hear me :" that is, the more others depart from God, the more will I seek his face.
From these words I shall take occasion to shew,
I. In what circumstances the godly are placed —
St. John expresses in one word all that can be said : " We are of God ; and the whole world lieth in wickedness d." To the same effect, the prophet here speaks of the godly, as living in a world, 1. Where iniquity abounds —
[So universal was the reign of sin in Judasa, that scarcely was a person of real piety to be found. And what is the state of things at this day? Is there not occasion for the same lamentation now ? If you go into any place where the Gospel is not preached with power, and wish to refresh your spirit with the society of those who are truly alive to God, will you not find yourselves like a person in a vineyard after that the fruits have been gathered, where he can scarcely obtain a cluster to satisfy his longing appetite? There is nothing but a small remnant to which he can get access ; and that, alas ! of stinted growth, and destitute of the luscious flavour with which he had hoped to be regaled. If we look at Christians of more favoured times, it seems as if " the good man had now almost perished from the earth ;" so few are there who resemble the saints and martyrs of former agese.
In the administration of the laws, I confess, we widely differ from the Jews of old. The rich cannot oppress the poor; nor could they, amongst us, find judges corrupt enough to pervert the laws for gain. But in every other species of ini- quity all classes of the community will uphold each other; insomuch, that, whether we notice the more refined sensuality of the rich, or the more degrading habits of the vulgar, all have their advocates ; all are declared innocent, or treated with indulgent connivance: and " so they wrap it up." No- thing is suffered to disgust us by its own proper character; but false names are imposed on every thing, to hide from us its deformity, and to give it a title to our regard. Not even palpable wickedness goes unexcused: licentiousness is made to wear the garb of piety ; and worldliness of prudence. The rich and the poor, the old and the young, all shall have their appropriate gratifications ; and all agree to hold each other innocent. " So (I say again) they tvrap it up1."
And if we take persons of a better character, we shall find, that, however they may wear a good appearance at a distance, as a hedge of thorns or briers may do, the more closely you
d 1 John v. 19. « ver. 1, 2. f ver. 3.