Ver. 25.-Depression. This proverb shows us depression of soul in its own distress and gloom, and theu gives a hint of the way i-n which it may be remedied. I. THE STATE OF DEPRESSION. The heart is bowed down with heaviness. This is very different from external adversity and from the natnral feelings that are produced by such a condition. It may be quite independent of circumstances. The buoyant soul will face great calamities with comparative cheerfulness, while the heavy heart is depressed among signs of unbroken prosperity. 1, Depression is caused by personal, conditions. Not being; the reflection of circumstance, it must be the expression of internal experience. Frequently it is a result of a man's bodily state, a merely nervous disorder or a consequence of deranged health. We look for religious remedies when the true cure is in the hands of the physician. But it may be that melancholy thoughts have dr.pressed the soul. Then the gloom within is projected on to the world without, and the sunniest scenes are overclouded. 2. Depression is a deplorable state of mind. It is a source of deep distress to the sufferer. It spreads au atmo~phere of gloom among others. It checks enterprise by paralyzing hope. If the joy or the Lord is our strength, sorrow of soul must be a source of weakness. Depressed Christian people tliscreclit the name of religion by makinr; it appear unattractive to the work!. Gratitude is scarcely compatible with depression, and the soul that has given way to this deplorable experience is not likely to sing the praises of God. Thus depression tends to check worship. On the other hand, it reveals the soul's great need of Go<l, who in his long-sufferiug compassion has pity on his distressed children. "He knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust." fROVERDS. " 24'2 THE PROVERBS. [CH. XII, 1-28,
II. THE CURE OF DEPRESSION. When it is due to physical causes, physicnl remedies may be needed. In many cases, change of scene and brighter circumstances may help to remov~ it. ~ut there ~re also social an~ moral remedies, among which not the least Yaluable 1s a wise express10n of brotherly kmdness. Pure condolence may do more harm than good by aggravating the painful symptoms, and yet "a good word maketh" the heart "glad." 1. The utterance of the word may be helpful. Isolation and silence are depressing. "It is not good for man to be alone." The heavy heart seeks solitude, and ~ncougen(al socie_ty cannot be helpful. But sympathetic society is healing, even though 1t be a<lnntted with reluctance. Cilnst founded a Church. He sought to cheer his people amid the various scenes of their heavenward pilgrimap;e by means of Christian companionship. 2. The contents of tl1e word should be helpful. We may not do much good by moralizing. Though advice for the depressed is easy to find it is not often acceptable. But words of affection are wonderfully healing. Cheerful thoughts should help the depressed. 3. It is our duty to relieve tl,e depressed. To blame, to shun, or to patronize are all un-Christlike methods. But the Christian should endeavour to make the world brighter by his presence. Above all, if it is possible to lead the depressed to hope in God, tile surest method of cure is within our reach.
Ver. 28.-Righteousness and life. I. THE ASSOCIATION OF IUGHTEOUSNESS AND LIFE. It is something to have two such great ideas brought into close juxtaposition. Their very proximity is a revelation. 'l'hey mutually illumine one another. We know more of righteousness when we see its bearing on life, and we have a better understaading of life when we recogoize its dependence on righteousness. There is thus a relationship of ideas to be recc,gnized here over and above the separate forms of the ideas themselves. The limitation of the subject is also instructive. We do not see to what else righteous- ness may be related. It may or it may not bring happiness, wealth, and success. What it is related to is distinct from all these ends, and greater than any of them-viz. life. II. THE FORM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT IS CONNECTED WITH LIFE. This is the path of righteousness. It is not righteousness regarded as an abstract idea, or viewed only as a law. It is not an external garmcut of righteousness, nor an internal principle of righteousness. It does not consist in one or more isolated deeds of righteousness. On the contrary, what is here presented to us is a view of a continuous course of righteous action. It may not be the highest path of holiness, but it is at least a right path. The traveller may stumble upon it, loiter by the way, even forget himself at times, and sleep. Yet, on the whole, this is the course be pursues. He is trying to do the right thing in his daily experience. Ill. THE INFLUENCE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON LIFE. The path is life. 1. It is the path of a living soul. No one can continuously pursue a right course unless he has the spiritual life in him. Dr,ad souls may be galvanized into momentary spasms of goodness by an electrifying example or the shock of a grea_t a~thority. But the path uf righteousness can unly be trodden by those who have within them the soul-energy to follow it. 2. lt is the path that q_uiclcens life. It is not like the deadly tracts of sin, those ways of wickedness that lead down into the fatal swamps of soul-death. This path runs over bracing mountain heights. 3. It is the path that leads to life. There is a fuller life beyoud, not yet reached; and righteousness is the way to it. Every attainment in holiness is accompanied by a deepening of the soul-life. The way of God leads to eternal life. The gosp<il of Christ does not set aside this Old Testament principle, but it gives the new righteousness of a new life. IV. THE FATAL RESULT OF LEAVING RIGHTEOUSNESS. "A devious way leadeth to death." 1. The way of evil is devious. It is not only an alternative; it is a departure from the normal course. He who is in it is where be ought not to be. Then this way is no direct high-road; it is a wandering bypath. 2. The deviousness of the way is fatal to the traveller upon it. The higher way is made for the good purpose of leading to the city of life. The devious way is uot purposely made; it is a lawless beaten track, which runs out into the wilderness. It must be dangerous to follow such a course. To pursue it to the end is to court soul-destruction. OH, XII. 1--28,] THE PROVERBS.