Herodias ; nor, with Agrippa, to become altogether Christians: but now forsake all for Christ ; and expect, both in this world and the next, a rich and glorious equivalent'.]
1 Luke xviii. 28—30.
Prov. xxiii. 26. My Son, give me thy heart.
THIS address, however it may be considered in some respect as delivered by Solomon to his son, must certainly be understood as proceeding from Him who is Wisdom in the abstract. Wisdom personified, even from the Lord Jesus Christ'' ; and as directed generally to all the children of men, but especially to those who regard him as their Sovereign Lord. And though the more immediate object of the address may seem scarcely suited to this view of it, (because those who are possessed even of incipient piety may seem less likely to fall into the snare which is there spoken of,) yet the caution is necessary for youth of all descriptions ; and, as a general lesson, it teaches us, that there is no snare whatever into which we may not fall, if our hearts be not given up to God ; and that the only sure way of being kept from sin of every kind, is, to give the heart to God.
Taking the words then as addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ to all who acknowledge his paternal authority, we will proceed to mark the extent and 7'easouableness of this command.
\. The extent of it —
To give our heart to God, implies that we give him,
L The affections of the soul —
[These should all center in him, and in him alone. Him we should desire as our supreme good, and in him should we
delight as our chief joy We should be able to say with
David, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee''."]
2. The confidence of the mind —
^ Prov. viii. 1,22—32. ^ Ps. Ixxiii. 25.