We have thus three resources against sin: the avoidance of evil example; reverence before God; and oonstant recollection of the blessings of piety and vil'tue.-J. Vers. 19-25.-'.IYie peril.s of dissipation and the antidote. "Who hath ears to bear, let him hear." I. PERILS OF DISSIPATION. (Vers. 20, 21.) Gluttony and wiue-bibbincr. As the stomach is the centre of health, so it is also of disease. A wise man (Dr~ Johnson) said that if one did not care for one's stomach, one was not likely to care for anything. It is equally true that be who cares only or chiefly for the flesh will make a wreck of everything else. Gluttony has been pointed to as "the source of all our infirmities, the fountain of all our diseases. A.s a lamp is choked by superabundance of oil a fire extinguished by excess of fuel, so is the natural heat of the body destroy~d by intemperate diet." By slow degrees, and more and more, the habits of self-indulaence undermine the strength of body, still more certainly the vigour of mind, until po;,erty comes like an armed man. II. THE ANTIDOTE. 1. Early instr'ltction to be constantly recalled. (Ver. 22.) Alono- with the affectionate association of the parents who gave it. That "men shall be dis~ obedient to their own parents" (2 Tim. iii. 2) is one of the marks of the great apostasy iu Scripture. But" comely aud pleasant to see, and worthy of honour from the heholder," is a child understanding the eye of his parent (Bishop Hall). 2. 'l'he truth of life to be held in supreme value. (Ver. 23.) Wisdom, discipline, insight,-these are various names of the one thing, different aspects of the pearl of great price. There are required in the truth-seeker-attention, willingness for toil, judgment, the constant preference of reason to prejudice, teacbableuess, humility, self-control. Translated into Christian terms, this pearl of great price is" the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord." Bunyan beautifully describes the pilgrims answering the sneering reproach, "What will you buy?" 'fbey lifted their eyes above: "We will buy the truth!" A.nd no i;acrifice is too costly with this end in view, as the example of holy men and martyrs teaches-Moses, Paul, the Hebrews (Heb. xi. 24-26), To sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage (as Esau, Judas, and Demas) is indeed to "gain a loss." 3. Con- sideration of the ;"oy we give to others by well-doing. (Vers. 24, 25.) That heart must be unnatural or utterly depraved which feels not the force of this motive-to repay a father's anxious love, and the yearning tenderness of her that bare him. A selfishness may supply the motive even here, since parental gladness is the child's own joy as be walks in the ways of pleasantness and peace.-J. Vers. 26-28.-The harlot's true character. I. IT 18 DANGEROUS AND PERNIOIOUS. (V ers. 27, 28.) It may be compared to a deep pit or to a nanow and deep well, out of which, if one falls therein, there is no easy escape. Or to a fell robber lying in wait for the unwary and the weak. II. THE TRUE RESOURCE OF SAFETY. This is in the heart given up to God (ver. 26). If that heart be already polluted, be can wash it and make it clean. But he who yields bis heart to the prince of this world becomes the enemy of God and of bis eternal wisdom.-J. Vers. 29-35.-'.IYie perils of drunkenness. I. THE IMMEDIATE EXTERNAL EFFE0TS, (Vers. 29, 30.) Trouble, quarrels, violence, deformity. "No translation or paraphrase can do justice to tho concise, abrupt, and energetic manner of the original." "Oh that men should 1mt an enemy in their mouths to steal away their bmins ! that we shoulu with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts I" II. THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCES. (Ver. 32.) It "bites like a serpent, and spit.s poison like a basilisk." This is the course of all' sin; like Dead Sea fruits that tempt the taste, and turn to ashes on the lips. It is the "dangerous edge of thin~s," against which men have to be on their guard. The line between use and abuse 1s so easily passed over. Corruptio optimi pessima. III. THE EFFE0T ESPECIALLY ON THE INTELLIGENCE. (Vers. 33-35,) The mind falls into bewilderment, and sees double or awry. '!'be victim of intoxication is indeed "at sea," and like one sleeping on the very verge of uanger anu sudden death. Jn~ spiritual sense he is drunk who docs not 1)Crccivc the great danger of his soul, bnt OB. XXIII, 1-85.] THE PROVERBS. 453
becomes more secure and stubborn under every chastisement (Jer. v. 3). It is the dreadful insensibility-depicted by ver. 35 which imitates the thought and speech of the drunkard-which is among the worst consequences of the vice. "The si..,ht of a drunkard is a better sermon against that vice than the best that was ever pr:ached upon the subject." "He who bath this sin, hatb not himself; whosoever doth commit it, doth not commit sin, but he himself is wholly sin" (Augustine).-J.