Another offer is made us of entertainment, but alas ! of how different a kind! It is made by the harlot, against whom we need to be often warned.

Ver. 13. A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

She is foolish, ignorant, and stupid to the last degree, for she buys a moment of empty delight at the expense of everlasting burnings. She is impudent and clamorous. The damned in hell are afraid that their companions should come to their place of torment. But this shameless creature earnestly calls others to share with her in those pleasures which are followed by everlasting sorrows.

Ver. 14, 15. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, to call passengers who go right on their ways.

They are evil times, when tempters to sin are permitted to hunt so avowedly for prey. Let well-meaning persons, in such a time, watch and pray against temptation. These are the persons whom the foolish woman solicits, and too often with success.

Ver. 16, 17. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither ; and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

They are surely stupid, who believe that there is any pleasure in those things that are forbidden by God, and afraid to appear in open day. Yet such is the corruption of the hearts of men, that they relish doctrines so contrary to reason, as well as to Scripture. We are naturally prone to things forbidden, and till our souls are renewed by the grace of God, can taste an unaccountable sweetness in that which is poison to the soul. But when we are restored to a sound mind, those delights only will be relished, which consist with

a pure conscience, and the dignity of a rational and immortal soul.

It is through blindness and inconsideration that any man is entangled in the snares of the foolish woman— Ver. 18. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

We are naturally starving creatures, and cannot find happiness within ourselves. As every man must have food to satisfy the natural cravings of hunger, so every soul must have some gratification to its desires of happiness. Wisdom and folly do each spread a feast for men. The question is, Whose guests shall we be? And did we possess any wisdom, or any true and welldirected self-love, it might be easily decided. The entertainments of wisdom, are soul-quickening provision. They that hear her calls, shall eat that which is good, and their souls shall live for ever. The guests of wisdom are in the heights of heaven. They feast on the hidden manna, and on the fruits of the tree of life. The provisions of the foolish woman are a deadly, though perhaps a slow poison. Her guests have their portion with the wicked giants, who brought on the world a universal deluge, and with the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, who are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Let us consider where Joseph now is, and what blessings are come upon the crown of the head of him, who so bravely resisted temptations the most alluring, and the most threatening. Let us, on the other hand, remember Sodom and Gomorrah, and chuse our portion with the one or the other. Be astonished, O heavens! that men should be so cruel to their own souls, as to deliberate a moment in so clear a case. To-day let us hear the

voice of wisdom.

CHAPTER X.

SALVATION is by grace through faith; and this faith works by love, producing universal obedience to the law of our Creator and Redeemer. This law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments, and published with more particularity in this divinely inspired body of Christian morality. Let us study it with attention, and pray that the Spirit of Jesus may enable us to understand and practise it.

Ver. 1. The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

The first nine chapters are a prefatory address. Now begin the proverbs, (or masterly sayings,) properly so called. Weighty sayings deserve and gain regard. But how shall we sufficiently esteem the proverbs left us by Solomon, which is almost another name for wisdom itself! By this inspired philosopher, Divine Wisdom speaks to every generation.

Were the first of these proverbs to have its due influence on mankind, the world would be greatly reformed and blessed by its efficacy. A great part of our race are parents,-all mankind are, or have been children; and by it both parents and children are directed. Parents are instructed to use all possible means to make their children wise. But how shall they effect this? Is it not the prerogative of God to give wisdom? No doubt. But he makes use of proper and appointed means for this purpose. Would you then derive com

fort from your children? Instruct, reprove, exhort them, pray for them, recommend religion to them by your example; for thus saith the Author of wisdom, “Train up a child in the way wherein he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." But if in some rare instance he should, your souls will not on that account be stung with self-accusations.

Remember, ye that are children, how greatly you are indebted to your parents, and how much their comfort is bound up in you. Be wise, seek useful knowledge, and search for it as for hid treasure. Walk in the fear of the Lord. Let prudence and discretion, (such as Solomon teaches,) appear in every part of your conduct; so shall your father and mother greatly rejoice, and bless the Lord on your account. But if you are foolish and unruly, you grieve their spirits, and wound the souls that love you with the dearest affection. Consider that your mothers bore you with sorrow. Why should your lives also be a continual source of pain to their tender hearts! or why should the anxieties of your fathers on your behalf, be rewarded with the cutting view of your ungodly lives! "A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish man despiseth his mother *." Though he should in no other way express his contempt for her, his foolish behaviour is a plain proof that he values not her happiness.

Ver. 2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothingIll-gotten riches are called treasures of wickedness. It is an opinion generally held by men, that riches, in whatever way procured, will do them great service. If, therefore, they cannot come at the possession of them by honest means, they will scrape them together by any means in their power. But here the Spirit of God tells

us, that if a man should heap up immense riches to himself, they will profit him nothing. And how can they? They are cursed to him. If a moth in his substance, and stings in his conscience, and the damnation of hell, can bring any advantage to the robber and extortioner, let them rejoice in their portion.

-But righteousness delivereth from death.

No righteousness but that which is by the faith of Jesus Christ, delivers from eternal death. However, he is a gross deceiver of his own soul, who pretends to be clothed with it, while he continues to live unrighteously.

By righteousness, we give to every one his due; first to God, and next to men. This righteousness is a preservative from death and misery of every kind. How? Through the gracious protection of him that keepeth the path of the righteous, as the wise man tells us in the next words:

Ver. 3. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righ teous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

But was it never known that the just man perished by want? Are ravens always commissioned to feed the people of God in times of famine? God has them at his command, if he sees it proper to make use of them; and when he pleases, he can administer to his people's necessities as easily by miracle as by the use of ordinary means. Let them, then, joyfully commit the care of their bodies to his mercy. So long as his infinite wisdom shall see their continuance in life meet for them, their bread and their water shall be sure; and though their bodies should in some rare instances be pinched with hunger, he will nourish their souls with bread which the world knows not of.

But the wicked are not so.

Whilst the righteous are sure of being satisfied in days of famine, they are near