Sin is " that abominable thing which God hates :" and, as it prevailed to an awful extent at that day, so abominations of every kind yet prevail —
[They prevail in the ivorld at large. We speak not now of the evils that are visible to all, but of those which are of a more hidden nature. In every order of society there are pecu- liar and appropriate evils, justified perhaps by those who com- mit them, yea possibly dignified with the name of virtues, which yet are an utter " abomination in the sight of God." Were all the intrigues of the ambitious, the wantonness of the licentious, the deceits of the covetous, the characteristic arts of every class of sinners, exposed to view, what a mass of iniquity should we behold ! Yet God beholds it all ; a mass which infinitely exceeds our highest conceptions, and which none but God himself could endure to behold.
They prevail also, we regret to say it, even in the Church of God. It was amongst those who professed the worship of the true God, that all those abominations were practised in the Temple at Jerusalem : and we know that many lamentable evils were found in the Churches that were planted by the Apostles themselves. Can we wonder, then, if at this time tares be growing up with the wheat ? It were vain to deny that there are many who dishonour their holy profession, and give sad occasion to the enemies of religion to blaspheme that name whereby we are named. The pride, intolerance, and overbearing conceit of Diotrephes may yet be found, amidst high professions of superior zeal and sanctity. Who has ever looked into the interior of religious societies, and not seen the same undue preference to some preachers, and contempt of others, as disgraced the Corinthian Church in the days of Paul? Who has not discovered many a Demas, who " loves this pre- sent world," and foregoes his spiritual advantages with a view to increase his gains c ? It would be well if even the base crimes of falsehood, and overreaching, and dishonesty were not sometimes found in the skirts of those who would be thought to have kept their garments clean; yea, if intemperance also and uncleanness did not give the lie to their profession. But the more we inspect the sanctuary of God, the more we shall see occasion for humiliation and grief on account of many, who " have a name to live, but are dead ;" and who, through their misconduct, " cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of." And such may well expect that " judgment shall begin with themd." We need scarcely add, that evils prevail also in the heart even of true believers. Paul himself confessed, that there was " a law in his members warring against the law
c 2 Tim. iv. 10. d Compare ver. 0. with 1 Pet. iv. 17.