(Scientific Illustrations. Philippians 3:1). Criminal excesses and indulgences are palliated by the mild appellations of conviviality and youthful indiscretion: and they are deemed necessary to the well-being of society. Woe unto them who are thus at ease in Zion, who despise the warning contained in the text! And what says God unto them? Does God himself lay no stress on the exercise of faith? The offers of grace are only for the present. The first clause describes one way of one man. This is the fatal error of mankind. The Bible is a fabulous gift from God to His children, for it contains the true wisdom of the infinitely wise God. Believe it or not, but this is how many are living their lives on today. The last way to which we shall direct your attention, is that of cold formality. There is a way that seemeth right - This whole verse is precisely the same as that Proverbs 14:12. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man.” The seat of the trouble is in the man, not in the way. St. Paul, when enumerating many classes of ungodly persons who should arise in the latter days, mentions those who have “a form of godliness without the power;” and in those very words describes the characters which we are now considering. Sin has therefore brought down the ideal as well as the visible standard of duty among men. The second clause describes the end, or result, of one way of one man to be the plural ways of death. The self-deceiver now can no longer doubt to what an end his former ways were leading, or whither they will come who follow the paths he trod. As for all that zeal and love and diligence in the service of the Lord Jesus which they behold in some few around them, they account it all a needless preciseness; and they impute it, for the most part, to ostentation or vanity in those who dare to maintain it. This verse is identical in every way (meaning and words) to Proverbs 14:12. 2. King Saul of Israel had an idea, and it seemed right. Mark the man of pleasure. Every man thinks his way is right, because it feels and seems right. This we had before (Proverbs 14:12), but here it is repeated, as that which is very necessary to be thought of, 1. But they soon learn the way they have chosen is full of dangers. So with the great temperance question of to-day. “Yes” and “No” are great civilisers. Proverbs 16:32.—J. What can be simpler? Ps. 3. Having stood the judgment of his fellows, man supposes that be can stand the judgment of God. So with the inward eye and the vision of the moral life. Is there any necessity for him to resort to such an expedient; or could he do it in consistency with his own perfections? As we read this, it teaches us a great truth, that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think or speak any thing of ourselves that is wise and good, but that all our sufficiency is of God, who is with the heart and with the mouth, and works in us both to will and to do, Phil. They are even made subjects of boasting; and persons who through age and infirmity are disabled from pursuing their former courses, will yet repeat them in effect, by glorying in the remembrance of them, and encouraging others in the same career. III. None that I have mentioned are in greater danger. But what saith the Scripture to these things? Proverbs 17:16.—H. We must “yield ourselves living sacrifices to him:” we must endeavour to “walk worthy of him;” and strive to the uttermost to “glorify him with our bodies and our spirits, which are his.” This is the holiness to which we are to attain; and “without this holiness no man shall see the Lord.”. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Pro 16:1. This belongs to us, not to circumstance. Any excuse is offered: the dying man is asleep, or too ill to see any one: and thus the only remaining hope for the poor man is banished. Proverbs 16:25 NKJV - There is a way that seems right to a - Bible Gateway. Proverbs 17:1-7.—R. May I make three comments about this verse, about these two identical verses, that has great applicability to ⦠Proverbs 14:12. 18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Learn to hate your thoughts. 1. but the end thereof are the ways of death; There is a way straight before a man; but the ways of death are the end of it. A flame seems good to a moth; thin ice, safe to a heedless child; the mined road, sound to the hoodwinked general; the sparkling water, refreshing to one who knows not that the well from which it is drawn has been poisoned. Of course we cannot enter into all the cases which might be specified: it will be sufficient to notice two or three ways, which are the most commonly followed, and most fatal in their issue. Reader, do you think you have the way to heaven figured out? It does not consist with constitutional bias; outward circumstances; the pursuits of life; formed habits; the energy of the nature; the idols of the heart. You can correct all your evil and foolish thinking by learning what the Bible teaches on every subject. Gladly would he go back for a moment to the world he has left, to warn his surviving friends, lest they also come into the same place of torment: but that cannot be admitted. They have mourned, and watched, and been oppressed with dread. ii., p. 156. No one can give reasons to persuade you, because their ideas are inferior to yours. The express declaration of God concerning them is, “The end of those things is death [Note: Romans 6:21.].”. Notice that he thought with himself, which is the sin of this proverb, because he had no internal check on false thoughts. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof (are) the ways of death. To deceive another is naught, but to deceive thyself - which yet most men do - is much worse; as to belie one’s self, kill one’s self, &c., is counted most abominable. If we follow his teachings we shall be safe; but if we follow our own notions He makes no provision for our faults; we are left to suffer. 1. Associated with loose morality will be found, for the most part, a contemptuous disregard of the Gospel. THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN: "But 'things are not what they seem.' Can we conceive that God would falsify, in order to keep us within some decent bounds? Would we avoid this awful end, let us turn from the paths that lead to it. This is the age of specialists; and one of the most important departments is that which deals with the eye and its defects. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Apples are fruit much desired and gold has to do symbolically with the purity of God. This is the fatal error of mankind. 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