open shame" — It proclaims aloud, that the glory of heaven is not to be compared with the gratification of our lusts; and that it is better to perish by self-indulgence, than to obtain salvation in the exercise of self-denial — What terms then can sufficiently express the enormity of that, which so blinds and infatuates its wretched votaries ? — ]
It is not possible to behold sin in this light, without
acknowledging that,
III. We ought to flee from it with indignation and
abhorrence —
Instead of tampering with it we should flee from it — [Sin is of so fascinating a nature that it soon bewitches us, and leads us astray — As " a man cannot take fire into his bosom without being burnt," so neither can he harbour sin in his heart without being vitiated and corrupted by it — Had Achan fled from the wedge of gold as soon as ever he found a desire after it springing up in his heart; and David turned away his eyes the very instant he saw Bathsheba, how much shame and misery would they have escaped ! But the breach, which might easily have been stopped at the first, presently defied the efforts of an accusing conscience ; and a flood of iniquity soon carried them away with irresistible impetuosity — Thus also it will be with us ; if we parley with the tempter, he will surely overcome us : we must resist sin at the first, if we would oppose it with success — ]
Instead of loving it, we should utterly abhor it —
[The grace of God enabled Joseph to reject with abhor- rence the offers proposed to him; and to prefer a dungeon with a good conscience before the indulgence of a criminal passion, or the favour of a seducing mistress — Thus should we turn with indignation from the allurements of sin — We should " make a covenant with our eyes," yea, with our very hearts, that we may close, as much as possible, every avenue of ill — Instead of palliating sin, we should view it in all its aggrava- tions ; and especially as an offence against a just and holy, a merciful and gracious, God — Nor should we ever forget, that, though it be " rolled as a sweet morsel under the tongue, it will prove gall in the stomach ;" and though it flatter us with its innocence, " it will bite as a serpent, and sting like an adder"—]
Address,
1 . Those who think lightly of sin —
[We well know that the generality of men have much to say in extenuation of their guilt ; and, if they had been in the situation of Joseph, would have accounted the greatness of the