_Wisdom hath builded her house._ WISDOM’S INVITATION The Bible is fully of mystery, not merely in its doctrines, but also in the manner and in the language by which the truths of revelation are brought before us. In the personification of this passage, Wisdom is seen sympathising with man, caring... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither._ THE CHOICE OF WISDOM Life is reduced to an alternative; there is clearly marked out for us all, at the beginning of our life, that all is one thing or the other, wisdom or folly. To these two voices, all the noise and tumult of life, and all the diverse v... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come, eat of My bread._ WISDOM’S INVITATION I. The invitation. He who invites is the Son of God--in the Proverbs represented as “Wisdom.” Of His generous invitation we remark-- 1. That its acceptance is open to every human being on the face of the earth. The God of the gospel is no respecter of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding._ THE FOOLISH WAY FORSAKEN True religion includes two particulars, called in Scripture ceasing to do evil, and learning to do well. I. What are the two ways mentioned in our text--namely, the way of the foolish and the way of unde... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee._ REPROOF How to give it, and how to take it. Reproofs are like sharp knives, very needful and very useful; but they should not be in the hands of children. Those who handle them rashly will wound themselves and their neighbours. Sometimes reproofs are unsk... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser._ THE WISE MAN RENDERED WISER BY INSTRUCTION It is an infallible mark of true wisdom, to profit by instruction. I. Take a more accurate view of the wise man; and inquire who it is that may be taken for such. 1. He who proposes to himself... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom._ A JUST CONCEPTION OF GOD There are two things which sincere religion can never fail of attaining, one of which is the greatest ingredient--nay, the very foundation of all happiness in this world, and the other is the happiness and immortality whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_For by Me thy days shall be multiplied._ OF THE WISDOM OF BEING RELIGIOUS No desire is so deeply implanted in our nature as that of preserving and prolonging our life. Life and health are the foundation of all other enjoyments. The principal point of wisdom in the conduct of human life is so to u... [ Continue Reading ]
_A foolish woman is clamorous._ THE FOOLISH WOMAN This might be understood, in all truth, of the “strange woman” with her enticements; but I am strongly inclined to interpret the passage of Folly as an allegorical personage set in contrast with Wisdom--Folly under all the forms and phases which it... [ Continue Reading ]
_For she sitteth at the door of her house._ THE MINISTRY OF TEMPTATION I. As conducted by depraved woman. A foolish woman is here the emblem of wickedness in the world. 1. She is ignorant. Blind to spiritual realities and claims. She is in the kingdom of darkness. 2. She is clamorous. Full of no... [ Continue Reading ]
_To call passengers who go right on their ways._ THE TEMPTED ONES Who are the tempted? Young people who have been well-educated; these she will triumph most in being the ruin of. I. What their real character is. “Passengers that go right on their ways”; that have been trained up in the paths of r... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he knoweth not that the dead are there._ THE FATAL BANQUET Here two texts. Preach concerning a couple of preachers; one by usurpation, the other by assignation: the world’s chaplain, and the Lord’s prophet. First, the delightfulness of sin; second, converted Solomon. The text of the one is fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her guests are in the depths of hell._ WHOSE GUESTS SHALL WE BE? It is through blindness and inconsideration that any man is entangled in the snares of the foolish woman. We are naturally starving creatures, and cannot find happiness within ourselves. As every man must have food to satisfy the nat... [ Continue Reading ]