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1653 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Proverbs XXXI].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC20030.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P R O V E R B S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter is added to Solomon's proverbs, some think because it is
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of the same author, supposing king Lemuel to be king Solomon; others
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only because it is of the same nature, though left in writing by
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another author, called Lemuel; however it be, it is a prophecy, and
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therefore given by inspiration and direction of God, which Lemuel was
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under in the writing of it, and putting it into this form, as his
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mother was in dictating to him the matter of it. Here is,
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I. An exhortation to Lemuel, a young prince, to take heed of the sins
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he would be tempted to and to do the duties of the place he was called
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to,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:1-9">ver. 1-9</A>.
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II. The description of a virtuous woman, especially in the relation of
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a wife and the mistress of a family, which Lemuel's mother drew up, not
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as an encomium of herself, though, no doubt, it was her own true
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picture, but either as an instruction to her daughters, as the
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foregoing verses were to her son, or as a direction to her son in the
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choice of a wife; she must be chaste and modest, diligent and frugal,
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dutiful to her husband, careful of her family, discreet in her
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discourse, and in the education of her children, and, above all,
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conscientious in her duty to God: such a one as this, if he can find
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her, will make him happy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:10-31">ver. 10-31</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Pr31_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Pr31_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Pr31_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Pr31_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Pr31_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Pr31_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Pr31_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Pr31_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Pr31_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Maternal Counsels to King Lemuel.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught
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him.
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2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son
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of my vows?
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3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which
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destroyeth kings.
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4 <I>It is</I> not for kings, O Lemuel, <I>it is</I> not for kings to
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drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
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5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment
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of any of the afflicted.
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6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine
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unto those that be of heavy hearts.
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7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his
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misery no more.
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8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are
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appointed to destruction.
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9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the
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poor and needy.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Most interpreters are of opinion that Lemuel is Solomon; the name
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signifies one that is <I>for God,</I> or <I>devoted to God;</I> and so
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it agrees well enough with that honourable name which, by divine
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appointment, was given to Solomon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+12:25">
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2 Sam. xii. 25</A>),
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<I>Jedediah--beloved of the Lord.</I> Lemuel is supposed to be a
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pretty, fond, endearing name, by which his mother used to call him; and
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so much did he value himself upon the interest he had in his mother's
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affections that he was not ashamed to call himself by it. One would the
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rather incline to think it is Solomon that here tells us what <I>his
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mother taught him</I> because he tells us
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+4:4"><I>ch.</I> iv. 4</A>)
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what his father taught him. But some think (and the conjecture is not
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improbable) that Lemuel was a prince of some neighbouring country,
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whose mother was a daughter of Israel, perhaps of the house of David,
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and taught him these good lessons. Note,
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1. It is the duty of mothers, as well as fathers, to teach their
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children what is good, that they may do it, and what is evil, that they
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may avoid it; when they are young and tender they are most under the
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mother's eye, and she has then an opportunity of moulding and
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fashioning their minds well, which she ought not to let slip.
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2. Even kings must be catechised; the greatest of men is less than the
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least of the ordinances of God.
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3. Those that have grown up to maturity should often call to mind, and
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make mention of, the good instructions they received when they were
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children, for their own admonition, the edification of others, and the
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honour of those who were the guides of their youth.</P>
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<P>
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Now, in this mother's (this queen mother's) catechism, observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. Her expostulation with the young prince, by which she lays hold of
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him, claims an interest in him, and awakens his attention to what she
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is about to say
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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"<I>What! my son?</I> What shall I say to thee?" She speaks as one
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considering what advice to give him, and choosing out words to reason
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with him; so full of concern is she for his welfare! Or, <I>What is it
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that thou doest?</I> It seems to be a chiding question. She observed,
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when he was young, that he was too much inclined to women and wine, and
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therefore she found it necessary to take him to task and deal roundly
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with him. "<I>What! my son?</I> Is this the course of life thou
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intendest to lead? Have I taught thee no better than thus? I must
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reprove thee, and reprove thee sharply, and thou must take it well,
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for,"
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1. "Thou art descended from me; thou art <I>the son of my womb,</I> and
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therefore what I say comes from the authority and affection of a parent
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and cannot be suspected to come from any ill-will. Thou art a piece of
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myself. I bore thee with sorrow, and I expect no other return for all
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the pains I have taken with thee, and undergone for thee, than this, Be
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wise and good, and then I am well paid."
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2. "Thou art devoted to my God; thou art <I>the son of my vows,</I> the
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son I prayed to God to give me and promised to give back to God, and
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did so" (thus Samuel was the son of Hannah's vows); "Thou art the son I
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have often prayed to God to give his grace to
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+72:1">Ps. lxxii. 1</A>),
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and shall a child of so many prayers miscarry? And shall all my hopes
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concerning thee be disappointed?" Our children that by baptism are
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dedicated to God, for whom and in whose name we covenanted with God,
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may well be called <I>the children of our vows;</I> and, as this may be
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made a good plea with God in our prayers for them, so it may be made a
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good plea with them in the instructions we give them; we may tell them
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they are baptized, are <I>the children of our vows,</I> and it is at
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their peril if they break those bonds in sunder which in their infancy
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they were solemnly brought under.</P>
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<P>
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II. The caution she gives him against those two destroying sins of
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<I>uncleanness</I> and <I>drunkenness,</I> which, if he allowed himself
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in them, would certainly be his ruin.
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1. Against uncleanness
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>Give not thy strength unto women,</I> unto strange women. He must
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not be soft and effeminate, nor spend that time in a vain conversation
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with the ladies which should be spent in getting knowledge and
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despatching business, nor employ that wit (which is the strength of the
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soul) in courting and complimenting them which he should employ about
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the affairs of his government. "Especially shun all adultery,
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fornication, and lasciviousness, which waste the strength of the body,
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and bring into it dangerous diseases. <I>Give not thy ways,</I> thy
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affections, thy conversation, <I>to that which destroys kings,</I>
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which has destroyed many, which gave such a shock to the kingdom even
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of David himself, in the matter of Uriah. Let the sufferings of others
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be thy warnings." It lessens the honour of kings and makes them mean.
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Are those fit to govern others that are themselves slaves to their own
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lusts? It makes them unfit for business, and fills their court with the
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basest and worst of animals. Kings lie exposed to temptations of this
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kind, having wherewith both to please the humours and to bear the
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charges of the sin, and therefore they ought to double their guard;
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and, if they would preserve their people from the unclean spirit, they
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must themselves be patterns of purity. Meaner people may also apply it
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to themselves. Let none give their strength <I>to that which destroys
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souls.</I>
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2. Against drunkenness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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He must not <I>drink wine</I> or <I>strong drink</I> to excess; he must
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never sit to drink, as they used to do <I>in the day of their king,</I>
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when <I>the princes made him sick with bottles of wine,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+7:7">Hos. vii. 7</A>.
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Whatever temptation he might be in from the excellency of the wine, or
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the charms of the company, he must deny himself, and be strictly sober,
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considering,
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(1.) The indecency of drunkenness in a king. However some may call it a
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fashionable accomplishment and entertainment, <I>it is not for kings, O
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Lemuel! it is not for kings, to</I> allow themselves that liberty; it
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is a disparagement to their dignity, and profanes their crown, by
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confusing the head that wears it; that which for the time unmans them
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does for the time unking them. Shall we say, <I>They are gods?</I> No,
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they are <I>worse than the beasts that perish.</I> All Christians are
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<I>made to our God kings and priests,</I> and must apply this to
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themselves. <I>It is not for</I> Christians, <I>it is not for</I>
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Christians, <I>to drink</I> to excess; they debase themselves if they
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do; it ill becomes the heirs of the kingdom and the spiritual priests,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+10:9">
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Lev. x. 9</A>.
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(2.) The ill consequences of it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>Lest they drink</I> away their understandings and memories, <I>drink
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and forget the law</I> by which they are to govern; and so, instead of
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doing good with their power, do hurt with it, <I>and pervert</I> or
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<I>alter the judgment of all the sons of affliction,</I> and, when they
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should right them, wrong them, and add to their affliction. It is a sad
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complaint which is made of the priests and prophets
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+28:7">Isa. xxviii. 7</A>),
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that <I>they have erred through wine, and through strong drink they are
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out of the way;</I> and the effect is as bad in kings, who when they
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are drunk, or intoxicated with the love of wine, cannot but stumble in
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judgment. Judges must have clear heads, which those cannot have who so
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often make themselves giddy, and incapacitate themselves to judge of
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the most common things.</P>
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<P>
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III. The counsel she gives him to do good.
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1. He must do good with his wealth. Great men must not think that they
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have their abundance only that out of it they may <I>made provision for
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the flesh, to fulfil the lusts of it,</I> and may the more freely
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indulge their own genius; no, but that with it they may relieve such as
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are in distress,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>.
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"Thou hast wine or strong drink at command; instead of doing thyself
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hurt with it, do others good with it; let those have it that need it."
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Those that have wherewithal must not only give bread to the hungry and
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water to the thirsty, but they must <I>give strong drink to him that is
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ready to perish</I> through sickness or pain <I>and wine to those
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that</I> are melancholy and <I>of heavy heart;</I> for it was appointed
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to cheer and revive the spirits, and <I>make glad the heart</I> (as it
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does where there is need of it), not to burden and oppress the spirits,
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as it does where there is no need of it. We must deny ourselves in the
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gratifications of sense, that we may have to spare for the relief of
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the miseries of others, and be glad to see our superfluities and
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dainties better bestowed upon those whom they will be a real kindness
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to than upon ourselves whom they will be a real injury to. Let those
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that are <I>ready to perish</I> drink soberly, and it will be a means
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so to revive their drooping spirits that they will <I>forget their
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poverty</I> for the time <I>and remember their misery no more,</I> and
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so they will be the better able to bear it. The Jews say that upon this
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was grounded the practice of giving a stupifying drink to condemned
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prisoners when they were going to execution, as they did to our
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Saviour. But the scope of the place is to show that wine is a cordial,
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and therefore to be used for want and not for wantonness, by those only
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|
that need cordials, as Timothy, who is advised to <I>drink a little
|
||
|
|
wine,</I> only <I>for his stomach's sake and his often infirmities,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+5:23">1 Tim. v. 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He must do good with his power, his knowledge, and interest, must
|
||
|
|
administer justice with care, courage, and compassion,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He must himself take cognizance of the causes his subjects have
|
||
|
|
depending in his courts, and inspect what his judges and officers do,
|
||
|
|
that he may support those that do their duty, and lay those aside that
|
||
|
|
neglect it or are partial.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He must, in all matters that come before him, <I>judge
|
||
|
|
righteously,</I> and, without fear of the face of man, boldly pass
|
||
|
|
sentence according to equity: <I>Open thy mouth,</I> which denotes the
|
||
|
|
liberty of speech that princes and judges ought to use in passing
|
||
|
|
sentence. Some observe that only wise men <I>open</I> their mouths, for
|
||
|
|
fools have their mouths always open, are full of words.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) He must especially look upon himself as obliged to be the patron
|
||
|
|
of oppressed innocency. The inferior magistrates perhaps had not zeal
|
||
|
|
and tenderness enough to <I>plead the cause of the poor and needy;</I>
|
||
|
|
therefore the king himself must interpose, and appear as an advocate,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] For those that were unjustly charged with capital crimes, as
|
||
|
|
Naboth was, that were <I>appointed to destruction,</I> to gratify the
|
||
|
|
malice either of a particular person or of a party. It is a case which
|
||
|
|
it well befits a king to appear in, for the preserving of innocent
|
||
|
|
blood.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] For those that had actions unjustly brought against them, to
|
||
|
|
defraud them of their right, because they were <I>poor and needy,</I>
|
||
|
|
and unable to defend it, not having wherewithal to fee counsel; in such
|
||
|
|
a case also kings must be advocates for the poor. Especially,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] For those that were <I>dumb,</I> and knew not how to speak for
|
||
|
|
themselves, either through weakness or fear, or being over-talked by
|
||
|
|
the prosecutor or over-awed by the court. It is generous to speak for
|
||
|
|
those that cannot speak for themselves, that are absent, or have not
|
||
|
|
words at command, or are timorous. Our law appoints the judge to be of
|
||
|
|
counsel for the prisoner.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_10"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Pr31_33"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Virtuous Woman.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price <I>is</I> far above
|
||
|
|
rubies.
|
||
|
|
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that
|
||
|
|
he shall have no need of spoil.
|
||
|
|
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
|
||
|
|
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her
|
||
|
|
hands.
|
||
|
|
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from
|
||
|
|
afar.
|
||
|
|
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to
|
||
|
|
her household, and a portion to her maidens.
|
||
|
|
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of
|
||
|
|
her hands she planteth a vineyard.
|
||
|
|
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her
|
||
|
|
arms.
|
||
|
|
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise <I>is</I> good: her candle
|
||
|
|
goeth not out by night.
|
||
|
|
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the
|
||
|
|
distaff.
|
||
|
|
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth
|
||
|
|
forth her hands to the needy.
|
||
|
|
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her
|
||
|
|
household <I>are</I> clothed with scarlet.
|
||
|
|
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing <I>is</I>
|
||
|
|
silk and purple.
|
||
|
|
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the
|
||
|
|
elders of the land.
|
||
|
|
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth <I>it;</I> and delivereth
|
||
|
|
girdles unto the merchant.
|
||
|
|
25 Strength and honour <I>are</I> her clothing; and she shall
|
||
|
|
rejoice in time to come.
|
||
|
|
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue <I>is</I>
|
||
|
|
the law of kindness.
|
||
|
|
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth
|
||
|
|
not the bread of idleness.
|
||
|
|
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband
|
||
|
|
<I>also,</I> and he praiseth her.
|
||
|
|
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them
|
||
|
|
all.
|
||
|
|
30 Favour <I>is</I> deceitful, and beauty <I>is</I> vain: <I>but</I> a woman
|
||
|
|
<I>that</I> feareth the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, she shall be praised.
|
||
|
|
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works
|
||
|
|
praise her in the gates.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This description of the <I>virtuous woman</I> is designed to show what
|
||
|
|
wives the women should make and what wives the men should choose; it
|
||
|
|
consists of twenty-two verses, each beginning with a letter of the
|
||
|
|
Hebrew alphabet in order, as some of the <I>Psalms,</I> which makes
|
||
|
|
some think it was no part of the lesson which Lemuel's mother taught
|
||
|
|
him, but a poem by itself, written by some other hand, and perhaps had
|
||
|
|
been commonly repeated among the pious Jews, for the ease of which it
|
||
|
|
was made alphabetical. We have the abridgment of it in the New
|
||
|
|
Testament
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+2:9,10,1Pe+3:1-6">1 Tim. ii. 9, 10; 1 Pet. iii. 1-6</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
where the duty prescribed to wives agrees with this description of a
|
||
|
|
good wife; and with good reason is so much stress laid upon it, since
|
||
|
|
it contributes as much as any one thing to the keeping up of religion
|
||
|
|
in families, and the entail of it upon posterity, that the mothers be
|
||
|
|
wise and good; and of what consequence it is to the wealth and outward
|
||
|
|
prosperity of a house every one is sensible. He that will thrive must
|
||
|
|
ask his wife leave. Here is,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. A general enquiry after such a one
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
where observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The person enquired after, and that is <I>a virtuous woman--a woman
|
||
|
|
of strength</I> (so the word is), though the weaker vessel, yet made
|
||
|
|
strong by wisdom and grace, and the fear of God: it is the same word
|
||
|
|
that is used in the character of good judges
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:21">Exod. xviii. 21</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
that they are <I>able men,</I> men qualified for the business to which
|
||
|
|
they are called, <I>men of truth, fearing God.</I> So it follows, <I>A
|
||
|
|
virtuous woman</I> is a woman of spirit, who has the command of her own
|
||
|
|
spirit and knows how to manage other people's, one that is pious and
|
||
|
|
industrious, and a help meet for a man. In opposition to this strength,
|
||
|
|
we read of the weakness of the heart <I>of an imperious whorish
|
||
|
|
woman,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+16:30">Ezek. xvi. 30</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>A virtuous woman</I> is a woman of resolution, who, having espoused
|
||
|
|
good principles, is firm and steady to them, and will not be frightened
|
||
|
|
with winds and clouds from any part of her duty.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The difficulty of meeting with such a one: <I>Who can find</I> her?
|
||
|
|
This intimates that good women are very scarce, and many that seem to
|
||
|
|
be so do not prove so; he that thought he had found a <I>virtuous
|
||
|
|
woman</I> was deceived; <I>Behold, it was Leah,</I> and not the Rachel
|
||
|
|
he expected. But he that designs to marry ought to seek diligently for
|
||
|
|
such a one, to have this principally in his eye, in all his enquiries,
|
||
|
|
and to take heed that he be not biassed by beauty or gaiety, wealth or
|
||
|
|
parentage, dressing well or dancing well; for all these may be and yet
|
||
|
|
the woman not be virtuous, and there is many a woman truly virtuous who
|
||
|
|
yet is not recommended by these advantages.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The unspeakable worth of such a one, and the value which he that
|
||
|
|
has such a wife ought to put upon her, showing it by his thankfulness
|
||
|
|
to God and his kindness and respect to her, whom he must never think he
|
||
|
|
can do too much for. <I>Her price is far above rubies,</I> and all the
|
||
|
|
rich ornaments with which vain women adorn themselves. The more rare
|
||
|
|
such good wives are the more they are to be valued.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. A particular description of her and of her excellent
|
||
|
|
qualifications.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. She is very industrious to recommend herself to her husband's esteem
|
||
|
|
and affection. Those that are good really will be good relatively. A
|
||
|
|
good woman, if she be brought into the marriage state, will be a good
|
||
|
|
wife, and make it her business to <I>please her husband,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+7:34">1 Cor. vii. 34</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Though she is a woman of spirit herself, yet <I>her desire is to her
|
||
|
|
husband,</I> to know his mind, that she may accommodate herself to it,
|
||
|
|
and she is willing that <I>he should rule over her.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) She conducts herself so that he may repose an entire confidence in
|
||
|
|
her. He trusts in her chastity, which she never gave him the least
|
||
|
|
occasion to suspect or to entertain any jealousy of; she is not morose
|
||
|
|
and reserved, but modest and grave, and has all the marks of virtue in
|
||
|
|
her countenance and behaviour; her husband knows it, and therefore his
|
||
|
|
<I>heart doth safely trust in her;</I> he is easy, and makes her so. He
|
||
|
|
trusts in her conduct, that she will speak in all companies, and act in
|
||
|
|
all affairs, with prudence and discretion, so as not to occasion him
|
||
|
|
either damage or reproach. He trusts in her fidelity to his interests,
|
||
|
|
and that she will never betray his counsels nor have any interest
|
||
|
|
separate from that of his family. When he goes abroad, to attend the
|
||
|
|
concerns of the public, he can confide in her to order all his affairs
|
||
|
|
at home, as well as if he himself were there. She is a good wife that
|
||
|
|
is fit to be trusted, and he is a good husband that will leave it to
|
||
|
|
such a wife to manage for him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) She contributes so much to his content and satisfaction <I>that he
|
||
|
|
shall have no need of spoil;</I> he needs not be griping and scraping
|
||
|
|
abroad, as those must be whose wives are proud and wasteful at home.
|
||
|
|
She manages his affairs so that he is always before-hand, has such
|
||
|
|
plenty of his own that he is in no temptation to prey upon his
|
||
|
|
neighbours. He thinks himself so happy in her that he envies not those
|
||
|
|
who have most of the wealth of this world; he needs it not, he has
|
||
|
|
enough, having such a wife. Happy the couple that have such a
|
||
|
|
satisfaction as this in each other!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) She makes it her constant business to <I>do him good,</I> and is
|
||
|
|
afraid of doing any thing, even through inadvertency, that may turn to
|
||
|
|
his prejudice,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
She shows her love to him, not by a foolish fondness, but by prudent
|
||
|
|
endearments, accommodating herself to his temper, and not crossing him,
|
||
|
|
giving him good words, and not bad ones, no, not when he is out of
|
||
|
|
humour, studying to make him easy, to provide what is fit for him both
|
||
|
|
in health and sickness, and attending him with diligence and tenderness
|
||
|
|
when any thing ails him; nor would she, no, not for the world, wilfully
|
||
|
|
do any thing that might be a damage to his person, family, estate, or
|
||
|
|
reputation. And this is her care <I>all the days of her life;</I> not
|
||
|
|
at first only, or now and then, when she is in a good humour, but
|
||
|
|
perpetually; and she is not weary of the good offices she does him:
|
||
|
|
<I>She does him good,</I> not only all the days of <I>his</I> life, but
|
||
|
|
<I>of her own</I> too; if she survive him, still she is doing him good
|
||
|
|
in her care of his children, his estate, and good name, and all the
|
||
|
|
concerns he left behind him. We read of kindness shown, not only <I>to
|
||
|
|
the living,</I> but <I>to the dead,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ru+2:20">Ruth ii. 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) She adds to his reputation in the world
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Her husband is known in the gates,</I> known to have a good wife. By
|
||
|
|
his wise counsels, and prudent management of affairs, it appears that
|
||
|
|
he has a discreet companion in his bosom, by conversation with whom he
|
||
|
|
improves himself. By his cheerful countenance and pleasant humour it
|
||
|
|
appears that he has an agreeable wife at home; for many that have not
|
||
|
|
have their tempers strangely soured by it. Nay, by his appearing clean
|
||
|
|
and neat in his dress, every thing about him decent and handsome, yet
|
||
|
|
not gaudy, one may know he has a good wife at home, that takes care of
|
||
|
|
his clothes.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. She is one that takes pains in the duty of her place and takes
|
||
|
|
pleasure in it. This part of her character is much enlarged upon here.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) She hates to sit still and do nothing: <I>She eats not the bread
|
||
|
|
of idleness,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Though she needs not work for her bread (she has an estate to live
|
||
|
|
upon), yet she will not eat it in idleness, because she knows that we
|
||
|
|
were none of us sent into this world to be idle, that when we have
|
||
|
|
nothing to do the devil will soon find us something to do, and that it
|
||
|
|
is not fit that those who <I>will not labour</I> should <I>eat.</I>
|
||
|
|
Some eat and drink because they can find themselves nothing else to do,
|
||
|
|
and needless visits must be received with fashionable entertainments;
|
||
|
|
these are eating the bread of idleness, which she has no relish for,
|
||
|
|
for she neither gives nor receives idle visits nor idle talk.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) She is careful to fill up time, that none of that be lost. When
|
||
|
|
day-light is done, she does not then think it time to lay by her work,
|
||
|
|
as those are forced to do whose business lies abroad in the fields
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+104:23">Ps. civ. 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but her business lying within-doors, and her work worth candle-light,
|
||
|
|
with that she lengthens out the day; and <I>her candle goes not out by
|
||
|
|
night,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is a mercy to have candle-light to supply the want of day-light, and
|
||
|
|
a duty, having that advantage, to improve it. We say of an elaborate
|
||
|
|
piece, It smells of the lamp.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) <I>She rises</I> early, <I>while it is yet night</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
to give her servants their breakfast, that they may be ready to go
|
||
|
|
cheerfully about their work as soon as the day breaks. She is none of
|
||
|
|
those who sit up playing at cards, or dancing, till midnight, till
|
||
|
|
morning, and then lie in bed till noon. No; the <I>virtuous woman</I>
|
||
|
|
loves her business better than her ease or her pleasure, is in care to
|
||
|
|
be found in the way of her duty every hour of the day, and has more
|
||
|
|
true satisfaction in having <I>given meat to her household</I> betimes
|
||
|
|
in the morning than those can have in the money they have won, much
|
||
|
|
more in what they have lost, who sat up all night at play. Those that
|
||
|
|
have a family to take care of should not love their bed too well in a
|
||
|
|
morning.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) She applies herself to the business that is proper for her. It is
|
||
|
|
not in a scholar's business, or statesman's business, or husbandman's
|
||
|
|
business, that she employs herself, but in women's business: <I>She
|
||
|
|
seeks wool and flax,</I> where she may have the best of each at the
|
||
|
|
best hand, and cheapest; she has a stock of both by her, and every
|
||
|
|
thing that is necessary to the carrying on both of the woollen and the
|
||
|
|
linen manufacture
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and with this she does not only set the poor on work, which is a very
|
||
|
|
good office, but does herself work, <I>and work willingly, with her
|
||
|
|
hands;</I> she <I>works with the counsel or delight of her hands</I>
|
||
|
|
(so the word is); she goes about it cheerfully and dexterously, lays
|
||
|
|
not only her hand, but her mind to it, and goes on in it without
|
||
|
|
weariness in well-doing. <I>She lays her</I> own <I>hands to the
|
||
|
|
spindle,</I> or spinning-wheel, <I>and her hands hold the distaff</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and she does not reckon it either an abridgment of her liberty or a
|
||
|
|
disparagement to her dignity, or at all inconsistent with her repose.
|
||
|
|
The spindle and the distaff are here mentioned as her honour, while the
|
||
|
|
ornaments of the daughters of Zion are reckoned up to their reproach,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+2:18">Isa. ii. 18</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
&c.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(5.) She does what she does with all her might, and does not trifle in
|
||
|
|
it
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms;</I> she
|
||
|
|
does not employ herself in sitting work only, or in that which is only
|
||
|
|
the nice performance of the fingers (there are works that are scarcely
|
||
|
|
one remove from doing nothing); but, if there be occasion, she will go
|
||
|
|
through with work that requires all the strength she has, which she
|
||
|
|
will use as one that knows it is the way to have more.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. She is one that makes what she does to turn to a good account, by
|
||
|
|
her prudent management of it. She does not toil all night and catch
|
||
|
|
nothing; no, she herself <I>perceives that her merchandise is good</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
she is sensible that <I>in all</I> her <I>labour there is profit,</I>
|
||
|
|
and that encourages her to go on in it. She perceives that she can make
|
||
|
|
things herself better and cheaper than she can buy them; she finds by
|
||
|
|
observation what branch of her employment brings in the best returns,
|
||
|
|
and to that she applies herself most closely.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) She brings in provisions of all things necessary and convenient
|
||
|
|
for her family,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
No <I>merchants' ships,</I> no, not Solomon's navy, ever made a more
|
||
|
|
advantageous return than her employments do. Do they bring in foreign
|
||
|
|
commodities with the effects they export? So does she with the fruit of
|
||
|
|
her labours. What her own ground does not produce she can furnish
|
||
|
|
herself with, if she have occasion for it, by exchanging her own goods
|
||
|
|
for it; and so <I>she brings her food from afar.</I> Not that she
|
||
|
|
values things the more for their being far-fetched, but, if they be
|
||
|
|
ever so far off, if she must have them she knows how to come by them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) She purchases lands, and enlarges the demesne of the family
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>She considers a field, and buys it.</I> She considers what an
|
||
|
|
advantage it will be to the family and what a good account it will turn
|
||
|
|
to, and therefore she buys it; or, rather, though she have ever so much
|
||
|
|
mind to it she will not buy it till she has first considered it,
|
||
|
|
whether it be worth her money, whether she can afford to take so much
|
||
|
|
money out of her stock as must go to purchase it, whether the title be
|
||
|
|
good, whether the ground will answer the character given of it, and
|
||
|
|
whether she has money at command to pay for it. Many have undone
|
||
|
|
themselves by buying without considering; but those who would make
|
||
|
|
advantageous purchases must consider, and then buy. <I>She</I> also
|
||
|
|
<I>plants a vineyard,</I> but it is <I>with the fruit of her hands;</I>
|
||
|
|
she does not take up money, or run into debt, to do it, but she does it
|
||
|
|
with what she can spare out of the gains of her own housewifery. Men
|
||
|
|
should not lay out any thing upon superfluities, till, by the blessing
|
||
|
|
of God upon their industry, they have got before-hand, and can afford
|
||
|
|
it; and <I>then</I> the fruit of the vineyard is likely to be doubly
|
||
|
|
sweet, when it is the fruit of honest industry.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) She furnishes her house well and has good clothing for herself and
|
||
|
|
her family
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>She makes herself coverings of tapestry</I> to hang her rooms, and
|
||
|
|
she may be allowed to use them when they are of her own making.
|
||
|
|
<I>Her</I> own <I>clothing</I> is rich and fine: it is <I>silk and
|
||
|
|
purple,</I> according to her place and rank. Though she is not so vain
|
||
|
|
as to spend much time in dressing herself, nor makes the putting on of
|
||
|
|
apparel her adorning, nor values herself upon it, yet she has rich
|
||
|
|
clothes and puts them on well. The senator's robes which her husband
|
||
|
|
wears are of her own spinning, and they look better and wear better
|
||
|
|
than any that are bought. She also gets good warm clothing for her
|
||
|
|
children, and her servants' liveries. She needs not fear the cold of
|
||
|
|
the most pinching winter, for she and her family are well provided with
|
||
|
|
clothes, sufficient to keep out cold, which is the end chiefly to be
|
||
|
|
aimed at in clothing: <I>All her household are clothed in scarlet,</I>
|
||
|
|
strong cloth and fit for winter, and yet rich and making a good
|
||
|
|
appearance. They are <I>all double clothed</I> (so some read it), have
|
||
|
|
change of raiment, a winter suit and a summer suit.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) She trades abroad. She makes more than she and her household have
|
||
|
|
occasion for; and therefore, when she has sufficiently stocked her
|
||
|
|
family, <I>she sells fine linen and girdles to the merchants</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
who carry them to Tyre, the mart of the nations, or some other trading
|
||
|
|
city. Those families are likely to thrive that sell more than they
|
||
|
|
buy; as it is well with the kingdom when abundance of its home
|
||
|
|
manufactures are exported. It is no disgrace to those of the best
|
||
|
|
quality to sell what they can spare, nor to deal in trade and send
|
||
|
|
ventures by sea.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(5.) She lays up for hereafter: <I>She shall rejoice in time to
|
||
|
|
come,</I> having laid in a good stock for her family, and having good
|
||
|
|
portions for her children. Those that take pains when they are in their
|
||
|
|
prime will have the pleasure and joy of it when they are old, both in
|
||
|
|
reflecting upon it and in reaping the benefit of it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. She takes care of her family and all the affairs of it, <I>gives
|
||
|
|
meat to her household</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
to every one <I>his portion of meat in due season,</I> so that none of
|
||
|
|
her servants have reason to complain of being kept short or faring
|
||
|
|
hard. She gives also <I>a portion</I> (an allotment of work, as well as
|
||
|
|
meat) <I>to her maidens;</I> they shall all of them know their business
|
||
|
|
and have their task. <I>She looks well to the ways of her household</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
she inspects the manners of all her servants, that she may check what
|
||
|
|
is amiss among them, and oblige them all to behave properly and do
|
||
|
|
their duty to God and one another, as well as to her; as Job, who put
|
||
|
|
away iniquity far from his tabernacle, and David, who would suffer no
|
||
|
|
wicked thing in his house. She does not intermeddle in the concerns of
|
||
|
|
other people's houses; she thinks it enough for her to look well to her
|
||
|
|
own.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. She is charitable <I>to the poor,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
She is as intent upon giving as she is upon getting; she often serves
|
||
|
|
the poor with her own hand, and she does if freely, cheerfully, and
|
||
|
|
very liberally, with an out-stretched hand. Nor does she relieve her
|
||
|
|
poor neighbours only, and those that are nigh at hand, but <I>she
|
||
|
|
reaches forth her hands to the needy</I> that are at a distance,
|
||
|
|
seeking opportunities <I>to do good and to communicate,</I> which is as
|
||
|
|
good housewifery as any thing she does.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. She is discreet and obliging in all her discourse, not talkative,
|
||
|
|
censorious, nor peevish, as some are, that know how to take pains; no,
|
||
|
|
<I>she opens her mouth with wisdom;</I> when she does speak, it is with
|
||
|
|
a great deal of prudence and very much to the purpose; you may perceive
|
||
|
|
by every word she says how much she governs herself by the rules of
|
||
|
|
wisdom. She not only takes prudent measures herself, but gives prudent
|
||
|
|
advice to others; and this not as assuming the authority of a dictator,
|
||
|
|
but with the affection of a friend and an obliging air: <I>In her
|
||
|
|
tongue is the law of kindness;</I> all she says is under the government
|
||
|
|
of that law. The law of love and kindness is written in the heart, but
|
||
|
|
it shows itself in the tongue; if we are <I>kindly affectioned one to
|
||
|
|
another,</I> it will appear by affectionate expression. It is called a
|
||
|
|
<I>law of kindness,</I> because it gives law to others, to all she
|
||
|
|
converses with. Her wisdom and kindness together put a commanding power
|
||
|
|
into all she says; they command respect, they command compliance. How
|
||
|
|
forcible are right words! <I>In her tongue is the law of grace,</I> or
|
||
|
|
<I>mercy</I> (so some read it), understanding it of the word and law of
|
||
|
|
God, which she delights to talk of among her children and servants. She
|
||
|
|
is full of pious religious discourse, and manages it prudently, which
|
||
|
|
shows how full her heart is of another world even when her hands are
|
||
|
|
most busy about this world.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
7. That which completes and crowns her character is that she <I>fears
|
||
|
|
the Lord,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
With all those good qualities she lacks not that <I>one thing
|
||
|
|
needful;</I> she is truly pious, and, in all she does, is guided and
|
||
|
|
governed by principles of conscience and a regard to God; this is that
|
||
|
|
which is here preferred far before <I>beauty;</I> that <I>is vain and
|
||
|
|
deceitful;</I> all that are wise and good account it so, and value
|
||
|
|
neither themselves nor others on it. Beauty recommends none to God, nor
|
||
|
|
is it any certain indication of wisdom and goodness, but it has
|
||
|
|
deceived many a man who has made his choice of a wife by it. There may
|
||
|
|
be an impure deformed soul lodged in a comely and beautiful body; nay,
|
||
|
|
many have been exposed by their beauty to such temptations as have been
|
||
|
|
the ruin of their virtue, their honour, and their precious souls. It
|
||
|
|
is a fading thing at the best, and therefore <I>vain</I> and
|
||
|
|
<I>deceitful.</I> A fit of sickness will stain and sully it in a little
|
||
|
|
time; a thousand accidents may blast this flower in its prime; old age
|
||
|
|
will certainly wither it and death and the grave consume it. But the
|
||
|
|
fear of God reigning in the heart is the beauty of the soul; it
|
||
|
|
recommends those that have it to the favour of God, and is, in his
|
||
|
|
sight, of great price; it will last for ever, and bid defiance to death
|
||
|
|
itself, which consumes the beauty of the body, but consummates the
|
||
|
|
beauty of the soul.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The happiness of this virtuous woman.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. She has the comfort and satisfaction of her virtue in her own mind
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Strength and honour are her clothing,</I> in which she wraps
|
||
|
|
herself, that is, enjoys herself, and in which she appears to the
|
||
|
|
world, and so recommends herself. She enjoys a firmness and constancy
|
||
|
|
of mind, has spirit to bear up under the many crosses and
|
||
|
|
disappointments which even the wise and virtuous must expect to meet
|
||
|
|
with in this world; and this is her clothing, for defence as well as
|
||
|
|
decency. She deals honourably with all, and she has the pleasure of
|
||
|
|
doing so, <I>and shall rejoice in time to come;</I> she shall reflect
|
||
|
|
upon it with comfort, when she comes to be old, that she was not idle
|
||
|
|
or useless when she was young. In the day of death it will be a
|
||
|
|
pleasure to her to think that she has lived to some good purpose. Nay,
|
||
|
|
<I>she shall rejoice in an eternity to come;</I> she shall be
|
||
|
|
recompensed for her goodness with <I>fulness of joy and pleasures for
|
||
|
|
evermore.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. She is a great blessing to her relations,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) <I>Her children</I> grow up in her place, <I>and</I> they <I>call
|
||
|
|
her blessed.</I> They give her their good word, they are themselves a
|
||
|
|
commendation to her, and they are ready to give great commendations of
|
||
|
|
her; they pray for her, and bless God that they had such a good mother.
|
||
|
|
It is a debt which they owe her, a part of that honour which the fifth
|
||
|
|
commandment requires to be paid to father and mother; and it is a
|
||
|
|
double honour that is due to a good father and a good mother.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) <I>Her husband</I> thinks himself so happy in her that he takes
|
||
|
|
all occasions to speak well of her, as one of the best of women. It is
|
||
|
|
no indecency at all, but a laudable instance of conjugal love, for
|
||
|
|
husbands and wives to give one another their due praises.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. She gets the good word of all her neighbours, as Ruth did, whom
|
||
|
|
<I>all the city of her people knew</I> to be <I>a virtuous woman,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ru+3:11">Ruth iii. 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Virtue will have its praise,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:8">Phil. iv. 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A woman that fears the Lord, shall have praise <I>of God</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:29">Rom. ii. 29</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and of men too. It is here shown,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That she shall be highly praised
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Many have done virtuously.</I> Virtuous women, it seems, are
|
||
|
|
precious jewels, but not such rare jewels as was represented
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There have been many, but such a one as this cannot be paralleled.
|
||
|
|
<I>Who can find</I> her equal? <I>She excels them all.</I> Note, Those
|
||
|
|
that are good should aim and covet to excel in virtue. <I>Many
|
||
|
|
daughters,</I> in their father's house, and in the single state,
|
||
|
|
<I>have done virtuously, but</I> a good wife, if she be virtuous,
|
||
|
|
<I>excels them all,</I> and does more good in her place than they can
|
||
|
|
do in theirs. Or, as some explain it, A man cannot have his house so
|
||
|
|
well kept by good daughters, as by a good wife.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That she shall be incontestably praised, without contradiction,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Some are praised above what is their due, but those that praise her do
|
||
|
|
but <I>give her of the fruit of her hands;</I> they give her that which
|
||
|
|
she has dearly earned and which is justly due to her; she is wronged if
|
||
|
|
she have it not. Note, Those ought to be praised the fruit of whose
|
||
|
|
hands is praise-worthy. The tree is known by its fruits, and therefore,
|
||
|
|
if the fruit be good, the tree must have our good word. If her children
|
||
|
|
be dutiful and respectful to her, and conduct themselves as they ought,
|
||
|
|
they then <I>give her the fruit of her hands;</I> she reaps the benefit
|
||
|
|
of all the care she has taken of them, and thinks herself well paid.
|
||
|
|
Children must thus study to <I>requite their parents,</I> and this is
|
||
|
|
<I>showing piety at home,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+5:4">1 Tim. v. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But, if men be unjust, the thing will speak itself, <I>her own
|
||
|
|
works</I> will <I>praise her in the gates,</I> openly before all the
|
||
|
|
people.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] She leaves it to her own works to praise her, and does not court
|
||
|
|
the applause of men. Those are none of the truly virtuous women that
|
||
|
|
love to hear themselves commended.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] <I>Her own works</I> will <I>praise her;</I> if her relations and
|
||
|
|
neighbours altogether hold their peace, her good works will proclaim
|
||
|
|
her praise. The widows gave the best encomium of Dorcas when they
|
||
|
|
<I>showed the coats and garments she had made for the poor,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:39">Acts ix. 39</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] The least that can be expected from her neighbours is that they
|
||
|
|
should <I>let her own works praise her,</I> and do nothing to hinder
|
||
|
|
them. Those that <I>do that which is good,</I> let them <I>have praise
|
||
|
|
of the same</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+13:3">
|
||
|
|
Rom. xiii. 3</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and let us not enviously say, or do, any thing to the diminishing of
|
||
|
|
it, but be provoked by it to a holy emulation. Let none have an ill
|
||
|
|
report from us, that have <I>a good report</I> even <I>of the truth
|
||
|
|
itself.</I> Thus is shut up this looking-glass for ladies, which they
|
||
|
|
are desired to open and dress themselves by; and, if they do so, their
|
||
|
|
adorning will be found to praise, and honour, and glory, at the
|
||
|
|
appearing of Jesus Christ.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=150>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Twenty chapters of the book of <I>Proverbs</I> (beginning with
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. and ending with <I>ch.</I> xxix.), consisting mostly of
|
||
|
|
entire sentences in each verse, could not well be reduced to proper
|
||
|
|
heads, and the contents of them gathered; I have therefore here put the
|
||
|
|
contents of all these chapters together, which perhaps may be of some
|
||
|
|
use to those who desire to see at once all that is said of any one head
|
||
|
|
in these chapters. Some of the verses, perhaps, I have not put under
|
||
|
|
the same heads that another would have put them under, but the most of
|
||
|
|
them fall (I hope) naturally enough to the places I have assigned them.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TABLE BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of the comfort, or grief, parents have in their children, according
|
||
|
|
as they are wise or foolish, godly or ungodly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:1,15:20,17:21,25,19:13,26,23:15,16,24,25">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 1; xv. 20; xvii. 21, 25; xix. 13, 26; xxiii. 15, 16, 24, 25</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+27:11; xxix. 3">
|
||
|
|
xxvii. 11; xxix. 3</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of the world's insufficiency, and religion's sufficiency,
|
||
|
|
to make us happy
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:2,3,11:4"><I>ch.</I> x. 2, 3; xi. 4</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and the preference to be therefore given to the gains of virtue above
|
||
|
|
those of this world,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+15:16,17,16:8,16,17:1,19:1,28:6,11">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xv. 16, 17; xvi. 8, 16; xvii. 1; xix. 1; xxviii. 6, 11</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of slothfulness and diligence,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:4,26,12:11,24,27,13:4,23,15:19,16:26">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 4, 26; xii. 11, 24, 27; xiii. 4, 23; xv. 19; xvi. 26</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+18:9,19:15,24,20:4,13,21:5,25,26,22:13,29">
|
||
|
|
xviii. 9; xix. 15, 24; xx. 4, 13; xxi. 5, 25, 26; xxii. 13, 29</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+24:30-34,26:13-16,27:18,23,27,28:19">
|
||
|
|
xxiv. 30-34; xxvi. 13-16; xxvii. 18, 23, 27; xxviii. 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Particularly the improving or neglecting opportunities,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+6:6,10:5">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> vi. 6; x. 5</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>The happiness of the righteous, and the misery of the wicked,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:6,9,16,24,25,27-30,11:3,5-8,18-21,31">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 6, 9, 16, 24, 25, 27-30; xi. 3, 5-8, 18-21, 31</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+12:2,3,7,13,14,21,26,28,13:6,9,14,15,21,22,25">
|
||
|
|
xii. 2, 3, 7, 13, 14, 21, 26, 28; xiii. 6, 9, 14, 15, 21, 22, 25</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:11,14,19,32,15:6,8,9,24,26,29,20:7">
|
||
|
|
xiv. 11, 14, 19, 32; xv. 6, 8, 9, 24, 26, 29; xx. 7</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+21:12,15,16,18,21,22:12,28:10,18,29:6">
|
||
|
|
xxi. 12, 15, 16, 18, 21; xxii. 12; xxviii. 10, 18; xxix. 6</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of honour and dishonour,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:7,12:8,9,18:3,26:1,27:21">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 7; xii. 8, 9; xviii. 3; xxvi. 1; xxvii. 21</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And of vain-glory,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+25:14,27,27:2">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxv. 14, 27; xxvii. 2</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>The wisdom of obedience, and folly of disobedience,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:8,17,12:1,15,13:1,13,18,15:5,10,12,31,32">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 8, 17; xii. 1, 15; xiii. 1, 13, 18; xv. 5, 10, 12, 31, 32</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+19:16,28:4,7,9">
|
||
|
|
xix. 16; xxviii. 4, 7, 9</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
7.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of mischievousness and usefulness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:10,23,11:9-11,23,27,12:5,6,12,18,20,13:2">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 10, 23; xi. 9-11, 23, 27; xii. 5, 6, 12, 18, 20; xiii. 2</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:22,16:29,30,17:11,21:10,24:8,26:23,27">
|
||
|
|
xiv. 22; xvi. 29, 30; xvii. 11; xxi. 10; xxiv. 8; xxvi. 23, 27</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
8.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>The praise of wise and good discourse, and the hurt and
|
||
|
|
shame of an ungoverned tongue,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:11,13,14,20,21,31,32,11:30,14:3">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 11, 13, 14, 20, 21, 31, 32; xi. 30; xiv. 3</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+15:2,4,7,23,28,16:20,23,24,17:7,18:4,7,20,21">
|
||
|
|
xv. 2, 4, 7, 23, 28; xvi. 20, 23, 24; xvii. 7; xviii. 4, 7, 20, 21</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+20:15,21:23,23:9,24:26,25:11">
|
||
|
|
xx. 15; xxi. 23; xxiii. 9; xxiv. 26; xxv. 11</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
9.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of love and hatred, peaceableness and contention,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:12,15:17,17:1,9,14,19,18:6,17-19,20:3">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 12; xv. 17; xvii. 1, 9, 14, 19; xviii. 6, 17-19; xx. 3</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+25:8,26:17,21,29:9">
|
||
|
|
xxv. 8; xxvi. 17, 21; xxix. 9</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
10.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of the rich and poor,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:5,22,11:28,13:7,8,14:20,24,18:11,23">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 5, 22; xi. 28; xiii. 7, 8; xiv. 20, 24; xviii. 11, 23</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+19:1,4,7,22,22:2,7,28:6,11,29:13">
|
||
|
|
xix. 1, 4, 7, 22; xxii. 2, 7; xxviii. 6, 11; xxix. 13</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
11.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of lying, fraud, and dissimulation, and of truth and sincerity,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:18,12:17,19,22,13:5,17:4,20:14,17">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 18; xii. 17, 19, 22; xiii. 5; xvii. 4; xx. 14, 17</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+26:18,19,24-26,28">
|
||
|
|
xxvi. 18, 19, 24-26, 28</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
12.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of slandering,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:18,16:27,25:23">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 18; xvi. 27; xxv. 23</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
13.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of talkativeness and silence,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+10:19,11:12,12:23,13:3,17:27,28,29:11,20">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> x. 19; xi. 12; xii. 23; xiii. 3; xvii. 27, 28; xxix. 11, 20</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
14.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of justice and injustice,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:1,13:16,16:8,11,17:15,26,18:5,20:10,23">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 1; xiii. 16; xvi. 8, 11; xvii. 15, 26; xviii. 5; xx. 10, 23</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+22:28,23:10,11,29:24">
|
||
|
|
xxii. 28; xxiii. 10, 11; xxix. 24</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
15.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of pride and humility,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:2,13:10,15:25,33,16:5,18,19,18:12,21:4">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 2; xiii. 10; xv. 25, 33; xvi. 5, 18, 19; xviii. 12; xxi. 4</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+25:6,7,28:25,29:23">
|
||
|
|
xxv. 6, 7; xxviii. 25; xxix. 23</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
16.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of despising and respecting others,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:12,14:21">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 12; xiv. 21</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
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|
||
|
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
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|
||
|
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17.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of tale-bearing,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:13,16:28,18:8,20:19,26:20,22">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 13; xvi. 28; xviii. 8; xx. 19; xxvi. 20, 22</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
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|
||
|
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
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|
||
|
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18.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of rashness and deliberation,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:14,15:22,18:13,19:2,20:5,18,21:29,22:3,25:8-10">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 14; xv. 22; xviii. 13; xix. 2; xx. 5, 18; xxi. 29; xxii. 3; xxv. 8-10</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
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|
||
|
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
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|
||
|
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19.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of suretiship,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:15,17:18,20:16,22:26,27,27:13">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 15; xvii. 18; xx. 16; xxii. 26, 27; xxvii. 13</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
20.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of good and bad women, or wives,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:16,22,12:4,14:1,18:22,19:13,14">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 16, 22; xii. 4; xiv. 1; xviii. 22; xix. 13, 14</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+21:9,19,25:24,27:15,16">
|
||
|
|
xxi. 9, 19; xxv. 24; xxvii. 15, 16</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
21.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of mercifulness and unmercifulness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:17; xii. 10,14:21,19:17,21:13">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 17; xii. 10; xiv. 21; xix. 17; xxi. 13</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
22.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of charity to the poor, and uncharitableness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:24-26,14:31,17:5,22:9,16,22,23,28:27,29:7">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 24-26; xiv. 31; xvii. 5; xxii. 9, 16, 22, 23; xxviii. 27; xxix. 7</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
23.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of covetousness and contentment,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:29,15:16,17,27,23:4,5">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xi. 29; xv. 16, 17, 27; xxiii. 4, 5</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
24.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of anger and meekness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+12:16,14:17,29,15:1,18,16:32,17:12,26">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xii. 16; xiv. 17, 29; xv. 1, 18; xvi. 32; xvii. 12, 26</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+19:11,19,22:24,25,25:15,28,26:21,29:22">
|
||
|
|
xix. 11, 19; xxii. 24, 25; xxv. 15, 28; xxvi. 21; xxix. 22</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
25.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of melancholy and cheerfulness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+12:25,14:10,13,15:13,15,17:22,18:14,25:20,25">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xii. 25; xiv. 10, 13; xv. 13, 15; xvii. 22; xviii. 14; xxv. 20, 25</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
26.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of hope and expectation,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+13:12,19">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiii. 12, 19</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
27.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of prudence and foolishness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+13:16,14:8,18,33,15:14,21,16:21,22,17:24">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiii. 16; xiv. 8, 18, 33; xv. 14, 21; xvi. 21, 22; xvii. 24</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+18:2,15,24:3-7,7:27,26:6-11,28:5">
|
||
|
|
xviii. 2, 15; xxiv. 3-7; vii. 27; xxvi. 6-11; xxviii. 5</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
28.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of treachery and fidelity,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+13:17,25:13,19">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiii. 17; xxv. 13, 19</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
29.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of good and bad company,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+13:20,14:7,28:7,29:3">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiii. 20; xiv. 7; xxviii. 7; xxix. 3</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
30.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of the education of children,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+13:24,19:18,20:11,22:6,15,23:12,14:14,29:15,17">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiii. 24; xix. 18; xx. 11; xxii. 6, 15; xxiii. 12; xiv. 14; xxix. 15, 17</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
31.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of the fear of the Lord,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:2,26,27,15:16,33,16:6,19:23,22:4,23:17,18">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiv. 2, 26, 27; xv. 16, 33; xvi. 6; xix. 23; xxii. 4; xxiii. 17, 18</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
32.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of true and false witness-bearing,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:5,25,19:5,9,28,21:28,24:28,25:18">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiv. 5, 25; xix. 5, 9, 28; xxi. 28; xxiv. 28; xxv. 18</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
33.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of scorners,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:6,9,21:24,22:10,24:9,29:9">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiv. 6, 9; xxi. 24; xxii. 10; xxiv. 9; xxix. 9</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
34.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of credulity and caution,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:15,16,27:12">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiv. 15, 16; xxvii. 12</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
35.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of kings and their subjects,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:28,34,35,16:10,12-15,19:6,12,20:2,8,26,28">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiv. 28, 34, 35; xvi. 10, 12-15; xix. 6, 12; xx. 2, 8, 26, 28</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+22:11,24:23-25,30:2-5,28:2,3,15,16,29:5,12,14,26">
|
||
|
|
xxii. 11; xxiv. 23-25; xxx. 2-5; xxviii. 2, 3, 15, 16; xxix. 5, 12, 14, 26</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
36.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of envy, especially envying sinners,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:30,23:17,18,24:1,2,19,20,27:4">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiv. 30; xxiii. 17, 18; xxiv. 1, 2, 19, 20; xxvii. 4</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
37.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of God's omniscience, and his universal providence,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+15:3,11,16:1,4,9,33,17:3,19:21,20:12,24">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xv. 3, 11; xvi. 1, 4, 9, 33; xvii. 3; xix. 21; xx. 12, 24</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+21:1,30,31,29:26">
|
||
|
|
xxi. 1, 30, 31; xxix. 26</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
38.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of a good and ill name,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+15:30,22:1">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xv. 30; xxii. 1</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
39.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of men's good opinion of themselves,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:12,16:2,25,20:6,21:2,26:12,28:26">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiv. 12; xvi. 2, 25; xx. 6; xxi. 2; xxvi. 12; xxviii. 26</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
40.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of devotion towards God, and dependence on him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:3,18:10,23:26,27:1,28:25,29:25">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xvi. 3; xviii. 10; xxiii. 26; xxvii. 1; xxviii. 25; xxix. 25</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
41.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of the happiness of God's favour,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:7,29:26">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xvi. 7; xxix. 26</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
42.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Excitements to get wisdom,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:16,18:1,19:8,20,22:17-21,23:15,16,22-25">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xvi. 16; xviii. 1; xix. 8, 20; xxii. 17-21; xxiii. 15, 16, 22-25</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+24:13,14,27:11">
|
||
|
|
xxiv. 13, 14; xxvii. 11</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
43.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Cautions against temptations,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:17,29:27">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xvi. 17; xxix. 27</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
44.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of old age and youth,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:31,17:6,20:29">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xvi. 31; xvii. 6; xx. 29</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
45.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of servants,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+17:2,19:10,29:19,21">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xvii. 2; xix. 10; xxix. 19, 21</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
46.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of bribery,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+17:8,23,18:16,21:14,28:21">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xvii. 8, 23; xviii. 16; xxi. 14; xxviii. 21</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
47.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of reproof and correction,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+17:10,19:25,29,20:30,21:11,25:12,26:3">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xvii. 10; xix. 25, 29; xx. 30; xxi. 11; xxv. 12; xxvi. 3</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+27:5,6,22,28:23,29:1">
|
||
|
|
xxvii. 5, 6, 22; xxviii. 23; xxix. 1</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
48.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of ingratitude,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+17:13">
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<I>ch.</I> xvii. 13</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
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49.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of friendship,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+17:17,18:24,27:9,10,14,17">
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<I>ch.</I> xvii. 17; xviii. 24; xxvii. 9, 10, 14, 17</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
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50.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of sensual pleasures,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+21:17,23:1-3,6-8,19-21,27:7">
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<I>ch.</I> xxi. 17; xxiii. 1-3, 6-8, 19-21; xxvii. 7</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
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51.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of drunkenness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+20:1,23:23,29-35">
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<I>ch.</I> xx. 1; xxiii. 23, 29-35</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
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52.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of the universal corruption of nature,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+20:9">
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<I>ch.</I> xx. 9</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
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53.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of flattery,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+20:19,26:28,28:23,29:5">
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<I>ch.</I> xx. 19; xxvi. 28; xxviii. 23; xxix. 5</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
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54.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of undutiful children,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+20:20,28:24">
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<I>ch.</I> xx. 20; xxviii. 24</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
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55.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of the short continuance of what is ill-gotten,
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+20:21,21:6,7,22:8,28:8">
|
||
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<I>ch.</I> xx. 21; xxi. 6, 7; xxii. 8; xxviii. 8</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
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56.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of revenge,
|
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|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+20:22,24:17,18,29">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xx. 22; xxiv. 17, 18, 29</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
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57.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of sacrilege,
|
||
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|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+20:25">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xx. 25</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
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|
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
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58.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of conscience,
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+20:27,27:19">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xx. 27; xxvii. 19</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
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59.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of the preference of moral duties before ceremonial,
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+15:8,21:3,27">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xv. 8; xxi. 3, 27</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
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||
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
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|
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60.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of prodigality and wastefulness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+21:20">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxi. 20</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
61.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>The triumphs of wisdom and godliness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+21:22,24:15,16">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxi. 22; xxiv. 15, 16</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
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62.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of frowardness and tractableness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+22:5">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxii. 5</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
63.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of uncleanness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+22:14,23:27,28">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxii. 14; xxiii. 27, 28</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
64.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of fainting in affliction,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+24:10">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxiv. 10</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
65.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of helping the distressed,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:11,12">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xiv. 11, 12</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
66.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of loyalty to the government,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+24:21,22">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxiv. 21, 22</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
67.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of forgiving enemies,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+25:21,22">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxv. 21, 22</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
68.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of causeless curse,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+26:2">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxvi. 2</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
69.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of answering fools,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+26:4,5">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxvi. 4, 5</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
70.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of unsettledness and unsatisfiedness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+27:8,20">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxvii. 8, 20</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
71.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of cowardliness and courage,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:1">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxviii. 1</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
72.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>The people's interest in the character of their rulers,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:12,28,29:2,16,11:10,11">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxviii. 12, 28; xxix. 2, 16; xi. 10, 11</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
73.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>The benefit of repentance and holy fear,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:13,14">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxviii. 13, 14</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
74.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>The punishment of murder,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:17">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxviii. 17</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
75.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>Of hastening to be rich,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:20,22">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxviii. 20, 22</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
76.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>The enmity of the wicked against the godly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+29:10,27">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxix. 10, 27</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
77.</FONT></TD> <TD><FONT SIZE=-1>The necessity of the means of grace,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+29:18">
|
||
|
|
<I>ch.</I> xxix. 18</A>.</FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
</TABLE><BR>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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|
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[<A HREF="MHC20030.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
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|
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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