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ceived workings of his gracious providence. God not only enriches them with his goodness, but treats them as friends, and to them all his paths are mercy and truth.

The blessing of God upon his people, and his indig nation toward his enemies, spread through their dwellings, rendering them happy or miserable. The cottage of the just is a quiet and pleasant habitation. The palace of the wicked is blasted by a secret curse.

Ver. 33. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but he blesseth the habitation of the just;

And happiness or misery lies in the blessing or curse of God t. When you behold the magnificent structures in which sinners dwell, let not your thoughts be lost in wonder, or your hearts rankle with envy. They are fabrics, stately indeed, but not solid. You may pronounce them cursed. Eliphaz saw the wicked. taking root, but suddenly he cursed his habitation, for his children are far from safety. The curse of God has often destroyed the timber and the beams of the most towering palaces; often has it kindled a fire, by which they have been destroyed to the lowest foundation. Such dwellings as these are houses of infection, for the leprosy of sin has taken possession of them, and it can be ascribed only to wonderful mercy, if the children and servants in them escape the plagues prepared for their lords.

By the blessing of the Lord, the meanest cottage is converted into a dwelling of joy and praise. We read of whole houses that have been blessed for the sake of godly servants; how much more may the divine blessing be expected, where the masters are pious, and make their dwellings a little church, where the melody of

* Psal. xxv. 14. John xiv. 21.-xv. 15. Hag. ii. 19.

+Psal. xxxvii. 22.

thanksgiving and the voice of prayer are daily heard! The blessing of God, that is daily asked, shall not be refused; and the members of the family are blessed with instructions and examples that must produce good effects on them, unless they harden their hearts like an adamant. The holy conversation of good wives may be a means of winning their husbands; and many children and servants have found the greatest reason to thank God for the appointment of their dwelling in a family of saints.

From among the wicked, we find that proud and haughty scorners are singled out as signal monuments of the vengeance of God.

Ver. 34. Surely he scorneth the scorners, but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

When men

It is pride that makes men scorners. have an overweening conceit of themselves, they are likely to behave insolently to others, and contemptuously to God himself*. But on such arrogant worms of the dust, Jehovah looks down with contempt, and makes them objects of derision to all men. We read in scripture of many, whom the pride of their heart and countenance brought to the lowest disgrace. Nebuchadnezzar, and Haman, and Herod, and the proud Pharisee, are set forth for examples, to shew us that these men stand not on an even place, whose hearts are not kept low by that grace which cherishes humility. That God whose eye turns away with disdain from the splendour of haughty princes, and the diadems of imperious kings, looks with kindness upon the meanest of those who walk humbly with their God t. He visits them in mercy, and refreshes their spirits with his love +. He gave them that grace which makes

.

Compare 1 Peter v. 5. and James iv. 6,
1sa. lvii. 15,

+ Isa. lxvi. 2.

them humble, and he giveth more grace. God bestows grace on men, that he may be glorified; and the lowly, who are made sensible of their emptiness and guilt, are the persons who will ascribe praise to him, for the least of his favours: In them he will display the excellency of his love, and enrich them with his blessings in this, and in the everlasting world. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." With the lowly is wisdom, and,

Ver. 35. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Some by their birth and fortune inherit high sounding titles, and celebrated kingdoms. But if they are not wise, their lofty situation is the theatre of their dishonour. Those who are blessed with sound wisdom, have an inheritance of glory in reserve, compared with which the crowns and seeptres of the world deserve The prudent are even at present crowned with knowledge; but the happy day is coming when they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that have turned others to the wisdom of the just, as the stars for ever and ever.

not a name.

Fools are fond of honours, but all the honours they can enjoy are like bubbles when they glitter in the sun. They shall be promoted, indeed, but their exaltation shall be like that of Haman, who was exalted when he was hung upon a gallows fifty cubits high. Their shame shall be conspicuous to the world, when they shall be covered with everlasting disgrace, and become an abhorring to all flesh *.

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CHAPTER IV.

In this chapter, Solomon renews his exhortations to us to get wisdom, ver. 1—13, and to avoid temptations, ver. 14-19. The chapter concludes with a short sum of practical religion.

In his exhortation to wisdom, he makes use of many of the same motives by which he had already recommended it. Solomon had a heart filled with knowledge, beyond all the sons of men; and he could have charmed and astonished, by the discoveries of new truths in every sentence; but he had wisdom to manage his knowledge, and therefore prefers those discourses which are solid and useful, to those which, by their dazzling brilliancy, are fitted only to produce admiration and surprise. He desires not our applause, but our benefit; and his aim is not to shine, but to instruct. He was a wise householder, instructed into the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and brings out of his treasure things old as well as new.

God speaks to us more than once or twice by this inspired penman, and shall we not listen to his voice? We have precept upon precept, and line upon line; and if we do not receive instructions pressed upon us so warmly, we must go and fall backwards, and be broken, and snared, and taken. May God open our hearts to hear what is said by him who was the wisest of men, and who spoke under the guidance of unerring Wisdom. Ver. 1. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

Our Lord teaches us to pray to God, as children to a father. Have we such confidence toward God, and shall we not attend with the reverence and love of children, to him who addresses us with the infinite tenderness of a heavenly Father?

Some have lost their fathers; some have fathers who give no food to the souls of their children. There is a Father who will take up these orphans, and supply them with the best and kindest instructions. He calls upon all of us to attend to his understanding, for he still opens his mouth in wisdom. That blessed God who makes the sun to shine upon our world, has caused this luminary still to shine for enlightening the souls of men. It was in mercy to Israel that the sun was made to stand still upon Gibeon, that the people might avenge themselves of their enemies; but it is a richer favour, that this light of his age still shines, to direct our paths in wisdom and safety. But let us hear what he can say in recommendation of what he inculcates upon us.

Ver. 2. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

The many say, "Who will shew us any good?" But they know not what is good for them, and suffer themselves to be deceived with shadows. Here God shews us what is good, and gives it to us. All the things that the sons of men can desire, are not to be compared to good doctrine.

But is it becoming in a wise man to commend his own discourses? Solomon might well commend them, for they are not his, but God's, and God is graciously pleased to commend them to our acceptance. He calls us to buy wisdom without price, and discovers as much earnestness in recommending this precious merchandize, as if he were to be enriched by the price.

Were a thousand volumes to be written in commen

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