Proverbs 1:10-19 My son, if sinners entice you, consent you not.… The sum of all this advice is as if he had said, "Oh, my son, sinners will entice thee with these or such like words and promises, and lay such snares for thy inexperienced youth; but remember that thou art my son, and not theirs, and therefore hast more reason to hearken to me, who speak to thee out of a fatherly affection. Hearken not, therefore, to their counsels, flatteries, or promises. Show thyself so strange to them that thou wilt not so much as enter into their way, much less walk into it." I. CHILDREN SHOULD RATHER HEARKEN TO THEIR PARENTS' GOOD COUNSEL THAN TO OTHERS' BAD. Because they are more engaged to parents than to any other for life, education, pains, and means. Parents' counsels are given in love, and are for their good. II. YOUNG MEN HAVE NEED TO LABOUR FOR KNOWLEDGE TO DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD COUNSEL AND BAD. Because they are often put to it. Young men stand, as Hercules in his dream, between virtue and vice, solicited by both. Because there are fair pretences for all sins. Gluttony is called the free use of the creature; drunkenness, good-fellowship; prodigality is called liberality; covetousness, thrift; lust is entitled love; pride goes for handsomeness. It needs a good touchstone to distinguish between gold and copper well gilt over. No less skill is needed to distinguish between real and apparent good. Weigh things by the light of reason and the light of Scripture. III. ALLUREMENTS TO SIN APE NO EXCUSE FOR SIN. Because allurers have no power to compel. They may, and ought to be refused. IV. COMPANY EXCUSES NO MAN IN HIS SINS. Company cannot alter the nature of things. It cannot make good evil or evil good. There is choice of company; all company is not evil. Company may draw our corrupt nature to sin, but cannot excuse us for Sin. V. CONTINUANCE, OR WALKING IN SIN, IS DANGEROUS. It is the sign of a hard heart to continue in sin. The mouth of the conscience is stopped. It makes the heart more hard still. Custom will make a man not start at the greatest sins. VI. THE VERY ENTRANCE INTO SINFUL WAYS IS FULL OF DANGER, LIKE A DOWNFALL — no stay till you come to the bottom. Keep out of evil ways, or get out quickly. (Francis Taylor.) Parallel Verses KJV: My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. |
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