Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 2 · Verse 17
Verſ. 17. Which forſaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
We are now come to our ſecond note, Her falſhood to her Husband. Leſt any Iſraelite ſhould conceive that he did not offend, unleſſe he dealt with idolatrous Heathen women, now he expounds what he meant by a ſtrange woman. Another mans Wife, that dealt unfaithfully with her Husband.
For the words.
Which forſaketh. The word ſignifies forſaking or failing one that is committed to our charge, or to whom we are tyed by any bands to be helpfull. See on v. 13. upon the word Leave. She forſakes her Husband, either by taking other Lovers to her privily, or ſeeking them abroad, or by leaving her Husbands houſe, and living from him, that ſhe may more freely follow her luſts. Pot…har's Wife, had Joſeph hearkened to her, had forſaken her Husband in affection, though ſhe had ſtayed in the houſe with him. The Harlot (ch. 7) kept in her Husbands houſe, though ſhe took advantage of his abſence (v. 19.) there. Few ſo impudent, as quite to leave their Husbands, for then all the world would take notice of their lewdneſſe: but many deal falſly with them underhand.
foreign, The guide. It comes from a word that ſignifieth to teach, for teachers are guides. A guide of the blinde, and a teacher of babes go together, Rom. 2.19, 20. And women are required to learn of their Husbands at home, who are their guides, 1 Cor. 14.35. The guide here is the Husband. The head of the woman is the man, 1 Cor. 11.3. Now we know, the head guides the body. Some underſtand it of God, who is called the guide of Judah's youth, Jer. 3.4. And ſo they draw the words to Idolatry, which rather ſet out adultery, as appears by the words before and after the text. And this aggravates the ſin of the adultereſſe, ſhewing that ſhe is not only unfaithfull, but alſo diſobedient, rebellious, and unthankfull, in diſobeying her ruler and guide.
Of her youth. The word contains infancy, childhood, youth, all our time till 25 yeers of age. But it is put for the time when they are firſt marriageable, and married young. And the Husband is called the guide of her youth, becauſe ſhe chooſeth him to guide her, and promiſeth to be guided by him, which guidance ſhe hath moſt need of in her younger yeers, and he is ſet over by Gods appointment, as a guide, and therefore ſhe ought to be guided by him. Here is meant the firſt Husband, to whom ſhe is firſt married, and firſt love uſeth to be ſtrongeſt. And ſhe that will be falſe to him to whom ſhe firſt gave her heart, will make no ſcruple to be ſo to any ſucceeding Husband. So a Husband loves the firſt Wife beſt commonly, being taught to rejoyce with the wife of his youth, ch. 5.18. Affection is hotteſt in youth. Virgins uſe to be more ready to preſerve faithful love, as Virgin-wax is pureſt. Yet this unchaſte young woman leaving her guide and Husband, to whom ſhe was married being a young Virgin, follows the adulterer. Magnum impudicitiae, & impudentiae argumentum. Bain. A great argument of impudicity and impudence.
And forgetteth. Negligently, as the word imports.
foreign, The covenant. It comes from a word which ſignifies to chooſe. It is an agreement between two chooſing one another, and tying themſelves by covenant one to another upon ſuch tearms as both parties like.
Of her God. Whom ſhe profeſſeth to worſhip. For Solomon writes to the people of God. For the word, ſee on v. 5. It is called the covenant of God,
1. Becauſe God inſtituted marriage.
2. Becauſe God is a witneſſe of the mutuall promiſe of fidelity which is made in marriage, and takes eſpecial notice of the breach of it, to puniſh it, although the husband know it not. The Lord hath been witneſſe between thee, and the wife of thy youth, againſt whom thou haſt dealt treacherouſly; yet is ſhe thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant, Mal. 2.14. The ſin of the adultereſſe is aggravated by every word. She not onelyonly fails in her duty to her Husband, but forſakes him, and deals falſly with him. She forſakes her guide that took care of her, and that in her youth, when ſhe had moſt need of a guide. She quite forgets not onelyonly a promiſe but a covenans, and that ſolemnly made, not onelyonly in the ſight of men, but of the great God, the inſtituter of marriage, witneſſe of the contract, whereby ſhe bound her ſelf to cleave to him onelyonly ſo long as they lived together, the judge and the avenger of the breach. But now without regard of the love and benefit paſt, or of the ſtrong binding covenant of God ſhe breaks thus ſhamefully out, not onelyonly to the endangering of her own ſoul, but of them alſo that are allured by her. The young man alſo is here by ſtrong reaſons moved to take heed of her; for though ſhe might flatter him, and profeſſe much love to him, yet queſtionleſſe ſhe that had been falſe to her Husband, her firſt Love, and durſt violate the covenant of her God, would never be true to him, but make uſe of him, till ſhe had waſted his body and eſtate, and then leave him.
Figures none.
Note
1. Her ſin.
2. The aggravation of it.
In the former note,
1. The act, Which forſaketh,
2. The object, the guide.
3. The adjunct, of her youth.
In the latter obſerve,
1. The act, And forgetteth.
2. The object, the covenant.
3. The adjunct, of her God.
1. Doct. There is no truſting of them that will fail God and their neer friends. If Abſolon abuſe his God, and in duty fail his Father, 2 Sam. 15. the people that follow him periſh. So in Adonijah. What got Joab and Abiathar by following him? 1 King. 2. Naboth is condemned by two falſe witneſſes that dealt unjuſtly with God and him, 1 King. 21.10.
Reaſon. Becauſe they that have broken the greater bands, will not ſtick at the leſſer. If they fail God, they will fail men for their advantage. If they ſail friends, much more ſtrangers or enemies. Qui ſemel verecundiae limites tranſilierit, gravitèr fit impudens: He that once is gone beyond the bound of ſhamefaſtneſſe, becomes very impudent. Tully. If Samſon can carry away the gates of Gaza, he will make no bones of the beam and web, Judg. 16.
Ʋſe 1. It reproves ſuch as keep company with thoſe who are notoriouſly falſe to God, and their parents, or neereſt friends.
2. Thoſe who imploy ſuch in buſineſſes of weight. What good can they expect from them? They will be left in the lurch.
3. Thoſe that marry ſuch perſons. If they knew their falſhood to God or their Parents before, it is in vain to complain afterwards of their falſhood to them. Who will pity them?
2. Doct. No bridle will keep in wantonneſſe where it reigns. Neither fear of God, nor loving Husband in this verſ. None will ſerve Tamar but Judah her Father in Law, Gen. 38. None will ſerve Amnon but his Siſter Tamar, 1 Sam. 13. None will ſerve Her…d but Hered…as his Brother Philip's Wife, Matth. 14. Neither Fathers counſell, chap. 5. nor Mothers, chap. 31. will keep Solomon from ſtrange women, 1 King 11. The inceſtuous perſon muſt have his Fathers Wife, 1 Cor. 5.
Reaſon. Becauſe where luſt reigns, it over-rules all civill and naturall bands, as a great river overflowing hides all the neighbouring ſtreams. Such to ſatisfie their luſts, regard not friends, kindred, parents, children. See Pope Alexander's ſtrumpets Epitaph.
Conditur hoc tumulo Lucretia nomine, ſed re
Thais, Alexandri filia, ſponſa, nurus.
Within this Tombe Luerece by name,
Thais indeed, here lies,
Pope Alexander's Daughter, Wife,
Daughter in law likewiſe.
Ʋſe. We need not marvell then to hear of Adulteries, Inceſts, Sodomies in the world, where luſt is let looſe it breaks all bands.
3. Doct. Many arguments may be given againſt Adultery. Two out of the text. Unkindneſſe to her Husband, and falſhood towwards God, which ſhall be handled ſeverally. Add the breach of the Marriage-band, which ſhould be a ſtrong band to chaſtity. She ſhould go to no mans bed, but to her Husbands. But Adulterium, quaſi ad alterum, or ad alterius torum. Beeman. To another man, or to another mans bed. The wanton never wants one, though her Husband be never ſo near. Add alſo the defiling of her owne body, which is a great infamy; the diſeaſes that follow that ſin, the wants when all is conſumed upon luſt, death by partners rage, or others violence; the diſgracefull name of Baſtards ſtamped upon children, and Hell it ſelf in the verſes following.
Ʋſe. Let theſe things ſcare men and women from Adultery, and bring ſuch to hearty ſorrow and repentance in time, who are guilty of it, leſt they eternally deſtroy themſelves and others. Many think adultery to be but a ſmall ſin, but they forget theſe many arguments againſt it. Let us remember the dangers, and take heed.
4. Doct. Adultery in a Wife is a great wrong to the Husband. Every one neighed after his neighbours wife, Jer. 58. The wrong done to God by Idolatry is ſet out by this ſimilitude. Thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, Hoſ. 9.1.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe it wrongs him in his greateſt propriety, dearer to him then friends or children.
2. It breaks the greateſt obligation, for he is her guide. If he leave her, ſhe is in perpetual danger. Her lovers having ſatisfied their luſt will leave her.
3. It may put the Husband to labour to provide for other mens children, and is not that a great injury?
Ʋſe. Let women when they are tempted to wantonneſſe, think what wrong they do their Husbands. So great, that though they may repent, and be pardoned by God, yet they can never make their Husbands amends. This is a ſoveraign antidote againſt Adultery.
5. Doct. The Wiſe ſhould be guided by her Husband. Wives ſubmit your ſelves unto your own Husbands, Eph. 5.22. See the ſame words, Col. 3.18.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe the Husband is the guide, as in the text.
2. He is the head, and the body muſt not rule. It were a monſter in nature to ſee the body placed above the head
Ʋſe. Let Wives be content to be ſubject. A man that being ſober overturns the ſhip, and drowns the paſſengers, is not fit to guide it when he is drunk. If innocent Eve miſſed Adam, Wives now in the ſtate of corruption are not fit to guide, but muſt be guided.
6. Doct. An adultereſſe ſins againſt God, as well as againſt her Husband. She breaks the ſeventh Commandement, where God forbids it, and ſeparates thoſe whom God the author of marriage hath joyned together, and joyn them together, and joyns them together whom God hath ſeparated.
Ʋſe. Let Wives think of this, and of Joſeph's carriage to prevent adultery; ſaying, How can I do this great wickedneſſe, and ſin againſt God? Gen. 39.9. And if they be guilty, let them ſay with David, Againſt thee have I ſinned, Pſal. 51.4. And repent, that they may be ſaved.