Proverbs 19-21

A poor man who fears God, is more honourable and happy, than a man without wisdom and grace, however rich or advanced in rank.

What good can the soul do, if without knowledge? And he sins who will not take time to ponder the path of his feet.

Men run into troubles by their own folly, and then fret at the appointments of God.

Here we may see how strong is men's love of money.

Those that tell lies in discourse, are in a fair way to be guilty of bearing false-witness.

We are without excuse if we do not love God with all our hearts. His gifts to us are past number, and all the gifts of men to us are fruits of his bounty.

Christ was left by all his disciples; but the Father was with him. It encourages our faith that he had so large an experience of the sorrows of poverty.

Those only love their souls aright that get true wisdom.

Lying is a damning, destroying sin.

A man that has not wisdom and grace, has no right or title to true joy. It is very unseemly for one who is a servant to sin, to oppress God's free-men.

He attains the most true glory who endeavours most steadily to overcome evil with good.

Christ is a King, whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion, and his favour to his people as the refreshing dew.

It shows the vanity of the world, that we are liable to the greatest griefs where we promise ourselves the greatest comfort.

A discreet and virtuous wife is more valuable than house and riches.

A sluggish, slothful disposition makes men poor; it brings them to want. And this applies both to the present life and that which is to come.

If we keep God's word, God's word will keep us from every thing really hurtful. We abuse the doctrine of free grace, if we think that it does away the necessity and advantage of obedience. Those that live at random must die. This truth is clearly taught in words enough to alarm the stoutest sinner.

God has chosen the poor of this world, to be rich in faith, and heirs of his kingdom.

When parents keep under foolish tenderness, they do their best to render children a comfort to them, and happy in themselves.

The spared and spoiled child is likely to become a man of great wrath.

Those that would be wise in their latter end, must be taught and ruled when young.

What should we desire, but that all our purposes may agree with God's holy will?

It is far better to have a heart to do good, and want ability for it, than to have ability for it, and want a heart to it.

Those that live in the fear of God, shall get safety, satisfaction, and true and complete happiness.

Indolence, when indulged, so grows upon people, that they have no heart to do the most needful things for themselves.

A gentle rebuke goes farthest with a man of understanding.

The young man who wastes his father's substance, or makes his aged mother destitute, is hateful, and will come to disgrace.

It is the wisdom of young men to dread hearing such talk as puts loose and evil principles into the mind.

Those are the worst of sinners, who are glad of an opportunity to sin.

The unbelief of man shall not make God's threatenings of no effect. Christ himself, when bearing sins not his own, was not spared. Justice and judgment took hold of our blessed Surety; and will God spare obstinate sinners?

It seems hard to believe that men of the greatest abilities, as well as the ignorant, should render themselves fools and madmen, merely for the taste or excitement produced by strong liquors.

How formidable kings are to those who provoke them! how much more foolish then is it to provoke the King of kings!

To engage in quarrels is the greatest folly that can be. Yield, and even give up just demands, for peace' sake.

He who labours and endures hardship in his seed-time for eternity, will be properly diligent as to his earthly business.

Though many capable of giving wise counsel are silent, yet something may be drawn from them, which will reward those who obtain it.

It is hard to find those that have done, and will do more good than they speak, or care to hear spoken of.

A good man is not liable to uneasiness in contriving what he shall do, or in reflecting on what he has done, as those who walk in deceit. And his family fare better for his sake.

If great men are good men, they may do much good, and prevent very much evil.

Some can say, Through grace, we are cleaner than we have been; but it was the work of the Holy Spirit.

See the various deceits men use, of which the love of money is the root. The Lord will not bless what is thus gotten.

Parents should observe their children, that they may manage them accordingly.

All our powers and faculties are from God, and are to be employed for him.

Those that indulge themselves, may expect to want necessaries, which should have been gotten by honest labour.

Men use arts to get a good bargain, and to buy cheap; whereas a man ought to be ashamed of a fraud and a lie.

He that prefers true knowledge to riches, follows the ways of religion and happiness. If we really believed this truth, the word of God would be valued as it deserves, and the world would lose its tempting influence.

Those ruin themselves who entangle themselves in rash suretiship. Also those who are in league with abandoned women. Place no confidence in either.

Wealth gotten by fraud may be sweet, for the carnal mind takes pleasure in the success of wicked devices; but it will be bitter in the reflection.

Especially we need advice in spiritual warfare. The word and Spirit of God are the best counsellors in every point.

Those dearly buy their own praise, who put confidence in a man because he speaks fairly.

An undutiful child will become very miserable. Never let him expect any peace or comfort.

An estate suddenly raised, is often as suddenly ruined.

Wait on the Lord, attend his pleasure, and he will protect thee.

A bargain made by fraud will prove a losing bargain in the end.

How can we form plans, and conduct business, independently of the Lord?

The evasions men often use with their own consciences show how false and deceitful man is.

Justice should crush the wicked, and separate them from the virtuous.

The rational soul and conscience are as a lamp within us, which should be used in examining our dispositions and motives with the revealed will of God.

Mercy and truth are the glories of God's throne.

Both young and old have their advantages; and let neither despise or envy the other.

Severe rebukes sometimes do a great deal of good. But such is the corruption of nature, that men are loth to be rebuked for their sins. If God uses severe afflictions, to purify our hearts and fit us for his service, we have cause to be very thankful.

The believer, perceiving that the Lord rules every heart as he sees fit, like the husbandman who turns the water through his grounds as he pleases, seeks to have his own heart, and the hearts of others, directed in his faith, fear, and love.

We are partial in judging ourselves and our actions.

Many deceive themselves with a conceit that outward devotions will excuse unrighteousness.

Sin is the pride, the ambition, the glory, the joy, and the business of wicked men.

The really diligent employ foresight as well as labour.

While men seek wealth by unlawful practices, they seek death.

Injustice will return upon the sinner, and will destroy him here and for ever.

The way of mankind by nature is froward and strange.

It is best to shun bitter contention by pouring out the heart before God. For by prudence and patience, with constant prayer, the cross may be removed.

The evil desires of a wicked man's heart, lead to baseness in his conduct.

The simple may be made wise by punishments on the wicked, and by instructions to those who are willing to be taught.

Good men envy not the prosperity of evil-doers; they see there is a curse on them.

Such as oppress the poor by beating down wages, such as will not relieve according to their ability those in distress, and those in authority who neglect to do justice, stop their ears at the cry of the poor. But doubtless care is to be used in the exercise of charity.

If money can conquer the fury of the passions, shall reason, the fear of God, and the command of Christ, be too weak to bridle them?

There is true pleasure only in the practice of religion.

Of all wanderers in the ways of sin, those are in the most dangerous condition who turn aside into the ways of darkness. Yet there is hope even for them in the all-sufficient Saviour; but let them flee to him without delay.

A life of worldly pleasure brings ruin on men.

The righteous is often delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead, and so seems as a ransom for him.

Unbridled passions spoil the comfort of all relations.

The plenty obtained by prudence, industry, and frugality, is desirable. But the foolish misspend what they have upon their lusts.

True repentance and faith will lead him that relies on the mercy of God in Christ, to follow after righteousness and mercy in his own conduct.

Those that have wisdom, often do great things, even against those confident of their strength.

It is our great concern to keep our souls from being entangled and disquieted.

Pride and haughtiness make men passionate; such continually deal in wrath, as if it were their trade to be angry.

Here is the misery of the slothful; their hands refuse to labour in an honest calling, by which they might get an honest livelihood; yet their hearts cease not to covet riches, pleasures, and honours, which cannot be obtained without labour. But the righteous and industrious have their desires satisfied.

When holiness is pretended, but wickedness intended, that especially is an abomination.

The doom of a false witness is certain.

A wicked man bids defiance to the terrors of the law and the rebukes of Providence. But a good man asks, What does God require of me?

Means are to be used, but, after all, our safety and salvation are only of the Lord. In our spiritual warfare we must arm ourselves with the whole armour of God; but our strength must be in the Lord, and in the power of his might.