The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
The crafty and the honest
I. Craftiness.
1. Craft is an instinct of wickedness: No true Christian is a hypocrite. The better a man is, the less temptation he has to disguise himself. A wicked man must be hypocritical in proportion to his wickedness. Sin is ever cunning; wisdom alone is free.
2. Craftiness is no security against ruin. Lies are the language of craftiness. One lie leads on to another, until the man is involved in contradictions, and falls and founders.
II. Honesty.
1. Honesty is strong in its own strength. It has a root. It lives by its own natural force and growth.
2. Honesty will extricate from difficulties. The just man may get into trouble, but by his upright principles, under God, he shall come out of them. “Honesty is the best policy.” (D. Thomas, D.D.)