an angel of light1. Does it encourage any bad design? It is the devil himself who speaks by itm. In every sin that it commits, it is actuated by " the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in all the children of disobe- dience"." Its whole " wisdom is earthly, sensual, devilish0." It comes from hell, and leads to hell : and, if God were to withdraw his restraints here, as he does in hell, it would speedily produce a very hell upon earth.]
This alone can account for the effects that proceed from it —
[Doubtless the wickedness of the heart may account for much : but, if the flames were not fanned by satanic agency, we can scarcely conceive that they should rage with such an irresistible force, and to such a boundless extent.]
Infer —
1. How great must be the evil of the human heart !
[The heart is the fountain, in which " the evil treasure isp;" the tongue is only the channel in which it flows. If the channel then be so vile, what must the fountain be? Yet every one of us has this tongue in his mouth, and this heart in his bosom : and, if God should leave us without restraint, there is not one of us but would proclaim all the evil of his heart, as much as the most lothesome sensualist, or most daring blasphemer.]
2. How much do we need the influences of the Holy Spirit !
[It is absolutely impossible for man to tame this unruly member q. Yet restrained it must be, if ever we would be savedr. What then shall we do? Shall we sit down in despair? God forbid. The Holy Spirit will help our infirmities s, and Christ will give us his Spirit if we call upon him. Let us then look to Christ ; and we shall prove by sweet experience, that his " grace is sufficient for us1," and that through him, strengthening us, we can do all things V]
3. How careful should we be of every word we utter !
[Immense injury may we do by one unguarded word. We may take away a character which we can never restore, or
I 2 Cor. xi. 3, 13—15. m 1 Kings xxii. 21, 22.
II Eph. ii. 2. ° ver. 15. p Matt. xii. 35. <i ver. 7, 8. r Jam. i. 26. s Rom. viii. 26. 1 2 Cor. xii. 9. u Phil. iv. 13.