_The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord._ GOD AND THE HUMAN RACE In these verses we have God unfolded to us. I. As the controller of human hearts. Some suppose there is an allusion to the gardener directing the rills of water through the different parts of his ground, and that the comparison... [ Continue Reading ]
_To do Justice and Judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice._ CEREMONIAL AND MORAL DUTIES This text is a complete and independent sentence. Confirm the proposition deduced from the text-- I. From other places of Scripture. We find God rejecting and abhorring sacrifices if they were... [ Continue Reading ]
_The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness._ DILIGENCE Diligence, while it is opposed to laziness, is opposed also to rashness--to premature and inconsiderate haste. The diligent man first plans and then acts. He proceeds thoughtfully and systematically. Diligence can effect little,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity._ DISHONESTY I. The evil of dishonesty. 1. A breach of the law of God. 2. An invasion of the Divine right of property. 3. An encouragement to indolence. The workshop is one of the finest fields for human development. 4. A certain developm... [ Continue Reading ]
_The way of man is froward and strange; but as for the pure, his work is right._ PURE I. The nature of the man of God. It is pure. It is a grand thing to be clean in character. Take care that your words are clean. The very looks of a man of God are pure. The word “pure” implies that there is no wr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard._ THE CRY OF THE POOR I. Social distress. “The cry of the poor.” The poor may be divided into two classes. 1. The deserving. There is a poverty that comes on men by circumstances over which they hav... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is joy to the just to do Judgment._ THE PLEASURE OF DOING RIGHT The text virtually says, When good magistrates discharge their trust faithfully, and execute justice impartially, all honest and good men are greatly rejoiced at it, but it brings a sore terror and consternation upon the workers o... [ Continue Reading ]
_The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead._ THE WANDERER’S GLOOMY STATE I. What is meant by “wandering out of the way of understanding”? The book of nature and of providence is the way of understanding. This book was opened to all the heath... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man._ THE LOVE OF PLEASURE Here is the secret of the failure of nine-tenths of our unsuccessful young men. They loved pleasure and gave themselves up to its pursuit, and so they have never got on, and never will. When poverty comes as the result of idleness... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and an angry woman._ AN ANGRY WOMAN I. No social discomfort is to be compared to that of an ill-tempered wife. A corner of the housetop would be exposed to the rain and to the storm, both of which, in Eastern countries, are generally... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is treasure to be desired. .. in the dwelling of the wise._ TREASURE IN THE HOUSE; OR PROVERBS OF HOME-LIFE One simple Saxon word has talismanic power over every heart. That word is “home.” Who of us can forget our home and home-life in the past? We are now what our mothers made us in that f... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour._ RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY In every perfect character there will be found many opposite virtues, such as gentleness and courage, energy and patience, determination and docility, justice and mercy. We all respect... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles._ THE CHRISTIAN GOVERNING HIS TONGUE Instead of simply commanding with supreme authority that men should keep their mouths and tongues, he graciously condescends to annex reward and blessings for its own sake. “Keepeth his soul... [ Continue Reading ]
_The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour._ SLOTH Solomon attaches to it several evils. I. Suicide. “The desire of the slothful killeth him.” The man who is too lazy to move his limbs or open his eyes is too lazy to have a “desire.” These desires kill him. There are... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord._ THE VANITY OF ATTEMPTING TO OPPOSE GOD One of the most formidable methods of attacking religion is to exhibit it as a contrivance fit for narrow geniuses and mean souls. One of the most proper means to establish irreligion is to... [ Continue Reading ]