Hab. i. 13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.
MEN do not sufficiently contemplate the character of God. The Psalmist, speaking of some in his day, says, " These things thou hast done ; and I kept silence : and thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself3." In like manner, we, if we do not see before our eyes some visible displays of God's displeasure, are ready to imagine that he will suffer our iniquities to pass unpunished. But, who- ever he be that commits sin, whether he be an avowed enemy of God, or one that is numbered amongst his people, let him know that " God is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look upon iniquity" but with the utmost abhorrence. Primarily, these words have respect to the Chaldeans, who were about to invade Judaea, and to execute upon the whole Jewish nation the most fearful vengeance b. In reference to them, the prophet calls upon the holy God to arise and vindicate the cause of his people. But the words of my text contain a general truth, which it becomes us all most seriously to consider.
Let me then shew you,
I. What evidence God has given us of this truth —
If we look into the Holy Scriptures, we shall find them full of this truth. " Holiness" is that perfection
a Ps. l. 21.
b Compare ver. 2, 3. where the very same terms are used.