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25 ren, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not aftray in her paths; do not show any inclination to go near her; do not hearken to 26 her, but check the first rifing of temptation. For fhe hath caft down many wounded: yea, many ftrong [men] have been flain by her; there are many melancholy inftances of this in Lot, Samfon, David, and others, which are 27 intended for our warning. Her house, however it may be decked with ornaments, [is] the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death, that is, to the grave and everlast. ing deftruction.

I.

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REFLECTION S.

E may hence learn, the regard we should show to wisdom, namely to keep it as the most valuable treasure, to have its dictates familiar to our minds, and, by frequent meditation, ready for our use. A fuperficial knowledge of divine things, a general acquaintance with them only, will not be fufficient: by this alone we shall not perceive their beauty and excellence, whatever degrees of religious knowledge we have gained. May we keep it as the apple of the eye; be very tender of it, that nothing may injure it or deprive us of it: this is the way to be fecure against temptation. They are thofe who are void of underStanding that are corrupted and destroyed: whereas to keep the commandments of God, is the way to live comfortably and to fecure everlasting life,

2. How

the huntsman fetteth to entrap him. There is a beautiful gradation in the motion of the three animals here mentioned; the ox, the deer, and the bird; each goes fwifter than the other, and fo it reprefents the increafing fpeed with which the young finner is hurried on to his ruin, till he feels himself mortally wounded, and it is too late to go back.

f Mr. Henry obferves, that this ftory would ferve the licentious poets and play-writers of our age to make a comedy on. The harlot, with them would be the heroine, and the audience would be much diverted with her method of decoying the young fquire; and those who faw it acted, would go away and be glad to be fo picked up. Thus fools make a mock at fin, But Solomon tells it, and all wife men will read and hear it as a very melancholy ftory, and what fhould excite their caution.

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2. How defirable is it for all, especially the young, to confider the confequences of their actions! when any pleafures solicit them, to confider how they will end. When the temptation is propofed, every thing looks charming and pleafant; but if they would only confider the dart which will strike them thro', that anguish of confcience which forbidden pleasures will bring; and that place of torment to which they lead, they would not comply. Oh let our young friends therefore be cautious, not high minded, but fear: let them not boast of their ftrength and refolution, for, v. 26. She hath caft down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been flain by her. Therefore watch and pray, left ye enter into temptation.

3. When finners take fo much pains to allure and feduce others, what pity is it that wife and good men will take fo little to preferve or recover them. What pains is the harlot here represented as taking to corrupt! to procure every thing alluring, to make the temptation plaufible, to answer every objection which the perfon tempted might be apt to make; and all to make another more and more a child of hell. Where do we fee fuch zeal as this in good men ! Where do we fee fuch a concern to direct unexperienced fouls! to feek out, take notice of, and encourage, thofe who appear to be ferious; to warn them of the fnares of fin; to represent to them the pleasures of religion; and exhort them to taste and fee that the Lord is good? The artifices and zeal of finners ought to fhame and humble us, that we do no more for one another's fouls, and take fo little pains to warn, admonish, and encourage one another; especially fince fo much is to be faid in favour of religion, and we may hope for the concurrence of divine grace in our pious attempts to promote it. He that turneth a finner from the error of his ways faveth a foul from death. Therefore exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, left any be hardened thro the deceitfulness of fin.

CHAP.

CHA P. VIII.

In this chapter there is an evident contrast or oppofition to the allurements of the harlot mentioned in the former chapter.

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I OTH not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice; earnestly invite men to receive her? 2 She ftandeth in the top of high places, by the way in 3 the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors; in the moft publick places, in open day; not like the harlot, afbamed 4 to be feen; her inftructions are plain to all. Unto you, O 5 men, I call; and my voice [is] to the fons of man. O ye fimple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of 6 an understanding heart. Hear; for I will fpeak of excellent, or princely, things, worthy the attention of all; and the opening of my lips [fhall be] right things. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips, it is the defign of all my ad8 dreffes to prevent it. All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverfe in them; nothing to hamper or perplex you, to abridge you of your just liberty, much less to mislead or pervert 9 you. They [are], all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge; who are well difpofed, and endeavour to distinguish between right and 10 wrong. Receive my inftruction, and not filver, that is, rather than filver; and knowledge rather than choice 11 gold. For wisdom [is] better than rubies, or the most precious gems; and all the things that may be defired 12 are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, do not content myself with fpeculation but extend to practice, and find out knowledge of witty inventions, that is, ingenious inventions, which are of great ufe in human life, and fubfervient to the most important purposes. I 13 inftruct men in the first place, that The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil, pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate, all finful prac14 tices, flander, and detraction. Counfel [is] mine, and found wifdom; I [am] understanding; I have ftrength;

I show men what is fit to be done, and inspire them with 15 courage to do it. By me kings reign, and princes decree 16 justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth; that is, by wisdom they make just and merciful laws for the government of their people, and 17 conduct the weighty affairs of kingdoms and nations. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early 18 fhall find me. Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea,] durable riches and righteousness, wealth which wears well, and brings with it a title to a better inheritance. 19 My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; 20 and my revenue than choice filver. I lead, or direct, in

the way of private righteoufnefs, in the midst of the 21 paths of publick judgment. That I may cause those that love me to inherit fubftance, make them truly and 22 completely happy; and I will fill their treasures. The LORD poffeffed me as his treasure in the beginning of his way, before his works of old; it is an argument that wisdom is the most excellent thing, because it dwelt in God before the creation of the world, and directed his actions in all he made. As if he had faid, Since it is an attribute difplayed in all his works of creation and providence, therefore, the more wisdom any creature has, the more he refembles the 23 great creator. I was fet up from everlasting, from the 24 beginning, or ever the earth was. When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] 25 no fountains abounding with water. Before the moun

tains were fettled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the duft of the world, the ground on which we tread, or rather, the beginning or mass of dust, 27 before it was distinguished into mountains and plains. When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth; marked how far it 28 fhould extend, and where the hills fhould be placed: When he established the clouds above: when he ftrengthened

the

8 Many writers apply all that follows to Chrift, What the new Teftament teaches concerning him, fhows that it may be accommodated to him; but I find no fufficient proof that Solomon intended it of him; nor is any clause of this description applied to him in the new Teftament.

29 the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the fea his decree, that the waters fhould not pafs his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the 30 earth: Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him] and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him; producing daily fome new work, which he ap31 proved and pronounced to be good; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the fons of men; I rejoiced to fee how the world was formed into a fit habitation for man, and the fons of men enjoying 32 the effects of the divine power and goodness. Now there

fore hearken unto me, O ye children: for bleffed [are 33 they that] keep my ways. Hear inftruction, and be 34 wife, and refuse it not. Bleffed [is] the man that

heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the pofts of my doors; earnestly defiring to become my difciple, 35 and improving all opportunities to get knowledge. For whofo findeth me findeth life, that which will make life pleafant to him, and he fhall obtain favour of the LORD. 36 But he that finneth against me wrongeth his own foul: all they that hate me love death; they who hearken to finners, and reject my counfels, do in effect choose death; and their perverfenefs will end in their ruin.

I.

F

REFLECTION S.

ROM hence we are led to obferve and adore the wisdom of God, as it is displayed in his works. We should take notice of their beauty, order, and exactnefs; and confider that it is he who hath prepared and adorned the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, fet a bound to the fea, and provided fuftenance for man and beast. The more attentively we furvey the works of God, the more evident and ftriking marks of wisdom and goodness shall we perceive; and often take up the pfalmift's admiration, O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom haft thou made them all.

2. The noble defcription here given of the effects of wisdom, fhould increase our esteem of and value for it. Wisdom will lead us to choose the beft ends, and to pursue

them

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