dictates of God's Spirit. The language of their hearts is like that of the Jews of old-.] They, on the contrary frame their doings to turn as far as possible from God [Would consideration help them? They banish it, with all books or conversation that might lead them to it. Would the turning from known sin? They indulge in it. Would the avoiding of the means of sin? They will rush into temptation. Would the using of the means of grace? They account them a servile drudgery. If they wished to injure their spiritual interests as much as possible, consistently with a good name among men, they could not adopt a surer method: the whole of their conduct unequivocally declares the language of their hearts.] To account for this supineness, let us trace it up to, II. The causes of it Persons, when convicted of evil doings, will yet affirm their hearts to be good. But can a tree be good whose fruits are uniformly bad? The causes of this evil are justly described by the prophet: 1. They love sin In ["Whoredom" is frequently (and by Hosea in particular) used for sin in general. A "spirit of whoredom" imports an attachment to sin, and delight in ith. Now this justly characterizes the state of fallen man. It accords with other descriptions given of him in Scripture'; and is the fundamental cause of the supineness visible in the world. following evil ways we glide easily down the stream: but in renouncing them we stem the tide of our corrupt nature. Hence even the first steps of turning to God are irksome and difficult; and we lay the rein on the neck of our appetites for want of resolution to restrain them. In this very manner does God himself trace up our transgressions to a deceived heart*-.] 2. They are ignorant of God [Never accustomed to reflect on God, they know nothing of him: the ideas they do form of him are grossly erroneous! f Jer. xliv. 16, 17. g Job xxi. 14, 15. In a similar sense a spirit of slumber is used, Rom. xi. 8. i Eph. iv. 22. and Rom. viii. 7. 1 Ps. xevii. 7. k Isai. xliv. 20. In their hearts they "imagine him to be even such an one as themselves." This is another, and a very fruitful source of their supineness. To this St. Paul ascribes the evil of their hearts and lives". If they knew his power and majesty, could they dare thus to provoke him? If they beheld his holiness, could they account sin so venial an evil? If they were apprised of his justice, would they indulge hopes of impunity? If they believed his veracity, would they so disregard his threatenings? Above all, if they knew his mercy to us in Christ Jesus, could they so trample on the blood that was shed for them? It would not be possible for them to withstand such views of his perfections. Such a discovery would produce on them the effect experienced by St. Paul"-.] INFER 1. They who shall perish at the last day must ascribe their condemnation to themselves [It is certainly true that man is not able of himself to do all that is required of him. But it is no less true that he is able to do many things which he neglects. Nor can it be doubted but that, if he cried to God for help, he might obtain it. If he use not therefore the power that he has, and the appointed means of obtaining more, he can blame none but himself. In this view our Lord expressly declares that the fault is in our own perverse will. And God expostulates with us on the folly of our conduct. Is the husbandman justified in omitting to plough and sow his ground because he cannot ensure a crop? How much less then shall we be, in neglecting the means to which God has promised success? Let us not then deceive ourselves by offering vain excuses; but turn unto our God, and plead the mercy which he has promised to us.] 2. If we would fully turn unto our God, we must have our hearts renewed, and our minds enlightened with the knowledge of Christ [Would we heal the streams? we must cast the salt into the fountain head'. Instead of being actuated by the spirit of whoredoms, we must pray to be "led by the Spirit of God." Instead of "abiding in darkness," we must seek to have "Christ revealed in us." Thus shall "old things pass away, and all things become new." We shall sweetly yield ourselves to the constraining influence of Christ's love; and not only turn, but "cleave, unto him with full purpose of heart."] m Eph. iv. 18. P Ezek. xxxiii. 11. n Acts ix. 6. • John v. 40. MCL. THE DANGER OF PRIDE. Hos. v. 5. The pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them. ALL profess to hate pride; yet all are more or less infected with it. The very best of men are not wholly free from its influence. But, in the unregenerate, it is the governing principle of all their actions. It was one of the most distinguishing features in the character of Sodom". The professing people of God also were led captive by it. And were brought thereby under his just and heavy displeasure. We shall make some observations upon, I. The prevalence of this sin The state of Israel was not peculiar to that nation. Human nature is in all ages the same. Nor does pride manifest itself more strongly any where than amongst ourselves, 1. Nationally [There is no nation that boasts more of its privileges, or that acknowledges less the hand of God in them, than Britain. If judgments come, we impute them to the misconduct of our government; and if success be vouchsafed to us, we ascribe it to our own skill in arts, or prowess in arms. And though confessedly our sins are manifold, no one thinks of national humiliation: so truly may it be said of us, as it was of Israel, "Our pride testifies to our face; and we do not return to the Lord our God, nor seek him for all this"."] 2. Personally [Behold the careless sinner. What determined opposition is there in the hearts of many to the authority of God! They will not submit to his light and easy yoke. If required to obey, they object to the command itself as severe and impracticable. If warned of the consequences of their disobedience, they make light of all God's threatenings. If urged to receive the Gospel salvation, they deride it as foolishness. The language of their heart is, Who is Lord over us? We know not a Ezek. xvi. 49. b Hos. vii. 10. c 1 Cor. ii. 14. the Lord; neither will we obey his voice. That this proceeds from pride, there can be no doubt. God himself traces such conduct to this, as its proper source and principle. And dotl not this "testify to the face" of many amongst us? Is not this the conduct which almost universally obtains? Yea, are not we sensible that it too justly describes, if not our present, yet certainly our former, state? Behold also the self-righteous formalist. Persons of this description have kept themselves free from gross enormities, or perhaps have reformed their conduct after having given the rein to all their appetites; but their pride rises in proportion to their fancied attainments. They look with contempt on others who are openly immoral, and bless themselves that they are not as other mens: meanwhile "they feel not the plague of their own heart." They deny the representation which the Scripture gives of their fallen state". They cannot endure to think themselves deserving of God's wrath, nor will they submit to be saved by the righteousness of God: and whence does all this originate? Surely pride and self-exaltation are properly pointed out as the spring from whence it flows: yet doth not this disposition also lamentably prevail? Doth it not "testify to the face" of some whom we are now addressing? Are there not some amongst ourselves who trust in their own wisdom, strength, and righteousness, instead of fleeing to Christ as blind, helpless, hopeless creatures? some also, who are too proud to accept salvation on the footing of publicans and harlots? yea, and some too, who will rather perish in their sins, than seek to have them purged away in the Redeemer's blood? I am grieved to add, Behold also many religious professors. None are more puffed up with pride than some who would be thought followers of the lowly Jesus. They are conceited of their knowledge, and will bear with none who do not pronounce their shibboleth. They profess indeed to believe that their hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked; yet they will never listen to instruction or reproof: nor can they be persuaded to deny their own will in any thing for the good of others. None are more ready than these to set up themselves in opposition to all constituted authorities. St. Jude speaks of them as "murmurers and complainers," as "despising dominion and speaking evil of dignities." Nor are there any people under heaven to whom Solomon's description of the proud man may be more fitly applied. Alas! does not this spirit also "testify to the face" of many? Perhaps there scarce ever was a period or a nation where such spurious d Ps. xii. 4. Exod. v. 8 Luke xviii. 9, 11. Luke xviii. 14. 2. e Ps. x. 4, 5. f Isai. lxv. 5. i Rom. x. 3. m Prov. xxx. 12, 13. religion prevailed in so great a degree. Surely it may well be numbered among the most heinous sins of this favoured land.] Having followed the sin of Israel, what can we expect but to participate in, II. The judgment denounced against it ment. To "fall" must certainly import some heavy judgThis threatening was not fully accomplished but in the utter destruction of the Jewish nation. Nor can we hope to escape the displeasure of God while we harbour in our hearts an evil that is so offensive to him This must be said of us as a nation [We see at this moment the judgments executing upon other nations (France, Belgium, Poland, Russia) and can we hope that the cup shall not be put into our hands? Who can tell what a storm is gathering over us, or what ruin may ensue from the acts of our Government this very week"? few are crying to God as the occasion requires !] Yet how But whatever occurs to us as a nation, the proud individually shall surely be dealt with according to their deserts [They will most generally fall in this world. In their own conceit their mountain stands so strong as to bid defiance to every assault. They think that they shall never be moved. But how irresistibly have the haughtiest monarchs been hurled from their throne P! How speedily have even the most powerful empires been brought to desolation! How instantaneously have God's judgments often marked the heinousness of this sin! If they be exalted for a time they are almost invariably brought low at last. At all events they are absolutely certain to fall in the eternal world. If indeed they repented of their sin, they would find mercy with God. A broken and contrite heart he will never despiset. Though he will resist the proud, yet he will give grace unto the humble. He will look on him with pleasure and complacency" but nothing can ever reconcile him to "a man that walketh in pride." He will surely abase the proud, He has irreversibly decreed their utter destruction. Nor P Dan. v. 20, 23. t Ps. li. 17. x Dan. iv. 37. y Mal. iv, 1. Ps. lxxiii. 6, 9, 18, 20. u Isai. lvii. 15. |