Proverbs 26

9. The evil tongue is the flattering tongue: that will speak fair to one's face, but will defame. Proverbs 26:25: "He that hates dissembles with his lips: when he speaks fair believe him not." Dissembled love is worse than hatred.

The words [upon them], have great emphasis, signifying, that these blessings come down from heaven, and light upon them that follow this rule, and that they [reconstructed: cannot be hindered] by the malice of men. Let the Pope then anathematize, curse, and excommunicate us, bot…

But it is come to them according to the true proverb: the dog is returned to his own vomit, and the sow that was washed to the wallowing in the mire. This proverb has Saint Peter taken out of the book of Proverbs, where Solomon has these words: As the dog turns again to his own…

Those that are thus wise in their own Eyes, are some of the least likely to get Good of any in the World. Experience shows the Truth of that, Proverbs 26:12. Do you see a Man wise in his own Conceit?

The Story of Nightingale is generally known which Mr. Fox relates, how he fll out of the Pulpit and brake his neck, whilst he was abusing that Scripture, 1 John 1:10 And thus the Scriptures are made good by Providence, whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth…

Observation 1. Believers in a secure frame, may keep some form of duty, yet their duties are like the frame of their heart, lifeless and hollow. 2. There is much of a believer's practice, such as themselves will find fault with, when they come to look rightly upon it; yes, even…

2. It's ill to debate or reason a clear duty, often Satan and the flesh gets advantage by it. 3. Folks are oftentimes very partial in examining their own reasons, and are hardly put from their own grounds once laid, although they be not solid; and the most foolish reasons will b…

Against this sort of men, Solomon, in his Book of Proverbs, is very severe; and there is no one wickedness, which that excellent compendium of wisdom and morality, does more inveigh against, than this of whispering about another man's disgrace (Proverbs 16:8). The words of a tal…

Slanderers are false witnesses, who lay to the charge of others such things as they know not (Psalm 35:11); they are lions, who tear in pieces the good name of others; they are serpents, whose words are stings, and full of deadly poison; they are compared to mauls, and swords, a…

Many of the Jews who were great followers of Christ, when they saw the swords and staves, left him. (Proverbs 26:25) In the fear of man there is a snare. Carnal fear makes sin appear less than it is, but danger greater.

It is the speech of some wives, that if their husbands would let them alone they would do the better: but upon rebuke they will never amend: the more their husbands find fault, the more will they go on, in doing what they do. What other judgment can be given of such, than that w…

5. An over-nice and erroneous opinion of those, who think it unfit for any child to ask their parents' blessing. Their own conceit more sways them, than the continually approved practice of God's people in all ages: not unlike him whom Solomon says to be wiser in his own conceit…

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…

4. Doubleness and guile, so great apart, that 'tis here particularly named apart, though the evil of it is less known and discerned, and so there is in it, as I may say, much terra incognita, yet it is of a very large compass, we may confidently say, as large as all the other th…

Yes, but when God brings it in judgment, yet that's for good, that is, for his own glory and his church's good, though not for the good of the party. For the church's good, that naughtiness where it is might in time be discovered (Proverbs 26:26). Whose hatred is covered by dece…

“The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”—Proverbs 22:13. “The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.”—Proverbs 26:13. This slothful man seems to cherish that one dread of his about the lions, as if it we…

The Disciples under the power of Fear, were fitter to Fly than to Pray, Matthew 26:56. 2. It puts men upon indirect means to Save themselves, Proverbs 26:25. The Fear of man brings a Snare; what made Peter deny Christ, and Origen sprinkle incense before the Idol, but fear?

1. The sporting lie, when an untruth is devised for merriment. We have no instance of this in Scripture; but it is a sin to speak untruth, and we must not make a jest of sin (Proverbs 26:19). As a mad-man that casts firebrands, arrows, and death: so is the man that deceives his…

5. When others are scandalized by our non-profession, or not owning the truths of Christ, that is not only with the scandal of offence or contristation, but with the scandal of seduction in danger to sin, and to run into error by our not appearing for God, the interest of truth…

They are incompetent judges, Proverbs 24:7. Wisdom is too high for a fool. Though by nature we have lost our light, yet we have not lost our pride; Proverbs 26:16. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that can render a reason. Though their way in religion be…

Reason 5. The reasons for delay are very inconsiderable. Solomon says (Proverbs 26:16) that the sluggard thinks himself wiser than seven men that can render a reason. Mark, as Solomon's fool is not to be taken literally but spiritually, so Solomon's sluggard is not to be taken m…

1. By Scandals. When the heart is not sound with God, disorders break out before men; and many that make a fair show for a while, afterwards shipwreck themselves, and all their credit: For God will at length unmask the hypocrite (Proverbs 26:26). God will pull off his disguise o…

Yet 7 After some men have received the truth, and have gone far in the profession of it, yet they are such fools as to apostatize, which is no small folly: As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool to his folly (Proverbs 26:11), compared with (2 Peter 2:20-21). The Word of God wo…

Oh, says another, it is but a trick of youth; yes, but it is such a trick as may cost you a going to Hell. Another deceives his neighbor, and (laughing while he strikes) says, am not I in sport? (Proverbs 26:19). Ah, but he that sins in jest, or makes a jest of sin, may be damne…

When love grows cold, practice becomes dead. (Proverbs 26:13-15) the slothful man says, there is a lion in the way; ask him, why do not you arise and walk with God? Why do not you go forth and serve God?

15. There is a froward heart (Proverbs 17:20) that perverts and is crafty [illegible] to pervert. 16. A wicked heart (Proverbs 26:23) set on evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11, 17); foolishness is bound to the heart (Proverbs 22:15); a dissembling heart, when seven abominations are in it (…

But he teaches also how heinous a wrong it is, to bind the works of God to such a law, that so soon as we do not understand the reason of them, we may be bold to disallow them. It is a known saying of Solomon (which yet few do rightly understand): The great creator of all render…

The adulterer takes a short cut to Hell. Proverbs 26:23, 27. Till a dart strike through his Liver.

9th Commandment: You shall not bear, etc. He breaks this commandment: who envies at the prosperity of his neighbor (1 Timothy 6:4); who seeks only his own good report; who is suspicious (1 Corinthians 13:5); who gives rash or hard sentence against others (Matthew 7:1); who takes…

He told them, that he came from the town of Fair-speech, and he was going to the Celestial City; but told them not his name. From Fair-speech? said Christian; is there any good that lives there? (Proverbs 26:25). By-Ends: Yes, said By-ends, I hope so.

Indeed, these made him of such a sluggish temper, and such a lover of rest, that he complained many times because he could not go without motion; indeed he was unwilling to be at the trouble of feeding himself; therefore would wish that men might live as trees and plants do: and…