Proverbs 4

Behold I have taught you statutes: keep, therefore, and do them, for this is your wisdom. And to be wise is an honor: I may say of every commandment of God, as (Proverbs 4:9). It shall give to your head an ornament of grace.

Contend for Scripture. Though we should not be of contentious spirits, yet we ought to contend for the Word of God; this jewel is too precious to be parted with (Proverbs 4:13): "Keep her, for she is your life." The castle of Scripture is beset with enemies — heretics fight agai…

1. I shall speak concerning wisdom in general. Solomon says, wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7). 'Tis better than riches (Proverbs 31:14).

Such as scoff at holiness shall be cast out of heaven. 2. Use of Exhortation: Above all things pursue after sanctification; seek grace more than gold (Proverbs 4:13). Keep her, for she is your life.

An idle person stands for a cipher in the world, and God writes down no ciphers in the Book of Life. We read in Scripture of eating the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27), and drinking the wine of violence (Proverbs 4:17). It is as well a sin to eat the bread of idleness, as to…

(Psalm 141:3) Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth. (4.) Look in a special manner to your heart (Proverbs 4:23). Keep your heart with all keeping.

Lastly, seeing we have this corruption of nature in us, we must keep our hearts with all diligence, and set watch and ward about them. So Solomon says: Counterguard thy heart my son, Proverbs 4.23. Why does Solomon give this commandment?

[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], is to give light or knowledge by teaching; the same with [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] which therefore is so translated oft-times by the Greeks. As by Aquila (Exodus 4:12; Psalm 119:33; Proverbs 4:4; Isaiah 27:11) as Drustus observes. And it is so by t…

It appears thus; our great work every day is with our own hearts, and we must watch them, and keep them for Christ. He has so commanded (Proverbs 4:23). The heart is the temple of God in which he desires to dwell; and we must endeavour to keep it for him, lest we prove treachero…

And whereas it is a hard thing for a man to search out his own heart, we are to pray to God that he would give us his Spirit to discern between that which is good and evil in us. Now when a man has found out the estate of his heart by searching it, he is further to observe and k…

Faith raises our fame; righteousness exchanges our fetters for a crown. A crown of glory shall she deliver to you (Proverbs 4:9). By espousing godliness, we are better than others (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

Thus is our wine mingled with water, our honey with wax, and our silver with tin. All the trial is, that the better part prevails; and that we are still growing and pressing on to perfection, as the morning sun does to high noon (Proverbs 4:18). For actual sanctification, which…

Proverbs 4:23. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. The heart of man is his worst part before it is regenerate, and the best afterwards; it is the seat of principles, and fountain of actions.

A Saint Indeed: or the great work of a Christian, opened and pressed; from Proverbs 4:23. Being a seasonable and proper expedient for the recovery of the much decayed power of godliness, among the professors of these times.

2. Christ's yoke is easy in comparison of the yoke of the law, which neither we, nor our fathers were able to bear. 3. As wisdom is easy to him that understands, so is Christ's yoke easy, and his burden light to those that are well acquainted with it, and have good experience of…

To whom Abraham said: God shall provide for himself a small beast for the sacrifice my son: when they went both together. Proverbs 4:3. When I was a son with my father, tender, and only beloved before my mother. 4. He teaching me, said to me: Let your mind hold my words, keep my…

1. Be transformed, that you may be transfigured, be you transformed by the renewing of your minds (Romans 12:2). The change must begin in the soul (2 Corinthians 3:18), and from there it is conveyed to the body; the luster of grace makes way for the splendor of glory (Proverbs 4…

The good things, that we are to do, we must do them with all our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Our duty is to keep our hearts in the fear of God, and we must do it with all diligence (Proverbs 4:24). It is our duty to seek God's kingdom, and we must take it with violence.

If this will not do the deed, God has in store, his corrections, and judgments, to be as a hedge to hem us in (Hosea 2:6). This being so, our duty is to guard and enclose ourselves, specially our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), and all the senses and powers of our souls (Psalm 141:3), b…

And so it is with too many Believers: They are all Trees planted in the Garden of God, some thrive, some decay for a season, but the growth of the best is secret. Sanctification is a progressive work — a river continually fed by a living fountain may as soon end its streams befo…

How great pleasure arises from a constant diligent self-inspection! When a man's spirit dwells within itself, resides at home, seeks not itself abroad; remains within its own bounds, is intent upon itself; watches over its own motions as its proper charge; is formed to a complia…

Keep your selves in the love of God, Jude 21. Keep your hearts with all diligence, Proverbs 4:23 Though Providence keep you, yet it is in the way of your duty. The Ninth Performance of Providence.

And therefore, when all the diligence you can put forth in the ways of God is little enough to save the soul, and all little enough to keep on a good profession in the ways of grace — when you have done all you can, stand. Proverbs 4:24: "Keep your heart with all diligence," etc…

And then, 2. Diligence is required not only to get grace, but to keep it; and it is no less skill to keep grace, than to get it, there are so many temptations lie in your way. And then, 3. To watch the heart, that does conspire against your grace, and against your soul (Proverbs…

And it is so used by Nazianzen, [in non-Latin alphabet]; a little beam of a great light. It answers exactly to the Hebrew [in non-Latin alphabet], or [in non-Latin alphabet]; that is, the Morning Light (Proverbs 4:18), The path of the righteous, [in non-Latin alphabet], ut Lux s…

Job eschewed evil, whatever led him to evil, all the appearances of evil, as the Apostle speaks; we cannot avoid the sin, if we will not avoid the occasion. When Solomon cautions to take heed of the path of the wicked, he uses four expressions and all to the same purpose, Avoid…

In sum, it describes the spiritual beauty of the Bride in these properties, 1. That it is radiant, and shining, there is no true glory but this, which is like the light, all other beauty is but dark; grace makes one shine like a light in a dark place (Philippians 2:15). 2. It is…

Yet, 4. We say there is no ground to think, but Solomon knew much of the mind of the Spirit in this Song, indeed, more than many learned men nowadays. For, 1. He was not only a believer, but one eminent for gifts and knowledge; and none will say but he was so for divine knowledg…

We find that God gives an honorable testimony concerning Abraham, and confides in him upon this account (Genesis 18:19): "I know Abraham, that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment." And Sol…

And if you thus do, he that is able to keep you from falling, will present you faultless before [reconstructed: the] presence of his glory with exceeding joy (Jude 24). 5. Carefully watch your hearts; though God has undertaken to guard you, yet you are bound to watch your own he…

As to the last, I pray you to keep this treasure, and let it not be in the least impaired, wasted or prejudiced: I tell you it is a greater loss to lose one grain of grace than a mine of gold, or both the Indies; the gaining of the world cannot countervail the loss of a soul, an…

Ahab violently took away Naboth's vineyard (2 Kings 21:11). Hell is taken by this violence (Proverbs 4:17): Who drink the wine of violence. This wine will turn to poison at last (Psalm 11:5): Him that loves violence God's soul hates.

This the Apostle in Romans 3:15 cites as belonging to the Description of all natural Men. So in the Description of the Wicked, Proverbs 4:14-19. It is said, that they sleep not unless they have done Mischief, that they drink the Wine of Violence, etc. and yet by the wicked there…

1. Means used are the Lord's way of coming to us, and our way of coming to him, whether in the word preached (Acts 2:36, 37; Acts 4:4; Acts 10:44; Acts 16:14; John 4:9, 10, 14–29, 30, 39, 40, 41; John 4:50, 51), or in miracles or any other lawful way. 2. Because to some certain…

But the Lord makes the suitable active concurrences of sinless nature and of grace stirring in its influences to join together and accord friendly, connaturally, and without jarring, or violence done to nature, and so carries on the supernatural and gracious actings of obedience…

Malachi 4:2. But to you that fear my Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow as calves in the stall. Proverbs 4:18. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more, to the perfect day. In w…

He who shows mercy on whom he will, and hardens whom he will, and that by a strong mighty will which no man can resist, he can find fault with no man, though he sin and harden his own heart; for his absolute sovereign will is far above me and my strength; but so does the Lord, s…

That this spiritual life is in its nature and constitution such as will abide, thrive and grow to the end, is three ways testified to in the Scripture. 1. In that it is compared to things of the most infallible increase and progress: for besides that, its growth is frequently li…

"Train up a child," says Solomon, that is, while he is young and tender: and again, "He that loves his child nurtures him early." Thus was Samuel sent when he was very young to be trained up under Eli (1 Samuel 1:24), and Solomon was instructed by his father when he was tender (…

I shall speak to the former first as the spring of the latter, Keep your heart with all diligence. For all depends upon that for from there are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). And if so, then the regulating of the tongue, and eyes, and feet and all will follow.

The most do thus — walk at random, give attendance on public worship, and have some customary way of private prayer, but further do not eye how they walk, what is their carriage all the day long, what they speak, how they are in company, and how alone, which way their hearts go…

Certainly, he that would not be foiled, needs a great deal of holy moderation, and constant jealousy over his heart; he had need to guard his senses (Psalm 119:37): Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity; and to look to his company (Psalm 119:115): Depart from me, you evil doer…

A sermon (Number 1418) delivered on Lord's Day morning, June ninth, 1878, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life." -- Proverbs 4:13. Faith may be well described as taking hold u…

A sermon (Number 179) delivered on Sabbath morning, February 21, 1858 At The Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens, by C. H. Spurgeon. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”—Proverbs 4:23. If I should vainly attempt to fashion my discourse after lo…

A sermon (Number 2058) by C. H. Spurgeon “Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you.”——Proverbs 4:25. These words occur in a passage where the wise man exhorts us to take care of all parts of our nature, which he indicates by members of the body.

It is a poor kind of love parents express to their children, in providing great estates and portions for them, or bringing them up in trades that they may thrive in the world; but when you train them up for heaven, there's the best love. (Proverbs 4:3-4) For I was my father's so…

3. Observe, this practical obedience is expressed by having respect to the ways of God. To respect God's ways, is to take heed that we do not turn out of them, to regard them and ourselves: observe to do them (Joshua 1:8), and it is called elsewhere, pondering our path (Proverbs…

Men remember what they heed and regard. Proverbs 4:21. Attend to my sayings, keep them in the midst of your heart. Where there is attention, there will be retention.

It is but a formal account we can give, without serious consideration. We must therefore keep our hearts with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). 3. There needs in many cases a serious search: for instance, in deep desertion, when God withdraws the light of his countenance, and men h…

For the Lord sees not as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. Proverbs 4:23: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Cast salt into the spring.