The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 266

sacri_ficcth of n thing unlawfully gotten, his man's mind is eensith•e it is easilr d(lprosscd offenng 1s mockery (µ,µo,,c11µ•V11), and the by grief; but when it ie elate, by _ioy, it mockeries of nnjnst men are not well- should receive its pleasure u.nd relief without pleasing. 'rhe Most High is not pleased arrognnce and ribaldry. with the ofterinin, of the godless, neither is Ver. 11.-The house . . , the te.beme.cle, he propitiated for sin by the multitude of The house of the wicked, which they build sacrifices" (Ecclus. xxxi.18, 19). It is 1tlways and beautify and love, and which they look the disposition of the heart thnt conditions upon as a lnsting home, shnll perish; the the acceptnbleness of worship. Among the hope which they founded upon it shall come righteous there is favour-the favour and to e.. speedy end ( eh. xii. 7); but the. right• good will of God, which are bestowed upon eous rear only o. tent on earth, as becom~s them because their heart is right. '.rbe those who are strangers nnd pilaJ"ims·: 0 o.Ild word 'T"ntsrrn might equally refer to the yet this abode is more secure, the hopes good will of man, which the righteous gain founded upon it a.re more lasting, for it con- by their kindness to sinners and ready iiimes unto everlasting life. The text in sympathy; but in that case the antithesis its first sense probably means that sinners would be less marked. Septuagint, "The te.ke great pains to increase their material houses of transgressors owe purification prosperity, o.nd to leave heirs to carry on (o,p.,;,..firrourr, Ka.Ba.p,rrµlw); but the houses their name and fa.wily, but Providence of the just are acceptable." This ie ex- defeats their efforts ; good men do their plained to signify that sinners refnse to offer duty in their state of life, try to please God the sacrifice wb ich they need for their legal and benefit their neighbour, leaving anxious purification; but the righteous, while they ea.re for the future, and God prospers them have no necessity for a sin offering, are ac- beyond nil that they thought or wished ceptable when they present their free-will (comp. eh. iii. 33). Shall flourish. The vows and thanksgivings. word applies metaphorically to the growth, Ver. 10.-The bee.rt knoweth its own vigour, and increase of e.. family under the bitterness; literally, the heart (leb) lmoweth ble~eing of God. Septuagint, "The tents the bitterness of his soul (nephesh). Neither of the upright shall stand." There is e. onr joys nor our sorrows can be wholly cognate proverb at eh. xii. 7. shared v.ith another; no person ste.nds in Ver. 12.-Thie verse occurs ago.in in eh. such intimate relation to ue, or can put him- xvi. 25. There ie a. way which seemeth right Eelf so entirely in our place, as to feel that unto e. man. Thie moy refer to the blinding which we feel. There is many a dark spot, effects of passion and self-will ; for these many e.. grief, of which our best friend knows make a. man think his own we.y beat and nothing; the skeleton is locked in the cup- most desirable. But it seems better to take board, and no one has the key bnt ourselves. it as a. warning a.ge..inl!t following a perverted But we can turn with confidence to the or uninstructed conscience. Conscience God-Man, Jesus, who knows onr frame, who needs to be informed by God's Word and wept hnman tears, and bore our sorrows, ruled by God's will to make it o safe guide. and was in all points tempted like as we are, When properly regulated, it ie able to pro- and who has taken bis human experience nounce a. verdict upon contemple.ted action, with him into heaven. A stranger doth not and ite verdict must always be obeyed. But intermeddle with its joy, The contrast is warped by prejudice, weakened by disuse between the heart's sorrow and ite joy; and disobedience, judicially blinded iti both alike in their entirety are beyond the punishment and in consequence of sin, it ken of strangers. St. Gregory remarks on loses oil power of more.I jndgment, and this passage (' Moral.,' vi. 23), "The human becomes inoperative of good; and then, ns mind • knoweth ite own soul's bitterness' to the way that seemed at the moment when, irulamed with aspirations after the right, the end thereof are the ways of dee.th t:teroal land, it learns by weeping the (eh. v. 5). The me.n is following e. false sorrowfulnees of its pilgrimage. But 'the light, and is led ostra.y, and goes headlong stranger doth not intermeddle with hie joy,' to destruction (comp.Rom. i. 28; 1 Tim. iv. in that be, that ie now e. stranger to the 2; see on vel", 13). St. Gregory (' More.I.,' grief of compunction, is not then a partaker v. 12) has •some words on this subjeot: in the joy of consolation." A homely pro- "There are times when we are ignorant verb says,'' No one knows where the shoe whether the very things which we believe pinches so well as he that wee.re it; " and we do a.right,.e..re rightly done in the strict an Italian ma.rim runs," Ad ognuno par piu Judge's eye. For it often happens the.tan grave la croce sue."-" To every one hie own action of ours, which is cause for our con~ croBB seems heaviest." Septuagint, "The demnation, passes with us for the e..ggran• heart of man is sensitive (olu811n,cfi), his soul dizement of virtue. Often by the same ui sorrowful; but when it rejoices, it has no a.et whereby we think to appease the Judge, intermingling of insolence;" i.e. when a he is urged to &DS.9r wlien fe.vou~b.1~. OH, XIV, 1-35.] THE PROVERBS. 271