Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning
thereof
If the thing is good, other ways the end of it is worse; as the
end of wickedness and wicked men, whose beginning is sweet, but
the end bitter; yea, are the ways of death, ( Proverbs 5:4
) ( 16:25 ) ; and so the end
of carnal professors and apostates, who begin in the Spirit, and
end in the flesh, ( Galatians
3:3 ) ( 2 Peter 2:20
2 Peter
2:21 ) ; but the end of good things, and of good men, is
better than the beginning; as the end of Job was, both with
respect to things temporal and spiritual, ( Job 8:7 ) ( 42:12 ) ; see ( Psalms 37:37
) ( Matthew
10:22 ) ( Luke 16:25 ) ;
[and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in
spirit;
patience is a fruit of the Spirit of God; and is of great use in
the Christian's life, and especially in bearing afflictions, and
tends to make men more humble, meek, and quiet; and such are
highly esteemed of God; on them he looks, with them he dwells,
and to them he gives more grace; when such who are proud, and
elated with themselves, their riches or righteousness, are
abominable to him; see ( Luke 16:15 ) ( 18:14 ) .