Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:1

Guilt makes men cowards. Their conscience flarties at the appearance of danger, and their own fears make them fall. But conscious integrity knows no dismay, and in the way of duty flarties at no menaces. Where God is made the refuge and hope of the foul, and faith rests on Jesus, neither the fears of guilt, the power of corruption, the might of our spiritual enemies, no, not the terrors of death itself can affright, deject, or prevail against us.

b. Kings 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. c. Job rests. v. O by men at wisdom and understanding shall they likewise be prolonged.

2. For the transgression of a land, many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge, the state thereof shall be prolonged.

Proverbs 28:2

National sins provoke national judgments, and none more severe than civil wars, where contending parties struggle for the sovereignty; or in quick succession, as a King’s act, 8. one paves the way to the throne over the course of his predecessor; but by a man of understanding and knowledge, the state thereof shall be prolonged; one great man has often saved a striking nation; and, by his wisdom, influence, and authority, cemented the broken shreds of faction, calmed the popular discontents, and restored stability to the tottering throne.

a. Maj. rests. 2.

3. A poor man that oppresseth the poor, is like a swerping rain which leaveth no food.

Proverbs 28:3

They who have known the pinchings of poverty, should be most compassionate to others in the like distress; but often we observe the very reverse. We see the poor, rapacious and over-reaching one another; and those who have risen from circumstances the most indigent, are most covetous, oppessive, and destinue of compassion: like the storn of rain, which, instead of watering the sarrows, sweeps away the feed sown, and desolates the field.

a. P. 2. b. 3. 4. 5.

4. They that forsake the law, praise the wicked: but such as keep the law, contend with them.

Proverbs 28:4

They who forsake God’s law, desire to strengthen their hands in wickedness, by mutual commendations. Covetousness is called frugality; pride, spirit; intemperance, a cheerful glab; and insidelity, freedom of thought. Thus iniquity is countenanced, and made reputable; but they who serve God themselves, cannot bear to see him thus dishonoured, and therefore boldly stand in the gap, strip off the mark of sin, bear testimony against the evil doers, and see the law executed upon them.

a. P. 2. 3. 4. 5.

5. Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

Proverbs 28:5

Sin blinds the eyes, and hardens the heart: the plainest path of duty is overlooked, the most striking judgment: of God disregarded; but they who seek the Lord by cessesess prayer, by reading and hearing his revealed word, they understand all things, all things at least necessary for salvation; he will not fussur them to be deceived by salse descrite, nor to be seduced into

sinful practices; but they shall bear the voice behind them, saying, this is the wary, wasit in it; when they would turn to the right hand, or to the left.

6. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he he rich.

Proverbs 28:6

It is not plenty, but piety, that makes a man acceptable to God, a blesling, to society, or comfortable to himself. A poor man that walketh in his uprightness, nor, however hard pressed, swerves from the path of justice, is a better man, both more happy and honourable in this world, exclusive of his position in eternity, than he who, with all his riches, is perverse in his wary, or walketh in two ways, would be thought a good man, but walks in wickedness, and thereby brings guilt on his conscience, the curse of God upon his possesions; and by his abundance, is enabled to do more missehid than others.

7. Whoso kesperth the law, is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men, shameth his father.

Proverbs 28:7

Obedience to God’s law, shews true wisdom; and such a gracious son is a credit to his parents: but he that is a companion of riotous men, is sure to seem their wicked ways; and by his extravagance, intemperance, and riot, brings not only shame upon himnist, but reflects the greasest discredit on his father, who will be subjection of indulging him to his ruin.

8. He that by ussry and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

Proverbs 28:8

We see often strange revolutions in the course of divine providence, and we know in general all is right; but some of God’s dispersations especially lend us to own his finger evident, and to admire his justice. As when he for a while permits the griping ussrer and unjust oppessive to prosper and increase their substance, then cuts them off at a strike, and transmits their acquistious to such as make themselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousseis, and employ it in serving the poor.

9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Proverbs 28:9

Prayer and practice most go together. It were folly, hypocrisy, and insult on God, to pray one way, and live another: yet, many who continue to live in their sins, and turn a deaf ear to the word of the gospel, continue still their stated seasons of worship, and salve their conscience with their devotions, whereas their prayers are as great an abomination, or greater, than any of their other sins.

10. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possesion.

Proverbs 28:10

They who do the devil’s work, and turn tempera to the righteous, to seduce them to sin, and plunge them into sorrow, shall have the devil’s wages, and fall into the pit of destruction. But the up-pit, whom God will not fusser to be deconced, or perssh, shall have good things in possesion, the bleslings of grace in time, of glory in eternity.

11. The rich man is wise in his own conceit: but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

Proverbs 28:11

Riches are fuel to vanity; and he who hath this world’s wealth, is too apt to conceit he hath all ceccisences, and flatterers will never be wanting to san the coals of pride: but whist he reckons himself oracular, and sycophants admire his wisdom, a poor man that hath understanding, and dares not aid the mean part of a sycophant, searcheth him out, observes his folly, and exposes the vanity of his pretensions.

12. When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

Proverbs 28:12

When good men prosper, and are advanced in the state, there is great glory, the nation flourishes, religion lifts its head, and there is a pleasant prospect that this people will be great, gracious, and happy. But the reverse is the case, when the wicked step into the seat of office; then every good man is discountenanced, and obliged to retire into obscurity, to be sheltered from persecution.

13. He that covereth his sins, shall not prosper: but whoso confesseseth and forsakeeth them shall have mercy.

Proverbs 28:13

There may be circumstances when it would be of no use, yea, rather of great dissevine in the cause of God, to publish a man’s transspresions. But before God they canst be spread

con-

Proverbs 28:23-27

Before Christ in the opera

Diligence is necessary in every vocation and calling, and the master’s eye is effectual to the prosperity of his affairs. As the wealth of the earl confided chiefly in their flocks, and the fruit of the field, there are particularly influenced, and reasons given to enforce the needful care over them.

1. Riches are a perishable thing; even crowns are not secured to authority: therefore, it becomes very man to take care of what God hath given him, that it be not wafted by his negligence, but transmitted entire to his successors.

2. The liberal provision providence hath made, leaves the negligent inexcusable. The earth, under the divine binding, spontaneously produces food for the cattle in abundance, and herb for the service of man; we have therefore only to seize the moment of opportunity, and gather in our winter’s floor.

3. The benefit accruing from thence, will amply repay our labours. We shall have a sufficiency of chants, meat, and money for ourselves and our families; and though plain and homely the fare, perhaps the more wholesome. Note, (1.) If we must look thus to our flocks, that they may thrive, how much more needful is it for us, to teach often into the state of our fouls, whether they prosper: for without this, what would it profit a man to gain the whole world, if, after all, he lost his immortal soul. (2.) If a sheep is of such value, and requires such attendance, how much more the glorious flock, which Christ hath purchased with his blood, and committed to our care? Negligence of this truth, would be attended with aggravated ruin.

4. THE wicked flee when no man purfueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.