THINGS BECOMING TO AN HARLOT

Text: Proverbs 7:6-27

"At the window of my house I looked through my casement and beheld among the SIMPLE ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man VOID OF UNDERSTANDING, passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night..." (verses 6-9)

The young man who will go near the "corner" of temptation will sooner or later find his carrying him to the "house of sin." God here describes such a fellow as "simple" and "void of understanding," because there are those who thrive on the ruination of others.

The seventh chapter of Proverbs succinctly describes those things, those traits which are highly esteemed by an harlot that the wise young man may be more able to recognize her.

HER DRESS: " ...And behold there met him a woman WITH THE ATTIRE OF AN vs. l0 HARLOT and subtle of heart." There is apparel that is more becoming an harlot than to a virgin. A good woman will not want to draw attention to her body but rather to the hidden beauty of her heart. It is beyond all argument that all clothing that accentuates the posterior, or the upper anterior of the anatomy is immodest, and not the garb becoming a woman professing godliness. A wholesome woman will not choose to have a man contemplate her body.

HER ATTITUDE: "She is LOUD and STUBBORN..." She has forsaken Modesty, which Vs. 11, 13 is the "Guide of her youth"; she has forgotten Who made her and to Whom she must give account of her life. " ...Her feet abide not in her house." She gads about. She is "boy-crazy" "...so she CAUGHT" him." She is WILD, for she "kissed him." She is impudent, bold, and fresh.

HER SPEECH: She is an HYPOCRITE because she confesses, "I have peace offerings 14-21 with me; this day have I paid my vows."

She FLATTERS but without sincerity. "Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee."

Her speech is full of ENTRAPMENTS. "I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with Loves."

Her talk is DARK. "The goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: he hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed." "No one will know!"

Her speech is COMPELLING: "With her much fair speech she caused him to yield; with the flattering of her lips she forced him".

HER DAGGER: "He goeth after her straightway as an ox goeth to the slaughter, Vs. 22,23 or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; till a DART strike through his liver; AS A BIRD HASTETH TO THE SNARE, AND KNOWETH NOT THAT IT IS FOR HIS LIFE."

HER DISGUISE: "She hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been VS. 24-27 slain by her. HER HOUSE IS THE WAY TO HELL, going down to the chambers of death." "Let not thine heart DECLINE to her ways, GO NOT ASTRAY IN HER PATHS."

Application:

"Lust not after her beauty in THINE HEART; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A WOUND and DISHONOR shall he get; and his REPROACH shall not be wiped away."

(Proverbs 6:25,32,33}

THE DEATH OF POTHINUS

The Apostle John had a faithful disciple in a man named Polycarp. And Polycarp had a faithful man in Pothinus who became bishop of Lyons, in France.

During the Decian persecution, the feeble ninety-year-old preacher remained intrepid even after his frail body suffered abuse by the populace.

When the mob surrounded him and cried out, "Who is the God of the Christians?" he calmly replied, "Were you worthy, you would know."

Two days later, in prison, he died from his harsh treatment.

"Who knows," said Luther, "if God has not chosen me, and called me, and if they ought not to fear that in despising me they may be despising God Himself? ...Moses was alone on coming out Egypt --Elijah alone in the time of King Ahab -- Isaiah alone in Jerusalem –Ezekiel alone in Babylon. ...God never chose for a prophet either the High priest or any other great personage. He usually chose persons who were low and despised --on one occasion, he even chose a shepherd (Amos). At all times the saints have had to rebuke the great –kings, princes, priests, the learned--at the risk of their lives.... Ambrose in his day was alone. ...After him, Jerome was alone; later still Augustine was alone... I do not say that I am a prophet, but I say they ought to fear just because I am alone and they are many..."

May 3, 1817 --Switzerland. The pastors in Geneva frame the "Riglemens" consisting of certain articles every student is ordered to sign before he is "consecrated." It is intended to exclude from the pulpits of Geneva the doctrines they so hate: particularly the Deity of Christ, Original Sin, Grace and Effectual Calling, and Predestination.

May 13, 609 --Italy. Pope Boniface IV has received the Pantheon at Rome from Phocas, the Byzantine emperor. Today, it is dedicated to Mary and all martyrs as the "Church of Our Lady of the Rotunda."

May 13, 1801 –France. Napoleon, after having declares to a Protestant deputation after his accession to the empire, "My rule where that of conscience begins" today concludes his Concordat with Pope Pius VII, and both Church and State in France will be controlled by Rome for more than 100 years. Protestants lose their right to unrestricted worship.

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  When a supposed Friend wronged Saint Patrick, he coolly responded, "There is a God in Heaven I have said enough."

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