Proverbs 28:26 He that trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered. I. WHAT IS MEANT BY A MAN TRUSTING HIS HEART. It is — 1. To commit and resign up the entire conduct of his life and actions to the directions of it, as of a guide. A guide should be able to lead and direct him; and a guide should faithfully give the best directions. II. WHEREIN THE FOOLISHNESS OF IT CONSISTS. Two things render a trust foolish. 1. The thing which we commit to a trust. We commit three things to the mercy of this trust — the honour of God; our own felicity here; the eternal concernments of our soul hereafter. The honour of God as Creator, Governor, Saviour, and gracious Father; our happiness in this world, both temporal and spiritual. Is the heart worthy of such trust? Nay, it is weak, and so cannot make good a trust. In point of apprehension, it cannot perceive and understand certainly what is good. In point of election, it cannot choose and embrace it. Moreover, it is deceitful, and so will not make good a trust. The delusions of the heart relate to the commission of sin; the performance of duty; a man's conversion or change of his spiritual estate. The heart of man will draw him on to sin by persuading him he can keep it in bounds; by leading him into occasions of sin; by lessening and extenuating it in his esteem. A man's heart will persuade him that a cessation from sin is a plenary conquest and mortification of sin. (R. South.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.WEB: One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe. |
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