Proverbs 25

A friend is alter idem, as one's own soul (Deuteronomy 13:6). And what he imparts of his heart should be kept under lock and key (Proverbs 25:9). Discover not a secret to another, lest he that hears you put you to shame, etc.

Though the devil is no adulterer, yet he is a false witness. Solomon says, A man that bears false witness against his neighbor, is a hammer and a sword (Proverbs 25:18). In his face he is hardened like a hammer, he cannot blush, he cares not what lie he witnesses to.

O, says nature, revenge is sweet — but O, says God, the effects thereof shall be bitter. How plainly has God forbidden this flesh-pleasing sin: Proverbs 20:22, 'Say not, I will recompense evil'; Proverbs 24:29, 'Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me'; Romans 12:17, '…

PSAL. 46. 5. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. SOlomon saith, A word fitly spoken, is like apples of gold in pictures of silver, Prov. 25. 11. In which regard I have made choice of this Scripture, which may be a word in season, to revive the desponding hearts o…

Surely, Matthew that morning he came to the receipt of custom, minded nothing but money, and his account book, and had not a preset purpose of Christ; and because intentions, purposes, counsels, are as it were essential to rational men, as men, and the most refined acts of reaso…

So many seem to be great friends, heighten our expectation; but in our necessities and straits leave us destitute, you see me cast down and are afraid, says Job, as if I should be a burden to you. Dearest friends may disappoint us, their affection wants an inward principle; it i…

So a gracious soul may say, Oh my King, my God, my Father, I have a secret errand to you. A lust to confess, or mercy to beg or bless you for, that I would not have others to know of: It is not fit any should be privy to that which a gracious soul tells God of: In this case it m…

Meek and gentle behavior heaps coals of fire upon our enemies' heads (Romans 12:20). A soft tongue breaks the bones (Proverbs 25:15). See the example of Gideon appeasing the Midianites (Judges 8:1), and Abigail pacifying David (1 Samuel 25).

A Person may be over-full of Talk of his own Experiences; commonly falling upon it, everywhere, and in all Companies: and when it is so, it is rather a dark Sign than a good one. As a Tree that is over-full of Leaves seldom bears much Fruit: And as a Cloud, though to Appearance…

So likewise the temptations of Satan and the afflictions which he brings upon the servants of God, are exceedingly embittered by the season, and he knows well enough, what seasons will make them most bitter; And what can more embitter a cup of sorrow, than to have it brought us…

For in the sight of God can no man boast of any good thing without sin and damnation. Before him must a man rejoice only of his pure goodness and grace shown to us unworthy, that not ours, but God's love and praise remain in us, and keep us: which thing Solomon also teaches (Pro…

If they come he is well provided for; if they miscarry, he is lost and undone. This makes him hearken after tydings that they are safe there; and as Solomon sayes, Good news in this case from a far Countrey is as cold water to a thirsty soul, (Proverbs 25:25.) full of refreshmen…

And, 2. Her watchfulness over herself, whereby she is not common or accessible to every one; but as she is defended by his care, so also she has a watch herself at the door of her lips, of her eyes, of her ears, etc. She is not like a city without walls, exposed to every assault…

Both these in the result come to one; and this being a special piece of Christ's loveliness to his people, contributing exceedingly to the Bride's scope here, and the analogy being clear, and lips being frequently made use of in Scripture to signify speech or words, we conceive…

2. As it is the duty of one to admonish and instruct another, so it is all men's duty to accept of admonition and instruction from others, and in the Lord to yield themselves to it, as these daughters do. 3. It makes Christian fellowship sweet and pleasant, where there is faithf…

And, thirdly, the churches of Christ are obliged to God in this, that they have had from this bright candle among the Lord's candlesticks, a light shining upon, and discovering those two mysterious books of Scripture, Canticles and Revelation. Fourthly, if a word fitly spoken is…

Now if any such back-biters haunt you, who make it their trade to run up and down with tales and news, give them no countenance, listen not to their detractors; but rather sharply rebuke them, and silence their slanderous tongues; and this will either drive the slander from them…

The sin of slandering is one of the worst sorts of lying; and the teeth of slanderers are compared to spears and arrows, and their tongue to a sharp sword (Psalm 57:4), and when they utter their slanders, they bend their bow, and shoot their arrows, they whet their sword, and wo…

Some companies at some times may not be fit for holy discourses, and we must not cast pearls before swine, lest instead of receiving them, they tear us. A wise man's heart discerns time and judgment, says Solomon; and a godly man brings forth fruit in due season, says David (Pro…

That build castles in the air, and fancy they are kings; but, when they awake out of their frantic dreams do find themselves miserably mistaken! Solomon says, "Whoever boasts himself of a false gift, is like clouds and wind without rain" (Proverbs 25:14), that is, he that preten…

When the waves of the sea beat on a rock, they batter, and make a noise, but a soft sand receives them silently, and returns them without damage. A soft tongue is a wonderful specific, and has a very strange virtue in it; for, Solomon says, it breaks the bone (Proverbs 25:15), t…

If you have thought evil, lay your hand upon your mouth, to keep that evil thought from breaking out in any undue and unbecoming language (Proverbs 30:32). Reproofs are then likely to do us good, when we meekly submit to them; then are they as an earring of gold, and an ornament…

Not confessing Christ when we are called to it, is in effect denying him, and disowning relation to him (Luke 12:9; 2 Timothy 2:12), and they who do so, except they repent as Peter did, will shortly be denied and disowned by him. If we should, with an angry countenance at least,…

And words is the fruit of the Tree, Isaiah 57:12. I create the fruit of the Lips. Some of these Trees bear precious fruits, and it is a lovely sight to behold them laden with them in their seasons, Proverbs 25:11. A word fitly spoken, is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver…

This leads them to observe and admire that rich mercy from where it flows, and this consideration awakes them, and strains them to break forth into praises. To an inheritance incorruptible.] As he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he tha…

God takes the wild asses in their month; and he has his season wherein to surprise the [reconstructed: hearts] of sinners. (Proverbs 25:11) A word fitly spoken, is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. God comes in in a fit season; as when a soul is humbled by some sudden a…

A sermon (Number 2838) intended for reading on Lord's Day, July fifth 1903, delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, on Lord's Day evening, July fifteenth, 1877. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a m…

A sermon (Number 2866) delivered on Thursday Evening, January sixth, 1876, by C.H. Spurgeon at The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”—Proverbs 25:25. This is a text for summertime rather than for a winter's…

USE. To quicken us not to grow weary of dealing with God: Let us go often to God. Men think it an uncivil importunity to require to do more when they have done already; Solomon gives us that advice (Proverbs 25:17): Withdraw your foot from your neighbor's house, lest he be weary…

Putting the hand is taking an oath falsely, as when a man puts his hand upon the book and swears to a lie. A false witness is compared to a hammer (Proverbs 25:18), because he is hardened — first in impudence, he blushes at nothing; second in unmercifulness, there is no softness…

'Against heaven,' that is, against him whose throne is in heaven, a great, glorious, and infinite Majesty: a poor worm of the earth, has lifted up his hand against the God of heaven. Secondly, they are troubled for the defilement of their own souls by sin: hence they are compare…

Fourthly, the vanity of the mind appears, in regard of good things, that if it does think of them, yet it does it unseasonably. It is with your thoughts as with your speeches, their goodness lies in their placing and order (Proverbs 25:11) — if fitly spoken, they are as apples o…