The ear that heareth the reproof of life
That is given according to the word of life, in a warm, fervent,
and lively manner, with zeal, and in good earnest; which reproves
the life of another by his own, as well as by words; and which
tends to the spiritual and eternal life of the person reproved;
being taken, a man that diligently hearkens to, kindly and
cordially receives, and cheerfully obeys such reproof given him,
abideth among the wise;
he not only chooseth to be among them, that he may have the
advantage of their wise counsels and reproofs, but he becomes
wise himself thereby, and attains to the character of a wise man,
and is numbered among them; such a man abides in the house of
wisdom, the church of God, and attends upon and has conversation
with the wise dispensers of the word, and shall have a part with
them in the church above, in the kingdom of heaven, where the
wise will shine as the firmament; the word here used does not
denote a lodging for a night, as it sometimes signifies, but a
perpetual abiding.
Proverbs 15:31
