_My son keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee._ PARENTAL PRECEPTS “Lay up.” Hebrew, “hide.” A metaphor from treasure not left open in the house, but looked up in chests unseen, lest it should be lost, or got away. I. Children must remember parents’ words. 1. Their words of instruct... [ Continue Reading ]
_That they may keep thee from the strange woman._ HEAVENLY WISDOM PROTECTIVE I. Knowledge is a special means to keep us from wantonness. 1. By way of excellency. Wisdom is far more beautiful than the fairest strumpet in the world. 2. By her good counsel. Wisdom will advise thee for thy good. 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A young man void of understanding._ A YOUTH VOID OF UNDERSTANDING Solomon was pre-eminently a student of character. His forte lay in the direction of moral philosophy, in the sense of the philosophy of morals. I. The special peril of great cities. Human nature remains the same in every age. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_He went the way to her house._ OCCASIONS OF SIN I. Many occasions of sin present themselves unlooked for. 1. All places afford temptations. 2. All times have theirs. 3. All things afford it. 4. So do all conditions, all actions, and all persons. Therefore we need to keep a constant watch, si... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry._ A LUXURIOUS BED “I have exhausted the toil of myself and bought the toil of others to increase the luxury of my rest. Come and see the courtly elegance with which my bed is decked. Long and weary days have I laboured at the counting-house, at the... [ Continue Reading ]
_With her much fair speech she caused him to yield._ GOOD AND BAD SPEECH There is a force in words which it is often almost impossible to resist. Good words have a wonderful virtue in them to work upon the mind, and a great part of the good which we are called to do in the world is to be accomplish... [ Continue Reading ]
_As a fool to the correction of the stocks._ SLAUGHTER OF YOUNG MEN 1. We are apt to blame young men for being destroyed, when we ought to blame the influences that destroy them. Society slaughters a great many young men by the behest, “You must keep up appearances.” Our young men are growing up i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Till a dart strike through his liver._ THE GOSPEL OF HEALTH Solomon had noticed, either in vivisection or in post-mortem, what awful attacks sin and dissipation make upon the liver, until the fiat of Almighty God bids the soul and body separate. A javelin of retribution, not glancing off or making... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children._ ON IMPURITY Cicero says, “There is not a more pernicious evil to man than the lust of sensual pleasure; the fertile source of every detestable crime, and the peculiar enemy of the Divine and immortal soul” This is true of all sensual pleasures immode... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her house is the way to hell._ THE WAY TO HELL An energetic expression. It is not the place itself, but the way to it. In this ease what is the difference between the way and the destination? The one is as the other, so much so that he who has entered the way may reckon upon it as a fatal certaint... [ Continue Reading ]