circumstances. lf the soul is alienated from God, and there is no sign of penitence, the prayer for deliverance, though genuine and heartfelt, may well be rejecteil. But worse than this is the mock-worship of one who would have the honour of bein" religious together with the profit of bein~ sinful. T~ere can be no true religion without right conduct. God looks to the behav10ur of the hfe more than to the language of the prayer. He cares nothing for reverence in the temple if he sees wickedness in the market-place, Ver. 10.-The tempter. I. THE GREATEST BIN IS TEMFTING ANOTHER TO SIN. This is Satanic wickedness, following the example of the devil. 1. It is most l!l.lilty becauge it tends to increase wickedness. It is sowing evil seeds. It is bad enough to cultivate the deadly fruit in one's own life, but to propagate it elsewhere is to be a rnurce of trouble and manifold wickedness. 2. It is particularly guilty because it ruins souls. It is a.n attack upon other men. The tempter is a murderer. At least, he is an enemy who sows tares in his neighbours' fields, a.nd so brings trouble wantonly on others. II. THIS SIN IS COMMITTED BY MEANS OF EVIL EXAMPLE. The tempter need not whisper enticing word~, much less need he approach his victim in the attitude of "a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." It is enough that his conduct sets a pattern of wickedness. We are responsible for the examples we exhibit before the world. Most important in the presence of children, who a.re naturally imitative, and who take their patterns from the manners of the elder people among whom they live, the example of heads of families is peculiarly impressive. Therefore the guilt of such persons is grave indeed when their reckless wickedness drags poor children down to sin. III. Tms BIN MAY BE sucCERSFUL. It is possible to cause the righteous to go astray in a.n evil way. 1. 'fbis ma.y happen with innocent children. 'l'bey a.re naturally righteous; for "of such is the kingdom of heaven." But they a.re not unassailable in their simplicity a.nd early purity. The most awful fa.et in life is the corruption of childhood by the wickedness of older and stronger life. 2. It is possible with good men and women. To be good is not to be above temptation. Even Christ was tempted, though he resisted successfully. 'l.'herefore (1) when a good mnn is led astray we have no proof that his goodness wa.s a hypocritical pretence; and (2) no one can be so secure in his consciousness of integrity ns to afford to play with temptation and to boa.st of bis own strength. There are joints in the thickest armour, and keen darts that find out the smallest weak plnces. IV. THE SIN OF TEMPTING ANOTHER TO BIN WILL BRING RUIN ON THE TF.lllPTER. Of all sins this one cannot be let go unchecked and unpunished. For the sake of the victims who-are threatened by it God will nssuredly visit it with wrnth. The tempter is a dendly serpent, whose horrible enticements only.make its venom the more dangerous; o.nd all the resources of righteousness must be put forth to crush and destroy such n pest. But no miraculous interference is needed to punish the sin of tempting. We have not to summon the Archangel Michael to fight the dangerous reptile. In the end it will turn its sting on itself. The tempter will fall into his own pit. He will alienate his victims, and he will make an enemy of all that is good. Friendless and helples~, ho must perish in the hour of his need.
Vere. 13, 14.-0onfession. I. IT IB DANGEROUS FOR A MAN TO DENY HIB SIN. 1. It is false. If a. ma.n pretends to be virtuous when he knows tbe.t he is guilty, that man's lifo is a lie. He lives in a continuous falsehood. Such a condition is rotten, turuing his whole course into a delusion, and leading to a confused estimate of right and wrong. 'l'he very landmarks of righteousness are lost sight of in a fog of bewildering pretences. 2. It precludes forgiveness. God will only pardon the penitent, and penitence is impossible without an admission of guilt. Therefore the Divine covering of sin which will utterly bury it and allow of no ugly resurrection in a revival of old accusations, is hindered by the sinner's fooliHh, cowardly a.ttompt to cover it in his own wny by a paltry concealment. The wretched rags that he draws over the foul thing will not really hide it, but they will prevent the massive shield of Divine forgivenes, from being cast over it. 3. It confirms the sin. Sin is not destroyed by being covered. It is no more killed than the seed of a poison plant is killetl when it is sown in the soil, 542 THE PROVERBS, [oa. xxvm.1-28,
and so temporarily buried out of sight, Driven back to tho secret chambers of tbo soul, the evil thing grows there and spreads its deadly influence, Confession would clear out the noxious malaria of guilt; concealment only shuts it up to breed in the stifling atmosphere of its own corruption. Such a condition hardeWI the heart in wickedness. II. IT IS HAPPY FOR A MAN TO CONFESS ms SIN, 1. This confession must mean an earnest desire to be free from it. Tho man who conceals his sin keeps it while he covers it, and holds it tight even when he is denying it. But one who confesses his sin aright bates it though he admits it. Three things are here implied, (1) Ho OWWI his guilt. Confession includes an ad.mission both of the fact and of its evil character. He who confesses a sin must own that he did the deed, and that it is bad. (2) He forsakes the sin. A right confession is accompanied by repentance. It is the very opposite of the brazen-faced guilt that glories in its shame, because it loathes what still it cannot but own. (3) He first fears to sin again. He has learnt a wholesome lesson. He looks back in owning bis guilt, and then forward in fear of repeating it. 2. Such confession will be/allowed by God's forgiveness and a, new foy to the penitent. (1) God will forgive the penitent. He" shall have mercy." Pride claims high deserts, but the humility of confession only seeks for mercy. It inspires the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" Now, as God is waiting to be gracious and loves mercy, as soon as the obstruction of impenitence is removed, his grace is free to :flow in and heal the humbled soul (2) The penitent will experience a new joy. He will be happy even in bis fear. He will" rejoice with trembling." No longer living in the miserable fear of being "found out," the new fear that makes him trust his soul to God will be associated with the blessedness of forgiveness and the peace of a Divine protection.