Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 2 · Verse 6
Verſ. 6. For the Lord giveth wiſdome; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and underſtanding.
Here are the two firſt reaſons, why they which conſcionably uſe all the former means, ſhall attain true knowledge. And they are taken from Gods liberality in giving wiſdome inwardly to make the ſoul ſee the truth, and his outward inſtruction of things fit to be diſcerned by that wiſdome wrought in the ſoul within. God gives fight and light. Both are neceſſary, and both from God.
For the words.
For. See on ch. 1.9. Some the theſe words to the third v. as giving a reaſon why we ſhould pray to God for knowledge; becauſe he is ready to give it. Others knit it to the ſourth v. thus, by way of qualification. Though thou muſt uſe all diligence to get heavenly wiſdome, yet know, that all thy wit and labour cannot reach it, but God muſt give it to thee, or thou wilt never have it. But it is beſt to knit it to the verſ. immediately before. If any man ſhould ſay, I deſpair of getting heavenly wiſdome. My pains cannot reach it, and God will not hear my prayers. Bolomon anſwers in the text, Deſpair not, for God is as ready to give, as thou art to a…k it.
The Lord. See on chap. 1.7. God gives true wiſdome incluſively. He can do it. And excluſively. None elſe can do it.
Giveth, Heb. will give; to wit, if thou pray and labour for it, as before. For the word ſee on ch. 1.4.
Wiſdome. See on ch. 1.2.
Out of his mouth. The word foreign, or foreign, ſignifies,
1. That member which we call the mouth of the body. They have months, but they ſpeak not, Pſal. 115.5.
2. The manifeſtation of ones mind by ſpeech, or words which come out of the mouth. According to thy Word ſhall all my people be ruled, Gen. 41.40. The word is in Hebr. thy mouth.
3. The wound top of a well, or garment, or veſſel, which is like a mouth. A great ſtone was upon the wells mouth, Gen. 29.2.
4. The edge of a ſword which devours or deſtroys men, as the mouth doth meat. And they ſlew Hamor, and Shethem his Son with the edge (Heb the mouth) of the ſword, Gen. 34.26.
5. The end or corner of a place. The houſe of Bael was full from one end to another, Heb. mouth, 2 King. 10.21.
6. A part or portion, as the mouth is a part of the face. By giving him a double portion, Heb. mouth, Deut. 21.17.
Here it is taken in the ſecond ſenſe for the manifeſtation of truth by God in his Word, or by his Miniſters.
Cometh. It is not in the Originall, but added by the Interpreters fitly to make up the ſenſe, and therefore it is printed in ſmaller letters.
Knowledge. See on ch. 1.4.
And underſtanding. See on verſ. 2. of this chap. Some take wiſdome, knowledge, and underſtanding, to be all one here. As if the wiſe man bore ſo great affection to it, that he could not name it often enough, nor finde words ſufficient to expreſſe the worth of it. Baine diſtinguiſheth them thus, By Wiſdome is meant the knowledge of heavenly things; by knowledge, things needfull to be known here in the world; by Underſtanding, diſcretion to carry our ſelves well among men. But it is moſt likely, that they are Synonymas, and intend no more but knowledge of what we ſhould beleeve, and how we ſhould carry our ſelves religiouſly, and ſo it anſwers well to the former verſ. and gives a good reaſon to confirm it. Thou ſhalt underſtand, becauſe God gives wiſdome, &c.
Figures. Gods mouth is put here for his revealing truth.
1. By a Metaphor, attributing a mouth to God, and ſpeaking of him after the manner of men, although he have no body, nor bodily members.
2. By a Metonymie of the cauſe for the effect. Hereby is meant Gods revealing his will, as men do by their mouths make their minde known, yet in another way more befitting Gods ſpirituall eſſence, by a ſound from Heaven, or by Angels, or by his Servants, Prophets, and Miniſters; or inwardly, by his Spirit.
Note
1. Gods liberality.
2. His inſtruction.
In the former obſerve,
1. The word of coherence, For.
2. The perſon ſpoken of, the Lord.
3. The act, giveth.
4. The object, wiſdome.
In the latter note,
1. The two gifts, knowledge and underſtanding.
2. The way of beſtowing by divine information, cometh out of his mouth.
1. God gives the ſoul eyes by illumination.
2. He gives light by revelation. We ſhall ſee the fruit of our labour in ſearching for heavenly wiſdome, for God will give it.
1. Doct. What we cannot do in ſearch of true wiſdome, God will ſupply. So he taught Moſes and Daniel what Aegyptian and Chaldean wiſdome could not teach them. So he taught David what his Teachers could not. So he confeſſes, I have more underſtanding then all my Teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation, Pſal. 119.99. So he taught Solomon more then any of the children of the Eaſt, or all the Wiſe men of Aegypt knew, 1 King. 4.30. So he would teach the Philippians, what they could not teach one another. If in any thing ye be otherwiſe minded, God ſhall reveal even this unto you, Phil. 3.15.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe of Gods mercy, He will not leave his ſervants in the ſuds. If he will have birds fly, he gives them wings. If he give an heart to ſeek for wiſdome, he ſupplyes by his Spirit where means fall ſhort.
2. Becauſe of Gods glory. He will perfect the work, that he may have the honour of the whole. Jeſus is the author and finiſher of our faith, Heb. 12.2. He will not loſe his glory for mens imperfections, but will ſupply what is wanting.
Ʋſe. This may encourage Gods people to labour for wiſdome. If aboy willing to learn had a Schoolmaſter, that would ſay to him, Study hard; when you ſtick, I will help you out. My head is better then yours. Would he not ſtudy? So do ye. God will ſupply what ye want.
Ʋſe 2. When ye ſtick at difficulties, pray to God to reſolve you. He will help you out of the ditch.
2. Doct. Wiſdome is a free gift: If a man ask wiſdome of God, it ſhall be given him, Jam. 1.5. I have given thee a wiſe and underſtanding heart, ſaith God to Solomon, 1 Ki. 3.12.
Reaſon 1. A parte antè, from our condition before. We have no ſpirituall wiſdome naturally, nor ſtrength that can get it, nor wealth that can purchaſe it. We are born fools, and dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, Eph. 2.1.
2. A parte poſt. We can give no requitall to God, who gives it. We cannot teach him wiſdome. Who hath known the minde of the Lord, or who hath been his counſellour, or who hath firſt given to him, and it ſhall be recompenſed unto him again? Rom. 11.34, 35. Neither can we with all our wiſdome, no not, when we are in heaven, add any thing to Gods happineſſe, who is perfection it ſelf. Poor Apprentices, when they get skill in their Trades, may help to make their Maſters rich. We cannot do ſo to God.
Ʋſe 1. To teach us to receive wiſdome being a free gift. There is none among us, which would not onelyonly think himſelf to be out of his wits, if he ſhould refuſe a thing, which he could not want, but alſo would judge himſelf moſt unthankfull, if he did not receive it with hearty thankſgiving, when it was freely offered him. We would hardly purchaſe heavenly wiſdome, if we will not receive it of free gift.
2. To teach us humility. If we get true wiſdome, let us not attribute it to our own ſtrength, nor crow over others. Fiſhermen got it, when Phariſees could not.
3. Doct. Wiſdome comes from the Lord alone. Hither the Apoſtle James ſends us to beg it. If any of you lack wiſdome, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, Jam. 1.5. Solomon prayes to God for it, and obtains it of God, 1 Kin. 3.9, 12. If (as a learned man ſaith) that all profitable learning in the world came out of Adam's mouth at firſt, as from a moſt wiſe teacher and fountain; how much better may the ſame be ſaid of the onelyonly wiſe God? Jude v. 25. who is wonderfull in counſell, and excellent in working, Iſa. 28.29.
Reaſon 1. The Law, the moſt compleat rule of life came from him. No Laws of Solon, or of the wiſeſt men come neer it. No man could find out ſuch.
2. The Goſpel is from him alone. As he gave the Law by Moſes, ſo the Goſpel by Christ, Joh. 1.17. Angels could not have found out a way to ſatisfie Gods juſtice, and ſave us.
3. All propheſies are from him alone. The Word of the Lord that came unto Hoſea, Hoſ. 1.1. The revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, which God gave unto him, Rev. 1.1. None can tell things to come, but God.
Ʋſe 1. Let us then not truſt to the rivers, but go to the fountain for waters of wiſdome. You may learn humane wiſdome from Plato and Ariſtotle, but divine wiſdome is not to be ſought in the books of Heathen writers, and Infidels, but in thoſe books which come out of Gods owne mouth. Solomon ſends us thither for it, from whence he had it himſelf. Origo fontium, & fluminum omnium mare eſt: virtutum, & ſcientiarum, Dominus Jeſus Chriſtus. Bern. in Cant. Serm. 13. The originall of all fountains and rivers is the Sea. The originall of all virtues and ſciences, is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Ad ſapientem pertinet conſiderare cauſam altiſſimam, per quam certiſſimè de aliis judicatur, & ſecundum quod omnia ordinari oportebit. Ariſtotle. It belongs to a wiſe man to conſider of the higheſt cauſe by which he may moſt certainly judge of others, and according to which all things muſt be ordered. Non Chaldaeorum inſtitutio, ſed divina gratia pueros intelligentes fecit. It was not the inſtruction of the Chaldeans, but Gods grace which made the young men wiſe. Theodor. in Dan. 1.17.
2. Take notice that our wiſdome is not from our ſelves, but from God. It is not in our power to get it. Be not then proud of thy wiſdome, as if God were a debtor to thee for uſing thy wiſdome to his glory. He hath paid thee beforehand, he gave thee thy wiſdome, and if thou uſe it to his glory, he will pay thee again with eternall glory. Proud perſons then muſt be dumb, unleſſe they make Solomon a liar, who ſaith, The Lord giveth wiſdome. What wiſdome then ſoever we have, we muſt not praiſe our ſelves for it, as if we were ſomething more then others, which are voyd thereof: but without advancing our ſelves, we muſt confeſſe with St. James, that every good, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, Jam. 1.17. Otherwiſe we ſhould well deſerve to hear, Who maketh thee to differ from another? And, what haſt thou, that thou didſt not receive? Now, if thou didſt receive it, why doſt thou glory as if thou hadſt not received it? 1 Cor. 4 7.
4. Doct. All manner of heavenly knowledge is from God. God, who at ſundry times, and in divers manners, ſpake to our Fathers by the Prophets, hath in theſe laſt dayes ſpoken to us by his Son, Heb. 1.1, 2. Fleſh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven, Mat. 16.17.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe none can teach us to know God, but God himſelf. Who can conſider of the higheſt cauſe, but by influence from the higheſt cauſe? Who can ſee the Sun, but by influence from the Sun?
2. We cannot know heaven but by Gods revelation. As we know not what is in the Indies, but by relation of ſuch as dwell or have been there.
3. We know not the way to heaven but by Gods direction. Mens brains may make a ladder to climbe to Kingdomes, but Jacob's ladder, where God ſtands at the top, can onelyonly reach to heaven.
Ʋſe. Try your wiſdome, whether heavenly or no, in divine things, by the originall of it. The conſcience is troubled with the guilt of ſin; God ſets Chriſts blood alone before thee; Papiſts ſet merits, works of ſupererogation, Popes pardons, to help clenſe it. Gods way is the beſt. The ſoul is oppreſſed with filth of ſin. God offers his Spirit to clenſe this ſoul ſtable. Papiſts talk of whippings, abſtinence from fleſh, yet are many of their votaries, homines, quos ſi vel foeno paſceres, laſcivirent. Eraſmi vita. Men that would be wanton, if they eat nothing but hay.
5. Doct. Gods Word and Miniſters muſt be regarded in the ſearch of wiſdome. To the Law, and to the Teſtimony; if they ſpeak not according to this Word, it is becauſe there is no light in them, Iſa. 8.20. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternall life, and they are they which teſtifie of me, Joh. 5.39. Quench not the Spirit. Deſpiſe not propheſyings, 1 Theſſ. 5.19, 20.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe the Scriptures are the fountains of heavenly wiſdome.
2. They are the touch-ſtone of divine truths. Spirits muſt ſubmit to be tryed by them, 1 Joh. 4.1, 2.
3. The Miniſters are the conduit-pipes through which God ordinarily ſends forth the waters of heavenly knowledge.
4. They are Goldſmiths, that know beſt how to uſe the touchſtone of the Word to try truths. It is their ſtudy and their trade.
Ʋſe 1. To ſhew us the vanity of thoſe men who truſt to revelations and their owne Spirits, in ſtead of Gods; and ſlight the Scriptures, and deſpiſe the Miniſters. Certainly they are far from true wiſdome.
2. To exhort us to read the Scriptures diligently, and to hearken to Gods Miniſters reverently. For though men muſt uſe their owne endevours to get true wiſdome (elſe praying to God for it is but mocking of God) yet they cannot by any labour of their owne attain it. Therefore muſt our ears and hearts be enclined to our Teachers, v. 2. By them doth God open his mouth to give us wiſdome. We ſhould then reſort to the preaching of the Word, not ſlackly, or for cuſtome ſake, as hypocrites, ſuperſtitious perſons, and Idolaters do, but to the end that we may receive and learn wiſdome of God, through his grace and goodneſſe, whereby we knowing him, may walk in his fear. It is promiſed as a bleſſing, Thine eyes ſhall ſee thy Teachers, Iſa. 30.20.
6. Doct. Inward capacity, and outward diſcovery come both from God. He gave Solomon wiſdome to comprel…end many things, which others could not underſtand. He gave M…ſes knowledge of the Creation of the world.
Reaſon. He gave man eyes to ſe… withall, elſe he could not have had any comfortable view of the excellency of the creatures. He placed the Sun and Moon in the firmament, elſe eyes would have done no good. Much more is there need of Chriſts help for ſpirituall light and ſight. Quod lux eſt videntibus & viſis, id Deus eſt intelligentibus & intellectis. Thalaſſtus in Hecatontade. That which light is to them that ſee, and to things ſeen, the ſame is God to underſtanding men, and things underſtood.
Ʋſe. Seek both of God by his revelation of the truth in his Word, and illumination to conceive it in the preaching of it by his Spirit. Elſe no ſound wiſdome is to be gotten, nor no ſpiritual light nor ſight.