As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.
This shows us that there is a way, 1. Of knowing ourselves. As the water is a looking-glass in which we may see our faces by reflection, so there are mirrors by which the heart of a man is discovered to a man, that is, to himself. Let a man examine his own conscience, his thoughts, affections, and intentions.
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold,.... For the trying, proving, and purifying these metals; see Pro 17:3; so is a man to his praise; or "according to the mouth of his praise" (p); if his own mouth praises him, as in Pro 27:2;, he is known to be what he is, a foolish and vainglorious person: or "so a man...
We may see our characters in the developed tempers of others.