The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 66

III. THE STRENGTH AND BEC!JRlTY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. When wisdom enters tho heart and knowledge is pleasant to. the soul, then discretion will preserve, and 1mder- standinii; will keep us (vers. 10, 11). In other words, the cordial acceptance of the truth of God is the one security against sin. Delighting to do God's will, his Law being in the heart as well ·as in the understanding (Ps. xl. 8), thill will prove an effectual breakwater against the tides of evil. He that can say," 0 Lord, how love I thy Law!" (Ps. cxix.) will never have to utter words of bitter remorse and black despair. Would youth. know the certain path of victory, and pursue that way which leads, not down to shame, but oii and up to heavenly glory? 1. Let it regard with earnest gaze him who is the Wisdom of God in. fullest revelation to the sons of men. 2. Yield to him its early, unbounded love. 3. Then will it find unfading joy in the Divine truth which flowed from his lips, and which shone in his holy life. Whoso believes in him shall never be confounded.-C. Vers. 16-19.-The way of sin: a sermon to young men. Reference i!I made here to one particular sin. While the words of the t8'lcher are specially appropriate to it, they will also apply to all sin; they show the way it takes. Let us see- . !. THAT SIN 1B THE CONTRADICTION OF THE DIVL.~E THOUGHT. It is a "sirange" thing (ver. 16). The painted harlot is "the strange woman." And whi)e the prosti- tution. of a human being, meant to be a helpmeet for man in all his highest and holiest pursuits to a mere ministress to his unlawful lusts, is tl:.e very saddest departure from the Divine ideal, and amply justifies th!l use of the word "strange woman," we may remember that all sin is a strange thing in the universe of God. How it ever entered there is the problem which .can never be solved. But meeting with it here, in what- ever form, we say, " This is the contrary of the thought of 'the Supreme," "This is the exact opposite of his design," "This is something alien, unnatural, intrusive: cannot we cast it out?" , : II. THAT BIN MUST STOOP TO FALSEHOOD IF IT WILL WIN ITS WAY. It "flattereth with its words" (ver. 16). Flattery is only another name for a sweet falsehood. The woman that is a sinner uses -flattery to accomplish her ends. So sin cannot live without lying. '!'hat may be said of sin which was said of a great European usurper, that it "has deliberately taken falsehood into its service." But the most effective and destructive form of it is flattery. Let the young take earnest heed to their danger. When the lips of beauty speak soft and gratifying things, let purity beware; it is only too likely that temptation in its most seductive form is nigh, and that character and reputation are being insidiously assailed. III. THAT BIN SINKS TO ITS DARKEST DEPTHS THROUGH VARIOUS VIOLATIONS. (Ver. 17.) It is uncertain whether by the "guide of her youth" is to be understood her husband (see Mai. ii. 14, 15), her parents, or her God. The second clause clearly refers to the marriage covenant, which is regarded as e. sacred bond. Whichever be the correct view of the former clause, it is certain that the sinner of the text could only descend to her shameless depth by violating every promise she has made, by breaking through every fence which once stood between her and guilt. This is the inevitable course of sin. It violates first one vow, then nnothcr, until all sacred promises are broken. (I) Deliberate resolutions, (2) solemn assurances, (3) formal vows ;-all are infringed. IV. '!'HAT BIN LEADS STRAIGHT TO THE DOOR'\VAY OF DEATII. (Vers. 18, 19.) It leads: 1. To physical death. Vice ca.rries with it e. penalty in the body; it robs of health and strength; it enfeebles; it sows seeds of sickness and death. The "graves of lust" are in every cemetery and churchyard in the land. 2. To spiritual death. "None that go unto her return again" as they went. Men come away from every unlawful indulgence other than they go--weaker nnd worse in soul. Alas for the morrow of incontinence, of whatever kind it be! The soul is injured; its self-respect is slain, its force is lessened; it is on the incline which slopes to death, and one step nearer to the foot of it. "Her house inclineth unto death." 3. To eternal death. '!'hey who resort to forbidden pleasure are fast on their· way to the final condemnation; they h11ve wandered long leagues from "the paths of lile." We conclude with two admonitions: (1) Keep carefully away from tha beginnings of evil. Shuu not only tbo "strnngo woman's" door, but the evil glance, tho doubtful company, tho impure book, tho more-  52 THE PROVERBS. [on. m. 1-35.