way of God more perfectly, Act. 18.26. Give thy ſelf wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all, 1 Tim. 4.15.
Reaſon, 1. Becauſe it is the higheſt Book in the world. A Book of Gods owne making, who is moſt wiſe. When thou haſt learned all thou canſt out of mens Books, thou mayſt learn more out of Gods.
2. All heavenly wiſdome in other books comes from thence, as water in rivers from the fountain. Ʋſe. It taxes thoſe that finde more delight in reading other good books, then the Scripture it ſelf. It ſhews a double weakneſſe, one in judgement, the other in affection. Rivers are profitable, but fountains more.
4. Doct. Scripture learning is the beſt learning. Paul counted all things loſſe for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt, Phil. 3.8. He buryed his other learning in his preaching. I determined not to know any thing among you, ſave Jeſus Chriſt and him crucified, 1 Cor. 2.2.
Reaſon, 1. It is the moſt profound knowledge. Above low Geometry, above high Aſtronomy. Above Philoſophy, for it reaches above all creatures, and aſpires to the knowledge of God.
2. It is moſt profitable. Other Arts ſhew how to live here for a while, this how to live in heaven for ever, through Chriſt. Ʋſe. It reproves our curious ſpirits, who count Scripture learning nothing worth. Rhetorick and Politicks are great with them. Not many ſo wiſe are ſaved, 1 Cor. 1.20. What profit in wiſdome that will not keep from eternall miſery?
5. Doct. Naturall parts well uſed help much in Religion. Paul's learning was a great help to him, and Solomon's high reach.
Reaſon, 1. They may learn the things of God more eaſily, which others hammer long about, as dull ones in Schools.
2. They may get more in leſſe time. Such a trade men generally look upon as will make men ſpeedily rich. Ʋſe. If your children be pregnant, put enough into them. I remember I have ſeen a grave Doctor and a good Miniſter in this Nation, much pleaſed with Nurſes that would talk to the children, uſing this expreſſion, It puts much ſpirit and livelyneſſe into them, which the parents may afterwards turn to good. Men can be content to fill Houſes, Tables, Barns, Treaſuries, Why not Children? Much ill may be kept out, much good put in, if ready ones be inſtructed betimes, and conſtantly.
6. Doct. It is a wonder what may be attained by induſtry, and Gods bleſſing upon it. See the great ſucceſſe of Paul's preaching at Epheſus. Curious Books burnt, to the value of fifty thouſand peeces of ſilver: So mightily grew the Word of God, and prevailed, Act. 19.19, 20. The Churches were multiplyed when the ſtorm of perſecution was blown over, Act. 9.31. Miniſters preaching much, and peoples hearing, increaſed the graces, and number of Saints. As in worldly things, men grow rich by Husbandry, or Merchandiſe. Ʋſe. It reproves the ſluggiſhneſſe of Chriſtians, who think a little knowledge and grace enough. Such may juſtly fear, their grace is not true. Pictures are idle, and grow not, living creatures feed, and grow.
7. Doct. Much difference between a wiſe mans courſe, and a fools. The one orders his affairs well, the other careleſly. Their courſes are often oppoſed in Scripture. The wiſe in heart will receive commandements, but a prating fool ſhall fall, Prov. 10.8. The way of a fool is right in his owne eyes, but he that hearkeneth unto counſell, is wiſe. A fools wrath is preſently known, but a prudent man covereth ſhame, Prov. 12.15, 16. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge, but a fool layeth open his folly, Pr. 15.16. The ſimple beleeveth every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his going. A wiſe man feareth, and departeth from evill, but the fool rageth, and is confident, Prov. 14.15, 16.
Reaſon. Becauſe they work from different principles. A wiſe man follows the dictates of reaſon, a fool of will and affections. Ʋſe. Chooſe the wiſe mans courſe, which is far the better. He ſteers the ſhip of his life among all the waves of worldly troubles, and floods of worldly paſſions, to the heaven of happineſſe. The World is like a Sea, up and down, rough and calm. So is mans heart and ſoul. Baſil. in princip. Proverb. A wiſe man like a skilfull Pilot looks on the Sun by day, and ſtars by night, his eyes are ſtill toward heaven. So he rids himſelf out of moſt intricate affairs, as Solomon did by wiſe diſcerning the right Mother, 1 King. 3. And others oftentimes, as the Pilot guides the ſhip ſafe to ſhore, when the reſt ſleep. Labour then for theſe wiſe counſels.