he go unto the wife, because he is determined to go on in an 13 evil way. A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance but by forrow of the heart the spirit is broken, and rendered unfit for the fervice of God and man. This teaches us to cultivate an innocent cheerfulness, and not fuffer 14 forrow to prey upon the mind. The heart of him that hath understanding feeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness; foolish men pour out a torrent of impertinent, idle difcourfe, while a wife man feeks improvement in wisdom and grace, and finds the com15 fort of it. All the days of the afflicted [are] evil: but he that is of a merry heart [hath] a continual feast; if a poor afflicted man be of a cheerful temper, it makes up the 16 want of other enjoyments, and fweetens his evil days. Better [is] a little with the fear of the LORD, with a good confcience, and ferving God with it, than great treasure and trouble therewith; than an uneafy mind and the abuse of wealth, which aggravates their future account. This is an important hint to parents to purfue religion rather than wealth, and be more careful that their children be religious than 17 rich. Better [is] a dinner of herbs where love is, than a ftalled ox and hatred therewith; the meanest provision with family peace and love, is better than the greatest dainty 18 and hatred therewith. A wrathful man stirreth up ftrife: but [he that is] flow to anger appeafeth ftrife; a peaceable, quiet fpirit is its own reward, and of great fervice to 19 the world. The way of the flothful [man is] as an hedge of thorns; he makes difficulties where there are none, and magnifies thofe that are: but the way of the righteous [is] made plain, eafy and pleasant, notwithstanding all difcouragements; he does not funk under but furmounts difficul20 ties. A wife fon maketh a glad father, as he hopes he will prove an honour to the family: but a foolish man despiseth his mother; plainly shows he has no regard to her, who 21 perhaps has spoiled him by her indulgence. Folly [is] joy to [him that is] deftitute of wisdom; he fins with delight, and boasts of it: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly; this affords him the highest fatisfaction, and will 22 be greatly rewarded. Without counfel, purposes are dif appointed but in the multitude of counfellors they are established,

23 èftablished, accomplished and brought to a good iffue. A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word [fpoken] in due feason, how good [is it,] both to himself 24 and others! The way of life [is] above to the wife, that he may depart from hell beneath, tho' an up hill road and difficult, yet this balances all, that it preferves a man from hell (as fome understand it); or rather, the way of life, or true religion, leads a man's thoughts upwards, to an holy 25 and heavenly converfation. The LORD will deftroy the house of the proud, who trample on the poor: but he will establish the border of the widow, who is afflicted 26 and oppreffed. The thoughts of the wicked [are] an abomination to the LORD, who fees and hates them: but [the words] of the pure [are] pleasant words, that is, pleafing to God. Let us therefore guard our thoughts and 27 maintain good and useful difcourfe. He that is greedy of gain, or eager in the purfuit of it, troubleth his own houfe; throws them into a continual hurry, will not allow them proper fleep or relaxation, is a burden to children and fervants, and brings the curfe of God upon them: but he that hateth gifts fhall live; he who hateth bribery, difhonesty, and all mean tricks, shall live in reputation and 28 comfort. The heart of the righteous ftudieth to answer; he thinks before he speaks, and ftudies what may be useful: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things, 29 without any confideration of the confequences. The LORD [is] far from the wicked; and thus what was his crime is his punishment: there will be a time when every man will defire that God may be near him: but he heareth the 30 prayer of the righteous. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, gives pleasure and vigour to the body: [and] a good report maketh the bones fat. This should teach us to be thankful if God continues the light of our eyes, and the 31 brightness of our reputation. The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wife; he is admitted into their company as a teachable person, tho' he cannot bear a 32 part in the converfation. He that refufeth instruction despiseth his own foul; is not fufficiently fenfible of his rational, immortal nature, and prefers the body to it: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding, and fo preServeth

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33 ferveth his foul. The fear of the LORD [is] the inftruction of wifdom; the most important precept of wisdom; and before honour [is] humility.-Learn this, that the true, the fure, and the readieft way to be wife and honourable, is to be devout and humble:

TH

'CHA P. XVI.

1 THE preparations of the heart in man, and the anfwer of the tongue [is] from the LORD; it depends on him whether they shall speak with fuch elocution 2 or fuccefs as they intended. All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the fpirits; God has as perfect a knowledge of men's defigns as they have of those things which they weigh in the balance 3 with the greatest exactness. Commit thy works unto the LORD, afk his direction, and feek a blessing from him, and thy thoughts shall be established, without diftreffing cares 4 or fears. The LORD hath made all [things] for himfelf: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil; he has made all things to answer the purposes of his providence and glory, and even wicked men to be executioners of his vengeance; or rather, the Lord hath made all things fuited to each other, and proportioned the punishment of the wicked to their crimes; he hath established the connection between vice 5 and mifery in the future world. Every one without exception, [that is] proud in heart, [is] an abomination to the LORD, tho he may admire and applaud himself: [though] 6 hand [join] in hand, he fhall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged; fidelity and charity are the ready way to avert the wrath of God: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil; where true 7 religion is there will be reformation. When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him; he can calm their spirits and difarm their 8 resentment. Better [is] a little with righteousness than great revenues without right; it is more lafting and more 9 fatisfying. A man's heart devifeth his way: but after all the LORD directeth his fteps, therefore there is reafon

for

10 for prayer and thankfulness. A divine fentence [is,] or fhould be, in the lips of the king: his mouth tranfgreffeth not in judgment, in giving orders and executing judgment; or, if the dictates of God's word be in his lips, a religious regard to the fcripture will have a good influence 11 on his adminiftration. A juft weight and balance [are] the LORD's all the weights of the bag [are] his work, are appointed and commanded by him; justice ought to be obServed in the leaft inftances, and a regard to God will be an 12 engagement to univerfal integrity. [It is,] that is, it should be, an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteoufnefs; it tends to engage the affections of the people and the favour of God, and 13 is the fureft defence of a prince. Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings; and they love him that fpeaketh right; an intimation to Solomon's fubjects what behaviour 14 would please him. The wrath of a king [is as] meffengers of death, especially in fuch arbitrary monarchies as thofe in the east; how much more dreadful is the wrath of God! but a wife man will pacify it; he will take the most 15 wife and prudent time and methods in doing it. In the light of the king's countenance [is] life; there is a tranfport attending the fmile of a prince; and his favour [is] as a cloud of the latter rain; how valuable then is God's 16 favour! How much better in every respect [is it] to get wifdom than gold? and to get understanding rather to be chofen than filver? How foolish then is their conduct who spend all their days in getting wealth, without improv17 ing their own or their children's minds. The highway, that is, the ftraight and eafy path, of the upright is to depart from evil; this is his conftant aim and endeavour: he that keepeth his way, looks well to his actions, preferveth 18 his foul from forrow and deftruction. Pride [goeth] before deftruction, in this world and in the next, and an haughty spirit before a fall; to be proud of any thing is the 19 way to lofe it. Better [it is to be] of an humble fpirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud; an humble man is happier in afflictions, than an haughty, infolent man in the midst of profperity and triumph. Here Solomon not only opposes the blessings of virtue to the rewards of

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vice,

vice, (that would be doing vice too much honour ;) but he oppofes the naked virtue, and that the leaft magnificent of all others, to the advantages of the most exalted vice; the fpirit 20 of meekness to the spoils of pride. He that handleth a matter wifely fhall find good, respect and fuccefs: and whofo trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he; true religion only 21 can make a man happy. The wife in heart fhall be called prudent, that is, have the honour of their wisdom: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning; eloquence adds a new value to it; makes it more agreeable, diffufive, 22 and inftructive. Understanding [is] a well-fpring of life unto him that hath it; it ftreams forth for the inftruction of others: but the inftruction of fools [is] folly; they only betray their own folly, and no good is to be got by them, 23 The heart of the wife teacheth his mouth, and addeth

learning to his lips; he speaks from experience, which 24 makes what he fays the more regarded. Pleasant words, fuch words of wisdom as before defcribed, [are as] an honeycomb, fweet to the foul, and health to the bones, are not only pleasant, but wholesome, like honey, they have 25 an agreeable tafte, and a medicinal virtue. There is a way that feemeth right unto a man: but the end. thereof [are] the ways of death; this is repeated to teach 26 us not to deceive ourselves. He that laboureth laboureth

for himself, for his mouth craveth it of him; honeft industry is neceffary for the prefervation of life, but more 27 neceffary in the concerns of the foul. An ungodly man diggeth up evil; is always contriving to do mischief; with great labour and industry diving into what is fecret by furmifes and fufpicions: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire; his lying, flanderous Speeches are very mischievous. 28 A froward man foweth ftrife where there is love and peace; and a whisperer feparateth chief friends, by car29 rying tales and mifreprefentations. A violent man enticeeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way [that is] not good; contrives to do him the greatest injury. Let us aim at a contrary character, and attempt to draw our 30 friends into the ways of religion. He fhutteth his eyes to

devife froward things; he does it with deliberation and contrivance: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass;