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John Wesley on Proverbs 20

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Proverbs20:1

A mocker - Wine immoderately drunk makes men mockers. Raging - Makes men full of rage.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:1. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:2

The fear - The terror which the wrath of a king causes.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:2. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:3

Meddling - Is always ready to begin strife, and obstinate in the continuance of it.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:3. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:5

Counsel - Designs of doing something of moment. Deep water - Is secret and hard to be discovered.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:5. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:8

His eyes - With his very looks, or by his diligent inspection into affairs.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:8. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:10

Divers - One greater for shew and one lesser for use.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:10. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:11

Is known - The future disposition of a man may be probably conjectured from his childish manners.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:11. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:13

Open - Shake off sloth and betake thyself to thy employment with diligence and vigour.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:13. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:15

The lips - But wise speeches are of far greater worth.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:15. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:16

Take - As a pledge, without which he ought not to be trusted. Of him - That is surety.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:16. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:18

Established - The way to bring our purposes to good effect is to manage them with serious consideration.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:18. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:20

Lamp - His name and memory shall utterly perish.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:20. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:24

His way - What the issue of his designs will be.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:24. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:25

A snare - It brings guilt upon him. After - After a man has made vows to enquire for ways to break them.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:25. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:26

The wheel - As the cart - wheel was anciently turned over the sheaves to beat the corn out of them. He punishes them as their offences deserve.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:26. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:27

The spirit - The reasonable soul. The candle - Is a clear and glorious light set up in man for his information and direction. Of the Lord - So called because it comes from God in a more immediate manner than the body, Eccles 12:7, and because it is in God's stead, to observe and judge all our actions. Searching - Discerning not only his outward actions, which are visible to others, but his most inward thoughts and affections. The belly is here put for the heart, as it is frequently.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:27. Public domain.

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Proverbs20:30

The blueness - Grievous wounds, which make men black and blue; or severe punishments. Cleanseth - Are the means to reclaim a wicked man, and to purge out his corruption. The belly - Of the heart. Grievous wounds or stripes cleanse not only the outward man by keeping it from evil actions, but even the inward man, by expelling or subduing vile affections: which is a great and blessed benefit of afflictions.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes, Proverbs 20:30. Public domain.

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