Joshua 23:6-10

The holy jealousy which the man of God so warmly and affectionately recommended, may serve to teach us, with what circumspection believers in Jesus ought to walk amidst the swarm of vanities, with which they are surrounded in this wilderness state. It is said that the ancient Jews would not allow their children to mention even the name of certain things, which their laws forbade the use of. Swine ' s flesh they were taught to call strange flesh, if any occasion required its being mentioned at all. I should much rejoice if believing parents were to exercise a like caution over the rising generation in a multitude of instances. If Joshua commanded Israel not even to make mention of the name of the heathen gods which were around them, can it be consistent with believers to have their children educated in such systems of learning, as lead them into not only an acquaintance with the names, but with the whole history of the gods of ancient idolaters. And when men come to admire the phrases and expressions, for the sake of the language of the heathen writers, is not the transition but too easily made, (except grace restrains) by the heart too much disposed by nature to evil, to the love of the persons or systems also. The prayer which begs not to be led into temptation, presupposes the desire of the soul not to lead ourselves into it. Sweet and precious is the direction of our dear Lord to this point. Luke 22:40.