The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 311

enthroned in tbo bosom of his victim; he may tear out his tongue, but he can never tear out hie thoughts. Here the powers of despotism fail; here the inalienable" rights of man" are ever in exercise. II. Goo WORKS THROUOH MAN's LIFE, "The answer of the tongue is from the Lord." Though a man thinks out his ideas with originative power, when he comes into the world of action other influences lay hold of him, and his utterances are not wholly his own. Thie is conspicuously true of the prophet, who is not a mere mouthpiece of Divine words, but a living, thinking man; and yet whose utterances are inspired by God. The remarkable fact now is that it is true also of every man, of the godless man as well as the devout man. God controls the outcome of every man's life. 1. He controls through internal impulses. Conscience is the voice of God, and every man has a conscience. When conscience is disobeyed, the willing service of God is rejected, but still an unconscious doing of God's will may be brought about. In the days of the Exodus God was guiding even the stubborn Pharaoh to consent at last to the Divine purpose in the liberation of the Hebrews. 2. He controls through external circum- stances. These modify a man's words and deeds. Even after he has spoken, they give point and direction to what he has said and done. Ver. 4.-Tlie purpose of creation. It is commonly asserted that God made the world in love, that he created it from the goodness of his heart, because he desired to have creatures to bless. From this point of view, creation represents grace, giving, surrender, sacrifice, on the part of God. But another and apparently a contrary view is suggested by the words before us. Here it would seem that God created all things from self-regarding motives, as a man makes a machine for his own use. The contra- diction, however, is only superficial. For if we take the second view, we must still bear in mind what the character of God is. Now, God is revealed to us as essentially love. Therefore only those things will please him that agree with love. A cruel Being might make for himself creatures that would amuse him by exhibiting contortions of agony, but a fatherly Being will be best pleased by seeing his family truly good and happy. If the universe is made to please Divine love, it must be made for blessedness. Yet it cannot be made for selfish happiness. It must be created so as to find its own good in God, and thus to give itself up to him as the End of its being. Apply this principle- !. IN REGARD TO THE UNIVERSE AT LARGE. The law of gravitation is universal. All things tend to rush to their centres of attraction. In a large way the universe is drawn to God, its Centre, 1. It is ever more and more realizing the purpose of God. 'l'his is seen in all growth-the seed becomes the flowering plant, etc. It is strikingly exemplified in the doctrine of evolution. The great thought of God concerning the universe is slowly emerging into fact. 2. It is continually approaching the thought of God. The higher orders of creatures are nearer to the nature and thought of the Infinite Spirit than the lower. 'l'he upward movement is a God ward movement. 3. It is growingly fulfilling the :p11,Tpose of God. From the formless o.nd void past the universe moves on to" one far-off Divine event," when God's will shall be completely accomplished. II. IN REGARD TO EVIL. Evil in itself, moral evil, cannot have been made by God, who is only holy. But in two respects evil may come within God's purposes. 1. Physical evil directly works out God's put'poses. It is only evil to our eyes, as shadows look gloomy and winter feels painful. Really it is good, because it is part of the whde good plan of the universe. God sends pain in love, that the issue of it may be the higher blessedness of his children. 2. Moral evil will be overruled for Di11ine purposes. 'fhe bad man has his uses. Nebuchadnezzar was essential to the chastisement of Israel. Judas Iscariot was an agent in the chain of events that issued in Christ's great work of redemption. III. IN REGARD TO INDIVIDUAL SOULS. We are all made for God. He is the End of our being, not only as the home and rest we need, but o.s the goal after which we should aim. The great aim of Christ's work is to bring all things in subjection to God, that he "may be All in all" (1 Cor. xv. 28). The mistake of men is in seeking their own good first, even though this be the higher good of" other-worldliness." For our great end is to forget self in God. 318 THE PROVERBS. [on. XVI. 1-33.