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[A thief would not steal, if he knew that the eyes of the proprietor were fastened on him: yea, even the presence of a child would be sufficient to keep the adulterer from the perpetration of his intended crimes. But he regards not the presence of Almighty God. If he be out of the sight of any fellow-creature, he saith in his heart, "No eye seeth me":" never reflecting, that "the darkness is no darkness with God, but the night is as clear as the day; the darkness and light to him are both alike."]

2. There is no regard to his authority

[Men will stand in awe of the civil magistrate, who he knows to be "an avenger of evil, and that he does not bear the sword in vain." To see to what an extent men stand in awe of earthly governors, conceive in what a state of confusion even this Christian land would be, if only for one single week the laws were suspended, and no restraint were imposed on men beyond that which they feel from a regard to the authority of God: we should not dare to venture out of our houses, or scarcely be safe in our houses, by reason of the flood of iniquity which would deluge the land. And though it is true that every one would not avail himself of the licence to commit all manner of abominations, it is equally true, that it is not God's authority that would restrain them: for the same authority that says, "Do not kill or commit adultery," says, Thou shalt "live not unto thyself, but unto Him that died for thee and rose again." And if we be not influenced by it in every thing, we regard it truly in nothing.]

3. There is no concern about his approbation

[If we be lowered in the estimation of our fellow-creatures, how mortified are we, insomuch that we can scarcely bear to abide in the place where we are so degraded. An exile to the remotest solitude would be preferable to the presence of those whose good opinion we have forfeited. But who inquires whether God be pleased or displeased? Who lays to heart the disapprobation which he has excited in his mind, or the record that is kept concerning him in the book of his remembrance? If we preserve our outward conduct correct, so as to secure the approbation of our fellow-creatures, we are satisfied, and care little what God sees within, or what estimate he forms of our character.]

4. There is no fear of his displeasure—

[One would think it impossible that men should believe in a future state of retribution, and yet be altogether careless about the doom that shall be awarded to them. They think

u Job xxiv. 15. x Ps. cxxxix. 11, 12.

y James ii. 10, 11.

that God is merciful, too merciful to punish any one, unless it be, perhaps, some extraordinarily flagrant transgressor. Hence, though they know they are sinners, they never think of repenting, or of changing that course of life which, if the Scriptures be true, must lead them to perdition. Only see the state of the first converts, or of any who have felt their danger of God's wrath; and then tell me whether that be the experience of the world at large? Where do we see the weeping penitents smiting on their breast, and crying for mercy? Where do we see persons flying to Christ for refuge, as the manslayer fled from the sword of the avenger, that was pursuing him? In the world at large we see nothing of this; nothing, in fact, but supineness and security: so true is the judgment of the Psalmist respecting them, that "there is no fear of God before their eyes." The same testimony St. Paul also bears: and we know that his record is true.]

If, then, David's views be indeed correct, See,

1. How marvellous is the forbearance of our God!

[He sees the state of every living man: he sees, not our actions only, but our very thoughts: for " he trieth the heart and reins." What evils, then, does he behold in every quarter of the globe! Not a country, a town, a village, a family, no, nor a single soul, exempt from the common malady! all fallen; all "enemies in their hearts to God by wicked works!" Take but a single city, our own metropolis for instance, and what a mass of iniquity does God behold in it, even in the short space of twenty-four hours! Is it not astonishing that God's wrath does not break forth against us, even as against Sodom and Gomorrha, to consume us by fire; or that another deluge does not come, to sweep us away from the face of the earth? Dear Brethren," account this long-suffering of our God to be salvation," and "let it lead every one of you to repentance."]

2. How unbounded is the love of God, that has provided a Saviour for us!

[Behold, instead of destroying the world by one stroke of his indignation, he has sent us his co-equal and co-eternal Son to effect a reconciliation between him and us, by the sacrifice of himself! Yes, "he has so loved the world, as to have given his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "He sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world," as we might rather have expected; "but that the world through him might be saved"."

z Rom. iii. 18.
c John iii. 16.

a 2 Pet. iii. 15. b Rom. ii. 4.

d John iii. 17.

What, then, my beloved Brethren, "shall your transgressions say to you?" Shall they not say, "Avail yourselves of the proffered mercy? Delay not an hour to seek an interest in that Saviour, that so your sins may be blotted out, and your souls be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus?" Let this love of God constrain you to surrender up yourselves to him as his redeemed people; and so to walk before him in newness of heart and life, that "Christ may be magnified in you, whether by life or death."]

e Phil. i. 20.

DLVIII.

THE SELF-FLATTERING DELUSIONS OF SINNERS EXPOSED.

Ps. xxxvi. 2. He flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

IT may well astonish us to see how careless and indifferent men are about the favour of God. But the Psalmist assigns the true reason for it. Every one cherishes in his mind some delusion, whereby he lulls his conscience asleep; and thus, notwithstanding his guilt and danger, rests satisfied with his state, till God himself interpose, in a way of mercy or of judgment, to undeceive him.

To elucidate his words, we shall,

I. Point out some of the self-flattering delusions which are commonly entertained

We shall notice some which obtain,

1. Among the careless world—

[They imagine that God does not regard the conduct

of his creatures.

Or, that he is too

merciful to con

sign them over to everlasting perdition b

least, a little repentance will suffice

Or that, at Or that, at all

a Job xxii. 13. Ps. xciv. 7. But it is a sad delusion, Prov. xv. 3.

1 Cor. iv. 5. Eccl. xii. 14. Deut. xxix. 19, 20.

b Zeph. i. 12. 2 Pet. iii. 4. But this is also a fatal error, Ps. ix. 17. and 2 Pet. ii. 4, 5, 6, 9.

• Repentance is not so small a thing as men suppose. It is nothing less than a thorough renovation of the heart in all its powers; a putting off the old man, and a putting on the new, John iii. 3. Eph. iv. 22-24.

events, it is time enough yet to think of turning seriously to God4]

2. Among those who profess some regard for religion

[They judge that a moral conduct, with a regular observance of the outward forms of religion, is all that is required - Or, that the embracing of the truths of the Gospel, and joining themselves to the Lord's people, is a true and scriptural conversion Or, that the having, at some former period, had their affections strongly exercised about religious things, is a proof of their present acceptance with God Or, that a present pleasure in religious duties, with a partial mortification of sin, is a sufficient evidence of their sincerity — —]

But the vanity of these delusions will appear,

while we,

II. Shew when and how they shall be removedThe eyes of all will sooner or later be opened, and their vain conceits be dissipated—

1. Some will have their errors rectified in conversion

[When the Spirit of God enlightens the mind of man, he scatters the clouds of ignorance and error; and, as far at least as respects the foregoing delusions, guides them into the knowledge of the truth. He shews us, not only that our sins are known to God, but that we are in danger of condemnation on account of them, and that we ought to turn to God instantly, and with our whole heartsi He discovers to

us also, that no form of godliness, no change of sentiment, no moving of the affections, no partial reformation of the life, will suffice; but that, if we will serve the Lord in truth, we must give up ourselves wholly to him and without reservek

d Acts xxiv. 25. If other delusions have proved fatal to thousands, this has destroyed tens of thousands. The folly of it appears

from James iv. 14. Luke xii. 20. and Gen. vi. 3. Prov. i. 24-31. e Our Lord warns us against this mistake, Matt. v. 20.

f But what did this avail the Foolish Virgins? Matt. xxv. 1-12. or Judas? xxvi. 21-24. See also, Matt. xiii. 30, 40, 41, 42. 8 Such notions are common, Matt. xiii. 20. but awfully delusive, Heb. vi. 4-6. 2 Pet. ii. 20, 21.

h This is the thought of many, Isa. lviii. 2, 3. Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32. Ps. lxxviii. 34, 35. But nothing less than an uniform and unreserved obedience to God will prove us to be God's children, 1 John iii. 7. Mark ix. 43-48.

i Acts ii. 37. and xvi. 30.

k Ps. xviii. 23. and Heb. xii. 1.

-Particularly he makes us to see "the hatefulness" of the most refined hypocrisy, and even of the remains of sin, which, in spite of our most earnest endeavours to destroy it, yet war in our members1.

-]

2. Others will have their misapprehensions removed in condemnation

[Too many, alas! hold fast their delusions in spite of God's word, and all the merciful or afflictive dispensations of his providence. But, as soon as ever they come into the eternal world, they will be undeceived. The sight of a holy God, together with the hearing of that sentence which their once compassionate, but now indignant Judge will pass upon them; and, above all, the feeling of the torments of hell, will convince them of their mistakes, and leave them no room to doubt, but that the care of the soul was "the one thing needful," and that every word of God shall be fulfilled in its season

ADVICE

-]

1. Confer not with flesh and blood in the concerns of religion

[All unregenerate men endeavour to bring down the word of God to some standard of their own; and consequently will discourage in us every thing that goes beyond the line which they have drawn for themselves. But, if they deceive us, they cannot afford us any remedy in the eternal world. The word of God is the only standard of right and wrong; and by that we shall be judged in the last day. Let us therefore regulate our sentiments and conduct, not according to the opinions of fallible men, but according to the unerring declarations of God himself. And instead of endeavouring to lower the demands of God to our wishes or attainments, let us labour to raise our practice to the strictest requisitions of God's lawm.]

2. Pray for the teaching of God's Spirit

[With deceitful hearts, a subtle adversary, and a tempting world, we are continually in danger: nor can we hope to be guided aright but by the Spirit of the living God. Even the Scriptures themselves will be "a dead letter," and "a sealed book" to us, unless the Spirit of God open our understandings to understand them. He has promised to lead us into all truth; and if we be really disposed to embrace the truth, he will discover it to us. But if, through our hatred of the light, we shut our eyes against it, God will give us over to our delusions, that we may believe a lie". Let us therefore guard

1 Ps. lxvi. 18. James i. 26. Job xlii. 6. Rom. vii. 21-24. m Phil. iii. 13, 14.

n John iii. 19. 2 Thess. ii. 10—12. and Isai. lxvi. 3, 4.

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