Proverbs 27:11-13 - Homilies By E. Johnson

The need of prudence

I. PRUDENT CONDUCT REFLECTS CREDIT UPON ONE 'S PARENTS . ( Proverbs 27:11 .) The graceless children of gracious parents are a special reproach, bringing dishonour even upon the Name of God ( Genesis 34:30 ; 1 Samuel 2:17 ). The world will generally lay the blame at the parents' door. The Mosaic Law severely punished the sins of the priest's daughter for the disgrace brought upon the holy office (Le Proverbs 21:9 ).

II. THE NEED AND ADVANTAGE OF FORETHOUGHT . ( Proverbs 27:12 .) Prudence has been described as "the virtue of the senses." It is the science of appearances. It is the outward action of the inward life. It is content to seek health of body by complying with physical conditions, and health of mind by complying with the laws of intellect. It is possible to give a base and cowardly interpretation of the duty of prudence; that "which makes the senses final is the divinity of sots and cowards, and is the subject of all comedy. The true prudence admits the knowledge of an outward and real world." Thus true prudence is only that which foresees, detects, and guards against the ills which menace the life of the soul; for there is no profit in the prudence which seeks the world and risks the soul. Those are "simple" who, often with the utmost regard for their material interests, go on heedless of the moral perils which their habits incur.

III. THE FOLLY OF THOUGHTLESS SURETYSHIP . ( Proverbs 27:13 .) This, as we have seen, is often dwelt on in this book. It refers to a different condition of society from our own. We may generalize the warning. Prudence includes a proper self-regard, a virtuous egotism, so to speak. When good-natured people complain that they have been deceived, taken in, and turn sourly against human nature, do they not reproach themselves for having hacked this primary virtue of prudence? The highest virtues can grow only out of the root of independence (see Proverbs 20:16 ).—J.