_Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish._ WORTHLESS AND ATTENTIVE HEARERS Attention to the precepts and wise counsels of this book is urged by-- 1. The advantage which such precepts are of, to improve a man’s carriage and conversation. 2. The fact that t... [ Continue Reading ]
_A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord._ THE BLESSING OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND MISERY OF THE WICKED There is s marked difference between the righteous and the wicked both in their characteristics and in their condition. I. The teaching of the passage regarding the blessing of the righteous. 1. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones _ FALSE AFFECTION Delilah’s character, though but briefly drawn, is not without terrible significance. In her we see a violation of the ties of life and properly-poised affection which makes us s... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the house of the righteous shall stand._ VIRTUOUS KINDRED I. In the first place, the circumstance of belonging to the house of the righteous, is a great security that the early principles which so commonly decide the character of the man, have been the subjects of a judicious and anxious atte... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man shall be commended according to his wisdom._ APPRECIATION BETTER THAN PRAISE There are persons in this world--and the pity is that there are not more of them--who care less for praise than for appreciation. They have an ideal after which they are striving, but of which they consciously fall... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread._ DOMESTIC MODESTY AND DISPLAY Vanity, or love of display, is one of the most contemptible and pernicious passions that can take possession of the human mind. Its roots are self-ignorance, its fru... [ Continue Reading ]
_A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast._ THE SIN OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS First remove some prejudices against dealing with this subject. 1. This is a trifling subject, which is unworthy of being made a matter of grave and deliberate consideration. But if this subject constitute a matter o... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread._ THE LAW OF LABOUR It is no mercy to be freed from the law of labour. Nor is it God that frees a man from that law. Among the opulent there are some who break the law of labour, and some who keep it. They keep it by working in their own provi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit._ THE CRAFTY AND THE HONEST I. Craftiness. 1. Craft is an instinct of wickedness: No true Christian is a hypocrite. The better a man is, the less temptation he has to disguise himself. A wicked man must be hypo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips._ LIES, THE SNARE THAT LIARS ARE CAUGHT IN The Supreme has set many snares, in the constitution of things, for the detection and punishment of evil-doers. The liar’s own tongue betrays him. In some of its movements, ere he is aware, it touches... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him._ OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WILL AND ITS FRUITS Wheresoever goodness is, whether it bridle our tongue, or guide our hand, or regulate our fancy, it carries its satisfaction, its r... [ Continue Reading ]
_A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame._ WRATH AS SHAME The wise man here uses a very observable word, to express wrath. He calls it shame, for it is a shame for a man to suffer his reason to, be tyrannised over by an unruly passion, which spreads deformity over his co... [ Continue Reading ]
_The tongue of the wise is health._ HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY SPEECH Some men pride themselves on the pungency of their speech. They delight in sharp answers, keen retorts, quick repartees, and boast themselves when they cut their opponents in two. There are others who are gifted in the expression of c... [ Continue Reading ]
_The lip of truth shall be established for ever._ TRUTHFULNESS I. The righteousness of truth (Proverbs 12:17). The highest and only proper use of speech is to show the right. It may be used to set forth-- 1. Right views of God (Psalms 11:2; John 17:25; Romans 3:21). 2. Right views of personal ex... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil._ A DENUNCIATION OF WICKED MEN I. A description of their persons. 1. They are evil-doers, but more especially, the practiser, the artificer in evil; one wholly bent upon sin; the body and mind occupied in executing and acting corrupt desires. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There shall no evil happen to the just._ THE SECURITY OF THE FAITHFUL The things which distinguish us most try us most. Those attributes of our nature which serve to mark its superiority, serve also to evince its liability to trouble. The animal tribes, as they have no capacity for reviewing the p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lying lips are abomination to the Lord._ ON LYING Man excels the rest of the creatures in the power of communicating thoughts one to another. The creatures are taught, by nature, almost immediately, how to supply their wants. But we are purposely formed to need and to give help in everything, thro... [ Continue Reading ]
_A prudent man concealeth knowledge._ CONCEALING KNOWLEDGE I. When it is opportune (John 16:12). II. When it is above the capacity of his hearers (1 Corinthians 2:2). III. When likely to be misapplied (Mark 15:5). IV. When sure of rejection (Matthew 7:6). V. When calculated to injure the breth... [ Continue Reading ]
_The hand of the diligent shall bear rule._ THE REWARD OF THE DILIGENT The natural estate of man is labour. Toil was the requirement of paradise. God’s Word recognises the universal law of work. “Toil is prayer”; and the Christian learns from the record of God’s will that honest, faithful, diligent... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad._ THE SADDENING AND THE SUCCOURING I. The saddening in life. There is a soul-crushing sadness here. 1. Personal affliction that maketh the heart stoop. 2. Social affliction that maketh the heart stoop. II. The succou... [ Continue Reading ]
_The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour._ THE RELIGIOUS MAN’S ADVANTAGES The sentiments of men concerning virtue, and their own particular practice, form a very strange and striking contrast. Philosophers have differed about the origin of moral distinctions, and delivered various theori... [ Continue Reading ]
_The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting._ INDOLENCE Most hunters have the game they shot or entrapped cooked the same evening or the next day, but not so with this laggard of the text. Too lazy to rip off the hide; too lazy to kindle the fire, and put the gridiron on the coals... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the way of righteousness is life._ LIFE IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS There are many ways which men are found to pursue in order to the attainment of happiness. One pursues the way of worldly pleasure; another is fascinated by the splendour and magnificence and show of the world; another seeks ha... [ Continue Reading ]