[Not only is "our reigning lust" to be mortified*', but every sinful disposition, though it be dear to us as " a right eye," or apparently necessary to us as " a right hand*^."]
But, whilst much remains unmortified, we take credit to ourselves as having fulfilled the will of God —
[The great majority of men, if not living in very flagrant iniquity, think, and wisli others to think, that they have ful- filled the will of God, so far at least as not to leave them any material ground for shame and sorrow on account of their ini- quities. See the self-complacent state of all around us. In the habit of their minds, they plainly say, " We have per- formed the commandment of the Lord," and have ground for commendation on that account ]
But they stand reproved, one and all of them, by, IL Their glaring inconsistency —
The very beasts which Saul had spared, convicted him of falsehood —
[It was impossible for him to resist the evidence which the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen gave of his disobedience.]
And is there not equal evidence of the self-deceit of those around us ?
[You say you have obeyed the voice of the Lord. Let me then ask, What means that ivorldliness which is so visible to all who behold you ? Is it not clear and manifest, that the great mass of those who take credit to themselves on account of their obedience to God, are as much addicted to the world as any other pei'sons whatever ? They may be free from its grosser vices ; but their cares, their pleasures, their com- pany, their entire lives, shew indisputably whose they are, and to whom they belong. They are altogether " of the earth, earthly."
And what means their imj^enitence, which is as manifest as the sun at noon-day ? Who ever sees their tears, or hears their sighs and groans on account of indwelling sin? Who ever beholds them crying to God for mercy ; and fleeing, like the man-slayer, with all possible earnestness, to the hope set before him in the Gospel ? Does the heart-searching God behold any more of this in the secret chamber, than man beholds in the domestic circle, or in the public assembly ?
I say, then, What means all this indifference to heavenly
b Rom. vi. 12. <; Matt. v. 29, 30.
298. J Saul's self-deceit. 189
things ? It is as clear a demonstration of their disobedience to God, as were " the bleating of the sheep, and the lowing of the oxen," of Saul's hypocrisy.]
But in the reply of Saul to his reprover, we see,
III. Their vain excuses —
Saul cast the blame of his misconduct upon the people —
[Not only does he speak of them as the agents whom he could not control, but he declares that they were the authors of his disobedience, inasmuch as he was constrained to sanction their conduct through fear of their displeasure*^.]
This is the very rock on which all self-complacent Pharisees are wont to stumble —
[It is not owing to any want of inclination in themselves, that they do not serve God more perfectly, they will say, but to their situation and circumstances in life. It would be in vain for them to stem the torrent that carries all before it. Were they to follow the Lord fully, and to carry into effect the commands of God according to their full import, they should be altogether singular : and therefore they conform to the will of others, not from inclination, but necessity.
But let me ask. Are we to obey man in opposition to God ? Are we to " follow a multitude to do evil?" Even Saul him- self acknowledged, that in such a compliance " he had greatly sinned^:" and we may be sure that no such excuses will avail us at the judgment-seat of Christ.]
Let me, then, declare to you,