that they fall. For, " can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burnt ? or can he walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt q?" So if, instead of watching against temptation, we court it, and rush into it, and familiarize our- selves with it, there can be no hope but that we shall fall and perish. " A bird hasting to the snare, is not more sure of ruin than wer."]
4. The powers whereby it should be resisted are destroyed —
[We have before said, that against enormous wickedness there are some barriers, arising from conscience, and a desire of man's applause. But by habits of sin, " the conscience be- comes seared as with a hot iron," and is rendered altogether incapable of discharging its proper office s. A fear of detection, or of God's displeasure, may sometimes operate to restrain from great iniquity : but the mind may become altogether " hardened through the deceitfulness of sin1," till we resemble those of whom the prophet speaks in a preceding chapter : " Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved ; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive cor- rection : they have made their faces harder than a rock ; they have refused to return11." What can be expected of such persons, but that they will " wax worse and worse x," and continue " treasuring up wrath," till it shall come upon them to the uttermost ?"]
5. Every thing that is good is put, by it, at an un- approachable distance —
[" How shall they do good that have been accustomed to do evil?" If " the putting off the old man" be so difficult, what hope is there of such persons " putting on the newy"? The loving, serving, honouring of God, are things which come not into the mind of one who is addicted to the commission of evil: in this sense, " God is not in all his thoughts2." And if any man think that of himself he can turn unto the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth, let him first wash an Ethiopian white ; and then he may hope to accomplish the task of converting his own soul, and of " creating himself anew after the Divine image, in righteousness and true holiness."]
Learn then, beloved,
1. Your need of converting grace — [You need it for the subjugation of sin, and much more for the implantation of holiness in your souls. Yes, indeed,
•J Prov. vi. 27, 28. r Prov. vii. 22, 23. s 1 Tim. iv. 2. t Heb. iii. 13. u Jer. v. 3. x 2 Tim. iii. 13.
y Eph. iv. 22 — 24. z Ps. x. 4.