Proverbs 19

If there were various gods, we should be hard put to it how to please them all; one would command one thing, another the quite contrary, and to please two contrary masters is impossible: but there is but one God, therefore you have but one to please. As in a kingdom there is but…

And who knows the power of God's wrath? (Psalms 90:11). The wrath of a king is as the roaring of a lion (Proverbs 19:12). How did Haman's heart tremble when the king rose up from the banquet in wrath (Esther 7:7).

He who is in love with God, never rests till he has gotten a part in him (Song of Solomon 3:2): "I sought him whom my soul loved." How can they say they love God, who are not industrious in the use of means to obtain him (Proverbs 19:24): "A slothful man hides his hands in his b…

We see things keep their course, and continue as they were since the creation; thus they speak scornfully of Scripture, and did take God's name in vain. If sentence be not speedily executed, men scorn and deride, but (Proverbs 19:29) judgments are prepared for scorners. 2. That…

Ignorance is the nurse of impiety: the Schoolmen say, Omne peccatum fundatur in ignorantia; (Jeremiah 9:3). They proceed from evil to evil, and know not me, says the Lord. Where ignorance reigns in the understanding, lust rages in the affections: (Proverbs 19:2). That the mind b…

Get the serpent's eye; be divinely illuminated. Faith without knowledge is presumption; zeal without knowledge is passion (Proverbs 19:2): without knowledge the mind is not good. For one to say he has a good heart who has no knowledge, is as if one should say he has a good eye w…

Vengeance will find out the false witness. A false witness shall not be unpunished (Proverbs 19:5). If the witness be a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he had thought to have done to his brother: that is, if he had though…

If they who sip of the cup find it so bitter, what will they do who drink the dregs of the cup? (Psalm 75:8.) Solomon says, The wrath of a prince is as the roaring of a lion (Proverbs 19:12). What then is God's wrath?

Heathens will rise up in judgment against many Christians, what pains did they take in their Olympic races, when they ran but for a crown of olive or myrtle intermixed with gold, and do we stand still when we are running for a kingdom? (Proverbs 19:15) Slothfulness casts into a…

Object. 1. But I have been much injured and abused, and to put it up, will be a stain to my reputation. Answ. 1. To pass by an injury without revenge is no eclipsing one's credit; the Scripture says (Proverbs 19:11): It is the glory of a man to pass over a transgression. It is m…

That is a blessed kind of giving, which though it makes the purse lighter, it makes the Crown heavier. Whatever Alms you distribute, 1. You shall have good security, Proverbs 19. 17. He that gives to the poor, lends to the Lord, and that which he has given will he pay him again.

This may be a society for trade or civil respect, it cannot be a true and proper friendship, for riches which are so frail and slippery can never make a firm tie and bond of hearts and minds (Proverbs 14:20): The poor is hated even of his own neighbor, but the rich has many frie…

4. Eternal punishment in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 22:15). Here mark, that liars are entertained at the same table with murderers and thieves: and the liar never goes unpunished (Proverbs 19:5). 5. To speak the truth from the heart, is a mark of God…

But the cursed root of infidelity, which is in every man by nature, does dry up the sap of all God's graces in us, and make us either bad, or barren trees, either to bring forth sour fruits of sin, or no fruit at all, but to become unprofitable both to ourselves and others. For…

Those who assist their poor brethren on the earth lay up for themselves treasures in heaven, according to the saying of Solomon, "He that has pity upon the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given will he pay him again," (Proverbs 19:17.) The command to sell possessio…

The Word tells us, that there is no such way to improve our Estates, as to lay them out with a cheerful liberality for God; and that our withholding our hands, when God and duty calls to distribute, will not be for our advantage. See Proverbs 11:25 Isaiah 32:8 Proverbs 19:17 Pro…

Take an instance of both. The Scripture plainly asserts the dominion of Providence over this affair in Proverbs 19:14 A prudent Wife is from the Lord: and Proverbs 18:22 Whos. finds a Wife, finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the Lord. So for Children, see Psalm 127:3 Lo, C…

III. Prov. 19. 17. He that has mercie upon the poore, lendethvnto the Lord: we would easily be moved to lend, if we had an honest man to be suretie unto us, for returning of our own with aduantage: well, the Lord offers himselfe to the rich to be suretie for the poore; who then…

We shall perceiue in sundrie men many wants & frailties, which mens laws punish not; as in old men frowardnes; in others hastines; and in some ambition and desire of praise: now these and such like we must in loue passe by, without taking notice thereof. Prov. 19. 11. It is the…

Indeed I do not think that costly array is in either of these places absolutely forbidden: Doubtless, gold and jewels may lawfully be worn, if we keep ourselves within our rank and quality, and fashion ourselves to those who are most sober in that rank, rather than to those who…

For those who act in the violence and paroxysms of their anger, do either they know not what, or else what they may have reason to repent of. And therefore Solomon tells us, that the discretion of a man defers his anger (Proverbs 19:11), and the beginning of strife is as when on…

Such as will not labour, must be put at last to beg; they must beg as Dives, for one drop of water. An idle man (says Solomon) puts his hand in his bosom (Proverbs 19:24). He should have his hand to the plow, and he puts it in his bosom.

No jewel we wear does so adorn us as wisdom; and wherein is our wisdom seen more than in our drawing near to God? It is judged wisdom to keep in with great men (Proverbs 19:6): Many will entreat the favor of the prince. A prince's love is mutable.

We find David often remembering with regret, what he said in his haste, particularly one angry word he had said in the day of his distress and trouble, which seemed to reflect upon Samuel, and indeed upon all that had given him any encouragement to hope for the kingdom (Psalm 11…

It is the last remedy which a parent can use: a remedy which may do good when nothing else can. It is by the Holy Spirit both expressly commanded, and also very often pressed under these and such like phrases, Chasten your son: correct your son: withhold not correction from the…

Ever with the Lord: The Lamp of Glory shines, but does not spend; so that divine Fear tends to Life; a life with God and Angels for ever. 6. The Fear of God gives full satisfaction, Proverbs 19:23. He that has it, shall abide satisfied.

When men dare break the commandment of God without any [reconstructed: reluctance], to gratify a worldly interest, though for the present no evil comes of it, yet afterwards they shall smart. "Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that you may be wise for your latter end" (Prov…

Paul spent the great part of a chapter to excuse himself, because he was necessitated by Providence to break promise of coming to Corinth (1 Corinthians 5:16-18). It was grievous to him that he should seem to use lightness, and not make good his word, though he were hindered by…

I shall never get rid of this naughty heart. Or else we fret against God, Proverbs 19:3. The foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart frets against the Lord. Now to prevent these evils, spread the case before the Lord in this manner.

Those that would have good judgment and knowledge, must be willing to understand their duty, and practice all that God requires; that they may neither do things rashly, and without knowledge and deliberation, for then they are not good, however good they be in themselves. (Prove…

The understanding does direct all the inferior powers of the soul; if that be infected with error, the affections must necessarily move out of order. A blind horse may be full of mettle, but is ever and anon apt to stumble; and therefore, without knowledge the heart is not good…

Is not light good? God that made it saw it so; but now, that the soul is without knowledge, it is not good (Proverbs 19:2). So that sin is against the good of man, in putting out the sight of his eyes, which is worse (in a spiritual sense) than if it had put out the eyes of his…

This is a rare kind of mercy. Proverbs 19:11: It is a man's glory to pass over a transgression. Mercy in forgiving injuries, as it is the touchstone, so it is the crown of Christianity.

It is impossible for an ignorant heart to be good; it is knowledge that makes the heart good. Proverbs 19:2: The soul without knowledge is not good. For anyone to say that though their mind is ignorant their heart is good, they may as well say that though they are blind their ey…

This is Satan's masterpiece, his draw-net by which he drags millions to hell by keeping them in infidelity; he knows if he can but keep them from the belief of the truth, he is sure to keep them from the practice of it. Men's backwardness to practice is from the difficulty of th…

Religion is a race; we must run, and so run; it is a hard thing to be a Christian. Alas then, what shall we say to them that stand all the day idle? Come to many, and one would think they had no race to run; they put their hand in their bosom (Proverbs 19:24). Is that a fit post…

Oh then, what pains will he take who has hopes of heaven, where he shall be crowned with a garland of glory forever! Does that man say his hope is in God who stands all the day idle (Proverbs 19:24)? There is a faint velleity in hypocrites — they would be saved but sit still and…

My Dear Friends, SOlomon says, The desire of a man is his kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar, Proverbs 19:22. If you be of his minde, I dare promise these Notes, (which I here devote to your service) a kinde acceptance at your hands.

4. A supine sluggish temper. Repentance is looked upon as a tedious thing, and such as requires much industry, and men are settled upon their lees, and care not to stir: They had rather go sleeping to Hell, than weeping to Heaven, (Proverbs 19:24). A slothful man hids his hands…

There are many Duties in Religion which carnal Reason quarrels at. God says, it is The glory of a man to pass by an offence, Proverbs 19:11. No says carnal reason, it is Cowardice.

Use 1. Let us try ourselves by this Character. 1. Are they godly, who are still in the Region of darkness? Proverbs 19. 2. That the Soul be without knowledge, it is not good; ignorant persons cannot give God a reasonable service, Romans 12. 1. It is sad, that after the Sun of Ri…

Let us go on, lest the man with the whip overtake us again. You should have taught me that lesson, which I will sound you in the ears with: "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge." (Proverbs 19:27). I say, my brother, cease to hear…

What is the reason why many ordinary men drudge and toil all the year long, think every hour in the Church so much time lost from their life, are not able to forbear their covetous practices on God's own day, count any time of their life, any work of their hand, any sheaf of the…