A commentarie vpon the booke of the Prouerbes of Salomon. Published for the edification of the Church of God.

THE IIII. CHAPTER.

1 Heare, ô sonnes, the instruction of a fa∣ther, and hearken to know prudence.

2 For I giue you a good lesson, forsake not my doctrine.

THis fourth chapter, containeth the fourth sermō of Salomon, wherein he reporteth to his sonnes, the speeches of his father Dauid to him. In these ver∣ses, we haue a preface or forespeech, wherin the wise king stirreth vp his children to hearken to his instru∣ction, partly by his fatherly authoritie, partly by the excellencie of the doctrine which he deliuereth, cal∣ling it a good lesson, euen as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes tearmeth the holy Scripture,* 1.1 the good word of God.

3 Whilest yet I was my fathers sonne, a tender and onely one in the sight of my mother,

4 He nourturing me said vnto me, let thine heart hold fast my words, keepe my commande∣ment, that thou mayst liue.

Salomon in these words, setteth downe the first part of Dauids speech vnto him, wherein he prepared him to receiue his instructions. whilest yet I was my fathers sonne, when as yet I was vnder my fathers wing, by him accounted as his best beloued child, a tender and a only one in the sight of my mother, and when as, albeit Beersheba who bare me had more sonnes by Dauid,* 1.2 yet I was her darling and her ioy alone. He nourturing me said vnto me, let thine heart hold fast my words, keepe my commaunde∣dement, that thou mayest liue. Then, he bringing me vp in the information of the Lord, charged me with all attention to listen to his admonitions, affirming that they would make me a partaker of the good things of this world and the world to come. By this example of

Dauid, all Christian parents are to be stirred vp,* 1.3 to haue regard not onely of the bodies but of the soules of their children.

5 Purchase wisedome, purchase prudence, forget not, nor decline from the speeches of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she will keepe thee, loue her, and she will preserue thee.

One of those precepts or exhortations which Da∣uid gaue vnto Salomon, is herein set downe and enfor∣ced by a reason. Purchase wisedome, purchase prudence, forget not, nor decline from thee speeches of my mouth. Pro∣cure vnto thy selfe by selling thy commodities and pleasures, and by vsing the meanes of cost and labor, the knowledge of Gods will and the discretion of his spirit, which graces once attained, neuer through a∣nie negligence in any case forgo. Forsake her not, and she will keepe thee, loue her, and she will preserue thee. So doing, wisedome and prudence as certaine watchmen will shield thee that thou come not into any danger, and if peraduēture thou shalt fall into some trouble, they will preserue and deliuer thee from destruction.

7 First of all [seeke] wisedome, purchase wisedome, & with thy whole possession purchase prudence.

8 Magnifie her, and she will aduance thee, if thou shalt embrace her, she will honor thee.

9 She wil set on thine head a comely attire, she will put vpon thee a crowne of glorie.

Here we haue another precept or admonition of Dauid, accompanied with a most sweet promise.* 1.4 First of all seeke wisedome, purchase wisedome, before all things and aboue all things, labour after the kingdome of God, and with thy whole possession purchase prudence, let

nothing in the world be so deare or precious vnto thee, as that thou wouldest not willingly part from it or bestow it, rather then not obtaine the vnderstan∣ding of Gods will, which is as a treasure hidden in a field,* 1.5 or as a peerlesse pearle, the which to buy, a wise marchant sold all that he had. Maguifie her, and she will aduance thee, if thou shalt embrace her, she will honor thee. If thou shalt count all things but dung in regard of the excellent knowledge of Christ, certainely this grace of God, as a Queene, shall either make thee honorable in the eyes of prophane people, as it did Ioseph in Pharaos sight, or it shall make thee gracious and glorious in the sight of good men, the Angels, and God him selfe. She will set on thine head a comely attire, she will put vpon thee a crowne of glorie. To conclude, wis∣dome wil make thee a king and priest vnto the Lord, yea an inheritor of that crowne of glorie,* 1.6 which the righteous God hath layd vp in heauen, for those who loue him.

10 Heare, ô my sonne, and receiue my say∣ings, and yeares of life shall be multiplied vnto thee.

11 I teach thee the way of vvisedome, I leade thee by the pathes of equitie.

12 When thou shalt walke, thy gate shall not be strait, and if thou shalt runne, thou shalt not be hurt.

13 Lay hold on her instruction, leaue not of, keepe her, because she is thy life.

In these verses, a third precept is comprehended, attended on with reasons as were the former. Heare ô my sonne and receiue my sayings, and yeares of life shall be multiplied vnto thee. I teach thee the way of wisedome, I leade thee by the pathes of equitie. O my child, to the ende that

that thou mayst continue on earth and liue for euer in heauen: walke in those good paths of holinesse & righteoushesse, which I as a guide appointed frō the Lord, do shew thee by my precepts, and chalke out before thee by my doctrines. When thou shalt walke thy gate shall not be strait, and if thou shalt runne, thou shalt not be hurt. So doing, wisedome as a guide will direct thee in the right and plain way which leadeth to pro∣speritie in such sort, as that alwayes thou shalt find li∣bertie and safetie. Lay hold on her instruction, leaue not of, keepe her, because she is thy life. Therefore keepe the doctrine of the word, and suffer not wisedome to de∣part from thee, because hereby thou shalt be quicke∣ned to fairh, obedience and immortalitie. For in∣deed Iesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. And this is eternall life, to know the true God & him whom he hath sent, Iesus Christ.

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, neither walke in the way of euill men,

15 Auoydit, go not through it, turne from it, and passe by it.

16 For they sleepe not vnlesse they haue done a mischiefe, and their sleepe is taken away, vn∣lesse they cause some to fall.

17 For they eate the bread of wickednesse, and drinke the wine of violence.

18 As for the path of the righteous, it is like the glistering light, which proceedeth to shine vntill the perfection of the day:

19 The way of the wicked is like the darke∣nesse, they knovv not vvhere they shall stumble.

Herein, Dauid disswadeth his sonne from hauing any fellowship with euill men. These verses containe

straight charges, & diuerse forcible reasons tending to this purpose. Enter not into the path of the wicked, come not into the place where sinners are, rashly or to an ill intent, neither walke in the way of euill men, continue not in the companie, nor liue after the conditions of vngodly persons. Auoyd it, go not through it, turne from it, and passe by it. Flye their presence and doings with might and maine. For they sleepe not vnlesse they haue done a mischiefe, and their sleepe is taken away, vnlesse they cause some to fall. They sinne not of frailtie but of malice, not by occasion as it were, but of an vnsatiable desire of committing wickednesse. The eye of the adulterer wayteth for the twilight, the thiefe ietteth abrode in the darke: to conclude, the harmefull man museth on mischiefe in his bed. For they eate the bread of wickednes, and drinke the wine of violence. They liue not of honest labour, but of goods gotten by hooke and crooke, and moreouer it is meate and drinke to them to do euill. As for the path of the righteous, it is like the glistering light, which proceedeth to shine vntill the perfection of the day. The way of the wicked is like darkenesse, they know not where they shall stumble. The godly being the children of the day and of the light,* 1.7 are full of blessings, and increase in excellent ornaments, yea attaine at last to perfect glorie, and at noone commeth to perfect brightnes. On the contrarie side, as they who walke in the night go in great feare and fall most daungerously: so the wicked are full of sinnes and calamities, which also sometimes ouertake them in those times and places, wherein they least suspect danger, and when they say peace, peace, as the Apostle speaketh.

20 My sonne, hearken vnto my words, en∣cline thine eares vnto my sayings,

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them within thine heart.

22 For they are life vnto those who find thē, & wholsom to the whole flesh, of euery one of thē

Before that Dauid commeth to deliuer new instru∣ctions, he prepareth his sonne in these sentences by a preface to receiue them. He first demandeth an at∣tentiue eare, saying, My sonne encline thine eares vnto my sayings. The reason hereof is, for that faith cometh by hearing, and the eare is the doore at which know∣ledge doth especially enter. Secondly, he requireth a watchfull eye. Let them not depart from thine eyes. If the eye be not sanctified by the word and spirit, enuie, pride, adulterie, and other vices, will therein haue an habitation. Thirdly, he doth also claime a faithful heart. Keepe them within thine heart. If the soule be care∣lesse or not inwardly reformed as well as the outward senses, the seede of the word is lost, which either the foules of the aire will picke out, or the thornes will choke, or the stones will cause to wither. For they are life vnto those who find them, and wholsome to the whole flesh of euery one of them. The doctrines of the Scripture are able to make men wise vnto saluatiō, yea whosoeuer obey them, shall be sure not onely to liue, but to liue in prosperous health, if not alwayes of the bodie, yet of the soule.

23 Aboue all watch and vvard keepe thine heart, for out of it proceed the issues of life.

As before Dauid hath disswaded his sonne from the companie of wicked persons, so now he warneth him to take heed, that he haue no fellowship with any euill things. He forbiddeth in this verse the pol∣lution of the heart or spirit. Aboue all watch and ward keepe thine heart, not onely looke that thy soule be free from pride, hypocrisie, and such vices, but aboue all other things, do this. Rather looke to the cleansing of thine heart, then to the cleansing of thy well: rather looke to the feeding of thine

heart, then to the feeding of thy flocke: rather looke to the defending of thine heart, then to the defen∣ding of thine house: rather looke to the keeping of thine heart, then to the keeping of thy money. For out of it proceed the fountaines or issues of life. Seeing the hart is the wel-spring of motion, sense, and vigor, the least hurt which befallerh the heart, must needes bring death, and therefore it standeth thee vpon, to looke that thine heart be not infected with any poyson, but especially that thy spirituall heart be not venomed with sinne; for out of the heart commeth murder, adulteries, and all mischiefes, as our Sauiour tea∣cheth.

24 Remoue from thee, the peruersenesse of the mouth, and put farre avvay from thee, the naughtinesse of the lippes.

Now in the second place, Dauid admonisheth his sonne,* 1.8 to lay aside all euill and filthie speaking. The toung indeede is the most excellent member in our body, if so be that it glorifie God and edifie men. But if it breake the bridle or abuse it selfe in speeches, there is nothing in our whole body more hurtful thē it is. We are thē not without cause willed to remoue from vs the peruersnesse of the mouth, after that we haue bene exhorted aboue all things to looke to our harts. All the vices of the toung are comprehended vnder these two wordes, peruersenesse and naughti∣nes. We are then charged to take heed of blasphemy, heresie, periurie, lying, cursing, iesting, backebiting, brawling, foolish speaking, boasting, and infinit other such deformities of the mouth and of the lips.

25 Let thine eyes looke directlie on afore, & let thine eyes lids vievv streight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy foore, and let all thy vvayes be ordered aright.

27 Turne not to the right hand or the left, remoue thy foote from euill.

In this cōclusion of the Chapter, we haue the last instruction of Dauid set downe. The summe of it is, that his sonne should keep all the parts of his body & powers of his soule in the obedience of Gods com∣maundements.* 1.9 Let thine eyes looke directly on afore, &c. Walke circumspectly, not as the vnwise but as the wise, redeeming the time. For, to take heede to the way, to looke on strait before, and not to turne aside hither or thither, are properties of a wise traueller. Now what a daungerous thing it is to looke awry ne∣uer so litle, the example of Lots wife may testifie. Iob cōsidering this point verie deepely, made (as he wit∣nesseth) a couenant with his eyes, not to looke on a mayd. The roote of these preceptes is to be found in the fift of Deutronomie and the thirtie and eight verse, where the Lord speaketh thus to the people of Israell, You shall take heede that you doe as the Lord your God commaundeth you, see that ye decline not, either to the right hand or the left.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. 6.5.
• * 1.2

  2. Chro. 28.
• * 1.3

  See examples of like care of brin∣ging vp of chil∣dre in gods feare, in Abraham, Iob Eunice & Bath∣sheba.
• * 1.4

  Mat. 6.33.
• * 1.5

  Mat. 13.44.45.
• * 1.6

  Reuel. 1.5.
• * 1.7

  1. Thess. 5.1. 2. Sam. 23.4. Dan. 12.1.2.
• * 1.8

  Col. 3.8.
• * 1.9

  Ephes. 5.15.