Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 1 · Verse 6
Verſ. 6. To underſtand a Proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wiſe, and their dark ſayings.
The gain or increaſe of wiſe men in reading theſe Proverbs, was ſet out, verſ. 5. The profit that comes by it, is ſet out here. It is ſufficient for ſimple ones to learn ſo much ſubtilty out of the plaineſt of theſe Proverbs, whereby they may keep themſelves from being deceived; but wiſe men will learn to underſtand the darkeſt of them, whereby they may get much more knowledge. For the words.
To underſtand. See on verſ. 2. Not to read a ſimilitude careleſly or curſorily, but obſerving what is meant by it. Some read it, To make to underſtand, or teach; and the word will bear it, and it ſuites well with what went before. The man was wiſe before, and as he may get more wiſdome to direct his owne wayes, verſ. 5. ſo alſo to teach others; in this verſ. So Eccl. 12.9, 10.
A Proverb. See on verſ. 1. Any Proverbial ſentence, though difficult and obſcure to others. He that underſtands this Book, by reading it will be able to underſtand other Proverbs propounded by others, and to propound ſome himſelf.
And the interpretation. How do the underſtanding of a Proverb, and the interpretation …er? He that underſtands it, can interpret it. Anſw. The firſt may be meant of underſtanding the words, or literall ſenſe. The ſecond of the myſticall. Or, And may be taken for Even, and ſo the latter be an expoſition of the former. To underſtand a Proverb; that is, to know the interpretation of it. So to underſtand a dream is to be able to interpret it, Gen. 41.15. So And is uſed, Gods wrath ſlew the fatteſt of them, and (that is, even) ſmote down the choſen men of Iſrael, Pſal. 78.31. As the choiſe of the flock are the fatteſt cattle.
The interpretation, foreign. So foreign, an Interpreter. One that can tell the minde of God, Job 33.23. So here, to interpret a ſimilitude, and ſhew what is included, more then appears at firſt fight. Not onelyonly to underſtand eaſie Proverbs, but to know the meaning of hard ones. But eſpecially to underſtand the hardeſt of theſe Proverbs by the eaſieſt, yet it may be underſtood of other Proverbs alſo. To underſtand the ſenſe of myſteries or eloquent ſpeeches, ſuch as Embaſſadors uſe; for ſo the word is tranſlated, 2 Chr. 32.31. or ſuch as Scoffers uſe; for ſo the word is uſed for ſcorning, Job 16.20. Or it may be read, And the ſweetneſſe thereof; for men finde much ſweetneſſe in Proverbs, when they know the meaning of them. Otherwiſe they are more harſh then other ſentences. From foreign, to be ſweet. Whence the learned Rivet derives foreign and mel hony. See Trap.
The words, foreign. 1. ſignifies a word. The word of the Lord, Hoſ. 1.1.
2. A thing; for that expreſſeth a mans meaning when it is done. It came to paſſe after theſe things, 1 King. 17.17. Here it is uſed in the firſt ſenſe. He ſpeaks not of their actions, but ſayings. Neither doth it ſignifie ſingle words, but words knit together in ſentences. So the Ten commandements are called Ten words in the Originall, Exod. 34.28. For ſeveral words without reſpect to others, do little good.
Of the wiſe. Of other wiſe men. Not onelyonly ordinary Proverbs that are in all mens mouths, but the learnedeſt ſentences that come from wiſeſt men, and are approved for the authority of them, that ſpake them; like Achitophels counſels esteemed as oracles, 2 Sam. 16.23.
And their dark ſayings. Queſtions that can hardly be anſwered. Such as the Queen of Sheba put to Solomon, 1 King. 10.1. Or, hard expreſſions, which often contain high myſteries in them, not eaſie to be perceived, till they be expounded, as Sampſon's Riddle, and Sphinx hers to Oedipus of the creature that went firſt on four legs, then on two legs, laſtly on three legs. And ſuch are ſome ſpeeches above the common reach. Such alſo were the Aegyptian Hieroglyphicks, as a ſtaffe with an eye on it, to ſet out Gods providence, looking over all the world, and ruling it. This is well added, to prevent an objection. For it might be ſaid, It needs no great skill to underſtand wiſe mens ſayings, for ſome of them are plain. Anſw. But (ſaith the Wiſe man) by reading theſe Proverbs ye ſhall underſtand the hardeſt of them alſo.
Figures none, except a figure of the part for the whole. A Proverb, that is, all kinde of Proverbs, even the darkeſt and hardeſt. As an Horſe, for any Horſe, Pſal. 33.17.
Note. 1. The act. To underſtand.
2. The fourfold object:
1. A Proverb.
2. The Interpretation.
3. The words of the wiſe.
4. Their dark ſayings. He ſhall gather from hence ability to underſtand not ordinary ſayings onelyonly, but the moſt difficult that can come from wiſe men.
1. Doct. That meaſure of knowledge is not ſufficient for a man of greater capacity, that may ſuffice one of meaner. Solomon that had ſo much knowledge, yet thought he needed more, Eccl. 1.16, 17. Paul knew Chriſt well, yet deſires to know more of him, Phil. 3.8, 10.
Reaſon, 1. nI regard of God, an account of talents is to be given to him. Greater account of greater talents, Matt. 5.15, 20.
2. In regard of himſelf. A great capacity carries a great defire of filling it, elſe it were in vain.
3. In regard of others. There is a great expectation from men of great parts. The eyes of all them that were in the Synagogue were faſtned on Chriſt, Luk. 4.20.
4. In regard of the things, which being known in part, allure us to know more. Ignoti nulla cupido: No deſire of what is not known. One profitable voyage eggs the Merchant to another.
1. Ʋſe. It reproves ſuch as have wit to know much, but uſe it not. Remain Dunſes, that might be Doctors, Heb. 5.12. More things are to be known, and what we know, may be better known. Both afford more delight. Maxima pors eorum quae ſcimus, eſt minima pars eorum quae ignoramus. Aug. The greateſt part of the things we know, is the leaſt part of the things we know not.
2. Ʋſe. Put your capacity upon the tenters. The Clothier gets by it, and makes more of the ſame cloth. Elſe ye ſhal not enter into your Maſters joy, Matt. 25.21. but be ſhut out with the fooliſh Virgins, Mat. 25.10.
3. Ʋſe. Ye that be Miniſters muſt ſtretch for it in point of knowledge. If ye have not greater capacity then ordinary men, why take ye that calling? If ye have, uſe it. It is enough for others to be full, ye muſt run over. It is enough for others to ſave themſelves from a crooked generation, Act. 2.40. Ye muſt ſave your ſelves and others, 1 Tim. 4.16. That knowledge will not ſerve a Lawyer, or Phyſician, that may ſerve a private Gentleman for his own ſtate or health. He enguges for no more. And I hope I ſhall need to ſay no more in this Argument.
2. Doct. Reading Scripture without underſtanding, doth a man no good. This is the drift of Philip's Queſtion to the Eunuch, Ʋnderſtandeſt thou what thou readest? Act. 8.30. Elſe it will do thee no good. The Jews could not profit by reading the Law, becauſe the veil was not taken off their hearts, 2 Cor. 3.1, 4.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe the words of Scripture are no charm, which works, whether men underſtand it, or not.
2. Doing is required, which is more then underſtanding. If ye know theſe things, happy are ye if ye do them, Joh. 13.17.
Ʋſe 1. It condemns the practiſe of the Papiſts, who read the Scriptures in a ſtrange language. They are ſure beforehand the people cannot underſtand them, nor get any good by them.
2. It condemns the negligence of ſome, who think they do enough, if they cauſe their children to read ſometimes a Chapter, but take no care that either they or their children underſtand it. If they ſhould ſet bread before them, and not let it be broken, or cut, they might ſtarve.
3. Doct. A man may get knowledge enough out of Scripture to teach others. The 32 Pſalm was written to teach others, as appears by the title, Davids Maſchil, or Inſtructer. Hence comes that ſolemne charge for parents to inſtruct their children diligently at home and abroad, at up-fitting and down-lying, Deut. 6.7. See the like charge, Pſal. 78.5, 6. The Scripture is a fountain of knowledge, we may drink our ſelves, and bottle up for others. A Sea wherein are fiſhes innumerable to feed us and others, Pſal. 104.25. And ſhips, that traffick for all mens good, verſ. 26. there. A rich Store-houſe of all knowledge, and a wealthy Treaſury. Joſeph's Store-houſes and Solomon's Treaſuries had enough for multitudes.
1. Ʋſe. Let us bleſſe God for the ſtore that is in his Word. Who would not praiſe him for plenty of mony and proviſions, that might ſerve for him, his, and many more; or for a Fountain or Mine in his garden?
2. Ʋſe. Let us draw daily out of this Treaſury. Though there be ſtore of knowledge, yet few are ſo wiſe to draw enough for themſelves. Moſt think a little enough. But if thou haſt enough for thy ſelfe, draw for others. Men give not over their Trades when they have got enough to keep themſelves, and theirs, but deſire to have to give, Eph. 4.28.
4. Doct. Hardeſt things in Scripture may be underſtood by labour. Many things are interpreted ready to our hands. An Angel interprets the Viſion to Daniel, Dan. 7.16. So are the Stars and Candleſticks, Revel. 1.20. Iſaiah's propheſie of Chriſt, Act. 8.35. The ſumme of the Goſpel, Act. 10.36.
Reaſon, 1. Becauſe it is Gods aim in writing it, that it ſhould be underſtood. For he writ it for the people. I have written to him the great things of my Law, Hoſ. 8.12. Not to the Prieſts, but to the people of Ephraim. And if they to whom it is written cannot by labour and pains underſtand it, the pen of the writer was in vain, Jer. 8.8.
2. God hath left means in his Word to underſtand the hardeſt places, as ſearching the originall, coherence, parallel places; and plainer ones to give light to the obſcurer.
Ʋſe, 1. It incourageth us to ſeek to underſtand the hardeſt things in Scripture, and not to be content with the eaſieſt. So do all good Scholars in their Arts, and all that intend to thrive in their Trades.
2. It ſhews what a ſhame it is, if we underſtand not plain places, that might by labour underſtand difficult ones. Sure we ſhall never thrive by our Trade of Chriſtianity.
5. Doct. Wiſe mens words carry great weight with them. The words of the wiſe are as goads, and as nails faſtened by the Maſters of the Aſſemblies, Eccl. 12.11. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wiſe, Prov. 22.17. The lips of the wiſe diſperſe knowledge, Prov. 15.7. The ground is, becauſe every thing works by an internall principle, whether it be Naturall, Artificiall, or Reaſonable. A fool cannot ſpeak wiſely, unleſſe over-ruled he ſpeak not of himſelf, Joh. 11.51. A wiſe man will not ſpeak fooliſhly unleſſe unadviſed. Ʋſe. It directs us how to chooſe our ſociety. Chooſe thoſe by whom ye may get moſt. Worldly men do ſo in the Exchange, Markets, and other times. He that walketh with wiſe men ſhall be wiſe, Prov. 13.20.
6. Doct. There are difficulties to be found in Scripture that need expoſition. In Paul's Epiſtles there are ſome things hard to be underſtood, 2 Pet. 3.16. Not onelyonly high matters and expreſſions, but alſo Parables, wherein is one thing ſpoken, another thing meant. And that to exerciſe mens wits. They had need of good heads to finde out the meaning. The Diſciples ask and are ſhewed the meaning of the Parable of the Tares, Matth. 13.36, 37. Wiſe men ſpeak darkly ſometimes, ut occultentur ſententiae eorum deſidioſis, aperiantur ſtudioſis; that their ſentences may be hidden from ſluggards, and opened to ſtudious perſons. All Gods oracles are dark to naturall men. As the Reſurrection to the Sadduces. Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God, Ma… 22.29. Regeneration to Nicodemus. How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the ſecond time into his Mothers wombe, and be born? Joh. 3.4. Living water to the woman of Samaria. Sir, thou haſt nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; from whence then haſt thou that living water? Joh. 4.11. The Goſpel is hid to them that periſh, 2 Cor. 4.3. And in part unto godly men too. Now we ſee through a glaſſe darkly, now I know in part, 1 Cor. 13.12. The perfect knowledge of them is reſerved for them, till they come to the heavenly Univerſity. But yet ſome things are harder then the reſt. Ʋſe. Think no time nor pains too much to underſtand Scripture. A Merchant ſpends ſtore of both to get pearls.