S U N D A Y   S N I P P E T S (tm) # 3 0                28 May 1995     


                A Commentary on Proverbs (22:11)
                       by Charles Bridges


I recently acquired this fine book, A Commentary on Proverbs, written
by C. Bridges (c. 1846, hc, 640 pp.)  It consists of brief expositions 
of each and every verse in Proverbs.  

On this work, contemporary C.H. Spurgeon remarked: 'The best work on 
Proverbs...While explaining the passages in hand, he sets other portions
of the Word in new lights.'

This is the type of book that every time you re-read a page of it,
you get something more out of it, and are encouraged to study the 
Scripture passages associated with it.

I will include the commentary on verse 22:11 as this week's Snippet:


        "He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his
        lips the king shall be his friend."

   Pureness of heart describes not the natural, but the renewed, man.
It is no external varnish, no affectation of holiness; but sincerity,
humility, shrinking from sin, conformity to the image of God.  He who 
hath fully attained this pureness is before the throne of God [in heaven].
He who _loveth_ it is the child of God on earth.  His perfection is desire,
constant progress, pressing towards the mark (Phil. 3:12-15).  When the 
fountain is cleansed, it sendeth forth sweet waters.  When "The tree is made
good, the fruit will be good."  "Of the abundance of the heart the mouth 
speaketh."  (Matt. 12:33,34).

   _Pureness of heart_ sheds such refinement over the whole character, 
and pours such grace upon the lips, as attracts the admiration of those,
who do not understand its source, and cannot appreciate its principle.
(Prov. 31:10,26.)  Such was the grace upon the lips of the holy Saviour,
that "the multitude hung upon them, wondering at the gracious words which 
proceeded out of His mouth."  The moral influence of this purity of character
is to put impurity to shame.

   Solomon doubtless spoke his own determination, that the _king should 
be the friend_ of the gracious servant...This character smoothed the way
to royal favour for Joseph, for Ezra, and Daniel.  Nay - we find godly 
Obadiah in the confidence of wicked Ahab.  So powerful is the voice of
conscience, even when God and holiness are hated!  Yet this choice of 
gracious lips is too often rather what ought to be, than what is.  Well
it is for the kingdom, when the sovereign's choice is according to this
rule.  Such alone the Great King marks as His friends.  Such He embraces
with His fatherly love.  Such He welcomes into His heavenly Kingdom.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."  (Matt. 5:8)

                - from _A Commentary on Proverbs_, by Charles Bridges.
                Reprinted 1987 by The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh.

Also available by Bridges: Expositions on Ecclesiastes, and on Psalm 119.
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  Note that last week's Snippet should have been numbered 29, not 30.



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