Ver. 1. Doth not wisdom cry?] And shall a harlot be sooner heard than she? Shall men prefer dross before gold, acorns before wheat, a swinesty before a sanctuary, dirty delights and sensual pleasures before peace that passeth all understanding, joy unspeakable and full of glory? Heathen stories tell how Hercules, when he was young, was courted by Virtue on the one hand, and Pleasure on the other; but Pleasure lost her sweet words upon him; he hearkened to Virtue rather. Shall not we to Wisdom? Put forth her voice.] In her ministers, who are criers by office, and must be earnest. (Isaiah 58:1) See an instance in holy Bradford. “I beseech you,” saith he, “I pray you, I desire you, I crave at your hands with all my very heart, I ask of you with hand, pen, tongue, and mind, in Christ, through Christ, for Christ, for his name, blood, mercy, power, and truth’s sake, my most entirely beloved, that you admit no doubting of God’s final mercies toward you,” &c. Here was a lusty crier indeed. And such another was Mr Perkins, of whom it is said, that in expounding the commandments, when he was catechist of Christ’s College, he applied them so home to his hearers, that he made their very hearts fall down, and their hairs stand upright. Xenophon. Acts and Mon., 1490. Mr Fuller’s Holy State, p. 90.
Ver. 2. She standeth in the top of high places.] That is, saith an interpreter, In the lofty oracles of the patriarchs and prophets.
Ver. 3. At the entry of the city.] Heb., At the mouth; for as words go out of the mouth, so do men out of the city; only men go and come at their pleasure. Sed volat emissum semel irrevocabile verbum, -A word once uttered cannot be recalled. At the coming in at the doors.] Everywhere Christ offereth himself; hence ariseth this phrase, “My salvation is gone forth”; but to little purpose, through men’s singular perverseness. Indeed if the Lord would set up a pulpit at the ale house door, they would hear more often; but since he doth not, they will run to hell as fast as they can; and if God cannot catch them, they care not, they will not return. Rod. Bain.
Ver. 4. Unto you, O men, I call.] O viri praestantes, - so some render it, O ye eminent men, whether for greatness of birth, wealth, or learning. The Pharisees and philosophers, for their learning, are called the “princes of this world.” (1 Corinthians 2:8) Sed sapientes sapienter in infernum descendunt, saith one; et potentes potenter torguebuntur, saith another. But “the world by wisdom knows not God”; (1 Corinthians 1:21) and “not many wise men, not many mighty, not many noble are called.” (Proverbs 8:26) And yet they shall not want for calling, if that would do it, for “unto you, O mighty men, I call.” Sed surdo plerunque fabulam, but all to little purpose, for the most part. They that lay their heads upon down pillows cannot so easily hear noises. Courts and great places prove ill air for zeal. Divitibus ideo pietas deest, quia nihil deest. Rich men’s wealth proves a hindrance to their happiness. And my voice is to the sons of men,] i.e., To the meaner sort of people. See Psalms 49:2. These usually, like little fishes, bite more than bigger. The poor are evangelized, saith our Saviour. Smyrna was the poorest, but best of the seven churches. Certain it is, that many of the meaner sort hold that they are not bound to look after Scripture matters, but that it is for rich men and scholars only to do so. We have nothing, say they, to live by but these hands. How can day labourers and poor craftsmen attend to such things? The baser sort of people in Switzerland do always break the Sabbath, saying that it is only for gentlemen to keep that day. See Jeremiah 5:4 Joh 7:49. But Paul, a poor tent maker, could say, “Our conversation is in heaven”; and God’s people are “afflicted and poor,” yet “they trust in the name of the Lord.” (Zephaniah 3:12) Who ever richer than Adam in Paradise? poorer than Job on the dunghill? Yet in Paradise Satan foiled Adam, on the dunghill Job foiled Satan. Think not that poverty can excuse from duty. Poor men also must listen to wisdom’s voice, or it will be worse with them; there is yet but a beginning of their sorrows. ευαγγελιζονται. ” πως δυνησομαι χειροτεχνης ων και πενης φιλοσοφειν.”—Chrysost, Hom. 22, ad Pop. Antioch.
Ver. 5. O ye simple.] If ye be not set in sin, resolved of your way, as good as ye mean to be; if yet there be any place left for persuasion. [See Trapp on “Pr 1:4”] And ye fools.] Ye that have already made your conclusion, and are wiser in your own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
Ver. 6. I will speak of excellent things.] ηγεμονικα; ruling cases, master sentences, axioms of state, principles for princes. “I have written for them the great things of my law.” (Hosea 8:12) Solomon calls the Scriptures “lords of collections,” as some sense that text, Ecclesiastes 12:11. Shall be right things.] Right for each man’s particular purposes and occasions. The Scriptures are so penned, that every man may think they speak de se, in re sua of him and his affairs. In all the commandments of God, there is so much rectitude and good reason, could we but see it, that if God did not command them, yet it were our best way to practise them. Athanas.