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12. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
13. Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
15. Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
The various snares for the young, about to be detailed, furnish a fearful picture of the temptations to which our children are exposed. Will it not awaken out earnest cries for their deep and solid conversion to God; that wisdom may indeed enter into their hearts, and its pleasures be really enjoyed; that they may have a religious taste, as well as a religious education; that they may know the Gospel, not only in the conviction of their conscience, or the excitement of their feelings, but in the entire renewal of their hearts before God? This, and nothing less, will preserve them from the snare of their cruel foe. Every town and village swarms with his emissaries; first, initiated themselves into the mysteries of his art; then, going forth, laborious and practiced teachers, well instructed for his murderous work. Against one of these enticements we have been before warned. (Chapter 1:10-13.) Another is here given: The tempter bears his character upon his lips; the evil man that speaketh proud things against God and his law; like a poisonous fountain sending up poisoned waters. Oh! how quickly does the contamination spread! He does not sin in ignorance. He and his companions† have probably been trained in the paths of uprightness. Having come in contact with the pestilential breath of the ungodly, they have caught the contagion, and eagerly spread it. Readily do they leave the paths, which they never heartily loved, to walk in the ways of darkness, which their hearts do love. (Chapter 4:16, 17. Job 24:13-16. John 3:19, 20.) Having left the hated paths, they become therefore foremost in iniquity. Poisoned themselves, they would poison all around them. They rejoice, like Satan himself, to do evil:† to draw their fellow-sinners into the net; and they delight in those, who are most froward in their wickedness.† Thus they plunge deeper and deeper into sin, till they lose all traces of the straight way, and all their ways become crooked, leading with sure steps to eternal ruin. Is not this the picture, drawn to the very life, of many a Sunday-scholar, or a child of godly parents, the subject of deep and tender care; “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13), the neglect of faithful warning, the stifling of solemn conviction? How do they deserve to be left of God, who have first left him with such fearful aggravation! Young man! Especially shun companions, who are sinning against better knowledge and instruction. They are hardened in devotedness to their master's work. Oh! if misguided sinners could but see sin in its horrid deformity and certain end, would not “their hearts meditate terror”? But the crookedness of their ways hides the end from view. Satan presents the bait, palliates the sin, covers the enormity, closes the eyes, and conceals the certain end of all — Hell. (Psalm 125:5. Romans 6:21; with 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4.) The froward in their paths cannot — will not — turn back.
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