Proverbs 10

Quest. But what is it to have other gods besides the true God? I fear upon search we have more idolaters among us than we are aware of. Resp. To trust in any thing more than God, is to make it a God. 1. If we trust in our riches, then we make riches our God: we may take comfort,…

A vain tongue shows a light heart. A good man's words are weighty and prudent; his lips are as a tree of life to feed many; his speech is edifying: Proverbs 10:20. The tongue of the just is as choice silver. Gracious words drop as silver from him, to the enriching the souls of o…

Get the serpent's eye. Proverbs 10:14: wise men lay up knowledge. Faith without knowledge is presumption; zeal without knowledge is frenzy.

Since you have been precious in my sight, you have been honorable. (2.) God will put honor upon our names (Proverbs 10:17). The memory of the just is blessed.

It is bad for a sinner to forget God, but it is worse to contemn him. Proverbs 10:13: Why do the wicked contemn God? An enlightened sinner knows that by his sin he disobliges and angers God; but he cares not whether God be pleased or no, he will have his sin.

He therefore that labors for favor with men, and neglects the favor of God; he may get a good name, but it shall prove a rotten name in the end. Proverbs 10.7. The memorial of the just shall be blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. The good name of the wicked is rotten:…

Wherefore even kings, and the greatest personages that be, are as much bound to use this petition as the poorest. God's blessing is riches, says Solomon (Proverbs 10:22). You may eat and not have enough, be clothed and not warm, earn wages and put it in a broken bag (Haggai 1:6)…

Secondly, every one that believes God to be a father, and in Christ his father, must as a good child be obedient to his father's will. So Solomon says, A wise son makes a glad father (Proverbs 10:1). How?

It is a saying of Luther, whom God has a mind to destroy, he lets them play with scripture: But in this sense the righteous is more excellent. The tongue of the just is as choice silver (Proverbs 10:20). Gracious words drop as silver from him to the enriching the souls of others…

And to see them come in to him for grace and mercy, and to walk in truth, rejoices him much more; for he thereby sees of the travail of his soul, and so is satisfied. Certainly what Solomon says of parents (Proverbs 10:1), that a wise son makes a glad father, etc., is much more…

For a man to rise early, and go to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulness, not a sinful, but a provident care, and to avoid idleness, cannot endure to spend any idle time, takes all opportunities to be doing something, early and late, and loses no opportunity, go any way and…

There is sure dependence on the Lord's, but none on Satan's promises. Young men that are to begin the world, take up this resolution, take what God sends, but resolve never to take wealth out of Satan's hands; what God sends in the fair way of his Providence by his blessing on y…

So Isaiah brings in Jacob covered with shame and confusion, in regard of the vices and wickednesses of his posterity. For as a wise son is the glory of his father, so a fool is a heaviness to his mother (Proverbs 10:1). Although mothers do coddle their children most, yet are the…

The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them; because he knows not how to go to the city. Proverbs 10:32. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable.

He provides that fresh recruits shall still spring up to them in their way. For all their supplies are of him, and are acknowledged to be so; in as much as by waiting upon the Lord they renew strength and mount up with wings as Eagles, run without weariness, and walk without fai…

Sinful policies in their first appearances, are pleasant and promising, in their management difficult, in their event sad. Some by sinful ways have gotten wealth; but that Scripture has been verified in their experience, Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing. Eith…

One would think there is trouble enough, in troubles, when they come, a man should not trouble himself with them, before they come. Besides, it is said (Proverbs 10:24) respecting wicked men, that God will bring that which they fear upon them, so that it seems, God is angry with…

Ye looked for much, and lo, it came to little, and when it came home I did blow upon it. The consideration whereof must teach us to commend all the sober care and labour of our lawfull callings to God by prayer for his blessing: for it is his blessing that maks rich, Prov. 10. 2…

2. Prudence and moderation in discourse, and so dropping is opposed to floods, that with violence overflow. 3. This phrase signifies a continuance in seasonable, prudent and edifying discourse, as Job 27:22, My words dropped on them, and Deuteronomy 31:2, My doctrine shall drop…

5. The conversation of all others, though never so fairded with much civility, and great profession, and many parts, is yet naked and abominable before God, and subject to bruisings, stumblings, and such inconveniences, as feet that are bare are liable to. 6. A well ordered walk…

This contradicts not Christ's prohibition (Matthew 6:19), "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth," for that is in opposition, this in subordination to the true Treasure, and divine Providence, as Joseph's hoarding corn was. And it's called a good Treasure in opposition…

A wise physician can tell you the virtue of every simple, and can extract some good out of those herbs, that an ignorant person casts away, as useless weeds. (Proverbs 10:14) It is said, wise men lay up knowledge, that is, they consider all objects and occurrences, how they may…

1. Let me ask you, and do you ask yourselves if you pretend to such a treasure, how you came by it? Men usually know how they get a treasure, the hand of the diligent makes rich (Proverbs 10:4), that is, the blessing of the Lord upon diligent endeavors, verse 22. Men that would…

By O. H., an unworthy minister of the blessed Gospel. (Proverbs 10:2) Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. (Romans 14:17) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Every man is ready to think the best of himself. What Solomon says of love to our neighbor, is most true of self-love, [reconstructed: it] hides a multitude of evil (Proverbs 10:12). A man looking upon himself in Philautiae speculo, in the glass of self-love, his virtues appear…

Good husbands are careful in Summer to provide for Winter, then they gather in their Winter store; food and fuel for themselves, and fodder for their cattle. He that gathers in Summer is a wise son, but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame (Proverbs 10:5). A well…

The Husbandman would never endure the husks, chaff, and dry stalks to remain in the field, if it were not for the good corns sake; he would quickly set fire on it, but that the corn is among it, which he highly prizeth; and be assured, God would never suffer the wicked to abide…

Solomon has two proverbs concerning thriftiness and increase in the world. In (Proverbs 10:4) he says, The hand of the diligent makes rich. And (Proverbs 10:22) he says, The blessing of the Lord makes rich.

Some, it may be, that are of my own size, or judgment, or that I am otherwise obliged to, I can delight to converse with: But O, where is that largeness of heart, and general delight I should have to, and in all your People? How many of my old dear Acquaintance are now in Heaven…

What have they left of all their mirth and jollity, but a tormenting sting? It convinceth them clearly also that in matters of deep concernment, it is an high point of wisdom, to apprehend and improve the right seasons and opportunities of them Proverbs 10:5. He that gathers in…

Among other needful cautions for parents to be observed in laying up for their children, these three are especially to be noted. 1. That justly they come by that which they lay up: and lay nothing toward a child's portion which is any way unjustly gotten; for the treasures of wi…

Suppose a man is not a believer but only a professor of the gospel: what can the heart of such a person do? Proverbs 10:20 says the heart of the wicked is little worth — and surely that which is little worth in anything is not much worth in this. A wicked man may in outward thin…

Many a man is pierced through with worldly cares, and still the world frowns upon him, so all his care comes to nothing. (Proverbs 10:4) it is said, The hand of the diligent makes rich; compare it with verse 22. and it is said, The blessing of the Lord, it makes rich, and he add…

The babbler is another extreme, who thinks the commendation of a duty is to be long in it; and affects to say much, rather than well; whereas serious and short speech makes the best prayer. (Proverbs 10:19) In the multitude of words there lacks not sin: either to God, or men, it…

5. The Fear of God tends to life, Pro. 19:23. It is true, 1. In a temporal sence, Proverbs 10:27. The fear of the Lord prolongeth daies; in the Original it is, It addeth days.

A good Christian has not only the Law of God in his Heart, Psalm 37:31. but in his Tongue, verse 30. The body is the Temple of God, 1 Corinthians 6:19. The Tongue is the Organ in this Temple, which sounds in Holy discourse, Proverbs 10:20. The tongue of the Iust is as Choice Sil…

The very way therefore for us to show in deed and in good earnest, that we belong to God, and are enlightened by his holy spirit and by his word, is to discover things which should else as it were lie lurking a long time, if we drew them not forth into the light. True it is that…

The Word may be reduced to doctrines, promises, threatenings. For doctrines, lay up knowledge (Proverbs 10:14). It is a notable preservative against sin, and an antidote against the infection of the world, when we have a good stock of principles (Psalm 37:31).

As the constitution of the mind is, so are their words. A wicked man has a vain heart, and therefore his discourse is idle and frivolous (Proverbs 10:20). The tongue of the just is as choice silver: but the heart of the wicked is little worth.

Because of exercise, it's fuller of spirits, and strength: To him that has shall be given (Matthew 13:12), and he shall have abundance. The more we exercise grace, the more we shall have of it (Proverbs 10:29). The way of the Lord is strength to the upright.

We desire to know the way that we may come to the end of the journey; to inquire the way and sit still, will not farther us: Blessed are they that hear the word and keep it (Luke 11:28). He is in the way of life that keeps instruction (Proverbs 10:17). None but desire to be happ…

For a man to have his will, and whatever he desires, what a happiness is that? If his soul be set upon holy things, he shall have what he desires, the Lord will not be wanting (Proverbs 10:24). The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall…

7. By every intermission we may lose ground, and possibly may never wholly, if we recover it in part again. We may lose ground, for the way of the Lord is strength to the upright (Proverbs 10:29). The more we continue in it, the fitter we are to walk in it.

Well then, nothing remains but practicing duties that are pressed upon you on the first opportunity. Not he that hears, understands, loves, delights, commends, but he that keeps instruction — it is he who is in the way of life (Proverbs 10:17). He that submits himself to be guid…

All things in the world depend on God and Christ. The favor of the Lord makes rich (Proverbs 10:22). Without his blessing nothing prospers.

Matthew 6:33: First seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Proverbs 10:22: The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. 4. It sweetens every comfort; a piece of bread with the love of God is a plentiful f…

In fact, that is not all, but by his Spirit and internal grace, he does more encourage them, and renew strength upon them in their way to heaven. Proverbs 10:29: The way of the Lord is strength to the upright. The more they walk with God, the more easy and sweet they find it so…

Oh, the vast difference that there is between a good and a bad tongue! (Proverbs 10:20) The tongue of the just is as choice silver (a precious commodity) but the heart of the wicked (and therefore his tongue) is little worth, it is but dross; he pays too dear by a farthing, that…

Non-consideration is an argument as great as it is clear, that man is foolish. 2 Man's folly appears in this, that he laughs at, and sports himself in his sin and misery: It is a sport to a fool to do evil (Proverbs 10:23), and this sporting and jesting at sin, shows him to be a…

The proud helpers do stoop under him (Job 9:13) — the helpers of pride, so it is; man is apt to be very proud, and has helpers of pride; and it is observable, that the word we read, pride, signifies strength also, to denote that man is very apt to be proud of his strength; but a…