Bridges on Proverbs 28:4
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 28:4
 
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4.  They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
 
How responsible is the influence of our profession, acting upon all around for evil or for good! Congeniality of taste directs the choice of our companions. Those who love sin, naturally “have pleasure in them that do it.” (Romans 1:32.) They praise the wicked, because, like themselves, they forsake the law, and “cast it behind them.” “The world loveth its own.” Each countenances his brother in sin. (Isaiah 12:6.) Each makes the other's conduct, not the forsaken law, the standard of action. The wicked may possess some praiseworthy qualities. (Luke 16:8.) But to praise them for their wickedness, identifies us with them. ‘It is fearful to sin; more fearful to delight in sin; yet more to defend it.’
The servants of God maintain the same unity of spirit. They cannot call sin by smooth names, and gloss over an ungodly character. If they keep the law, they contend with them that forsake it. Noah thus contended with the ungodly in his day, condemning them not merely in word, but in life; and though “a preacher of righteousness,” he preached more powerfully by his life, than by his doctrine. But this contention must be aggressive. We must “reprove,” as well as separate from, “the unfruitful works of darkness.” Our Divine Master's open testimony was the grand offense. So let us plainly shew, that his enemies are ours; that we hold neutrality in his cause to be treason. For “he that is not with me is against me.” (Matthew 12:30.)
Oh! the appalling recollection of our former influence for evil! the deadly, perhaps the eternal, injury, which all our subsequent labors have never undone! the encouragement, which our praise of the wicked gave to sin, hardening our companions in their wickedness! What would Manasseh have given to have undone his sin in all its evil consequences upon his son and his kingdom! Intolerable would be the thought of the past, but for the blood which covers the guilt, while it deepens shame and self-abhorrence. (Ezekiel 16:63.) But let it ever be present before us, as our constraining obligation to redeem what has been lost, as far as may be, by a holy contention against sin, and by the convincing protest of consistent godliness.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Romans 1:32
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. {have...: or, consent with}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 23:23. Nehemiah 4:17-19. (E-compiler's note: these references may be mistakes as they do not seem to correspond with the point being made at this place[?]. The only Scripture found upon performing a search which mentions ‘the law being cast behind the back’ was: Nehemiah 9:26 [see below].)
 

 
1 Samuel 23:23
23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
 
Nehemiah 4:17-19
17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. {by his side: Heb. on his loins} 19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.
 

 
Nehemiah 9:26
26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
John 15:19.
 

 
John 15:19
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 12:6
6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. {inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress}
 

 
(E-compiler's note: This may be an invalid referece as it does not seem to be buttressing the point being made at this place[?]. Perhaps Isaiah 2:6 was intended — see also Isaiah 41:6.)
 
Isaiah 2:6
6 ¶ Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. {from...: or, more than the} {please...: or, abound with the}
 
Isaiah 41:6
6 They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. {Be...: Heb. Be strong}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Luke 16:8
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
 
 
Footnote:
Bp. Hall's Works, 8:36.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Peter 2:5. Hebrews 11:7.
 

 
2 Peter 2:5
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
 
Hebrews 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. {moved...: or, being wary}
 
 
Footnote:
Ephesians 5:11. Elijah — 1 Kings 18:18; Elisha — 2 Kings 3:13. John — Matthew 3:7; 14:3, 4.
 

 
Ephesians 5:11
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
 
Elijah —
1 Kings 18:18
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
 
Elisha —
2 Kings 3:13
13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
 
John —
Matthew 3:7
7 ¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
 
Matthew 14:3, 4
3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 15:10-12. Luke 20:19. John 7:7.
 

 
Matthew 15:10-12
10 ¶ And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
 
Luke 20:19
19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
 
John 7:7
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 139:21, 22. See the rebuke given to a godly king, 2 Chronicles 19:2.
 

 
Psalm 139:21, 22
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
 
2 Chronicles 19:2
2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
 
 
Matthew 12:30
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
 
 
Footnote:
Chronicles 33:15-17, with 22. 2 Kings 23:26. Mr. Cecil had deep cause to regret his ineffectual labor to reclaim from infidelity more than one, whom he had plunged into that gulf of ruin.
 

 
2 Chronicles 33:15-17
15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16 And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.
 
with
2 Chronicles 33:22
22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
 
2 Kings 23:26
26 Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. {provocations: Heb. angers}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ezekiel 16:63
63 That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.
 
 
Footnote:
Philippians 2:15, 16. 1 Peter 2:12; 3:16.
 

 
Philippians 2:15, 16
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; {harmless: or, sincere} {ye shine: or, shine ye} 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
 
1 Peter 2:12
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. {whereas: or, wherein}
 
1 Peter 3:16
16 ¶ Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.