A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. BY MOSES STUART, LATELY PROFESSOR OF SACRED LITERATURE IN THE THEOLOGICAL ANDOVER: WARREN F. DRAPER. BOSTON: GOULD & LINCOLN. PHILADELPHIA: SMITH, ENGLISH & CO. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by I. W. STUART, EXECUTOR. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. 223.7 St9c PREFACE. THE history of the present undertaking is brief and simple, After completing my Commentary on Ecclesiastes, I felt specially attracted toward another book, (that of the Proverbs), by reason of its close affinity with Ecclesiastes, in a variety of respects. The gnomic form of much that is in the latter book, naturally produced in my mind, after having spent so much time upon it, an interest in respect to the other book, which is filled with gnomes. A large circle of clerical friends, (many of whom had once been my pupils), who are now moving in extensive spheres of usefulness, and enjoying the approbation of highly respected churches, gave me, early in the summer of the present year, cheering and animating encouragement to proceed in the writing of a Commentary on the Proverbs. My own inclination and choice had already, in a measure, anticipated their friendly request; for when that reached me, I had gone on more than half-way through the book, in the writing of the Commentary. Other friends and brethren, also, have since approved and encouraged the undertaking. A kind Providence has spared my life, when I had little reason to expect its continuance: and from time to time, after repeated partial interruptions of my labors, (during some of which I was led seriously to doubt whether I should ever be able to renew them), I have been enabled to complete what I had begun, if not according to my wishes, yet according to my best ability. 692450 |