the "constant droppings" of censure, but by the never-failing stream or gentleness and encourngement. Love, not fear, is the sceptre which she holds, and is the sourc~ of her strength. 6. Beneficenre. (Ver. 20.) II. HER BEWABD. I . .Affection and honour on the part of those who are nearest to her. Her husband trusts and praises her (ver. 28), and her children" rise up and call her blessed." 2. Strength and dignity in her home. She is "clothed upon with" the tributes woven by love and esteem. Her influence is felt much oftener .than it is recognized, and long after her face and her voice are no longer seen and heard. 3. Security against future want. She" laugheth at the time to come," while those who lack her prudence and her skill have reason to shrink from the thought of it. 4. The prosperity of her relatives. Her husband, relieved of care and worry at home, is able . to do his proper work, and succeeds in his sphere (ver. 23). . III. HER COMMONNESS IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. It might be difficult to fin<). "the virtuous woman" in the land and the time when Lemuel dwelt (ver. 10); but she may be found to-day in any number or Christian homes. Holding the faith of Jesus Christ, governed by his principles, living his life, animated by his Spirit, fulfilling his law of love, the wife and mother is to be seen to.king an honoured place, filling her home with the sweet fragrance of purity and affection, exerting her benign and gracious influence on her husband and her children. You have not to take a long journey to reach her, nor to take much pains to find her; she is at home in f< the castle of the noble, in the mansion of the wealthy, and in the cottage of the poor and the lowly." I. Let us freely acknowledge our great indebtedness to her. 'l'hose who have had the priceless advantage of a'mother possessed of the C~ristian virtuus and graces have more to thank God for than if they had inherited a titled name or an ample fortune. 2. If it be open to us, let us join her ranks. 'l'o be a woman living under the com- manding influence of Christian principle, breathing a Christian spirit, and shedding a Christian influence in the home in which we live,-what is there, this side the gate of heaven, that any human spirit could more wisely wish to be? 'l'o be such is to be doing a most excellent work of God; it is to be filling a most honourable and useful 11phere.-C. HOMILETICAL INDEX '1'0
THE PROVERBS. CHAPTER I. T!DKB J'.IGE TREHB P.&.OE The Profit of Religious Knowledge ... 47 Proverbs 17 The Prinoiple of Moral Stability 48 The Relation of Religion to Know- The Course, the Goal, and the Prize ledge... 18 of Wisdom 49 Temptation 19 The Course of Bin IIIld the Strength The Goepel Call ..• 20 of Righteousness 50 Loft to their Doom 21 The Way of Sin : a Sermon to Yoil.Ilg Punishment the Nature.I Frnit of Sin 21 Men ... 51 Fatal Prosperity... 22 Reoompense and Retribution 52 Design and Chare.oter of Proverbial Wisdom 23 OH.APTER ID. Religion the Troe Beginning 24 Filla.I Piety 24 Me.king the Hee.rt e. Treasury of Good Warnings age.inst tbe Evils of the Prinoiplee 68 Time... 25 Divine Gnidanoe ... 69 Warning Ory of Wisdom ..• 27 Consecrated Property 70 The Idea.I Tee.oher 28 Chastening 70 The Foundation-Troth 29 "More Preoions than Rabies" 71 The Duty and the Beauty of Filial Dile.torinees in ths Payment of J nst Piety 80 Debts 72 The Peril and the Wisdom of Youth: Preoepte and Promises of Wisdom ... 73 a Sermon to the Young .. , 80 Patience in A.ffliotion 74 The Voice of Wisdom 81 Wisdom the Beet Investment 75 The Divine Ultimatum 82 Wisdom the Principle of the Creation 75 " The Prosperity of Fools" 88 Confidenoe o.nd the Bense of Seonrity in the Waye of God 76 CHAPTER II. Promptitude in Good Aotione 76 Odious Passions .. , 76 The Bearoh for Wisdom .. , 42 The Disoernment of Jehovah 77 Wisdom e. Gi~ of God 48 Cherishing the Truth 77 The Antidote to Temptation 44, Self-Distrust and Trnst in God 78 Rejoioing to do Evil 46 A Three-linked Chain 79 Crooked We.ye ... 45 The Divine Responsiveness 79 The Conditions of Religious Know- Wrong Views of Affliction, and the ledge... 46 Right One 80 28 Ii INDEX.
1"HRME PA.GK TBE\IE PAOl!l Wisdom's Inestimable Worth 80 Fire in the Bosom .. , 143 Fonr Ve.luable Virtues 81 Motive and Responsibility .. . 144 The Height of Well-being and the The Perils of Snretyship .. . 145 Depth of Ill-being 82 The Sluggard admonished .. . 145 A Pioture of Spite 146 A Catalogue of Abominations 146 CHAPTER IV. Exhortation to Ohastity ... 147 A Family Heirloom 92 Warning against Adultery 147 A Coronation 93 Answering for ·others; De.agar and A Free Conrso 94 Deliveranoe 148 Holding Fast 94 Sloth and Diligence ... 149 Bad Company 95 The Charaoter and Doom of the A.ban. "Tbe Path of the Just" 96 doned 149 The Way of Darkness 97 The Condemnation of Pride 160 97 The Divine Dislike of Deceitfnlnes~·· 151 On Guard Spiritual Drilling 99 The Brand of God 151 The Tradition of Piety 99 Sin and Safety . . . . .. 152 The Two Paths ... 100 God's Word-Gnide, _Guardian, Com. 101 panion 163 Self·Preservation The Hee.rt and its Issues ... 101 The Solicitude of the Wise Father : CHAPTER VII. a Sermon to Parents and Children 102 The Prudence of Piety 103 Keeping the Commandments 158 Darkness and Light 104, P.i;_ofilga.oy 158 The Course of Wisdom 104 A _'.l'ragedy of Temptation. ..• 159 Man's Chief Tree.sure 105 The Two Ways ..•. 160
.CHAPTER V. CHAPTER VIII.
Home Joys 115 Wisdom for the. Simple 168 Under the Eyes of God 116 Plain Words 168 Cords of Bin 117 Hatred of Evil 170 Meretricious Pleasures and their The Bl_essedness of loving and seeking Results 117 Chris_t 171 Fidelity and Bliss in Marriage 118 The Primeval Glory of- Divine Wis- God the All-seeing Judge 119 dom ... 171 Vice Suicidal 119 The Decree of the Sea 172 Victims of Vice ... 119 The Pre-emi;nent Glory of Christ 173 Moa.rning at t-he Last 120 Life and Favour wi_th God... 173 Man in God's View 120 Wisdom's Procl!"mation 176· The End of e.n Evil Course 121 Wisdom's Pleadings 175 Wisdon:i in Eternity and in Time 176 The Exoellenoy of Divine Wisdom : CH.APTER VI. No. 1... 176 The Exoollency of Divino Wisdom : The Surety 139 No.~.... 177 The Ant 140 "_Chri_st the Wisdom of ,God:" No. 1 177 Sowing Discord 141 Wisdom and Wealth 178 Seven Hateful Things 141 The Responsivenoss of Oh,rist 178 Po.rental Training 142 The Excellency of Divine Wisdom : The Object of Religions Teaching 143 No. 8 ... 179 INDE:!.. iii