Proverbs 4

Ver. 1, 2. My dear young friends, attend to, and receive, these affectionate, wholesome, and profitable, instructions which I give you; and while you live earnestly practise the same

Proverbs 4:3

They are the very same which I myself, as a darling son, and intended successor on the throne, received from my own and affectionate father David

Proverbs 4:4-9

He, in the most careful and earnest manner, instructed me in my childhood, and begged me to fix his instructions and directions in my heart, and practise them in my life, as the means of attaining to true and lasting felicity. He earnestly recommended to me the getting of Jesus Christ, and the true knowledge and fear of God in him, and cleaving thereto, as the grand and effectual means of preservation from sin and danger, and of obtaining happiness and honour, both in time and eternity.* 10—13. As you wish to live long and prosperously, receive, and observe in your practice, these my instructions. I do not direct you into paths of folly, fraud, or perverseness, but into a course of wisdom, integrity, and virtue; in which you may prosecute business without any entangling difficulties, and with ease, dispatch, and certain success. Carefully fix these instructions in your mind and heart, and persevere in the practice of them, as on this your happiness in time and eternity depends

Proverbs 4:14-19

With the utmost care and abhorrence avoid the company and course of wicked men, and every temptation thereto; and, with the greatest speed and earnestness, flee from it if you have been entangled; for such is the malignity of their dispositions, that they can take no rest till they execute their villainous intentions, and are perpetually disturbing themselves in order to ruin others. They neither have, nor desire, any other provision to live on than what they get by unjust and violent courses. And, while good men daily grow in knowledge, grace, and holiness of conversation, till they arrive at perfection, wicked men, amidst gross ignorance, error, confusion, crimes, and wretchedness, rush on heedlessly till they are plunged into everlasting misery

Proverbs 4:20-27

And, in order to retain in heart, and practise in life, these my excellent instructions, which are a source of lasting and complete happiness to all who improve them aright, watch over your heart, and keep your mind, conscience, will, affections, thoughts, and desires, with uncommon earnestness, as from these do originally issue the eternal happiness or misery of mankind. Resolutely shun all impure or wicked discourse; and never let any corrupt, false, filthy, idle, passionate, or scornful, communication, proceed from your lips. Let your mind and thoughts be fixed only upon the right paths of holiness and virtue, that you may walk in them without ever turning from them; and never let your eyes, by fixing on improper objects, seduce you into sin or danger. Before you fix upon

• N. B. Whether David’s words end here, or reach further, perhaps to the end of chap. ix. we do not certainly know. any action, carefully examine whether it be agreeable to God’s law, and answerable to the end for which you intend it; and let every step you take in life be rightly ordered, according to the rule of his word. And, by shunning extremes on every hand, labour to avoid every thing offensive or injurious either to God or men

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. IV.—It is the greatest honour, as well as duty, of parents carefully to instruct their children: and it may be infinitely useful after both instructors and instructed are laid in the dust. Unspeakably excellent are Jesus Christ, his grace, and holy religion. Multitudes of powerful reasons engage us to render and cleave to them; and to love, delight in, or exalt them. Yet how apt are our corrupt hearts to ensnare us into fellowship with wicked persons or practices, or even to render us intent on, and delighted in, the most cruel and barbarous conduct! But wide is the difference in time, and especially in eternity, between the way of holiness and that of iniquity. While the saints gradually grow up in grace here, and live in endless felicity hereafter, the wicked blindly rush forward into everlasting misery. Great circumspection, care, diligence, and watchfulness, are therefore necessary in denying ungodliness and worldly lusts; and in living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world