Proverbs 13

Quest. 7. How may we comfort such as complain they do not grow in grace? Resp. They may mistake; they may grow when they think they do not (Proverbs 13:7). There is that makes himself poor, yet he is rich.

O create in me a clean heart; send your Spirit into me to refine and purify me, that I may be a temple fit for the holy God to inhabit. 3. Walk with them that are holy (Proverbs 13:20). He that walks with the wise shall be wise.

4. Associate with sanctified persons. They may by their counsel, prayers, and holy example, be a means to make you holy: As the communion of Saints is in our Creed, so it should be in our company (Proverbs 13:20). He that walks with the wise shall be wise.

They lose all their treasure, their white robes, their sparkling crowns; they lose their hopes, (Job 8:14) Whose hope shall be cut off. Their hope is not an anchor but a spider's web: if hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12), what then is hope disappointed? They lo…

A slip grafted into a good stock, partakes of the virtue and influence of the root. The righteous are more excellent; be often among these spices, and you will smell of them (Proverbs 13:20). He that walks with wise men, shall be wise.

Bladders blown up with wind will not lie close together, but prick them and you may pack a thousand in a small room. 'Only by pride comes contention' — Proverbs 13:10. When we over-rate ourselves, we think we are unworthily treated by others, and that provokes.

That which every one is taken withal he loves to do with his friends, therefore they that love God delight in those that love him, those that are most apt to stir them up to the remembrance of everlasting things, and the preparation necessary, so they are of singular use to us.…

(1.) That as God is glorious in himself, so he makes him that comes to him partaker of his glory. For certainly all communion with God breeds some assimilation and likeness to God: it is clear in heavenly glory when we see him as he is, we shall be like him (1 John 3:2), and it…

A man will bear any heaviness, when he can say as David, Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Solomon tells us, that the hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). How sick then are they who are hopeless, or who have quite lost their hope?

Now this severity must be used early, before age and spirit have hardened them against the fear or smart of correction. The wise man has told us, (Proverbs 13:24) He that spares his rod, hates his son: but he that loves him, chastens him early. This is the way;

First, pride, and an over-weening conceit of ourselves. Pride is the fruitful mother of many vices; but it nurses none with more care and tenderness than this of anger; and therefore the wise man tells us (Proverbs 13:10). That only from pride comes contention; and indeed, as th…

A seventh direction to obtain a treasure, that is, trade with God in every performance: rest not satisfied with a bare outside of duties, or a trudging in the common road or round of formality: if you look not beyond ordinances in the use thereof, you will get no more treasure t…

A treasure imports the laying up of things for necessary use in after-times, and holds forth these seven particulars, all which suit with the laying up of spiritual provision in general. 1. Laying up a treasure implies carefulness, anxious thoughts, solicitous endeavor; it is ea…

Cheat not yourselves with counters instead of gold; Bristol stones may make as fair a show as pearls; true grace is a rare and rich commodity. Thousands conceit to themselves a treasure, that are empty; proud, conceited professors are apt to boast of their attainments, while som…

Saint Austin calls idleness the burial of a man alive. There are some faint velleities; oh that I had heaven! but a man may desire venison, and want it, if he does not hunt for it (Proverbs 13:4). The soul of the sluggard wishes and has nothing.

There is no doubt to be made of it, that God in his providence has of late given the world the art of printing, and such a great increase of learning, to prepare for what he designs to accomplish for his church in the approaching day of its prosperity. Thus the wealth of the wic…

This comes either from a scornful, disdainful stomach (for a scorner hears not rebuke) or from a base, servile, stupid, blockish, brutish nature, that is not moved with any smart or pain, like a restive jade that will not stir though he be whipped or beaten never so much. Solomo…

Hereby you may know whether you come under another King: Do you fear a commandment? That is the description of a good man, (Proverbs 13:13). It is not he that fears a punishment, but he that fears a commandment, when the heart is brought under an awe of Christ's laws: so that wh…

The heart is never right, but when it lies under the awe of a command. Many will fear a punishment, but it is said (Proverbs 13:13): He that fears the commandment; if the commandment stands in his way, he dares not break through, it is more than a hedge of thorns, or if lions st…

If a commandment stand in the way, it is more to a gracious heart, than if a thousand bears and lions were in the way, more than if an angel stood in the way with a flaming sword. (Proverbs 13:13) He that fears the commandment, shall be rewarded. Would you have blessings from Go…

1. Because affections when strong are painful, and affect the body with impressions answerable thereto. 2. Not only the denial, but the delay of satisfying the affection, increases the pain; when they have not what they do desire, they are even broken in heart, as (Proverbs 13:1…

There is fearing the commandment, and despising the commandment. Fearing the commandment, that's the effect of a wise heart (Proverbs 13:13). He that fears the commandment, shall be rewarded.

God hates it, therefore a righteous man hates it. (Proverbs 13:5) A righteous man hates lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and comes to shame. 7. It's a sin which God has expressly threatened to punish in this life, and in the life to come.

It is my debt, and I must pay it, or I shall answer it at my peril in the great day of accounts; it is not only commended but commanded (2 Kings 5:13): If the Prophet had [reconstructed: bidden] you do some great thing, would you not have done it — how much rather then, when he…

"I will have Heaven whatever it costs me" is the voice of a desiring saint. 3. Such desires as are active and industrious, not a remiss will (Proverbs 13:4): "The soul of the sluggard desires and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." Cold raw wishes are u…

2. If they be not like, intimacy and converse will make them like: every man is wrought upon by his company. We imitate those whom we love, and with whom we often converse; (Proverbs 13:20) He that walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. A…

Would men venture to break a known law, if they did consider that it was the command of God, that has power to save and to destroy? Surely want of faith in the precepts is a great cause of their coldness in duty, boldness in sinning; (Proverbs 13:13) Whoever despises the word, s…

The humble and the meek, for the proud procure their own just dislike and disappointment. Solomon tells us, only by pride comes contention (Proverbs 13:10). Pride is the great impediment and hindrance to all Christian offices.

Secondly, it betrays itself in contention with equals. Wrath and contention come by pride (Proverbs 13:10). Everyone seeks to be eminent, and would excel — not in graces and gifts; that is [illegible], a holy emulation — but in rank and place.

They that look long for good, and the help of his promises, the delay is troublesome to them. Hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). Hope belongs to love; and the affections of pursuit and love make absence tedious, when afflicted in the interim; but faith and depe…

Inclinations will come into acts, and they into customs and habits, if not checked and restrained. But if you thus meet with them early on, you may prevent a great deal of sin; it is the best proof of your love (Proverbs 13:24). And it may be they will say as David did to Abigai…

Sin will not let husband and wife, parents and children live quietly, but sets them at variance, and many times a man's enemies are those of his own house and bosom; they who eat bread at our table, lift up their heel against us, and familiar friends become enemies. Lust makes w…

The less the thing, the worse your heart, the greater your offense that will trample a command under your feet for a trifle, your spirit never affected with this, nor have you made conscience of it to this day. This argues a heart that not only hates sin but hates to be reformed…

The fresh waters running among the salt taste brackish. 6. If you would be pure, walk with them that are pure; as the communion of saints is in our Creed, so it should be in our company (Proverbs 13:20). He that walks with the wise shall be wise; and he that walks with the pure…

Try by this if you are poor in spirit; while others complain they want children, they want estates, do you complain you want grace? This is a good sign; there is that makes himself poor, yet has great riches (Proverbs 13:7). Some beggars have died rich; the poor in spirit, who h…

Wise men measure things by the end; what is the end of godliness? It brings a kingdom; a man's sin brings him to shame (Proverbs 13:5; Romans 6:21): What fruit had you in those things of which you are now ashamed? But religion brings to honor (Proverbs 4:8); it brings a man to a…

Has a Christian hopes of heaven, and not rejoice (Proverbs 10:28)? The hope of the righteous shall be gladness. But may some say: it is long before we shall enter upon possession of heaven, and hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). It is not long (Revelation 22:12…

Such holy sparks may be thrown into your breasts, as may enkindle devotion in you. It is good to be among the Saints to learn the trade of godliness, Proverbs 13:20: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.

Christian: So do many that are never like to come there. “The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing.” (Proverbs 13:4). Ignorance: But I think of them, and leave all for them.

Two were here cast away when Christian came by; and although, as you see these ways are since stopped up with chains, posts, and a ditch, yet there are those that will choose to adventure here rather than take the pains to go up this hill. Christiana: “The way of transgressors i…

Be as severe to yourselves as you will, always provided you be just. 'There is one that makes himself rich, and yet has nothing; and there is one that makes himself poor, and yet has great riches' (Proverbs 13:7). Hiram called the cities Solomon gave him 'Cabul' — dirty, for the…

O when will you come to me? So hope deferred is a childbirth pain, and a sickness of the soul (Proverbs 13:12). Faith with love cannot endure a morrow.

And though the Sanctuary and our Churches do differ, yet when the people are there assembled, then God is greatly to be reverenced (Psalm 89:7). Come therefore reverently, and seek for knowledge, as for hidden treasure, seek it in the fellowship of God's servants (Proverbs 13:20…