I. This is the Hebrew way of telling us, in a casual word about feasting, that a man's inmost thinking is the true index to his character.
II. Christianity accepts and endorses this inward and broad basis of manhood, and employs its fact and revelation, impulse and inspiration, to secure a thorough regeneration of man's inmost life. Nothing is more absurd than to speak of Christianity as hostile to the most daring and intrepid thought. Hostile to thinking! It lives upon it, thrives by it, compels it, pushes itself into every section of our manifold experience by it, and revolutionises the world by breaking the dull continuity of man's mechanical movements with its spiritual goads to freshness and venture of thought. Its greatest men have been strong, capable, and heroic thinkers.
III. This is a thinking age. The manliest thinking is done with the heart; that is, with the whole of the inner forces of the life.
IV. Modern thinking, ignoring the Biblical rule, is smitten with the blight of cowardice, falls a victim to unreality, and lacks, notwithstanding its pride, Lutheran courage, holy daring, and self-devotion.
V. We expect too much to be done by mere thinking. Mere thought is analytical, surgical, cuts to pieces. We are analysts where we need a temper of friendly personal trust. Mere thinking never was the key to unlock another human heart. We get nothing from the man in whom we will not confide. The first need for many of us is not more thinking, but immediate obedience to what we know.
VI. No thinking is manly that fails to take adequate account of the force of intense moral enthusiasms. It is provable that only in the white heat of a glowing passion for an ethical goal have we the clearest vision of eternal fact.
VII. The thinking that is of the brain only, and not of the heart, is in serious danger of passing over the unseen order and treating it as though it did not exist.
VIII. Above all things, do not let us be alarmed at any of the mistakes and mischiefs that cause disobedience to the Christian law of manly thinking. We need have no misgiving about the future. Man is essentially a thinker and a unit; and he must think towards unity, and truth, and perfection. "God is his refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble;" therefore after every temporary eclipse the Sun of righteousness will break forth and reveal again the way to the Father.
J. Clifford, The Dawn of Manhood,p. 66.
References: Proverbs 23:7. R. Tuck, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxiii., p. 285.Proverbs 23:12-23. R. Wardlaw, Lectures on Proverbs,vol. iii., p. 83.Proverbs 23:15-35. W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven,2nd series, p. 256.