Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v24400

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 7KB | 124 lines

24401
 #10-22 If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all
 evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over
 us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart,
 and will preserve, both against corruptions within and
 temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness,
 uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the
 plain, pleasant, lightsome paths of uprightness, to walk in such
 ways! They take pleasure in sin; both in committing it, and in
 seeing others commit it. Every wise man will shun such company.
 True wisdom will also preserve from those who lead to fleshly
 lusts, which defile the body, that living temple, and war
 against the soul. These are evils which excite the sorrow of
 every serious mind, and cause every reflecting parent to look
 upon his children with anxiety, lest they should be entangled in
 such fatal snares. Let the sufferings of others be our warnings.
 Our Lord Jesus deters from sinful pleasures, by the everlasting
 torments which follow them. It is very rare that any who are
 caught in this snare of the devil, recover themselves; so much
 is the heart hardened, and the mind blinded, by the
 deceitfulness of this sin. Many think that this caution, besides
 the literal sense, is to be understood as a caution against
 idolatry, and subjecting the soul to the body, by seeking any
 forbidden object. The righteous must leave the earth as well as
 the wicked; but the earth is a very different thing to them. To
 the wicked it is all the heaven they ever shall have; to the
 righteous it is the place of preparation for heaven. And is it
 all one to us, whether we share with the wicked in the miseries
 of their latter end, or share those everlasting joys that shall
 crown believers?
24414
 * Exhortations to obedience and faith. (1-6) To piety, and to
 improve afflictions. (7-12) To gain wisdom. (13-20) Guidance of
 Wisdom. (21-26) The wicked and the upright. (27-35)

 #1-6 In the way of believing obedience to God's commandments
 health and peace may commonly be enjoyed; and though our days
 may not be long upon earth, we shall live for ever in heaven.
 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; God's mercy in promising,
 and his truth in performing: live up to them, keep up thine
 interest in them, and take the comfort of them. We must trust in
 the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to
 do what is best. Those who know themselves, find their own
 understandings a broken reed, which, if they lean upon, will
 fail. Do not design any thing but what is lawful, and beg God to
 direct thee in every case, though it may seem quite plain. In
 all our ways that prove pleasant, in which we gain our point, we
 must acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that
 prove uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must
 acknowledge him with submission. It is promised, He shall direct
 thy paths; so that thy way shall be safe and good, and happy at
 last.

24420
 #7-12 There is not a greater enemy to the fear of the Lord in
 the heart, than self-conceit of our own wisdom. The prudence and
 sobriety which religion teaches, tend not only to the health of
 the soul, but to the health of the body. Worldly wealth is but
 poor substance, yet, such as it is, we must honour God with it;
 and those that do good with what they have, shall have more to
 do more good with. Should the Lord visit us with trials and
 sickness, let us not forget that the exhortation speaks to us as
 to children, for our good. We must not faint under an
 affliction, be it ever so heavy and long, not be driven to
 despair, or use wrong means for relief. The father corrects the
 son whom he loves, because he loves him, and desires that he may
 be wise and good. Afflictions are so far from doing God's
 children any hurt, that, by the grace of God, they promote their
 holiness.

24426
 #13-20 No precious jewels or earthly treasures are worthy to be
 compared with true wisdom, whether the concerns of time or
 eternity be considered. We must make wisdom our business; we
 must venture all in it, and be willing to part with all for it.
 This Wisdom is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation, sought
 and obtained by faith and prayer. Were it not for unbelief,
 remaining sinfulness, and carelessness, we should find all our
 ways pleasantness, and our paths peace, for his are so; but we
 too often step aside from them, to our own hurt and grief.
 Christ is that Wisdom, by whom the worlds were made, and still
 are in being; happy are those to whom he is made of God wisdom.
 He has wherewithal to make good all his promises.

24434
 #21-26 Let us not suffer Christ's words to depart from us, but
 keep sound wisdom and discretion; then shall we walk safely in
 his ways. The natural life, and all that belongs to it, shall be
 under the protection of God's providence; the spiritual life,
 and all its interests, under the protection of his grace, so
 that we shall be kept from falling into sin or trouble.

24440
 #27-35 Our business is to observe the precepts of Christ, and to
 copy his example; to do justice, to love mercy, and to beware of
 covetousness; to be ready for every good work, avoiding needless
 strife, and bearing evils, if possible, rather than seeking
 redress by law. It will be found there is little got by
 striving. Let us not envy prosperous oppressors; far be it from
 the disciples of Christ to choose any of their ways. These
 truths may be despised by the covetous and luxurious, but
 everlasting contempt will be the portion of such scorners, while
 Divine favour is shown to the humble believer.
24449
 * Exhortation to the study of wisdom. (1-13) Cautions against
 bad company. Exhortation to faith and holiness. (14-27)

 #1-13 We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though
 instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome.
 Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and
 godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree
 that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to
 happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy
 corruptions; take more pains to get this than the wealth of this
 world. An interest in Christ's salvation is necessary. This
 wisdom is the one thing needful. A soul without true wisdom and
 grace is a dead soul. How poor, contemptible, and wretched are
 those, who, with all their wealth and power, die without getting
 understanding, without Christ, without hope, and without God!
 Let us give heed to the sayings of Him who has the words of
 eternal life. Thus our path will be plain before us: by taking,
 and keeping fast hold of instruction, we shall avoid being
 straitened or stumbling.