Proverbs 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. By "fools" are here represented all wicked and vicious persons. The misery of such persons is, that when God gives them what they most love, they perish in the embraces of it. The reasons for this are three. I. BECAUSE EVERY FOOLISH OR VICIOUS PERSON IS EITHER IGNORANT OR REGARDLESS OF THE PROPER ENDS AND USES FOR WHICH GOD DESIGNS THE PROSPERITY OF THOSE TO WHOM HE SENDS IT. Which ends are — 1. To try and discover what is in a man. 2. To encourage men in a constant, humble expression of their gratitude to the bounty of their Maker, who deals forth such rich and plentiful provisions to His undeserving creatures. 3. To make them helpful in society. No man holds the abundance of wealth as a proprietor. II. BECAUSE PROSPERITY (AS THE NATURE OF MAN NOW STANDS) HAS A PECULIAR FORCE AND FITNESS TO ABATE MEN'S VIRTUES AND TO HEIGHTEN THEIR CORRUPTIONS. For its abating their virtues. Virtue is such a plant as grows upon no ground save that which is tilled and cultivated with the severest labour. But what a stranger is toil and labour to a great fortune! 2. For heightening and inflaming men's corruptions. Nothing more effectually betrays the heart into a love of sin and a loathing of holiness than an ill-managed prosperity. The vices which particularly receive improvement by prosperity are — 1. Pride. 2. Luxury and uncleanness. 3. Profaneness and neglect of God in the duties of religion. Those who lie soft and warm in a rich estate seldom come to heat themselves at the altar. III. BECAUSE PROSPERITY DIRECTLY INDISPOSES MEN TO THE PROPER MEANS OF THEIR AMENDMENT AND RECOVERY. 1. It renders them utterly averse to receiving counsel and admonition. 2. It unfits for the sharp trials of adversity which God uses to correct and reduce the soul. (1) He either faints and desponds and parts with his hope together with his possessions, or(2) he will murmur and blaspheme the God that afflicts him. The only way for a man not to find prosperity destructive is for him not to be a fool.This he may avoid by a pious observance of these following rules: 1. Let him consider on what weak hinges his prosperity and felicity hang. 2. Let him consider how little he is bettered by prosperity as to those perfections which are chiefly valuable. 3. Let a man correct the gaieties and wanderings of his spirit by the severe duties of mortification. Since the fool in his best — that is, in his most prosperous condition — stands tottering upon the very brink of destruction, we should solicit God, not for temporal enjoyment, but for a heart that may fit us for it, if it be God's will that prosperity be our lot. (R. South, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.WEB: For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. |
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