Proverbs 2

Proverbs 2:1-5

And, for your excitement and encouragement, know assuredly, my children, that, if you entertain, receive, and lay up in your heart, the instructions and directions which I now give you; if you earnestly study, and importunately pray for, the enjoyment of Jesus Christ, and of all true and spiritual wisdom and knowledge in him, as infinitely more precious, useful and desirable, than all the treasures on earth, then you shall, by the influences of the Holy Spirit, happily obtain your desire, and be enabled and directed to know, obey, fear, love, worship, and serve, God in a proper and truly acceptable manner

Proverbs 2:6-9

For, as wisdom and every other blessing is the free gift of God, he in his word hath revealed, and by his Spirit bestows, it upon men, and gives them a true and spiritual knowledge of himself and his ways. He hath in store, and is always ready to bestow upon such as ask it, true, solid, and substantial, wisdom. And, while he instructs and directs, he, by his almighty providence, infallibly preserves from soul-ruining mischiefs, such as walk in a sincere, candid, and upright manner. He guides and enables the lovers of holiness to persevere in their integrity, according to the rules of his word; and preserves them from being drawn aside from it, or endangered in it. And, in seeking wisdom from him, you shall come to understand his righteousness and wisdom in all his administrations, and be enabled to imitate him in every thing truly holy and virtuous

Proverbs 2:10

And, if Jesus Christ, the spiritual knowledge of divine things, and the power of practical godliness, have once taken possession of your heart, and captivated your affections, 11—15. These will effectually preserve you from the crafty and ruinous reduction; either of subtle men, who having apostatized from every thing good, walk and delight in the perplexed ways of vice, and in making others as wicked as themselves, drawing them aside, and entangling them in courses directly contrary to their own true interest, safety, conscience, or reason

Proverbs 2:16-19

Or of light and lewd women, unworthy to be reckoned Israelites, who set themselves, by all the arts of flattery, to decoy such as you into whoredom; 17. Perfidiously alienating their affections and persons from their own husbands, and disregarding the solemn vows made to them at marriage; 18. And who really love no one, but promote the death and eternal damnation of all such as cultivate any familiarity with them. 19. Very few, who are once ensnared into their impure embraces, are ever, by the grace of God, recovered to a penitent, chaste, and virtuous, life on earth, or to everlasting glory in heaven

Proverbs 2:20-22

And, moreover, while you are preserved from the ruinous infection of these wicked seducers, you shall be enabled to follow the example of the holy patriarchs and prophets; and, in consequence of this, shall happily dwell in this promised land of Canaan, and inherit the Spiritual and everlasting felicity prefigured by it.—While these wicked seducers, and their followers, shall, after a short-lived flourish of prosperity, be furiously driven from this land and earth, and cast into the flames and depths of hell

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. II.—With remarkable diligence should we attend to all the exercises of true religion. The Lord is ready to bless such as are diligent with great success; and usually bestows upon them remarkable instruction, satisfaction, and protection. There is need of real religion to season and rule our heart; and of God’s special preservation and our utmost caution while we live in this world, where men of corrupt principles, and women of treacherous and corrupt practices, so greatly abound. In their sinful courses such are generally obtricate, active, and crafty. Ensuring are their enticements, and dangerous and ordinarily ruinous, their connections; and few, once entangled in their wickedness, ever seriously repent, or turn to Jesus Christ for life and salvation. Happy then are they who are delivered from them, and enabled to walk as truly pains and circumspect. Godliness has the promises of this life and of that which is to come. Even now the saints alone have a blessed portion on earth; and at last they only shall inhabit the new earth, into which no wicked person shall ever enter