Clarke's Commentary - Proverbs - Song Of ... - Media Sabda Org

equally vanish at the splendour of the Divine truth delivered by Solomon. He alone decides the great
question in such a manner that the soul is instantly convinced; it need seek no farther.
"III. To prevent all misapprehensions, which a slight and cursory reading of this book is apt to
raise in many persons, it will be requisite to observe two cautions: First, that Solomon, who tells us
that he applied his heart not only to the search of wisdom and knowledge, but also of folly and
madness, frequently speaks, not according to his own sentiments, though he proposes the thing in
a naked and simple manner, designedly making use of such terms as might set the picture in a fuller
and clearer light, so that we often meet with certain expressions which, unless we search into their
true design, seem to have a quite different force and meaning from what the author really intended.
We must therefore take particular care to distinguish the doubts and objections of others from
Solomon's answers; the want of attending to which has made this book much more obscure than
otherwise it would appear. Secondly, we should not judge of the entire discourse from some parts
of it; since many things are pertinently said, according to the present subject, which, in themselves,
and strictly taken, are far from true. In order to come at the genuine sense, we should form our
opinion from the different circumstances of the matter treated of, comparing the antecedent with the
consequent passages, and always considering the preacher's real scope and design. By carefully
attending to these two cautions, this book will be seen in a very different light from what it now
appears in to the generality of readers.
"IV. This book, besides the figurative and proverbial expressions to be found in no other part of
the Scripture, is undoubtedly metrical; and, consequently, the grammatization, in many places, not
a little perplexed, from the frequent ellipses, abbreviations, transposition of words, and other poetical
licenses, allowed in all languages; to say nothing of the carelessness or ignorance of transcribers, as
appears from the variety of readings. Yet, notwithstanding we are so little acquainted with the nature
of the Hebrew metre, and the propriety of certain phrases which, at this vast distance of time, in a
language that has been dead upwards of two thousand years, must unavoidably occasion the same
difficulties and obscurities as occur in works of far less antiquity, and in languages more generally
studied and better understood; notwithstanding this, I say, a diligent and attentive observer will
always find enough to recompense his trouble; and, if he has any taste, cannot avoid being struck
with the exquisite beauty and regularity of the plan.
"V. The most judicious commentators have remarked on this book, that we have here a
conspicuous example of that form of disputing, which was so justly admired in the soundest of the
pagan philosophers; particularly in Socrates, who, whilst others were taken up with abstruse
speculations about the nature of things, and investigating the number, motions, distance, and
magnitude of the stars, brought down philosophy from the upper regions, and fixed its abode on
earth; that is, by teaching such precepts as served for the regulation of life and manners, by far the
most useful of all sciences, as being most conducive to the welfare of society, and the general benefit
of mankind. Of this we have a noble specimen in the memoirs of that ancient moralist, collected by
Xenophon. It is, I think, beyond all contradiction, that no one ever made deeper researches into
nature, or had made so great a progress in every branch of science, both speculative and
experimental. But what, after all, was the result of his inquiries? A thorough conviction of the
inutility of such studies, and how little they conduce towards the obtaining that peace and tranquillity
of mind wherein true happiness consists. He applied himself, therefore, to that study which might