foster some vile affection, some "earthly, sensual, or devilish" inclination ]
3. In a state of separation from God and his people —
[We have by nature no delight in God : we are averse to his service, his worship, his people : our " carnal minds are enmity against him," and against every thing that leads to him,
or sets him before our eyes We " say continually in
our hearts, Depart from us ; we desire not the knowledge of thy ways."]
Wretched as our state appears from this represen- tation, the prophet sets it forth in a far more humilia- ting view, II. By a particular comparison —
In the former clause of the text the prophet speaks of us as we are on the whole: but in the latter part he speaks of our " righteons?iesses" only: and these he compares to a leprous garment, which by God's ex- press command was to be consigned to the names. The truth of this comparison appears, in that all our best deeds are,
1. Defective —
[If we measure them by a standard of our own, we may discern no flaw in them : but the perfect law of God is that by which they must be tried : and where has there been one action of our lives that has fully come up to that standard?
We are required to love God with all our heart,
and all our mind, and all our soul, and all our strength ; and our neighbour as ourselves : but what duty that we ever per- formed to God or man will stand this test ? Hence we
must confess, that every thing we have done has been impure in the sight of God ]
2. Mixed with sin —
[Pride and self-righteousness cleave to us as long as we are in an unconverted state ; and the more exemplary our conduct is, the more it calls forth, and seems to justify, those hateful propensities. Let the most moral person look into his own heart, and see whether, instead of being filled with self-lothing and self-abhorrence on account of his defects, he do not find a self-preference and self-complacency arising in his heart, and prompting him to say, like the elated Pharisee, " I thank thee, O God, that I am not as other men." Now this is a fly, that would render the most precious ointment offensive3. While
a Eccl. x. 1.