1808-1875
Arnot was a minister and professor in the Free Church of Scotland, having come out of the Disruption (1843), who wrote popular commentaries on Proverbs and Acts.
Studies in Proverbs: Laws from Heaven for life on Earth, 1884 edition
p. 68
“If thou seekest her as silver… thou shalt find the knowledge of God”
Prov. 2:4-5
Wisdom continues still to cry out unto men with the affectionate authority of a parent. The incarnation of the Son is God’s grand utterance to mankind…
Such is the speaker, and such the theme. Wisdom cries, “Incline thine ear unto wisdom.” Christ calls on men to come unto Christ… He gives the invitation; and the invitation is, “Come unto me.” It is Christ offering Christ to sinners; the teacher and the lesson alike divine. The preacher and the sermon are the same…
A Father speaks, and He speaks as unto children: He demands a reasonable service, and promises a rich reward.
p. 70
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Behold, He stands at the door and knocks [Rev. 3:20]; if any man open, He will come in. To as many as receive Him, He gives the power to become the sons of God.
p. 153
“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.”
Prov. 9:1-6
The Marriage for the King’s Son
The Word has come nigh [near]. His habitation is among men. The colors for the picture here are taken from things we know. The head of her [Wisdom’s] own family, sovereign of her own realm, builds her house, provides her feast, sends out the invitation, and presses the invited guests to come. From the same materials, and with the same design, the Word of God framed similar parables [in the Gospels], when He “was made flesh, and dwelt among men.”
p. 154
In the Father’s house there is enough and to spare, in the Father’s bosom a weeping welcome: prodigals perishing, arise and go.
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3. The inviting messengers.-… the messengers are here called maidens, but obviously in both cases they are the ambassadors whom Christ employs to carry the message of his mercy to their brethren.
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5. The argument by which the invitation is supported is positive… The Lord by his prophet in the time of old, uttered in the ears of men the brief command, “Turn ye,” and followed it up with the awful argument, “Why will ye die?” [Eze. 33:11] The same Lord, in his own person, breathed form his breaking heart the tender plaint [complaint, or lamentation], “Ye will not come unto Me that ye might have life.” [John 5:40] There from his own lips you have a command to come, and a reason for coming. The argument to enforce his invitation is life—from Himself, in Himself, life that will never die.
Related Pages
The Sincere Free Offer of the Gospel
Historic Reformed Quotes on the Sincere Free Offer of the Gospel