The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 354

Hence a family feud is usually a very long as well as a very 3ad one. This does not seem to be I\ looal or a national peculiarity. What Solomon wrote in his land and aue 0 might be written by any English or continental moralist to-day. It is human. II. ITB EXPLANA'fION, 1. It is an aggravated difficulty, inasmuch as the bitterness aroused ie more intense. For always in proportion to the fulness of our love is the greatness of our wmth, Anger is love reversed. Whom we love the most we are in <langer of disliking the most; it is against his own wife that the madman first turns his hand. And how should we love another with all the affection we feel for the com- panion of our childhood and our youth, the sharer of our joys and sufferings from the very cradle and under the parental roof? 2. We shrink with greatest sensitiveness from humbling ourselves before our kindred. Reconciliation usually means apology, and apology means a measure of humiliation. And we do not like to humble our hearts before one with whom we have had and may have so much to do. 3. We are inclined to "stand upon the order of our going;" each thinks the other should make the first move; the younger thinks the elder ehonld because he is the elder, and the elder the younger because he is the younger. 4. We are apt to resent interposition as interference; to any peacemaker who would intervene we are inclined to say, "Do not intrude into our family secrets." III. Oun DUTY IN VIEW OF THIS FACT, It is clearly this: 1. To avoid all serious differences with our near kindred; (1) to heal at once the first small breach that may occur, for while a rupture may be beyond remedy, a small difference is easily healed; (2) to consider that almost any sacrifice of money, or of position, or of goods is worth making to retain the love of the children of our own parents, the playmates of our cbild- )1ood and our youth. 2. To make a determined efl'ort, after earnest thought and prayer, to master the difficulty we find in our heart, and make the first overture to the offended brother. So shall we win a really noble victory over ourselves; so shall we gain the warm approval of the Prince of peace.-C. Ver. 24.-The unfailing Friend. If these words had occurred in a book written any time A.D., we should unhesitatingly have referred them to our Lord; they are beauti- fully and perfectly applicable to him. For closer than any brother is he who is "not ashamed to call us bretbren.n I. HE COMES NEARER TO us THAN ANY BROTHER CAN. A human brother can draw very near to us in his knowledge of us and bis brotherly sympathy with us; but not as Christ, oilr Divine Friend, can and does. His knowledge of us is perfect--of our hopes and fears, of our struggles and our sorrows, of our aspirations and endeavours, of all that passes within us. And his sympathy with us and bis succour of us are such as man cannot render. He can pity us with a perfect tenderness of spirit, and he can touch our hearts with a sustaining and healing hand as the kindest and wisest of men cannot. II. HE IS ALWAYS THE BAME TO us; OUll. BROTHER IS NOT. We can never be quite sure that our kindest brother will be in a mood or in a position to lend us his ear or bis hand. But we have not to make this qualification or enter into this con- sideration when we think of Christ. We know we shall not find him too occupied to hear us, or indisposed to sympathize with us, or unable to aid us. He is always the same, and ever ready to receive and bless us (Heh. xiii. 8). III. Hrs PATIENCE IS INEXHAUSTIBLE; OUR BROTHEr.'s IS NOT. By our importunity, or by our infirmity, or by our unworthiness, we may weary the most patient bnman friend or brother; but we do not weary the Divine Friend; and even though we do that or be that which is evil and hurtful, which is painful and grievous in his sight, still he bears wilh us, and at our first moment of spiritual return he is prepared to welcorue and restore us. IV. HE EVER LIVETH; OUR BROTHER MAY BE TAKEN FROM us. 1. Seek the lasting favour and friendship of Jesus Christ. 2. Realize tbo honour of that friendship, and walk worthily of it. 3. Gain from it all the comfort, strength, and sanctity wuich a. close and living friendship with him will surely yield. 4. Introduce all whom you C8Il to him, that they may share this invaluable blessing.-0. 364 THE PROVERBS. [on. XIX, 1-29,