_Also that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good._ THE ADVANTAGES OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE LOWER CLASSES I. The utility of knowledge in general. The extent to which we have the faculty of acquiring knowledge forms the most obvious distinction of our species. As the power of acquiring knowledge i... [ Continue Reading ]
_The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord._ THE FOLLY AND SIN OF MEN IN PERVERTING THEIR OWN WAY, AND THEN FRETTING AGAINST GOD Men are apt to charge all the afflictions which befall them upon God, whereas they bring most of them upon themselves. God is no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour._ THE RICH AND THE POOR Nothing upon earth is so powerful as money. It is a force before which everything bows. Wealth is such a mighty power, that one possessing it does not feel his dependence as other men do. Being more ea... [ Continue Reading ]
_A false witness shall not be unpunished._ THE WOE OF THE UNTRUTHFUL The man who gives wrong evidence. The man of untruthfulness in common conversation. Such men are always punished in one way or another. Nothing is more frequently inculcated in Holy Scripture than the practice of truth, justice,... [ Continue Reading ]
_He pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him._ COERCING MEN OF ILL PRINCIPLES This verse prescribes a different method of proceeding against known offenders, according to their different characters. The scorner, who makes a jest of everything sacred, and professes an open contempt of... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul _ ON GETTING AND KEEPING WISDOM The way of getting this wisdom is to be sensible of our need of it; to trust in Him to whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge belong, for the communication of it; and to be diligent in the use of the means which He... [ Continue Reading ]
_The discretion of a man deferreth his anger._ ANGER If any vice is often reproved in the Word of God, you may be assured it springs prolific in the life of man. In this book of morals anger is a frequently recurring theme. Anger cannot be cast wholly out of man in the present state. On some occasi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And a prudent wife is from the Lord._ DIVINE DIRECTION NEEDED IN THE CHOICE OF A WIFE In the choice of a wife, first of all seek Divine direction. About thirty-five years ago, when Martin Farquhar Tupper urged men to prayer before they decided upon matrimonial association, people laughed. And some... [ Continue Reading ]
_Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger._ IDLERS AND IDLENESS In the big, busy city, the one who seems out of touch with it is the idler. He who has no other business than the wretched one of killing time has no portion, right, or memorial in it; nor has he any... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he that despiseth his ways shall die._ THE FOLLY OF DESPISING OUR OWN WAYS I. The sinner’s fall and ruin. “He shall die.” There is a death that is common to all mankind. That is the general effect of sin. But there is a death which is the particular lot of impenitent sinners. This is-- 1. A... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord._ CHRISTIAN PITY FOR THE CHRISTIAN POOR I. The great stress which the Scriptures lay upon pity for the poor. That man must be a cursory reader of the Bible who does not see that it pervades the Bible. The old dispensation is full of it. In the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear counsel and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end._ INSTRUCTION AND COUNSEL PLACED BEFORE THE YOUNG I. The advice given. These two things in the text will be found to imply all that is valuable in principle and all that is useful in practice. What is here meant is n... [ Continue Reading ]
_There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand._ DEVICES AND COUNSEL It being impossible for us to know God absolutely, the highest degree of knowledge we can hope to attain unto is by way of comparison with ourselves and other creatures. But beca... [ Continue Reading ]
_The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar._ CIRCUMSTANCES OR CHARACTER The imperial standard of weights and measures has been sent by the King into the market-place of human life, where men are busy cheating themselves and each other. Public opinion greatly needs to... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of the Lord tendeth to life._ THE HAPPY LIFE Godliness has “the promise of the life that now is.” It might have been otherwise. Infinite Benevolence would have His saints to be happy. As God is the source of all happiness in heaven, so all contact with God brings happiness here. I. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom._ A PROTEST AGAINST LAZINESS Most critics substitute the word “dish” for “bosom” here: “A slothful man hideth his hand in his dish.” This certainly makes the description of the lazy man more graphic. His repast is provided for him; it is spread before h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware._ MAN CHASTISING THE WRONG I. Wrong may exist in very different characters. There are three characters mentioned in the passage. 1. “The scorner.” The scorner is a character made up of pride, irreverence, and cruelty. He mocks at sin; he scoffs at reli... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge._ TEMPTATION TO PERILOUS LISTENING By the “words of knowledge” understand the principles and dictates of virtue and religion. The wise man’s advice amounts to this--That we should be careful to guard against th... [ Continue Reading ]