Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 2 · Verse 18
Verſ. 18. For her houſe enclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
The Wiſe-man proceeds to ſhew the greatneſſe of the mercy of preſervation from evill women by the greatneſſe of the danger, from which men are kept thereby. That is, from death it ſelf, which is moſt terrible in the thoughts of wanton perſons, and which, if often thought of, would keep them from wanton courſes. This danger is ſet out,
1. In the kinde of it, in this verſ. Death. omnium terribilium terribiliſſimum: The moſt terrible of all terrible things.
2. By the irrecoverableneſſe or hardneſſe to return, v. 19.
For the firſt. That the young man might ſee Solomon's counſel was not in vain, he ſets down the great miſchief that befalls ſuch as follow the Harlots wayes, and enter into her houſe. And how great evils he ſhall eſcape that comes not there; is ſet out by the diſorders of her houſe, and deadly wayes of them that live there.
For the words.
For. This is no reaſon of the laſt verſ. why ſhe wrongs her Husband, and ſins againſt God. She did not do it that ſhe might periſh her ſelf, and undoe others, but that ſhe might ſatisfie her owne luſt and covetouſneſſe. But thoſe words depend upon the beginning of v. 16. to ſhew the young man what a great mercy of God it was to keep him from the ſtrumpets acquaintance, and by conſequence from utter deſtruction. The Genevah tranſlation reads ſurely. As the ſame particle foreign is tranſlated, Surely in vain the net is ſpread, &c. ch. 1.17. And then it is an abſolute ſentence; as if he had ſaid, Make account of nothing elſe, but utter ruine, if once thou enter into her houſe, and joyn in her wayes. Bain reads, ſeeing. And ſo ties it to the following v. as giving a reaſon why few return; to wit, becauſe her houſe leads to death; as if he had ſaid to the young man, If thou wilt not hearken to me, but wilt enter into the Harlots houſe, thou wilt finde death there, and a great difficulty of returning.
Her houſe. The filthy manners, and wicked converſation uſed in her houſe. For the word, ſee on ch. 1.13. Some underſtand it of the ſtrumpet her ſelf, which leaving her husbands poor houſe, lives with ſome adulterer in a ſtately houſe, or hires one to entertain her lovers, and thinks to live gallantly there; but leaving her Husbands houſe, haſtens to the grave, the houſe of darkneſſe; and forſaking the covenant of her God, goes to eternall darkneſſe. But it is rather a caution to the young man to take heed of coming into her houſe, becauſe he ſhall find nothing there but death and deſtruction.
Enclineth, Heb. boweth downward. Not onelyonly tends that way, but with a deſcent and humiliation, and laying low. There is in her houſe a road-way to death and hell, and that downward, as men go down an hill apace, not ſtaying till they come to the bottome.
Ʋnto death. It brings ſpeedy death unto men, both of ſoul and body.
And her paths. See on v. 9.
Ʋnto the dead. It comes from a word that ſignifies to heal, or cure, by an Antiphraſis, becauſe the dead are paſt skill and cure of the Phyſician. So a mountain, mons à movendo, becauſe it moves not. And a Wood, lucus à lucendo, becauſe it wants light. Wantonneſſe takes men away from among the living, and brings them to the dead in body and ſoul, which have dyed before them, either by a naturall death, or by ſuch like wanton courſes as theſe men take. Death and the dead here muſt include both ſpirituall and temporall death, the grave, and hell. For it ſeems not a ſufficient reaſon to keep men from adultery, and from Harlots houſes, that they muſt die, for this is common to all men. A man may ſay, as mockers do, Let us commit adultery without any fear, for nothing ſhall befall us which doth not befall the chaſteſt men. They muſt die as well as we. It muſt needs therefore include hell alſo, unleſſe we ſhould interpret it of a violent or early death, which often befalls adulterers, and may ſcare others more then hell. For the one they ſee; the other, they beleeve not. Many murders attend on adultery, and ruine of whole families. Others tranſlate it, unto the giants. As the word is uſed, Deut. 2.11. which alſo were accounted giants. And then it comes from foreign, to heal, becauſe they are ſtrong and ſtout, and need no Phyſician; or foreign to be faint or weak, becauſe the very ſight of them makes others faint as if they had the pangs of death upon them. And by theſe giants ſome mean the devils, the tormentors of adulterers in hell; others underſtand men of great might, and great rebels againſt God, ſuch as thoſe in the old world, who abuſed their ſtrength to wickedneſſe and wantonneſſe, whoſe bodies are now in the grave, and ſouls in the deepeſt place of hell. To both which places adulterers muſt deſcend, to keep ſuch wicked wretches company in eternall miſery, whom in their life they have imitated in ſinfull courſes.
The ſumme is: That all the courſes that are uſed in the houſe of the adulterers tend to death both of body and ſoul; that ſo the young man, if he love the ſafety of his own ſoul and body, ſhould take heed of coming there.
Figures. Her houſe. The ſins comitted in her houſe. The ſubject for the adjunct. Her paths. A Metaphor from Travellers, often uſed in this Book.
Note 1. The hurt gotten in her houſe. Death.
2. The bad company it brings men to. Dead, and damned men, worſe then to bring men among Lazars in the Hoſpitall.
In the former obſerve,
1. The word of coherence, For.
2. The cauſe, her houſe.
3. The effect, inclineth.
4. The object, unto death.
In the latter note,
1. The way, And her paths.
2. The end, unto the dead.
1. Doct. Much hurt is gotten by converſing with lewd women. If Samſon were alive, he would tell you how by Dalilah's acquaintance he loft his ſtrength, liberty, ſight, liſe, beſides the danger of his ſoul. Solomon would inform you, how he fell from God to Idolatry by ſuch company, and how thereby his poſterity loſt the greateſt part of their Kingdome.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe nothing can be expected from creatures but what their nature yeelds. Fire will burn, Seas drown, Ravenous birds feed on carkaſſes, Wilde beaſts devour them. Evil women are naught. Evil trees bring forth bad fruit, not good, Mat. 12.33, 35. All the houſhold of the adulterers, and all her wayes, tend to death temporall and eternall, as in the text.
2. All men and women ſpeak according to their diſpoſition and employment.
Navita de ventis, de tauris narrat arator,
Enumerat miles vulnera, paſtor eves.
Of Winds the Sea-man, of his Bulls
The Plow-man ſpeaks, his Wounds
The Souldier reckons, of his Sheep
The Shepherd talk propounds.
A covetous man ſpeaks of bargains, a voluptuous man of games, a proud man of titles, an angry man of injuries, a ſtrumpet of wantonneſſe. Evil communication corrupts good manners, 1 Cor. 15.33.
Ʋſe. Letus obſerve the carriage of women, and if we evidently ſee wantonneſſe in their words and deeds, ſet a croſſe upon their houſes, with Lord have mercy upon them, as over houſes infected. Cum foeminâ ſemper eſſe, & non cognoſcere foeminam plus eſt, quam mortuum ſuſcitare. Bern. in Cant. Serm. 65. To be alwayes with a woman, and not to know a woman, is more then to raiſe up a dead man. Touch not pitch, leſt ye be defiled. Ye have fire enough in your owne natures, ſeek not fuell abroad. The young man when he grows acquainted with ſtrumpets, hopes to ſpend his dayes merrily in fine houſes, and is ſuddenly carried to death and hell. He looked for a ſtorehouſe of pleaſure, fine gardens, &c. and behold deſolation. The Heathen man could ſay, Nolo tanti poenitentiam emere: I will not buy repentance ſo deer. And the Proverb is, Caveat emptor, Let the buyer beware. It ſerves then to admoniſh us to take heed of haunting the company of Harlots, leſt we defile our ſelves, and conſent to their filthineſſe. We would not willingly come neer a rotten and ruinous houſe, leſt it ſhould fall, and bruiſe or kill our bodies. There is more reaſon to avoyd the company of Harlots, whoſe ſociety may not onelyonly break our bones, but eternally damn our ſouls.
2. Doct. Many miſeries attend upon adultery. It coſt the Iſraelites and the Benjamites deer, the loſſe of many thouſand lives, and almoſt the deſtruction of an whole Tribe, Judg. 19. & 20. & 21. It coſt David deer, 2 Sam. 12. The loſſe of his childe, the abuſe of his wives, a laſting ſword on his houſe, beſides the rape of Tamar, and rebellion of Abſolon and Adonijah, with the murder of Amnon.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe it was death by Gods Law, and ſo it is now by ours. Loſe life and loſe all comfort.
2. It is infamous all the world over. No modeſt perſons care for joyning with adul torous families.
3. It breeds many quarrels between the Husband and the Adulterers, Wives, and Strumpets, Adulterers one among another, and Strumpets alſo.
4. It brings many murders. The adulterers will hunt for the pretious life, chap. 6.26. The Husband enraged will kill the Adulterer, ch. 6.34, 35.
5. It brings baſtards, which is a diſgrace to poſterity.
6. It procures diſinheriting of Children, when men ſuſpect their Wives want of chaſtity.
7. It breeds diſeaſes in the body, and ſhamefull ones too, as characters of that wickedneſſe.
8. It brings poverty on the ſtate, by Gods curſe, or the Whores covetouſneſſe. For by means of a whoriſh woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread, ch. 6.26.
Ʋſe. Think of the many miſchiefs that attend upon adultery, when thou art tempted to it. A needfull theam, for we naturally look not at ſin, as it is in it ſelf, but as it is to us, not in its odious and filthy nature (as we ſhould doe, though no danger followed it) but in its hurtfull effects, which is to fear the ſmoak more then the fire. Yet ſo to look at it, may be profitable to keep us from the fin; if not, for hatred of it, yet for fear of the enſuing miſchiefs. Think with thy ſelf, there is great danger and much wickedneſſe in adultery, elſe God, which is ſo mercifull, would never puniſh it with a double death, temporall and eternall. Remember that all converſing with ſtrumpets tend to deſtruction. And though ſhe ſpeak flattering words, yet ſhamefull death follows adultery, as well as theft or murder. In Adrian's Gymnaſium, or place of exerciſe, Venus is ſet forth as the ancienteſt of the Deſtinies, not ſpinning the thread of life, but cutting it aſunder.
Quid Venus eſt quaeris? eſt antiquiſſima Parca,
Filáque mox reſecans, at ne que nens eadem.
Thou askeſt what Venus is? She is
The ancient'ſt Deſtiny,
That quickly cuts the threads of liſe,
But knits them not truly.
Plutarch writes of a Temple inſcribed, Saerum Veneri homicidae: Sacred to Venus the Man-ſtayer, Chryſoſtome on Pſal. 50. ſaith What is an whorrſh woman, but a ſepulchre? and the common burying place of mankinde is her houſe. And in Rome, becauſe old Harlots were not permitted openly, they harboured in caves of earth, called Fornices, from whence the word Fornication cometh; and in this regard, it is fitly ſald in the text, Her houſe enclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. To the grave, an hole in the earth, where the dead are laid. A dark place fit for ſin, and fit for puniſhment. Terence calls Harlots Cruces, becauſe they crucifie men. Venery is deaths quickeſt Harbinger. Pope John 12. being taken with an Adultereſſe, was ſtabbed to death by her Husband. A…xander the Great, and Otho the third loſt their lives by their luſts. But how many (alas) by this means have loſt their ſouls? fleſhly luſts do in an eſpeciall manner fight againſt the ſoul, 1 Pet. 2.11. And nothing hath enriched hell ſo much (ſaith one) as beautifull faces. Let the young man think on theſe great examples, and tremble.
3. Doct. Wantonneſſe ſhortens mens dayer. Give not thy ſtrength unto women, nor thy wayes to that which deſtroyeth Kings, Prov. 31.3. The adultereſſe will hunt for the precious life, ch. 6.26.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe it waſts a mans ſtrength, and when ſtrength fails, life will fail. If fuell decay, the fire goes out. And thou mourn at the laſt, when thy fleſh and thy body are conſumed, ch. 5.11.
2. It breeds noyſome diſeaſes, which oft-times prove incurable.
3. It hath gluttony and drunkenneſſe for companions, which alone can ſhorten mens lives, much more accompanyed with wantonneſſe. Plures gulà, quàm gladio periiſſe certum eſt. It is an undoubted truth, that more periſh by the throat then by the ſword.
4. Strumpets kill men in private, either for their money which they have about them, or for want of money, when all is ſpent, leſt they ſhould be a burden to them on whom they have ſpent it.
Ʋſe. Let us quench luſt with this water. If our life be gone, all is gone. Men are at great coſt to preſerve life by phyſick. They forbear many pleaſing meats, and keep a diet. But no phyſick nor diet will keep an adulterer long alive. Strumpets will waſte more then thoſe helps can do good. If they do not, yet may the Magiſtrates ſword, or Gods judgement do it. The King of Babylon cauſed Ahab and Zedekiah to be roſted in the fire, becauſe they have committed villany in Iſrael, and have committed adultery with their neighbors wives, Jer. 29.22, 23.
4. Doct. He that will ſcape an Harlot muſt keep out of her houſe. Had not Joſeph been in Potiphar's houſe, he had not been in his Miſtriſſes danger, Gen. 39. Joſeph ſcapes by getting him out of the houſe. The young man (Prov. 7.) is undone by going into the Harlots houſe.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe her houſe is full of baits, ch. 7.16, 17. Fine fare, and ornaments.
2. It hath locks, and keyes, and private opportunities of ſinning.
Ʋſe. If ye know ſuch houſes, keep out of them. Strumpets like Cocks, crow on their owne dunghills. They count all their owne that comes within their dores. Keep out then, and be ſafe.
5. Doct. The houſe of uncleanneſſe is the gatehouſe of death. Come not neer the dore of her houſe, leſt thou give thy yeers unto the cruel. ch. 5.8, 9. Her houſe goes down to the chambers of death, ch 7.27.
Reaſon 1. In reſpect of ſpirituall death. For what life of grace can be expected in a ſtews?
2. In reſpect of corporal death, and that many wayes, as ye heard before. The Strumpets houſe is the Devils armory, wherein are weapons of all ſorts to deſtroy men, for the devill was a murderer from the beginning, Joh. 8.44.
3. In reſpect of eternal death both of ſoul and body. Her houſe is like Sodom. If Lot go not out of it, he muſt be burned with fire and brimſtone. His condition that converſes there, grows ſtill worſe and worſe. His ſoul is dead, his body will be ſoon dead, and then no ſpace for repentance, and ſo he dies eternally.
Ʋſe. Pity thoſe gallants that pity not themſelves, that go from their own houſes into naughty houſes, and from thence to the grave and hell. Out of a leſſer and temporary fire into a greater, and eternall.
6. Doct. Adulterers go downward. Her feet go down to death, ch. 5.5. And queſtionleſſe her adulterer goes down with her. Let not thine heart decline to her wayes, for ſhe hath caſt down many wounded, ch. 7.25, 26.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe they go downward in their ſtrength, as was ſhewed before.
2. In their eſtates. For much is ſpent upon ſtrumpets, to the impoveriſhing of themſelves and theirs.
Ʋſe. Let ſuch repent quickly, leſt they go ſo low that they never get up again.