The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 312

Ver. 24.-Pleasant words. I. PLEASANT WORDS ARE GOOD IN BOOIAL INTERCOURSE. They are said to cost little, while they are worth much. But often they are not to be had without trouble. 1. Sympathy. We must put ourselves to the trouble of entering into our brother's feelings if we would speak with real kindness to him. 2. Seif-suppression. Angry word~ m_ay be the first to rise to:our lips; bitter words of scorn or melancholy words sprmgmg from the gloom of our own minds may come more readily than the pleasant words that are due to our neighbours. 3. Thought. w·ords of honey soon cloy if no satisfying thoughts lie behind them. Pleasant words should be more than words-the~ shoul~ be I?-essengers of h~aling, suggestions of help- fulness. Now, as some trouble 1s reqmred tor the production of this kind of speech in daily intercourse, it is well to consider how valuable it is. It draws hearts together. It lightens the load of life and oils its wheels. There are enough of clouds about the souls of most men to make it desirable that we should shed all the sunshine that we possibly can. It would be like a migration from Northern gloom to Southern sunshine for all speech to be seasoned with truly pleasant words. . II. PLEASAXT WORDS ARE ?-.'"EED~D IN C~RIS"i:lAN TEACHING. The preacher is not to be a false prophet of smooth sayings, whispering, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace. 'l'bere are times when hard words must be spoken, and most unpleasant truths do ne~d to be drive:n home to. unwilling bearers. But it will be only the pressing necessity of the subJect that will force men of tender hearts to utter painful words. When the topic is not of this character, the most winning words should be chosen. 1. !n teaching the young. The g)oom of ~o!Ile good people has repelled the young. Children ought to see the sunny side of religion. All who are themselves bright and happy should know that there is a greater gladness for them in Christ. The preacher of the gospel belies his message when he proclaims it like a funeral dirge. 2. In interesting the careless. We cannot frown men into the Church. If we show the attractiveness of the gospel by cheerful manners, we help to commend it to the world. 3. in comforti'.ng the sorrowful. It is not necessary to speak sad words to the sad in order to prove our sympathy. It should be our aim to lighten the load of their sorrow. III. PLEASANT WORDS ABE FOUND lN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Christ preached BO that" the common people heard him gladly." Men wondered at the" gracious words" that fell from his lips. Christianity is a religion of Divine grace. Surely there must be found many pleasant words in the description of it. The words of the gospel are pleasant, in particular, on several accounts. 1. They tell of God's love. 2. They portray Christ. 3. They invite men to salvation. 4. They reveal the blessedness of the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 25.-The treacherous path. What way have we here referred to? If the path be so deceptive, surely the guide should indicate it. Yet the way to destruction is not named, nor is its place pointed out on the chart of life. No doubt the reason of this iodefiniteness of expression is just that the dangerous way is a broad road, very easy to discover, yet there are many tracks along it, and each person may take his own course. It is so broad that any description of it may possibly leave out some of its devious paths. Therefore it is better only to indicate its character and leave it for each to consider the warning, that an attractive appearance in the path is no proof of a safe ead. I. Trra APPARENT RIGHTNESS OF THE WAY. 1. The/act. It is not only said that the way of death is attractive, like a swooth garden-path winding among flower-beds, while the way of life is a steep and rugged mountain-track ; but this way even seems to be right. There is an apparent justification for following it. ConBcience is in danger of being deluded into giving it a quasi-sanction. 2. The cause. We are always tempted to condone the agreeable. If no danger is apparent, sanguine minds refuse to believe that they are approaching one. Convention simulates conscience. The multi- tude who tread the broad way tempt us into trusting the sanction of their example. It is difficult to believe that that is wrong which fashion encourages. 3. The limitations. (1) The way only "seemeth" right. W:e n~ed to be guarded agai~st succumbing to the bondage of appearances. The question 1s not _as to what a thing seems, but what it is. (2) It is right in the eyes of the man who 1s t~mpted to follow it. But it is not right in the eyes of God. We have to look to the higher standard of OH. XVI, 1-33.] THE PROVERBS. 319