Studies in Proverbs

"These illustrations of the Proverbs are not critical, continuous, exhaustive," writes William Arnot. "The comments, in imitation of the text, are intended to be brief, practical, miscellaneous, isolated. The reader may, however, perceive a principle of unity running through the whole, if he takes his stand at the outset on the writer’s view point—a desire to lay the Christian System along the surface of common life, without removing it from its foundations in the doctrines of Grace." 


This classic work includes the following chapters: 


To the Reader 

The Preacher 

The Book—Proverbs 

The Root of Knowledge 

The Family 

Filial Love a Blossom of Beauty 

The Foe and the Fight 

Filthy Lucre 

The Cry of Wisdom 

A Revival 

Sowing Disobedience, Reaping Judgment 

Seek and Ye Shall Find 

Perils in the Deep 

The Means of Safety 

A Good Memory 

The Art of Printing 

Trust 

The Health of Holiness 

Capital and Profit 

A Fatherly Word on Fatherly Correction 

Treasures for the Taking 

Length of Days in the Hand of Wisdom 

Wisdom Making and Managing Worlds 

The Right Thing Done at the Right Time 

The Curse and the Blessing Upon the House 

Precept and Example 

Hold Fast 

The Path of the Just 

The Fountain and Its Streams 

Family Joys 

The Method of Providence for Restraining Evil 

Seven Hateful Things 

Mother’s Law 

The Worth of Wisdom 

Hate Evil 

Rank and Riches 

The Redeemer Anticipating Redemption 

The Marriage Supper for the King’s Son 

Reproof 

The Talent and Its Product 

The Pleasures of Sin 

The Place and Power of a Son 

Diligent in Business 

Posthumous Fame 

The Wise Take Advice: Fools Only Give It 

The Centre of Gravity 

Well of Life 

Experience Kept for Use 

The Money Power 

The Lips and Tongue 

The Blessing of the Lord Maketh Rich 

Fears Realized and Hopes Fulfilled 

The Passing Whirlwind and the Sure Foundation 

The Greatness of Little Things 

Honesty Is the Best Policy 

Assorted Pairs 

Diplomacy 

The Destroyer of a Neighbour 

Debts and Sureties 

Virtue Its Own Reward 

Every Seed Bears Fruit of Its Own Kind 

God’s People Are God’s Delight 

The Desire of the Righteous 

Scattering to Keep, and Keeping to Sca Tter 

The Waterer Is Watered 

Raising the Market—The Practice and the Penalty 

The Tree and Its Branch 

The Wisdom of Winning Souls 

The Tender Mercies of the Wicked 

Lies, the Snare That Liars Are Caught in 

Hope Deferred 

God’s Word the Preserver of Nations 

The Hard Way 

The Choice of Companions 

The Father Who Hates His Son 

Secularism 

Flight, the Safety of the Weak 

Lxxxv. Sympathy 

The Backslider 

The Trustful and the Truthful 

The Fool’s Confidence 

Witnesses 

The Place of Refuge 

Envy—The Disease and the Cure 

The Merciful 

The Truth in Love 

The All-Seeing 

Mirth a Medicine 

Tastes Differ 

The Maker and the Breaker of a Family’s Peace 

The False Balance Detected by the True 

Mercy and Truth 

Providence 

Wisdom and Wealth—Their Comparative Worth 

The Highway of the Upright 

The Well-Spring of Life 

The Cruelty of Fools 

Friendship 

The Bias on the Side of Self 

A Wife 

Anger 

A Poor Man Is Better Than a Liar 

The Deceitfulness of Strong Drink 

The Sluggard Shall Come to Want 

Wisdom Modest, Folly Obtrusive 

Two Witnesses—The Hearing Ear and the Seeing Eye 

Buyers and Sellers 

A Good Name 

The Rich and the Poor Meet Together 

Hiding-Places for the Prudent 

Education 

The Bondage of the Borrower 

Convenient Food 

The Rights of Man 

A Faithful Father 

The Prosperity of the Wicked 

A Brother’s Keeper 

Piety and Patriotism 

The Sluggard’s Garden 

Monarchs, Under God and Over Men 

A Faithful Messenger 

The Fire That Melts an Enemy 

A Time to Frown and a Time to Smile 

Cold Waters to the Thirsty Soul 

An Impure Appetite Seeks Impure Food 

Now, or Tomorrow 

The Countenance of a Friend 

Conscience 

Sin Covered and Sin Confessed 

The Fear of Man Bringeth a Snare 

Philosophy and Faith 

Lemuel and His Mother 

A Heroine