Hints and helps in pastoral theology - Plumer - XVI - Chapter 20

Required reading
Hints and helps in pastoral theology by William S Plumer (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 20 (The use of proverbs).

My summary
Today Plumer speaks about the use of proverbs in preaching.  A proverb he defines as 'a brief, weighty sentence, a sentence containing much in a little.'

Initially Plumer talks about the advantages and disadvantages of proverbs.

Then he gives a collection of proverbs on:
(i) wisdom and its advantages;
(ii) providence;
(iii) sin and misery;
(iv) diligence and sloth;
(v) love and hatred;
(vi) pride and humility;
(vii) self-conceit and modesty;
(viii) closeness and liberality;
(ix) company and solitude;
(x) good and bad temper;
(xi) contention and quiet;
(xii) hastiness and caution;
(xiii) poverty and riches;
(xiv) fraud and honesty;
(xv) a good and bad name;
(xvi) suretyships;
(xvii) meddling;
(xviii) acting out a character;
(xix) courage and cowardice;
(xx) unseasonable mirth;
(xxi) the simple claiming wisdom;
(xxii) misplaced confidence;
(xxiii) wicked exultation;
(xxiv) moderation in receiving favors;
(xxv) truth and error;
(xxvi) adversity;
(xxvii) good and bad children;
(xxviii) youth and old age;
(xxix) miscellaneous

Then Plumer closes with three brief remarks about the use of proverbs in preaching.

What grabbed me
Plumer made an important distinction between proverbs of men and the proverbs of God: 'Against this book of Proverbs none of the objections lie which have been urged against some others. These proverbs are inspired. As such they are cited by Christ and his apostles. They do not mislead the honest and well-disposed. They are full of piety, and of the purest morality. A familiar acquaintance with them is greatly to be desired to make one wise. They are comprehensive and clear. They require nothing but an honest heart, and the amount of intellect common to the masses of thinking men, in order to understand them. They are full of light.'

Everyone would do well to meditate on the proverbs in the book of Proverbs.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 21 (Religious excitements).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.