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24. ¶ Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
In the hand of a licentious poet or painter, this picture might serve to contaminate the unsanctified imagination. But as it stands on the page of inspiration, it is God's solemn warning to children, whether in years, understanding, or experience. Now, therefore, that you have seen the end of sin (Verses 22, 23), hearken unto me. That you may not go astray in her paths, let not thine heart decline. (Chapter 4:23; 5:8.) An impure thought, a polluted fancy, an idle book, filthy conversation, foolish company, theatres or places of vain resort — these are her ways. Dread the first step, and dream not that you can stop yourself at pleasure in her course. Familiarity with sin weakens abhorrence. Soon will you begin to love the object of detestation. And what! should you find too late, that you have chosen as your home her house, which is the way to hell, and to the chambers of death?† Many, not of the meaner sort, but strong men has she cast down wounded and slain. And a miracle it is of Almighty power and grace, that plucks the child of God from the brink of destruction.
Let not then the most established Christian dismiss this subject as of no personal concern. Be it so — that “you are risen with Christ;” that you have “set your affections on things above;” that “your life is hid with Christ in God;” that you are looking for the glorious hope of his “appearing.” It is to you, in whom “fleshly lusts are yet warring against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11), that the exhortation is given — Mortify, therefore, your members that are upon the earth — even the worst members of the old man — fornication, uncleanness, evil concupiscence.† And who, with the picture of the wounded and slain before him will revolt? — “Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?” (2 Kings 8:13) — that he should need this warning? Look at the footsteps of the strong men who have gone in.† Whom do we see come out whole? “Behold! kings stood not before her; how then shall we stand?” (2 Kings 10:4.)
Nor let present steadfastness, or seclusion from temptation, blind our eyes to the liability of yielding to the vilest indulgence. The eye of God discerns a far deeper corruption than appears in the outer man — such a total depravation, that even the affections, designed to be the sources of our holiest delight, become the principle and occasion of the most awful departures from the ways of purity and peace.
The gospel presents the only remedy. The love of Christ is the counteracting principle to the love of lust. ‘If impure love solicits, remember the holy love of thy Saviour to thee, proved by his most shameful death. Think of him as looking into thy heart boiling over with corruption, showing thee his wounds, and exciting thee to a reciprocal love of himself.’† The crucifixion of the flesh by a living union with Him will “keep us from our iniquity.” (Galatians 5:24, with Psalm 18:23.) “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2, 3.) “The flesh will still lust against the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:17.) But the man who walks with God in Gospel liberty and Christian discipline and watchfulness, is safe. (Romans 6:14, with 1 Corinthians 9:27.)
But if sin be not mortified by these principles, sooner or later it will break out; if not, as here, to open disgrace; yet so as to defile the conscience, to “quench the Spirit,” and by a sure though perhaps imperceptible course, to bring soul and body to hell — to the chambers of eternal death. (Romans 6:21. James 1:14, 15.)
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