HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-5.-0anons of moral truth. I. WICKEDNESS IS FEARFUL, GOODNESS IS oouRAGEOUB. (Ver. 1.) A good conscience is better than a thousand witnesses ; au evil conscience unmane (Job xv. 21). What passes by the name of courage is often the effect of fear of men; and that which is discountenanced as want of spirit may proceed from the profoundest reverence for God. W s shall never fine! anything in the 644 THE PROVERBS. [cH. xxvm. 1-2B.
world more to be feared thnn the warring presence within our own breast. True courage is tbe knowledge tbat we are for the time at one with God. The light of his countenance is life, dispersing the darkest cloud, and calming the most turbulent tempest. An evil conscience is "the worm that dies not." II. POLITICS AND MORALS. (Ver. 2.) RebelJion arising from the collision of party and personal interests must be very injurious to the well-being of a small state. Rebellion can only b~ justified when there is not only the greatest wrong existing, but also the clearest possible prospect of success. If peoples in time of distress instead of cursing and rising against their rulers, would patiently search into the cau;es of their grievances, a shorter way would often be found to redress. A certain. unity of feeling is essential to the well-being of a state. "When any of the four pillars of aovcrnment are mainly shaken or weakened (which are religion, justice, counsel, ao.d tre~ure) men had need to pray for fair weather" (Bacon). ' III. 'l'HE ODIUM OF PETTY TYRA~NY. (Ver. 3.) There is nothina more detestable than the oppressiYe rule of an upstart. A base mind becomes more c~rrupt from hasty ele,ation, a narrow heart more cruel, as in the case of Robespierre and other historical examples. As with learning, so with power; the smatterers are the most ostentatious of their knowledge; those "dressed in a little brief authority" love to "Play such fantastio trioks before high heaven, As make the angels weep." The Divine rnlc is strong in gentleness. IV. THE SECRET OF MORAL SYMPATHY AND ANTIPATHY. (Ver. 4.) Those that secretly love sin have pleasure in them that do it. "The world loveth its own." It is fearful to sin; more fearful to delight in it; yet more to defend it (Bishop Hall). The pure heart has no "fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." We reveal or betray ourselves by our sympathies. The homely proverb says, "Like lips, like lettuce." And the important lesson arises here-that we should dwell on the best and brightest examples, for the sake of their effect on our character; the eye becomes sunny as it gazes at the sun. V. THE EFFECT OF VICE ON THE INTELLIGENCE. (Ver. 5.) It is a most important principle that insight into intellectual relations of truth is affected by the mood of the heart. The clearest knowledge of the letter is here of no avail. "If a.ny man shall do God's will, he shall know of the doctrine." '!'he pure conscience conditions the bright intelligence. The understanding is darkened "because of the blindness of men's heart ; " a.nd these call darkness light, and light darkness. Many things dark to reason a.re simplified to knowledge. The Divine mysteries are mysteries of love, and through love only may be known.-J. Vers. 6-12.-The moral quality of life. Nothing we can touch, no relation we ca.n enter into or observe, but has its moral bearing. This, indeed, is the great lesson, in hunclredfold iteration, of this book. I. POVERTY WITH INNOCENCE, WEALTH WITH PERVERSITY. (Ver. G.) Whatever be the compensations of poverty in a lower point of view, most men wonld vote for riches if they had the opportunity at the price of a.ll its inconveniences, and we need to be reminded that he who would sell his peace of conscience for wealth does but "gain a loss." Better go to heaven in rags than to hell in embroidery. Better God than gold; better be poor and live, than rich and perish. II. A M.AN 1s KNOWN DY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS. (Ver. 7.) The first example is that of the man whose delight is in the Law, who is in fellowship with the truth, and who is therefore a companion "of all them that fear God and keep hie precepts." The second is that of one who keeps company with the dissipated, stains his name, and brings dishonour on his family. In society lie the greatest perils and the greatest safeguards. The Christian ~hurch is the ~ivine society whic_h aims at the true and holy ideal of livi.Dg. As with books, so with men; the rule is-keep company only with the best. lll. ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH DWINDLES. (Ver. B.) Wealth is not hiA who gets it, but bis who enjoys it. And if gotten by ill means, it c1mnot be enjoyed; and "Ill got, ill ~pent," says tbe proverb. \Vealth, diverted by force or frnud from its nntural channels, OH. xxvm.1-28.] THE PROVERBS. 5!5