Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult. Sermons
I. REVERENCE AND IRREVERENCE FOR THE DIVINE WORD. The "Word" is any revelation man receives of God, whether through nature, oracles of the prophets, or in his immediate consciousness. The last, in the deepest sense, is the condition of all other revelations. Irreverence is shown either when men are deaf and indifferent to the Divine voice, or when they suffer it to be out-clamoured by other voices - of passion, policy, etc. The result is that he who thus sins is "pledged" or forfeited to the Divine Law, here personified or regarded as a superhuman power. Hence appears the truth from this figure, that in disobedience our freedom is lost. On the contrary, reverence and obedience receive a certain reward: "Glory, honour, and peace to every man that worketh good" (Romans 2:10). II. THE DOCTRINE OF THE WISE. (Ver. 14.) The teaching that is founded on Divine revelation is a source of life, and a safeguard against the snares of death (comp. Proverbs 10:11). III. THERE MUST BE RECEPTIVITY TOWARDS THIS. DOCTRINE. The Word must be "mixed with faith in those that hear." The favour of God is free in one sense, i.e. is no earned result of our conduct; but it is conditional in another, viz. it depends on our compliance with his will. The contrast to the life in the light of God's favour, watered by vital nourishment from the springs of truth, is the "way of the faithless," which is "barren," dry, as in "a dry and thirsty land where no water is." IV. PRUDENCE AND GOOD COUNSEL MUST BE ADDED TO REVERENCE. (Ver. 16.) Thougtfulness is Deeded in studying the evidences, the substance, the applications of religion. And in the practical conduct of life how necessary! for more errors are committed for want of judgment and discrimination as to time, place, and circumstances, than for want of true and right purpose. The man destitute of tact pours folly abroad; temper, vanity, caprice, are exposed in all that he does and says. V. FAITHFUL AND UNFAITHFUL MINISTRY. (Ver. 17.) The wicked messenger prepares misfortune both for his master and for himself; while the faithful servant will amend even his master's mistakes. Applied to sacred things, every Christian should consider himself a messenger, an apostle in however humble a sphere, of God and his truth. And "it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." - J.
Good understanding giveth favour. Homilist. I. THE NATURE OF A SOUND INTELLECT. A good understanding must include four things.1. Enlightenment. The soul without knowledge is not good. A good understanding is that which is well informed, not merely in general knowledge, but in the science of duty and of God. 2. Impartiality. A good intellect should hold the balance of thought with a steady hand. 3. Religiousness. It must be inspired with a deep sense of its allegiance to heaven. 4. Practicalness. It should be strong and bold enough to carry all its decisions into actual life. "A good understanding have all they that do His commandments." Thus it appears a good understanding is tantamount to practical godliness. II. THE USEFULNESS OF A SOUND INTELLECT. The greatest benefactor is the man of a good understanding. The thoughts of such men as these are the seeds of the world's best institutions, and most useful arts and inventions. The man of good understanding is the most useful in the family, in the neighbourhood, in the market, in the press, in the senate, in the pulpit, everywhere. 1. No favours so valuable as mental favours. He who really helps the mind to think with accuracy, freedom, and force, to love with purity, and to hope with reason, helps the man in the entirety of his being. 2. No one can confer mental favours who has not a good understanding. An ignorant man has no favour to bestow on souls. "Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge the wing with which we fly to heaven" (Shakespeare). Let us, therefore, cultivate a sound intellect. "I make not my head a grave," says Sir T. Browne, in his quaint way, "but a treasury of knowledge; I intend no monopoly, but a community in learning; I study not for my own sake only, but for theirs that study not for themselves; I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less. I instruct no man as an exercise of my knowledge, or with an intent rather to nourish and keep it alive in mine own head than beget and propagate it in his; and, in the midst of all my endeavours, there is but one thought that dejects me — that my acquired parts must perish with myself, nor can be legacied among my honoured friends." (Homilist.) But the way of transgressors is hard I. THE COURSE OF SIN.1. A disposition to regard life as a matter of circumstances. Personal freedom is, however, never nullified, personal responsibility never suspended. The track and trend of a man's life is largely within his own determination. 2. The text speaks of "a way," i.e., a trodden path. It refers to a course that is chosen, and persisted in. It is the habit of the sinner's life — a much-frequented track. 3. Sin indulged in soon becomes sin confirmed. How soon a track is made across the soft earth. The "dearest idol" was once a plaything, a diversion. 4. This is the sure and certain tendency of sin. "Wild oats" mean a harvest of thorns. It is a cruel thing that is done, when men speak lightly of what is wrong. II. THE ACT OF SIN. 1. Sin is one: a great, awful unit. But sin is viewed under various aspects. Here the idea is that of one who deals treacherously, one who deceives, or deceives himself. 2. This is the quality of sin committed in Christian lands. Sin "against light and love." This is sin which makes pity impossible, save with God, and with such as the Godlike. III. THE PUNISHMENT OF SIN. All sin is visited with punishment. The "pleasures of sin" are but "for a season." The punishment comes. The present punishment of sin is here emphasised; if that is not enough to drive you from the way of the transgressor, what of the death-bed, of the judgment-seat, of the never-dying worm? Where, then, is salvation? Look at what is suggested by one and another. 1. Retirement; a life of seclusion and penitence. 2. A firm stand against the encroaching sin. 3. Altered associations. These are the proposals of policy, or human calculations. God's proposal for salvation is an absolute and unconditional forsaking. (George Lester.) Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons. But who believes this? None who set their opinion against the testimony of revelation.I. WHAT IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS? Transgressor is but another name for sinner. Transgression supposeth either something done that was forbidden or something omitted that was commanded. II. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TEXT RESPECTING THIS WAY. It is not rendered harder than it ought to be, through undue severity in God. 1. The kindness of God renders it difficult either to shun or to resist the light. 2. It is sometimes necessary for the Divine Being to carry Himself with some severity against daring and obdurate sinners, for a warning to others. 3. Jehovah's efforts to save render those who finally abuse His goodness singularly criminal. Improvements: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons.) (J. T. Davidson, D.D.) 1. The loss of a good conscience. 2. The loss of character. 3. The loss of usefulness. 4. The loss of the soul.When we go into the way of transgressors, we do not know that we shall ever have an opportunity of repenting and believing in Jesus. And no matter what part of the transgressors' ways we may have walked in, we shall find it a hard way, because it will be sure to bring the loss of heaven to us. (R. Newton, D. D.) II. It is a hard way, BECAUSE IN THE END IT IS USUALLY A FAILURE. Most men see only the present, and when summer is here one feels it must never end; but winter comes on at last. III. It is a hard way, BECAUSE OPPOSED TO ALL THE STRONGER PRINCIPLES THAT PREVAIL IN LIFE AND DESTINY. The transgressor braves the mighty current of that eternal river which has swept on its bosom every being borne down to the shoreless sea of the judgment of God. Examples: Absalom, Judas, Pharaoh. No use fighting against God. IV. It is a hard way, BECAUSE IT IS AN UNHAPPY WAY. Conscience and all the better self rebel — opposed to all one's highest associates and surroundings. V. A hard way, BECAUSE IT ENDS IN ETERNAL RUIN — no opportunity to repair the damage. A hard life here, and hereafter eternal ruin! VI. THE ONLY EASY WAY IS THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE — the life that now is and the life that is to come. Turn from your hard master and serve the Lord Jesus Christ, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light. (C. G. Wright.) II. THE PAINFUL PATH. The R.V. says, "But the way of the treacherous is rugged." The way of wickedness is difficult and dangerous to travel as a rugged road. How true; young people may not think so; but old men will tell you the prophet knew what he was saying when he uttered the words, "They weary themselves to commit iniquity." says, "Virtue is easier than vice." Mr. H. W. Beecher used to tell of a man in America "who had the habit of stealing all his firewood. He would get up on cold nights and go and take it from his neighbours' woodpiles. It was ascertained that he spent more time and worked harder to get his fuel than he would have been obliged to if he had earned it in an honest way, and at ordinary wages." And this is a type of thousands of men who work a great deal harder to please the devil than they would have to work to please God. It is easier to be sober than intemperate, honest than dishonest, etc. III. THE WAY IS HARD; FOR IT IS FREQUENTLY A PATH OF SORROW AND SUFFERING. "As certain serpents before they strike their prey fix their eyes upon it and fascinate it, and then at last devour it, so does sin fascinate the foolish sons of Adam — they are charmed with it, and perish for it." "Woe unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil to themselves." IV. THE WAY IS HARD; FOR IT IS THE WAY OF BITTER RECOLLECTIONS. (J. E. Whydale.) 1. Physical science. 2. Moral consciousness. 3. Common experience. II. MAN IS PUNISHED FOR EACH TRANSGRESSION. 1. Each sinful act increases sinful desire. 2. Each sinful act weakens spiritual strength. As the sinful desire weakens, the power of resistance diminishes. A reed that has been overcome by the rushing torrent finds it more difficult to stand erect before the next. 3. Each single act is living in the memory. III. MAN IS PUNISHED BY AN ETERNAL LAW WHICH CONDEMNS TRANSGRESSION. 1. This is a law additional to, but in harmony with, his constitution. 2. This is a law to be satisfied only by atonement. (The Congregational Pulpit.) 5861 favour, human The Poor Rich and the Rich Poor Practical Methods of Studying the Old Testament The Song of the Redeemed The Heavenly Footman; Or, a Description of the Man that Gets to Heaven: "And this is his Commandment," &C. Second Sunday after Easter How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance. Opposition to Messiah Ruinous "But if Ye have Bitter Envying and Strife in Your Hearts, Glory Not," &C. "But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all These Things Shall be Added unto You. " Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Proverbs |
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