robe, because be bad possessed tbe world witb an opinion of Iiis batred of tliat sin, by putting sncli to deatli, yet is not afraid to go /)iro(/n/fo to one. Tberefore, as it added niueli to tbe weigbt of tbe temptations witb wbicb tlie devil assaulted Ciirist, tbat be came to bim in tbe wilderness and solicited bim to a private, yea, secret acknowledgment of bim, wliere none could tell tales wbat passed between tbem ; so it dotb to tbe glory of tbat complete victory wbicb Cbrist got over Satan in tbem all. Ami how got Cbrist it, but by tbis sword of tbe woi-d? Take, Cbristian, tberefore, tbe same weapon to defend tbyself against tbe same enemy. First, Tbe word will tell tbee tbat God is privy to tby most secret sin, — ' Tbou bast set our iniquities before tbee, our secret sins in tbe ligbt of tby countenance,' Psa. xc. 8. Tbey are as pbunly seen by bim, as anytbing can be by us at noon d<iy. Nay, be dotb not only sec and know tbem, but sets tbem before bim as a mark to sboot bis aiTows of vengeance at, — ' Tbe eyes of tbe Lord are in every place, bebolding tbe evil and tbe good,' Prov. xv. 3. As be sees wben tbou sbuttest tby closet to pray, and will reward tby sincerity : so wben tbou dost it to sin in secret, be will reward tby bypocrisy. Now, if ' a king sitting on bis tbi'one, scatteretb away all evil witb bis eyes,' Prov. xx. 8, how mucb more powerful would tbe eye of God, if seen looking on us, cbase away tbe most secret motion tbat stirretb in our beart to sin ! Better all the world to see tbee than God, who bath wrong done him by the sin, and tberefore, injustice to himself, he must visit tbee witb punishment. He cannot let any go unpunished, because be is a righteous judge; but there are some sins which require a more immediate band of Divine vengeance than others, and therefore called ' crying sins;' and tbey are such which, either by the place and power of tbe offender, man dare not pvmish, or else so secretly committed, tbat man cannot take cognizance of the fact, as Cain's bloody miu-der on bis brother, — ' Tby brother's blood crieth,' Gen. iv. 10. Secondly, The word tells thee of an informer which thou bast in thy own bosom, — conscience, which goes along witb tbee, and is witness to all thy fine-laid plots, and what it sees it wintes down, for it is a court of record. Thou canst not sin so fast but it can write after thee ; and the pen witb which conscience writes down our sins hath a sharp point, it cuts deep into the very beart and soul of the sinner. Tbe heathen's thoughts are said to accuse them, Rom. ii. 1.5 ; and no tonnentin tbe world comparable to an accusing conscience : ' The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit, who can bear?' Prov. xviii. Who! Not men, not angels. No eye affrights a sinner more than his own : it is tbat which he most desires to run from, but least can. Such a poor wretch is like Regulus in his barrel stuck witb nails, — which way soever be turns himself be is pricked and wounded. O read those sad instances of Cain, Saul, and Judas, with others upon Scripture i-ecord, who have been upon tbis rack, and thou wilt be afraid to sin when conscience stands by. Thirdly, Consult the word, and thou wilt find that God usually bath put them to shame in this world, who have promised themselves most secrecy in their sinning. It is one of God's names to be a revealer of secrets, Dan. ii. 47; and among other secrets he forgets not to bring to light these hidden things of darkness, and that often in this world. Indeed, the attribute of bis omniscience sufl^ers deeply by secret sins ; in these, men speak what base thoughls they have of God, as if be were a God of the day, and not of the night ; therefore, to vindicate this attribute, and to strike an inward fear thereof into the hearts of men, be digs these foxes out of their holes, wherein tbey earth themselves, and exposes their sins to tbe view of the world, which tbey thought none sboidd have known besides themselves and their partners in tlie sin. Such an eflcct bad tbe discovery of Ananias and Sappbira's secret sin : ' And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things,' Acts v. 11. See, tberefore, bow God bath befooled men wben they have been most artful in hiding their sins from the world's eye. No art was wanting in the patriarchs to conceal their unnatural sin against their brother. Wbat a fair, probable tale do they tell tbe old man their father, who believed all, and inquired no farther ! How true were tbey among themselves, though so many in the plot ! Tbat none of tbem should mention it at any time was strange! How long did this sleep before it was discovered ! and what a strange providence brought their wickedness to ligbt ! So Gehazi played bis part cunningly enough, which made
2 R
pi a AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.