Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 3 · Verse 20
VER. 20. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
GODS infinite wiſdome was ſet out in the former verſe, by the higher parts of the world, the heavens, and by the lower, the earth; or, as was mentioned in the former verſe, by ſetling ſolid ſubſtances there, and liquid ones here, and by ordering the two middle elements, aire, and water.
For the words.
By his knowledge. Not by our knowledge of God, as the word is taken for our knowledge of Chriſt, Iſa. 53.11. By his knowledge ſhall my righteous ſervant justifie many. But by Gods own wiſdom. The words are varied, to ſhew the plenty of ſcripture language. Here is Gods wiſdome, underſtanding, knowledge. For the word, ſee on Chap. 1.2.4.
The depths. Some underſtand this of the ſprings and rivers, that break out of the earth continually, and run into ſtreams, through many countries, and thoſe oftentimes are ſtrangely brought out of rocky hills, God wiſely and wonderfully opening a paſſage for them, being of themſelves weak, and unable to paſſe through ſuch difficult places, others underſtand it of the floud, which indeed was not a work of nature, but of God, who cauſe all the fountaines of the great deep to be broken up. Gen. 7.11. But it is beſt to underſtand it of the works of God at firſt, Gen. 1.9. in making room for the Sea, and for the rivers, that men might live on the drie land: for he ſpeaks here of works of creation, as founding the earth, eſtabliſhing the heavens, making the ſea, rivers, and clouds: all this was done at the beginning of the world. It is a deſcription of the great channels made at firſt, to hold all the waters, and the waters of the ſea and rivers are included. So Gods wiſdom is ſet out in ſtable and remaining things, as the earth, heaven, waters, clouds, which abide, and do not ſucceed one another, as men, beaſts, trees do, whereof we may ſee the ſame that Adam did foreign ſignifies
1. The whole inferiour globe of earth and water. Darkneſſe was upon the face of the deep. Gen. 1.2.
2. The waters in the ſea, or ſea it ſelfe. The fountains of the great deep were broken up. Gen. 7.11.
3. Great miſery and trouble, which drownes men in deſpair, as it were in the bottom of the ſea. Deep called unto deep. Pſal. 42.7.
4. A thing that cannot be found out, no more then the bottom of the ſea can be found out. Thy judgments are a great deep. Pſal. 42.7. Here it is taken in the ſecond ſenſe, for the ſea and channells of waters.
Are brokon up. Heb. Cleft. So that it ſeems at firſt the earth was circular, and fully round under the water, till God made, as it were, clefts for the ſea, and rivers.
foreign And the clouds. They have their name from thinneſſe in the Originall, becauſe they are ſo, and therefore Gods wiſdome is the more ſeen in them, in that they hold the rain, till God ſend a commiſſion to powre it down upon the earth: Yet ſometimes the word is put for the skies, wherein the clouds are. 2 Sam. 22.12.
Drop down Or Which drop down. See the like addition, Pſal. 104. Bread which ſtrengtheneth mans heart. And the ſenſe requires it: for Gods wiſdom is not here commended for cauſing the clouds to rain now, but for making them at firſt, which are ſtill ſo uſefull to us, as well as heaven, earth, ſea: An act of creation, not of providence. The clouds ſupplie the drineſs of unwatered places; vapours drawn up from the waters, or moiſter places of the earth, fall down in rain to moiſten the drier parts of the ground; and they are ſaid to ſend it down by drops, for the comfort of the earth, and not to powre it down in ſtreams to drown it, as in the deluge. So the Hebrew word foreign ſignifies to drop down like a ſtill.
foreign The dew. It hath its name from covering, becauſe it covers the earth: It is taken for moiſture falling from heaven. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that deſcended upon the mountains of Zion. Pſal. 133.3. It may comprehend moderate rain alſo, and gentle ſhowers, that do good to the earth.
Figures. Two figures of the part for the whole, one in Depths, for all waters below, the other in Dew, from all profitable moiſture coming from above.
Note 1. The making of theſe.
2. Of the clouds.
In the firſt note
1. The efficient, By his knowledge.
2. The effect, The depths are broken up.
In the ſecond obſerve
1. Another effect of Gods wiſdom, And the clouds. Leſt earthly moiſture ſhould be wanting, God hath provided a ſtore-houſe above, to ſupplie the drineſſe of the earth.
2. The effect of theſe clouds, which are yet profitable in dropping down the rain gently, for the grouth of herbs, trees, &c. Which drop down the dew, for ſo it ſhould be read, as was obſerved before.
Doct. 1. The ſcripture often preſſeth the ſame things by various expreſſions. At Chriſts Incarnation, God was manifeſted in the fleſh. 1 Tim. 3.16. The word was made fleſh. John 1.14. Of whom concerning the fleſh, Chriſt came, who is God over all, bleſſed for ever. Rom. 9.5. In him dwelleth all the fulneſſe of the Godhead bodily. Col. 2.9. So in the ſacrament of the Lords ſupper, Take eat, this is my body. Mat. 26.26. The bread which we eat, is it not the communion of the body of Chriſt? 1 Cor. 10.16. As often as ye eat this bread, ye ſhew the Lords death untill he come. 1 Cor. 11.26.
Reaſ. 1. To ſhew the plenty of wiſdome, and great variety of words, which are in the ſcripture, we much commend Oratours, that can expreſſe themſelves variouſly to the ſame purpoſe.
2. To ſhew the truth of Scripture-principals, not only in their concord, but alſo becauſe they who underſtand not one expreſſion, may underſtand another.
3. To work upon mens affections, we are ſo dull, that once ſpeaking will not raiſe them up, neither will often ſpeaking in the ſame words do it, but rather dull us more, as meat often dreſſed the ſame way, pleaſeth not the palat, but in different waies, and divers ſauces, it pleaſeth well: ſo do divers expreſſions, for ſomewhat more may be perceived in the one, then in the other.
Againſt 1 Tim. 3.16. God manifeſted in the fleſh, it may be objected, ſo it may be, though Chriſt were not incarnate.
The anſwer may be out of John 1.14. The word was made fleſh.
Ob. So it may be, though Chriſt be not God.
Anſ. Rom. 9.15. He is God over all, bleſſed for ever.
Ob. It may be he is not eſſentially God for all this.
Anſ. Col. 2.9. In him dwells all the fulneſſe of the Godhead bodily.
So for the Sacrament. Ob. 1 Cor. 11.26. it is called bread, and bread will do our ſouls little good.
Anſ. Mat. 26.26. It is Chriſts body ſpiritually.
Ob. Then belike the bread is turned into Chriſts body.
Anſ. No, it is but a remembrance of it. 1 Cor. 11.26.
Ob. A remembrance of a thing paſt doth little good.
Anſ. It is a communication of his body, and the benefits thereof. 1 Cor. 10.16.
4. To affect ſeverall men, which have ſeverall taſts; that dreſſing of meat pleaſeth one man, which pleaſeth not another, that bait takes one fiſh, which takes not another, that expreſſion prevailes with one man, which prevailes not with another.
Uſe. Let us read the Scriptures with delight, in which is ſo much conſent in truth, with ſo many various expreſſions. Divers men, at divers times, and in divers places, writing in divers expreſſions, yet delivering the ſame truths. Here is utile dulci profit mixt with pleaſure to alure the underſtanding reader.
2. Doct. God parted the Earth, and the water at the beginning. The one was within the other, till God ſeparated them. Let the waters under the Heaven be gathered together into one place, and let the dry laud appear: and it was ſo, Gen. 1.9. Thou coveredſt the Earth with the deep as with a garment: the waters ſtood above the Mountains. At thy rebuke they fled, &c. Pſal. 104.6, 7.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe Earth and Water being dead things, could not part themſelves ſo as to bee confounded no more.
2. There was none elſe living then to make that ſeparation. Light onelyonly was created, and that might drive away darkneſs, but could not drive away waters. Neither had it heat ſufficient to drie it away, that cannot now drie up the Sea, though gathered into the body of the Sun.
3. Had there been Angells, or men then created, they had not had ſtrength ſufficient to drive away the waters from off the face of the Earth.
4. Neither had they had wiſdom enough to know where to impriſon them, and keep them from returning.
Uſe. Let us acknowledge Gods goodneſſe in this ſeparation. It is long ſince it was done, but we enjoy the benefit of it this day. As may appear by villages drowned in the Sea.
3. Doct. Gods great wiſdom appear'd in this ſeparation of the waters from the Earth. O Lord how manifold are thy works! In wiſdom haſt thou made them all. Pſal. 104.24. When God had divided the waters from the earth, God ſaw that it was good. Gen. 1.10. There is a particular acknowledgement of the goodneſſe of that ſeparation there.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe God ſhews great wiſdom in all he doth, yea, when men think he worketh fooliſhly. The fooliſhneſſe of God is wiſer then men. 1 Cor. 1.25.
2. Becauſe thereby he provided a ſubſiſtence for men, and beaſts, which cannot walk upon the waters without a miracle, as Chriſt did on the Sea. Math. 14.25.
3. He provided for their breathing in the air, which they could not do in the water.
4. For their continuance of life, which the water would ſoon have taken away.
Uſe. Let us admire at Gods wiſdom, that could find a way to do that, which neither men nor Angells could do, to diſperſe ſuch huge waters, and to make places to receive them, and keep them in, that they turn not again to cover the Earth. Pſ. 104.9. The Philoſophers themſelves were forced to confeſſe this to be a work of Divine wiſdom. Much more ſhould we cry out with the Apoſtle, O the depth of the riches, both of the wiſdom, and knowledge of God! Rom. 11.33.
4. Doct. God made the clouds to be receptacles for aſcending vapours. They are Gods clouds, as an houſe is his that builds it. He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds. Iob 26.8. They are the bottles of Heaven, that hold the rain there. Job 38.37.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe God made all other parts of Heaven: and who then ſhould make the clouds but he? So hee that builds the walls of the houſe, lates the croſſe beams to beare up chambers.
2. Becauſe we ſee the clouds dark, and full before rain, like a woman with child, and after it a clear Heaven, like a woman delivered.
Uſe. Bleſſe God, that befides the waters below hath provided another ſtorehouſe above, that may ſupply the earth, when moiſture fails it. Elſe were it a great labour to water the earth with our feet, as they were forced to do in Aegypt. Deut. 11.10. Elſe muſt the corn and herbs periſh.
5. Doct. God makes the clouds to ſend down rain: Who canſeth it to rain on the Earth, where no man is? Iob 38.27. Thou viſiteſt the Earth, and watereſt it; Thou makst it ſoft with ſhowers. Pſ. 65.9, 10.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe he provides it, and lodges the afeending vapours in the clouds; as in the former doctrine.
2. Becauſe he onelyonly hath the key to open the clouds, as well as to ſhut them. Optatus finding fault with the Donatiſts for ſwearing by men, bids them to call upon thoſe men by whom they ſwear to bring rain. Hereby it might appear, whether they were Gods or no, and might be ſworne by, or no.
Uſe. Bleſſe God, that unlocks his ſtorehouſe, and gives rain in time of need, and doth not keep his treaſure to the hurt of others, as covetous men do.
6. Doct. God ſhews his wiſdom in ſending ſeaſonable raine. He giveth both the former, and the later rain in his ſeaſon. Ier. 5.24. I cauſed it to rain upon one City, and cauſed it not to rain upon another City. Am. 4, 7.
Reaſon. 1. In the regard of the thing it ſelf. Hee knows the Earth to be dry and cold, and therefore he cauſeth the Sun to warm it, and the rain to moiſten it. Math. 5.45. Therefore is God ſaid by his knowledge, or fore-knowledge to ſend the rain, or make the clouds, that ſend it, as knowing what need the earth hath of it.
2. In regard of the time. Hee ſendeth it, when the Earth moſt needs it. Former rain to bring forth the corn out of the Earth, and latter rain to bring forth the latter crop, hay, or graſſe. An hermit being asked why his little ground thrived more then anothers greater, who prayed for rain, and faire weather, when he thought it needfull, anſwered, becauſe I pray to God, who is wiſer then I, to ſend ſuch weather, as he pleaſe.
3. In regard of the manner. That it ſhould drop down ſoftly like water out of a ſtill. For if it ſhould come violently, it would not refreſh, but deſtroy the fruits of the Earth, as ſometimes at Sea it hath faln ſo violently, that it hath ſunk ſhips.
4. In regard of the meaſure of it, in ſending what is needful. Elſe laſting rain is a judgement, and cauſes dearth.
Uſe. Pray to God for rain when ye need it and praiſe him, when ye have it in convenient time. As the key of the womb, of the grave of the earth is his, ſo is alſo the key of the clouds. He gives rain wiſely. Trace his wiſdom by ſteps in the former Verſe, and this. See how ſtedfaſtly the earth is ſetled, ſo that it upholdeth great buildings, and high Mountains without removing. See how the heavenly bodies keep their courſe without ſhaking or wearineſſe. See how the ſea keeps her bounds without drowning the land. See how the clouds drop down raine yeerly, and make fruitfull ſeaſons. Then ſay with the Pſalmiſt again, O Lord how manifold are thy works! in wiſdom haſt thou made them all. Pſal. 104.24.