believe ' See Isai- xxxvii. 22.
believe those Oracles, we may be as fully convinced of the com- parative insignificance of earthly things, as if we saw the crown of glory with our bodily eyes, or already tasted of the heavenly bliss. Let us then seek that " faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen." Then shall we, like those of old, " take joyfully the spoiling of our goods, knowing that we have in heaven a better and an en- during substance ;" and, with Moses, shall " esteem even the the reproach of Christ as greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt."]
Jam. i. 13 — 15. Lei no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted u'lth evil, neither tempteth he any man : but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringethfort h sin ; and sin, when it isfnishedy hringeth forth death.
THERE are temptations necessarily connected with the Christian life, and which often, through the weak- ness of our nature, become the occasions of sin : and there are other temptations which are the direct and immediate cause of sin. The former are external ; the latter are within a man's own bosom. The former may be referred to God as their author, and be con- sidered as a ground of joy : the latter must be traced to our own wicked hearts ; and are proper grounds of the deepest humiliation. This distinction is made in the passage before us. In the foregoing verses the former are spoken of"; in the text, the latter.
In the words of our text, we notice the origin, the growth, and the issue of sin. We notice,
I. Its origin —
Many are ready to trace their sin to God himself — [This is done when we say, " I could not help it :" for then we reflect on our Maker, as not enduing us with strength sufficient for .qiir necessities. It is done also, though not quite so directly, when we ascribe our fall to those who were in some respect aecessary to it : for then we blame the provi- dence of God, as before we did his creative power. It was
■■■''' ^ ' 'i ....*.> ..i, . . thus ' ver. 2, 12. ' i-