Imatges de pàgina
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WEDNESDAY.

THE SINS OF HABIT.

THE MEDITATION.

"CAN the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil."a

But I, when I look back upon my past life, must at once acknowledge, not only as I before acknowledged the infirmities of my nature, and the dreadful penalties of the law, which attach to all men in their human condition generally;-but I myself, in my own person, continually, habitually, day by day, have sinned against the Lord.

“O Lord, mine iniquities testify against me, my backslidings are many; I have sinned against thee !"b "I am dead in trespasses

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"I have eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin ;" an heart exercised with covetous practices. "I have forsaken the right way, and am gone astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness."

Let me commune

amine:

with myself, and ex

My principles,-what have they been? Of the world.

My rule of life,-what has it been? The opinion of men.

My treasure, where has it been placed? On the earth.

They have taught me, men have taught me, the world has taught me, even from my youth up until now, that the demands and precepts of my Saviour and my God,

are

unnecessary, beyond man's power, and unjust; and I too willingly have listened.

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They have taught me, Why doth he yet find fault? for who has resisted his will? And I, the thing formed, have said to him that formed me, why hast thou made me thus ?"c

They have taught me that the road which leadeth to heaven is broad and easy, while my Saviour has told me to "enter the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the

a

2 Pet. ii. 14.

b

2 Pet. ii. 15.

c Rom. ix. 19.

way that leadeth to destruction, but strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."a

They have taught me that the passions of my nature, and the lusts of the flesh may be indulged without danger, and retained without offence; while I now find, that "if my right hand offend me, my duty is to cut it off, and cast it from me; for it is profitable for me that one of my members should perish, and not that my whole body should be cast into hell."b

They have taught me that I can make a compromise with God, and barter and exchange a little good for a little evil; and that, should I offend to-day, I may repay that offence by an extra portion of obedience to-morrow: while I now find that when I "have done all these things which are commanded, I must still say, I am an unprofitable servant."

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They have taught me, that though I may sin, I may yet escape. "Tush, God hath forgotten, he hideth away his face, and he will never see it."d They have said that God is not so terrible, not so exacting, as he is described; that sin is not so sinful, that disobedience is not disobedient; whereas I now find,

Matt. vii. 13.

b

Matt. v. 30.
d Psalm x. 11.

с

Luke xvii. 10.

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"Be sure your sin will find you out;" that the way of the wicked, the thoughts of the wicked, the sacrifice and prayer of the wicked, "are an abomination to the Lord." 'They have deceived me with vain words." They have called good evil, and evil good; they have put darkness for light, and light for darkness; they have put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."a

These are the things which they have taught me. These are the principles upon which I have lived. Here has been my treasure; here has been my heart.

I knew what God commanded, and the gospel taught. My sin was not from ignorance.

I knew the weakness of my nature, and the infirmities of my resolution. My sin was not from inadvertence.

I knew that God was good, but I thought the world was better.

But now, O my God, how am I cast down! Now I can sing and laugh no more. Now I can brave it out in pride no longer. Now I see and am convinced, before so blind, so wilful. Where was my understanding when I played so boldly with the wrath of God; when God stood by, and yet I sinned; when conscience did rebuke me, and

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yet I sinned; when heaven and hell were hard at hand, and yet I sinned. When, to please God, and save my soul, I would not forbear a filthy lust, or give up a forbidden vanity. I I am ashamed. I am confounded. "I loath myself for all my abominations." I will search this out; they shall deceive me no longer.

What say the scriptures?

"The works

a

of the flesh are manifest : Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,

emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings and such like."b

Answer, O my soul, to these words of thy God. Between thee and him; thee, the sinful and degraded; him, the holy and the omniscient, thy sin lieth.

Wherewith shall I appear before God? I have been miserably deceived: "I have spoken peace where was no peace," I have gone on on day by day, and year by year, deeper and deeper in iniquity, more and more alienate from God, my habits, my principles-what I have done, and what I have left undone-carnal, worldly, sensual. "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."a

a

Ezek. xxxvi. 31.

b Gal. v. 19. d Isaiah lvii. 21.

⚫ Jer. vi. 14.

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