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
worth of it else would they love it and choose it v. 29. 4. Because it will not let them sin freely but raises whirlewinds in their consciences The evill doer comes not to the light lest his deeds should be reproved Joh. 3.20 Vse 1. Wonder not if some will not be won by long and powerfull preaching They hate knowledge 2. Take heed of the height of evill They shut reprovers out of dores as naughty boyes doe School-masters Glem Strom. l. 7. This damns many They have both seen and hated both me and my Father Joh. 15.24 Wisdome is accused by bad men but justified by her children Mat. 11.19 Vers 23. Turn you at my repreof behold I will pour out my spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you Wisdome having searched into their sores and discovered their diseases to them in the former vers doth now apply plaisters to them which may heal them After a short rebuke of their folly and contempt she administers good counsell in an exhortation Having shewed them that they were out of the way now she shews them how to get in again She had blamed them before for staying so long in wicked wayes Now she bids them turn speedily And this exhortation is backed afterwards with threats and promises For the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Turn you or return The word signifies 1. To return to a place from which one went away before Abraham returned unto his place Gen. 18.33 2. To return from anger or to be friends with one Surely his anger shall turn from me Jer. 2.35 3. To repent or return to God from whom we are all naturally gone astray And shalt return unto the Lord thy God Deut. 30.2 4. To doe the same thing again Isaac digged again Heb. returned and digged the wells of water which they had digged in the dayes of Abraham his Father Genens ch 26. v. 18. 5. To make to return or bring back Then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity Deut. 30.3 Here it is taken in the third sense for turning from the wayes of folly to the wayes of true wisdome from Satan to God A similitude taken from travellers that are gone out of their way or from children servants souldiers or scholars that run away from their governours and undoe themselves So Hagar fled from Sarah and is bidden to returne Gen. 16.6 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At my reproof The word signifies 1. Verball reproving in words Thus she was reproved Gen. 20.16 2. Reall reproving that is correcting Oh Lord rebuke me not in thine anger that is as follows chasten me not in thy hot displeasure Psal 6.1 Here it is used in the first sense for the words of wisdome in the former versi or such like Seeing yeers have not brought you to discretion nor ye have wit enough to return from your evill wayes of your selves do it at my reproof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold She puts a note of admiration before the promise because abundance of grace especially in them who have lived long in wick ednesse is a thing worthy to be wondred at by all as it is for a Virgin to bear a Son Isa 7.14 Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will poure out It signifies abundance of grace to be given as a fountain poures out plenty of water It notes great fulnesse in wisdome and great affection to others I will willingly poure it out of a full heart as water out of a fountain So abundance of folly and evill is poured out of a wicked heart The mouth of fooles poureth out folly Prov. 15.2 The mouth of the wicked poureth out evill things Prov. 15.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My spirit It signifies 1. The wind There came a great wind from the wildernesse Job 1.19 2. Vanity a thing of no substance empty like the wind What profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind Eccles 5.16 3. A corner or place or quarter of the earth where the wind may blow In four quarters were the porters 1 Chron. 9.24 4. The breath of a living creature which is kinde of wind Neither is there any breath in their mouths Psal 135.17 5. A Spirit or Angel Then a spirit passed before my face Job 4.15 6. The soul of a man The spirit of Jacob their Father revived Gen. 45.27 7. The life Thou hast granted me life Job 10.12 8. The Holy Ghost the third Person in Trinity The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters Gen. 1.2 9. The gifts of the Holy Ghost I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh Joel 2.28 So it is taken here for spirituall graces All three Persons are closely mentioned in this ch The Father called the Lord vers 7. The Son called Wisdome v. 20. The holy Ghost called the Spirit in this vers Some take it for illumination onely and gifts of knowledge So it agrees well with the words that follow I will make known my words unto you If ye hearken to my reproof I will tell you more of my minde Ye shal know more of heavenly truths So that pouring out of the Spirit is emptying of the soul declaring what Wisdome thinks which is worth the knowing And I will declare it as fully as if it flowed out of a fountain Others take it for sanctifying gifts of the Spirit The former agrees best with the words following Vnto you By making my minde known unto you By my words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will make known By pouring out my spir it and declaring my whole minde unto you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My words It signifies 1. A word Hear the word of the Lord Isa 1.10 2. A thing For things are revealed by words The thing proceedeth from the Lord Gen. 24.50 Here it is taken in the first sense Vnto you Heb. I will make you to know my words The summe of all is If ye will turn from your foolish wayes to hearken to me I will fill you with true wisdome Not that men have power to repent of themselves but these exhortations of Gods Ministers set home by Gods Spirit are means to bring sinners to repentance Figures Turn A Metaphor from men out of the way that must return or never come to their journeys end Poure out A Metaphor from a fountain that poures out water abundantly My Spirit A figure of the cause for the effect The gifts of my Spirit or meaning of it Note 1. An exhortation 2. A promise to encourage them He begins with a promise here and ends with another v. 33. and fills the middle with threatnings In the exhortation note 1. An act Turn you 2. The motive to it at my reproof The promise is double 1. Of the Spirit 2. Of knowledge In the first note 1. The word of admiration Behold 2. The agent I. 3. The act will poure out 4. The object my Spirit 5. The subject unto you In the second promise note 1.
understanding to be all one here As if the wise man bore so great affection to it that he could not name it often enough nor finde words sufficient to expresse the worth of it Baine distinguisheth them thus By Wisdome is meant the knowledge of heavenly things by knowledge things needfull to be known here in the world by Understanding discretion to carry our selves well among men But it is most likely that they are Synonymas and intend no more but knowledge of what we should beleeve and how we should carry our selves religiously and so it answers well to the former vers and gives a good reason to confirm it Thou shalt understand because God gives wisdome c. Figures Gods mouth is put here for his revealing truth 1. By a Metaphor attributing a mouth to God and speaking of him after the manner of men although he have no body nor bodily members 2. By a Metonymie of the cause for the effect Hereby is meant Gods revealing his will as men do by their mouths make their minde known yet in another way more befitting Gods spirituall essence by a sound from Heaven or by Angels or by his Servants Prophets and Ministers or inwardly by his Spirit Note 1. Gods liberality 2. His instruction In the former observe 1. The word of coherence For. 2. The person spoken of the Lord. 3. The act giveth 4. The object wisdome In the latter note 1. The two gifts knowledge and understanding 2. The way of bestowing by divine information cometh out of his mouth 1. God gives the soul eyes by illumination 2. He gives light by revelation We shall see the fruit of our labour in searching for heavenly wisdome for God will give it 1. Doct. What we cannot do in search of true wisdome God will supply So he taught Moses and Daniel what Aegyptian and Chaldean wisdome could not teach them So he taught David what his Teachers could not So he confesses I have more understanding then all my Teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation Psal 119.99 So he taught Solomon more then any of the children of the East or all the Wise men of Aegypt knew 1 King 4.30 So he would teach the Philippians what they could not teach one another If in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Phil. 3.15 Reason 1. Because of Gods mercy He will not leave his servants in the suds If he will have birds fly he gives them wings If he give an heart to seek for wisdome he supplyes by his Spirit where means fall short 2. Because of Gods glory He will perfect the work that he may have the honour of the whole Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 He will not lose his glory for mens imperfections but will supply what is wanting Vse This may encourage Gods people to labour for wisdome If aboy willing to learn had a Schoolmaster that would say to him Study hard when you stick I will help you out My head is better then yours Would he not study So do ye God will supply what ye want Vse 2. When ye stick at difficulties pray to God to resolve you He will help you out of the ditch 2. Doct. Wisdome is a free gift If a man ask wisdome of God it shall be given him Jam. 1.5 I have given thee a wise and understanding heart saith God to Solomon 1 Ki. 3.12 Reason 1. A parte antè from our condition before We have no spirituall wisdome naturally nor strength that can get it nor wealth that can purchase it We are born fools and dead in sins and trespasses Eph. 2.1 2. A parte post We can give no requitall to God who gives it We cannot teach him wisdome Who hath known the minde of the Lord or who hath been his counsellour or who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed unto him again Rom. 11.34 35. Neither can we with all our wisdome no not when we are in heaven add any thing to Gods happinesse who is perfection it self Poor Apprentices when they get skill in their Trades may help to make their Masters rich We cannot do so to God Vse 1. To teach us to receive wisdome being a free gift There is none among us which would not onely think himself to be out of his wits if he should refuse a thing which he could not want but also would judge himself most unthankfull if he did not receive it with hearty thanksgiving when it was freely offered him We would hardly purchase heavenly wisdome if we will not receive it of free gift 2. To teach us humility If we get true wisdome let us not attribute it to our own strength nor crow over others Fishermen got it when Pharisees could not 3. Doct. Wisdome comes from the Lord alone Hither the Apostle James sends us to beg it If any of you lack wisdome let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not Jam. 1.5 Solomon prayes to God for it and obtains it of God 1 Kin. 3.9 12. If as a learned man saith that all profitable learning in the world came out of Adam's mouth at first as from a most wise teacher and fountain how much better may the same be said of the onely wise God Jude v. 25. who is wonderfull in counsell and excellent in working Isa 28.29 Reason 1. The Law the most compleat rule of life came from him No Laws of Solon or of the wisest men come neer it No man could find out such 2. The Gospel is from him alone As he gave the Law by Moses so the Gospel by Christ Joh. 1.17 Angels could not have found out a way to satisfie Gods justice and save us 3. All prophesies are from him alone The Word of the Lord that came unto Hosea Hos 1.1 The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him Rev. 1.1 None can tell things to come but God Vse 1. Let us then not trust to the rivers but go to the fountain for waters of wisdome You may learn humane wisdome from Plato and Aristotle but divine wisdome is not to be sought in the books of Heathen writers and Infidels but in those books which come out of Gods owne mouth Solomon sends us thither for it from whence he had it himself Origo fontium fluminum omnium mare est virtutum scientiarum Dominus Jesus Christus Bern. in Cant. Serm. 13. The originall of all fountains and rivers is the Sea The originall of all virtues and sciences is the Lord Jesus Christ Ad sapientem pertinet considerare causam altissimam per quam certissimè de aliis judicatur secundum quod omnia ordinari oportebit Aristotle It belongs to a wise man to consider of the highest cause by which he may most certainly judge of others and according to which all things must be ordered Non Chaldaeorum institutio sed divina gratia pueros intelligentes fecit It was not the
by any thing that comes from his father Gods children know that their enemies can go no further then God permits and therefore they fear nothing 2. God will keep his children out of those troubles that ruine others if he see it fit as he did Noah and Lot and that oftentimes strangely and miraculously as he did the three Jews out of the fiery furnace which devoured their enemies Dan. 3. And Daniel himself from the Lions which consumed his adversaries Dan. 6. 3. If God suffer them to come on thee hee will keep thee that they shall not ruine thee though they undo wicked men He will take away the poison of those snakes and then we may play with them 4. He will bring the out of them when thou art nearest to ruine and when they fall thickest upon thee Though thou fall seven times yet shalt thou rise up again Prov. 24.16 And when they are gone from thee they cannot hurt thee 5. If thou die by them with wicked men yet thou art not ruined with them Their troubles are a gulf sinking them down into Hell thine are a ladder mounting thy soul up to Heaven Saeviant perse quendo nihil in me moritur nisi mortale erit in me aliquid ubi persecutor pervenire non possit ubi Deus meus habitat August in Psal 26. Let men be sharp in persecuting nothing dies in me but what is mortal there will be somthing in me at which the persecutor cannot come where my God dwells Use It serves to uphold the hearts of godly men in sad times Ye may be troubled ye cannot be ruined Be not then cast down in thy spirit but stand upright in all stormes like the Mount Zion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever Ps 125.1 Sabeans rob Job yet he fears not but blesses God and God gives him more then he lost Let a David walk through a valley of the shadow of death ye he will fear no evill Psal 23.4 Dreadfull things in the Heavens will appear in the end of the World yet they need not fear whose redemption draweth nigh Luk. 21.28 Quia dum finitur mundus cujus amici non estis propè sit redemptio quam quaesistis Greg. Hom. 1. in Evang. Because when the world is ended whose friends ye are not the redemption draws nigh which ye have sought It is not so with ungodly men they may well fear ruine when troubles come for fear is due unto them which have not the fear of God they think themselves safe because God forbears them for a time but they shall be overtaken with evills which they cannot escape and this is the sudden fear that good men need not be affraid of but will overtake wicked men as followes in the Text The desolation of the wicked when it commeth Doct. 2. Troubles often come unexpectedly Your destruction commeth as a whirlewind Prov. 1.27 So shall the eternall destruction of ungodly men come at Christs second appearing The day of the Lord commeth as a thief in the night For when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction commeth upon them as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5.2.3 This appears 1. In invasions by enemies who come before looked for and suddenly lay wast a whole country and foes come often out of ambushes and destroy stout men overpowring them with multitudes before they be aware Thus the old world and Sodom and Gomorrah and Corah Dathan and Abiram perished 2. In Gods judgments as in the three former examples Use In the Sunshine of your prosperity get God to be your refuge lest a sudden storm destroy you then need you not fear any storm else every storm will ruine you Doct. 3. Sudden troubles are very terrible to wicked men So Jobs friends speak of him conceiving him to be a wicked man Therefore snares are round about thee and sudden fear troubleth thee Iob 22.10 When Nabal heard of the mischief intended to him his heart died within him and he became as a stone 1 Sam. 25.37 Reas 1. Because they come unexpectedly for wicked men are fooles and neither look nor prepare for changes as godly men do who are wise 2. Because they have no sure refuge to fly to at hand as godly men have Use Wonder not that wicked men suddenly sink in troubles they are neither forewarned nor fore-armed VER 26. For the Lord shall be thy confidence and shall keep thy foot from being taken IT being a great matter and hard for a good man to do to expect deliverance when he sees wicked men ruined in regard he hath naturall fear in him as well as they Solomon adds a strong reason and very sufficient to wit the assistance of the great God who according to the hope of a wise man resting upon him will keep him from falling into snares and well may such a man be confident that it cannot be otherwise then well with him as the first word of the Text intimates For which carries a strong reason with it For that word see on Chap. 1.9 The Lord. See on Chap. 1.7 Shall be thy confidence Heb. Shall be in thy confidence So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is translated In Chap. 1.20 In the streets Or For thy confidence So it is translated For an inheritance Numb 36.2 The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Folly or Foolishnesse This their way is their folly Psal 49.13.2 Because they that want wit to order their own affairs had need to trust others it signifies confidence or hope of good from another That they might set their hope in God Psal 78.7 3. It signifies the flank He maketh collops of fat on his flanks Job 15.27 Some take it in the first sense the Lord shall be with thee in thy foolishnesse when thou hast brought thy self into trouble and knowest not how to escape God will deliver thee Others in the third sense the Lord shall be at thy flank or side as souldiers in the flank in battle or as a guard to secure a man Hence latrones antiently souldiers of a Princes guard quasi laterones Side-men And the vulgar reads it in latere tuo Doway at thy side But the second sense is best and the word is frequently so used in scripture The Lord shall be thy confidence That is one in whom thou maist safely confide in all dangers He shall be to thee in stead of a shelter And shall keep See on Chap. 2.11 Thy foot See on Chap. 1.16 From being taken He shall keep thee from the danger of the secret plots of thine adversaries for wicked men are fowlers and hunters alwaies laying snares in the way to catch Gods people like birds and beasts by the feet The grin shall take him by the heel the snare is laid for him in the ground and a trap for him in the way Job 18.9.10 Which though there spoken of wicked men is often true of good men So David praies Keep me from the