Proverbs 1

5. Christ when he teaches, makes men willing to learn. Men may teach others, but they have no mind to learn (Proverbs 1:7): Fools despise instruction; they rage at the word, as if a patient should rage at the physician when he brings him a cordial: thus backward are men to their…

If a surgeon comes to heal a man's wound, he will not be healed, but bolts out his surgeon, is the surgeon bound to heal him? (Proverbs 1:24). I have called, and you refused. (Psalm 81:11). Israel would none of me.

Some will rather lose their souls than lose their jest: these are guilty of taking God's name in vain. Tremble at it: such as mock at Scripture, God will mock at their calamity (Proverbs 1:26). 3. They abuse God's Word, and take his name in vain, that bring Scripture to countena…

(1.) In hearkening to their counsel. Proverbs 1:8: Hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother. Parents are as it were in the room of God; if they would teach you the fear of the Lord, you must listen to their words as oracles, and not be as the d…

God will not pity them. They derided his Spirit, and now he will laugh at their calamity (Proverbs 1:26). The Saints will not pity them: they persecuted the Saints upon earth, therefore they will rejoice to see God's justice executed on them (Psalm 58:10).

(1.) The bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27): She does not eat the bread of idleness. An idle person does vivere aliena quadra, he lives at another body's cost, and is at their finding (Proverbs 1:25): His hands refuse to labor. We must not be as the drones which eat the honey th…

Does not Scripture say quite otherwise? Proverbs 1:32: 'The prosperity of fools destroys them.' So also Psalm 73.

And therefore to press this use a little, we shall show you here, 1. what it is that we exhort you to, and 2. what is the force of this motive. 1. We would commend to you in general, that you would endeavor the salvation of your own souls, this is it, He cries to you (Proverbs 1…

They shall go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, but they shall not find him; for he has withdrawn himself from them. (Proverbs 1:24) I called, and you refused; verse 26. then this must follow, verse 28. (as also John 8:21, the like is) they shall call upon me, but I…

Verse 32: For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies. 3. In the Lord's crying to sinners (Proverbs 1:20): Wisdom cries, she utters her voice in the streets. The word is to cry with strong shouting, either for joy (Psalm 81:2), or sorrow (Lamentations 2:19), which expre…

4. Because that love which is built upon holiness is the most durable and lasting. There is a confederacy in evil, as between drunkards with drunkards, and robbers with robbers (Proverbs 1:14): Cast in your lot among us, let us all have one common purse. Or when men conspire aga…

That his suggestions might make the greater impression upon her, he manages all his discourse with her, that all the advice which he seems to give her, proceeded of his love, and good affection towards her and her husband; pretending a more than ordinary desire and care of man's…

This kind of tempting of God is compounded of unbelief and presumption. There is unbelief in it, when we dare sin against the clear light and checks of conscience, and venture upon his threatenings: You cannot drive a dull ass into the fire that is kindled before him (Proverbs 1…

And by these shall we finde the true Church of God in England, Ireland, Scotland, Germanie, France, &c. Againe, in that the Church is called our Mother, the Papist gathers that her commandements must be obaied, Prov 1:8. and therefore in their Catechismes, beside the commandemen…

Again, this condemns the damnable opinion of atheists, who think all things come to pass by nature, or fortune; and that doomsday is but a dream: and that stick not to say, It is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it, that we have kept his commandments; and that we have wa…

He therefore oftentimes makes them stand confounded, to the end men may know that their wisdom is nothing else but a vanishing smoke. For there is no true wisdom but that which is grounded upon the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom, as Solomon teaches (Proverbs 1:7 a…

Moreover it seems the fear of God should be added for an exposition, that the Prophet might the better manifest that the knowledge of which he spoke was the guide of piety, being neither idle nor vain, but penetrating with efficacy into our hearts to conform us to the fear of Go…

The devil would beg as earnestly as you, if he had any hope to get salvation by it, and yet be as much of a devil as he is now. What can have more justice in it than that in Proverbs 1:24-28: Because I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regard…

All these are mercies additional to that great mercy CHRIST, Matth. 6:33 they are given with him, as in Romans 8:32 this is the Tenure by which we hold them, 1 Corinthians 3. 21, 22, 23. Look, what we lost in Adam, is restored again with Advantage in Christ: immediately upon the…

(3.) Consider, that if ever you be rescued out of that miserable condition you are in, such cross Providences, as these you complain of, are the most probable means to do it. Alas! prosperity and success is not the way to save, but destroy you, Proverbs 1:32 You must be bound in…

And it is of a person that by convictions had been fetcht off from his wicked companions, and entered into a reformed course of life; but after this, through the inticement of his old companions, the subtilty of Satan, and corruption of his own heart, did again relapse into the…

To others nothing is sanctified either as an Instrument or occasion of any spiritual good; but as the worst things are ordered to the benefit of the saints, so the best things wicked men enjoy do them no good. Their prayers are turned into sin, Psalm 109:7 The Ordinances are the…

There is such a phrase in war, when they go violently upon a place, they are said to storm the place, to storm the gates of a castle or of a city; so here, they fell upon them, that is, they came violently upon them like a storm. In (Proverbs 1:27), destruction is described to c…

But God deceives none: whoever comes to him on his proposal of repentance, shall find forgiveness. It is said of some indeed, that he will laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear coms, Proverbs 1:26. He will aggravate their misery, by giving them to see what their prid…

My fruit (saith wisdom) is []ter then fine gold—I cause to walke in the way of righteousnes, and in the m[]ds of the paths of judgment. Prov. 1[]. 23. The wise heart guids the mouth wisely, and adds doctrine unto his lips.

Let this excite violence in the things of God; it is the main errand of our living here; shall we go out of the world and forget our errand? 4. How violent are the wicked in ways of sin! violent for their malicious lusts (Proverbs 1:16): Their feet run to evil. Violent for their…

It is even so as to spiritual seasons. Christ neglected, and grace despised, in the season when God offers them, are irrecoverably lost (Proverbs 1:28). Then (that is, when the season is over) they shall call upon me but I will not hear.

We must gird it fast to us, and not leave it to hang loose so as to be snatched away by every temptation; carelessness is no commendation of the soul's adorning; watchfulness and resolution in the strength of Christ must tie the knot upon our graces, and make them as the girdle…

Let us be established in this, that it is the only wisdom to choose the ways of God upon any terms, let come what will come, let all sorrows and afflictions to the outward man come that possibly can come, this is the absolute wisdom, and this, says he, is my opinion and judgemen…

I I hope I do not so, (will some say) though I give pleasure to my flesh. Yes, that man or woman that chooses the way of giving content to the flesh, rather then the strict ways of godliness, such a one hates Gods ways, and so hates God himself in hating Gods ways: as, mark that…

Be it known unto you, you that hast given yourself liberty in injoying the pleasures of the flesh to the utmost, you that hast been most wretched, if you hast a heart to come in this day, and turn your choice, God is yet ready to embrace you; we have commission to offer grace an…

All things friendly and beneficial to them, Friends helpful, Enemies helpful, every thing conspiring and conducing to their happiness. With others it is not so; nothing works for their good; in fact, every thing works against it: Their very mercies are snares, and their Prosperi…

Had they known him they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: did men know him, were they acquainted in any measure with him, they would not so reject the Lord of glory. Himself calls them simple ones, fools and scorners, that despise his gracious invitation (Proverbs 1:24…

And it is very needful that patience be added to silence, because many parents in tender love of their children, and earnest desire of their good, think they can never speak enough in instructing and admonishing them. The many exhortations given in Scripture to children to hear,…

Bathsheba taught Solomon when he was young (Proverbs 31:1). Often does Solomon warn children not to forsake their mother's teaching (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20). Whereby he implies that mothers should teach their children especially while they are young: which duty so belongs to a mothe…

It is the sin of his people that provokes him instead of favorable looking on them to have his eyes upon them for evil and not for good, as he threatens; and therefore without [reconstructed: putting away] of that, prayer is lost breath, does no good. They that retain still thei…

A good man has God to Pity him in his Sorrows, Isaiah. 63:9. But the Wicked have God to laugh at them in their Miseries, Proverbs 1:26. The Godly have Christ to pray for them, in their Afflictions; but the Impenitent when in Torment, are shut out of Christs prayer, Ioh. 17:9.

1. Because they have not the knowledge of God. Proverbs 1:24. They hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: did men know God in his immense glory, they would be swallowed up with divine amazement.

God has given us counsel what to do in order to eternal life, and we regard it not. The great quarrel between God and sinners, is about the neglect of this counsel which he has given them for their souls' good, They set at nought all my counsel (Proverbs 1:25): and they would no…

(Romans 2:4) Tribulation, wrath and anguish upon the soul of man that does evil. Alas, these things are slighted by wicked men, or else they would not venture as they do: you cannot drive a dull ass into the fire that is kindled before him; (Proverbs 1:17) In vain is the snare l…

6. How much it concerns you to come out of this condition speedily, for God is not a God to be neglected or dallied with. When he calls in the seasons of grace he will be observed, otherwise you may call, and he will have no regard (Proverbs 1:28): They shall call and I will not…

Again, there are great causes of fear, because there is such a thing as judicial hardness of heart, by a sentence of obduration. There are some that God gives up to their own ways and counsels, and God inflicts this sentence upon those that continue in sin, notwithstanding convi…

3. There is a threefold friendship, sinful, civil, and [reconstructed: Religious]. 1. Sinful: when men agree in evil, as drunkards with drunkards, or robbers with robbers; (Proverbs 1:14) Cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse. When men conspire against the truth a…

Haman's honor, Ahithophel's wit, and Herod's applause turned to their hurt. If in prosperity they contemn God, if in adversity they deny and blaspheme him; (Proverbs 1:32) For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. As the…

Let these consider: first, God can make the stoutest-hearted sinner who stands aloof from him to see he is undone without him; it is no hard thing to put a sinner in the stocks of conscience, so that one favorable look would be valued more than all the world. Secondly, it may be…

Oh no; he goes after her as a [reconstructed: fool] to the Stocks, till a Dart strikes through [reconstructed: his] Liver; as a Bird hastens to the snare, and knows not, or sees not, that 'tis for his life (Proverbs 7:22-23). For in vain is the Net spread in the sight of any [re…

By enticement and solicitation; it is a sad employment to be sin's solicitor, yet too many such there are; pimps, bawds, and panders for lust and sin: and though the solicited person do not sin, as Joseph did not, yet the solicitor is a sinner, as his mistress was. There are sin…

To undergo that which by patient suffering of it, will rejoice and glorify God, and give him occasion to magnify us too? Or to do that which will provoke him to be angry with us till we be consumed, and then laugh at our calamity (Proverbs 1:26-27)? 3. There are many blessed enc…

Oh, I think we should hear the words of the wise (Ecclesiastes 9:10): "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work — no working out salvation — in the grave, where you are going." Think of it, poor soul, think of it in time, before it be too late;…

Now God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy; you may cry now with some encouragement of obtaining mercy; but when once the day of mercy is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain; you will be wholly lost and thrown away by God as to…