dues may be (1) the wages of the workman; (2) the debt contracted with the trades-' man ; (3) the sum promised to the relative or friend. This may be denied even when it could be easily rendered, through an "avaricious reluctance" to part with money or a culpable disregard of other men's neC61!Sities and claims, Such default is not worthy of a godly, a Christian man . . I~. CONSCIENTIOUSNESS TOWARD~ 01!R FRIENDS: (Ver. 2~.) Too many men are mclmed to abuse the confidence their kmdred or friends put m them, or the generosity they are prepared to show them. Such men draw unscrupulously on the trust or the b?unty of others. It is a serious departure from perfect rectitude, and. should be d1~allowed to themselves by all who fear God and would follow Christ. ThoRe who "dwell securely by us," who have confided in us, are those whom every principle of honest self-respect demands that wo should treat with sorupulous integrity. III. PEACEABLENESS OF SPIRIT. (Ver. 30.) The lives of many are embittered by the quarrelsomeness of their neighbours. Offence, never intended, is taken, bitter words are spoken, a hostile attitude is assumed, all friendly relations are broken off malicious insinuations are thrown out; in fact, "there is war between the house" of this man and that man, when there is positively nothing on which to found a complaint. A very small allowance of charity would cure this evil spirit, if only taken in time. Charity would hide a multitude of sins in the sense of preventing them altogether, if men w0uld but attribute kind motives to their neighbours, or inquire sufficiently b.efore they condemn, or even wait a while before they strike, to see.if there ie no other and better way of arranging a dispute. If it be possible-and it very often is possible, when men imagine it is not-we should "live peaceably with all. men" (Rom. xii. 18). IV. FREEDOM FROM FRETTING ENVY. Many good men are, upon the whole, what God would have them to be, and they have from him all that they can reasonably ask at his hand; their well-being is such as to constitute the condition of thankfulness and joy. Yet the cup of their life is made bitter and unpalatable because they are envious of the successful oppressor (ver. 31); they "fret themselves because of evil-doers," and are envious against the workers of iniquity (Ps. xxxvii. 1, 8; lxxiii. 3). T)ley think, perhaps, that if bad men are as prosperous as they seem to be, they (the good) ought to be far more successful than they tind themselves to be. Surely this is both sinful :ind foolish. 1. It ie discontentment wHh God's a,rrangement, and a querulous chal- lenging of his administration of human affairs.. 2. It is forgetfulness of the fact that God's severest anger rests on the oppressor, and that he is therefore the last man to be envied; he is "abomination to the Lord" (ver. 32). Would we change places with him ~ 3. It overlooks the fact that the righteous man is enjoying the friendship of God-surely an advantage that immeasurably outweighs the wealtb or honour which the oppressor has stolen. " The secret of the Lord" is with him. He ie God's ~rusted servant, Christ's intimate friend (see Ps. xxv. 14; John xv. 14, 15; xiv. 23).-C.
Vers. 33-35.-The height of well-being and the depth of i1l-being. The issues of righteousness and unrighteousness are here very broadly stated. These verses indicate to us the long and large results of wisdom on the one han4. and of folly on the other. I. THOSE WHOM Goo F .AVOUltB AND TH.AT WHIOH HE APPORTIONS. 'l'HEM, There are three epithets by which they are here characterized; they are called "the just," "the lowly," and" the wise." In those whom God loves and means to bless there are found (1) the spirit of humility,-they are conscious of their own demerit and unworthiness; (2) the spirit of wisdom,7 the)'. ar~ in the attitude o_f. inquiry t~wa~de God, desirous of knowing his truth and domg hie will; and (3) the spmt of con~c1ent1ousness,-they are the "just," wishful to do that which is right toward their fellows, to act honestly, fairly, considerately, in the various relations they sustain. 'l'hese God loves, and on them he will bestow hie Divine benediction. 1. He will give them "grace "-his own royal favour and that which draws down upon them the genial and gracious regard of men. 2. Ile will bles6 them in their home life. He "blesseth the habitation of the just." He will give them purity, lovfl, honour, affection, peace, joy in their most intimate relations; so that their homes shall be blessed. He will be known as the "God of the families of Israel." 3. And He will give them exaltation in the end. "The wist shall inherit glory." "Unto the upright there will arise light in the dark- CH, IV, 1-27,] THE PROVERBS. 83
ness." Present gloom she.11 give place to glory, either now on this side the gra.ve, or hereafter in "the.t world of light" 11. THOSE WITH WHOM Goo IS DISPLEASED AND HIS AWFUL MALEDICTIONS ON THEM. These a.re e.lso thrice characterized here; they e.re "the wicked,"" the scorners,"" fools.'' These are they who (1) in their folly reject the counsel of God; who (2) in their guilt yield themselves up to sin in its ve.rioua forms; who (3) in their arroga.nce scoff a.t all sa.cred things-tho "scorners;" this is the last a.nd worst development of sin, the treatment of things holy and Divine with flippant irreverence. These God regards with Divine disa.pprova.l; them he strongly condemns a.nd visits with fearful penalty, I. His wrath is on themselves. He "scorneth the scorners." "He that sitteth in the heavens la.ughs" at them, he "has them in derision" (Ps. ii. 4). His feeling toward them and his power over them are such that they ha.ve rea.son to apprehend overthrow and ruin at any hour (see Ps. lxxiii. 19, 20). 2. His curse is on their house (ver. 33). They may expect the.t in their domestic relations they will have, as in fact they do have, sa.ddest occa.sions of sorrow and remorse, 3. His ha.nd is against their hope. 'l'hey me.y be anticipating grea.t things for themselves in the future, their castles a.re high a.nd strong in the air, their hope is great; but" lo I sudden destruction,'' the winrl of hea.ven blows, and e.11 is brought into deaola.tion. God touches their fine structure with his finget, and it is in ruins. "Shame is the promotion of fools."-C,