Bridges on Proverbs 19:4
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 19:4
 
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4.  Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
 
We have had the substance of this Proverb before. (Chapter 14:20. Compare verse 6.) It is nominally true, that wealth maketh many friends. But generally they are little worth. ‘Riches have them’ — says Bishop Hall — ‘not the man.’† The principle is selfishness; no earnest of true and permanent friendship. Few among them will be found “loving at all times, brethren born for adversity.” (Chapter 17:17.) God has made poverty a gradation of rank; and as such we are bound to regard it. Man makes it a wall of separation. It tries our own faith and patience, and not less the love and sincerity of our faith.†
This want of sympathy with the poor is a serious evil. It separates those whom God has linked together by a mutual bond of reciprocal interest; the rich being the guardians and protectors of the poor; the poor being the strength and support of the rich. But too often the poor know their wealthier neighbors only as living in the most luxurious indulgence, while they themselves are left in the sense of their poverty, unaided and uncared for. This could never be if the gospel had leavened the mass with its own Divine principle of love. But what — if the LORD's poor be separated from his selfish neighbor. (Verse 7.) There is One that “knoweth his soul in adversity” (Psalm 31:7), and that hath pledged his word — “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5.) Yes — this is the joy and the stay of his confidence — “I am poor and needy; but the LORD thinketh on me.” (Psalm 40:17.) Poverty may separate him from his neighbor. But who or what shall separate him from his God? (Romans 8:38, 39.) “Joint-heir as he is with him whom God hath appointed heir of all things,” what can he want?† ‘If it were possible for him to stand absolutely in need of the use and service of the whole creation, all the creatures in the world would surely wait on him, and be appropriated to him.’† With such an inheritance as his, why should he fret for a few years’ poverty or neglect? Earth's short vision will soon be past; and then comes the eternal reality of unclouded joy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 14:20
20 ¶ The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. {the rich...: Heb. many are the lovers of the rich}
 
Proverbs 19:6
6 ¶ Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. {him...: Heb. a man of gifts}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Works, viii. 77. Compare Ecclesiasticus 13:22, 32.
 
 
King James Version:
 
Ecclesiasticus 13:22, 23
What agreement is there between the hyena and a dog? and what peace between the rich and the poor? As the wild ass is the lion's prey in the wilderness: so the rich eat up the poor. As the proud hate humility: so doth the rich abhor the poor. A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a poor man being down is thrust away by his friends. When a rich man is fallen, he hath many helpers: he speaketh things not to be spoken, and yet men justify him: the poor man slipped, and yet they rebuked him too; he spake wisely, and could have no place. When a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue, and, look, what he saith, they extol it to the clouds: but if the poor man speak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.
 
Douay Version:
 
Ecclesiasticus 13:22, 23
What fellowship hath a holy man with a dog, or what part hath the rich with the poor? The wild ass is the lion's prey in the desert: so also the poor are devoured by the rich. And as humility is an abomination to the proud: so also the rich man abhorreth the poor. When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends: but when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even by his acquaintance. When a rich man hath been deceived, he hath many helpers: he hath spoken proud things, and they have justified him. The poor man was deceived, and he is rebuked also: he hath spoken wisely, and could have no place. The rich man spoke, and all held their peace, and what he said they extol even to the clouds. The poor man spoke, and they say: Who is this? and if he stumble, they will overthrow him. Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 17:17
17 ¶ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Amicus certus in re incertâ cernitur. — Cicero.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 19:7
7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 31:7
7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hebrews 13:5
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 40:17
17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Romans 8:38, 39
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Romans 8:17. Hebrews 1:2, with 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.
 
 
Romans 8:17
17 ¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
 
Hebrews 1:2
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
 
Compare
1 Corinthians 3:21-23
21 ¶ Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Reynolds’ Works, p. 11.