dom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto 11 11 When by discretion-christian caution-we have in any matter separated the evil from the good, wisdom, or true religion, gives grace to avoid the one, and choose the other; and they together form our defence on every occasion: even in the perilous hour of temptation, they deliver us from the path of evil, and lead us safely in the paths of uprightness. thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths to deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; which for saketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. Even in this life, sin leads to misery, and rectitude to peace. The upright man, whether he be in riches or poverty, in a high or low estate, honoured of men, or despised of them, in health or in sickness, has the peace of God which passeth understanding. Art thou afflicted? hide this truth in thine heart; and joy will still abide with thee. EVENING. PROVERBS iii. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments; for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and 4 The temperate, the honest, the industrious, the upright in heart, and the kind in disposition, generally find favour even with their fellow-creatures. Thus, the young are encour aged to exercise themselves in christian graces and virtues. 5 Let faith be complete-Let us not lean to our own understanding; les the prop break under us, and like broken reed, both fail us and wound from evil. It shall be health What a privilege it is, that in all 10 By bounty to the poor in propor- My son, despise not neither be weary of his correc 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold 12 If the Bible contained only this sentence, it would be a treasure beyond price. "O blessed truth" exclaims the suffering child of sorrow "Then all this misery is sent not in anger, but in love! O how different my view of trial now! My Father! Thou correctest me in thy love-therefore is all well.” 17 Be assured that a truly religious life is the only happy life. By day you are safe; and by night you fear not for the Almighty is your sure defence. upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. 29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing 28 Delay is cruelty to others; to ourselves often ruin and death. For who can boast of to-morrow? 29 A christian spirit is too noble even to take advantage of the simplicity or ignorance of others. 31 he dwelleth securely by thee. out cause, if he have done thee no harm. Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the LORD but his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory : but shame shall be the promotion of fools. Strive not with a man with 31 Envy not the wicked if they happen to be prosperous. In the day of judgment, the impenitent will in their turn be conspicuous in their punishment, covered with shame ; and the righteous shall be welcomed to glory, and honour, and joy. The twenty-third Sunday after Trinity. MORNING PROVERBS XI. 1A FALSE balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish and the hope of unjust men perisheth. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. 10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city perish, there is shouting. "By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. He that is void of wisdom despiseth his 1 Be true and just in all thy dealings with men, for conscience sake toward God. (See chap. xvi. 11.) 2 Pride maketh men forget themselves, and so leadeth them on to shame. In the difficulties of life, religion alone gives safe guidance. 7 How dreadful is it for the dying to find that all their hopes end with life, and all their fears begin in death. 8 The righteous fall into trouble as well as other men ; but in due time God delivers them. 10 A good man is a public blessing. rejoiceth: and when the wicked disapprove a neighbour, he despiseth 11 In society, even when he must him not; he knoweth to hold his peace: whereas a talebearer offends his God, injures his neighbour, and brings contempt upon himself. neighbour but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Where no counsel is, the people fall but in the mul 14 It is ill for a nation when its councillors are unwise. titude of counsellors there is safety. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth 18 The good man, like the husbandman, soweth in faith, and is patient; not looking for the fruit till the harvest-time. 22 As female influence well-directed his own flesh. 18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. 22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. The desire of the righteous is only good but wrath. 24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The li is invaluable, exemplifying the Christian graces in their most winning form; so, ill-directed, it brings only shame and ruin. the expectation of the wicked is 24 Riches are a blessing; though a bad use of them turns the blessing into a curse. Charity, benevolence, liberality, bless both giver and receiver. Avarice and cupidity bring their deserved punishment. beral soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. 99 30 The fruit of the righteous is a 31 Be 29 Contention and bickering in a family turn the fairest prospects into gloom. Alas, for a house divided! 30 The humblest Christian, by setting a good example, may be wise in winning souls. Hear this, ye poor. 31 This is sure-final and just recompense awaits both the evil and the good. recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. EVENING. 1 WHOSо loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. A good man obtaineth favour : PROVERBS xii. 1 The young should bear reproof patiently: it is offered for their good. So they may hope to obtain favour of the Lord. A good and affectionate wife is a man's highest honour and greatest earthly comfort. One of an opposite character weareth away the heart. The thoughts of the righteous the wicked are deceit. The lie in wait for blood: but the of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. are right but the counsels of words of the wicked are to mouth of the upright shall deliver them. The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand. A man shall be wisdom but he that is of a 'He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. 1o A righteous man regardeth the life of his 7 10 beast but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. "He that tilleth his land shall be 7 The one house is built upon the sand, the other upon a rock. What a motive for parents to be righteous! their family shall prosper. commended according to his perverse heart shall be despised. 9 Quiet competence is better than great display with scanty means. ciful to the creatures who lend their 10 God would have us specially mer strength and labour for our use. 11 Industry flourishes - idleness withereth. 12 Evil men continually try to entangle others in their sin and misery. satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. 12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men but the root of 13 The good man does not expect the righteous yieldeth fruit. to escape his share of this world's 13 The wicked is snared by troubles: faith, however, assures the transgression of his lips: him that he shall come out of them. but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. 16 A fool's wrath is 16 Unrestrained anger is a proof of presently known: but a pru- weakness-prudence curbs it. dent man covereth shame. |