Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That they are double to that which is Job 11.6 How hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is Job 26.3 Thou dissolvest my substance Job 30.22 And so it stands in opposition to that which is not So riches are described Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not ch 23.5 Heaven onely hath a foundation earth hath none but is hanged upon nothing Abraham looked for a City which hath foundations Heb. 11.10 But God hangeth the earth upon nothing Job 26.7 Wisdome hath solid substance in it and true worth whereas opinion onely sets the price upon all outward things 2. The word signifies working or operation which is an effect of essence Things must be before they can work and are to small purpose if they work not God iâ— excellent in working Isa 28.29 3. Wisdome which is one of the most excellent things that have a being Keep sound wisdome ch 3.21 Other things passe away when it remains and supports many things besides Sapientia essentiae appellationem sortita est quòd sit atque ad omnem aeternitatem duret Ab. Ezr. Wisdome hath got the name of essence because it is and endures to all eternity It is also learned from things that have a being and is excellently seen in them Some take it in the first sense and interpret it of that glorious being which God reserves for the righteous in heaven But it is best to understand it of sound wisdome which is said to be Gods gift in the former verse God is not like a bad Father which wasteth his goods but like a provident one who layes up treasure for his children For the righteous He had shewed before what God gave namely Wisdome Now he shews to whom he gives it not to all but to the righteous He layes it up for them that will make a good use of it Rectus est qui suam voluntatem divinae conformat volens de omni re id quod Deus vult eum vâ—lle Ambros He is right who conforms his will to Gâ—ds willing in every thing that which God would have him to will It may be translated For the upright So gladnâ—sse for the upright in heart Psal 97.11 He is a buckler The Lord mentioned before vers 6. Others read which is a buckler To wit sound wisdome mentioned in the beginning of this vers The former is the better God as a shield sets himself between his and all dangers especially spirituall It might have been objected The godly are subject to many dangers and errors The text answers God will be their buckler to stand between them and what might hurt them The Hebr. word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes from a word that signifies to cover and defend A Buckler defends men against blows and weapons It signifies 1. A shield or buckler literally such as are used in wars Was there a shield seen Judg. 5.8 There the shield of the mighty iâ— vilely cast away 2 Sam. 1.21 2. By a Metaphor it signifies a protection or protector from dangers I am thy shield Gen. 15.1 3. Rulers who are the protectors of the people Her rulers Heb. her shields with shame do love Give ye Hos 4.18 The shields of the earth belong unto God Psal 47.9 Here it is taken in the second sense and so God protects his from innumerable dangers and so doth Wisdome also But it may better be understood according to the coherence that God wil be a buckler to defend them against all sophistry and errors that would wound their souls and rob them of that wisdome which God hath laid up for them There is no want with God neither is he sparing in giving wisdome to his As he layes it up plentifully for them so he will bring it out plentifully to them and make it a buckler to keep them safe from all hurt of errors especially such as might endanger their salvation To them that walk See on ch 1.15 Vprightly or aright Whose lives and actions are sincere and agreeable to Gods Word Figures He layeth up A Metaphor from parents laying up treasure or portions for children 2 Cor. 12.14 A buckler A Metaphor from War wherein Souldiers use bucklers to prevent wounding To them that walk A Metaphor from Travellers to set out a constant course of piety Note 1. Gods provision 2. Gods protection In the former note 1. The person He that is the Lord. 2. The act layeth up 3. The object sound wisdome 4. The subject for the righteous In the latter observe 1. The benefit He is a buckler 2. The persons to whom to them that walk uprightly 1. Doct. God hath store of wisdome His understanding is infinite Psal 147.5 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God Rom. 11.33 Men have store of gold that can spare it to treasure it up So hath God of wisdome Reason It appears 1. By Gods works Of Creation In wisdome hast thou made them all Psal 104.24 Of Providence in upholding the world wherein there are are so many contrary dispositions in all sorts of creatures that threaten ruine to it 2. In his Writings The Law and Gospel Old Testament and New the best books in the world if mens eyes were open to see the mysteries of them Open mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law Psal 119.18 3. In his Scholars Bezaleel and Aboliab filled by God with understanding in all manner of curious works Exod. 31.2 c. David by Gods Word made wiser then his enemies teachers ancients Psal 119.98 c. The Prophets Apostles We count them best Schoolmasters and wisest out of whose Schools come rare Physicians Lawyers Divines All learned men come out of Gods School His is the heavenly Academy Vse Let us admire at Gods infinite wisdome and seeing our owne small store let us submit our judgement to his in all things for he is wisest It seems strange to flesh and blood to be saved by the Crosse of Christ It seemed so to Jews and Greeks Christ crucified is unto the Jews a stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1.23 That is to all the wise men of the world For the rest of the world had little learning then and were counted Barbarians Let us look for salvation no way else but from the Crosse of Christ It seems strange to us that death should be destroyed by death yet it is eafie to God It seems no lesse strange that God should work by contraries Yet he doth so He brings light out of darknesse and leads many to heaven through an hell of conscience It seems strange to us that we should be fick or poor when others are well or rich but God in his wisdome sees some good in it to us which we see not Let us therefore be patient 2. Doct. God provides wisdome for others Parents as they provide food and apparell so also they lay up portions for their children God hath wisdome
AN EXPOSITION WITH Practicall Observations UPON The three first Chapters of the PROVERBS Grammaticall Rhetoricall Logicall and Theologicall As they were delivered in severall EXPOSITORY LECTURES at Christ-Church in Canterbury By FRANCIS TAYLOR B. in D. LONDON Printed by E. C. for Henry Eversden and are to be sold at his shop at the Grey-hound in St. Paul's Church-yard 1655. To the Honourable Trustees for MAINTENANCE of MINISTERS And other Pious uses c. William Steele Esq Serjeant at Law late Recorder of the City of London now Lord Chief Baron Sir John Thorowgood of Kensington Knight George Cooper Richard Young John Pocock Ralph Hall Rich. Sidenham Edward Hopkins John Humfries and Edward Cresset Esquires Honorable Gentlemen WHat the Sun is to the world that the Scripture is to the Church No man can see the Sun it selfe nor any thing in the world but by the light of the Sun No man can know God nor any of his creatures aright but by the Scripture The Rabbins tell us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is no glory but the Law Aboth cap. 4. And Rab. Chija in the Jerusalem Talmud in Peah tells us that in his account 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All the world wholly is not of equall value with one word out of the Law The labour then of those men of God whom God hath fitted for interpretation of Scripture is not lightly to be esteemed The rather because of the difficulty and profitablenesse of the work The difficulty Augustin sets out well Lib. 11. super Gen. ad literam Major est hujus Scripturae autoritas quà m omnis humani ingenii perspicacitas Greater is the â—uthority of this Scripture then the perspicacity of all humane wit The profit of it is as well set out by Hierom. ad Eph. lib. 1. Non putemus in verbis Scripturarum esse Evangelium sed in sensu non in superficie sed in medulla non in sermonum foliis sed in radice rationis Let us not think the Gospel is in the words of the Scriptures but in the sense not in the outside but in the marrow not in the leaves of words but in the root of reason Among many other Books of the Scripture this of the Proverbs excels in height of matter and expressions It needs therefore a carefull Interpreter The method used by me is new and never formerly exactly followed in every Verse by any Writer Protestant or Papist that ever I read 1. Ye have the Grammatical sense in the various significations of every Hebrew word throughout the Old Testament which gives light to many other texts 2. Ye have the Rhetoricall sense in the Tropes and Figures 3. The Logicall in the severall arguments 4. The Theologicall in divine observations If it be objected that there are many Comments already on other Books of Scripture and on this in particular I confesse it is a truth I my self have made use of forty Writers on this Book of the Proverbs as will appear by the Catalogue of Authors added Yet every one sees not so many nor cannot understand them all nor have means to buy them or time to read them Will it hurt any man to have the marrow of them all in one Book Will it not save him much time money labour Besides the Reader will find something new that is not in any of them Gods hand is not shortened He can as well manifest his truth by us as by former Writers And the rather because we have their help A dwarf standing on a gaints shoulders may see further then the giant I have made choyce of you Worthy Gentlemen for Patrons of this Work not doubting but if any shall oppose the truth manifested in it ye will stand up with me for the defence of it A more particular engagement to prefix your honorable names is that great trust the State hath put in you to take care of the maintenance of many godly Ministers upon whom many thousand souls depend in this Nation I have found you faithfull and carefull So have many other godly Ministers The great God that hath laid great a charge upon you make you still faithfull dischargers that so your names may be honorable to posterity and your souls saved eternally So I shall never cease to pray and ever remain At your Honors service in the Lord Francis Taylor Advertisements for the Reader Christian and courteous Reader BE pleased to observe a few things which may help thee much in the perusing of this Book I. Be not offended that the places cited in it are not set down at large but onely some part of the Verses quoted For 1. The Reader may hereby perceive in what words the strength of the proof lies to wit in those words he findes here This I learned of the Jewish Rabbins who use not to transcribe the whole Verse cited but onely those words wherein the strength of the proof is Indeed the Masorites do otherwise They set down only the beginning of the sentence and leave the Reader to seck for the word in the text quoted But this breeds trouble and confusion 2. Writing thus concisely will make men minde the better what they read 3. It will make them look into their Bibles for further satisfaction 4. It makes this Book the shorter and so the cheaper II. Complain not that many things are taken out of other Writers and Commenters For 1. Here is no wrong to them God gave those notions to them they to us and why may not we give them to others 2. No wrong to thee who hath the pith and marrow of forty Translations and Comments in this Book It would have cost thee as it hath done me much more money to buy them much more time and labour to read them 3. Thou wilt finde many things added that God hath given in to me that are not in any of them for all mine and theirs is from him alone and to him is due all the glory III. Object not to me that for the various significations of the Hebrew words I borrow much out of the last Edition of the Annotations on the Bible out of the Notes upon Job For 1. It cannot be called borrowing for a man to take his owne and none of my partners in that great Work went that way but my selfe And having taken much pains there why should I take more about the same words 2. There I give onely figures for chap. and vers So that if the figures be false printed as they are too often the Reader is to seek for the place Here I set down the words also that he cannot mistake 3. The figures are here also corrected by me in all I make use of from thence 4. Some significations are added in some words 5. Some are left out that were mistaken 6. All have not money to buy nor time to read those large Annotations IV. Where thou findest other texts in this Book quoted for words or proofs of doctrines there look for the like matter
away that which belongs to others which they have nothing to do withall and the owners lives withall Figures 1. Wayes for Customes A Metaphor 2. A figure of the cause for the effect Soule for Life Mark 1. The note of coherence So. 2. The matter And therein 1. The cause 2. The effect In the cause note 1. The subject He that is greedy of gain 2. The adjunct of number Every one The effect is set out 1. In generall The wayes 2. In particular And therein 1. The action He taketh away 2. The object The life 3. The subject Of the owners 4. The adjunct Thereof Of that gain or those riches He saith not So is the way But so are the wayes 1. Doct. There are many wicked wayes in the world Three are mentioned Psal 1.1 The counsell of the ungodly the way of sinners the seat of the scornfull Many Hos 4.2 Swearing lying killing stealing adultery Reason 1. From particulars There are wayes of error concerning God his Word Christ the Sacraments Wayes of impiety as swearing blasphemy Wayes of injustice as fraud robbery false sentences false witnesses Ways of uncharitablenesse not giving not lending to the poor not setting them on work or giving them lesse then their work is worth Wayes of gluttony drunkennesse and uncleannesse 2. Because there are divers corrupt principles within and devices which break out in evill wayes Vse Let us be circumspect and carefull to keep the right way having so many by wayes before us As a bird that hath many snares or a fish that hath many baits laid for it had need be wary If the devill cannot draw a man to Atheisme he will draw him to Idolatry if not to Profanenesse then to Superstition if not to Pride then to base Flattery if not to Covetousnesse then to Prodigality Of every one c. 2. Doct. As there are many evill wayes so there are many that walk in them These evill wayes are not like the high-wayes in the dayes of Jael unoccupyed Judg. 5.6 All flesh had corrupted their way Gen. 6.12 Many there be which go in the way of destruction Mat. 7.13 Reason 1. From particular evill wayes Many walk in the way of Idolatry All the world wondered after the beast Rev. 12.3 In the way of covetousnesse All seek their owne Phil. 2.21 Of wantonnesse Every one neighed after his neighbours wife Jer. 5.8 Of deceitfulnesse With a double heart do they speak Psal 12.2 2. Because there is no way so bad but it is pleasing to any wicked men and what men delight in that they pursue Vse It confutes the Papists that make Universality a note of the true Church It may be a note of their malignant Church for many follow evill wayes Major pars meliorem vincit Seneca The greatest part overcomes the better Nunquam cum rebus humanis tam faelicitèr actum est ut meliora pluribus placerent Senec. de vita beata Mens affairs were never in so happy a condition that the best things pleased most men 3. Do. Many in the world are greedy of gain For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one of them is given unto covetousnesse Jer. 6.13 her Prophets have taken the treasure and precious things Her Princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey to shed blood and so destroy souls to get dishonest gain The people of the land have used oppression c. Ezek. 22.25 27 c. Reason 1. Because it is the means of a comfortable life Rich men can command plenty of the best food apparell dwellings Eccl. 2.4 c. 2. It raises men to honour and makes others to attend and observe them like demi-gods Vse To teach us to labour to be free of this common disease as men fly from infected Cities Let us not follow the swinge of the world 4. There is a propriety of goods in this world It appears in the parable of the Vineyard Is it not lawfull for me to do what I will with my owne Mat. 20.15 And in the parable of the talents The Master delivers unto the servants his goods Matt. 25.14 And because Parabolicall divinity proves not look into Act. 5.4 While it remained was it not thine owne Render therefore to all their dues Rom. 13.7 Reason 1. The Law of nature confirms it Beasts that live promiscuously have common pastures It is not fit for men so to doe that may marry and have children 2. The Law of Nations The Barbarians have distinct dwellings and cattle 3. The Law of trading by exchange or money confirms it Gen. 23.16 4. The Law of God else were there no eight Commandement No man could be guilty of theft if there were no propriety of goods Vse It affords us comfort in what we enjoy by Gods law and mans Propriety is a great comfort Luther was wont to say There was much divinity in Pronounes Men love some children better then others because they are theirs It is the great comfort of godly men that God is theirs My work is with my God Isa 49.4 5. Doct. Wicked men seek to break this propriety of goods Ahab would have Naboth's vineyard 1 King 21. Reason 1. Because they envy any good that others enjoy 2. They would live easily and plentifully Vse It blames those that take other mens goods where they come without any order from God or man 6. Doct. Deceitfull and covetous persons will kill others rather then lose their prey Ahab will kill Naboth for his vineyard 1 King 21. Reason 1. Because of inbred covetousnesse 2. Because of inbred cruelty Vse Take heed of giving way to deceit or covetousnesse lest ye end in blood Love of gain will draw blood Some expound all Solomon's counsell by way of hurt to the evill doers thus My Son go not in nay enter not into their wayes for though they devise mischief for others they wil bring evill on themselves and as fowlers oft-times lay nets to no purpose for birds so will they for others Their craft will tend to their owne destruction They are greedy of gain and when they have gotten it it will procure their ruine But it rather aims at the hurt of others thus My Son take heed of their courses for they are cruell and seek the hurt and death of others and that unjustly without any wrong done them and by crafty and subtil means So will all covetous persons seek the life of others that they may get from them with ease what they have gotten with much labor For the first interpretation it is objected that the net is said to be laid in the fight of any bird and therefore the meaning is in vain not without cause That is the bird sees the danger and escapes Answ The meaning may be nets are laid where birds are As in the first Commandement Thou shalt have no other gods before my face that is before me 2. Object There is no antecedent to tell whose lives are meant Answ The
had if it had a being and who can alter the form of that which is eternall And so by consequence God made not the world And scoffers will grow more bold and say All things continne not as they were from the beginning of the Creation 2 Pet. 3.3 4. But as they were before the Creation from eternity 2. Doct. The wolrd was made by God Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the Earth Job 38.4 By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth Ps 33.6 Reason 1. Because it was not from eternity as appears by the changes in it 2. It made not iâ— self That were a contradiction It could not be in fieri facto made and to be made both at one time It must then work before it be 3. There was none else before the world was to make it but God onely If an house be found in an Island wherein never any man but one was hee must needs build that house 4. None else had wisdom enough to do such a work if there had been men or Angells before the world As no beast could build the foresaid house if there had been many in the Island Use Give God the glory of it and of all the comforts ye enjoy here or shall in heaven 3. Doct. God sheweth wonderfull wisdom in making the world O Lord how manifold are thy workes in wisdom hast thou made them all Psal 104.24 To him that by wisdom made the Heaven Ps 136.5 Reason 1. Because he made this spacious world out of nothing The wisest man in the world or Angell in Heaven cannot work without matter But God made the whole world of nothing Onely his infinite wisdome could doe such a work 2. That excellency that is in the world shews the Makers infinite wisdom What is the most curious picture of a man beast tree star to the thing it self Like a dark shadow to the shining Sun So low do mens best works lie below Gods This shews that the foolishnesse of God is wiser then men 1 Cor. 1.25 For that work of God in which he shews least wisdom argues more then that wherein the wisest man in the world shews most 3. Because of the variety of these excellent workes both of severall kinds and of severall dispositions in each kind Stars Rivers Trees Beasts Men Angells Hills Vallies what thosands of each No created wisdom can number them much lesse make them How many thousands of men are in the world yet every face differs from one another 4. Because of their excellent order The stars are above our heads to give light the air about us to breath in the Earth under us to tread on Severall grounds for corn pasture gardens orchards What not Vse 1. Let us in the view of the creatures not onely take delight in the fight and use of them but also take notice of the wisdome of the Creatour and praise him for it The Earth is a Colledge built by God that in it we may study his wisdom The Heavens a Common-wealth or Kingdom established by him The Sun the King the Moon the Queen the Starrs the Nobility Clouds the commons Spheres the Provinces So we see a mans wisdom in his workes and books and God shews us his in the Heavens and in his Law Psal 19.1 7. Comparata omnia creata ad Deum sicut artificia ad artificem Recuperus All created things compared to God are as artificiall works to the cunning workman As they shew the workmans wisdom so do these Gods Yea much more For if we admire a watch made by the art of man for the rare workmanship and frame of the wheels and their motions how much more should we admire the wisdom of God in making the glorious lights of Heaven with their revolutions without which no watch could exactly measure time And in the variety of earthly creatures without which our lives could afford us no comfort 2. Use Take heed of finding any faults in the workes of God They were all made in wisdom though thy shallow brain cannot reach them 4. Doct. God upholds the Earth strangely The world is established that it cannot be moved Ps 93.1 No man can tell whereupon the Foundations of the Earth are fastned God poses Job with this question Iob 38.6 and may pose all the world They must answer with him God hangeth the Earth upon nothing Job 26.1 And that 1. Because there is nothing above it or under it to uphold it It is the lowest Element and the Heavens above cannot uphold it 2. Because it is above the power of nature to do it or to know how it is done Use When we tread on the earth let us take notice who upholds it and makes it able to uphold us No creature can do it The earth would sink under us if God did not strangely uphold it for us Give God the glory then of your sustentation 5. Doct. God preserves the heavens and heavenly creatures in their motion It is God that in them hath set a Tabernacle for the Sun to run a race Psal 19.4 5. Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to rejoyce Psal 65.8 Reason 1. Because the Heavens and the Sun Moon and stars have no principle of life in them whereby to move themselves much lesse of reason to direct them in their various courses 2. Because no creature either man or angell hath wisdom or power enough to do it Use Take occasion from the daily motion of the heavenly bodies to blesse God our spirits are comforted and bodies directed by them they are watches to keep time for us God keeps them in their motion else would they deceive us and deprive us of their light and comfort Doct 6. All manner of wisdom is in God It is expressed by divers words in the Text Wisdome and Vnderstanding We may well cry out with the Apostle O the depth of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God Rom. 11.33 Reas 1. His word shews it to us in which are the grounds of all arts and sciences and higher things then they 2. His works shew it none hath wisdom to do the like Use Be humble and see thine own folly be thou never so wise thou art but a fool in respect of God thou wantest some wisdome he hath all Thou mayest say of thy wisdom as David of his age Psal 39.5 My wisdome is nothing before thee Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity Selah VER 20. By his knowledge the depths are broken up and the clouds drop down the dew GODS infinite wisdome was set out in the former verse by the higher parts of the world the heavens and by the lower the earth or as was mentioned in the former verse by setling solid substances there and liquid ones here and by ordering the two middle elements aire and water For the words By his knowledge Not by