--- title: "John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible" author: "John Wesley" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 168 of 398 url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/168/ cite: "John Wesley, John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible, section 168. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/168/" --- # John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible *John Wesley* Wesley's short, plain notes on the Old and New Testaments, verse by verse. ## 168. Proverbs · 6 of 13 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/168/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/168/#p-N [¶0] To depart - To preserve men from destructive courses. [¶1] Exalteth - Heb. lifteth up, like a banner, makes it known and visible to all men. [¶2] A sound heart - Free from envy and inordinate passions. Is life - Procures and maintains the health and vigour of the body. [¶3] His maker - Whose image the poor man bears, by whose providence he is made poor, and who hath declared himself to be their protector and avenger. [¶4] Driven away - In his death, from God's favour and presence. Death - In his greatest dangers and distresses, yea even in death itself. [¶5] Resteth - Is laid up and hid there. In the midst - In the heart. Made known - They will publish in all times and companies. [¶6] Shame - Both to himself, by his foolish management of the king's affairs, and to the king who made so foolish a choice of a servant. [¶7] Aright - Expressing what he knows prudently and gracefully. Poureth out - Plentifully, continually, and vehemently, as a fountain does waters. [¶8] Wholesome - Which utters sound and useful counsels. Tree of life - Is greatly useful to preserve the present life, and to promote the spiritual and eternal life, both of the speaker and hearers. Perverseness - False or corrupt speeches. A breach - Disturbs and wounds the spirits, both of the speaker and hearers. [¶9] Revenues - Though he may obtain great revenues, yet they are attended with much trouble. [¶10] Disperse - Freely communicate to others what they know. [¶11] Sacrifice - All the religious services, yea, the most costly; one kind being put for all the rest. Prayer - The cheapest and meanest services. [¶12] Destruction - The place of destruction, of which men know nothing but by Divine revelation. [¶13] Foolishness - Wickedness is meat and drink to them. [¶14] Afflicted - Of the troubled in mind. Evil - Tedious and uncomfortable. Chearful - Heb. of a good heart. [¶15] Trouble - Tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares, and horrors of conscience. [¶16] An hedge - As a way hedged up with thorns, troublesome, perplexed, and full of difficulties. Plain - Is easy and pleasant to him, notwithstanding all its difficulties. [¶17] Counsel - When men do not seek, or will not receive advice from others. [¶18] The answer - By a wise, or good and seasonable answer. [¶19] The way - The way a wise man takes to obtain life, is to place his heart, and treasure, and conversation on things above. [¶20] The proud - Of the mighty oppressors. The border - The estate, the border being often used, for the land within the borders. [¶21] Pleasant - Acceptable to God. [¶22] Troubleth - Brings God's curse upon himself and family. Gifts - Bribes given to corrupt judgment. Live - Shall preserve himself and family from ruin. [¶23] Studieth - He speaks considerately. The mouth - Not the heart; for he rashly speaks what comes into his mouth, without the direction of his heart or conscience. [¶24] A good report - A good name. Fat - Not only chears a man for the present, but gives him such stable comfort as revives his soul, and gives vigour to his body. [¶25] The ear - The man that hearkens to that reproof which leads to life, seeks and delights in the company of the wise. [¶26] The instruction - Doth instruct men in true wisdom. [¶27] From the Lord - Men can neither think nor speak wisely and well without Divine assistance. [¶28] Weigheth - Exactly knows as men do the things which they weigh. Spirits - The hearts of men. [¶29] Commit - Refer all thy actions and concerns to God, as the end of them, and depend upon God's providence for success. Established - Thy designs shall be brought to an happy issue. [¶30] Doth work - He orders or disposes. For - For his own glory; for the discovery of his wisdom, power, goodness, truth, justice. The wicked - Wilful and impenitent sinners. Men make themselves wicked, and God therefore makes them miserable. [¶31] By mercy - By a merciful and just and faithful frame of heart and course of life. Is purged - As they qualify a man to offer up acceptable prayers to God for the pardon of his sins. By fear - By a filial reverence unto God. Depart - They are kept from abusing pardoning mercy, and from returning to folly or wickedness. [¶32] Deviseth - Proposes what he will do. Directeth - Over - rules and disposes all his designs and actions. [¶33] A divine sentence - Great sagacity and piercing judgment. Of the king - Of wise kings; who only are worthy of that name and office. [¶34] The Lord's - Are made by his direction and appointment, so that no man can alter them without violating God's rights and authority. [¶35] A cloud - As acceptable as those clouds which bring the latter rain, whereby the fruits are filled and ripened a little before the harvest. [¶36] The high - way - Their common road, in which they walk, tho' through frailty or temptation they slip into the bypath of sin. From evil - From the evil of sin, and consequently from the evil of punishment. Keepeth - That takes heed to walk in that high - way. [¶37] Good - He who orders his affairs with discretion. [¶38] The wise - He who is truly wise, shall be so accounted by others. Sweetness - Eloquence added to wisdom. Increaseth - Both in himself, for while a man teaches others, he improves himself; and others, who by this means are induced to hear and receive his instructions. [¶39] The instruction - Their most grave and serious counsels are foolish. [¶40] Teacheth - Directs him what to speak, and keeps him from speaking foolishly. Addeth - Enables him to speak learnedly and wisely. [¶41] Diggeth up - Prosecutes his evil designs with great industry. His lips - His tongue is set on fire of hell. [¶42] Shutteth - That his thoughts may be more intent. Moving - Which is the gesture of one whose thoughts are deeply engaged. [¶43] Is better - Of a more gallant and generous spirit, and more valiant and victorious. [¶44] The lot - As the ancient practice was in deciding doubtful things. The event of which though casual to men, is directed by God's providence.