Proverbs 9:17

Stolen waters are sweet— A proverbial expression for illicit pleasures; the Greeks and Latins make use of the same phrase. See chap. Proverbs 5:15 and Calmet. One of the profitable lessons to be learned from this chapter is, that there is nothing more inconsistent with wisdom, than the service of those impure lusts, which have been the ruin of all those who have been led by them; and therefore with this the wise man concludes his preface to the book of proverbs; again repeating (Proverbs 9:10.) that first principle upon which all religion is built, and wherewith he began his preface, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Indeed, there is no true wisdom but religion. The reader cannot but be pleased with the following passage from the excellent Bishop Berkeley's Minute philosopher; a work which well deserves the most careful perusal, "To suppose a society of rational agents, acting under the eye of Providence, concurring in one design to promote the common benefit of the whole, and conforming their actions to the established laws and order of the divine parental wisdom; wherein each particular agent shall not consider himself apart, but as the member of a great city, whose author and founder is God; in which the civil laws are no other than the rules of virtue, and the duties of religion; and where every one's interest is combined with his duty;—to suppose this would be delightful. On this supposition, a man need be no stoic or knight-errant to account for his virtue. In such a system vice is madness, cunning is folly, wisdom and virtue are the same thing; where, notwithstanding all the crooked paths and by-roads, the wayward appetites and inclinations of men, sovereign reason [under sovereign grace] is sure to reform whatever seems amiss, to reduce that which is devious, make straight that which is crooked, and in the last act wind up the whole plot, according to the exactest rules of wisdom and justice. In such a system or society, governed by the wisest precepts, enforced by the highest regards and discouragements, it is delightful to consider how the regulation of laws, the distribution of good and evil, the aim of moral agents, do all conspire in due subordination to promote the noblest end, to wit, the complete happiness or well-being of the whole. In contemplating the beauty of such a moral system, we may cry out with the Psalmist, Very excellent things are spoken of thee, thou city of God!" See Min. Phil. vol. 1: p. 183.

REFLECTIONS.—When in the days of his flesh the Wisdom of God appeared upon earth, he chose for the most part to convey his divine instructions by parables, a method which he had used of old, to communicate the mysteries of his gospel. So here,

1. A rich entertainment is provided in a sumptuous palace for Wisdom's guests. She hath builded her house, the church upon earth, founded on Christ, the rock of ages; and gloriously adorned with all the gifts and graces of the Spirit therein abundantly dispensed; or the heavenly mansions provided for the saints' everlasting rest, the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. She hath hewn out her seven pillars; intimating the liability and perpetuity thereof, seven being the number of perfection; or referring to the constant provision of wise and able ministers, qualified with gifts and graces for the edifying of the body of Christ, and the support of the interests of his church and people. She hath killed her beasts, or her sacrifice; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. The sacrifice is a crucified Jesus, offering himself upon the cross for sinners. The wine is his blood, the richest cordial to the guilty soul. The table is furnished with all the blessings of grace, pardon, righteousness, peace, strength, consolation; the provision Jesus himself has made, and freely offers to every poor and hungry sinner.

2. An invitation is sent to them. She hath sent forth her maidens, the ministers of the gospel, appointed and sent to publish the glad tidings of salvation, She crieth upon the highest places of the city, as our Lord himself did at Jerusalem; and his servants continue to lift up their voice, with zeal and earnestness delivering their message. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; even every soul which, conscious of its spiritual ignorance, desires to be taught the lessons of divine truth. As for him that hath no understanding, at least not distinguished by any attainments of science, she saith unto him, Come, eat of my bread, feed upon the delicacies provided, and drink of the wine which I have mingled; welcome to the festal board, to the wine and milk of gospel-grace; Eat, O my Friends; yea, drink abundantly, O beloved; for here no excess is to be feared. They who feed upon Christ and his love, cannot come with desires too enlarged; yea, blessed are they that hunger and thirst, for they shall be filled.

3. An admonition is given to the guests. Forsake the foolish, and live; the company of sinners, whose works are folly, and their wages death: these we must leave, have no fellowship with them, that we may live to God, quickened by his Spirit, and go in the way of understanding; the way of grace, peace, holiness, and glory, which the word of God lays open and plain before us, and in which all who come to Jesus Christ ought henceforth to walk, even as he also walked.