The Progress., 1896-11-14

The way to the heavenly life on earth
Is shown to men. The City of God is not
in heaven alone but comes down from
God out of heaven. and is among men
The steps to this blessed life are set forth
IN all their attractiveness. The appea,
is to all that is highest. noblest ana best
! In men.
Today's lesson includes verses | 10 IT,
chapter 3 Book of Proverbs. with e%-
p!ahat"ry notes the lesson follows:
l. My SON." The older and wiser man
addresses the younger, not as master or
tyrant. but as a father and friend, des'r-
ing his pupils good. 1t implies also tha1
the one addressed is acting like a son.
Forget not my law" We forget tina.
to which we do not pay earnest atten,loh.
therefore, It Is our duty and our "!snoh'
to Cd read the whole law of God; l2) TO
study it earnestly and thoroughly: ~ TO
use 1t as a guide to our daily lives Leg
thine heart Keep my commandments
There Is no true, no lasting Obedience
| that does not come from the heart, the
fountain Of life. Mere outward Obedience
is not acceptable. Who would accept from
a son or daughter, from husband or wire:
mere outward righteousness that dld
not flow from love?
2. For length of days and years or lte
and peace" Long life Is of little use un-
less 1t be accompanied by peace ana pros
perity, which the word also means. "
Ihis Is a statement of general pr'nc'P!'
that keeping Gods commandments tenos
to length of life, "by preserving the con-
stitution sound and healthy"
3. Mercy toward the SHINING and to-
ward the suffering. And truth" SINGER
lty. pure. upright dealings in all things
These are mentioned as duties toward our
fellow men which are apt to be neglected.
Bind them about thy neck" as costly
ornaments, carefully guarded from loss,
always in sight, something to delight in.
They are indeed the graces and the
beauty of men. as well as their duty
Write them on the table (tableD Of thine
heart AS the ten commandments upon
the tablets Of stone, never to be ef1aceh
T. Favour and good understanding -,
The reward or fruit of adopting the
course recommended. and exhibiting the
virtues spoken of in the preceding verse.
is here subjoned. This is twofold: as it
regards others, both God and man. favor;
as 1t regards the possessor, good success,
prosperity.
I. "Wise in thine own eyes," i. e., In
thine own opinion or conceit. Be not
puffed up with vain conceit Of thine
own Importance, thy knowledge, thy su-
perior wisdom. Fear the Lord" Not
to be afraid of, but reverence, stand in
awe Of his greatness, and wisdom, ana
goodness so that we shall trust our all
to him. "And depart from evil.' The
natural consequence Of fearing the LORD.
8. ut shall be health to thy navel the
muscles of the body, and marrow. or
moisture. "to thy bones" The marrow
was supposed to keep the bones in a
healthy state. 9. "Honor the Lord with
thy substance" your capital, the property
you possess.
10. $50 shall thy barns be filed with
plenty" Compare the promise in Ma
lach 3: 10. Fats shall overflow out
Overflow with the crop Of grapes it IS toe
small to contain. Or 1t may refer to the
Kissing and bursting Of the new grapes
II. 'Despise not Shrink not from the
chastening.' Discipline. schooling, in.
struction by punishment. Delitzsch trans
lates. "The school of Jehovah" Neither
be weary; !. e.. do not loathe. abhor, fee
disgust nor vexation towards The wore
certainly denotes loathing or nausea. 20
his reproof," or correction by means OF
reproof. "Those who are determined te
do wrong loathe all reproof that would
turn them from it."
IL. For whom the Lord loveth he re-
proveth." Care. burdens, losses sickness
troubles are no necessary proof that W.
are worse than other men, as we have
seen in Job, but are the fatherly disci
pline of one who loves us with all hi:
| heart, but loves us too well to let us gt
IN in the wrong.
49, Happy is the man." TIL
word for happy is plural il
the original. The plural form ex
presses the manifold nature OF tn
blessedness of the wise man. He 1!
e blessed in every way, at all times. from
all sources, in all departments Of his life
in all circumstances. He Is blessed II
body and in soul; in time and III eternity
: p. "That findeth (has found, and hold
possession of wisdom" After Ion;
> and arduous search, as for hid treasures
e Often there is far more gained in the &C
! of searching than in mere possession
This Is true Of almost all good things
Rasselas was discontented in the Happ.
r Valley, and so were all the dweller
!, there; and he was willing to tunnel hi
. way out with infinite labor rather thai
6 dwoll amid its nprfectiOnS