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measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD; they are very detestable to him, though men may think it a small matter to use them: it is in vain to pretend to devotion, where there 11 is not common honesty. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right; you may easily guess whether he will prove modest and honest, or lewd and knavish; therefore parents should restrain every thing that 12 looks bad in children, and encourage every thing promising. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them; this is true also of the faculties of the mind; therefore we should not be proud of them, but use them for God's glory. 13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, rise early to thy business, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14 [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. Thus men impose upon one another, and act contrary to the golden rule of doing as they would 15 be done by. There is gold and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel, much more valuable. 16 Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger and take a

pledge of him for a strange woman; do not trust that man without good security, who is ready to be bound for a person, he knows 17 not who; especially for a wicked strumpet. Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterward his mouth shall be filled with gravel; as a hungry man who catching at a piece of bread, and finds in his mouth a piece of the mill stone that ground it, so a man 18 will regret his unrighteous gains. [Every] purpose is established by counsel and with good advice make war; do nothing rashly, especially in war, where conduct is often better than cour19 age. He that goeth about [as] a talebearer, revealeth secrets : therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips; be very careful of a man that comes to you as a talebearer, and pretends to know every one's secrets, for he will reveal yours likewise. 20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness; he shall lose all his comfort and happiAn inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed; it shall moulder away 22 or be embittered. Say not thou, when thou hast received an injury, I will recompense evil, I will avenge myself in proportion to the offence; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee; he shall right thy present wrongs, and defend thee from future ones. 23 Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the LORD; and a 24 false balance [is] not good. Man's goings [are] of the LORD;

21 ness.

how can a man then understand his own way? Let us therefore 25 mind our duty, and leave events to God. [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, appropriates to his own use what was consecrated to God; and after vows to make inquiry whether it was wise and right; that should have 26 been done first. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. This is an allusion to a king riding in his chariot, dispersing some sinners by his appearance, and driving VOL. V.

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27 over and destroying others. The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly; reason and conscience are like a lamp that God hath set up in us, and by which we are capable of searching our hearts ; therefore we ought to use it carefully; and God will examine whether we have worked or played by this light, and accordingly will doom us to everlasting 28 light or darkness. Mercy and truth preserve the king; are his strongest guards: and his throne is upholden by mercy; it is the best security of his government, engaging the favour of God, 29 and the affections of his people. The glory of young men [is] their strength and the beauty of old men [is] the grey head; each has its beauty, glory, and use. Young men are fitted for difficult labours, and to defend their country; old men for counsel 30 and advice, and therefore should not be slighted. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly; those strokes which make a man black and blue, even those which are as wounds going into the belly, purge out those corrupt affections which are in the heart. This intimates, that reproof, however disagreeable at present, may be attended with happy consequences. In this view, heavy afflictions from the hand of God may be extremely useful; and it becomes us to receive reproofs with thankfulness, and afflictions with all humble submission, and carefully improve them.

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CHAP. XXI.

'HE king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water he turneth it whithersoever he will; it is like rivulets of water, which a husbandman turns to which part of his ground he pleaseth; this is a reason why we should pray for 2 kings and all that are in authority. Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes; but the LORD pondereth the hearts; he often sees cause to condemn what they approve, and will bring every 3 heart under a strict examination. To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice, or any other external observances. A maxim of great importance, especially to the Jews, 4 who were prone to trust in their sacrifices and ceremonies. An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the ploughing of the wicked, [is] sin, when he does not do it with a good intention; or rather, as in the margin, the light of the wicked, that is, all their worldly 5 pomp and glory, is an occasion of sin unto them. The thoughts of the diligent, that is, the prudent and active, [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty, who acts rashly, and undertakes more business than he can' manage, only to want. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue [is] a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death; it is a vapour dissipated by 7 the wind; the treasures are lost, and destruction follows. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them, or saw them asunder,

intimating the dreadful agonies of their consciences; because they refuse to do judgment, will go on in a wicked course, and not make 8 restitution. The way of man [is] froward and strange; that is, the way of froward, perverse men is strange, hateful to God and good men but [as for] the pure, his work [is] right; he approves himself to God, and acts worthily in his station; you know 9 where to find him and may safely trust him. [It is] better to dwell in a corner of the house top, in a poor, silent manner, exposed to all the injuries of the weather, than with a brawling woman in a wide house, a house of society. A perverse wife spoils all the pleasure that a man would find in his friends and relations, for she generally sets herself against them; and there can be no more evident proof of 10 folly and perverseness than this. The soul of the wicked desir eth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes; he is of such a malignant temper that he seems to have outgrown all sense of humanity, and spares neither friends nor foes if they stand in 11 the way of his evil designs. When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise and when the wise is instructed, he 12 receiveth knowledge, without any such methods of severity. The righteous [man] wisely considereth the house of the wicked: [but God] overthroweth the wicked for [their] wickedness; wise and good men consider the designs of Providence in the prosperity of the wicked and the destruction that often comes upon 13 them. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard; an awful passage that 14 should never be forgotten. A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and

a reward in the bosom strong wrath, and it is prudent where it 15 can be honestly bestowed. [It is] joy to the just to do judgment, to do it themselves and see it done by others: but destruction 16 [shall be] to the workers of iniquity. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead; there his wanderings end, there he shall take up his lodging, and be punished in hell with the sinners of the old world. 17 He that loveth pleasure, that is, sports and diversions, [shall be] a poor man he that loveth wine and oil, the luxuries and 18 delicacies of life, shall not be rich. The wicked [shall be] a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright; they shall suffer that punishment which was intended for the righteous; and are sometimes instruments of delivering good men 19 contrary to their desire. [It is] better to dwell in the wilderness quietly, though removed from human converse, than with a con20 tentious and an angry woman. [There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; a person in the lower circumstances of life may with prudent forecast have something decent and handsome to entertain his friends with; but a foolish man spendeth 21 it up, wastes it upon himself, or in extravagance with others. He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness and honour; a comfortable and happy life, and honour among good men and from God; the true and most satisfactory way to en22 joy life is to be really religions. A wise [man] scaleth the city

of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof; wisdom and conduct are often better than strength. 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, is weary and cautious 24 in talking, keepeth his soul from troubles. Proud [and] haugh

ty scorner [is] his name, who dealeth in proud wrath, that is his 25 proper name, and there cannot be a more odious one. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour: an admirable observation; while men have not the resolution to apply to business, they are tormented with their own wants, with reflections on the necessity of diligence, and their own guilt in neglecting 26 it. He coveteth greedily all the day long: this is an exceeding beautiful repetition; he desires a desire all the day long ; he desires and desires, and there it rests; he will do nothing to secure the thing he desires; and therefore he often wants necessaries: but the righteous giveth and spareth not; an honest diligent man not only supports himself, but has wherewith to supply and relieve 27 others. The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind? This is not designed to discourage prayer in the wicked; the meaning is, that a man who goes on in a course of wickedness, and yet keeps up the external forms of religion, is offensive to God, especially when he makes use of religion as a mask to deceive others, or thinks to 28 compensate with the Almighty for his sins by his sacrifices. A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh con◄ stantly; the man that heareth and considereth, speaks with judg29 ment and success, as he is always believed. A wicked man hardeneth his face, endeavours to conquer the shame of having done amiss: but [as for] the upright, he directeth his way; examines his actions, and endeavours to live so that he may not blame himself. 30 [There is] no wisdom, no natural sagacity, nor understanding, no improvement of parts, or human policies, nor counsel, that is, confederacies and combinations, against the LORD, that shall take 31 place to overturn the counsels and designs of God. The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD; no military preparations will do, unless he gives success. This is a powerful motive to prayer, especially in time of war, to commit all our national interests and concerns to him, and to go forth in his strength.

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CHAP. XXII.

?A (GOOD) name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches,

[and] loving favour rather than silver and gold; without the respect and kindness of a man's neighbours and friends his riches will not make him comfortable; let us be thankful if we 2 have a good reputation and do nothing to forfeit it. The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all; with regard to happiness they are much upon the same footing; God

hath fixed their respective circumstances, and at death they shall all certainly meet together and be upon a level; let the rich there3 fore be humble, and the poor contented. A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil and hideth himself; he makes provision against it but the simple pass on and are punished; they never think of it till they fall into it; this is applicable both to worldly and re4 ligious concerns. By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] 5 riches, honour, and life. Thorns [and] snares, continual perplexity and vexation, [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul, that watches over his actions and words, and is of a friendly obliging disposition, shall be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it; this is generally though not universally true, and a great motive it is to a prudent and pious educa7 tion of children. The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender : this should be a motive to diligence 8 and frugality that we may not be dependent upon others. He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity, that is, mortification and disappointment and the rod of his anger, the power with which 9he injures others, shall fail. He that hath a bountiful eye, who sees and compassionates the misery of others, shall be blessed; for 10 he giveth of his bread to the poor. Cast out the scorner, him who disdains advice and counsel, and is obstinately bent on his own way, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall 11 cease. He that loveth pureness of heart, an upright man, who delivers his mind in acceptable language, [for] the grace of his 12 lips, the king [shall be] his friend. The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, God graciously watches over those who make his law their rule and religion their care; and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor; he cuts short the power of the 13 wicked, so that they do not what they intend. The slothful [man] saith, [There] is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets; a very unlikely thing to meet a lion in the streets; it shews the 14 folly of slothful people's excuses. The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit; their society is a gulf of destruction: he that is abhorred of the LORD, who is given up to his wicked lusts, shall 15 fall therein. Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him; in many 16 cases this is the only method. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches, and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want; Providence often delivers unjust men into 17 the hands of oppressors, who serve them as they served others. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge, the wise lessons which I teach thee. 18 For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips; they will be thy delight__and 19 ornament; and enable thee to speak properly and usefully. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee; I have acquainted thee with these things, 20 that thou mayest therefore be encouraged to trust only in God. Have

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