The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 346

Yer. 13.-ThefoUy of hasty ;'U!lgment. We may observe some of the cases in which this folly of answering a matter before it is heard is commonly pracLised. I. THE socIAL RELATio:is, Meo ~re oft~n too quick io forming their opinions or other people. A superficial glance Js considered enough for an irrevocable verdict. The sentence is pronounced and the neighbour is characterized before he has had a fair chance of revealing his true nature. 1. This is ungenerous. We ought to give a ·man e,ery opportunity of showing the good that is in him, and to be ready to believe that there may be an unseen goodness that is slow to come to the surface. 2. It is uiritruthful. The verdict should never go beyond the evidence. 3. It is hurtful. Much harm has been done by the hasty circulation of raw tales of id!\! calumny. It would be well to take warning, pause, and inquire before encouraging such mischievous gossip. 4. It is foolish. Surely we ought to know that a human character is not to be thus rapidly read off. If we are Wibe we shall be slow io forming a judgmen t on our neighbours. . . II. L"i RELIGIOUS BELIEF. Men are only too hasty in. forming their opinions in religion. A minimum of evidence and a maximum of prejµdice contribute to form the faith of many people. The same is equally true in regard to unbelief. It does not require much knowledge to show that prejudice is rife in the camp of those who venture to call themselves "free-thinkers." Bigotry is always blind. No men are so perverse as the dogmatic. Just in proportion to their assurance is the weakness of the grounds on which they base their assertions. On the other hand, the fear of forming a false judgment should not drive us into a perpetual suspension of inquiry. We can hear the matter of Divine revelation. Our duty is neither to rush to a hasty conclusion nor to retreat into paralyzing doubt, but to "search the Scriptures," "try the prophets," and "hear" the teaching .on which we can found our convictions. To fail of this is foolishness that mnst E1nd in shame, because in the end truth must conquer, and then all the votaries of prejudice will be confounded; Ill. IN OUR CONDUCT TOWARDS Goo. '£bis is more personal and practical than the question of religious belief,· although the two things are very closely connected. We are tempted to misjudge providence, rebel against the action of God, and try to answer him who is unanswerable. .Yet we have not the materials for judging God if the very thought of so doing were not presumptuous. We ·cannot understand his ways, which are other than ours-higher, wider, wiser, better. Perhaps we shall hear the matter at some future time. It may be that when we have reached the other side of the grave we may be able to look back upon the course of life with the light of heaven upon it, and so to solve some of the.enigmas of earth. Meanwhile we have no alternative but to walk by faith. Any attempt at a higher flight will but reveal our folly and issue in our shame. Ver. 14.-Strong in spirit. This thought is near akin to that or eh. xvii. 22, where the medicinal properties of a. merry heart are commended. But there is some difference between the two. Both ascribe vital -energy to the inner life, and commend StJch a cultivation of it as shall conquer weakness and suffering ; but the verse now before us treats of vigour of spirit, while the earlier passage commends cheerfulness. L A MAN'S TRUE STRENGTH RESIDES IN BIB INNER LIFE. Samson was a weak man, although he had bodily strength, because he had not strength within. St. Paul was regarded as contemptible in bodily appearance (2 Cor. x. 10), yet he was a hero of fiery enerey and rock-like steadfastness. He could say, "When I am weak, then run 1 otruug" (2 Cor. xii. 10). The true self is within. All real weakne~a or po,ri,r1 f,iluro err. xvm. 1-24.J THE PROVERBS. 355