every renewed failure; but the wicked have not peace, because they neither cry to the Lord to pardon their evil tempers, nor pray to him for grace to subdue them. Whatever be their besetting sin, they will fall into it as soon as ever a temptation occurs. Is it pride ? they will be inflamed at the smallest insult or opposition ; and, like Hainan, feel no comfort in life, because they are not treated with all the reverence they think due to theme. Is it envy? they cannot endure to behold the success of a rival ; but, like Saul, would be glad to hear that he were brought down, or even that he were deadf. Is it covetousness? they shall have no enjoyment of all that they possess, because they have sustained a loss, or been, like Ahab, disappointed in their hopes of attaining something whereon their heart was setg. Is it malice and revenge? they shall sometimes be so inflamed by the very sight of their enemy, or even by the recollection of the injury they have sustained, that their very blood shall boil within them, and their rest day and night depart from them. Now what room is there for peace in a bosom that is subject to such continual agitation ; and which, like the sea, not only is disturbed by every wind, but the instant it is moved, " casts up nothing but mire and dirt ? " — ]
3. An evil conscience —
[Much as they strive to shake off reflection about a future state, they cannot wholly dissipate their fears : in the midst of all their boasted confidence they have some secret misgivings : and if a sickness, which they expect to be fatal, come upon them, they cannot help wishing that their life had been dif- ferently spent, and that they might be spared to obtain a better preparation for their appearance before God. Sometimes indeed they do hold fast their delusions to the last, and " God gives them over to believe a lie :" but, for the most part, they both live under the accusations of a guilty conscience, and die under an awful suspense, a dreadful uncertainty about their eternal state. If at any time their minds be awakened to a sense of their true condition, they will tremble, like Bel- shazzar, when he saw the writing on the wall'1, or, like Felix, when Paul reasoned with him about righteousness, temper- ance, and the judgment to come1. Is it possible that peace should consist with such a state as this? Or need we any thing more to confirm the testimony of God respecting them, That they have no peace ? — ]
This subject cannot fail of suggesting to us,
1. The bitterness of sin —
e Esther v. 9, 12, 13. f 1 Sam. xviii. G— 9. and xix. 1. s 1 Kings xxi. I — -4. h Dan. v. ,">, G. ' Acts xxiv. 2.").