The Argument - The wonderful love of God toward his Church is declared in this book: for as much as the sum and effect of the whole Scriptures is here set forth in these brief sentences, which partly contain doctrine, and partly manners, and also exhortations to both: of which the first nine Chapters are as a preface full of grave sentences and deep mysteries, to assure the hearts of men to the diligent reading of the parables that follow: which are left as a precious jewel to the Church, of those three thousand parables mentioned in 1Ki 4:32 and were gathered and committed to writing by Solomon's servants and incited by him.

(a) That is, what we ought to know and follow, and what we ought to refuse.

(b) Meaning, the word of God in which is the only true knowledge.

(c) To learn to submit ourselves to the correction of those who are wise.

(d) By living justly and rendering to every man that which belongs to him.

(e) To such as have no discretion to rule themselves.

(f) As he shows that these parables containing the effect of religion concerning manners and doctrine, belong to the simple people: so he declares that the same is also necessary for them who are wise and learned.

(g) He speaks this in the Name of God, who is the universal Father of all creatures, or in the name of the pastor of the Church, who is as a father.

(h) That is, of the Church, in which the faithful are begotten by the incorruptible seed of God's word.

(i) That is, the wicked who do not have the fear of God.

(k) He speaks not only of the shedding of blood with hand, but of all crafty practises which tend to the detriment of our neighbour.

(l) As the grave is never satisfied, so the malice of the wicked and their cruelty has no end.

(m) He shows how the wicked are allured to join together, because they have everyone part of the spoil of the innocent.

(n) That is, have nothing at all to do with them.

(o) He shows that there is no reason to move these wicked to spoil the innocent, aside from their malice and cruelty.

(p) By which he concludes that the covetous man is a murderer.

(q) This wisdom is the eternal word of God.

(r) So that no one can pretend ignorance.

(s) Wisdom reproves three kinds of men, the foolish or simple who err out of ignorance, the mockers who cannot stand to be taught, and the fools who are drowned in worldly lusts and hate the knowledge of godliness.

(t) This is spoken according to our capacity signifying that the wicked, who mock and jest at God's word, will have the just reward of their mocking.

(u) That is, your destruction, which you feared.

(x) Because they sought not with an affection to God, but for ease of their own grief.

(z) They will feel what convenience their wicked life will give them.

(a) That is, the prosperity and sensuality in which they delight.