Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 2 · Verse 11
Verſ. 11. Diſcretion ſhall preſerve thee, underſtanding ſhall keep thee.
Now for the preſervation it ſelf of thoſe perſons that receive and entertain wiſdome, in this verſ. They ſhall be delivered from many ſpirituall and corporall dangers, which fooliſh men fall into, and they themſelves are ſubject unto, by reaſon of the remainder of ſin in them, and allurements of others, both men and women. As if he had ſaid, God ſhall give thee ſuch warineſſe and underſtanding of the true nature of things, that thou ſhall be carefull to keep thy ſelf from all evils which would weaken thy whole life, by means of pot-companions, and ſt…umpets, who will continually be ready to ſet upon thee in thy young and ſlippery age, to undoe thee, if they can. This preſervation is a great benefit.
For the words.
Diſcretion. See on ch. 1.4. It imports a carefull examining things in the minde before we do them, that we may avoyd evill. The Syriack reads, a good thinking; that is, to think well before-hand, whither thou goeſt, and what thou doſt, ſhall keep thee from going and doing amiſſe. Cogito, quaſi coagito. Notat ſereitatem. Beeman. To think, is to bring thoughts trgether in the minde. It notes ſeriouſneſſe. Such is the care of the Wife, how ſhe may pleaſe her husband, 1 Cor. 7.34. She caſts this way, and that way, how ſhe may give content. So every wiſe woman buildeth her houſe, ch. 14.1. She ſtudies in every buſineſſe how to ſet every thing in order. So the Carpenter ſtudies how to ſet every thing in joynt.
Shall preſerve thee. As a buckler keeps from wounds, v. 7. or as a guard which Princes and great men are wont to have about them, for the ſafety of their perſons. Their ſouls ſhall be as ſafe as the bodies of thoſe great ones, who have a Band of men alwayes waiting on them. Or, as Cities that have a ſtrong garriſon to keep them from danger of aſſaults by the enemy. Diſcretion ſhall preſerve thee from all enemies and diſaſters.
Ʋnderſtanding. Carefull examination will give thee underſtanding to ſee what is fit to be done, and what to be avoyded For the word, See on v. 2.
Shall keep thee. See on v. 8. It ſhall keep watch and ward over thee. It brings del…ght and ſafety. The ſame thing ſpoken in the beginning of the v. in other words, for aſſurance, and to enlarge our affections to wiſdome, as if no words could ſufficiently ſet out this benefit of preſervation by it, and to urge us to entertain it, and rejoyce in it, as in a moſt beautifull ſpouſe. If we ſo do, it will ſhew us the way how to be free from ſinfull courſes.
Figures Preſerve thee. A Metaphor from perſons or Towns kept by a guard. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto ſalvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. The word ſignifies kept as with a band of Souldiers in a garriſon. The ſame benefit is twice inculcated.
Note 1. The preſerver, Diſeretion and underſtanding.
2. The act, ſhall preſerve, ſhall keep.
3. The perſon preſerved, thee. He that joyfully entertains it, and takes pleaſure in it, ſhall be kept by it.
1. Doct. Men are ſubject to many dangers till they get wiſdome. He goeth after her ſtraightway, as an Oxe goeth to the ſlaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the ſtocks. Till a dart ſtrike through his liver; as a bird haſteth to the ſnare, and knoweth not that it is for his life, ch. 7.22, 23. Thou fool, this night ſhall thy ſoul be required of thee; then, whoſe ſhall thoſe things be which thou haſt provided? Luk. 12.20.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe their reputation is in danger, and men had as leeve loſe their life as their credit, if they be generous. Folly will give occaſion of diſgrace.
2. Their goods and eſſate will be in danger, which is a great loſſe. How many loſe them by folly, breaking out into unſeemly words and deeds?
3. Their body and life is in danger, which are dearer then credit and goods. Skin for skin, yea all that a man hath, will be give for his life, Job 2.4. Is not the life more then meat, and the body then rayment? Mat. 6.25.
4. The ſoul is in danger, and lies open to eternall miſery. Therefore ſin which damns the ſoul is called folly. He had wrought folly in Iſrael in lying with Jacobs daughter, which thing ought not to be done, Gen. 34.7. And wicked men that go to hell are chronicled for fools all over this Book of Proverbs. And this is the greateſt danger of all. What is a man profited, if he ſhall gain the whole world, and loſe his owne ſoul? Matth. 16.26.
Ʋſe. It diſcovers to us the cauſe of many troubles and calamities in the world, want of wiſdome to prevent the occaſions. I ſay, not of all, but of many, for Gods ſervants are often perſecuted without a cauſe, and for tryall of their graces; yet we may do well to attribute our ſufferings to our folly, as David did. My wounds ſtink and are corrupt, becauſe of my fooliſhneſſe, Pſal. 38.5.
2. Doct. Young men are moſt in danger of allurement. For he ſpeaks to his Son all along, verſ. 1, 2, &c. He that is ſeduced by the Strumpet, is ſaid to be among the youths, ch. 7.7. Such are moſt ſubject to walk in the wayes of their heart, and in the ſight of their eyes, Eccl. 11.9.
Reaſon 1. Brcauſe they are more ſubject to be ſet upon by ſtrumpets, riotous, theeves, as having leaſt gravity to keep ſuch off. My Son (a young man) if ſinners intice thee, ch. 1.10. Old men they will not ſet upon ſo ſoon. Nay, the thought of an old grave man preſent might keep men from ſecret ſins; as the Heathen man ſaid, Think Socrates or Plato ſees thee, and thou wilt not commit folly.
2. Young men have leaſt wit and experience to reſiſt ſuch temptations, and therefore Solomon writ his Proverbs to teach the young man knowledge and diſcretion, ch. 1.4.
3. Becauſe old men want fuel for many ſins to be kindled by temptations and allurements. They cannot exerciſe wantonneſs, riotouſneſs, robbing, killing, for want of bodily ſtrength. The graſſehopper to them is a burden, and deſire fails, Eccl. 12.5. They cannot taſte what they eat and drink, nor hear the voyce of ſinging men, or ſinging women, 2 Sam. 19.35. Old men have ſeen the miſchief that falls upon evill courſes of life, and therefore are not eaſily drawn to them. Old birds will not be caught with chaffe.
Ʋſe. Take heed young men, you think your ſelves ſtrongeſt, and you are weakeſt, your ſtrength and heat of blood will ſooneſt draw you to folly: for luſt is ſtrongeſt in young men, by reaſon of natural heat. Therefore Paul bids Timothy, Fly youthfull luſt, 2 Tim. 2.22. Be not proud and careleſſe, but humble and watchful.
3. Doct. When men get diſcretion and knowledge, they will be free from many enormities, into which others fall. So the prodigall Son, who fed on husks before, when he came to himſelf, found bread enough in his Fathers houſe, Luk. 15.17. So the Angel of Laodicea, might be freed from blindneſſe, poverty, and nakedneſſe, if he would follow Chriſts counſel, Rev. 3.17, 18. Truth hath a freeing power. Ye ſhall know the truth, and the truth ſhall make you free, Joh. 8.32.
1. Becauſe Satan is daunted by repulſes, as he was by Chriſt. Then the devil leaveth him, Mat. 4.11.
2. Wicked men give over ſoliciting, when they ſee it cannot prevail, as Joſeph's Miſtreſſe did, who though ſhe brought him to priſon, could not bring him to adultery, Gen. 39.
3. Becauſe men ſeeing the uglineſſe of ſin, grow more wary, and ſo eſcape ſnares. A blinde man ſees no rubs in the way, but follows his guide careleſly. He that ſees, looks at ſtumbling-blocks, and goes beſide them.
4. God watches over ſuch, and men that have a guard are free from many dangers, into which others fall. If a Rulers word hath power, Gods Word hath more.
Ʋſe. It ſhews a reaſon why ſome eſcape thoſe ſins and dangers, that lay hold on other men, and themſelves had formerly incurred; becauſe they have got more diſcretion and true wiſdome. They were once in much danger, now they are more free.
4. Doct. Wiſdome is a great antidote and preſervative againſt evill. When thou goeſt, it ſhall lead thee; when thou ſleepeſt, it ſhall keep thee; and when thou walkeſt, it ſhall talk with thee, ch. 6.32. Wiſdome may keep thee from the ſtrange woman, chap. 7.5.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe wiſdome ſhews the right end we ſhould aim at, the right means to attain that end, and the fitteſt time to uſe thoſe means. And all theſe help to preſerve us from ſin, judgement, evill practiſes; from dangers, corporal, ſpiritual, and from hell it ſelf.
2. It teaches a man how to make uſe of all times; of time paſt, elſe you loſe your life; of time preſent, elſe ye live ill; of time to come, elſe ye lie open to all dangers. Whoſo keepeth the commandement, ſhal feel no evill thing; and a wiſe mans heart diſcerneth both time and judgement. Becauſe, to every purpoſe there is time and judgement; therefore the miſery of man is great upon him, Eccl. 8.5, 6.
Ʋſe. Make uſe of this wiſdome in carefull watchfulneſſe for your owne preſervation. Ye are encompaſſed with a thouſand dangers. Ye are naturally careleſſe, watchfulneſſe will keep ye out of them. Thinking often of perill, is the way to prevent perill. Other virtues are armed ſouldiers in the field, ready to fight for the ſouls ſafety. Wiſdome is the Watchman or Sentinel of the ſoul, to foretell danger. Salazar. Where wiſdome enters not into the heart, there are no ſaving thoughts, nor counſels, whereby men may be ſafe; for the inconſtancy of mans mind is wonderful, and the blindneſſe and frailty of it great. Men think more frequently of vain and pernicious things, then of honeſt and godly, unleſſe wiſdome be preſent, which may ſupply hearty and heavenly thoughts, which may ſhut up the entrance againſt our enemy; as follows in the next verſ. To deliver thee from the way of the evill man.
5. Doct. Preſervation from ſinfull wayes is a great benefit and bleſſing. So it is promiſed here as a choyce mercy. I withheld thee from ſinning againſt me, therefore ſuffered I not thee to touch her, Gen. 20.6. It was a great mercy of God to keep Joſeph from adultery, Gen. 39.10. David found not ſo much favour from God, 2 Sam. 11. Tibi deputo peccata, quae non feci. To thee (O Lord) I impute it, that I have not committed ſuch and ſuch ſins. Aug.
Reaſon 1. In regard of good mens account, who ſet a great price upon it, and pray earneſtly for it. So doth David, Set a watch (O Lord) before my mouth, keep the dore of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evill thing, to practiſe wicked works with men that work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties, Pſ. 140.4.
2. In regard of evils prevented, as Gods frowns, pangs of conſcience, diſeaſes, troubles, hell.
3. In regard of the coſt of recovery. It coſt Chriſt his heart blood to recover Gods favour to ſinners. It will coſt us many prayers and tears, as it did David, Pſal. 51.
4. In regard of the ſcandall of our ſins, whereby others may be drawn to hell, and which all our following good works will not wipe off.
Ʋſe. Let us bleſſe God, if we ſee others fall into groſſe ſins, and our ſelves kept from them, as we would do if all the houſes about us were infected, and ours kept free. Rahab eſcaped when Jericho was deſtroyed. An antidote is better then a cure. It ſaves much pain both of diſeaſe and healing. Men muſt be made more ſick ere they be healed. It is no ſmall matter of little importance that is here promiſed, but ſafety and reſt, which all the world cannot give us, though it ſtood armed round about us to defend us. Then give God great praiſe for it.
6. Doct. There is need of underſtanding and care to keep us from evill. I ſaid, I will take heed to my wayes, Pſal. 39.1. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not ſin againſt thee, Pſal. 119.11.
Reaſon 1. There is need of much underſtanding. Elſe we may think, that we do very well, when we do very ill. I verily thought (ſaith Paul) with my ſelf, that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jeſus of Nazareth, Act. 26.9.
2. There is need of great care, elſe knowledge is in vain. Knowing men will ſin negligently, or wilfully, if care be wanting.
Ʋſe. Provide theſe two wings ſtill, and care to flee from evill. A watch-man muſt both wake and watch. So muſt we ſpiritually, if we will ſcape ſin.