Proverbs 9

WIsdom has built her house For the reception and entertainment of her Guests, as appears from the following passages. This house is opposed to the Harlots House mentioned, Prov. 7. 8. and it is to be understood, either 1. of the heavenly House or the Palace of Glory: Or rather 2. of the Church which Christ, the Wisdom of the Father, has erected and established in the World, in which this following Feast is made, which is called God's House, 1 Tim. 3. 15. Heb. 3. 3, 4.: she has hewn out her seven i. e. Many Pillars; whereby is intimated both the beauty and the stability of the Church pillars Prophets, and Apostles, and Ministers of Holy things, which, in Scripture are called Pillars, as Gal. 2. 9. and elsewhere..

She has killed her beasts i. e. Made provision for the Guests: which is meant of the Ordinances, Gifts, Graces, Comforts and Eternal Felicities which God does offer and give to men in and by the Church.; she has mingled her wine Either 1. with Spices, to make it strong and delightful, this mixed Wine being mentioned as the best, Prov. 23. 29, 30. Or 2. with Water, as they used to do in those hot Countries, partly for refreshment, and partly for wholesomness. Whereby also may be intimated that Wisdom teacheth us temperance in the use of our comforts.; she has also furnished her table With all necessaries, and now waits for the Guests..

She has sent forth her maidens Her Servants to invite the Guests, Ministers of the Word whom he calls Maidens partly for the decency of the parable; for Wisdom being compared to a great Princess, was fit to be attended upon by Maidens; and partly to show that God by his Word did work sweetly, though strongly, and did allure and draw, rather than drive sinners to repentance., she crieth upon the highest places Either upon the tops of the Houses which were flat: Or rather from such high seats as those from which Judges delivered their Sentences, and Officers made Proclamations, for the conveniency of the Peoples better hearing. of the city:

Whoso is simple Ignorant, and weak, and subject to delusion and willing to learn: to show that Wisdom rejects those Scholars who are proud and self conceited., let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding Heb. heart, which signifies understanding, Ier. 5. 21. Hos. 7. 11., she says to him,

Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine, which I have mingled.

Forsake the foolish i. e. The wicked, and their courses and society: you must either forsake them or me, for we are irreconcilable enemies., and live: and go in the way of understanding Which leads to it and is prescribed by it..

He that reproveth a... scorner The connexion may be conceived thus, Having invited the simple, he forbids the invitation of scorners: Or thus, He shows who he meant by the foolish, v. 6. even scorners and wicked men, as they are here called, and he presseth his last advice of forsaking them because there was no good, but hurt to be got by conversation with them., getteth to himself shame Partly from the scorner who will revile and deride him, and partly from others, because he is frustrated in his design and hope, and by his imprudence has brought an inconvenience upon himself:: and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot A censure or reproach..

Reprove not a scorner An obstinate and incorrigible sinner who scornfully rejects and despiseth the means of amendment. Thus Physicians deny Physick to Persons in desperate condition., lest he hate thee Whereby thou wilt not only expose thy self without necessity to his malice and rage, but also make thy self utterly uncapable of doing him that good which possibly thou mightest do by other more prudent and proper means.: rebake a wise man Who is opposed to the Scorner, to intimate that Scorners, howsoever they are thought by themselves or others to be witty or wise, yet in God's account, and in truth, are fools., and he will love thee Both for that faithfulness and charity which he perceiveth in thee, and for that benefit which he receiveth from thee..

Give instruction In the Hebrew it is only, give: for as receiving is put for learning, Prov. 1. 3. so giving is put for teaching both in Scripture and in other Authors: of which see my Latin Synopsis. to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser, teach a just man Called a wise Man in the former branch; to intimate that good men are the only wise men., and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledg of the holy Either 1. of holy men, whether such as all Saints learn or rather such as the holy men of God, the Servants of this Wisdom, teach from God's VVord: Or rather 2. of Holy things the Hebrew word being here taken in the Neuter Gender, as it is Numb. 5. 17. and elsewhere: for this seems best to answer to the fear of the Lord in the other branch. is understanding Is the only true and necessary and useful knowledge..

For by me thy days shall be multiplied: and the years of thy life shall be increased.

If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thy self Thou dost not profit me, but thy self by it: I advise thee for thine own good. but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it The blame and mischief of it falls wholly upon thee, not upon me or my VVord or Ministers who have warned thee..

A foolish woman By which he understands, either 1. folly, which is opposite to that VVisdom of which he has been so long discoursing, and so it may include all wickedness, either in principle, as Idolatry, Heresy, &c. or in practice. Or 2. the Harlot: which with submission, seems most probable to me, partly because all the following decription exactly agrees to her, especially what is said, v. 17. as also v. 18. which in effect was said of the Harlot before, Ch. 2. 18. & 5. 5. and partly because such transitions from discoursing of VVisdom, to a discourse of Harlots are frequent in Solomon, as we have seen Ch. 2. 16. & 5. 3. & 7. 5. is clamorous Speaks loudly that she may be heard and vehemently that Persons might be moved by her persuasions., she is simple and knoweth nothing To wit, aright, nothing that is good, nothing for her good, though she be subtil in little artifices for her own wicked ends..

For she sitteth at the door of her house Which notes her idleness and impudence and diligence in watching for occasions of sin. on a seat, in the high places of the city.

To call passengers, who go right on their ways Who were going innocently and directly about their business without any unchast design; for others needed none of those invitations or offers, but went to her of their own accord. And besides such leud Persons take a greater pleasure in corrupting the innocent.:

Whoso is simple Which title is not given to them by her, for such a reproach would not have allured them, but driven them away but by Solomon who represents the matter of her invitation in his own words that he might discover the truth of the business, and thereby dissuade and deter those whom she invited., let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she says to him,

Stolen waters By which he understandeth, either 1. Idolatry or other wickednesses, which in Solomon's time before his fall were publickly forbidden and punished, but privately practised. Or rather 2. Adultery. are sweet Partly from the difficulty of obtaining them; partly from the art which men use in contriving such secret sins; and partly because the very prohibition renders it more grateful to corrupt Nature., and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

But he knoweth not i. e. He does not consider it seriously, whereby he proveth his folly. that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell.