Proverbs 3

Ver. 1, 2. Let me therefore again entreat you, my dear children, to receive, and rivet in your judgment, memory, will, and affections, the counsels and commands which I now give, that you may practise them in your lives: thus shall your temporal life be long, healthful, and prosperous; be attended with a pleasant life of grace here, and followed by an eternal life of glory hereafter. 3, 4. And while you live by a cordial, constant, and assured faith in the mercy and faithfulness of God, pledged in his word, study always, as your great honour, to imitate him in kindness, compassion, and uprightness; thus shall you be highly respected and honoured, and shall prudently order your affairs both before God and men. 5, 6. Always, by faith in his new covenant promises and relations, depend wholly on God for strength, direction, and success, in your undertakings, and never upon your own knowledge or carnal prudence. In every undertaking believe and depend on his over-ruling power, observe his directions, and implore and wait for his favour and blessing, and be shalt guide you in all your proceedings, and bring them to an happy issue. 7, 8. Never indulge a conceit of your own knowledge or wisdom, as if it were sufficient to direct you in the easiest matters; but, under the influence of a holy and filial law of, and regard to, God, avoid with care whatever he has forbidden in his law; as that is the way to promote the health, strength, and comfort, of both soul and body in time and eternity. 9, 10. In just gratitude to God, who has bestowed all that you have upon you, make conscience of employing your estates in works of piety, for the maintenance of his worship, and of charity to his poor, and of justice to all men; so shall his blessing abundantly increase them in every thing useful and comfortable. 11, 12. Never overlook or condemn the afflictions which you meet with, as if they were trifles, or happened by chance; and never grow weary of them as an intolerable burden, or take any unlawful course to remove them; but kindly receive and submit to them as the corrections of a kind and gracious Father, in which he manifests his distinguished love to, and care for, your souls

Proverbs 3:13-18

Thrice happy is the man who through much tribulation, and with much care and pains, obtains the enjoyment of Jesus Christ, and the spiritual wisdom and knowledge that is in and by him. This is infinitely preferable to every thing gainful, comely, precious, or profitable, on earth. By this we are secured in all the real blessings of this present life, and of that which is to come. In cleaving to Jesus, and walking in his ordinances and laws, the most delightful comforts and pleasures, the most blessed tranquillity of mind and conscience, the most happy success of affairs, and eternal rest with God, in glory, are to be enjoyed.—Immortal, quickening, and invigorating, is the satisfaction enjoyed by every one who earnestly embraces his person, receives his instructions, and stedfastly walks in his ways. 19, 20. And no wonder that Jesus Christ, and the spiritual wisdom and knowledge that are hid in him, should be so profitable, pleasant, and comfortable, when by him, and in the exercise of his infinite wisdom, God formed, founded, and settled, the heavens, and earth, and seas, and all that is therein, and makes the fountains to pour forth streams for the nourishment of animals, and the clouds to drop down dows and rains for the nourishment of plants, corn, and grass

Proverbs 3:21-26

Be it therefore your earnest care to fix these my instructions on your heart, and to keep them always before your eyes, as the means of obtaining true and profitable knowledge and prudence. You will find them infallible promoters of true life, and heaven and comfort, temporal, spiritual, and eternal. By means hereof, you, by the blessing of God, shall prosper in your labours, and be kept from falling into sin or danger; and under his protection, you shall enjoy the most safe and planned rest and refreshment. No reports of sudden and approaching danger or at developing judgments, appointed for, or effected by, the wicked, used in the book proofs you: for the Almighty JERMOHAM, in whom you have placed all your trust and confidence, shall support, protect, and preserve, you from danger. 27, 28. Never delay the payment of just debts, or the giving to the Lord, or to the poor, beyond the first opportunity afforded you, as you know not if ever providence will give you another

Proverbs 3:29

Never contrive mischief against any; especially against such as depend on your equity and kindness

Proverbs 3:30

Never be quarrelsome and contentious; and especially with such as have done you no injury. 31, 32. Never let the prosperity and wealth of oppressors tempt you to wish yourselves in their condition, or to imitate them in their injurious conduct; for wilful and obstinate oppressors are infinitely detested and hated of God; but his secret counsels and comforts are vouchsafed to such as walk uprightly and honestly

Proverbs 3:33

Evil-doers, however great, and all that they have, are under the destructive influence of God’s curse; but good men, being under the influence of his favour and blessing, may be happy in the meanest condition upon earth

Proverbs 3:34

God will certainly at last expose proud mockers of religion and virtue to scorn and contempt; but will render such as are meek and humble highly respected and honoured

Proverbs 3:35

And though persons truly wise unto salvation may for a time be abusively represented and contented, yet they shall, in the most free and fixed manner, enjoy honour from God and men at last; whereas contempt and misery are all the promotion that wicked men, ignorant of God, and regardless of their true interest, shall ever attain

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. III.—Real religion has a glorious and effectual tendency to render men happy in themselves and blessings to all around them. And those who neglect and despise it are in general mean-spirited, foolish, and self-ruining, wretches, dishonourers of God, and plagues to mankind. But great is the shame that the professors of religion so little conform their lives to the excellent rules thereof, and that they so little exemplify them in their behaviour and conduct. And comely would the church of God appear, if that regard to God’s law, faith in him, devotion, resignation to his will, diligence in his work, and that truth, mercy, equity, peacefulness, humility, and prudence, towards men, required in his word, were duly exercised