And it is certain also, that if we do, God will both detect and punish it —
[God not unfrequently exposes hypocrites to shame in this world ; and suffers their hidden corruption to be brought to light. How often does it happen, that a person, who on the whole has maintained externally a creditable profession, is instigated by his predominant passion, whether of lust or covetousness, to an act that blasts his character for ever ! But, if no such exposure take place in this world, the mask will be taken off as soon as we come into the presence of our God. Alas ! what will be our sensations, and the sensations of many around us, when we are interrogated by our Judge in relation to things from which perhaps we gained the greatest credit ? What must have been the surprise of Ananias and Sapphira, and of all their friends too, when the act which ap- peared so excellent, was proved so faulty, and was visited with so awful a judgment ! Let us endeavour to realize that scene, and we shall have some faint idea of the hypocrite's feelings at the day of judgment. We may easily deceive men; but "God will not be mocked :" to him every secret thought is open ; and in the last day " he will make manifest all the counsels of our hearts'1." Then, if not before, " our sin shall find us out ;" and " the Holy Ghost himself," whom we have tempted and deceived, shall " be a witness " against us to our everlasting confusione.]
The only improvement we would make of this subject, is that which the Church itself made of the event —
[We read that " great fear came on all them that heard these things." O that such a fear may come on all who hear me this day !
Tell me, O ye who live in the allowed indulgence of open and known sins ; have ye no cause for fear ? If this liberal act of Ananias was so abhorred of God, because of the insin- cerity that attended it, and brought such a tremendous judg- ment upon him, do you think that your iniquities shall pass unpunished ?
And, ye who profess religion, have not ye cause for fear also, lest your services at last should be found to have been only splendid sins? Remember that " God requireth truth in the inward parts." If you had the whole armour of God upon you, and it were not fastened on with the girdle of truth, it would leave you exposed to all the arrows of the Almighty f.
11 1 Cor. iv. 5. Ps. xliv. 21. e Heb. x. 15. Mai. iii. 5.
' Epli. vi. 14.