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"My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother" (Proverbs 1:8). Notes: This presupposes that the paternal instruction is wise, and that the mother's law is according to the truth. It is unfortunately the case, in the present evil age, that fathers and mothers do not always afford to their offspring a guidance that is wholesome to follow. In a sense not very important, it is doubtless safe as a general rule for children to follow the counsel of their parents, who by experience know the workings and issues of things better than children can. But in the higher sense, it rarely happens that this proverb can be applied to one's immediate family circle. What is to be done? The remedy is obvious. Solomon, in these spirit-dictated maxims, stands well in the place of a wise father and mother, and therefore supplies any natural lack there may be. Let children young or old, adhere to the instruction afforded by the law laid down in these proverbs, and they will, at the last, experience the sweetness of wisdom and the profitableness incalculable of walking in her ways. "Wisdom and instruction shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck" (Proverbs 1:9). Notes: True, true. Men can see the excellence of wisdom, even now. Universal experience endorses the declaration of Ecc. 2:13: "Wisdom excelleth folly as far as light excelleth darkness." What is unlovely, what is hideous in human character, what is destructive of human wellbeing, like the things condemned by wisdom? When does human nature appear at its best but when wisdom reigns in the human heart, shaping its utterances and guiding its ways? It is one of the numberless proofs of the divinity of the Bible that a man, entirely subject to its precepts, would be the loveliest specimen of manhood upon earth: a fearer of God, a lover of man, a speaker of truth, a doer of justice, a performer of kindness, a hater of evil, yet free of resentments, a forgiver of injury, a sufferer of evil, a rewarder of good, a sympathizer with sorrow, a man of patience, wise in counsel, magnanimous in view, prompt in action, industrious in life, hearty in action, true in friendship, consistent in life, persevering in goodness, noble in everything. "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not," (Proverbs 1:10). Notes: Learn to say "No," especially to act on it. Life depends upon it. The want of decision will land us in ruin, especially when "enticement" is resorted to - a drawing of a man from his integrity, by plausible considerations and inducements. This is the time when firmness is most wanted. Few men are in danger of consenting to open glaring sin: it is the things that lead to sin that have to be guarded against. It is the small beginnings that are dangerous. The safe rule is to make no compromise with sin. Say to sinners, especially when they profess to be saints (it is then they are most formidable): "I am obliged to say 'No' . You must go without me." The momentary embarrassment of having to refuse, will be rewarded a thousand times over by the sweetness of finding yourself on the safe road that leads to life, when the enticing sinners are plunging headlong in a path of destruction, whose insidious beginnings they were not able to discern. "My son, walk not thou in the way of sinners; refrain thy foot from their path" (Proverbs 1:15). Notes: It is often inconvenient, but always wholesome, to refuse partnership or companionship with evil men. It takes a little courage - sometimes much courage - to refuse; but the courage is well repaid by the sweetness and safety that come of it. It is of often difficult, in the complicated ways of modern life to know just where to draw the line; but, as a rule, a just man will instinctively put his foot down at the right place, refusing companionship in the voluntary occupation of mere pleasure-followers, and standing off from the ways and customs that are dear to sinners. Where there is doubt it is better to be on the safe side. No evil can come from abstaining from the very appearance of evil; while, on the other hand, you can never be sure you are safe when consorting with ungodly men, especially in ungodly ways. As Jesus expresses it: "it is better to enter life halt or maimed, than having preserved all to be devoured at the last". "Sinners lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives" (Proverbs 1:18). Notes: They don't think so, and other people are liable to not think so. They see the schemes of unrighteous craft succeed, and the lurking schemers elevated on the pedestal of their success, to prosperity and sunshine, while the meek and unresisting servants of righteousness are prevailed against and trampled in the dust. This is the picture of the moment. But there is another picture, the contemplating of which will evoke the exclamation: "Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily, there is a God that judgeth in the earth". This other picture shows that the success of sinners is truly a success against themselves: "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil." Responsible sinners will find themselves alive again at a day appointed to face the issues of their own actions in the light of the stern tribunal of divine justice, at which sinners will not be justified and the righteous condemned as now. "Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets" (Proverbs 1:20). Notes: It might seem as if the reverse of this were true; as if folly alone made the streets resound with its "maniac mirth." And truly the appearance is the reality as regards the doings of the fools. But there is another reality underlying both the appearances and the realities of folly. This other reality is wisdom. Creation, both astral and sublunary, is wisdom concrete - not folly. This is not abstract folly. Folly is the aberration of unwise persons - not the working out of the constitution of things. The constitution of things is divine. There is only one God, and "in wisdom hath He made all things," and these things cry to men. If they would but consider they would be guided aright. "Doth not nature itself teach you?" (Paul's question) is of very wide application. Even in a natural sense, pondering the uses and tendencies of things and actions would lead men to see, as Solomon expresses it, that wisdom excels folly as far as light excels darkness. But wisdom teaches in a higher sense than in the passive exhibition of her excellence. Wisdom dwelt in the midst of Israel, and spoke to God's nation as it has spoken to no other - which doubled their privileges and responsibilities. "How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge" (Proverbs 1:22). Notes: How long, indeed? Very long it would seem. By all appearances, the world would go on for ever in the way it went on in Solomon's day, and has been going on ever since. One cause of this, doubtless, lies in the fact that every age sees a new generation which comes on the scene in ignorance and inexperience, and is only just beginning to learn the superiority of wisdom when it disappears in the grave. A melancholy situation - due to the advent of sin which has brought death. The bright spot in the situation is the advent of wisdom with a mission. It is not without an object she cries to "the simple ones," "the scorners," and "the fools." There is a "good time coming," for which her mission is a preparation. In the good time coming there will be no death. But to make this tolerable, there must be no folly; and so wisdom has gone out. She calls to them to leave their simplicity (want of discernment), which bring disappointment; their scornfulness, which scorches and blights the heart; their folly, which only ends in death. Some among them respond to the call, and will be found at last among the joyous guests of the King's table. "Turn you at my reproof: behold I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you" (Proverbs 1:23). Notes: This is wisdom's appeal. It is not a vain appeal. It does not call upon men for impossibilities. It ignores Calvinism, and the practical fatalism that would make God responsible for every imperfection and failure. It assumes that men can turn, and in doing so, it is in harmony with what we practically find human capacity to be, apart from theories of metaphysicians. Men turn up and down, for good and evil, according to the pressure of surrounding circumstances and influences. They become educated or remain in a brutalized state according as they are compelled to submit to instruction or left to run to waste. Wisdom recognizes this moral elasticity of man's situation, or implores them to turn. It presents an incentive. The spirit of wisdom - the knowledge conveyed in wisdom's words - will become the property of those who give heed - a precious property - conferring, even now, a wealth of grace and excellence and honour, and in the end, the otherwise unpurchasable glory of everlasting life. "I have called and ye refused: I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded" (Proverbs 1:24). Notes: This is the present situation as regards the bulk of mankind. A call has come. It has come authentically, and it has come in a definite and palpable form. It came to Israel by personal hands and in visible form. It has been extended to the nations of the earth by an embassage as real and as personal as any ambassadorate that ever leaves any country for another court. The men by whose actual hands it came to the Gentiles are in their graves. But their message has survived them, and is intact, and in the hands of every nation upon earth that circulates the Bible. Yet the call is refused: the stretched out hand is disregarded. The Bible is neglected: Bible things excluded from practical human interest and attention; and men everywhere preoccupied with their own devices. There will be a terrible sequel. Retribution has been long gathering, and will shortly burst in devastating storm. Blessed will those then be seen to be who have not been carried away by the universal folly, but have heartily accepted the call of wisdom, and bowed reverently before her outstretched arm. "I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh" (Proverbs 1:26). Notes: This is no idle threat. Now and hereafter it will be fulfilled, but more particularly hereafter. It is the end that waits the persistent disregard of wisdom's ways. It is a terrible end. What more cruel, crushing withering experience could a man have than to be laughed at in the crisis of his calamity. Such a thing is considered inhuman; but this will be a moment when it will be just. "The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance." It is the terrible destiny in reserve for ungodly men, to be laughed at in the midst of the "tribulation and anguish and wrath" that will come upon them in the hour of judgment - to be laughed at, too, not by friends, not by evil men, but by Eternal Goodness, incarnate in Jesus and the saints, in "the day of the manifestation of the sons of God!" "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision" (Psalm 2). The Lord is slow to anger, but there is a limit to His patience, and when once His wrath is kindled, more hapless lot is not possible to man. Oh that men would open their eyes beforehand to the terrible issues of folly. It is vain to bewail them when they open their jaws to devour. "Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer. They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me" (Proverbs 1:28). Notes: It is possible to have too slack views of the divine clemency. Men are taught such views from the pulpit everywhere. It is a public tradition retailed in every form of ingenious diversification and worked into every shape suggested by imaginative fervor, that God's love is so great and so cheap that the vilest can command it at the latest moment of an abandoned course by a mere spasm of remorse. No greater falsehood or more irrational sentiment could be put into circulation. Apostolic doctrine is sterner and more reasonable stuff altogether. This is the tone of it: "Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The man who sows a lifetime to the flesh, will find himself terribly out of his calculation if he accept clerical leading in this matter. Many a man will get down on his knees at the last, and with uplifted hands, implore in vain with agonizing earnestness that the award of justice may be averted. They will call loudly; but there will be no response. Their earnest appeals will find a deaf ear. This God says, and His word is truth. "They hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord! They would none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices" (Proverbs 1:29-31). Notes: Men mostly love that which gratifies appetite, or the lust of pride and beauty. They love "pleasure" and they hate knowledge; and as for the fear of the Lord, it is a worse than meaningless phrase with them. It is a nauseous thing - a weak thing - a thing of pious cant. Such aversions are irrational. They have their root in a dark and untrained state of mind. They are kin with barbarism. Knowledge is the highest exercise and most beautiful ornament and sweetest employment of the human mind. The fear of the Lord is its crowning glory, and its most precious acquisition. The despisers thereof will yet find their folly in the terrible desolation of a hopeless life, and in the blight and failure of all their joys. Destruction and misery are in their ways. The divine counsel rejected, will recoil with terrible retribution on the heads of the infatuated mortals who will seek in vain to be delivered from the fruit of their own ways. "Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:33). Notes: The "Me" in the case is the eternal and universe-filling "Me" - the Creator, the Sustainer, the Possessor of heaven and earth. Hence the strength of the proverb. Though God is "high", He has regard for the lowly: He loves those who love Him, and who hope in His mercy and do His commandments. This He has revealed. All we have to do is to believe it. The result is safe-dwelling and freedom from fear. "Wherefore should I fear?" asks David. "The Lord is my defence. I will not fear what man can do unto me." If the Lord chastise, that is another thing: this David was ready to accept, as the visitation of love. But he had no fear such as plagues the mere man of the flesh. If this is the case with the righteous while sin reigns on earth and God's face is hidden, what must it be when the wicked are rooted out of the earth, and the tabernacle of God is with men? "My son . . . receive my words and hide my commandments with thee" (Proverbs 2:1). Notes: Nothing more unpalatable in the way of advice could be uttered in Gentile circles - and there are scarcely any other than Gentile circles. But here and there, there is a responsive ear, in which the words are uttered not in vain. "My words," the words of God, are received and embraced, and stored deep in the inner man; and here they must remain to be effectual for their work. And here they cannot remain without steady renewal in the daily readings of the Scriptures. The human mind is very weak, especially to divine ideas. A constant supply is the cure. Nothing else will finally satisfy the taste which they generate. Nothing else will so secrete the commandments of God in the heart as that. They will be an ever-living and available power of action. But for this, a man must stoutly fight, else this wise policy will be taken out of his hands through the chronic oppositions and revolts of the Gentile mind, within and without. Having taken the right cue from the Spirit's voice, let him close his ears to the devil's din that would call him in other directions, and go straight onward to the heavenly city. "Incline thine ear to wisdom: apply thine heart to understanding" (Proverbs 2:2). Notes: This means making an effort. An effort is necessary. There are things that require no effort, such as breathing, seeing with the eyes, getting hungry, etc. Such things that come by effort are more precious and more enjoyable than those that come of themselves. Because of this, and the trouble necessary to get at them, the bulk of mankind, as things are now upon the earth, never attain them. The schoolboy prefers play to lessons; and would never learn if he were left to himself. Grown schoolboys are mostly the same, hence men, almost universally, die without understanding. That which is agreeable is their rule: not that which is wise. God calls upon us to act differently: to "incline" and "apply" our minds to the highest wisdom - the knowledge of Himself, and His ways, and His purpose as revealed. Obedience will prove sweet in the end, and nonetheless because it has to be yielded as the cost of self-denial meanwhile.