Proverbs 28

They are of the blood-royal of heaven (1 John 3:9). The Scripture has set forth their spiritual heraldry; they have their escutcheon or coat-armor: Sometimes they bear the lion for their courage (Proverbs 28:1), sometimes the dove for their meekness (Song of Solomon 2:14), somet…

Not only merciful, but just — why just? Because he has promised to forgive such (Proverbs 28:13). If your heart has been broken for and from sin, you may not only plead God's mercy, but his justice for the pardoning your sin.

Love is a sacred fire kindled in the breast, in the flames of this fire the devout soul ascends to Heaven. 10. If we would obtain this heavenly Kingdom let us labor for sincerity (Proverbs 28:18). Whoever walks uprightly shall be saved.

Quest. How shall we know that our sins are forgiven? Answ. We must not be our own judges in this case (Proverbs 28:26), He that trusts in his own heart is a fool: The heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), and it is folly to trust a deceiver. The Lord only by his Word must be judge…

Where we see the property of an evil conscience, which is to fear where there is no cause at all. This causes some to be afraid of their own shadows: and if they see but a worm peep out of the ground, they are at their wits' end: and as Solomon says, "The wicked flee when none p…

1. For their sparkling quality; they shine in God's eye: the saints have animas Angelificatas, a kind of angelical brightness, as one of the ancients expresses it. 2. They are jewels for their price: diamonds (says Pliny) were not known a long time but among kings and emperors;…

My tumultuous thoughts and passions — where is your commission? Happy is the man that thus fears always (Proverbs 28:14). By this fear of the Lord it is that men depart from evil, shake off security, and preserve themselves from iniquity.

And yet in your sense, he has an honest mind, for he follows his light which is but darkness, and the deceit of his heart carrying him away from God, though he cannot see it; he discerns not, because he considers not that there is a lie in his hand, and that a deceived heart has…

All the preaching that you hear daily if it be not now laid to heart, it shall be most terrible and dreadful to you one day; and the peace that you now have shall end in red war and great bitterness. 3. It reproves folks' exceeding great unwatchfulness and their trusting to thei…

But I was more confirmed that the way of Antinomians is for the flesh, not for the Gospel, when I read that Mr. Crispe expounding confession (1 John 1), makes it no humble acknowledging that the sinner in person has sinned, and so is under wrath eternal, if God should judge him;…

And let the dead and the blind but bow his knee and lay a dead spirit and naked, wretched soul, a pair of blind eyes before God. For we are commanded to confess this to God, as may be gathered from Revelation 3:17, 1 John 1:9, Proverbs 28:13, Psalm 32:5. We are expressly command…

Whatever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his Commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight. It is of necessary use, that when God gives us hearts to listen to every word of his mouth, he will then listen to the desires of our souls (Proverbs 28:8).…

Object. But you say, I shall be more busy than I shall have thanks for my labor, I may be worse, and they never the better? Answer: It may be they will be the worse for the while, and never the better, but he that rebukes a man, afterwards shall find more favor than he that flat…

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. A faithful friend's wounds are a more sincere testimony than an enemy's kisses and so afterwards they will be interpreted (Proverbs 28:23). He that rebukes a man afterward shall find more favor than h…

The devil buys many at a very easy price, he needs not carry them so high as the mountain, they are contented with a little gain that is got by a fraudulent bargain in the shop: if we stand in our window, or at our doors, we meet with temptations enough to carry us away. He need…

They that would believe, must strive against their natural unbelief, and endeavor to believe. Blessed, says Solomon (Proverbs 28), is the man that fears himself, or inures himself to fear. Paul says of himself, that he labored and took pains to keep a good conscience (Acts 24:16…

She hardeneth her heart against her young ones, as though they were not hers. So a person having a heart unaffected in time of danger, is expressed by his hardening his heart, Proverbs 28:14. Happy is the man that feareth alway; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mi…

A little Child, when it meets Enemies, or fierce Beasts, is not apt to trust its own Strength, but flies to its Parents for Refuge: So a Saint is not self-confident in engaging spiritual Enemies, but flies to Christ. A little Child is apt to be suspicious of Evil in Places of Da…

Of the same nature are those lesser Thesis in despoiling their Parents and Governours of such things which they are not allowed to take and make use of for themselves. They rob their Father or Mother, and say it is no transgression, Prov. 28. 24. So saith the same Person; furta…

There is some worship of God in justifying repentance; but that there is not in any other repentance, but that which has a sense of, and faith in the divine mercy to forgive sin (Psalm 130:4): There is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared. The promise of mercy to a true…

Lastly, There is a fear which is opposed to hardness of heart, and a fear that is opposed to courage of heart. Job's fear was opposed to hardness of heart; of this Solomon speaks (Proverbs 28:14): Blessed is the man that fears always. And to clear what fear he means, he adds in…

It must be full and comprehensive, as well as free and ingenious. And of such importance is the right performance of this duty, that the promise of pardon is oft-times peculiarly annexed unto it, as that which certainly carries along with it, the other duties which make up a ful…

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…

Now it is true that the words will beare this sense, for Salomon puts the good eye, for the liberall and mercifull person: Prov. 22. 9. He that has the good eye, he shall be blessed: for he gius of his bread unto the poore: and the evil eye, for the couetous person: Prov. 28. 22…

This expression, I have compared you, bears out the confirmation of the assertion; for, it is not men that think you so, but I who know where true worth is, and who can be surety for my own assertion — I have said you are as strong as these, I have likened you to them, and made…

God does not only expect that Londoners should now acknowledge their sins, and humble themselves, and mourn for their sins; but also that they should turn from them, otherwise pardon, and healing, and his favor is not to be obtained, neither are further judgments likely to be pr…

But that I urge to, is uprightness in words and works, let your heart and tongue be tied together, rather be good than seem good, approve your heart to God, that your praise may not be of men, but of God, profess to be what you are, and be what you profess: be sure you have that…

In which begging there is an exercise of faith eyeing Christ (Romans 3:25): God has set forth him to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. And there is an exercise also of repentance, as to mourning for sin (1 John 1:9) and (Proverbs 28:13): He that confesses and forsake…

It is said, in (Amos 2:6): They sold the poor for a pair of shoes. And for a piece of bread will that man transgress (Proverbs 28:21). When pleasure and profit is so inconsiderable, as that it could not rationally make up a temptation, then men sin merely upon the corruptions of…

Love to any known sin, makes our prayers to God to be without success. So (Proverbs 28:9) He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. God uses often the law of retaliation, will pay home sinners in their own coin; we will not hear him,…

A Sermon (Number 2971) published on Thursday, January eighteenth, 1906, delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Thursday evening, September second, 1876. “Happy is the man that fears always.”—Proverbs 28:14. But did not John say that “fear has to…

It exhorts us to get the fear of God planted in our hearts. Proverbs 28:19. Happy is he that feareth alway.

We see then a cautious fear is necessary to the last; it is useful to us not only to begin, but to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Not only when we are novices, and so weak, and more liable to temptation; but to the…

1. Long life is in itself a blessing, and so promised, though more in the Old Testament than in the New, when eternity was more sparingly revealed. That it is promised as a blessing, is evident, (Proverbs 28:16) He that hates covetousness, shall prolong his days. And in the fift…

When a man engages in any action, such is the darkness and perverseness of man's heart, that he should not be over-confident of his own apprehensions, or of his own inclinations, but should hearken after counsel. And (Proverbs 28:26), He that trusts in his own heart is a fool. B…

1. Because it is made to be one of the conditions of pardon, and the act of repentance that's necessary to the pardon of sin. (Proverbs 28:13) He that hides his sins, shall not prosper: but he that confesses and forsakes them, shall find mercy; so it runs. And (1 John 1:9) If we…

1. By sinful means of acquisition; as lying, cozening, oppression, profaning the Lord's Day, grinding the faces of the poor, carnal compliances, or any other such unjust or evil arts of gain. Men stick not at the means when their desires are so strongly carried out after the end…

God will not accept a man for one good work, one prayer, but he looks to the qualification of his person. (The prayer of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, Proverbs 28:9.) How is that?

But on holiness, which is more high and noble, and is truly good, and of greater nearness to our chief good than those other things are, we cannot exceed — there the faculty is rightly placed. When we are hasty and passionate for these other things, the heart is corrupted, it is…

1. To fear God. Be not prejudiced against this grace, it is generally looked upon as a left-handed grace. 1. It is not contrary to our blessedness: (Proverbs 28:14) "Blessed is he that fears always." It does not infringe the happiness of our lives to be always in God's company,…

To know things as we ought to know them is the great gift (1 Corinthians 8:2). If any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know: that we may be more sanctified, more prudent, and orderly in governing our hearts and lives, that we may know things…

Well then, such as both believe in God, and fear to offend him, are the only men who are acceptable to God and his people: God will take pleasure in them, and they take pleasure in one another; They that fear you, will be glad when they see me. The first part of the character, T…

3. These may with most confidence ask mercy. Others are excluded, (Proverbs 28:9) He that turns away his ear from hearing the Law, his Prayer is an abomination to the Lord. These are included, (1 John 3:22) And whatever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments,…

So says Solomon, "Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you" (Proverbs 9:8). And in another place, says he, "He that rebukes a man, afterwards shall find more favor than he that flatters with his tongue" (Proverbs 28:23). Secondly, you will hereby entitle yourself to that great an…

Man is more hurtful to man, than beasts are to man. I might now instance in a long list or catalogue, what beasts sinners are likened to, and wherein the parallel or similitude holds, namely the wicked tyrannical rulers of the world are compared to a roaring lion, and ranging be…

Where God gives repentance for, he also gives remission of sin (Acts 5:31). He that hardens his heart in impenitency shall not prosper, but he that confesses and forsakes shall find mercy (Proverbs 28:13-14). For God looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned and perverted th…

Oh yes! we could expect no other: Have you had so many experiences of a deceitful heart? What? and yet so foolish as to trust it (Proverbs 28:26). It is sad and dangerous sinning after experiences (Hebrews 6:4-6).

Satan desires no greater advantage against us, than to find us in our own strength when he comes to assault us. Solomon says, He that trusts in his own heart, is a fool (Proverbs 28:26); Why a fool? Because he is sure to be deceived.

Simon Magus when he hears Philip preaching concerning the Kingdom of God, leaves his sorcery and witchcraft, and believes (Acts 8:13). But you'll say, this seems contrary to Scripture, for that says, He that confesses and forsakes sin shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13): But I con…

So is this people, and so is this nation before me, says the Lord; and so is every work of their hands, and that which they offer is unclean. If any good thing a wicked man had, or any action he did, might be good, or bring good to him, in reason it was the services and sacrific…