The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 397

:HOMILETICS . . Ver. 5.-Pat,'ent inrlwdry. Tho cont~et between diligence nnd hllete BUg~c8te the 1dr1L thnt there m1111t he FLD <,)emont of patience and pereevernncn in the former If it Is to be crowurrl with aucceSR. 'l'hls may bo very different from the Herculean efforts of p:c~iuR, w~ich aHtonish tho _world with spll.llmA of effort Rnd then sink Into lndifforoncc. It IH a quiet, conetant, persistent activity. \Vo o.re to soo how much this hi sup11rior to the more flABby performances which are not Rccon<lod by diligence. J. PATIKNT INDURTRY IN COHMEROE. 'l'his is the direct opposite of the gambler's method._ 'l'h~ tcrr!ble evil o_f gambling has _not been sufficiently weighed, Its awful tcmptnt1on11, )tll widespread mfluonc~, the fng~tful moral havoc H is malting in o.11 clMscs of society, arc not yet apprec1atorl; for 1f those evils were duly considered, all who are concerned about tho welfaro or England would start up in horror at the sight of a stupendouR cause of ruin that is rampant in our midst. One of our lending judge11 },aR pronounced gambling to bo the greatest national evil of England. Now, the 11plrlt of gambling is 11ecn in trnde, and tho Stock Exchange is with many no better than .a huJ?O betting-saloon. 'l'hc greedy race for woo.Ith makcA men reckless. But experience HLowa that it is highly dnngerous. The solid success of business men is not attainod in this wny, 'fhc lives of such men as George Moore and Samuel Morley show that honourable industry is e. better rond to wealth. Even when riches nro not acquired- and but a few can ever win the prizes-It is the road of safety und peace. '!'his me11ns 11clf-dcnial, hard work, patient waiting, courngo under ndvorso circumstances. In these respects the difference between succc11s and fail urc depends on our character and oJl'ort. When a man is in calm earnest his very thoughts arc fertile. II. p .A TIENT INDUSTRY IN LEARNING. 'l'here is II temptation for beginners to seek eome royal rond to knowledge; but it has never yet been found. The truo student muat "scorn delights, and live labo:ious days." Genius may be more than an unlimited capacity for hard work; but assuredly the highest genius will fall of lt11 boat fruits If It be swathed in indolence. 'l'he lives of great mon o.ro nearly always lives of bo.rcl-worklng men. Old-fashioned echolarship may appear lose tempting than e. short cut to popu- larity over the flowery fields of literary smartness. But the notoriety that is won so easily is an empty bubble that vanishes at a touch. Study, thought, intollcctu11l industry, will always secure moro solid and endurinff rewards. III. l'ATIENT IN1JUB1'1lY IN C11n111·r1AN WOBK, 'lho modem temptation is to snatch at superfic:al 11ucccss. An empty popular style and light 11ttrnotivo methods seem to eucurc rnsults that are denied to more serious consoientloua labours. But such o sucoeBB is 11 rotten fruit, worthless, and soon ending in ehame and bitterness. It is the duty of all who undertake Christian work to adapt it to the people. It is ueoless to preach if none will come to hear. 'l'be preacher ought to try to interest and win hie congrega- tion. There is no merit in dulness. 'l'he diligent must ha.vo his. "thoughts." St. }'au) was too wise to waste his efforts in " boating the air" (1 Cor. ix. 26). But the main efforts must ho 11ariouR, persistent, pcrHovorlng. If the seed is sown deeply, it will bo Rlow to show it11elf; but it will bo safely burled in the soil. In the mission field patient ind1111try 11ucceeds, while more exciting and hasty efforts only end in an ultimo.le colla1ise. Ver. 10.-DeBiring evi1. I. M1rn'e DE8JRE8 AnE DETll:IlMIN!':D DY Timm NA'l'UilEB, Good men have good desires, and blld men bad desires. No doubt nnturnl doHiros may Hpring up iu an innocent heart n11der circumstances which forblcl the Ratisfa.ction of them without Kin. Only so can one bo tempted e.e Christ was tompte<l, i.e. without eiu. Home Indeed have maintained that oven Ohrist, In becoming a pnrtalcer of" Hinful f!oHh" (Horn. viii. a), actually took upon him o. sinful nature, which ho purged nnd redecmt•.d. llut wo h11ve no l!Criptural or h~torical evidence of nny euca tranl!llctions in cm, ur.1-31.] THE PROVERBR. 411