Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 3 · Verse 17
VER. 17. Her waies are waies of pleaſantneſs: and all her paths are peace.
HEre is another motive to get wiſdom: wouldſt thou goe in pleaſant waies, and live in peace, and quietneſſe? All wiſdoms waies are ſuch. The man who gets wiſdom, gets true happineſſe, and delight. When Merchants go by Sea, or paſſengers by land, they are glad, when they find fair way, and a quiet paſſage. They deſire not to be ſtaid, nor hindred in their journey, but to go at eaſe without any diſturbance, which yet ſometime they miſſe. But ſuch as walk wiſely, find waies of pleaſure, and peace. Theſe words are fitly knit to the former, for long life, and riches, and honour are not ſufficient to make a man happy. He may meet with many occaſions of ſorrow, and of War, and trouble, which may make his life very uncomfortable. Here therefore Solomon addes to the former bleſſings, pleaſure, and peace, to ſhew, that nothing is wanting to a wiſe man. Hee had commended wiſdom before ex parte termini, from happineſſe in the end: now he commends it ex parte medii, from the comfort of the way. The allective power of wiſdom is ſet out in this verſe, the conſervative in the next.
For the words.
Her waies Her precepts, or the walking in them. For the word ſee on Chap. 2.13.
Are waies of pleaſantneſſe. Very pleaſant waies, and ſuch as men may walk in with delight, like green fields full of flowers, the pleaſure whereof makes a man forget his wearineſſe, and come to his journies end, before the bee aware. They are no way tedious, though they be never ſo long. Wiſdom is the true Naomi (for ſo the Hebrew word ſounds) whoſe beauty may allure all to it: but never will bee turned into a Marah, bitterneſſe, as ſhe was. Ruth 1.20. For the word ſee on Chap. 2.10.
And all. Secon Chap. 1.13. Or Any. Take which of them you will, even the hardeſt, you cannot chuſe amiſs: it will bring peace. See on Verſe 15.
Her paths. See on Chap. 1.15.
Are peace. Are paths of pea…, that a man may walk in peaceably, and that lead to true and laſting peace; thereby is meant, that they are not only pleaſant, but alſo ſafe and proſperous. Many pleaſant waies on earth may be unſafe, as robbing waies, and many ſafe waies unpleaſant, as dirty waies; but wiſdomes waies are pleaſant and ſafe. Kabvenaki. For the word, ſee on Verſe 2.
Figures. A metaphor in waies, and paths, which ſignifie a conſtant courſe.
Note 1. A promiſe of comfort.
2. Of peace and proſperity.
In the firſt note.
1. The ſubject, whoſe waies are comfortable. Her waies. Wiſdoms waies, not follies.
2. The adjunct ſhewing what they are, Are waies of pleaſantneſſe. Not profitable onelyonly, but delightfull alſo.
In the ſecond obſerve.
1. The Subject. And her paths. That is, the paths of wiſdom.
2. The Adjunct of quantity. All of them.
3. The Adjunct of quality. Are peace. They are peaceable, and proſperous.
1. Doct. Nothing is wanting to a man truly wiſe. This text with the coherence proves it abundantly: what would a wiſe man have? would he have long life? Here it is. If riches, here alſo. If honour, it is ready for him. If pleaſure, it is at hand. If peace, it is prepared for him. If health, loe here it is. If happineſſe it ſelfe, the wiſe man offers it firſt and laſt. Verſe 13.18.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe of Gods favour. Wiſe men are Gods favourites. And what may not Princes favourites have in a Nation.
2. Becauſe of Gods promiſe to ſuch as walk uprightly, as wiſe men do, that no good thing ſhall be withheld from them. Pſ. 84.11. To ſuch as fear him, There is no want to them. Pſal. 34.9. And that wiſe men do. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wiſdom. Chap. 1.7. Lions, ſtrongeſt creatures ſhall lack and ſuffer hunger; which if the world afford food, they will not do: but they that ſeek the Lord (as all truly wiſe do) ſhall not want any good thing. Pſal. 34.10. They can lack nothing that can God give.
3. Becauſe of their capacity, and induſtry to get good things. If any know how, and be willing to take paines to get good things, wiſe men do. They lie not in a ditch, and cry God help. They know, that will not do it.
Uſe. Here is a further encouragement to labour for wiſdom. Who would not bee in ſuch a ſtate to want nothing that is good? Jacobs condition is better then Eſaus in the originall, and better then your tranſlation makes it, which makes them both alike, for in it both ſay I have enough but in the Hebrew. Eſau ſaith, foreign I have much, Jacob ſaith foreign I have all. Gen. 33.9.11. And ſo he had indeed for he had God, and all. An unwiſe man may have many good things; a wiſe man hath all.
2. Doct. Wiſdom hath waies of her own. So had wiſe Solomon ſtrange waies to the Queen of Shebah. She admires them. 1 King. 10.5. And Chriſt had ſtrange waies to the Jews, who much ſtrange at them. Matth. 11.9.
Reaſon. 1. It appears in humane wiſdom. The waies of Lawyere, Phyſltians, Mathematicians, Archiects, are ſtrange to others.
2. And principally in heavenly wiſdom. Her waies are ſtrange to Philoſophers, whoſe rules reach but to morality. Strange to Hereticks, who ſet up themſelves, not God by all their practiſes, and opinions. Strange to carnall Goſpellers, who muſt have pleaſure, or profit with profeſſion of religion. Strange to Hypocrites, who would be accounted godly, though they be Atheiſts in heart.
Uſe. Here is a touchſtone to trie, whether we bee truly godly or no. Are our waies ſinfull, and worldly, or holy, and heavenly. This will try us. We muſt not bee watermen in religion, loook one way and row another.
3. Doct. One wiſe action ſufficeth not, but all muſt bee guided by wiſdom; Elſe we ſhall ſhame our ſelves. Dead flies cauſe the ointment of the Apothecary to ſend forth a stinking ſavour: ſo doth a little folly him, that is in reputation for wiſdom, and honour. Eccl. 10.1. It was Jehus ſhame, that when he had destroyed Baal out of Iſrael, he departed not fnom the ſins of Jeroboam the ſon of Nebat, who made Iſrael to ſin. 2 King. 10.28, 29.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe no man ſhall bee tryed at the day of judgment by any one act, but by the courſe of his life: ſo good men judge of mens eſtates here. An Hoſpitall built cannot ſave a murderer from the gallows.
2. Many fooliſh actions outweigh one wiſe one; a fool may ſpeak or do wiſely ſometimes, yet is not therefore deemed wiſe.
Uſe. Here is a ſecond tryall of true wiſdom, if it appears not ſometimes, but in the courſe of our lives, not in ſome one action, but in all, or in the moſt: one Swallow makes not a Summer, nor one good Apple, a good Apple-tree.
Doct. 4. There is much true delight in wiſdomes waies. My yoke is eaſie, and my burden is light. Mat. 11.30. More to be deſired are they then gold, yea then much fine gold; ſweeter alſo then honey and the honey comb. Pſal. 19:10. Some waies are pleaſant in the paſſage, but bitter in the end, others foul in the paſſage, but comfortable in the end; wiſdomes waies are pleaſant in both.
1. In the way, and that 1. Spiritually. And therein.
1. Becauſe they are wrought in God, and by Gods ſtrength all along. John 3.21. Principium, vector, dux, ſemita, terminus idem. God is the beginning, carier on, guide, way, and end of good mens actions: No marvell then if he give them comfort in them.
2. They are lovely in themſelves, and have in them all things that may afford true delight, but nothing lothſome to raiſe diſlike; ſinfull fooliſh courſes on the contrary, have much in them to affright, nothing to delight.
3. They have nothing truly difficult in them, though they may ſeem to men to have. Smooth waies have nothing in them to make men ſtumble, yet men may ſlip by careleſneſſe in the ſmootheſt way. Here is no offering up of children in Gods waies, which the heathen did to falſe Gods: yea, it is now ſmoother then the Jews way was in the old Teſtament; no painfull Circumciſion, nor extream coſtly Sacrifices, no thouſands of Rams, nor ten thouſand rivers of Oile. Mic. 6.7.
4. They have pramium ante praemium, a reward before-hand. Much comfort in wiſe actions, while they are in doing them, as in praying, ſinging, giving, &c. ſome degree of comfort followes every good action, as heat followes fire, as beams of light, and influences come from the ſhining Sun. The heathen found ſome comfort in morall actions, Chriſtians may find more in ſpirituall imployments. In keeping of them there is great reward. Pſal. 19.11.
2. As in ſpirituall, ſo in temporall things, wiſe men find much comfort in their waies, when fooles bring ſorrow upon themſelves. Likewiſe in the end, as well as in the way, wiſe men find comfort; yea, more in the end then in the way: the hope of heaven makes the way comfortable, although it ſhould be tedious in it ſelfe, and meet with many rubs.
Uſe. This ſhould encourage us, not only to ſeek to know wiſdomes waies, but alſo to walk cheerfully in them, in deſpight of all diſcouragements.
If any object, it is difficult to get the knowledge of thoſe waies, and much more difficult to walk in them.
The anſwer is, there is pleaſure in them as well as profit, and that will make them eaſie and delightfull. Omne tulit punctum, quimiſcit utile dulci. Joyn profit and pleaſure together, and men will never talk of difficulty. Now wiſdom makes a marriage of profit with pleaſure; her waies may ſeem difficult at firſt, by reaſon of the corruption of the fleſh, but when the firſt brunt is over, they prove eaſie and pleaſant, whereas the waies of folly are pleaſant at firſt, and bitter at laſt. Let us therefore admire at wiſdomes waies, get the knowledge of them, practiſe them, and rejoyce in them.
Doct. 5. Peace attends upon wiſdomes waies. Mark the perfect man, and behold the a pright, for the end of that man is peace. Pſal. 37.37. Now none but men truly wiſe, are perfect, and upright.
Reaſ. 1. They bring inward peace of mind, and quietneſſe: Mens own follies do more diſtract them, then other mens malice, or plots againſt them. God gives wiſemen quietneſſe of mind, both in proſperity and adverſity; it is contrary with worldly men, they have no reſt in their minds, nor are not pleaſed in any condition, but godly wiſemen are quiet in every eſtate.
2. They bring outward peace: wiſdome teaches men how to avoid occaſions of quarrells, by which fooliſh men are ruined.
3. They bring peace with God, which is beſt of all, for it brings men to the knowledge of Chriſt, the onelyonly reconciler of God and man, and ſo affords that peace, which the world cannot give. Ioh. 7.27. and which paſſeth all understanding. Phil. 4.7. and ſo drives all ſtormes out of the conſcience, aſſuring beleevers, that they have peace with God. Rom. 5.1. And that there is no condemnation to them. Rom. 8.1.
4. Peace with our neighbours. For it teacheth us to give every one their own. And what ground have they then to quarrell with us? yea, if they do us hurt, it teacheth us to doe them good. And this is the way to quench all fire of contention.
5. It ſhews us the way to eternall peace by Chriſt our Saviour, that wee may walk on quietly to Heaven, while others contend for inheritances on Earth. Thus it brings peace externall, internall, eternall, and makes not onelyonly the end pleaſant, but alſo the way. And as travellers in their weary journeies comfort themſelves not onelyonly with thoughts of reſt at night, but alſo with comfortable objects in the way, ſo do men truly wiſe joy here in the thought of Heaven hereafter.
6. They are waies preſcribed by God, who is, The God of peace. Heb. 13.20.
1. Object. How can wiſe, and godly men have externall peace, when all that will live godly in Christ Jeſus muſt ſuffer perſecution. 2 Tim. 3.12.
Anſw. 1. They have not alwaies times of perſecution, but ſometimes peace.
2. God gives them ſuch a valiant ſpirit, that they overcome all oppoſition, as the Martyrs did the fire.
2. Object. How can they have internall peace, when as long as they live, they have civill wars within? The fleſh luſteth against the ſpirit, and the ſpirit againſt the fleſh: and theſe are contrary the one to the other, ſo that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Gal. 5.17.
Anſw. 1. Theſe wars tend to peace: yea, they are a ſure token of eternall peace, in the end: for there is no ſuch combat in the ſoules of wicked fools.
2. In the midſt of theſe wars there is peace with God: and then theſe conflicts may be counted as nothing, as when a man hath peace with Giants, and is at war with Pigmies.
3. Ob. But how can they be ſure of eternall peace in the end; when God ſometimes frowns upon them, and they are forced to cry out, Hath God fogotten to be gracious? Pſal. 77.9.
Anſw. This is but ſometimes, when God will correct, or try them. But he brings them back again, and makes them to ſay. This is mine infirmitie, O the years of the right hand of the moſt high! Pſal. 77.10. This is more paſſionate, and emphaticall, then to adde, But I will remember, as the Tranſlation do.
4. Ob. But we are alwaies in danger of temptations. Wee walk between two extreams of ſin, and are way-laid by Devils, and ungodly men, like travellers, that paſſe between two Countries at war one with another, where the waies are full of robbers. How can our waies then be peaceable, walk wee never ſo wiſely?
Anſw. They are peaceable, not that they free us from all oppoſition; But
1. Becauſe they keep us ſafe in the midſt of all oppoſition. Country-Villages are ſubject to plundering in war, but ſtrong Caſtles are ſafe, ſo long as they want not proviſion, not ammunition.
2. Becauſe they lead us to a quiet end for ever, when theſe ſtorms are all gone, and over; who ever periſhed in theſe waies? A whole world died by fooliſh waies, as in the floud, when Noah walking in theſe waies eſcaped. Gen. 6.13, 14.
Uſe. To ſhew us the vaſt difference between godly, and fleſhly wiſdom. The former brings lawfull pleaſure, and certain peace. The latter brings ſorrows, and troubles upon mens minds, bodies, eſtates here, and for ever by their own plots. True wiſdome goes no where, but all her waies are ſtrowed with pleaſure, and walled in with peace.
6. Doct. No way of wiſdom breeds trouble in it ſelf. See Davids wiſdom in ordering his for the preventing of trouble in his family, in the City, and in the Land. Pſal. 101. It may be by accident trouble may attend on the wiſeſt waies by reaſon of corruption in others, and our ſelves, for wiſdom is imperfect in us, and them, but that comes not from wiſdom, but from lack of it.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe the waies of wiſdome are juſt waies
2. They are mercifull waies. Juſtice and mercy bring not troubles naturally, but injuſtice and cruelty.
Uſe. See the cauſe of all our troubles, want of wiſdom. Bewail it, and beware for time to come.