Proverbs 21

There is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty. (Proverbs 21:13) Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. (James 2:13) He shall have judgment without mercy, that showed no mercy.

Answ. 1. They are sluggish. A man would have heaven but will take no pains: as if one should say he desires water, but will not let down the bucket into the well (Proverbs 21:25). The desire of the slothful kills him, his hands refuse to labor.

If peace of conscience were to be purchased with money, they would not spare; they would rather part with anything than their corruptions, because nothing is so dear to a carnal heart as sin. So that you see devout nature is very corrupt and perverse, and therefore all its actio…

It's a hard thing to make a man or woman that sticks much to their own ways, to own it that it is their own; but however men will not own what is theirs, but put it upon God many times, yet the Lord he will one day discover all the ways of men, discover all the ways of men and w…

Hell and destruction are before the Lord, how much more than the hearts of the children of men. He that can read hell, and destruction, and all the secrets of darkness, can also read, as a book opened at noon-day, the midnight-thoughts of all the children of men (Psalm 44:21; Je…

Now by this, multitudes should be predestinate, who are never called and glorified, if they have it in their free and independent choice to resist the drawing of Christ. Argument 5. God (as Augustine says) has a greater dominion over our wills, than we have over them ourselves;…

He does all, in inviting sick sinners to come and drink life and salvation at Christ the Fountain of life, which expresses with men who speak as they think, their sincere intention, but he intends no such thing. Answer. Make the comparison run as it should do, and it makes more…

Let us begin then at this foundation, if we mean to be strong indeed. (Proverbs 21:30) But we are to examine whether it be lawful for all to rejoice in this manner; the wicked brag indeed that God is with them: neither do they make any bones to triumph and glory in his name, and…

Proverbs 14. 31. 'He that honors God, has Mercy on the Poor.' Proverbs 21. 26. 'The Righteous gives, and spares not.' Jeremiah 22. 16. 'He judges the Cause of the Poor and Needy: Then it was well with him: Was not this to know me, saith the Lord?'

IIII. If these promises will not move us, let us consider the fearefull curses threatned against the mercilesse and hard hearted: for as he that gius to the poore shall not lacke, so he that hids his eyes from them shall have many curses, Prov. 28. 27. and he that stopps his ear…

But however, some secret withering curse seizes upon it; and what is thus wickedly added to our former possessions, will rub its rust and canker upon them all; and if restitution be not duly made, will insensibly prey upon them and consume them. And therefore, says the wise man…

God opens his secret cabinet to observant Christians, but he is much offended with those that regard not his works, and threatens to destroy them, and not to build them up (Psalm 28:5). But this is too high a work for brutish sottish souls, it is the good soul that lays up exper…

If these fruits lay upon the surface of duty, or could be had with wishes, I should not want them; but to dig deep and take pains I cannot. My desires, like those of the slothful man, kill me, because my hands refuse to labor (Proverbs 21:25). If every duty were to be rewarded p…

Prop. 2. Though the Lord's promise and his free decree has tyed himself (in a manner) to be prevented by a moral cause; yet that moral cause even the praying man stirs not until God first prevent him to pray. Hence the Lord moves and wheels about the heart and will of the man, w…

5. His actings are in matter of lots that seem to be ruled by fortune and chance (Proverbs 16:33; Genesis 49; Deuteronomy 33, compared with Joshua 14:1, 2, 3). 6. Especially in bowing the free will, and determining all the actions of evil angels (1 Kings 22:21, 22, 23; Job 1:6,…

2. The heart is a thing that may be bowed (2 Sam. 19:14); the metaphor is known to the learned, it may be allured and enticed with fair words (1 Cor. 2:4); yes, the whole soul may be bought and sold, as merchants' goods, with fair words (2 Pet. 2:3): false teachers, through cove…

2. Free will has no more a dominion over the Lords dominion and his influences, that are given out, or withdrawn according to this sovereign dominion, then the Sun or the pismire. Yes, free-will is under his dominion, and also (Proverbs 21:1) all the free actings of the creature…

But where wrath and anger are indulged, all relations are embittered, those that should be helps meet, become as thorns in our eyes, and goads in our sides. Two indeed are better than one, and yet it is better to dwell alone in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry r…

Drunkenness wastes and scatters your estate, Proverty attends excess: the Drunkard shall be cloathed with Rags, and brought to a morsel of bread. Solomon has read your fortune, Proverbs 21:17. He that loves Wine and Oyl shall not be rich, Luxury and Beggary are seldom far asunde…

We deal with God, as the thief that lighted his candle at the lamps of the altar: so many would make God a party in their carnal designs. (Proverbs 21:27) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind? It is an abomination, wh…

This I somewhat doubted, when they, laying their heads together, whispered one with another, took counsel, and concluded with themselves, with what army, with what equipment, and with what weapons they would set upon us, as though they had had us presently in hold. They did so t…

4. There is a curse upon all he does; his duties are lost, his prayers are turned into sin, his hearing is the savour of death to death, while he remains in his impenitency. It is said (Proverbs 21:27), The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination; how much more when he brings it…

And so he has power to take off the natural and customary hardness which is in us. For the heart of man is in his hand as the rivers of water (Proverbs 21:1), and can as easily draw us out to good as water follows when the trench is cut. But what needs more arguing in the case?

How is that? Not only when it is managed in a careless fashion, when a wicked man prays wickedly; no, let him do his best, for it is said (Proverbs 21:27) — The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind. At best it is an abomi…

All their prayers are but the ejaculations of speculative fancy, not the products of true affection, for that would be industrious. (Proverbs 21:25) The desire of the slothful kills, for his hands refuse to labor. They do not manifest the life and strength of love in their endea…

Poor languid inactive desires come to nothing, when men do not put forth their endeavors, and apply themselves to the prosecution of what is desired. Faint and sluggish velleities do hurt (Proverbs 21:25): "The desires of the slothful kills him, for his hands refuse labor." What…

Pride makes us not only unthankful to God, but perverse to men (2 Corinthians 12:7). Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath (Proverbs 21:24). Men conceited of their gifts make their own fancy and conceit their rule; and if anything be done that pleases n…

Haman's plot was destroyed, so was the conspiracy of them that would have killed Paul. There is no wisdom, nor counsel, nor understanding against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30). What is God now doing in heaven, but defending his own kingdom?

Now they that believe that God is wise, of whom should they be afraid. Proverbs 21:30: "There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord." There may be wisdom, counsel and understanding in the enemies of the gospel; and in the Lord there is wisdom and strength…

This is confirmed in the New Testament (1 Peter 3:10). The next and best way to live and live well is (as the proverb has it) to keep a good tongue in our heads, and have no evil words in our mouths: for as the wise man assures us (Proverbs 21:23), whoever keeps his mouth and to…

Indeed, to lie is a thing inconsistent with being a child of God, without (among the dogs) are liars, and shall (if they repent not) have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8; 22:15). And the getting of treasure b…

The affections (concupiscible) are inordinate, the passions (irascible) are unruly, so that man is more headstrong than the horse that rushes into the battle: it has made some men so restless, that they cannot sleep, unless (or until) they have done mischief (Proverbs 4:16). To…

Solomon says, the desires of the slothful kills him; How so? For his bands refuse to labor (Proverbs 21:25). He perishes in his desires.

When one urged Lipsius to the study of virtue, he said, My mind is inclined to it. Proverbs 21:25: The desire of the lazy person kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. Many stand like the man in the fable, crying, Help, Hercules, when his wagon stuck in the mud, when he shoul…

So Chrysostom and Theophylact render it; through Christ God is favorable toward us and takes all we do in good part. A wicked person being out of Christ is out of favor; as his plowing is sin (Proverbs 21:14), so his praying is an abomination (Proverbs 15:8). God will not come n…

Then said the shepherds, From that stile there goes a path that leads directly to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair; and these men (pointing to them among the tombs) came once on pilgrimage, as you do now, even until they came to that same stile. And because the ri…

Proverbs 14:21: He that has mercy on the poor, happy is he. Proverbs 21:21: He that follows after mercy finds life. Matthew 6:14: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

2. A special honor, when God makes us instruments of doing good; for it is a more blessed thing to give, than to receive (Acts 20:35). Mercy is the seed of honor (Psalm 112:9; Proverbs 21:21). Fourthly, from respect to our neighbor, to whom we owe this debt of love: for there is…

Job 27:10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty? That he has none of this complacency and delight, appears thus, because he serves God grudgingly; he brings his sacrifice with a wicked mind, Proverbs 21:27. Such an one was Cain: It was long before he brought his offering, it…

2. All their words are sins (Psalm 50:16); their mouths are open sepulchers which smell filthy when they are opened. 3. All their civil actions are sin, as their eating, drinking, buying, selling, sleeping and plowing (Proverbs 21:4). 4. All their religious actions are sins, as…

Obstinacy also in them lies very heavy; I have had warnings, checks, resolutions against them, and yet have gone on. The power of sin also saddens it; that as it is said (Proverbs 21:9), when the wicked reign, the people mourn; so does the soul when it feels sin reign. I cannot…

When we see judgments befall others, severe thoughts of censure our minds are apt to raise against our brother, as Job's friends did. But a godly man whose mind is much sanctified, raises other thoughts out of it (Proverbs 21:22) — wisely considers, etc. So when outward mercies…

Oh Israel you have destroyed yourself, but in me is your help. God goes about a work of salvation, even then when he tears and rends the heart: so that look whatever lies most close and nearest a man's heart, when God comes to save, he will make a man sit loose from that which b…

Now this special providence has respect to a supernatural end, to which that, and that alone is to be conveyed. For wicked men, as they are excepted from this special care and government, so they are not exempted from the dominion of his Almighty hand: he who has created them fo…

Persons may clothe themselves with authority in speaking, either by the authoritative words they make use of, or in the manner, and authoritative air of their speaking: though some may think that this latter is a matter of indifference, or at least of small importance, yet there…