None are so hardy as to deny their obligation to serve God : yet the great mass of mankind will plead excuses for their neglect,
1 . Of religious duties —
[" They have not time to attend to their spiritual con- cerns." Not time ? For what then is their time given them? and vi^hat other business have they in comparison of this? But, if they would speak the truth, is not their disregard of religion to be traced rather to their want of inclination to spiritual
things their want of faith in the divine records
their want of all fear of God, and all concern about their souls?
How vain then their plea of want of time, when their
neglect arises from a total alienation of their hearts from God!]
2. Of moral duties —
[The duties of sympathy, of compassion, of activity in suc- couring the distressed, are mentioned in our text. Now for the neglect of these duties, such as the visiting of the sick, the instructing of the ignorant, the relieving of the needy, and the comforting of the afflicted, men will plead ignorance, inadvertence, forgetfulness, inability. But is there not a great degree of criminality attaching to us, if we do not search out the poor and afflicted, on purpose to alleviate their distresses?
and is not the true cause of our supineness, that we
have no love to our fellow-creatures, no zeal for God, no gra- titude for redeeming love ? It is in vain to think that
our neglects are venial under any circumstances, and more especially when they originate in cowardice, and sloth, and selfishness.]
Seeing then that such excuses are vain, let us mark,
II. The folly of resting in them —
Were there no God to call us into judgment, our delusions would be of less consequence : but there is a God by whom all our excuses will be weighed ; and he,
1. Will judge with truth —
[He looketh not at the outward appearance ; " He searcheth the heart and tries the reins," and is privy to the most secret workings of our minds. We may easily deceive ourselves ; but him we cannot deceive. See how forcible is the appeal made to us in ovu" text. Can we have any doubt whether he sees our conduct, or forms a correct estimate of it? Let us remember, that " he will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the heart;" &nd that, whatever our judgment be, his will be according to truth.]
234 PROVERBS, XXIV. 30— 3k [808.
2. Will award with equity —
[Here again the appeal is strong, and carries conviction with it. "We are sure that " God will judge the world in righteousness," and '* give to every man according to his works." " Whatsoever we have sowed, that shall we also reap : if we have sowed to the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap corruption ; but if we have sowed to the Spirit, we shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."]
Let this subject teach us,
1. To be jealous over ourselves with a godly jea- lousy—
[We are apt to think that conscience is a safe guide, and that we may rest satisfied with its testimony. But conscience is corrupted by the Fall, as well as all the other faculties of the soul. It is blinded, bribed, partial, and in many instances " seared as with an hot iron." Hence it is that " every man's w^ay is right in his own eyes." Paul thought he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus ; and was applauded by his own conscience, whilst he was sinning against God with all his might. Be not therefore satisfied merely because you feel no condemnation in your own minds ; but beg of God to en- lighten your conscience, that it may guide you aright, and keep you from those delusions which would involve you in everlasting ruin.]