LEBBONB, 1. WeaHh is a good in itself. When we speak of it as an evil, we ara using a certain figure of speech; for the evil is in the false relation of the soul to this ns to other earthly objects. 2. In the desires that relate to wealth, their proper control and direction, the moral discipline probably of the majority must ever lie. 3. Safety is to be found in the religious habit, which sees in earthly objects good only M they can be connected with that which is beyond themselves, and is Divine and eternal.-J.
Ver. 5.-Purity and impurity of sentiment. I. .AVERSION YROM ALL UNTRUTH A LEADING CHARACTER OF PURITY. This does not imply that the good man never falls into acts or words which are untrue to his nature. But as a child of God, there is in his spiritual or ideal nature a rooted antipathy to lies, and a deep sympathy with truth in all its forms. 'Tis only truthfulness which can impart/ragTance, charm, delight, to character. IJ. THE CONTRARY DISPOSITION OF THE WICKED JS LOATHSOME AND SHAMEFUL. Antipathy to truth-and, alas I perversion may actually bring men to this-produces upon the pure moral taste an impression akin to tha& of nausea or deformity upon the physical sensibility, And we blush for it as a common odium and disgrace of human nature.~.
Ver. 6.-The . outward correspondence with the inward. I. UPRIGHT!IESS IS THE DESIGNATION OF DOTH AN INWARD A.ND AN OUTWARD STATE. 1. As a sensuous image, uprightness suggests strength, confidence, well-grounded stability. 2. As a figure of the mind and character, it denotes moral principle, fixed purpose, based upon firm faith in God and his moral order. 3. Its consequence is a state of security amidst danger, freedom from evil. II. WICKEDNESS AND RUIN A.RE INTERCHANGEABLE THOUGHTS. 1. The ruin begins in the inward decay of moral principle. 2. lt is consummated in outward decay-of reputation, of possessions, of health, of life.-J.
Ver. 9.-Joy and gloom. I. LrnHT IS THE SYMBOL OF JOY. JI. HENCE THE CHEERFUL BURNING OF A LIGHT IS THE SYMBOL OF THE GOOD MAN'S HEART. He sits in the centre and enjoys clear day. III. GLOOM IS THE NATURAL EMBLEM OF SORROW. IV. THE PUTTING OUT OF A LAMP IN DARKNESS IS THE ElrllLEM OF THE EXTINCTION OF JOY, OF HOPE-of all that makes life worth having, and of life itself.-J.
Ver. 10.-Pride and teachableness. PRIDE BEGETS CONTROVERSY, WRICH CAN SELDOM BE CARRIBD ON LONG WITHOUT DEGENERATING INTO EGOTISM. 1. There is contention for contention's sake, which is ever idle and baneful. 2. There is contention for truth's sake. But in the latter lie many dangers to purity of temper. Whenever we become angry in controversy, as a great man said, we cease to contend for the truth, and begin to contend for ourselves.-J.
Ver. 12.-The sickness of disappointment and the joy of fruition. I. HoPE DELAYED. Who has not known that sickness of the heart, that slow-consuming misery of which the text speaks? It is a sorrow of every age. Life itself is by some spent in this still lingering delay. The stem experience of the course of the world teaches us that the sentimental and romantic view of the future, so natural to youth, must give way to realities. II. HoPE DELAYED IB THE TRIAT, OF FAITH. The duration of the trial rather than the intensity is painful. So with Abraham in reference to Isaac (Gen. xv. 2, 3). Ill. THERE IS A LOVING PROVIDENTIAL MEANING AT THE HEART OF THESE TRIALS. They are essentially time trials; they have an end-the "end of the Lord." So the boy named "Laughter" came to Abraham; so the Lord turned again the cnptivity of Zion, and the delivered were like unto them that dream! So Simeon could sing bis Nunc dimittis on the appearance of the long-expected Saviour; and on his resur- rection the disciples "believed not for joy, and wondered." IV. A CERTAIN FRUITION 18 .PROMISED TO THE DESIRE OF THE IlIGHTEOUB. "Yet 3 THE .PROVERBS. [oH, XIII. 1-25.