The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 151

needs. But if earthly prudence is pra.ctised, shall we stop there? Are we consistent in our providence? We have provided for the natural winter: have we provided for other, more terrible, winters? We may have a philosophy of life which suits the happy sunshine, but how are we provided against the storms and frosts of the winter of sorrow? There is a wintry blast that ultimately kills the hardiest flower. Have we mo.de provision for the winter of death? Happy they who in bright summer, and happier they who in youth's spring-time, have found a Saviour who will be their Bread of life and their Shelter in the chills of grief, in the dread winter of death ! Ver. 14.-Sowing discord. I. THE BOWER. He may be of various characters. 1. A malignamt person. Such a one delights in the mischief be makes. He flings the firebrand with fiendish glee becaUBe be loves to witness the conflagration. He is a true child of Sa.tan, one to break the peace of Eden, one to set Cain to murder bis brother. 2. A person greedy of power. It is easier to make trouble than to mend it. N otbing is more simple than to scatter seeds of quarrels. A single pebble flung into the middle of a mountain tarn will shatter the fair mirror of crag and sky, and spread disturbing wavelets to every shore. '!'here is a sense of power, of producing a great effect, in mis- chief-ma.king. 3. A selfish person. If we always claim our dues and exact our pound of flesh, we must be perpetually embroiled in quarrels. Disregard to the rights of others, which is only too common with the selfish, will lead one individual to plunge a whole society into confusion. 4. A heedless person. It is so easy to sow discord that we may do the mischievous thing before we are aware of our folly. It needs ea.re and watchfulness to avoid- this disastrous conduct. II. THE SEED. 1. A misrepresentation. Thomas Carlyle pointed out bow often national quarrels and wars spring from" misunderstandings." If we knew each other better we should be more friendly. Our acquaintances tend to become our friends. But a. misrepresentation is the parent of a. misunderstanding, and as such the seed of discord. 2. A hot word. If we approached a troublesome question calmly and patiently we might see a way of avoiding all quarrelling over it. But when the anger is roused everything appears in its worst light; there is no inclination to smooth 0ver a difficulty; on the contrary, opposition is magnified. 3. An unkind word. This may be spoken deliberately. The more cool the speaker, the more cuttin::t his speech. III. THE BOIL. The discord is sown " among brethren." 1. A possible soil. One would say that here no quarrels can grow. But, alas I they who should love most can hate with bitterest bat.red, or, if no deep dislike be engendered, they may still quarrel most fiercely. The fir~t quarrel was between brethren-Cain and Abel. Esau and Jacob, the two Hebrews whom Moses rebuked in Egypt, the nations of Israel and Judah, were all brethren in discord. 2. A fruitful soil. Surely it would be thought discord among brethren cannot last and spread. But experience proves the contrary. Family feuds are deep, bitter, enduring. Church quarrels are most rancorous. Civil war is sanguinary. IV. THE HARVEST. This discord is no slight thing like the breeze that disturbs the lake for one moment and speedily leaves it to resume its normal placidity. 1. It is painful. Pride may conceal the wound, but the sore is not slight. No misery is greater than that of family quarrels. 2. It is injurious. It raises evil passions, hinders harmonious action, wastes resources in internecine strife. All men are of one blood, therefore all war is discord among brethren; and who shall measure its frightful harvest of woe? 3. It is unchristian. The gospel proclaims and enforces brother- hood. It helps us to realize the dream of the psalmist, " Behold bow good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity I" (Ps. oxxxiii. 1). Christ blessed the peacem&ker (Matt. v. 9). Vere. 16-19.-Seven hateful things. It is certainly best for us to think most of "whatsoever.things are lovely, of good report," etc. But the couleur de rose view of human nature that comes of a fastidious objection to look at the darker shades of character is not only false, but also dangerous, since it tempts us to ignore our own failings and to neglect the duty of rebuking sin and of labouring to better the world. Tbe physician must study pathology. The patient must allow bis disease to be examined. We must therefore sometimes set o\U'selves to the unwelcome task  'l'HE PROVERBS. [011. VI, 1-35,