Bridges on Proverbs 13:14
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 13:14
 
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14. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
 
Reverence to God's commandment has just been enforced. The blessing of the law or instruction (Chapter 3:1; 4:2) of the wise is here shown. It is a fountain of life (Chapter 10:11) to a teachable and thirsting heart. It is a grand conservative principle in a world full of snares, not of danger only, but of death. There is no safe treading, but in the ways of God. The word of God gives the necessary warning (Psalm 17:4; 119:9, 11.) The law of the wise — his instruction with all the authority of a law — applies it. This was David's seasonable instruction to Solomon (Chapter 4:4); Solomon's to us. (Chapter 5:1-13; 7:24-27.) Hear this warning law of the wise from an Apostle's mouth. The love of money was fearfully destroying souls. — “Thou, O man of God, flee these things.” (1 Timothy 6:9-11.) This is the grand end of the Ministry of the Gospel; to “deliver them from the snares of the devil, who taketh men captive at his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26.) Let the young take heed to their feet, where every step is a snare of death. Let the instruction of thy God and his Ministers be the law of the wise to keep thy path in safety. Even in defect of literal prescript, the spirit of the law will supply practical rules for keeping the heart and life — e.g. to do nothing of which the lawfulness is questionable — to consider everything as unlawful, which indisposes for prayer, and interrupts communion with God — never to go into any company, business, or situation, in which the presence and blessing of God cannot be conscientiously asked and expected.† Such rules are in the spirit of the law, and well worthy of adoption. “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” (Chapter 4:26.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 3:1
1 ¶ My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
 
Proverbs 4:2
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 10:11
11 ¶ The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 17:4
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
 
Psalm 119:9, 11
9 ¶ BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 11 ¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 4:4
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 5:1-13
1 ¶ My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: {mouth: Heb. palate} 4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. 7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: 9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: 10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; {thy wealth: Heb. thy strength} 11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
 
Proverbs 7:24-27
24 ¶ Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Timothy 6:9-11
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {erred: or, been seduced} 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Timothy 2:24-26
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, {patient: or, forbearing} 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. {recover...: Gr. awake} {taken...: Gr. taken alive}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
‘By the help of these three rules, I soon settle all my doubts, and find that many things I have hitherto indulged in, are, if not utterly unlawful, at least inexpedient, and I can renounce them without many sighs.’ — Life of Rev. Dr. Payson, chap. iii.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 4:26
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. {let...: or, all thy ways shall be ordered aright}