to blame rather than the man who imitates H. 3. Because of onts own advantages. Judah might plead that she was sorely tempted by her sister's example. But then she possessed higher privileges than Israel. She was Aholibah, while her sister was only Aholah. She had the temple of God in her midst, while Israel was left to her own resources. Christians are doubly guilty in following the bad example of godless men. They sin in spite of higher influences which should suffice to keep them in the right pa!b. Ill. 'l'HE FATAL CONSEQUENCES OF FOLLOWING A BAD EXAMPLE. Judah was walk- ing in the way of her sister; therefore she must drink of her sister's cup. Com- panions in guilt will be companions in doom. It is impossible to walk in the same path as another without going toward~ the salll:e goal. ~oreover, if higher religious privileges do not keep us from followrng the smful practices of worldly men, most certainly they will not protect us from sharing their fate. He who treads the sinner's flowery path will drink of the sinner's bitter cup. Ver. 35 (first half of verse).-Forgetting Gorl. I. FoBGETTING GoD IMPLIES THAT BE BAB FORMERLY DEEN KNOWN. We cannot forget what we have never known. The lower animal, which is incapable of entertaining a thought of God, cannot forget him. If I forget much, I must have known much. 1. Men have a natural knowledge of Gorl. Few races, if any, are without a trace of religion. The .Andaman islanders and the Fuegians are said to have been discovered in that state. If so, they are just the exception that proves the rule. The science of comparative religion reveals an underlying primitive theism beneath the tangled growth of later mythology. St. Paul appealed to the natural knowledge of God among the heathen (.Acts xvii. 28; Rom. i. 21). 2. They who have seen the Jewish anrl Christian revelation have a larger knowledge of Gorl. Israel had known God by his special manifestations in the Law, in his providence and miracles, iu the prophets. All Christendom is open to the higher knowledge of God in Christ. Children in Christian homes and Sunday schools have known God, though they may have forsaken him in later days. 3. The people of God have the fullest knowledge of God. True Israelites and Christians know God as he is never known to the outer world. They have the knowledge of experience, spiritual sympathy, and fellowship (John xiv. 7). II. THERE ARE MANY INDUCEMENTS TO FORGET Go». 1. He is invisible. The knowledge of God is held only by faith. The decay of faith leads to forgetting God. It requires some spiritual effort to keep our hold on the Unseen. 2. Earthly interests distract our thoughts. These things are seen, present and pressing; they crowd about us and force themselves upon us. They make themselves felt as intensely real. Pleasures of life and cares of life, fascinating delights and absorbing anxieties, all tend to put out the thought of God. 3. Sinful inclinations rouse an aversion to the thought of God. He is holy; he disapproves of sin. It is not pleasant to think of God when we a.re choosing the evil way. III. FoRGETTINO Go» IB ITSELF A. GREAT BIN. We can control our memory by fixing our thoughts upon God. This is not a case of mere brain failure. There is a moral defect behind it. Apart from all active deeds, the very forgetting God is itself wicked on several grounds. 1. God has never forgotten us. He has provided for our daily needs, while we have been ignoring the hand from which the provision came. He is our Father. Gratitude and love should keep the thought of God warm in our heart. To forget God implies gross unthankfulness and a base lack of natural affec- tion, 2. God claims our attention anrl obedience. He is our Lord. He expects us to listen to his voice, give heed to his commands, and obey his will But to forget God is to ignore these duties. IV. FoBOETTING Gon IS HURTFUL TO MAN. They know not what they miss who forsake their true life and forget their Father in heaven. Seeking liberty, they court death. 1. This is the loss of the best blessings of Heaven. The light of God's coun- tenance is despised. His guidance, comfort, support, and salvation are neglected. The joy of communion is renounced, 2. This incurs a fatal doom. God cannot let us forget him for ever. If we do not remember bis love to-day, we may encounter his wrath to-morrow (Pe, xliv. 20, 21). V. Go» MERCIFULLY INTERFERES TO BA.VE UB FROM FORGETTING HIM, 1. lJ.e reveals THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oH. x.xm. 1-49,
himself in his Word. The revelation of nature is daily spread before us. But whon that is despised, God adds tl., r..ore clear voice of prophecy. We have the open Diblo to remind us of God. 2. GOi.. comes to us in his Son. As men had forgotten him, God came right down among them, looked at them tl1rouah a human countenance and spoke in a human Yoice. Christ comes to save us from fo~gettina0 God. 3. God :ouses w by his providence. We are forgetting God while all goes smoothly. Then his thunders burst over us. They startle and alarm, but they awaken, Thus God eovcs us from forgetting him,