Proverbs 4:6

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Ver. 6. Forsake her not, &c.] Wisdom is her own reward. If she forsake us, it is because the desertion is first on our part. But she cannot but be "justified of her own true children." Mat 11:19 Falling stars were never but meteors; temporaries were never Christians indeed. What wonder though some hold falling from grace, since they mistake common grace for true grace? Hence Bellarmine saith, That which is true grace, veritate essentiae, only may be lost, not that that is true veritate firmae soliditatis: which latter being rightly understood, may be called special, as the other common grace.

Love her, and she shall keep thee,] viz., From recidivation and utter apostasy, caused by the overflow of iniquity. Matthew 24:12 2Th 2:10-11 This to prevent, let knowledge and affection, like two individual twins, grow up together, and mutually transfuse spiritual vigour into each other.