Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 2 · Verse 13
Verſ. 13. Who leave the paths of uprightneſſe, to walk in the wayes of darkneſſe.
The Wiſeman now comes to the ſecond note of wicked men, whoſe wayes are to be avoyded, and that is wickedneſſe of life. Neither doth he ſet them out by any one kinde of ſin, but by ſuch generall ſymptomes as are common to all wicked men, that all wicked wayes may be diſcovered. He ſhews his great care of our ſalvation, in continuing ſtill to ſhew from what perſons and from what dangers God doth deliver the children of wiſdome.
For the words.
Who leave. He changes the number, and puts it into the plurall, to ſhew that there are many ſuch wanderers in the world. The word imports an utter forſaking of good wayes, and having nothing to do with them, as a Whore that forſakes her Husbands houſe, and ſets up a Stewes, v. 17.
The paths. See on ch. 1.19.
Of uprightneſſe. The known and beaten wayes of equity agreeable to divine Laws, and the Law of Nature. For the word, ſee on v. 7.
To walk. See on ch. 1.11. on the word Come.
In the wayes. See on ch. 1.15.
Of darkneſſe. Wayes of uprightneſſe are well oppoſed to wayes of darkneſſe, becauſe they are in the light, and wayes of darkneſſe are crooked. By wayes of darkneſſe here are meant wayes diſagreeable to Gods Laws and Nature, whether errors of judgement, or wickedneſſe of life, as appears by what was ſaid before of the contrary wayes of uprigheneſſe. The word foreign, ſignifies,
1. Darkneſſe of the night oppoſed to the light of the day. When it was dark, Joſh. 2.5.
2. The grave, the dark habitation of dead bodies. A land of darkneſſe, Job 10.21.
3. A ſecret place, where men cannot ſee what is done, no more then in the night. In a dark place of the earth, Iſa. 45.19.
4. Afflictions, which make men ſad, and fearfull, and ignorant, how to get out, as in a dark night. He beleeveth not that he ſhall come out of darkneſſe, and he is waited for of the ſword, Job 15.22.
5. Ignorance and ſin, which is the night and darkneſſe of the ſoul. The people that walked in darkneſſe, Iſa. 9.2. So it it is taken here, as appears by the oppoſition to the paths of righteouſneſſe.
Figures. A Metaphor from Travellers in the whole verſ. who leave the high-wayes that are light ſome and right, to go through dark and crooked wayes. Now becauſe many men are ſo cunning to hide their fins with fair colours, therefore Solomon gives further marks by which theſe Impoſters may be known, that men may avoyd them.
Note
1. The high-way forſaken.
2. The by-way entertained.
In the former note,
1. The act, Who leave.
2. The object, the paths.
3. The adjunct, of uprightneſſe.
In the latter obſerve,
1. The act, To walk.
2. The object, in the wayes.
3. The adjunct, of darkneſſe.
1. Doct. Many are out of the right way. Some have not the knowledge of God, 1 Cor. 15.34. The Apoſtle ſaith more elſewhere. They are all gone out of the way, Rom. 3.12.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe naturall ignorance and corruption miſleads many. Fire will burn if it meet with fuel.
2. Worldly pleaſures miſlead them. Baits take the fiſh, though there be hooks to catch them.
3. Profits will carry men away. Piracy thrives at a cheaper rate then Merchandiſe. Pleaſures laſt but our lives. Profits laſt to childrens children.
4. The Devils ſleights miſlead thouſands. Swords may be kept off with bucklers, bullets with mud-walls. No keeping off Miners. Satan works all under ground. Countermining is uncertain, unleſſe we could ſee where Satan digs.
Ʋſe. Take heed whom ye follow. Major pars meliorem vineit: The greater part overcomes the better part. Moſt are bad, if ye look on Perſons, Families, Towns, Nations. Thou ſhalt not follow a multitude to do evil, Exod. 23.2.
2. Doct. Some are ſo quite out of the right way, that they have clean leſt it. Rehoboam forſook the Law of the Lord, and all Iſrael with him, 2 Chro. 12.1. Demas hath forſaken me, having loved this preſent world, 2 Tim. 4.10.
Reaſon 1. To begin where we ended in the reaſons of the laſt point. The Proverb is, He muſt needs go, whom the devill drives. Satan (like a skilfull Generall in the War) if he once ſcale the walls, plunders the City, layes ſiege to the Caſtle, gives not over, till he take it, that ſo he may command City and Countrey.
2. Becauſe God hath forſaken them, when they leave the wayes of righteouſneſſe. He was wont to chaſtiſe them, while they kept the way, becauſe they ſlipped ſometimes; but if they once go out of the way quite, then he will chaſtiſe them no more, but let them have a joviall journey to hell. So he ſaith by his Prophet, I will not puniſh your daughters when they commit whoredome, nor your ſpouſes, when they commit adultery; the people that doth not underſtand, ſhall fall, Hoſ. 4.14. Why ſhould ye be ſtricken any more? ye will revolt more and more, Iſa. 1.5. Nulla poena, maxima poena: No puniſhment is the greateſt puniſhment. Greg. Magn.
Ʋſe. Take heed of giving over the wayes of piety. It is likely thou wilt never return, God will forſake thee, and the Devil drive thee. If the ſheep go out of the fold, ten to one, he never returns. Wolves will devour him, or ditches drown him.
3. Doct. Gods wayes are right wayes, in which men may walk ſafely. I have led thee in the right paths, ch. 4.11. The opening of my lips ſhall be right things, ch. 8.6. Therefore Gods way is called the way, Rom. 3.12. And, the way of peace, Rom. 3.17. Intimating, that there is no other ſafe way, nay none worthy of the name of a way.
Reaſon. 1. There is no way leading to the right end but this, to Gods glory, and mans eternall ſalvation. Mens inventions lead to hell, not to heaven. All ſuch are lying wayes, Pſal. 119.163.
2. It brings joy and comfort, when other wayes bring ſorrow and trouble. The children of Iſrael ſaid unto the Lord, We have ſinned, Judg. 10.15. This confeſſion came from them when God had delivered them into the hands of their enemies, for their Idolatry, v. 6, 7. there.
3. Gods ſervants have prayed to be directed in it; and they know beſt of all the world, which is the beſt way. Teach me (O Lord) ſhe way of thy statutes, Pſal. 119.33.
Ʋſe. Let us keep in Gods way, elſe we loſe much labour, and in the end are diſappointed of our hope, which is a double vexation.
4. Doct. Many prefer bad wayes before good. They hated knowledge, and did not chooſe the fear of the Lord, ch. 1.29. Brethren, be ye followers of me; for many walk as the enemies of the croſſe of Christ, Phil. 3.17, 18.
Reaſon 1. It appears in particulars. Let us anatomize the world. Subſtract Heathen, Turks, Jews, Papiſts; and among Proteſtants, Atheiſts, Hereticks, Blaſphemers, Ignorant ones, Worldly profane ones, Hypocrited. All theſe prefer bad wayes before good. Tell me then what is leſt.
2. It appears by the ground of it. All are naturally fooliſh, none wiſe but thoſe few that are enlightened from heaven. Turn a company of fools to ſeek a way they know not, the moſt will take the worſt wayes, for they look at the breadth and pleaſure of the way, not at the end. They conſider not that broad is the way that leadeth to deſtruction, and many there be that go in it; but narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it, Mat. 7.13, 14.
3. Becauſe there are more bad wayes, then good, and it is hard to diſtinguiſh them.
4. Becauſe bad wayes are more pleaſing to our naturall corruption then good. As on the contrary, Gods wayes are irkſome to our corrupt nature, wherein a man muſt as Hierom ſpeaks, interficere in ſe radicem ſuam, and mortifie his own root in himſelf.
Ʋſe. Judge of your wayes ye ſhould walk in, not by your company, but by the goodneſſe of them. Keep not company with others in foul and ſinfull wayes. Men will not walk with their friends in the dirt, but in fair wayes.
5. Doct. Wicked men do continue obſtinate in evil doing. They walk in the counſel of the ungodly, and ſtand in the way of ſinners, and fit in the ſeat of the ſcornfull, Pſal. 1.1. So did Pharaoh till he was drowned in the ſea. I knew that thou art obſtinate, and thy neck is an iron ſinew, and thy brow braſſe, Iſa. 48.4. That cannot ceaſe from ſin, 2 Pet. 2.14. They wax worſe and worſe, 2 Tim. 3.13. So did Ahaz, 2 Chr. 28.22.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe they are naturall to them, and come out of internall, corrupt, and fleſhly principles, as folly is to a fool, which makes him conſtant in fooliſh actions. Though thou ſhouldſt bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a peſtil, yet will not his fooliſhneſſe depart from him, ch. 27.22.
2. Becauſe cuſtome, which is another nature, hardens him in it. As many men cannot ſleep without a pipe of Tobacco at their mouths, ſo wicked men take no reſt till they do miſchief, ch. 4.16. Yea, ſome care not for ſleep, but are ſo conſtant in their evil, that they fit up all night to game and drink. See the power of cuſtome. Can the Ethiopian change his skin? or the Leopard his ſpots? then may ye alſo do good that are accuſtomed to do evil, Jer. 13.23.
Ʋſe 1. To call upon us to beware of lying long in any known ſin. It will harden the heart, recover thy ſelf ſpeedily by repentance. Shall they fall, and not ariſe? ſhall he turn away, and not return? Jer. 8.4. Peccatum, quod per poenitentiam non deletur, ſuo pondere trahit aliud: Sin not repented of, draws on other ſin. Greg. Mag.
2. To teach us conſtancy in good duties. It is a ſhame that wicked men ſhould continue in ſinning, and we be inconſtant in well-doing. We know that their work is in vain, yea hurtfull, but ours profitable, 1 Cor. 15.58. Other creatures are conſtant in their wayes; Sun, Moon, Stars keep their courſe; Fiſhes ſwim in the water, Birds fly in the air, Fire burns, Wicked men ſin. Should we onelyonly be inconſtant in good wayes?
6. Doct. Wayes of ſin are wayes of darkneſſe. The fool walketh in darkneſſe, Eccl. 2.14. They are called, the unfruitfull works of darkneſſe, Eph. 5.11.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe men chooſe the night wherein to commit adultery, and to be drunk, 1 Theſſ. 5 7.
2. Becauſe ſinners fall into dangers before they be aware. In the day men can ſee ſtumbling-blocks, and avoyd them; in the night they cannot.
3. Becauſe they that walk in ſinfull wayes, erre and go out of the right way, for want of ſpirituall light to direct them. He that walketh in darkneſſe knoweth not whither he goeth, Joh. 12.35. We would be angry with them that ſhould lead us out of the right way, more angry if they lead us into a Wood, to be robbed by theeves. So ſin miſſeads us into woody, ſhady, perillous wayes.
4. Becauſe they lead men into eternall darkneſſe, into outer darkneſſe, where ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth, Matth. 8.12.
Ʋſe 1. Take heed of ſinfull wayes, they may ſeem good, but they are ſtark naught. Wicked men, Noctem babent in oculis. Seneca. They have night in their eyes. They are like Owls flying in the dark, whom all birds whoot at when they ſee them in the day. So ſhould we ſhew our diſlike of ungodly men in their ungodly ways. Men love not to walk abroad in the dark night, then they lie in bed and ſleep. Sinfull wayes are worſe then dark nights. Therefore ſet not a foot out of dore toward them, much leſſe walk in them, but bid them adieu for ever, that ye may be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light, Col. 1.12.