Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v25450

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 13KB | 233 lines

25452
 * To preserve a character for wisdom. (1-3) Respecting subjects
 and rulers. (4-10) Of foolish talk. (11-15) Duties of rulers and
 subjects. (16-20)

 #1-3 Those especially who make a profession of religion, should
 keep from all appearances of evil. A wise man has great
 advantage over a fool, who is always at a loss when he has
 anything to do. Sin is the reproach of sinners, wherever they
 go, and shows their folly.

25455
 #4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a
 hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a
 passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find
 that yielding pacifies great offences. Men are not preferred
 according to their merit. And those are often most forward to
 offer help, who are least aware of the difficulties, or the
 consequences. The same remark is applied to the church, or the
 body of Christ, that all the members should have the same care
 one for another.

25462
 #11-15 There is a practice in the East, of charming serpents by
 music. The babbler's tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly
 poison; and contradiction only makes it the more violent. We
 must find the way to keep him gentle. But by rash, unprincipled,
 or slanderous talk, he brings open or secret vengeance upon
 himself. Would we duly consider our own ignorance as to future
 events, it would cut off many idle words which we foolishly
 multiply. Fools toil a great deal to no purpose. They do not
 understand the plainest things, such as the entrance into a
 great city. But it is the excellency of the way to the heavenly
 city, that it is a high-way, in which the simplest wayfaring men
 shall not err, #Isa 35:8|. But sinful folly makes men miss that
 only way to happiness.
25467
 #16-20 The happiness of a land depends on the character of its
 rulers. The people cannot be happy when their princes are
 childish, and lovers of pleasure. Slothfulness is of ill
 consequence both to private and public affairs. Money, of
 itself, will neither feed nor clothe, though it answers the
 occasions of this present life, as what is to be had, may
 generally be had for money. But the soul, as it is not redeemed,
 so it is not maintained with corruptible things, as silver and
 gold. God sees what men do, and hears what they say in secret;
 and, when he pleases, brings it to light by strange and
 unsuspected ways. If there be hazard in secret thoughts and
 whispers against earthly rulers, what must be the peril from
 every deed, word, or thought of rebellion against the King of
 kings, and Lord of lords! He seeth in secret. His ear is ever
 open. Sinner! curse not THIS KING in thy inmost thought. Your
 curses cannot affect Him; but his curse, coming down upon you,
 will sink you to the lowest hell.
25472
 * Exhortation to liberality. (1-6) An admonition to prepare for
 death, and to young persons to be religious. (7-10)

 #1-6 Solomon presses the rich to do good to others. Give freely,
 though it may seem thrown away and lost. Give to many. Excuse
 not thyself with the good thou hast done, from the good thou
 hast further to do. It is not lost, but well laid out. We have
 reason to expect evil, for we are born to trouble; it is wisdom
 to do good in the day of prosperity. Riches cannot profit us, if
 we do not benefit others. Every man must labour to be a blessing
 to that place where the providence of God casts him. Wherever we
 are, we may find good work to do, if we have but hearts to do
 it. If we magnify every little difficulty, start objections, and
 fancy hardships, we shall never go on, much less go through with
 our work. Winds and clouds of tribulation are, in God's hands,
 designed to try us. God's work shall agree with his word,
 whether we see it or not. And we may well trust God to provide
 for us, without our anxious, disquieting cares. Be not weary in
 well-doing, for in due season, in God's time, you shall reap,
 #Ga 6:9|.

25478
 #7-10 Life is sweet to bad men, because they have their portion
 in this life; it is sweet to good men, because it is the time of
 preparation for a better; it is sweet to all. Here is a caution
 to think of death, even when life is most sweet. Solomon makes
 an effecting address to young persons. They would desire
 opportunity to pursue every pleasure. Then follow your desires,
 but be assured that God will call you into judgment. How many
 give loose to every appetite, and rush into every vicious
 pleasure! But God registers every one of their sinful thoughts
 and desires, their idle words and wicked words. If they would
 avoid remorse and terror, if they would have hope and comfort on
 a dying bed, if they would escape misery here and hereafter, let
 them remember the vanity of youthful pleasures. That Solomon
 means to condemn the pleasures of sin is evident. His object is
 to draw the young to purer and more lasting joys. This is not
 the language of one grudging youthful pleasures, because he can
 no longer partake of them; but of one who has, by a miracle of
 mercy, been brought back in safety. He would persuade the young
 from trying a course whence so few return. If the young would
 live a life of true happiness, if they would secure happiness
 hereafter, let them remember their Creator in the days of their
 youth.
25482
 * A description of the infirmities of age. (1-7) All is vanity:
 also a warning of the judgment to come. (8-14)

 #1-7 We should remember our sins against our Creator, repent,
 and seek forgiveness. We should remember our duties, and set
 about them, looking to him for grace and strength. This should
 be done early, while the body is strong, and the spirits active.
 When a man has the pain of reviewing a misspent life, his not
 having given up sin and worldly vanities till he is forced to
 say, I have no pleasure in them, renders his sincerity very
 questionable. Then follows a figurative description of old age
 and its infirmities, which has some difficulties; but the
 meaning is plain, to show how uncomfortable, generally, the days
 of old age are. As the four verses, #2-5|, are a figurative
 description of the infirmities that usually accompany old age, so
 ver. #6| notices the circumstances which take place in the hour
 of death. If sin had not entered into the world, these
 infirmities would not have been known. Surely then the aged
 should reflect on the evil of sin.

25489
 #8-14 Solomon repeats his text, VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS
 VANITY. These are the words of one that could speak by
 dear-bought experience of the vanity of the world, which can do
 nothing to ease men of the burden of sin. As he considered the
 worth of souls, he gave good heed to what he spake and wrote;
 words of truth will always be acceptable words. The truths of
 God are as goads to such as are dull and draw back, and nails to
 such as are wandering and draw aside; means to establish the
 heart, that we may never sit loose to our duty, nor be taken
 from it. The Shepherd of Israel is the Giver of inspired wisdom.
 Teachers and guides all receive their communications from him.
 The title is applied in Scripture to the Lord Jesus Christ, the
 Son of God. The prophets sought diligently, what, or what manner
 of time, the Spirit of Christ in them did signify, when it
 testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory
 that should follow. To write many books was not suited to the
 shortness of human life, and would be weariness to the writer,
 and to the reader; and then was much more so to both than it is
 now. All things would be vanity and vexation, except they led to
 this conclusion, That to fear God, and keep his commandments, is
 the whole of man. The fear of God includes in it all the
 affections of the soul towards him, which are produced by the
 Holy Spirit. There may be terror where there is no love, nay,
 where there is hatred. But this is different from the gracious
 fear of God, as the feelings of an affectionate child. The fear
 of God, is often put for the whole of true religion in the
 heart, and includes its practical results in the life. Let us
 attend to the one thing needful, and now come to him as a
 merciful Saviour, who will soon come as an almighty Judge, when
 he will bring to light the things of darkness, and manifest the
 counsels of all hearts. Why does God record in his word, that
 ALL IS VANITY, but to keep us from deceiving ourselves to our
 ruin? He makes our duty to be our interest. May it be graven in
 all our hearts. Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is
 all that concerns man.
25496
 ** This book is a Divine allegory, which represents the love
 between Christ and his church of true believers, under figures
 taken from the relation and affection that subsist between a
 bridegroom and his espoused bride; an emblem often employed in
 Scripture, as describing the nearest, firmest, and most sure
 relation: see #Ps 45; Isa 54:5,6; 62:5; Jer 2:2; 3:1|; also in
 Ezekiel, Hosea, and by our Lord himself, #Mt 9:15; 25:1|: see
 also #Re 21:2,9; Eph 5:27|. There is no character in the church
 of Christ, and no situation in which the believer is placed, but
 what may be traced in this book, as humble inquirers will find,
 on comparing it with other Scriptures, by the assistance of God
 the Holy Spirit, in answer to their supplications. Much,
 however, of the language has been misunderstood by expositors
 and translators. The difference between the customs and manners
 of Europe, and those of the East, must especially be kept in
 view. The little acquaintance with eastern customs possessed by
 most of our early expositors and translators, has in many cases
 prevented a correct rendering. Also, the changes in our own
 language, during the last two or three centuries, affect the
 manner in which some expressions are viewed, and they must not
 be judged by modern notions. But the great outlines, rightly
 interpreted, fully accord with the affections and experience of
 the sincere Christian.

 * The title. (1) The church confesses her deformity. (2-6) The
 church beseeches Christ to lead her to the resting-place of his
 people. (7,8) Christ's commendation of the church, Her esteem
 for Him. (9-17)

 #1 This is "the Song of songs," excellent above any others, for
 it is wholly taken up with describing the excellences of Christ,
 and the love between him and his redeemed people.

25497
 #2-6 The church, or rather the believer, speaks here in the
 character of the spouse of the King, the Messiah. The kisses of
 his mouth mean those assurances of pardon with which believers
 are favoured, filling them with peace and joy in believing, and
 causing them to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost.
 Gracious souls take most pleasure in loving Christ, and being
 loved of him. Christ's love is more valuable and desirable than
 the best this world can give. The name of Christ is not now like
 ointment sealed up, but like ointment poured forth; which
 denotes the freeness and fulness of the setting forth of his
 grace by the gospel. Those whom he has redeemed and sanctified,
 are here the virgins that love Jesus Christ, and follow him
 whithersoever he goes, #Re 14:4|. They entreat him to draw them
 by the quickening influences of his Spirit. The more clearly we
 discern Christ's glory, the more sensible shall we be that we
 are unable to follow him suitably, and at the same time be more
 desirous of doing it. Observe the speedy answer given to this
 prayer. Those who wait at Wisdom's gate, shall be led into truth
 and comfort. And being brought into this chamber, our griefs
 will vanish. We have no joy but in Christ, and for this we are
 indebted to him. We will remember to give thanks for thy love;
 it shall make more lasting impressions upon us than any thing in
 this world. Nor is any love acceptable to Christ but love in
 sincerity, #Eph 6:24|. The daughters of Jerusalem may mean
 professors not yet established in the faith. The spouse was
 black as the tents of the wandering Arabs, but comely as the
 magnificent curtains in the palaces of Solomon. The believer is
 black, as being defiled and sinful by nature, but comely, as
 renewed by Divine grace to the holy image of God. He is still
 deformed with remains of sin, but comely as accepted in Christ.
 He is often base and contemptible in the esteem of men, but
 excellent in the sight of God. The blackness was owing to the
 hard usage that had been suffered. The children of the church,
 her mother, but not of God, her Father, were angry with her.
 They had made her suffer hardships, which caused her to neglect
 the care of her soul. Thus, under the emblem of a poor female,
 made the chosen partner of a prince, we are led to consider the
 circumstances in which the love of Christ is accustomed to find
 its objects. They were wretched slaves of sin, in toil, or in
 sorrow, weary and heavy laden, but how great the change when the
 love of Christ is manifested to their souls!