Proverbs 9

When men have laid aside the veil of modesty, and their consciences are [reconstructed: seared], then they fall to scoffing at religion; and when once they are come to this, their case is desperate — no reproofs will reclaim them. Tell them of their sin, and they will hate you t…

Who would for a cup of pleasure drink a sea of wrath? (Proverbs 9:18) Her guests are in the depths of hell. A wise traveler when he comes to his inn, though many pleasant dishes are set before him, yet he forbears to taste, because of the reckoning which will be brought in.

2. We are to celebrate the Lord's Supper, because it is provoking to Christ to stay away. (Proverbs 9:2) Wisdom has furnished her table. So Christ has furnished his table, set bread and wine (representing his body and blood) before his guests, and they willfully turn their backs…

He persuades us to evil by profit, pleasure, necessity; we cannot live without it in the world. He hides the hook, and shows the bait only; he conceals the Hell, the horror, the eternal pains that follow sin, and only tells you how beneficial, profitable and delightful the sin w…

He therefore oftentimes makes them stand confounded, to the end men may know that their wisdom is nothing else but a vanishing smoke. For there is no true wisdom but that which is grounded upon the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom, as Solomon teaches (Proverbs 1:7 a…

As he promises in the third verse: 'Incline your ear and come to me; hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.' And so in Proverbs 9 at the beginning — how gracious and sweet is the invitation there! 'Whoeve…

And so perished in their sins. This is the summe of the blessed invitation given by wisdom, Proverbs 9:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. And here men stumble, fall, and perish, Proverbs 1:29, 30.

First, the King here spoken of is Christ, as was cleared (verse 4). His Table or feasting-house is the Gospel (Proverbs 9:1, etc.), where the feast of fat things is prepared (Isaiah 25:6). His sitting at his Table, or her sitting with him at it, imports familiar fellowship with…

4. It may be said to be of the wood of Lebanon, that is excellent and durable, for so the wood of Lebanon was, for which cause it was made use of in building of the Temple; and so all the materials of this Covenant, and its properties are excellent and durable, it's an everlasti…

The last motive is taken from the entertainment she would give him; If (says she) you would familiarly manifest yourself, and if once I had found you, and gotten you brought to my mother's house, then I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate: in…

The wisdom of God this day has stood, and still stands before you, pleading with you, crying to you to come in and embrace her, to make a happy choice for your soul; folly likewise has her pleadings, and persuasions to draw you to the lusts of the flesh, both make their offers u…

It is the speech of an Ancient, That a reproacher is beneath a man, but the reproached that bear it well, are equal to the Angels. The Hebrew word that signifies scorners, has many other significations which set out the vileness, the dangerous evil there is in a scornful spirit;…

This is a sin that has a scent of fire and brimstone with it, wherever you meet with it in Scripture. The Harlots guests are lodged in the depths of Hell, Proverbs 9:18. No more perfumed beds; they must now lie down in flames. Whoremongers shall have their part in the Lake that…

That they have such a fellowship proved (1 Corinthians 1:9; Revelation 3:20; Song of Solomon 2:1-7) opened. Proverbs 9:1-5. Of that distinct communion which we have with the person of the Father, we have treated in the foregoing chapters; we now proceed to the consideration of t…

Michal the wife of David (2 Samuel 6:20, etc.), and Job's wife (Job 2:10) (though they gave just occasion to be most sharply reproved, yet) shall rise up in judgment against these wives, because they were silent after they were reproved, and replied not. Solomon often titles suc…

Our covetousness, and generally our unholy and unchristian conversation? This fear would make men tremble so as to shake them out of their profane customs, and to shake their beloved sins out of their bosoms; the knowledge of the holy one causes fear of him (Proverbs 9:18). But…

By the way of truth, is meant true religion, as 2 Peter 2:2: By whom the way of truth is evil spoken of. It is elsewhere called the good way wherein we should walk (1 Kings 8:36), and the way of God (Psalm 27:11), and the way of understanding (Proverbs 9:6), and the way of holin…

The grace that comes to us [illegible] the grace which is brought to you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ — God's grace is brought home to our doors, we seek not after it but it seeks after us. Salvation is gone forth, says the Prophet, to find out lost sinners: wisdom has sent…

And therefore both Solomon, and a greater than Solomon, our Savior Christ himself, have forbidden us to misplace reproofs upon those who are desperate. Solomon tells us, he that reproves a scorner, gets to himself shame; and he that rebukes a wicked man, gets to himself a blot (…

That sinners dare not own what they have done, but are ashamed of it, is evident by this: they deny that they have sinned, and commit a sin to cover sin; 'tis a hard and difficult thing to bring sinners to confession, sin is such a shameful thing. 'Tis said of the adulterous wom…

The things of the world have in them no solid subsistence, though foolish carnal men call them substance. But now grace is a substantial good, so our Lord Christ calls it (Proverbs 9:21): That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], to i…

So when sin grows to a head and the disease turns to frenzy, then people quarrel with those who tell them of their sins. It argues wisdom to receive a reproof (Proverbs 9:8): rebuke a wise man and he will love you. A wise person would rather drink a sharp medicine than die of hi…

Second, who they are who are in the nearest capacity to be baptized, he explains when he shows that the covenant promise is made to those who are far off — to the Gentiles, whom the Lord shall call. Then all who are under the call and offer of Christ in the preached gospel — as…

If a man drinks of a fountain, he benefits himself, not the fountain: if he beholds the light of the Sun, he himself is refreshed by it, not the Sun. If we turn from our sins to God, God is not advantaged by it; it is only we our selves reap the benefit; therefore selflove shoul…

Reproof to a proud man, is like pouring water on lime, which grows the more hot; a gracious soul loves him that reproves, Proverbs 9:8. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

5. All the duties in Religion are for our good. We shall have the benefit; If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thy self, Proverbs 9.12. God has twisted his glory and our good together.

1. He reports of God to us, that it is his Father's will that we be saved (John 6:39). 2. Christ reports of himself, for it befits Christ to be a broker for Christ; and wisdom to cry in the streets — who will have me? (Proverbs 1:21-22; Proverbs 9:1-5). It became the Lord Jesus…

He will mock when their calamity comes upon them of a sudden like a whirlwind (Proverbs 1:26). He will take pleasure in their confusion, as they have made themselves pastime with his Ordinances and servants, he will put contempt upon such persons (Proverbs 9:12 and Proverbs 14:6…