Were they to think much of so small an act of self-denial, where so much was provided for their indulgence ? Were they to be so unmindful of all which He had done for them, and of all the good things which He had in store for them, as to refuse Him so small a testimony of their regard? Amazing ! Incredible ! that such favours should be so re- quited !]
4. What rebellion !
[God had an undoubted right to command; and, what- ever His injunctions were, they were bound to obey them. But how do they regard this single, this easy precept ? They set it at nought : they transgress it : they violate it volun- tarily, immediately, and without so much as a shadow of reason. They lose sight of all the considerations of duty, or interest : they are absorbed in the one thought of personal gratification ; and upon that they rush, without one moment's concern, how much they may displease their Friend and Be- nefactor, their Creator and Governor, their Lord and Judge. Shall not God visit for such rebellion as this ?]
After their transgression, we are naturally led to inquire into,
III. Their recompence —
Satan had told them, that " their eyes should be opened :" but little did they think in what sense his words should be verified ! " Their eyes were now opened ;" but only like the eyes of the Syrian army when they saw themselves in the heart of an enemy's countryc, or those Of the rich man when he lifted them up in hell torments. d They beheld now, what it was their happiness not to know, the consequences of sin. They beheld,
1. The guilt they had contracted —
[Sin, while yet they were only soHcited to commit it, appeared of small malignity : its present pleasures seemed to overbalance its future pains. But when the bait was swallowed, how glad would they have been if they had never viewed it with desire, or ventured to trespass on what they knew to have been forbidden ! Now all the aggravations of their sin would rush into their minds at once, and over- whelm them with shame. It is true, they could not yet view their conduct with penitence and contrition, because God had not yet vouchsafed to them the grace of repentance :
c 2 Kings vi. 20. d Luke xvi. 23.