Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 3 · Verse 18
VER. 18. She is a tree of life to them, that lay hold on her, and happy is every one, that retaineth her.
SOlomon goes on to ſet out the commendation of wiſdome, that he may allure men to ſeeke the more earneſtly after her. He had ſet out her excellency by ſilver, gold, pearles, She is ſilver to poor men, gold to Noble men, and Pearles to Princes. Aeneas Silvius. See Acts and Monuments in the end of the reign of Henry 6.2. Edit. Now he ſets out wiſdoms excellency
1. By comparing her to the tree of life.
2. By promiſing happineſſe to them, that get, and keep her. For the words. She. Wiſdom ſpoken of ver. 13. and compared to a rich, and beautifull Queen. ver. 16.
Is a tree of life. Like to a living tree, that brings forth ſtore of pleaſant fruit to delight and preſerve the life of the eaters. Or more particularly, as moſt writers agree, it is an alluſion to the tree of life in Paradiſe. Gen. 2.9. which was a ſign to Adam, that he ſhould live for ever. Gen. 22. and that in health, ſtrength, and comfort upon Earth, if he ſinned not. So wiſdom reſtores us to that we loſt in Adam, eternall life, but in a better place in Heaven. The word foreign ſignifies.
1. Drie wood, ſuch as we burn. Behold the fire and the wood. Gen. 22.7.
2. A tree, from which wood uſeth to be cut. He ſhall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Pſal. 1.3.
3. A ſtick, or table of wood to write on. Take thee one stick, and write upon it. Ezek. 37.16.
4. An Idol of wood. Saying to a ſtock (or, wood) thou art my Father. Jer. 2.27.
5. A pair of gallows. Pharach ſhall hang thee on a tree. Gen. 40.19.
6. A woodden veſſell. In veſſells of wood. Exod. 7.19.
7. The ſtaffe of a ſpear. The ſtaffe of whoſe ſpear was like … a weavers beam. 2 Sam. Sam. 21.19. Here it is taken in the ſecond ſenſe for a green and fruitfull tree. foreign Life is the d… all number, for there is a life here, and a life in heaven, as foreign waters above the firmament, and below, and foreign the heavens ſtarry and aery.
To them that lay hold upon her. The word foreign ſignifies a fa… laying hold on a thing, as ones own, and as not willing to let it go.
And. Or Then. Or Therefore. A concluſion drawn from the former words. If ſhe bring eternall life, then without queſtion all that retain her are happy.
Happy. He ſhall walk on proſperouſly, for ſo much the word imports.
Is every one that retaineth her. Heb. They that retain her, he is bleſſed. A participle ſingular, with a plurall. That is, every particular man of them is happy. See the like, Numb. 24.9. Bleſſed is he that bleſſeth thee. Wiſdome doth not only preſerve mens lives, as a tree of life, but alſo makes men happy: but this happineſſe is not to every one, as fruit doth not do good to them that that look on it, or touch it, or ſmell to it, but that gather, cat it, and digeſt it: So wiſdomes fruit doth no good to them that ſeek it ſleightly, or think a little enough but to them that take pains to get, and care to keep it, that will not let her go till they have ſound out the depth of her creaſure, that obſerve all her commands, even the leaſt, and perſevere in ſo doing to the laſt. The word foreign ſignifies ſometimes to lay faſt hold, ſo as not to part with a thing. Judgment and juſtice take hold on thee. Job 36.17. Sometimes to uphold a thing. Thy right hand upholdeth me. Pſal. 63.8. Here it is taken in the firſt ſenſe, for laying faſt hold on wiſdome, as meaning never to part with it: It cannot be taken in the ſecond ſenſe for upholding wiſdom, for it upholds us, not we it.
Figures. A metaphor in the Tree of life. Wiſdome is like it in the good fruits thereof. As alſo metaphors in laying faſt hold on it, and retaining it, or locking it up faſe, that it may not be loſt, as men lock up fruit and treaſures.
Note.
1. A deſcription of the excellency of wiſdom:
2. The happineſſe of the poſſeſſore of it.
In the former note.
1. What ſhe is, She is a tree of life.
2. To whom ſhe is ſo, To them that lay hold on her.
In the latter, obſerve
1. The adjunct, And happy.
2. The ſubject, Is every one that retaineth her.
Doct. 1. Scripture muſt be underſtood by Scripture. Wiſdome is not only a living tree, but a tree that not alone ſignifies continuance of life, as the tree of life did, Gen. 2.9. but alſo brings eternall life. So the one text gives light unto the other. A wiſe man is as it were reſtored into Paradiſe in this life, Erat Adae in lignis caeteris alimentum, in ligno vitae ſacramentum ſapientiae, Adam had aliment in the other trees, but in the tree of life he had a Sacrament of wiſdome, ſaith a learned writer.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe they were written by an infallible ſpirit, and therefore the writers could not erre in giving their own meaning, or the meaning of one another.
2. None have an infallible ſpirit now, and therefore the beſt may erre in interpreting ſome place of Scripture.
Queſt. How can we interpret Scripture by Scripture?
Anſ. 1. By conſulting with the originall. As if children differ about their fathers legacy, Non itur ad tumulum, ſed curritur ad Testamentum, They go not to the Tomb, but run to the Teſtament. Optat.
2. By obſerving the coherence with what goes before, and what followes; as we pick out the meaning of a friends letter by the Scope of it, and by the reſt of the words.
3. By paralell places, as by comparing divers letters to one purpoſe.
4. By plain places or grounds of religion, to interpret the reſt, that are built thereupon, as we do in Logick and other Arts.
Uſe 1. To blame the Papiſts, who ſubmit the ſenſe of the Scriptures to Fathers, Councels, and to the Pope ſingly.
2. To teach us to uſe this help in difficult places, and not to allow of any ſenſe of any place of Scripture, not agreeing with other Scriptures. So about Baptiſme, Go teach all nations. The originall is, Make Diſciples of all nations, Mat. 28.19. And that by Baptizing, as followes in the words, and Teaching followes afterwards, verſe 20. So that this place makes nothing againſt Infants baptiſme. So about the reſurrection, 1 Cor. 15.50. is pleaded againſt it, yet all the Chapter before and after pleads for it. The Apoſtle ſaith there, Fleſh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdome of God: His meaning is, mortall, and corruptible fleſh and blood cannot come to heaven, till it be changed: ſo he expounds himſelfe in the end of that Verſe, and the Verſe following, Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. And, We ſhall all be changed. Thus John 14.28. is brought to diſprove Chriſts divine Nature Chriſt ſaith, My father is greater then I: This muſt be underſtood of his human nature, for in regard of his divine, the Apoſtle ſaith, He thought it no robbery to be equall with God. Phil. 2.6. The Jews underſtood this, that He made himſelfe equall with God. John 5.18. which had been blaſphemy indeed, had not he been true God. So for excluding bread out of the Lords Supper, Mat. 26.26. This is my body, is cited by the Papiſts; but it muſt be underſtood figuratively, not literally: The meaning is, this is the ſign of my body; for Paul calls it bread, when it is eaten, 1 Cor. 11.26. God cannot contradict himſelfe.
Doct. 2. Wiſdome affords true nouriſhment: Not for a time, as fruits of trees do, but for ever; therefore it is compared to milk for babes, and ſtrong meat for men. Heb. 5.12, 13, 14. And to milk again. 1 Pet. 2.2.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe it ſhews how to get, and dreſſe food for the body.
2. How moderately to exerciſe the body, without which food will not diſgeſt.
3. How to keep a cheerfull mind, without which, food will not be profitable to the body, nor nouriſh it.
4. It ſhews how the ſoul may be nouriſhed by juſtification, through the blood of Chriſt, without which it pines away under the ſenſe and of guilt of ſin, and of the wrath of God.
5. How it may be nouriſhed by ſanctification, that ſo all ſins, which are as obſtructions, being killed, all the graces of Gods Spirit may be encreaſed in us.
6. How it may be fullfed to glorification, where it ſhall need no more food.
Uſe. Labour for this true wiſdome, as men doe for food to nouriſh them: This is to be found in the word of God. Let others deſpiſe the ſcripture (as Aenaeas Silvius ſpeaks of councills) ſo may we ſay of Gods word, call bread stones, if you will, ſo you give it me to nouriſh me. Acts and Monuments, in the end of the raign of Henry the ſixth. All the labour of man is for his mouth. Eccleſ. 6.7. Men plow, ſow, plant, work, for bodily food; why ſhould we not labour more for wiſdome, that will feed the body here, and the ſoul to eternity? Praeclarè Plato beatum ait, cui etiam in ſenectute contigerit, ut ſapientiam, veraſque opiniones aſſequi poſſit. Cic. 5. de finibus. Plato excellently ſaith, He is happy that in his old age can attain wiſdome, and true opinions.
Doct. 3. Wiſdome makes a perfect cure. The leaves did heal the nations. Rev. 22.2. The Scriptures are able to make us wiſe unto ſalvation. 2 Tim. 3.15.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe it cures hereditary diſeaſes, which Phyſicians cannot, as the darkneſſe of the mind, perverſneſſe of the will, croſneſſe of the affections, received from our Parents.
2. It cures infectious diſeaſes, as ſinfull courſes received from others, by bad counſell or example.
3. It cures the thoughts of the heart, which no law of man, nor Phyſick can do.
4. It cures the tongue and words, and teaches how to ſpeak wiſely and profitably.
5. It cures the life, and teaches how to avoid temptations, and provocations to ſin.
6. It cures the body too from ſome diſeaſes here by Phyſick, and other good means, and perfectly at the Reſurrection: Then, God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there ſhall be no more death, nor ſorrow, nor crying, neither ſhall be any more pain, for the former things are paſſed away. Rev. 21.4.
Uſe. Praiſe God for communicating this wiſdome to you in his word, eſpecially, if ye have found good by this courſe of ſpirituall Phyſick already, it is Gods work, and he will finiſh it.
Doct. 4. Wiſdom doth good to none, but to thoſe that get it fully, and firmly. As fruit of trees doth no good to them that ſeek it only, or touch it; ſo the fruit of wiſdome to none but thoſe that eat, that is, obtain it; that ſeek it not ſleightly, or think a little enough, but that take pains ſtill for more: not that look over the precepts as men look over an Almanack, but as men ſeriouſly ſtudy good books, John Baptiſts, and Chriſts preaching did no good, but to them, that regarded it. We have piped unto you, but ye have not danced, &c. Mat. 11.17. Pauls Goſpell is hid to them that are loſt. 2 Cor. 4.3.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe there muſt be a conjunction of things, before there can be an operation of the one upon the other. The ſoul muſt be infuſed into the body, before it can work on the body to make the tongue to ſpeak, the foot to goe, the hand to work. A man muſt be married to a woman before hee can take care for her, as for a wife. So muſt wiſdom be joyned to the heart, before it can worke on heart, ſoule, or body.
2. Becauſe it is ſo in all other gifts of God. A man cannot be liberal, to whom God gives no riches, nor fight ſtoutly, to whom God gives no ſtrength, nor doe any good with wiſdom, or get any good by it, to whom God gives it not.
Uſe. See the cauſe, why many get no good by the word of wiſdom ſo long preached to them; Becauſe they lay not faſt hold on it. They hear many ſermons, but regard them not. The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Heb. 4.2. Seed grows not, if the ground receive it not. Rain doth no good, till the earth bee ſoftned.
5. Doct. Wiſdom muſt not onelyonly be received into the heart, but retained there, as ſeed in the ground, till it bring forth fruit. They are the good ground, who having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Lu. 15. Many ſhowers, and ſun-ſhines muſt come, before the Corn bee ripe: The word muſt abide like a graft in a tree Jam. 1.21.
1. Reaſon. Becauſe things work not at firſt. Trees muſt grow before they bring fruit. Meat muſt be digeſted before it nouriſh. So muſt wiſdom be reteined, and gotten to a habit, before it can work well.
2. Becauſe when it is left, it leaves working, as meat when it is …ſt out upward, or downward.
Uſe. To blame thoſe, that entertain wiſdom, but retain it not, give it a good countenance, and reject it, uſe it as a ſtranger, afford it a good meale, and turn it out of doors. So do the Hereticks, Apoſtates, Worldlings, men above ordinances, for ſure Gods ordinances are full of wiſdom.
6. Doct. Such as not onelyonly receive wiſdom; but retaine it, are happy indeed: Bleſſed is the man, that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the poſts of my doors. For who ſo findeth me, findeth life: and ſhall obtain favour of the Lord. Chap. 8.34, 35. Happy are thy men, happy are theſe thy ſervants which ſtand continually before thee, and hear thy wiſdom. 1 King. 10.8. Wiſdome doth good to them, that will not let her go, till they find out the depth of her treaſure.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe true wiſdom, and happineſſe are inſeparable They are ſo in God. They are ſo in the Creature. Adam, while he was wiſe, was happy, His folly did undo himſelfe, and the world. Solomon was happy, till he dealt unwiſely, and was gulled by ſilly women. When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other Gods. 1 King. 11.4. Therefore God rent his Kingdome from his Son, verſe 11, 12. there.
2 Becauſe ſuch are Gods inſtruments to make others happy, and that not by accident, but out of an earneſt deſire in themſelves. And God will reward them.
3. They have Gods word for it. They that be wiſe, ſhall ſhine as the brightneſſe of the Firmament. Dan. 12.3. That Word that made a world of nothing, and all the comforts wiſe men have in it, can make wiſe men happy.
4. They have God himſelf for their portion, who is the Fountain of all happineſſe. How can he want water, that hath a perpetuall fountain? David was wiſe, and claimed this portion. O Lord I ſaid, Thou art my portion in the Lord of the living. Pſal. 142.5.
Uſe. 1. To reprove ſuch as lay a claim to happineſſe, but without a ground, as they that deſpiſe wiſdom, or that brag of it, but have it not, or have caſt it off. They may bee rich; they cannot be happy.
2. To exhort us to take the right way to true happineſſe. Studiouſly to ſeek true wiſdom, and carefully to keep it, as the richeſt jewell in the world. Though thou be deſpiſed by the world, as a poor ſnake, or contemptible caitiffe, yet God counts thee wiſe, and will make thee happy.