Wesley Corpus

Chapter IV An exhortation to the study of wisdom, is forced by various arguments, ver. 1 - 13. A caution against bad company, ver. 14 - 19. Directions for the attaining and keeping of wisdom, ver. 20 - 27. A father - Of me, who have paternal authority over you and affection for you. Tender - Young and tender in years, and tenderly educated. Only beloved - Beloved above all the rest. Said - The following verses, at least as far as the tenth verse, are the words of David. With all - Even with the price of all. Exalt - Let her have thine highest esteem and affection. Grace - A beautiful ornament, such as they used to put upon their heads. For - They cannot sleep with quietness. For - Wickedness is as pleasant to them as their bread. But - Just men daily grow in knowledge, and grace, and consolation, 'till all be perfected and swallowed up in glory. Darkness - Full of ignorance and error, of uncertainty and confusion, of danger and misery. Heart - Thy thoughts, will, and affections. For - From thence proceed all the actions, as of the natural, so of the spiritual life, which lead to eternal life. Mouth - All sorts of sinful words. Right on - Direct all thine actions to a right end, and keep thy mind fixed upon that way which leads to it, and neither look or turn aside to the right - hand or the left. Ponder - Consider thine actions before thou dost them, and see that they agree with the rule. And - Let thine actions be uniformly and constantly good in spite of all temptations.