Proverbs 7:1

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 instruction.

2. Of charge or command.

3. Of commendation, for that is a great encouragement to do well.

4. Of consolation, which revives the spirit of good children in their troubles.

5. Of promise.

6. Of prohibition.

7. Of reprehension.

8. Of commination.

The spring of parents’ words is love--yea, when they chide. The end and result of all their speeches is their children’s good.

II. The heart is the receptacle for godly precepts. There they must be laid up.

1. They are very precious in themselves. Common things lie about the house. Choice things are locked up.

2. They are very profitable to us, and such things easily creep into our hearts.

3. The heart is the secretest place to lodge them in.

4. It is the safest place. Good precepts should be as ready in our thoughts as if we had them in our eyes. (Francis Taylor, B. D.)