I This 1s another diſtin& precept ; and it is for the moſt part as needleſs to ſeek, as hard to find, Coherence in the Proverbs and Counſels of this Book. m Her ations and manner of living eſpe cially k-r Diligence & Providence, which are the things commend- ed in licr, v.7,8. of which Naturaliſts give many inſtances, as that the Ants watch the fitteſt ſeaſons for all things, that they provide moſtplentifully againſt the rimeof Famine, that they never hinder, but always afſitt one another in their work,and unite their force to- gether to carry away ſuch things as are too large or heavy for one of them, that they prepare fit cells or repoſitories for their Cornin the ground,and ſuch as the Rain cannot eaſily reach; and it through EXCcive rain their Corn be wet, they bring ir forth to be dried,that they bite off the ends of the Grains of Corn that they may nor grow, Oc. :
7 Which having no guide, overſeer,or ruler ».
» Which might dire& them in, or quicken them to the work, as the Bees have their Kings, and many other Creatures have their Lea- ders. This heighrens their commendation.
her food in the harveſt o.
s When they come forth in great numbers, as in Winter they ſtir not out of their holes.
9g * How long wile thou ſlzep p, O ſluggard ? when wilt thou ariſe out of thy ſleep?
p Wh-n the Ants are watchful and labour not only in the day- time, but even bynight, when the Moon ſhineth,
19 Yet alittle ſleep, a little ſlumber, a little fold-
ing of the hands s to {leep. 7 This he ſpeaks in the perſon of the ſluggard, refuſing to ariſe, and requiring more ſleep, that ſo he might expreſs the diſpoſition and common prattiſe of ſuch perſons. s Which is the geſture of men compoſing themſelves to ſl:ep. 11 * So ſhall thy poverty come as one that travelleth
'+ f, and thy want as an armed man #. | Web 7.00 et Swiftly and unexpeRedly. «Irrefiſtably or unavoidably.
T(h, 24. 33
8 Provideth her meat in the ſummer, and gathereth
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8: 8 ©
o The law of God which thy Parents have taught thee, and preſ- ſed upon thee. p Dire& thee how to order all thy ſteps and ations 7 It ſhall give thee Counſel and Comforr.
22 * For the commandment 3s a law is light, and reproofs of inſtru&ion s are the way to we e2-
7 Itenlightens thy dark mind, and clearly diſcovers to thee the plain and right way, s Wiſe and inſtructive Reproofs or Admc- nitions. #* Both to preſerve and prolong this Life, and to procure eternal Life to thoſe that obey them. :
24 * To keep thee from the evil woman « ; from the flattery || ofthe tongue of a ſtrange woman.
« Which 1s mentioned as a great commendation of Gods word, 16.0 F. 3.
& 7: 5: Precepts, nor any other conſiderations,are ſufficient Pr ——_— this laſt, jo is manifeſt from daily experience, at mo_
25* Luſt notafter her beauty in thine heart x 5 Nei- ther let her take thee with her eye- lids y.
x Do not give way to, nor delight thy ſelf with unchaſt thoughts or affetions. Compare Mat: 5: 28. y Either with her Beauty, which yr mis much in the Eyes; oc rather with her amours and wanton glances.
tongue. .
[] []
| 26 For* by means of a whoriſh woman « man is *Ch.:9.3; | a piece of bread z: and f the adulcereſs will tHeb. rhe | woman of a | man, Or 4a
brought to
hunt forthe precious life a.
z To extream Poverty, ſo as to want and be forced to beg his bread. @ To take away a mans life ; either by conſuming his body and ſpirits, and ſo ſkortning his days; or more dire&ly and ſtrictly, when the hath any great provocatien to it, or any proſpe& of conſiderable advantage by it. Or, for the precious Soul, which the corrupteth and deſtoyeth. Bur I prefer the former ſenſe.
27 Can aman take fire in his bolom, and his clothes not beburnt b?
b The queſtion implies a denial : he cannot eſcape burning. No morecan he who burns in Luſt ayoid Deſtruftion.
28. Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt ?
29 So he that goeth in to his neighbours wife « : whoſoever toucheth her d, ſhall ||not be innocent e.
c That lieth with her, as the Phraſe ſignifies, Gen: 19: 35. and 29: 21, 23, &c. 47. e& Hath carnal knowledge of her, as this word is uſed, Gen; 20. 6: 1 Cor: 7: 1,and in Terence,and other Writers. e Shall be puniſhed as a Mal-faftor either by God or Man. OD
39 Men do not || deſpiſe f a thief, if he ſteal te ſatisfie |Or/2/. his Soul when he is hungry :
Fi. « Abhor or reproach him, but rather pity and pardon him,
mans wife,
[Ort be accquitted,
fi, 22 AT naughty perſon, a wicked man walketh with
a forward riouth x. ,
x He ſheweth the naughrineſs of his Heart by the wickedneſs of his Talk and Diſc-urſes, to which he doth accuſtom himſelf, as; walking implies. | : :
13 He winketh with his eyes, he ſpeaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers y. |
y He vents his wickedneſs, as by his ſpeech, fo alſo by his geſ-,
tures, whereby he ſecretly ſignifies what he is afraid or aſhamed to; expreſs openly to his complices, his intentions or deſires of ſome e- vil towards another perſon : which having in the general declared
who is urged by meer neceflity to theſe practices, 31 But if he be found, he ſhall reſtore ſeven-fold pg, he ſhall give all the ſubſtance of his houſe. £ Queſt. How doth this agree with Gods Law, - which required
only that he ſhould reſtore double, or, at moſt, four-fold,or five-
fold ? Exod: 24,1,4, Anſw. i. The number of Seven may be here
pur indefinitely for many times, as it is Gen: 4. 24, Levit: 26. 28:
and in many other places.2. Some think that as Thefts were multi. plied, ſo the puniſhment of it was increaſed in Solomon's time, or
at leaſt, that ir was the Praftice of ſome Nationsto require this ſe« ven-fold reſtitution. 3.' He ſpeaks not of that reſtirution which the
Chip. Vu
&,'19.105, þ | ||Or,candle. WH
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42 '* Fl 14 |
* Chap, 2% | |
becauſe neither Worldly Diſcretion, nor civil Education,nor mora] |Or, of che iſh , [10
*Ma.5:28. |
by the motion of his Eyes or Feet, he points out che particular perſon by his fingers.
z Perverſe or wicked thoughts and defires. @ Either out of ma- lice againſt others : or out of a baſe deſign of improving it to his own advantage. R
15 Therefore ſhall his calamity come ſuddenly : ſud- denly ſhall he be broken without remedy 5.
b Heb. and there ſhall be 70 healing : no prevention of it before- hand, nor recovery afterward.
16 Theſe ſix things doth the LORD hate c ; yea, [ths f feven are an abomination Þ unto him : |
Jud, c To wit, above many other ſins, which have a worſe name in the World.
v frth,