Proverbs 3:35

REFLECTIONS.

READER! let us attend to the several very interesting subjects which arise out of this chapter, and by reading them in the sweet spirit of the gospel, to which they plainly refer, we shall through grace make no small improvement of them.

In the first place, while Solomon recommends such attention to the law as never to forget it; let us examine whether God the Father's promise is fulfilled in our experience, and he hath put his law in our inward parts and written it in our hearts. Oh! the blessed work of regeneration, when the heart of stone is taken away, and the heart of flesh given. And when the spirituality of God's law is so read and understood in the soul, that Christ is discovered to be the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

In the next place let us see to it, Reader, that we have such confidence, and such well grounded trust in God's mercy through Christ, as to commit everything for time and for eternity into his almighty hands; for this will be to honour him with our whole substance, and with the first fruits of all our increase.

And as a third improvement from this chapter, let us see to it, that as we eye the Lord in all his providences, so we never lose sight of his government in all his chastisements. Not to feel the rod, or not to suppose chastening to be grievous, would be unbecoming; and not to enquire into the causes of the Lord's affliction, would be to forget the improvement intended to be made from it; and not to pray for a deliverance from trouble would be unsuitable to our circumstances. But to bless God for his attention in sending the affliction - to justify the Lord in the appointment of it - to acknowledge that he is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works - and while the Lord is correcting, we are cleaving the closer to him; and to lean upon his promises, when matters are most dark and discouraging; this will be neither to despise his chastening, nor faint under the pressure.

Lastly and above all - while Solomon in this chapter recommends so earnestly, to find wisdom and to get understanding; let us see to it that nothing satisfies our souls short of the knowledge and attainment of Christ. He is the wisdom indeed, which in the possession of must make the soul truly happy. In the constitution of his person, the suitableness, and all-sufficiency of his salvation; his offices, characters, relations, the manifold wisdom of Jehovah is made known. Reader! may the Lord the Spirit impress it both upon your heart and mine, to find him who is truly and emphatically wisdom himself and we shall then enter into the full apprehension of those sweet scriptures, the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.