Simon Patrick on the Proverbs
1683
Chapter 3:27-35
27. "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." And as it will give thee great security of mind and confidence in God at such a time, not to be conscious to thy self of any wrong done to thy neighbor by denying to pay thy just debts when thou art able, so the remembrance of having done good to others will be far greater. Therefore let me advise thee to take a special care not to withhold relief from those whose needs entitle them unto it, when thou canst not pretend disability, but hast where with all to do it.
28. "Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee." And as thou wouldst not have God to defer His help in such distresses as I spake of (vv. 25,26), so do not thou put off thy neighbor when he begs a kindness of thee by saying, I cannot now, come another time, tomorrow thou shalt see what I will do for thee; when if thou hadst a heart to it, thou couldest supply him now as well as then. And who can tell what shall be tomorrow.
29. "Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee." And let not the quietness of any man's temper, much less the confidence he hath of thy honesty and goodness, tempt thee to contrive any mischief to him, for the more securely he relies on thy virtue, and the less mistrust he hath of any harm from thee, the greater wickedness it will be, so much as to have it in thy thoughts to do him any injury.
30. "Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm." For instance, do not bring false actions against any neighbor nor vex him with causeless or unnecessary suits at law; no, nor so much as pretend a cause for quarreling and falling out with him, when he hath done nothing to deserve it of thee.
31. "Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways." And what though thou shouldst see men thrive by oppression and violence, let not that provoke thee to emulate them; that is, to wish thy self in their condition, by imitating them in any of their injurious proceedings.
32. "For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but His secret is with the righteous." For he that perversely departs from all the rules of truth and justice, is above all expression abominable to the Lord; even in his highest prosperity: but the Lord is a friend to men of sincere integrity, who know the secret of His providence in raising those wicked oppressors so high, that they may have the more dreadful fall.
33. "The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but He blesseth the habitation of the just." The evil doer is under the curse of the Lord, though he live in the most stately palace: but just and good men ought to look upon themselves as under His care and blessing, and therefore very happy in the meanest cottage.
34. "Surely He scorneth the scorners: but He giveth grace unto the lowly." Those proud oppressors and scoffers at good men, He will undoubtedly, not only confound, but expose to scorn and make them ridiculous in the eyes of the world. But He will cause the humble, modest and meek (who bare even their insolent scoffs patiently) to be had in honor and highly esteemed.
35. "The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools." They may be despised and debased for a time, but in the issue they shall be accounted the only wise men, and leave an excellent never dying fame behind them, when those impious men shall be famous for nothing but the shame and disgrace that shall fall upon them.