Proverbs 2

Third, God's knowledge is easy; it is without any difficulty. We study and search for knowledge (Proverbs 2:4). If you seek for her as silver.

Answer 1. In general, take pains for it: we cannot have the world without labor, and do we think to have grace? If you seek her as silver (Proverbs 2:3), a man may as well expect a crop without sowing, as grace without labor. We must not think to have grace as Israel had manna —…

2. Few that are entangled in the sin of adultery recover out of the snare. Proverbs 2:19: None that go to her return again. That made some of the ancients conclude that adultery was an unpardonable sin.

He says, I saw a Princess daughter with a Crown on her head, (Revelation 21:10) He showed me the great City, the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: Even an enemy who saw the land a far off, and was not near the borders of it, says, (Number…

But the Gospel teaches us a real and personal mortification, and that we are to be holy as he is holy, perfect as he is perfect; that is, a new-covenant command (Genesis 17:1). That we should walk before him and be perfect, that we should walk after the Lord (Deuteronomy 13:4),…

Implying, that in hearing we shall find him, and in finding Christ we shall find life; be diligent therefore to hear, and when you have heard it go home, and search whether it be true or no; and if you have liberty be doing this often, be conferring about it, as you can have any…

1. The first is, between prince and people, so the high priest made a covenant, between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the Lord's people, and such a covenant there is usually in all well governed commonwealths, unless the king comes in…

In temporal things we will soon confess there must be means used, for if any would not work, neither should he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). In warfare no victory is to be hoped for without fighting; only in spiritual matters we think to do well enough, though we never put to our…

For as it is a common, so is it also a great sin. For it is the breach of the covenant of marriage, made in the presence of God, and to God: and therefore it is called the covenant of God (Proverbs 2:17). It is the punishment of idolatry (Romans 1:24).

Persons thus engaged in their hearts will strive to enter in at the narrow gate, and will be urgent for heaven. Their practice will be agreeable to the counsel of the wise man in Proverbs 2 at the beginning: 'My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments w…

They who have strong desires after Christ, labor strongly after Christ. So they are expressed (Proverbs 2:4) where Solomon speaks of wisdom, which is Christ and all that is Christ's. If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; such is the search and en…

your gift; that is, your sacrifice; whereof the Iewes had two kindes: Propit[]ator[]e, and Gra[]lator[]e, or of thanksgiuing: and they are here called gifts, because in sacrificing the people gaue some thing unto God: in which respect a sacrifice differs from a Sacrament, wherei…

The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church. And therefore as all direction and consolation is derived from Christ; so should the husband likewise derive down and communicate knowledge, and comfort, and guidance to the wife; called therefore her…

O sirs, if you knew your souls' want, and the worth of divine things, your prayers would have another accent, and be put up with more fervency than usually they are: and you might have hopes to speed: so says the wise man, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for u…

When you read the Word, look on it as a soul-enriching treasury. Search here as for a vein of silver (Proverbs 2:4). In this word are scattered many divine aphorisms, gather them up as so many jewels.

And upon this account it is that they never are recovered, because God has no delight in them. If this be not enough, view one Scripture more, Proverbs 2:18, 19. For her house inclineth to Death, and her paths to the Dead: None that go to her reture again, neither take they hold…

By consent (say they) of both parties married to attain a greater and more perfect estate, marriage consummated may be loosed from bed and cohabitation. Answer 1. In marriage there is a covenant of God (Proverbs 2:17) as well as of the two parties: the consent therefore of parti…

This did the heathen by light of nature observe. 3. The titles and names, whereby a husband is set forth, do imply a superiority and authority in him, as Lord (1 Peter 3:6), Master (Esther 1:17), Guide (Proverbs 2:17), Head (1 Corinthians 11:3), Image and glory of God (1 Corinth…

The High way to Heaven is so plain, that the wayfaring Men, or Strangers, though they be Fools in Understanding, shall not err therein, Isaiah 35:8. A Man that labors in his daily Calling, in the City or the Field, or a Servant in the lowest Rank of Life, may, with due Applicati…

We are to consider with what heart we go about it. (Proverbs 2:16): The Lord weighs the spirits. That which he puts into the balance of the sanctuary is, with what spirit, with what heart we go about the work, that's what he weighs and regards.

What is it to hide the word in our hearts? 1. To understand it, to get a competent knowledge of it; we take in things into the soul by the understanding (Proverbs 2:10), When wisdom enters into your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul. There is first an entrance by kno…

In (2 Peter 1:8): for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. There may be an empty belief, and a naked and unactive apprehension of Christ, which stirs up no affection: but t…

Many men that are unrenewed, may be stored with general truths concerning the misery of man, redemption by Christ, the privileges of a Christian; but they do not reflect the light of these truths upon themselves, so as to consider their own case; and so it serves rather for matt…

To make himself known so as you may love him, fear him, trust him. When we can apply this for our comfort, O then, cry for knowledge, lift up your voice for understanding; seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures (Proverbs 2:3-4). Go to God, and be earnest…

It is the bound of those actions that look inward: the senses report to the fantasy, that to the mind, and the mind counsels the heart. If wisdom enter the heart (Proverbs 2:10), it is the well-spring of those actions that look outward to the life (Proverbs 4:23): keep your hear…

A superficial knowledge has no efficacy and hold upon us; therefore by deep meditation, search and study, we come to be more thoroughly acquainted with the mind of God revealed in his Word. We are bidden (Proverbs 2:4) to dig for knowledge as for silver. Mines do not lie in the…

So he challenges it as his prerogative (Job 38:26): Who has put wisdom into the inward parts, or given understanding to the heart? The exercise of the outward senses is from God, who gives the seeing eye, the hearing ear; much more the right exercise of the internal faculties; a…

Secondly, in what manner we should pray. 1. With earnestness: slight prayers bespeak their own denial; (Proverbs 2:1-5) My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with you; So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding: indeed,…

Good and holy works are of the light (and give light, for they shine (Matthew 5:20)) but wicked works are from darkness; who but blind men would walk in dirt up to the ears, indeed over head and ears? Solomon speaking of wicked men (Proverbs 2:13) says, that they leave the paths…

Then shall you know if you follow on to know, when we track the [illegible] of the truth, in all the [illegible] until we have viewed the whole progress of it, from truth to truth from point to point. This it is to [illegible] for wisdom (Proverbs 2:2) when men have found a mine…

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Third, it reproves those who, instead of mourning for sin, rejoice in sin. Proverbs 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:12: Who take pleasure in iniquity. Wicked men are worse in this sense than the damned in hell; for the damned take little pleasure in their sins.

Let me lay down two or three directions for the attaining of grace. If we would be enriched with this jewel of grace, let us take pains for it; we are bid to search for knowledge as a man searches for a vein of gold (Proverbs 2:2-3). Our salvation cost Christ blood; it will cost…

We should herein be as the merchant man that seeks for pearls; he seeks for all sorts of them, but when he has found one of great price, he parts with all to make it his own (Matthew 13:45-46). The Scripture is the field, the place, the mine where we search and dig for pearls (s…

I have read of one Benchorat, who spent forty years in finding out the motion of the Eighth Sphere; what pains then should we take in finding out the knowledge of God in Christ? There must be digging and searching for it, as one would search for a vein of silver, Proverbs 2. 3.…

Ignorance: Make out your meaning. Christian: Why, the word of God says, that man's ways are crooked ways, not good but perverse; it says, they are naturally out of the good way, that they have not known it (Psalm 125:5; Proverbs 2:15; Romans 3:12). Now, when a man thus thinks of…

There's an edge upon the word fountain, for the fountain and first spring of the water of life is above the streams; and this is promised to him that has a heavenly and spiritual thirst for Christ. 3. God puts himself and the measure or compass of heaven, upon the measure and co…

Hold fast the form of sound words: There are some words that come from a sick mind, as (Titus 1:13). The Apostle holds forth, that there be some sick of the faith, as there be some sound of the faith, (Proverbs 2:7). The Lord gives sound wisdom [〈in non-Latin alphabet〉] its esse…

You say, suppose we would now turn to God, what would you have us do? Solomon gives this counsel (Proverbs 2:1-7): First hearken to the word of God (verse 1), and your souls shall live (Isaiah 55:2-3). Our Savior's hearers fastened their eyes upon him (Luke 4:20), but wonder to…