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Chastity is a vertue of that consequence, and Impurity such a pernicious bane of Youth; that the Wise Man thought he could not too oft make mention of the danger of the one, to move men carefully to preserve the other. And therefore is not contented with what he
had already said about this matter, in the latter end of the second Chapter, and in the whole fifth Chapter, and now in the latter part of the sixth: but again repeats it with renewed importunities; desiring to be heard attentively, especially in the cautions he gives against Adultery; the avoiding of which he represents as a high point of Wise∣dom, v. 1, 2, 3, 4.
And the better to secure those that desire to be happy from this snare, he represents, together with the silliness of young Men, the cunning and crafty devices of an impudent Adulteress. Which is admirably set forth from v. 6. to v. 21. Where he begins to shew the effects of her courtship, and its lamentable conclusion. And thereupon v. 24. renews his intreaties to beware of such Women; who have undone many and great persons; and to stop at the very first motion or inclination towards her.
The sum of all is, that it is a singular bene∣fit a man hath by true Wisedom, to be pre∣served from such sins and such miseries: And therefore we should study Wisedom; which alone can secure us from being deceived by such flatteries, as bewitch silly and incau∣tious Souls to their ruin. And herein the vigilance of Magistrates is required to watch and observe (as Solomon did v. 6. 7.) the manners of their Subjects; that they may the better obviate and correct their vices: but especially every man's diligent consideration
is necessary, of such things as Solomon here sets before him to divert him from such wicked courses. Particularly the character of these leud women is to be studied; who are then most abominable, when they put on the mask of piety and devotion. As this strumpet doth (v. 14.) in her speech which she makes to the young Man. Where there are two things in my Paraphrase, of which I owe some ac∣count to the Reader.
[a] The one is in the beginning of it, v. 14. Where I have taken Schelamin peace-offe∣rings, of which there were three sorts (VII. Lev. 11, 12. 16.) for the last of them, offe∣rings of thanksgiving for blessings already obtained; not of prayer for the impetration of blessings from God (as Grotius and others understand the word) not yet received. My reason is, because she was so solicitous to have company at her feast upon this Sacrifice, that very day. Every body knows that such Sa∣crifices were to be of the best, either of Bul∣locks, or Sheep or Goats (III. Lev. 1, 6, 12.) and that the greatest part of them fell to the share of the person who offered them, that he might feast with God: that is, all except the fat upon the kidneys, and rump of the Sheep, and the breast and right shoulder; which was sufficient to make a liberal enter∣tainment for his Friends. But this is not so commonly observed, that though they might keep this flesh two days, before it was all
spent, because there was such plenty of it, yet that is to be understood onely of the two first sorts of Peace-offerings, for obtaining blessings; not of the eucharistical, or Thank-offerings: which as Philo observes, were to be eaten the very same day they were offered; that they who had readily received favours from God, might as readily, and without delay, com∣municate to others. Which is the account Abarbinel also gives of this matter: and it is observable, that all sorts of bread were to be joyned with this Sacrifice, that every thing might be ready for the Feast.
[b] The other thing is at the latter end of her speech, v. 20. where by the word Haccése I understand the Full Moon, as the Vulgar Latin doth. With which Translation Inter∣preters find fault, because it looks like a con∣tradiction, they say, to call that day by a name, which signifies the Moon to be cove∣red: and therefore they translate it rather the New Moon, as we do in the margin of our Bibles. But they that can consult Lud. de Dieu upon LXXXI. Psal. 3. will find good reason to take it quite otherwise; for the Full Moon: which giving light then all the night, made it a fit time for a journey, either in Winter (as by the darkness of the night, v. 9. I suppose it might now be) when the days are short; or in Summer when the heat made them unfit for travel.
The Proverbial Sayings in this Chapter, some make three, others four: all contained in two verses 22, and 23. With which I shall not trouble the Reader; because I have made them plain enough in the Paraphrase; and intend not to fill this Book, with like sayings out of other Authours.
[c] I should onely add that Rabbim in the last verse, but one, signifying great men as well as many, I have expressed both: and Solo∣mon himself as well as Sampson became an example of the mighty men there mentioned who were undone by leud Women.
1. MY son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
1. THere is great reason then, My Son, (II. Prov. 1.) to repeat the caution I have often given thee, against this and other vices: and to beseech thee, to observe my Instructions, and to lay up my Com∣mandments in such faithfull remembrance; that they may not fail to produce the fruit of obedience.
2. Keep my com∣mandments, and live: and my law as the apple of thine eye.
2. For if thou wilt be ru∣led by them, assure thy self (as I have said before IV. 4.) thou shalt enjoy long happi∣ness: therefore observe them carefully with a tender affec∣tion
to them; and, looking upon them as thy safest guide and directour, consent as soon to wound the apple of thine Eye, as in the least to violate any of My Laws.
3. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
3. Do not merely reade what I write, imagining thou canst have continual recourse to them here in this Book; but be so well ac∣quainted with them, as to have them (as we speak) at thy fingers ends: or rather, let them be transcribed from hence, into thy very heart.
4. Say unto Wis∣dom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy Kinswoman:
4. There embrace them with ardent love; and set such an high esteem on Wisedom, that thou mayst invite it more and more un∣to thee: till it be as familiar with thee as an onely Sister, born at the same time with thee; and thou understand and delight in all her Pre∣cepts, as so near a kin to thee, that thou find them to be the very reason and sense of thy own mind.
5. That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
5. Which will be a pow∣erfull preservative to thee
from the snares of the naugh∣ty Woman: who, though her company be so pernitious that God would have thee perfectly estranged from her, as if she were not of the Commonwealth of Israel, yet hath powerfull charms about her, to flatter those into her embraces, who are not heartily in love with Wisedom.
6. ¶ For at the window of my house I looked through my case∣ment,
6. ¶ Of which a memo∣rable instance comes now in∣to my mind; for looking one day from my Chamber, through the lattices of the Window of my Palace;
7. And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
7. I observed, among the undisciplin'd and unexperien∣ced Striplings of the City, one that was as childish and void of consideration, as he was youthfull and eager in his desires:
8. Passing through the street near her corner, and he went the way to her house,
8. Who, as if he had a mind to be undone, passed idlely through the Street, till he came to a Corner, where naughty Women use to haunt: walking in as stately a manner, as he
could devise, directly to∣wards one of their Houses.
9. In the twi∣light, in the even∣ing, in the black and dark night:
9. It was in the twilight, while he might see his way and yet hope to be conceal∣ed: in the close of the day; which was followed by a night as dark as pitch, and fit for such works of dark∣ness.
10. And be∣hold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and sub∣til of heart.
10. There, on a suddain, I was surprised with the sight of a Woman starting forth; who did not stay till he came up to her, but went to meet him, in a gaudy lascivious dress, apt to allure a weak young Man: who thought presently she was in love with him; when her heart, as full of subtilty as his was of folly, is reserved onely to her self.
11. (She is loud and stubborn, her feet abide not in her house.
11. This is her character: She is full of talk, and of bold unseemly courtship; unruly and not to be con∣trouled or broke of her will; idle also and always gadding abroad, as if she had no bu∣siness (but with her foolish Lovers) at home.
12. Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner)
12. Sometime she stands before her door; and, if that will not do, she goes further into the streets and places of greatest concourse: and, more especially, waits at every cor∣ner (where she may look in∣to two streets at once) to in∣snare such as are apt, like sil∣ly birds, to be taken by her.
13. So she caught him and kissed him, and with an impu∣dent face said un∣to him,
13. At one of those corners (as I said) she met this young fool; and, contrary to all the rules of modesty, caught him hard about the neck and kis∣sed him: and after these amo∣rous caresses put on still a bol∣der face, and, without any blushing, made this follow∣ing speech to him;
14. I have peace-offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
14. I am a happy Woman, in many blessings that God hath bestowed upon me, for which I have given Him so∣lemn thanks this very day: and, as Religion and Custom binds me, I have provided as good a Feast as those Sacri∣fices would afford, which I formerly vowed and now have paid; having no want of any thing but of some
good company at home to rejoice with me. See Arg. [a]
15. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, dili∣gently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
15. Which made me go abroad to try if I could meet with thee (who art the very person whom I came to seek) that I might invite and ear∣nestly beseech thee to be so kind as to bear me company: And, to my great joy, this is added to all my other hap∣piness, that I have found thee speedily and most opportune∣ly.
16. I have deckt my bed with co∣verings of tape∣stry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
16. There shall no other pleasures be wanting when our Feast is done; but from the Table we will remove to my Bed: which I have rich∣ly adorned with every thing that may please the eye; and made it as soft also as heart can wish.
17. I have per∣fumed my bed with myrrhe, aloes, and cinnamon.
17. Where thou shalt be entertained likewise with the sweetest perfumes, that ours or the neighbouring coun∣tries could furnish me with∣all; such as Myrrh, Aloes, and Cinnamon: wherewith I have sprinkled my Bed, to render it more gratefull to all thy senses,
18. Come, let us take our fill of love untill the morning, let us solace our selves with loves.
18. Why do we waste our time then here in the street? Come along with me, and let us go thither; and there satisfie our desires to the full with love: we will solace our selves with the sweetest plea∣sures; which shall not end till the morning light.
19. For the good-man is not at home, he is gone a long jour∣ney;
19. For there is no fear they should be interrupted or disturbed; the Man (whom they call my Husband) be∣ing from home, and not like∣ly to return in haste: For he is gone to a place a great way off;
20. He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
20. Where he hath much business to dispatch; which will detein him so long, that I am sure it will be full moon (and now the new doth scarce yet appear, v. 9.) before he can be at home again. See Arg. [b]
21. With much fair speech she cau∣sed him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she for∣ced him.
21. In the representing of these, and many other like specious pretences (of great affection to him, of all sorts of pleasure, of secrecy, and safety in their enjoyments) she shewed her self such a
mistress of her art, that she bowed the heart of the young Man to become her disciple: and, having wrought upon his inclinations, she pursued her advantage with so much cunning; that she rather com∣pelled than attracted him, by her charming voice, and her soft alluring language.
22. He goeth after her strait∣way, as an ox go∣eth to the slaugh∣ter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks:
22. For he made not the least Objection, but away he went immediately, and followed her like a great Calf (as we speak in our language) or a stupid Ox; that fancies he is led to the pasture, when he is going to be killed: or like a fool, who takes it for an ornament, when the stocks are brought for his correcti∣on, to be clapt upon his leggs.
23. Till a dart strike through his liver, as a bird hasteth to the snare, and know∣eth not that it is for his life.
23. Just so he hastily threw himself into her embraces, and dream't of nothing but pleasure; till, like a rash Souldier that falls unexpec∣tedly into an ambush, he re∣ceived a mortal wound by that, which he fancied would be his highest satisfaction; or like a silly bird that gree∣dy
of the food which is laid to intice it, never minds the snare that is laid together with it: So he eagerly lon∣ging to taste of her Feast and the following delights, had not so much as a thought, that this was a design upon his life; and would not end, but in miseries infinitely greater than all his joys.
24. ¶ Hearken unto me now there∣fore, O ye chil∣dren, and attend to the words of my mouth.
24. ¶ This is a true re∣presentation, my dear chil∣dren (whom I love unfeign∣edly, not deceitfully like those harlots) of the folly and danger of these lewd courses, in which youth is prone to be engaged: and therefore do not look upon it as an idle speculation; but give diligent heed unto it, and be ruled by my Advice.
25. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
25. Let not one of you so much as entertain a thought of going to such a woman; much less of consenting to her enticements: or if any of you have been so unhap∣py as to be engaged in her company, let him think it is too much that he hath ad∣ventured
to turn aside out of the right way, and not wan∣der till he hath utterly lost himself in those strange paths, and cannot find his way back again.
26. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
26. Do not presume of be∣ing safe in such courses, and of making a good retreat at last: For many have been the examples of no mean persons, who have faln in their reputation, their estates, their healths, their comforts of life, and in truth have ut∣terly perished by her: innu∣merable are the mighty men, both for valour and for wise∣dom, whom she hath brought to ruin. See Arg. [c]
27. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
27. In short, to follow her unto her house, as this young man did, is the direct way to hell: every step that is taken to her Bed (unto which she invited him to as∣cend) is in truth a going down to the dismall cham∣bers of death, and to the most horrid miseries.