are innumerable snares spread for us by the great enemy of souls, who wishes to entrap us for our destruction, like a bird in the snare of the fowler. It is by the word of God that we must keep ourselves from the snares of this destroyer*; and the word of God is seasonably applied to particular circumstances, by a wise counsellor, by which we are enabled to perceive these snares, and animated to keep the straight way, and to guard with resolution against the temptations that beset us. By the advice of the prudent wife of Nabal, David was preserved from bloodshed; and by the instructions of Nathan, he was delivered from a dangerous snare in which he was already entangled. We should value the friendship and counsels of a wise man, as a happy means of promoting our spiritual life and comfort, and of preserving us from the snares of death; and endeavour to have our minds furnished, from the scripture, with that wisdom which will enable us to perform such important services to others. The tongue of a righteous man talketh of judgment, be cause the law of his God is in his heart †. Ver. 15. Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. A good understanding lies not in dry apprehensions of spiritual things, but appears in that good way wherein it directs men to walk; for a good understanding have all they, and they only, who do God's commandments. This good understanding giveth favour in the sight of God and men. It is the grace of God that gives a good understanding to men, and grace is multiplied to them through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord ||. God has the hearts of all men in his hand, and shews his favour to men of good under * Psal. xvii. 4. +Psal. xxxvii. 30, 31. + Prov. iii. 4. standing, by disposing others to favour them, as far as it seems proper to his infinite wisdom. He turned the hearts of the Egyptians to hate his people; but when the set time was come, he gave them favour in the sight of these enemies, so that they enriched them at their own expense. God made Joseph and Daniel to be favoured in the season of their captivity; and the primitive Christians, at a time when they were mortally hated by the rulers of the nation. Let us keep ourselves in the love of God, and the respect of men will attend us, should it be necessary for us. "But the way of transgressors is hard." Their practice is not only offensive to God and grievous to men, but unhappy to themselves. There are many present inconveniences that attend sin, so that sinners have a hell here as well as hereafter. They have restless minds, and unsatisfied cravings, and uneasy consciences, to torment them. They draw upon themselves the frowns of providence and the hatred of men, and through manifold tribulations they make their way to everlasting fire. Let sinners be persuaded to enter into the way of life. It is a narrow but a pleasant way, and rest is found in it for the soul *. Ver. 16. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge; but a fool layeth open his folly. The wise man does not hide his talents in a napkin, but makes use of his knowledge to direct his choice and pursuits, and every part of his behaviour in life. Knowledge buried in the head is like the miser's money, which he locks up in a chest, and which is of no use either to himself or others; but the knowledge that is joined with prudence, beautifies every discourse and every action. Those, on the contrary, who live at Matt. vii. 13, 14. Isa. lv. 7. Matt. xi. 29. random, are constantly rushing into dangers and mischiefs, and are like an ignorant physician, who cannot distinguish between poisonous and medicinal herbs, and may therefore administer a poison instead of a cure. Fools might be esteemed half wise, if they had sense enough to keep their folly to themselves; but they presume that they are wise, and talk of things of which they know as little as brute beasts, and meddle with things quite above their capacity. Thus they discover their pride and ignorance, whilst they imagine that every one must think them as wise as they think themselves. Ver. 17. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. Persons under authority, often think that they do no wrong whilst they execute the commands of their employer, however unlawful these commands are; but the doers of evil shall fall into mischief, whoever they are that excite them to it. Those servants of Nebuchadnezzar, that cast the three children into the fire by their master's command, were consumed to death, and none pities them *. Unfaithful servants of princes, are to be reckoned among wicked messengers. Such was Hazael, who indeed obtained his master's throne by his treachery; but his new dignity led him into crimes, which will cause his name to be abhorred for ever. Such also was Haman, whose mischievous designs so signally recoiled upon himself. Corrupt ministers are wicked messengers, who fall into the ditch, and draw others [along with them, to add to their eternal disgrace and torment. Even common servants who are unfaithful in a little, * 2 Kings i. shall fall into mischief, as Paul assures them: He that doth wrong, shall receive for the wrong done. But a faithful ambassador is an instrument of procuring advantage and comfort to his master and to himself. Such was Mordecai in the king's court; Paul in the gospel ministry; and Joseph in the house of Potiphar and Pharaoh. Let us undertake no business, but what may be warrantably executed; and having undertaken it, let us perform it faithfully as to the Lord. Ver. 18. Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction ; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. A man that follows vicious courses, and will not be persuaded to abandon them, must be left to himself. Disgrace and ruin will soon make him feel that which he would not believe; and then every admonition formerly given him, will be like an envenomed dart in his soul, inflaming his conscience with tormenting remorse. Persons think it incompatible with their honour to receive reproof, but the dishonour lies in needing, and not receiving it. He, on the contrary, who regards it, and profits by it, shall be honoured as a man adorned with humility and meekness, and shall be turned from that course which disgraced him, into that way of life which is attended with true and solid honour *. Ver. 19. The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but (or and) it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. The deceitful pleasures which fools think they enjoy, or the gratification of their desires, is a means of hardening them in their sinful courses. They find the life of their hands, and therefore their eyes are shut to the wretchedness of their state. Their minds are under 2 Sam. xii, an infatuation, from the influence of the pleasures of sin, and the god of this world. In consequence of this, their hearts cleave with obstinacy to those sins that effectually exclude true happiness. No satisfaction of desire can give solid and durable happiness to a vicious man. The pleasures of sense lie in fancy, rather than enjoyment, which rather extinguishes than bestows real pleasure, because it destroys the pleasing imaginations that were produced by hope. For this reason, a bad man cannot possess real felicity, which cannot be separated from true holiness. His heart is filled with aversion to goodness, and he abhors the thought of forsaking his beloved lusts. His desires are so perverse, that the fulfilment of them cannot satisfy him, but must add to his misery. Sin poisons every enjoyment, and provokes divine justice to blast all his hopes, and what he desires shall utterly decay. Ver. 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Wisdom is so valuable, that those who know the worth of it, will take advantage of every opportunity of improving in it. And the society of wise men is a valuable means for attaining this. He who converses with the wise will learn wisdom from their words and example, which will have a powerful tendency to produce in him a resemblance to their goodness. For this reason we ought to make the wise our companions and friends. David would not have a wicked servant in his house; and though he had learned much wisdom from God's testimonies, he was yet sensible, that, in order to preserve and increase his wisdom, it was necessary to avoid the fellowship of evil-doers, and to make those men his companions that feared the Lord. For the same reason, we ought to attend the wor |