Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Ver. 1. Doth not wisdom cry?] And shall a harlot be sooner heard than she? Shall men prefer dross before gold, acorns before wheat, a swinesty before a sanctuary, dirty delights and sensual pleasures before peace that passeth all understanding, joy unspeakable and full of glory? Heathen stories a tell how Hercules, when he was young, was courted by Virtue on the one hand, and Pleasure on the other; but Pleasure lost her sweet words upon him; he hearkened to Virtue rather. Shall not we to Wisdom?
Put forth her voice.] In her ministers, who are criers by office, and must be earnest. Isa 58:1 See an instance in holy Bradford. "I beseech you," saith he, "I pray you, I desire you, I crave at your hands with all my very heart, I ask of you with hand, pen, tongue, and mind, in Christ, through Christ, for Christ, for his name, blood, mercy, power, and truth's sake, my most entirely beloved, that you admit no doubting of God's final mercies toward you," &c. b Here was a lusty crier indeed. And such another was Mr Perkins, of whom it is said, that in expounding the commandments, when he was catechist of Christ's College, he applied them so home to his hearers, that he made their very hearts fall down, and their hairs stand upright. c
a Xenophon.
b Acts and Mon., 1490.
c Mr Fuller's Holy State, p. 90.