MAN'S FOLLY, AND GOD'S TESTI MONY. "Be sure your sin will find you out."-Num. xxxii. 23. THESE Solemn words were uttered by Moses to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, in reference to their conduct in wishing to remain on the Egyptian side of the Jordan. He seems to be suspicious of their motives, and to fear they would act wrongly, therefore he thus warns them. But the words are as true respecting sinners now, as they were then, and thus let us consider them. Sin will, sooner or later, find the sinner out, and punishment or chastisement will be inflicted. Here we have, MAN'S FOLLY INTIMATED. He supposes he can hide his sin. He may attempt, but he will never accomplish it. Sin cannot be hid. What is sin? It is a deviation from rule. God has placed man under his law, and requires him to walk by rule. In reference to himself, he requires us to love him with all the heart, mind, soul, and strength. To love him supremely. To love him every moment, in every place, and under all circumstances.. 66 He always deserves to be thus loved, and he just requires what he deserves. In reference to our fellow-creatures, he requires that we should love our neighbours as ourselves; or do unto others, as we would they should do unto us. If I am a Jew, and my neighbour is a Samaritan, I am to love him as myself, Whatever countryman I may be, in whatever circumstances I may be placed, I am to look upon every man as my neighbour, and God's law requires me to love each one as myself, There is no exception. If any man is my enemy, even then, Jesus, the true expounder of the law, says, 'Love ye your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you." This is the rule, andevery deviation from this rule, in thought, word, or deed, is sin. But the reference may be especially to allowed sin, that which we deliberately and wilfully commit. Every sin is an offence to God. God loves his law, and is pleased when his creatures make it their rule, and endeavour to walk by it; but when they cast it behind their backs, neglect it, or wilfully violate it, he is offended. Therefore it is written, 66 God is angry with the wicked every day." Every action is either pleasing or displeasing to God: but deliberate violations of his law are insults offered to him, and must be peculiarly offensive. And such insults, unless repented of, confessed at his throne, and pardoned through the blood of his Son, will be visited with his rod or sword. Man's sin casts dishonour on God's perfections. He was intended to reflect the moral perfections of God, and thus show forth his glory. All God's moral perfections appear to be run up into one, "God is love;" therefore all the requirements of the law are included in one, “ Thou shalt love ;" and love is the fulfilling of the law; if man therefore had kept the law, he would have reflected the glory of God's nature and character on all around him. As when God created the glorious sun, and hung it up in the heavens, he created also the moon, to catch and reflect its brightness and beauty on our world by night; so he created man to catch and reflect his moral beauty and glory on all around. The moon continues to answer the end of its creation; but, alas! for man, he “sinned and came short of the glory of God." If we deviate from the rule God has given us we sin, and if we sin we offer an insult to God; and if we do so wilfully, we may be sure our sin will find us out. If we fail to reflect God's glory, especially his love on all around us, we fail to answer the end of our creation; and if we fail to answer the end of our creation, wilfully and deliberately, our sin will find us out, and we shall smart for it. It is folly, gross folly, in any man to think that he can hide his sin. There is no secret places when God is concerned, for all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. The omniscient eye of God rests upon every sinner, penetrates his nature, and searches the depths of his soul. It surveys his motives, intentions, and designs. "Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering." "Darkness and light to him are both alike." How then can a sinner hide his sin ? The folly of our first parents, who attempted to hide themselves among the trees of the garden from the omniscient eye of their offended Maker, is repeated every time the sinner tries to hide his sin. The very nature of sin forbids it. It is a disease like the leprosy. As the leprosy came out on the forehead of Uzziah in the temple, so will hidden sin break out on the countenance of the sinner. It is a fire, it may smoulder for a time and appear feeble, but at length it will break forth, and there will be an awful conflagration. Sinner, beware of indulging in such folly. God reads thy sees every action of thy life. every transgression of his law. attend to, He heart. GOD'S TESTIMONY. "Be sure your sin will find you out." Yes, your sin. Your secret sin. Are you covetous, and do you try to hide it? It will find you out. Are you dishonest, and do you try to practice your dis honesty in the dark? It will find you out. Are you idle, and do you cover over your idleness with a cloak? It will find you out, Are you gluttonous, fond of indulging the ap petite? It will find you out. Dishonest servants, who secretly rob their employers, first of little things, and afterwards to a greater amount, their sin will find them out. Oppressive masters, who exact from their servants more than they ought, and pay them less than they should, their sin will find them out. Deceitful children, who practise deception on their fond unsuspecting parents, their sin will find them out. Foolish parents, who spare the rod and spoil the child, ruining their offspring by fond indulgencies, their sin will find them out. Sly drinkers, who indulge in strong drink in secret, and pass for sober and consistent persons, their sins will find them out. Deceiving tradesmen, who use short weights, or adulterate their articles, or mislead their customers by falsehood, their sin will find them out. Could we see as God sees, this one text would account for much that takes place in families, in churches, and in the commercial world; and many who are now pitied would be blamed : for many family trials, church troubles, and commercial panics, are but the effects of sin finding parties out. Sin cannot always be hid, for God's eye watches the sinner, and he has said, "What is done in secret shall be published on the house tops." Satan, the great tell-tale, sees it, and he will not always conceal it. He first tempts to sin, then accuses of the sin, and then exposes the sinner. He persuades us |