The Southern Pulpit Proverbs 1:10-19 My son, if sinners entice you, consent you not.… Sin is not so dangerous as is the sinner. Sin is repellent; but the sinner may be winsome and attractive. The personal element in temptation is often the attractive element. I. SIN SOMETIMES CLOTHES ITSELF WITH PERSONAL AUTHORITY. As of a master over a servant, or a father over a son. Temptation becomes strong when it enlists authority on its behalf. II. SIN SOMETIMES CLOTHES ITSELF WITH PERSONAL AFFECTION. Many of the forms of vice depend entirely upon friendship for their propagation. They would die a natural death if it were not for a man's friends. III. SIN SOMETIMES CLOTHES ITSELF WITH PERSONAL ATTRACTIONS. Consider mental attractions. The learned, the witty, the intellectual bad man, is a power for evil. There is a passing over of power from the man to his sin. The more attractions a man has personally the more ropes has sin to pull upon others with, and the more deceptive attire has sin to clothe itself with. IV. SIN SOMETIMES CLOTHES ITSELF WITH PERSONAL INFLUENCE. Wealth gives a man influence in a community. So does social or official position. Young men should be taught to recognise sin promptly, no matter what it is clothed in. Christian manliness and independence are the safeguards against the personal elements in temptation. Dare to be right, even if sin should enlist all the powers of the world on its side. Dare to say, "No." This is Christian heroism. (The Southern Pulpit.) Parallel Verses KJV: My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. |
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