Some it inspires only with terror —
[Tims it wrought on these : they saw their guilt, and the wrath of God upon them on account of it : " We are verily guilty concerning our brother, " said they, " and behold his blood is required of usr." Thus it wrought also on the un- happy Judas, who, when he saw what he had done, could no longer endure his very existence s. And on how many does it produce no other effect than this ! They see how grievously they have offended God : and, not having the grace of repent- ance given to them, they sink into despondency. Life now becomes a burthen to them : and they choose rather to rush into an unknown state than to endure the stings of an accusing conscience. Hence the suicides that are so frequent in the world. Men live in sin, imagining that no painful conse- quences shall ever ensue : but at last " their sin finds them out ;" and they seek in suicide a refuge from the torments of a guilty mind. But where a sense of guilt does not drive men to this extremity, it makes them tremble, as Felix did ; and imbitters to them their whole existence, so that they are utter strangers to peace, according as it is written, " There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."]
On others it operates with a more genial influence — [Thus it wrought on Manasseh, when he was taken among the thorns*. And thus on Peter also, when he "went out, and wept bitterly11." Happy, happy they, on whom it pro- duces such effects as these ! They will have no reason to re- pine at any afflictions that are productive of such a blessing x. What if the intermediate trials be severe? we shall have reason to bless God for them to all eternity, if they lead to this endy; and shall have cause to say with David, " It is good for me tbat I have been afflicted."]
On all, its testimony is as the voice of God himself — [It speaks with authority. The stoutest man in the uni- verse cannot endure its reproaches : and the most afflicted man in the universe is made happy by its testimony in his behalf2. We should therefore keep it tender, and be ever attentive to its voice. On no occasion should we violate its dictates : for though we may silence its voice for a time, or drown it in vanity and dissipation, it will speak at last, and constrain us to hear all that it has recorded concerning us. And when once it does speak, then we may say concerning it, that " he whom it blesses, is blessed; and he whom it curses, is cursed."] Advice —
r ver. 22. « Matt, xxvii. 3—5. l 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11—13.
u Luke xxii. 61, 62. x Job xxxvi. 8, 9. y Ps. xxxii. 3—6. z 2 Cor. i. 12.