First, Naturally. There is a noxious quality in sin offensive to the under- standing, which is to the soul what the eye and palate are to the body ; it discerns things, and distinguishes true from false, as the eye white from black ; it trieth words as the mouth tasteth meats. Now as there are some things bad for the sight, and others bad for the palate, vitiating it, so that it shall not know sweet from bitter ; so here sin besots the creature, and makes it injudicious, that he who could see such a practice absurd and base in others before, when once he had drank of this enchanting cup himself, as one that hath lost his understanding, is maddened by it himself, not able now to see the evil of it, or use his reason against it. Thus Saul, before he had debauched his conscience, thought the witch worthy of death ; but after he had trodden his conscience hard with other foul sins, went to ask counsel of one himself.
Again, sin brings darkness judicially ; such have been threatened, whose ear God hath been trying to open and instruct, and have run out of God's school into the devil's, by ' rebelling against light,' that they shall ' die without know- ledge,' Job xxxvi. 10 — 12. What! should the candle burn waste, when tlie creature hath more mind to play than work?
Thirdly, Sin runs into darkness. Imposters bring in their ' damnable heresies privily,' like those who sell bad ware, loth to come to the market, where the standard tries all, but put it off in secret : so in moral wickedness, sinners, like beasts, go out in the night for their prey, loth to be seen, afraid to come where they should be found out. Nothing more terrible to sinners than the light of truth, John iii. 19, 'because their deeds are evil.' Felix was so nettled with what Paul spake, that he could not sit out the sermon, but runs away in haste, and adjourns the hearing of Paul till a convenient season, but he never could tind one. The sun is not more troublesome in hot countries, than truth is to those who sit under the powerful preaching of it ; and, therefore, as those seldom come abroad in the heat of the day, and, when they must, have their devices over their heads to screen them from the sun ; so sinners shim as much as may be the preaching of the word; but if they must go, to keep in with their relations, or for other carnal advantages, they, if possible, will keeji off the power of truth, either by sleeping the sermon away, or prating it away with any foolish imagination which Satan sends to bear them company and chat with them at such a time ; or, by choosing such a cool preacher to sit under, whose toothless discoiu'se shall rather flatter than trouble, rather tickle their fancy than prick their consciences ; and then their sore eyes can look upon the light. Florescentem amant i^eritatem qui noti redarguentiir ; they dare handle and look on the sword with a delight, when in a rich scabbard, who would run away to see it drawn.
Fourthly, Sin is darkness for its uncomfortableness, and that in a threefold respect.
First, Darkness is uncomfortable, as it shuts out of all employment. What could the Egyptians do under the plague of darkness, but sit still ? and this to an active spirit is trouble enough. Thus, in a state of sin man is an unser- viceable creature ; he can do his God no service acceptably, spoils everything he takes in hand, like one running up and down in a shop, with windows shu', who doth nothing right. It may be writ on the grave of every sinner, who lives and dies in that state : ' Here lies the man that never did God an hom-'s work in all his life.'
Secondly, Darkness is uncomfortable in point of enjoyment; be there ever such rare pictures in the room, if dark, who is the better? A soul in a state of sin may possess much, but enjoys nothing. This is a sore evil, and little thought of. One thought of its state of enmity to God, would di-op bitterness into every cup; all he hath smells of hell-fire; and a man at a rich feast would enjoy it sure but little if he smelt fire, ready to burn his house and himself.
Thirdly, Darkness fills with terrors ; fears in the night are most dreadful ; a state of sin is a state of fear. Men that owe much, have no quiet, but when they are asleep, and not then either, the cares and fears of the day sink so deep, as makes their rest troublesome and imquiet in the night. The wicked hath no peace, but when his conscience sleeps, and that sleeps but slightly, awaking often with sick fits of terror : when he hath most prosperity, he is
DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD. JQY
scared like a flock of birds in a corn field, at every piece going off. He eats in fear, and drinks in fear ; when afflicted, he expects worse behind, and knows not what this cloud may spread to, and where it may lay him, whether in hell or not he knows not, and therefore trembles, as one in the dark, not knowing but his next step may be into the pit.