The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 439

"I hold him great who for love's so.ke Can give with generous, earnest will; Yet he who takes for love's sweet sake, I think I hold more generous still." III. THE GRACE OF REFUSING. 1. We may rightly refuse a gift, whether it be in the way of hospitality or not, which we are sure the giver cannot honestly ajf"rd; we do not wish to be enriched or entertained at the expense of his creditors. 2. We may properly decline a gift if we feel that it is offered us under a misconception; when we are imagined to be, or to believe, or to be working toward, that which is contrary to our spirit, our creed, our aim. 3. We do well to decline the hospitality which does not come from the heart. 'l'he host is "as be thiuketh in bis heart." His fair or "sweet words" are no real part of himself; they only come from his lips; and if be is grudging us what be gives us, we may well wish ourselves far away from bis table. No man who has any self-respect whatever will wish to take a crust from the man who counts what he gives his friends. Such food as that, however dainty, would choke us as we ate it. Nor is it be)!:rudged hospitality alone that we should have the independence to refuse, but all else that is in the shape of gift; all money, all position, all friendship. Better to go entirely without than to have abundance at the cost of our own self-respect. Better to toil hard and wait long than to accept such offers as those. Better to turn to hi!A "who giveth liberally and upbraideth not," and ask of him.-C. Ver. 10.--(See homily on eh. x.xii. 28.)-C. Vers. 13, 14.-(See homily on eh. xiii. 24.)-C. Vers.17, 18.-God's righteousjudgment. Nothing is more foolish than to endeavour to found a proof of the righteousness of God's rule upon o. single case of human experi- ence. Yet is that often done. A good man seizes upon a piece of good fortune in a godly man's life, and exaggerates its importance; a bad man pounces upon a piece of bad fortune and draws unwarrantable conclusions therefrom. But are there not indications, if not proofs, to be had for the seeking, that all things are under the direction of a just and righteous Ruler? Yes; if we look fa.r and wide enough. For as we look, we see that all men, good and bad, are rewarded according to their works. I. All the laws which regulate the recompense of In.hour exist FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS AB WELL .As FOR THE RIGHTEOUS. Take, e.g.: 1. The covetous man. Consider all that be foregoes in order to reap his harvest-all the physical, social, domestic, liter11.ry, philanthropic, religious advantages nnd delights that he sacrifices; consider all the immense and ceaseless pains and toils he goes through, and the risks he runs, to achieve bis object. And he gets his prize; he has earned it. He will find it weighted with more burdens and freighted with fewer and smaller blessiogs thao he thought, and it will not last him long. Do not envy him or begrudge him what he receives; he has pa.id a very heavy price for it, s.nd is surely welcome to it. 2. The hypo~ite. He is a very painstaking, hardworking man; he spares himself no trouble, 110 sacrifice; he makes long prayers, for which he has no heart; he abstains from food he would fain be eating; he parts with money which he longs to keep; he goes through the most wearisome experiences in order that he may win a little passing honou~. He has his reward; he is very welcome to it. He has earned it; we will not envy him; there is nothing more for him to receive (Matt. vi. 5). 3. The man of pleasure. He also pays a very high price for his momentary gratifications-the degradation of his powers, the dis- regard of his friends, the loss of hie self-respect, the decline of his health, etc. ; and all this for mere enjoyment which becomes less keen and vivid every day. We will not envy him. Unholy pleasure is the costliest thing in the whole world. II. A11 the laws which regulate the recompense of labour exist FOR THE RIGilTEors MAN AB WELL AB FOB THE UNRIGHTEOUS. 1. By returning unto God in penitential self- 11urrender we seek reconciliation, peace, joy, the full re-establishment of our filial relations with God; and we find what we Heek. "Surely there is a reward" (Revised Version) for us, and" our expectation is not cut off." 2. By" walking in the fear of the Lord all the day long," consulting his will and endeavouring to follow him, we seek 456 'l'HE PROVERBS. [ou. xxnr. 1-35.