An exposition of the morall lavv, or Ten Commandements of almightie God set dovvne by vvay of exercitations, wherein is contained an explanation of diverse questions and positions for the right understanding thereof, together with an explication of these scriptures which depend upon, or belong unto every one of the commandements, all which are cleared out of the originall languages, the customes of the Iewes, and the distinctions of the schoolemen / by Iohn Weemse ...

EXERCITAT. II. Of the allurements of the Whore to adulterie, and how vile she is being compared with wisedome. Commandement. VII.

Prov. 9.14. Shee sitteth at the doore of her house on a seat in the high places of the citie, to call passengers that goe by, &c.

* 1.1THe whore is the Ape of wisedome, for as the Ape in some outward gestures imitateth man, but can∣not reason as man doth, or speake as hee doth: so the whore but imitateth wisdome in some outward things, but not in true vertuous actions.

* 1.2She counterfeiteth wisdome; First, wisdome standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the pathes, Prov. 8.2. & she calleth the sonnes of men in the entrie of the gates. So doth the whore sit in the corners & high places of the citie; and inviteth her lovers. Prov. 9.14.15.

Secondly, wisedome hath her palace; She hath buil∣ded her house, shee hath hewen out her seaven pillars. Prov. 9.1. So the whore hath her chamber, and her bed decked with coverings, and perfumed with myrrhe, aloes, and oynt∣ment. Prov. 7.16.

Thirdly, wisedome hath her banquet; She hath killed her beasts, she hath mingled her wine: she hath also furnished her table. Prov. 9.2. So hath the whore her banquet, her peace offerings: Prov. 7.14.

Fourthly, wisedome inviteth the simple; Prov. 8.5. but the whore inviteth the foolish man, void of under∣standing. Prov. 7.7.

But se the difference, wisedome hath a stately palace builded upon seven pillars, but the whore hath a bed decked with coverings, perfumes, and aloes, this bed dressed thus with such perfumes, and ointments, might put the young man in minde that hee was going to his grave, for the bodies of the dead were embalmed with such perfumes and ointments, and Her house is the way to hell going downe to the chambers of death, Prov. 7.27.

Wisedome cryeth without, shee uttereth her voice in the streets, shee cryeth in the chiefe places of concourse, in the openings of the gates, in the citie she utters her words. Marke the proceeding of wisedome here in this gradation: First, she cryeth [bahhutz] without, that is,* 1.3 she cryeth as she cometh out at the doore: againe, she cryeth [barhho∣bhoth] in the streetes, that is, in the place where buyers, and sellers use to meete for exercising of merchandise. Thirdly, shee cryeth [berosh homijoth] in the chiefe place of concourse, that is, where both the chiefe of the people, and common multitude resort, as 1. Sam. 14.38. Draw neare here all yee chiefe people. So Iud. 20.2. Fourthly, she cryeth [hephithhe shegnarim] in the opening of the gates, that is, in the place where the Iudges, and the counsell sate, she is not afraid of the faces of great men, nor of the power of the Iudge. But the whore hath her crye, and shee cometh to the doore of her house, and to the streetes, and to the corners of the streetes, Prov. 7.12. but she dares not be bold to come into the gates of the city, where judgement and justice are administred.

They that eate of wisedomes banquet, it shall be marrow to their bones, Prov. 3.8. but they that eate of the whores banquet, shall mourne at the last, when their flesh, and their body are consumed,* 1.4 therefore the Greekes called Venus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, solvens vel dissolvens membra.

Wisdome mixeth her wine with spices, but the whore hath her cup of fornication mixed with Philtra, or in∣chantments,

Revel. 17.4. poculum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a cup of abo∣mination, and filthinesse of her fornication, Wisedome hath length of dayes in her right hand, Prov. 3.16. but the whores feete goe downe to death, and her steps take hold on the grave, Prou. 5.5.* 1.5 The whores of old were shut out of the citie, and dwelt by themselves, and when they committed their villanie,* 1.6 they went to secret places amongst the graves, therefore they called them bustuartas moechas, de scortis inter busta atque monumenta prostantibus: the whores who haunted among the graves to hide their filthinesse: and the Seventy allude to this, Ierem. 1. How sayest thou I am not polluted, I saw thy wayes in the valley▪ the Seventy hath it, I saw thy wayes amongst the graves.

Wisedome bringeth riches in her left hand, Prov. 3.16. but the whore bringeth a man to a morsell of bread, Prov. 6.26. and strangers are filled with his strength, that is,* 1.7 his riches, for strength is put for riches, Hos. 7.9. Iob. 30.24. And he mourneth when all is spent, Pro. 5.11. in the originall it is [Nahamta ba••hharithecha] which pro∣perly signifieth to roare as the hungry lions doe when they are hungerbit.* 1.8 Such was the crie of the forlorne sonne, after that hee had wasted all his goods upon whores, when hee said, I perish with hunger, Luc. 15.17.

Wisedome cometh with honour in her left hand, Prov. 3 16. but the whore bringeth shame, Prov. 5.14. I was almost in all evill in the midd st of the congregation and assembly, that is, I was esteemed an infamous sinner, So Luc. 7.3. Behold a woman in the city which was a sin∣ner, that is, who was esteemed a publicke and infamous sinner, and so publicans and harlots are joyned toge∣ther, as infamous and notorious sinners.

Who so findeth wisedome findeth life, Prov. 8.35. but whosoever haunteth with a whore giveth his yeares [leaczari] to the cruell,* 1.9 Prov. 5.9 [aczar] properly signi∣fieth

the poison of the aspe, Deut. 32.33. which breedeth no paine at the first, but the poison is deadly and cannot be cured; The lips of a strange woman doe drop as the honey combe, but her end is bitter as worme-wood, sweet things breed choller, but bitter things diminish choler; the faire speeches and songs of the whore seeme to be sweete and pleasant, but being digested they turne to bitternesse, but spirituall songs as Davids, although they seeme bitter at the first, yet they are comfortable in the end, and Sweeter then the honey and the honey combe, Psal. 19. Therefore Salomon willeth the young man to deli∣ver himselfe from the strange woman that flattereth with her words, Prov. 2.16. nitzal est furto se eripere,* 1.10 to steale himselfe out of her bonds, who keepeth him so in fetters.

As the Lord said to the Israelites, that hee had set life and good, and death and evill before them, Deut. 30.15. So the Lord here sets death and life before men, the way of wisedome, and the pathes of the whore, that they should choose the one and decline the other.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The whore is wisdomes Ape.
• * 1.2

  The whore counterfei∣teth wisedome in invi∣ting her lovers.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 foris 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 locus urbis patu∣lus in quem Mercatores ac Venditores contra∣hendi et vendendi gra∣tia conveniunt. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in capite tumltuantium id est turbarum. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ad fores portarum, ubi suprema Iudicum sub∣sellia.
• * 1.4

  Venus abantiquis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 dicta.
• * 1.5

  Whores of old haunted amongst the graves.
• * 1.6

  Hadrianus Turnebus, lib. advers. 13.19.
• * 1.7

  ROBVR pro divi••ijs.
• * 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ne forte rugias vel ge∣mas in no••issimis tuis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 rug••st, fremuit leonum famelicorum proprie.
• * 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Crud••lis, pro∣prie v••••••num Asp••••lu••.
• * 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 furto se eripuit, vel proripuit.