2. They shun, rather than desire, the presence of their God —
[God comes to all of us in his word, and speaks to us in the language of love and mercy : He bids us to draw nigh to Him, and to enjoy " fellowship with him, and with his Son, Jesus Christ." But are these employments suited to the taste of all ? or do the habits of the generality evince any regard for these inestimable privileges ? Nay, if we endeavour to set God before them, and to make known to them liis will, do they consider us as their friends and benefactors ? They may bear with us, indeed, in the exercise of our public ministry : but will they be pleased, if we come home to their houses, and labour to bring them, as it were, into the presence of their God ? Will they not be ready to say to us, as the demoniac did to Christ, " Art thou come hither to torment us before the time ;" or, like the Jews of old, " Prophesy unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits ; make the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us ? "
Now would this be the conduct of men, if they were not conscious of much guilt within? Would a man who had just received gold from the mint, be afraid of having it tried by a touchstone ? or one who was perfectly innocent of a crime, be afraid of being interrogated in relation to it ? Would not rather the knowledge of God be desirable to one who had no wish but to perforin his will ? Would he not account it his highest happiness to gain an increasing acquaintance with his Saviour, and a more entire conformity to his image ?]
When the guilt of men can no longer be con- cealed, they have many refuges of lies to which they flee ; to expose which, we shall shew,
II. The way in which they endeavour to palliate and excuse it —
Our first parents confessed indeed their trans- gression, but in a way which clearly shewed, that they were not humbled for it. Thus, when we cannot deny our guilt,
1. We cast it upon others —
[Doubtless we all are accessary to the production of much guilt in others : and it is well to take shame to our- selves in that view. But to take occasion from this to excuse our own wickedness, is only to add sin to sin. Yet who does not betake himself to this refuge? Mark persons in the early stage of life ; they will deny their faults as long as there remains for them any hope of concealment; and, when they are clearly detected, they will do their utmost to shift the blame off from themselves : according to the nature of the