Proverbs 2

Proverbs 2:15

14. The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD, shall fall therein.

Vol. I.

15. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Natural and deep-rooted is the corruption of the fallen heart; it is born with us, and what is thus bred in the bone, will not easily come out of the flesh. Early abolitioners therefore, when sin and folly begin to bud, is absolutely necessary; and nothing but this can cut off the shoots, which, each moment they are spared, will grow more luxuriant.

16. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

Proverbs 2:16

They who are in haste to be rich, often take those methods that most effectually disappoint their own designs. The fruits of oppression are gotten with a curly, and in expensive entertainments of the rich, or bribes to obtain their protection, are quickly wafted, and that want they thus wickedly fought to shun, in all its misery overtakes them.

17. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19. That thy truth may be in the LORD, have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge? 21. That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee.

Proverbs 2:17-21

The inspired penman here changes his title, and, as in the beginning, addresses himself to his son in a way of exhortation; and what he saith unto him, he saith unto all who are called upon to hear and learn. Diligent attention, and heart-application, are necessary, v. 17. If we would come to the knowledge of the truth, and understand the words of the wise, those inspired writers, whom God hath employed to communicate to us his mind and will. And in order hereunto, various arguments are suggested to engage our minds in the pursuit.

1. It is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; for heart-religion only, not formality, can bring us to raise the comforts of true godliness; and they who are most faithful, will be most happy, and find that joy a stranger intermediate not with.

2. It will be highly becoming. They shall withal be fitted in thy lips, or, be spared by thy lips; spoken to as to muslites grace to the hearers, and gain their regard and reverence.

3. Hereby our hearts will be established to faith and confidence in God, v. 19. This being the blessed effect of his word, and the great end for which it was written, and is preached; and when we are enabled to trust, we shall for the great salvation of God.

4. The matter is clear, the subject infinitely important, and highly excellent, designed to promote our eternal blessings, written to convey perpetual instruction, and particularly addressed to us by name: to thee, reader, come to thee; therefore to-day, whilst it is called to-day, may the word of gospel-grace sounding in thine ears, sink down into thine heart, as an engorged word, able also to save thy soul!

5. The truths are certain, v. 21. not seemingly devised fables, but delivered by the inspiration of God; and by the perusal of them, with fervent prayer, we shall arrive at the full assurance of understanding; shall have an evidence of the certainty of the objects of our faith, strong as that of our being, so that not a doubt remains.

6. They will enable us to give an answer to every one that attends us a reason of the hope that is in us, and out of the good treasure of our heart to communicate to them the lessons we have been taught of God.

7. Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppresseth the afflicted in the gate. 23. For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

v. 22, 23. Poverty should plead for compassion: it is doubly cruel to take advantage of their distress to oppress the needy, by vexations law-suits, in which they have not ability to defend themselves; by impositions levied on their necessities, or by perverting their judgment in the gate, and, through bribes or

9 F favour, favour, Zech. vii. 10. Joh. xxi. 11. Psal. 1610. 9.

Proverbs 2:20-35

20. ¶ My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and fortake not the law of thy mother. 21. ¶ Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22. ¶ When thou goeth, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepeth, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakeeth, it shall talk with thee. 23. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. 24. ¶ To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25. ¶ Lull not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eye-lids. 26. ¶ For thy means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 27. ¶ Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burnt? 28. ¶ Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt? 29. ¶ So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife: whosoever toucheth her, shall not be innocent. 30. ¶ Nor do not defipite a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry: 31. But if he be found, he shall restore seven fold, he shall give all the substance of his house. 32.

But who so commitreth adultery with a woman, lecketh understanding: he that doth it, destroyeth his own soul. 33. A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34. For jeal, lofty is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35. He will not regard any man from; neither will he rest content, though thou giveth many gifts.

We have here,

1. A repeated exhortation to attend the lessons of instruction, that as a wife and careful parent, this father inculcated on his son, v. 20. They should be engraved on the fleshly tables of hearts, and worn as the best ornaments, v. 21. and the blessed effects of so doing will be experienced in the direction, protection, and comfort which they will manifest, guiding us in the right way: when we sleep, preserving us from fears and terror; and when we walk, affording sweet subject for confluent meditation, v. 22. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; the world is a dungeon, without the light of God’s word and spirit, and but for this, we must for ever be stumbling on the dark mountains of ignorance, error, and unbelief; but by this bright guide, we both for the way of truth, are cheered and comforted in walking therein; discover the flares and stumbling blocks of sin and temptation, and escape them; and find the reproofs of instruction to be the soap of life, of our spiritual and happy life on earth, and our eternal life in heaven.

2. A particular warning is again given, to guard against the wiles of the wanton, and to preserve the temple of our bodies in purity and chastity; for against this generally believing sin of uncleanness, too frequent and solemn cautions cannot be given. To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman, whose lips are more poisonous than the venom of a serpent, and her words deceitful and enfouring. Lull not after her beauty in thine heart, for God accounts a ludicrous look, or impure desire, adultery committed in the heart; therefore turn away thine eyes from the tempest’s face, and let her not take thee with her eye-lids, with those amorous glances that kindle the raging fire of breeder’s, and bind our passions with cords stronger than links of iron. To deter us from this dreadful finer.

3. The dire consequences are inflicted upon: let him that reaeth, understand.

(1.) Beggary attends her. By means of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread, as was the prodigal son, and many others; who, enslaved by such a wretch, to gratify her extravagance, have ruined their families and themselves.

(2.) Death is in her path. The adulteress will hunt for the precious life; either leading a man into courses, which end in an ignominious death, by the hand of the civil magistrates; or to rid herself of him, when tired of his company, and able to get no more out of him, she gets him poisoned or afflicted.

(3.) It will kindle a flame of guilt in his conscience, that unless prevented by grace, will burn to all eternity. As impossible as it would be to take live coals into our bosom, and not be burnt, to impossible is it to commit adultery, and not kindle in our fools the fire of hell. Why, every distant approach must be avoided, as we would than the sparks from the furnace; for whatever reached for in wanton influence, or with impure desires, shall not be innocent, or free; he contracts guilt to burden his conscience, or the sinful liberties he take, will be discovered to his infamy and disgrace. Now, They who would guard their hearts, must keep their eyes, their hands, their lips. Truth not, to the not; the first approaches to sin must be avoided, or, like the rolling stone on a declivity, each revolution accelerates the motion, and all the powers of restraint are lost.

4. The infamy and punishment due to it, are greater than to theft. If a man steal, driven by hunger, we do not despise, but pity the miserable object: nay, if he have no need, but steals out of pure knavery, the law provides he shall make full restitution. He shall give all the substance of his house, nay, might be sold, if he had not wherewithal to pay; but more villainous and infamous is the thief that steals the affections of a wife, that robs his neighbour of his honour, and by introducing into his family a spurious brood, commits the most atrocious kind of theft, for which there can be no restitution. He lecketh understanding, for otherwise he never would add so madly: he that doth it, destroy his own soul, his goods cannot repair the damage, his life is forfeited to justice, John will, s. or his soul in torment eternal must pay the penalty. A wound and dishonour shall be set; some punishment inflicted by the secret hand of God, or by man, and dishonour that will make him despicable in the eyes of all men of virtue and religion; and his reproach shall not be wiped away; the brand of it on his reputation is indelible, even though the blood of Christ should have washed the guilt from his conscience.

5. The jealous husband will not fail to take condign vengeance for the injury done him. His rage is not to be pacified with interstices, or to be bribed by gifts; he will spare no pains

Before Christ to profecute the fair, and bring to public infamy and suffering the robber of his honour; or perhaps he will become the executioner of his own revenge, and take away, in bitter rage, the life of a wretch, that hath so justly forfeited it to divine justice. Be wise, ponder these things, and dread every approach that would lead to such a fearful end.