temptation a sufficient excuse for their compliance with it — But to what purpose shall we palliate our guilt, unless we can prevail on the Judge of quick and dead to view it with our eyes ? We may indeed weaken our present convictions, but we shall only secure thereby, and enhance, our eternal condemna- tion— Let us remember that " fleshly lusts war against the soul d ;" and that either we must mortify and subdue them, or they will enslave and destroy us e : for, even though the whole universe should combine to justify the commission of sin, not one who yields to its solicitations, shall ever pass unpunished — ]
2. Those who begin to see the evil of it —
[It is an unspeakable mercy to have any view of the ma- lignity of sin — To see how much we have deserved the wrath and indignation of God, is the very first step towards repent- ance and salvation — Let not any then turn away from this sight too hastily, or think they have discovered the evil of sin in its full extent — This is a lesson we are to be learning all our days ; and it is only in proportion as we advance in this humiliating knowledge, that we shall be qualified to receive and enjoy the Saviour — It is necessary indeed that, while we look at sin, we look also at Him who made atonement for it ; for otherwise, we shall be led to despair of mercy ; but, if we keep our eyes fixed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and see the infinite extent of his merits, we need never be afraid of entertaining too bitter a remembrance of sin — The more we lothe our- selves for past iniquities, the more shall we be fortified against temptations to commit them in future, and the more will God himself be ready to preserve and bless us — ]
3. Those who, like Joseph, are enabled to with- stand it —
[Blessed be God, there are many living witnesses to prove, that the grace of God is as sufficient at this day, as ever it was, to purify the heart, and to " keep the feet of his saints" — Let those then who are enabled to hold fast their integrity, give glory to him, by whom they are strengthened and upheld — But let them remember, that they are never beyond the reach of temptation, nor ever so likely to fall, as when they are saying, " My mountain stands strong ; I shall not be moved" — Let us then continue to watch against the renewed assaults of our great adversary — Never let him find us off our guard, or draw us to a parley with him — Let us suspect him, and he shall not deceive us ; let us resist him, and he shall flee from us : and the very assaults that he shall make upon us, shall terminate in our honour and his own confusion — ]
d 1 Pet. ii. 11. e Rom. viii. 13.
52.] INGRATITUDE OF PHARAOIl's BUTLER. 2(>9