Proverbs 12

He is the exemplar and pattern of justice. Objection: But how does it seem to stand with God's Justice, that the wicked should prosper in the world, (Proverbs 12:1) Why does the way of the wicked prosper? This has been a great stumbling, and been ready to make many question God'…

1. Speaking that which is false. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 12:22). To lie is to speak that which one knows to be an untruth.

Proverbs 12:26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor. Solomon was a man of renown, he was the world's wonder; he discoursed of trees from the cedar-tree in Lebanon unto the hyssop that springs out of the wall (1 Kings 4:33).

This falls so heavily sometimes upon the body, that it sinks under the weight, and is cast into such diseases as are never more worked off, or healed in this world. Heaviness in the heart of a man makes it stoop, says Solomon (Proverbs 12:25). The stoutest body must stoop under…

It was said of Reuben (Genesis 49:4): Reuben you shall not excel; [illegible] nor be an overplus in praise, its to remain or abound either in quantity or quality; for his incest deprived him of his excellence. (Proverbs 12:26): The righteous is more abundant (the same word) more…

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to cast down every high imagination, and to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. God leaves us not one thought free, nor are we willing to have our thoughts free (Proverbs 12:15). The tho…

The restoration of God's image in human nature was the ground on which God renewed his covenant with Noah and restored mankind's dominion over creation (Genesis 9:1-2) — had God not designed to renew his image in our nature by Jesus Christ, and as the foundation thereof to take…

God has renewed them, and stamped his own image upon them, and made them partakers of his holiness. They are more excellent than their neighbors (Proverbs 12:26); yes, they are the excellent of the earth (Psalm 16:3). They are lovely in the sight of the angels; and their souls a…

He spares the wife, but it was that she might further vex the husband. His mercies are like the mercies of wicked men, their tender mercies are cruel, that is, they are no mercies at all (Proverbs 12:10). There is a punishing mercy, and there is a sparing cruelty among men.

The married Church or people, are said to be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, when the grace of Christ has its native effect among them; as the conversion of souls proves to faithful ministers their crown and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:14), so does it to the great Bishop an…

(Proverbs 6:17) These six things does the Lord hate; indeed, seven are an abomination to him; a proud look, a lying tongue, etc. And (Proverbs 12:22) lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. And therefore we have so many express commands given us against this sin.

Surely, the Lord, being a God of Truth, is much offended with this sin of lying. God delights, says Solomon, in them that deal truly, but lying lips are an abomination to him (Proverbs 12:22). Lying was one sin of Israel, for which their land did mourn (Hosea 14:2, 3).

A Christian's treasure must be drawn out — 1. Speedily. 2. Seasonably. 3. Sincerely. 4. Suitably. 1. The Christian is to bring forth things new, as well as old; lately obtained, as well as long since hoarded: you are to improve truths at the first rebound: many good convictions,…

Good or bad thoughts are every man's treasure, and possession; and these center and settle in the heart; these are the spring and source of actions and expressions. Now it is said of a godly man (Proverbs 12:5), the thoughts of the righteous are right, that is, judgment, law, me…

'Tis said of Plato and Ambrose, that bees swarmed in their cradles, as presages of their future eloquence: so the honeycomb of Scripture truths drops at the Christian's tongue's end; his speech is seasoned with salt, because his heart is seasoned with grace; his discourses (like…

So it is said of the wicked, Psalm 140:3: They have sharpened their Tongues as a Serpent, Adder's Poison is under their Lips; which the same Apostle in the same Place also cites as what is said of all natural Men. The very same gross Sins which are here mentioned in the fiftieth…

A broken and contrite heart you can not despise; God can despise Princes, and Emperors of the earth, when they sit upon their Thrones, but a broken and a contrite heart he cannot despise; let him be never so despicable in the eyes of the world, God cannot despise him, no more th…

These devout Souls in the Text were chiefly busying their Thoughts about God and Heaven. It is the inseparable sign of a Godly man to imploy his chief Thoughts about God, Proverbs 12:5. The Thoughts of the Righteous are Right.

It is good to have a spiritual tongue that will heal the wounds that others make in men's reputation. (Proverbs 12:18): There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. Some carry a sword in their mouths; others balsam to heal the wounds…

Prop. 2. Whoever would keep in with God, he needs good counsel and direction in all his ways. Both in regard of the darkness of his understanding, his corrupt affections, and inordinate self-love, man is not able to rule and govern himself, but needs counsel (Proverbs 12:15). Th…

We hate that most which is contrary to our nature; so it is contrary to God's nature. There are six things God hates, and a lying tongue is one of them; twice it is mentioned (Proverbs 6:17, 19), and (Proverbs 12:22): Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal…

All that are acquainted with the matter are accountable to God — you are responsible for your ear, as they for their tongue. It is good to have a healing tongue, to heal that which others wound (Proverbs 12:18): "The tongue of the wise is health" — it is healing, and therefore w…

Who has the better service, he that attends on the uncertain will of men, indeed of the greatest princes, or he that waits on the Lord? Your work is more noble, (Proverbs 12:26): The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor. What an unprofitable drudgery is the service of t…

In short, that the matter of God's commands deserves our delight and esteem, is evident, 1. Because those that are unwilling to submit to them, count them good and acceptable laws: when their particular practice, and sinful customs, have made them incompetent judges of what is f…

(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 pays but a farthing for that which is nothing worth: and this is so li…

They scorn to be instructed, they are in love with folly: How long you simple ones will you love simplicity? (Proverbs 1:22). A fool will not hearken to counsel (Proverbs 12:15). Indeed though instruction come from a father, yet a fool despises it (Proverbs 15:5).

Surely, says God of his people, they are children that will not lie (Isaiah 63:8); to be sure, they will not make a trade of it, nor live in or by lying. And it's added, so he was their Savior, as if God would not save a cheating hypocrite, a lying professor, no nor will he with…

4 Sin is against the quiet of a man's natural conscience, for it wounds the spirit, and makes it intolerable; a wounded spirit who can bear (Proverbs 18:14)? While that is sound and whole, all infirmities are more easily borne, but when that is broken, the supports fail: and thi…

Hence it is the wise man passes sentence of a man's estate by the common road of his thoughts. As the mind is, the man is; as the frame and constant stirring of the heart, so is his estate and condition (Proverbs 12:2). A good man obtains favor of the Lord, but a man of wicked d…

Answer, first: To pass by an injury without revenge is no eclipse to a man's credit. Solomon tells us it is the glory of a man to pass over a transgression (Proverbs 12:16). It is more honor to bury an injury than revenge it, and to slight it than to write it down.

Fourth, he who sows peace shall reap peace. Proverbs 12:20: To the counselors of peace is joy. The peacemaker shall have peace with God, peace in his own bosom — and that is the sweetest music which is made in a man's own breast.

Sloth is the rust of the soul; it is the disease of the soul — a sick man cannot run a race. The slothful man roasts not that which he took in hunting (Proverbs 12:27); he will rather fast than hunt for venison. Shake off sloth; abandon this idle devil if you intend to run a rac…

Let us not be as Pharaoh's kine, which devoured the fat and yet still were lean; let us not be still devouring sermons and yet never the fatter. Fruitfulness is one of the best distinctive characters of a Christian (Proverbs 12:12): the root of the righteous yields fruit. Fruitf…

Behold the deplorable condition of all ungodly ones, in the other world, they shall have a life that always dies, and a death that always lives: May not this affright men out of their sins, and make them become godly, unless they are resolved to try how hot hell fire is? 2. What…

That may be known, 1 By the way we walk in; it is a private retired way, wherein only some few holy ones walk: therefore it is called a Path-way, to distinguish it from the common road, Proverbs 12. 28. In the path-way thereof is no death. 2 If we walk with God, then we walk in…

A good name is a Saint's Heir, it lives when he is dead. 3. Grace raises a man's worth, Proverbs 12:26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor.

6th Commandment: You shall not kill. He breaks this commandment: who bears malice to another (1 John 3:15); who is given to hastiness (Matthew 5:22); who uses inward fretting and grudging (James 3:14); who is froward of nature, hard to please (Romans 1:31); who is full of rancor…

When the heart is kept above all keepings, then out of it are the issues of life, otherwise, out of a heart ill kept, are the issues of death; but being well kept, whatever proceeds from us, whether it be thoughts of the mind, or affections of the heart, or words of our lips, or…