{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/cmt/mhcc/pro014.htm","path":"bib/cmt/mhcc/pro014.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/mhcc/pro014.htm","text":"Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible, by Matthew Henry\nA woman who has no fear of God, who is wilful and wasteful, and indulges her ease, will as certainly ruin her family, as if she plucked her house down.\nHere are grace and sin in their true colours. Those that despise God's precepts and promises, despise God and all his power and mercy.\nPride grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch. The prudent words of wise men get them out of difficulties.\nThere can be no advantage without something which, though of little moment, will affright the indolent.\nA conscientious witness will not dare to represent anything otherwise than according to his knowledge.\nA scorner treats Divine things with contempt. He that feels his ignorance and unworthiness will search the Scriptures in a humble spirit.\nWe discover a wicked man if there is no savour of piety in his discourse.\nWe are travellers, whose concern is, not to spy out wonders, but to get to their journey's end; to understand the rules we are to walk by, also the ends we are to walk toward. The bad man cheats himself, and goes on in his mistake.\nFoolish and profane men consider sin a mere trifle, to be made light of rather than mourned over. Fools mock at the sin-offering; but those that make light of sin, make light of Christ.\nWe do not know what stings of conscience, or consuming passions, torment the prosperous sinner. Nor does the world know the peace of mind a serious Christian enjoys, even in poverty and sickness.\nSin ruins many great families; whilst righteousness often raises and strengthens even mean families.\nThe ways of carelessness, of worldliness, and of sensuality, seem right to those that walk in them; but self-deceivers prove self-destroyers. See the vanity of carnal mirth.\nOf all sinners backsliders will have the most terror when they reflect on their own ways.\nEager readiness to believe what others say, has ever proved mischievous. The whole world was thus ruined at first. The man who is spiritually wise, depends on the Saviour alone for acceptance. He is watchful against the enemies of his salvation, by taking heed to God's word.\nHoly fear guards against every thing unholy.\nAn angry man is to be pitied as well as blamed; but the revengeful is more hateful.\nSin is the shame of sinners; but wisdom is the honour of the wise.\nEven bad men acknowledge the excellency of God's people.\nFriendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend; he will not desert us.\nTo despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin.\nHow wisely those consult their own interest, who not only do good, but devise it!\nLabour of the head, or of the hand, will turn to some good account. But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, they will come to nothing.\nThe riches of men of wisdom and piety enlarge their usefulness.\nAn upright man will venture the displeasure of the greatest, to bring truth to light.\nThose who fear the Lord so as to obey and serve him, have a strong ground of confidence, and will be preserved. Let us seek to this Fountain of life, that we may escape the snares of death.\nLet all that wish well to the kingdom of Christ, do what they can, that many may be added to his church.\nA mild, patient man is one that learns of Christ, who is Wisdom itself. Unbridled passion is folly made known.\nAn upright, contented, and benevolent mind, tends to health.\nTo oppress the poor is to reproach our Creator.\nThe wicked man has his soul forced from him; he dies in his sins, under the guilt and power of them. But godly men, though they have pain and some dread of death, have the blessed hope, which God, who cannot lie, has given them.\nWisdom possesses the heart, and thus regulates the affections and tempers.\nPiety and holiness always promote industry, sobriety, and honesty.\nThe great King who reigns over heaven and earth, will reward faithful servants who honour his gospel by the proper discharge of the duties of their stations: he despises not the services of the lowest.","title":"Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible: Proverbs: Proverbs Chapter 14","type":"page"}