Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 3 · Verse 8
VERSE 8. It ſhall be health to thy Navell, and Marrow to thy bones.
THE promiſe follows to encourage us to the performance of the duties in the laſt Verſe before. Some conceive it to be meant of ſpirituall health and ſtrength, that under bodily health ſhould be covered, and ſignified a right diſpoſition of the ſoul. Others think proſperity of a mans eſtate to be ſhadowed out by it. I take it plainly for a promiſe of bodily health, for ſuch did God give to his people plentifully in thoſe younger times of the Law, whereas the Goſpell is more full of promiſes of ſpirituall things. Some joyn this promiſe to Verſe 5, 6, 7. as if God ſhould promiſe thoſe that acknowledge him in all their waies not onelyonly to direct them in right paths, but alſo to give them health and ſtrength to walk wiſely in thoſe paths. But they muſt remember, that this promiſe is made to other good duties. Verſe 7. The ſum is, humility, fear of God, and avoiding evil will bring bodily health. For the words.
It ſhal be, or So there ſhal be. The former directions obſerved, ſhal bring health, and ſtrength. foreign Health. A recovery, or preſervation from all ſickneſſes, and infirmities, which the want of thoſe former duties had, or might bring upon thy body. So the word ſignifies, coming from another word that ſignifies to heal, as health doth in Engliſh. It ſhal be healthful to thee.
To thy navil. The child is nouriſhed by the navil in the womb, and it knits the upper and lower parts together, and plaiſters laid to it, cure many maladies, eſpecially in little children. By the navil here may be meant all the internall ſoft parts of the body; as the heart, liver, lungs; if theſe be wel, the body is likely to be in health, and ſtrength; elſe it is ſickly and weak.
And marrow. Heb. Watering and moistning. For dry bones without marrow argue weakneſſe, ful ones argue ſtrength.
foreign To thy bones. The bones are the ſupporters of the body, if they fail all falles, as the houſe falls with the pillars. And as the bones grow bigger or longer, ſo doth the body Albert, l. 16. de anima libus, eſpecially if thoſe bones be ful of marrow, as in great fat Oxen. Ariſtot. lib. 4. de animal. But when the bones are ful of wind, not of marrow, then they break in pieces. Avicen. So ſickneſſe comes. By the bones here may be meant, all the harder and firmer parts of the body. The bones have their names from ſtrength, for indeed they are the ſtrongeſt parts of the body; or by the navil may be meant the external part, the fleſh of the body, which is knit together by the navil, as with a button; and by the bones, the internal parts unſeen, and by health in the navil, the health of the whole body; by marrow in the bones, the ſtrength of it. The ſum then is, that the former vertues mentioned, verſe 7. will keep the whole body in perfect health, for when both theſe parts are wel, all is well: For our health depends upon the tender parts, which are vital, and the bones, which are the pillars of the body. So the ſtrength of Behemoth, is in his navil, and in his bones, His force is in the navil of his belly, his bones are as ſtrong pieces of braſs, his bones are like bars of Iron. Job 40.16.18.
Figures. It ſhal be health and marrow. It ſhal procure health and ſtrength. A metonymie of the effect for the cauſe, Navil, and Bones, for all the tender and hard parts of the body. Synech. Membri. or for the whole body, of the outward parts, whereof the navill is the center, and of the inward, whereof the bones are the circumference,
Note. 1. A promiſe of health.
2. Of ſtrength.
In the firſt,
Note. 1. The gift, It ſhal be health.
2. The object, To thy navil.
In the ſecond,
Note. 1. The gift, and marrow, that is, ſtrength; for without it, the ſtrongeſt bones conſume.
2. The object, to thy bones.
Doct. 1. A godly life is the beſt Phyſick to preſerve the body in health and ſtrength. Alas, fickneſſe came after his diſtruſting God, and ſending the gold of the Temple to Benhadad, and impriſoning the Seer, 2 Chron. 16. How ſhould one chaſe a thouſand, and two put ten thouſand to flight, except their Rock had ſold them, and the Lord had ſhut them up? Deut. 32.30. If thou wilt give ear to the commandements of the Lord, I wil put none of thoſe diſeaſes upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians for I am the Lord that healeth thee. Exod. 15.26.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe it is the ſafeſt Phyſick to preſcribe: there may be danger in purges, and vomits, they may kill in ſtead of healing. But there is no danger in a godly life, no ſuch man ever miſcaried.
2. It is the eaſieſt to take by them that are godly. My yoke is eaſy, and my burden is light. Mat. 11.30. To ſome natures pills go ſo hardly down, they will rather adventure a dying then take them: But to good men, Gods Phyſick is very pleaſing.
3. It works kindlieſt: ſome phyſick works ſo ſtrongly, it makes men deadly ſick, before it heale them; this pleaſes a good man in the working, he likes the very motions and endeavours of good.
4. It is the ſureſt in operation. Sinne hinders bodily Phyſick, and many a poor man fearing God, recovers of dangerous Sickneſſes without it.
5. It is the beſt Phyſick. Some things are good Antidots, that are not good recoverers: Some things good cordials, that are not good purges, and ſo contrary. This is all, Antidotes, Purges, Cordials, Cure, and all; it ſupplies all to the body to many a poor godly man, that cannot go to the coſt of Phyſick, yet through Gods mercy this heals them.
6. It makes the moſt laſting cure; it may be bodily Phyſick may work more ſpeedily, but the party may fall into a relaps and die, but this cure laſts longeſt, and in the end cures for good and all. Job marvailes at the fat and ſtrength of the wicked. Job 21.7.8. Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? &c. So doth Aſaph. Their eyes stand out with fatneſſe. Pſal. 73.7. &c. Yet he ſaw, they were ſet on ſlippery places, &c. verſe 18. There is great odds between a Bullock, kept wel for labour, and an Oxe fatted for the ſlaughter; and between a body fat and flouriſhing by good meat, and an other ſwelled with tumours by bad. So Joſhua and Caleb died in Canaan in a good old age, who obeyed God, when thouſands of Rebels died in the Wilderneſſe.
Uſe 1. To reprove thoſe that ſpend much money in Phyſick, and yet overthrow the health and ſtrength of their bodies by ſinful courſes: they forget the Text, A godly life is health to the navil, &c.
2. To perſwade us to uſe this new preſcript for bodily health: Moſt men love to try new medicines; yet this new (perhaps to us) is as old as Solomon, and hath found many a probatum eſt, both in Scripture, and in after times. Phyſicians need not be angry with me for this preſcript, for God would have their art uſed alſo, but this never to be neglected. There is none of us, but if we were aſſured the Phyſicians potion would heal, would take it, though troubleſome and hard. We are wont to ſay, There is nothing but I will do it, ſo I may recover health. Uſe this direction, and thou ſhalt be ſure either to have health here, or happineſſe in heaven.
Doct. 2. Health is a great bleſſing. It is the firſt queſtion we ask concerning our friends, Art thou in health my brother? 2 Sam. 20.9. Is he wel? Gen. 29.6. It is the anſwer to the ſame queſtion, Thy ſervant, our father is in good health, Gen. 43.28.
Reaſon. 1. No other earthly comfort is pleaſing without it. Wee take no content in friends, children, wealth in ſickneſſe.
2. The contrary ſhews it. Great and laſting diſeaſes are very burdenſome.
Uſe. Praiſe God for it, that thou lieſt not groning in thy bed ſick of the ſtone, or gout, or ſome other painfull diſeaſe, but art able to goe about thy buſineſſe, and take comfort in thine. Remember it is a great mercy and undeſerved; be thankfull for it, and walk worthy of it.
3. Doct. Bodily ſtrength is a great bleſſing. It is commended in Davids worthies, and in Sampſon.
Reaſon. 1. It ſerves for a mans own defence. The weakeſt goes to the wall.
2. For the defence of our Country, which would bee overrun by cruel enemies, if ſtout ſouldiers did not defend it.
Uſe. It is then lawfull to pray for ſtrength of body, ſo it bee with ſubmiſſion to the will of God.
4. Doct. The more full our health, and ſtrength is, the greater is the bleſſing. His hand was restored whole as the other. Mar. 3.5. Immedintely the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked. Ioh. 5.9. Are ye angry at me, becauſe I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day? Ioh. 7.23.
Reaſon. Becauſe it is ſo in all bleſſings ſpirituall, and corporeall: The greater meaſure, the greater bleſſing, if not abuſed.
Uſe Let ſuch as have compleat health, and ſtrength, endeavour to do God more, and greater ſervice, then weaker men. Elſe have they a greater account to give of theſe Talents.