Bridges on Proverbs 21:28
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 21:28
 
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28.  A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. {A...: Heb. A witness of lies}
 
The last clause of the proverb seems to fix and restrict the first. A false witness often becomes so by the culpable habit of thoughtlessly repeating, without examination or certain knowledge. A man may thus do very serious injury to his neighbor's character or property. It proves a very loose conscience, and an utter want of that “charity, which covers,” instead of exposing faults.† It is “rejoicing in iniquity,” rather than “rejoicing in truth.”† This false witness will certainly be punished by God;† and even ‘by man he will be confounded and silenced. No one for the future will regard or receive his testimony.’† But the man that heareth — the true witness who speaketh only what he heareth, and is fully acquainted with — he speaketh constantly — to conviction. He holds to his testimony and never contradicts himself. He ‘speaks the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.’ His word, even if it had been slighted at first, gains more and more credit and authority, when the false witness shall have perished. (Chapter 12:19.)
Thus “the faithful and true witness” declared for himself and his servants — “We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen.”† The Apostles, to give solid weight to their testimony, would fill up the vacancy in their body only from among those, “who had companied with them all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among them” (Acts 1:21, 22); as if those only, who had heard, would speak constantly. They claimed authority to their commission, as having heard from the mouth of God, and therefore being assured of its divine warrant.† And indeed this constitutes the main power of testimony. A feeble and hesitating tone is spiritless and ineffective. (2 Corinthians 1:17.) A decided accredited presentment of truth — speaking constantly — commands conviction. “We believe, and therefore we speak.” (Ib. 4:13.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 10:12.
 
 
Proverbs 10:12
12 ¶ Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
 
 
Footnote:
Contrast 1 Corinthians 13.
 
 
1 Corinthians 13.
1 ¶ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, {vaunteth...: or, is not rash} 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; {in the truth: or, with the truth} 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 ¶ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. {fail: Gr. vanish away} 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. {done away: Gr. vanish away} 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. {thought: or, reasoned} {put away: Gr. vanish away} 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. {darkly: Gr. in a riddle} 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 19:5, 9.
 
 
Proverbs 19:5, 9
5 ¶ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. {unpunished: Heb. held innocent} 9 ¶ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
 
 
Footnote:
Poole in loco.
 
 
Proverbs 12:19
19 ¶ The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
 
 
Footnote:
Revelation 3:14. John 3:11.
 
 
Revelation 3:14
14 ¶ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; {of the Laodiceans: or, in Laodicea}
 
John 3:11
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Corinthians 1:23; 15:3, 4. 2 Peter 1:16-18. 1 John 1:1-3.
 
 
1 Corinthians 1:23
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
 
1 Corinthians 15:3, 4
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
 
2 Peter 1:16-18
16 ¶ For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
 
1 John 1:1-3
1 ¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acts 1:21, 22
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
 
 
2 Corinthians 1:17
17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
 
 
2 Corinthians 4:13
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;