Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6:1-3

Sensuality is, in many, a fore besetting sin; directions are therefore laid down how to behave when at the great man’s table, where delicacies of meat and drink of every kind invite to indulge the appetite; the more tempting to those who are less used to such dainty fare.

1. Consider diligently what is before thee; the company, that nothing may offend them: the table; what is most proper, not what is most luxurious: especially consider whose eye is there, that, whether we eat or drink, we may do all to the glory of God.

2. Put a knife to thy throat; refrain from all excess, as being mortally dangerous: the more temptations are before us, the more watchful need we be. And this is especially needful, if thou be a man given to appetite, and naturally inclined to indulge, and relishing highly these delicacies; deny thyself, and mortify the cravings of inordinate appetite.

3. Be not desirous of his dainties; culling every nice bit, and eating to pamper lull, not to relieve hunger; for they are deceitful meat. Sweet as they are to the table, they will turn four on the stomach. By them men are betrayed to divulge their secrets; and, what is worse than all the other evils, they steal

away the heart from God, sensualize the soul, and render it utterly unfit for the service or the enjoyment of God.

4. Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5. Will thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings, they flee away as an eagle towards heaven.

v. 4, 5. Covenants is as common and as dangerous as sensuality; and to be overcharged with the cares of this life, is equally pernicious to the soul, as to be overcharged with surfeating and drunkenness. Earnestly therefore Solomon diffuses from inordinate love of money: Labour not to be rich; eager in the purifier, till weary and out of breath, as the word implies. A diligent care for a family is commendable, and to grow rich by honest industry, far from criminal; but as make wealth our object and first concern, and for the sake of it to be so immersed in the world, as to be disqualified for caring for the soul, this is fatal. Cause therefore from thine own wisdom; regard not the acquisition of riches, as the proof of wisdom; depend not on thy own schemes and contrivances; cease from all anxious and disquieting thoughtfulness and delusitude; for it is lost labour to rise up early, and lie down late, unless God give success to the undertaking. Two things he urges to support his exhortation:

1. The vanity of riches, when they are gotten. Why will thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? Cilitating as they appear in the eye of sense, they are really mere nothings; can neither ease an aching head, much less relieve a wounded heart. They can no more satisfy the cravings of an immortal soul, than the husks could relieve the prodigals hunger; and as they daily perish in the using, at death they vanish as a dream.

2. They are highly precarious; for riches certainly make themselves wings; by a thousand methods the providence of God may deprive us of them: scarce have we exalted our eyes upon them, ere they take flight as an eagle towards heaven, suddenly, hastily, irrecoverably, and leave those who, like Micah, make them their god, to lament their misery, destitute of all other confolation.

3. Eat not thon the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty means. 7. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee, but his heart is not with thee. 8. The morsel which thou hast eaten, shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

Proverbs 6:6-8

This world is full of deceit; many are very free of their compliments, who never mean to have their professions put to the proof.

1. The person is described. One who pretends to give the heartiest welcome, invites you to eat and drink freely, and affects to entertain you with the highest politeness, yet eyes every morsel; and, however his lips speak fair, his nigger heart grudges the entertainment; and, whilst he affects liberality, his covetousness does penance to his pride.

2. The admonition given. Eat not his bread, neither desire his dainties: refuse his invitations, nor sit down at his table; for if thou dost, his insincernity and fondness will appear, and embitter the entertainment. The consciousness of being an unwelcome guest will make the stomach nauseate the food, and thou wilt grieve to have thrown away so many thanks for his civilities, when they are found to be utterly insincere, and mere unmeaning compliments.

3. Speak not in the ears of a fool; for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Proverbs 6:9

When we have proved a man profane, and a scotter at godliness, the wisest admonitions are useless, and our pearls not to be cast before such swine: so far from knowing their value, they will trample them under their feet.

10. Remove not the old land-mark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless. 11. For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

v. 10, 11. They who are most helpless should be treated with tenderest compassion. It is aggravated guilt to oppress the fatherless, incouch on their property, trespass on their lands, or plunder their substance. Nor shall it be done with impunity, unable as they are to defend themselves; their Redeemer is mighty, yea, almighty; he shall plead their cause with thee, and woe to those against whom he rises up in judgment.

12. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13. Withhold not correction from the child: for of thou beartst him with the rod, he shall not die. 14. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. 15. Chap. xix.

Proverbs 6:12-19

In this chapter we have, 1. A caution against rafts forethship, ver. 1—5. 2. A rebate to forethylness, ver. 6—11. 3. The character and fate of a malicious misdecreous man, ver. 12—15. 4. An account of seven things which God hates, ver. 16—19. 5. An exhortation to make the word of God familiar to us, ver. 20—23. 6. A repeated warning of the pernicious consequences of the sin of subverdom, ver. 24—35. And we are here defended from sin, very much by arguments increased from our secular interests, for it is not only represented as damning in the other worlds but as impercepting in this. 1. MY son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hath stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art feared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend: go humble thyself; and make sure thy friend. 4. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor sumber to thine eye-lids. 5. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. vi. 1—5. God’s word teaches us wisdom in our temporal, as well as our eternal concerns. Nothing is more dangerous than forethship; against this therefore, we are here admonished: To engage for a stranger, were madness; to be bound, even for a friend, is dangerous; if therefore as any time over-perfused, or thoughtful, we have fallen into the inare, we cannot be in too great halls to get out of it. Go humble thyself, speak the creditor fair, and if possible obtain a release, and make sure thy friend, hasten him to discharge the debt, or to give thee an indemnification, and this without delay; for delays are dangerous, vi. 4. Struggle as the roe in the hunter’s inare, or the bird in the fowler’s net, to get free, vi, so not indeed but there may be circumstances, in which it would be our duty to assist our friends, but it never should be done unconditionally, or for those, whose necessitous circumstances render their case defperate, and never for more than we are able or willing to pay, without hurting our family, or disabling us from the discharge of those duties we owe to others. 6. ¶ ¹ Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise: 7. Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8. Provided her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9. How long with thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. 11. So shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth, and thy want as an armed man. vi. 6—11. Solomon is here the sluggard’s monitor; rafts engagements may undo a man at once, doth operate as a flow poison, and ruins by degrees. 1. He seeks the idler to the busy ants for instruction, that with such ceaseless diligence, without an overseer, improve the days of harvest, assist each other in their toil, lay up the needful provision against the winter; and in their cells enjoy, in that bleak season, the fruits of their summer’s toil. Taught by their example in our worldly concerns, we are called upon with prudent forefight to provide for the days of old age, to labour diligently in our vocation and calling, and with wisdom to improve the opportunities Providence affords us. And especially in the concerns of our souls, to look to the approaching eternty, and give diligence to make our election turn, working whilst it is day, and obeying the exhortations of God’s ministers our overseers. Should we, with all our peculiar advantages, be found idle, how inexcusable should we be? 2. He calls upon the sluggard to awake. How long wilt thou sleep, when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? beds of doth are fatal inares; there time is squandered, opportunities lost; whilst early filling is profitable for health, wealth, and godliness. Sinner, how long wilt thou sleep in sin? awake! left the flames of hell furround thee, and too late thou open thine eyes in torment. 3. The sluggard stands for a little indulgence. To quit his warm bed he is very loth, he will rise by and by, it is time enough

yet; a little more sleep, or at least a little slumber, to doze awhile,

or, if no more, a little folding of the hands to sleep, to stretch, and

12. ¶ A naughty person, a wicked man walketh with a froward mouth. 13. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers. 14. Frowardness is in his heart, he devifeth mischief continually, he foweth discord. 15. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. 16. ¶ Thele fix things doth the LORD hate; yea, feven are an abomination; unto him: 17. ¶ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18. An heart that devifeth wicked imagination, feet that be swift in running to mischief; 19. A false witness that speaketh lies, and him that foweth discord among brethren.

The character of the foothful is bad, but here is our that exceeds him in wickedness.

1. We have his description. A naughty person, a man of Belial, of his father the devil, a wicked person, a man of iniquity, which habitual temper and confluent practice is his; frowardness is in his heart, and out of the abundance of that his mouth (speaketh) he tips the wink, when mischief is to be done, or filly sneering, ridicules the infirmities of others. His very feet speak, gently pressing to give a hint, or furiously flamping to express his rage; and his fingers communicate his thoughts artful, defying; others subject not the plot which is formed against them: he devifeth mischief continually, it is his business, his delight; he foweth discord, seeking to separate very friends, and blow the coals of thrift into a flame.

2. His end shall be according to his works. Therefore, as the righteous punishment of his iniquity, shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy; unexpected, terrible, eternal, irreparable, will be his destruction; for the damnation of such flumbereth not.

3. From the evil of this son of Belial, warning is given us of seven sins that are God’s abomination; and which, making us like the wicked, must expose us to the wrath denounced against them. Those for things doth the Lord hate; yea, feven are an abomination unto him: sin of every kind is odious in the light of God, his very nature abhors it, and all who practice it must be the objects of his desertion. But some iniquities have in them greater aggravations than others. (1.) A proud look; pride is at the root of all sin: by pride, the angels fell from heaven; by pride, man lost his happy state; by pride elated, in high conceit of our own importance or righteousness, we provoke God’s wrath against us, and assuredly these high looks of the proud will be brought low. (2.) A lying tongue, hateful to God, and most injurious to man. (3.) Hands that shed innocent blood in passion, revenge, or through false notions of honour, the name given to Satanical pride. (4.) An heart that devifeth wicked imaginations, fudde and crafty in the contrivance of wickedness, as daring or cruel in the execution of it; and the more art is used to compels evil, the more malignity is in the sin. (5.) For that he fought in running to mischief, the eagerness to accomplish which, shews how the heart is bent upon it. (6.) A false witness that speaketh lies, either perjured in judgment, or that invents and propagates calamities, to the hurt of his neighbour, against which, no innocence is a protection. (7.) And him that foweth discord among brethren; the mark of the son of Belial before described, who encourages factions in the state; seeks to widen the breaches of ecclesiastical dissension, or to make mischief between the nearest relations and friendly neighbours. It is amazing there should be such a character, and yet dire experience daily teaches us what abominations dwell in this fallen nature.

Proverbs 6:24-28

8, 20. Heb. Gochased ingother. op.

24. There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise; 26. ‘The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their most in summer; 26. ‘The comes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27. The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28. The foster * taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings palaces.

The meanest creatures have much in them worthy of imitation. Four things are inflamed, deplorable in our eyes, but yet shewing a wisdom those who deprize them are strangers to: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their most in the summer; more provident than many a long-gard, who neglects to provide for the concerns of time, and is careful about eternity. The comes, or muscular ants, are but a feeble folk, and therefore they seek a shelter, and make their houses in the rocks, where they cannot be pursued, to teach us, who have so many spiritual enemies, so much stronger than we are, to contend with, to fly to Jesus the rock of ages, that under his shadow we may be false. The haunts have no king, yet they go forth all of them in hands, nicely marshalled by implanted in-thisid; or gathered together, united among themselves: an emblem of that unity and concord Christians should maintain, and which conduces so greatly both to their mutual comfort and support. The goats taketh hold with her hands; untaught, but with exceeds what the finest wheel ever spun, and disposed with an exactness equal to the rule and planum, and is in kings palaces; whatever care is taken to keep them nicely swept, the will still find admittance; and though often destroyed, renews again her noth. They who imitate her diligence, are fit to stand before kings.

29. There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: 30. A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneeth not away from any, 31. A gory-bound, an he-goat also, and a king? against whom there is no rising up.

Proverbs 6:28

6. & 10. 15.

7. Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

v. 26, 27. Many cautions we have had against rash suretieship, and more are necessary to deter us from it. We must have nothing to do with those extravagants, who, having ruined themselves, seek to maintain their credit a little longer, by engaging others to be bound for them. It were so fully to strike hands with such, if we have any thing to lose; and if we have not, then it were the height of injustice; for it is the viles of all knavery, when we know our own insolvency, to run in debt ourselves, or give our word for another, in order to defraud the creditor, who is unacquainted with our desperate circumstances. Provoked by such imposition, no marvel he should be severe, and not spare even the bed we lie on.

Deut. xix. 14. & xviii. 17. Chap. vix. xx. 2 Or, bound. 28. Remove not the ancient land-mark which thy fathers have set.

The boundaries of property are sacred, and never to be entrenched upon, by open violence or secret fraud. Ancient customs claim prescription, and the settled constitution of the government, established by our forefathers, we should maintain inviolate.

16th. the obliure.

29. Seeft thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men.

Proverbs 6:29-31

Diligence, attention, and dispatch in business, are the great commendation to wise rulers, and the way to rise; for he that is active and faithful in the improvement of a little, shews he is fit to be entrusted with more; such therefore they chuse to employ. In our spiritual concerns this will be also eminently verified: the King of kings will advance those who have born faithful in that which is least, commend their diligence, and cause them to enter into his everlasting presence and joy.

C H A P. XXIII.

1. WHEN thou fittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee. 2. And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

The majesty and flatelines of these four things are remarkable: A lion, which is strongest among haunts, and conscious of his might, turneeth not away from any: such should every christian be in the way of duty, never dismayed at any danger or difficulty, knowing he hath the strength of Omnipotence engaged for him. A grey-bound; or an horse, as others rather interpert the words, which signify gier in the sons, which must needs be reckoned among the most noble animals. An he-goat-able, who heads the flock: And a king, against whom there is no rising up; his majesty confounda, his power cruises those who would rise up against him. How will rebel sinners then be confounded, when the King of kings, clothed in terrible majesty, shall arise to judgment?

32. If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, * lay thine hand upon thy mouth. 33. Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

v. 32, 33. Nothing needs a severer restraint than that anger which is so easily kindled in our bosom: we are here cautioned to restrain it, especially if we have to do with superiors offended; to quarrel with whom, is only to punish ourselves: If therefore thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, vainly conceited, or perversely resisting those who had the rule over thee; or if thou hast thought evil, and it hath not yet broke forth, lay thy hand upon thine mouth, suppress the rising evil, and take shame for what hath foolishly been said or done; for else damage and hurt may ensue: for as surely as the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose violently bringeth forth blood; so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife; one hot would bringe on another; men’s passions are inflamed, and the weakest are sure to be worried. Note, (1.) As sinners before God, we need ever lay our hand on our mouths, and our mouth in the dust, taking shame to ourselves for our sin and folly in daring to contend with our maker. (2.) Thoughts not uttered, though evil, are our sin alone: if a loose be let to the tongue, the poison becomes diffused, the mischief endless. (3.) They who are wise, will ever give way. Nothing is just by quarrels and passionate opposition, but bloodshed and damage.