The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 269

verso, which muet be taken in connection of blessing: he acts thus not from mere with tuis; e.t the eame time, it is e. truth philanthropy, but from higher motives; he which bas been expressed in various ways has the grace of charity which springs from by many moralists and satirists. Says the and rests upon his faith in God. Greek Theognis- Ver. 22.-Do they not err that devise n«s 'TIS 'll'AOU<flOV /£v6pa; .,.[.,, &...c.. 6~ ....v,xpl,v. evil 1 or, Will they not go a/Jtray ? The question is an emphatic mode of asserting " The rich all honour, but the poor man the truth. They who meditate and practise slight." evil (eh. iii. 29; vi. 14) go astray from the Says Ovid, 'Trist.,' i. 9. 6- right way-the way of life; their views are "Doneo eris felix, multos numel'abis amicos; distorted, and they no longer see their Tempora si fuerint nubila, sol us eris.", proper course. Thus the remorseful volup- tuary bemoans himself, "We have erred from "Prosperous, you many friends will own; the way of truth, and the light of righteous- In cloudy days you stand alone," ness bath not shined unto us. , . . We In the Talmud we find (Dukes, 'Rabb. wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness Blum.'), "At the door of the tavern there and destruction; yea, we have gone through a.re many brethren and friends, at the poor deserts, where there lay no way ; but as for mo.n's gate not one." The rich bath many the way of the Lord, we have not known it" friends. Says Theognis aga.in- (Wisd. v. 6, etc.). Kercy and truth shall be Eii µ.•v txov-ros lµ.oii 1r0Mol 4>/"-0,· f)v 61 .,., to them that devise good. God's blessing Sewov will rest upon them. The combination of '%,ry-=~P"'!I• 'll'aiipo, .,.,,r.,.l,v txovu, v&ov, "mercy and truth" is found in Ps. lxi. 7: in Wisd. iii. 9 and iv. 15, and in 1 Tim. i. 2 And again, a distich whioh might have we have" grace and mercy" (see note on eh. been written to-day- iii. 3, where the two words occur in connec- Il"-~9., Ii' l,,v8prfi1ro,v lipe-r¾, µ[a; ,,t-y,,,-ra;, -1\6,, tion; and comp. eh. xvi. 6; u:. 28). The IlAov-rew' .,.;;;., 6' ll.>J,..,., oi,6,v lip' ;\v ~4>•"-os. two graces in the text signify the love and mercy which qod bestows on the righteous, ".One only virtue you must needs possess and the truth and fidelity with which he (As say the most of men), and that is keeps the promises which he has ma.de. wealth; The Vulgate makes the two graces human, All others are of small account." not Divine: "Mercy and truth procure bless- Ver. 21.-He that despiseth his neighbour ings." The Septuagint renders, "The good sinneth. Taken in connection with the devise me:rcy and truth." It adds e. po.ra- preceding verse, thie teaches that it is a sin phmse not found, in the Hebrew, "The to despise and shun e. man because he is devisers of evil know not mercy o.nd faith ; poor or of low estate ; such a one has a but alms and faith are with the devisers of claim for love and pity, and it is a crime to good." withhold them from him for selfish con• Ver. 23.-In all labour there is profit. siderations. The Christian view is taught All honest industry bas e. reward, o.nd all by the parable of the good Samn.ritau. But care and pain borne for e. good object bring he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is comfort and content (comp. oh. x. 22). So he; hail to him I (eh. xvi. 20). Contempt the Greek distich says- is contrasted with mercy, sin with blessing. d A,rav-ra. Tl1 ,cah.Q. -roV wovoiirrror -yfyveTaz. " Blessed are the merciful," said Christ (Matt. v. 7): "for they shall obtain mercy;" "To him who labours all fair things be- and St. Paul preserves another precious long." word, "It is more blessed to give than to In contrast to the diligent are those who receive" (Acts xx. 35). The merciful dis- talk much and do nothing. But the talk of position, which shows itself in works of the lips tendeth only to penury (eh. x.x.i. 5). mercy, is a proof that the soul is in union Those who work much get profit; those who with God, whose mercy is over all his to.lk much o.nd do little come to want. So in works, whose mercy endureth for ever, and spiritual matters Christ teaches that they who therefore such e. soul is blessed. "The think that prayer is heo.rd for much speaking poor," wrote James Howell, "a.re God's are mistaken; and he adds, "Not every one rccei vers, and the angels are his auditors" tho.t saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter (' Five Hundred New So.yings '). The into the kingdom of heaven; but he that Vulgate here appends a line absent from doeth the will of my Father which is in the Hebrew and the other versions, " He heaven" (Matt. vi. 7; vii. 21). Septuagint, who believeth in the Lord loveth mercy." "In every one who ta.keth thought (µ•p•· The true believer is charito.ble and bounti- ,,_.,;;;.,.,.,) there is abundance; he who liveth ful, knowing that he will not hereby im• pleasantly and without pain sho.11 be iu poverieh himself, b~t lay up a rich store wa.11t." Cato, • Dist.,' i. 10- PROVERBS. T 2H THE PROVERBS. [CII. XIV, 1-35,