John Wesley on Proverbs 3

My law - The law of God, which might be called his law, as the gospel is called Paul's gospel, 2Tim 2:8, because delivered by him.

Mercy - Mercy denotes all benignity, charity, and readiness to do good to others: truth or faithfulness respects all those duties which we owe to God or man, which we have special obligation from the rules of justice. Bind them - Like a chain, wherewith persons adorn their necks. Table - In thy mind and heart, in which all God's commands are to be received and engraven.

Understanding - Whereby to know thy duty, and to discern between good and evil. Of God - Grace or favour with God, and that understanding which is good in God's sight.

Trust - Wholly rely upon God's promises and providences. Lean not - Under this one kind of carnal confidence, he understands all other confidence in bodily strength, wealth, or friends.

Navel - To thy body, which is signified by one part of it. Marrow - Which is the nourishment and strength of the bones.

Substance - Lay out thy estate not to please thyself, but to glorify God. First - fruits - Or, with the chief or best; which answers to the first - fruits under the law.

So - This is not the way to diminish thy estate, but rather to increase it.

Despise not - Either by making light of it, or not being duly affected with it; or by accounting it an unnecessary thing: but rather esteem it a privilege and favour from God. Weary - Neither think it tedious or hard, but endure it with patience and chearfulness.

Findeth - Which supposes his diligent searching for it.

Peace - Procure a blessed tranquility in a man's mind and conscience.

A tree - A pledge of everlasting life. He alludes to the tree of life, and intimates, that this is the only restorer of that life which we have lost by sin.

Wisdom - Either by Christ, or by that Divine perfection of wisdom, which is the fountain of wisdom in man.

The depths - That great abyss contained in the bowels of the earth, breaks forth into fountains and rivers.

Eyes - The eyes of thy mind. Constantly and seriously meditate upon them.

Grace - Like a beautiful chain or ornament.

Be not - Thou shalt not be afraid. Sudden - For sudden and unexpected evils are most frightful. And fear is here put for the evils feared. Desolation - Which cometh upon the wicked.

Shall be - A sure ground of confidence to thee. Taken - In the snares either of sin or mischief.

With - hold not - Do not deny it, but readily and chearfuly impart it. Good - Any thing which is good, either counsel, comfort, reproof, or the good things of the present life. Due - That is, to all men, by that great and sovereign law of love.

Say not - The former verse forbad the denial, and this forbids the delay of this duty.

Securely - Relying upon thine integrity.

Envy not - For his impunity and success.

Abomination - Therefore sooner or later he must be miserable. The righteous - They are God's friends, to whom he imparts the favours and comforts to which other men are strangers.

The house - Not only upon his own person, but also upon his posterity.

Shame - Instead of that glory which they seek.