Bridges on Proverbs 17:21
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 17:21
 
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21.  He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
 
Among “the vanities, to which the creature is made subject,” Solomon elsewhere enumerated one, of which he probably had a feeling experience — leaving the labour of his hand — he knoweth not to whom — whether he shall be a wise man or a fool. (Ecclesiastes 2:18, 19.) The latter prospect is here realized. The weeping parent not only finds no joy in the fondly cherished object of his expectation; but a cankering grief embitters all his joys, and often brings him “down with sorrow to the grave.” And how is this sorrow aggravated, should there be an unhappy humbling consciousness that undue indulgence or severity, injudicious treatment, and more than all — neglect of real prayer for the child, and of the diligent improvement of God's appointed means, virtually suffered the evil propensities to grow to a direful harvest of ruin!
Yet let the godly parent expect everything from prayer — provided it be not palsied by despondency. (Galatians 6:9; John 11:40.) In the deepest distress never lose hold of the covenant of grace. (Genesis 17:7.) Let the determined faith of a praying mother encourage perseverance. (Matthew 15:22-28.) God exercises faith; but he never fails to honour it. He delays to answer prayer; but every word, every sigh, is registered for acceptance in his best time. Let Solomon's word be a quickening — not a discouraging — word; “profitable” indeed “for reproof, and for correction;” but not less so “for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ecclesiastes 2:18, 19
18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. {taken: Heb. laboured} 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 42:38. Has not many an afflicted parent fellowship with the impassioned cry of Augustus —‘Would that I had lived single, or died childless?’
 

 
Genesis 42:38
38 And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Sanderson's Sermon on Romans 15:5. ‘Think none of you, you have sufficiently discharged your parts towards those that are under your charge, if you have instructed them, corrected them when they have done amiss, and rewarded them when they have done well, so long as your fervent prayers for them have been wanting. In vain shall your wrestle with their stubbornness and other corruptions, (though you put forth all your strength) so long as you wrestle with them only. Then, or not at all, shall you wrestle to purpose, when you enter the lists with the Father of Spirits, as Jacob did: wrestling with him by your importunate prayers; and not giving him over, till you have wrung a blessing from him, either for yourselves, or them, or both.’
 

 
Romans 15:5
5 ¶ Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: {according to: or, after the example of}
 
 
Galatians 6:9
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
 
John 11:40
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
 
 
Genesis 17:7
7 ¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
 
 
Matthew 15:22-28
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
 
 
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: