Annotations on five poetical books of the Old Testament (viz.) Job, Psalmes, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles / by Edward Leigh ...

CHAP. I.

THE Book of Proverbs is compared to a great heap of gold Rings, rich and orient severally, and every one shining with a distinct sense by it self: but other Contexts of holy Writ to gold-chains, so interwoven and enlinked together, that they must be illightned and receive mutual illustration one from another. Bolton on Prov. 18. 14.

It is without question that Salomon was the Author of this Book, 1 King. 4. 32.

Three Books of Scripture are Salomons, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles. The Proverbs set out true wisdom; Ecclesiastes, worldly vanity; Canticles, heavenly love.

Vers. 4. The simple.] Jerom reads it a child, Junius fools, because both chil∣dren and fools are simple.

Vers. 7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.] Filial fear, a fear of reverence, Mal. 3. 16. The word signifies as well caput or principatum, the head or top of wisdom.

Vers. 8. My Sonne.] Salomon repeating this Title twenty three times hath it ever in this form Fili mi, my son. One main end of writing this Book was to in∣struct young ones.

Vers. 12. Let us swallow them up alive as the grave.] As wilde beasts devour their prey, at a morsel. Ralph Bains saith, he seems to allude to the History of Dathan

and Ahiram, whom the earth opened and swallowed up quick; but M^r Taylor dis∣likes this; for thieves (saith he) would not willingly mention such a judge∣ment.

Vers. 20. Wisdom▪ crieth without.] Heb. Wisdoms, that is, Summa Sapientia. Junius. Because it is the most excellent wisdom, divine, heavenly wisdom, which teacheth us how to attain eternal life.

Crieth.] The word signifies a strong cry, such a one as Souldiers use to send forth in the beginning of a battel, or after a victory.

Vers. 22. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity.] Simple sometimes sig∣nifies one that is plain hearted, sincere; and simplicity, singlenesse and integrity of heart; here taken in the worst sense, fools love folly, that is sinne.

That is, Never strive to better your knowledge in things which may do you most good, but suffer your selves to be abused in that which will overthrow and shame you.

And fooles hate knowledge.] Sinfull fools will not be at cost and pains to get it.

Vers. 26. I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear com∣eth.] God delights not in it with a will terminated in their destruction, but as an occasion to exercise his justice.

Vers. 31. Therefore shall they eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.] A metaphor taken from those which have surfeted on sweet morsels, when they feel the griping of their bowels, they have enough of it. From Husband∣men, saith Baynes.

M^r Taylor saith, there is a metaphor from meats, in the word eat; a metaphor from trees▪ in the word fruit; and a metaphor from travellers, in the word way.

Vers. 32. For the turning away of the simple shall stay them.] By making them to neglect duty, and provoke God against them.

Notes

• Videtur hic liber esse 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 opti∣marum sen∣tentiarum ex plurimis qui a••te Salo••o∣ne•• fuere scri∣ptoribus, qua∣les 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 multi Impera∣torum Con∣stantinop••li∣tanorum con scribi in suos usus fecere. Sunt autem quae hîc sunt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 omnia, pertinentia aut ad morum, aut ad prudentiae praecepta, sic tamen ut ••aec & illa semper ad Dei cultum respiciant: quae virtus caeteras omnes ex se parit: Neglecta multis gentibus: Maximi autem facta ab Hebraeis sapientibus, ut in Joseph•• not••tum est Grotius, Farabola est dictum quoddam aenigmaticum quo diversae res inter se conferuntur. Cujusmodi sunt ill•• Salomonis. Hu∣jusmodi Parabolis pleni sunt libri Hebraeorum, Syrorum, Arabum, AEthiopum. Kirch. O••dip. AEgypt. T••••••. 2. p••r. 1. c. 5.
• Existimem Metaphoram esse à carnibus quae crudae & integrae devorantur. Sed si cui hoc non probetur, ei per me licet, ut ita locum Salomonis enarret: Deglutiamus eos viventes & int••gros: Viventes, i. valentes. Dru••i•• in Observat. Sac. Vi•••• Geierum in loc.
• See Chap▪ 9. 1. Hebraei in∣creatam illam Sapientiam vocant C••ocmoth in plurali numero Sapientia, id est, unaquaeque ex sapientiis, unaquaeque sapientia. Mercerus.
• Simplicity is op∣posed, 1. To craft. 2. To heavenly or true wisdom, so here.
• Risus Dei longe gravior est ira Dei, quod Deus loquitur cum risu tu legas cum luctu. August. Gods laughter is more to be feared than his anger, Psal. 2. 4. He will laugh his ene∣mies to scorn, and then break them to pieces.