Solomon hath hitherto exhorted us to wisdom, now he dehorteth and calleth us back from all manner of evil, which might hinder our proceedings in wisdom, and first he adviseth us to avoid all evil examples: secondly he willeth us to beware of our own way-wardnes and corruptions, and to fly from the evil examples of sinful and wicked1 men. He dehorteth us in six verses, that is, from the 14. to the 20. and his dehortation consisteth of a precept, and the reasons of the precept: the principal is expressed in the 14. and 15. vers: we must have no fellowship or familiarity with the wicked, and because it is hard to fly from them, and because their company is dangerous, therefore Solomon useth many words to set out the matter, showing indeed, that we can never be too much or too often warned of them: for he saith, Enter not, walk not, withdraw thy self from it, pass not by it, decline from it. Much like unto this Physic, the Physicians prescribe for the2 plague: for they say, if a man will be preserved from the plague, he must observe these 3. things: first, that he quickly and with all speed fly from it: secondly, that he fly far away: thirdly, that it be long ere he return to the place again. By this they mean, that if the air be once infected, there can be no remedy devised to preserve a man in that place: now the plague is more contagious then the wicked are, the plague doth no more infect the air, then the wicked do infect those places wherein they live: and therefore Solomon doth very well to prescribe this remedy for the avoiding of the infection which might be gotten by evil company. For what could preserve a man in Sodom, but only his lawful calling: therefore unless a man have such a calling to keep him there, he must fly quickly from the wicked, he must fly far from them, he must see them amend, before he return unto them. David did very well see this, and therefore he doth in many places cry3 out against them. Away from me ye wicked. Woe is me, that I have so long dwelt in Kedar. David was not effeminate, he had not a womanish heart to cry without cause, he felt the smart of it, and therefore crieth so earnestly against them, he saw no good example, he saw no occasion of goodness, he was much hindered in his obedience, he had many pullbacks, and other great disprofits.
SAlomon hath hitherto exhorted vs to wisedome, now he dehorteth and calleth vs backe from all manner of euill, which might hinder our proceedings in wisedome, and first he aduiseth vs to auoid all euill examples: secondly he willeth vs to beware of our own way-wardnes and corruptions, and to flie from the euill examples of sinfull and wicked1 men. Hee dehorteth vs in sixe verses, that is, from the 14. to the 20. and his dehortation consisteth of a precept, and the reasons of the precept: the principall is expressed in the 14. and 15. vers: we must haue no fellowship or familiaritie with the wicked, and because it is hard to flie from them, and because their companie is daungerous, therefore Salomon vseth many words to set out the matter, shewing indeede, that we can neuer be too much or too often warned of them: for he saith, Enter not, walke not, withdraw thy selfe from it, passe not by it, decline from it. Much like vnto this Physicke, the Physitions prescribe for the2 plague: for they say, if a man will be preserued from the plague, hee must obserue these 3. things: first, that he quickly and with all speed flie from it: secondly, that he flie far away: thirdly, that it be long ere hee returne to the place againe. By this they meane, that if the ayre be once infected, there can bee no remedie deuised to preserue a man in that place: now the plague is more contagious then the wicked are, the plague doth no more infect the ayre, then the wicked do infect those places wherein they liue: and therefore Salomon doth very well to prescribe this remedy for the auoyding of the infection which might be gotten by euill companie. For what could preserue a man in Sodome, but only his lawfull calling: therefore vnles a man haue such a calling to keepe him there, he must flie quicklie from the wicked, he must flie farre from them, he must see them amend, before he returne vnto them. Dauid did very well see this, and therefore he doth in many places crie3 out against them. Away from me yee wicked. Woe is me, that I haue so long dwelt in Kedar. Dauid was not effeminate, he had not a womanish heart to crie without cause, he felt the smart of it, and therefore crieth so earnestly against them, he saw no good example, he saw no occasion of goodnes, he was much hindered in his obedience, hee had many pulbackes, and other great disprofits.
- 1What to be avoided.What to be auoided.
- 2Simile. To avoid the society of the wicked. Citò, longè, tardè.Simile. To auoyd the societie of the wicked. Citò, longè, tardè.
- 3Psalm. 119. and 1•0.
