Bridges on Proverbs 21:10
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 21:10
 
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10.  The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. {findeth...: Heb. is not favoured}
 
A lively portraiture of Satan himself! not only doing, but desiring evil! Evil is the very nature of the wicked. What wonder, then, if his very soul desireth it? His “heart is fully set to do it.” He craves it as his appetite, his main delight. What “fitting for destruction” must there be in vessels thus full of sin, and therefore full of wrath! And here lies the difference between the godly and the wicked; not that the one is pure from evil, and the other commits it; but that the one does it from constraint, the other from delight. The one testifies — “What I hate” — the other — What my soul desireth — “that do I.” As the fruit of this native cherished principle, self to the wicked is both his god and his object. Intent upon his own lust, not only his enemy, or a stranger, but even his neighbor, who might have a claim upon him, findeth no favor in his eyes. His charity does not extend beyond his own door. (1 Samuel 25:11.) No one is regarded who stands in the way of his own interest. Friend and brother must give place to selfish gratification.
Such is sin in its hateful character, and baneful fruits. “Men are lovers of their own selves, hateful, and hating one another”! Look at the man of God, with his heart enlarged and softened with the pervading influence of the gospel. Where is the neighbor in distress, that does not find favor in his eyes? (Luke 10:31-35.) “Charity seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthians 13:5) — is his spirit. “Bear ye one another's burdens” (Galatians 6:2) — is his rule. “The members of the body have the same care one for another.” (1 Corinthians 12:25.) Oh! for a larger measure of this gracious spirit, “as the dew of Hermon descending upon the mountains of Israel” (Psalm 133:3), upon the church of God!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Ecclesiastes 8:11.
 

 
Ecclesiastes 8:11
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 4:16; 12:12; 13:19.
 

 
Proverbs 4:16
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
 
Proverbs 12:12
12 ¶ The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. {the net: or, the fortress}
 
Proverbs 13:19
19 ¶ The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
 
 
Footnote:
Romans 9:22.
 

 
Romans 9:22
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: {fitted: or, made up}
 
 
Footnote:
Romans 7:15-21, with 6:12, 16, 17.
 

 
Romans 7:15-21
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. {allow: Gr. know} 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
 
with
Romans 6:12, 16, 17
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. {instruments: Gr. arms, or, weapons} 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. {which...: Gr. whereto ye were delivered}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Samuel 25:11
11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? {flesh: Heb. slaughter}
 
 
Footnote:
2 Timothy 3:2. Titus 3:3.
 

 
2 Timothy 3:2
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
 
Titus 3:3
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
 
 
Luke 10:31-35
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
 
 
1 Corinthians 13:5
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
 
 
Galatians 6:2
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
 
 
1 Corinthians 12:25
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. {schism: or, division}
 
 
Psalm 133:3
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.