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THE VAIN
ßtFUGE
OF
SINNERS,
{DISC.
VI.
distress
?"
The
fairest and the most flattering iniquity,
what beautiful colours soever
it
may
put
on in the
hour
of
temptation, yet
it
carries
all this
hidden mischief and
terror
in
the
bosom
of
it,
for
it
frights
the creature
from
the
sight
of
his
Creator,
and
his
Saviour,
and
makes him
fly to every vain refuge.
Adam and Eve, the
parents
of
of our
race, when they
lost their
innocence,
and
became
criminals,
fled
from the
presence
of God,
whom they
conversed with before
in
holy
friendship. Gen.
iii.
8.
"
They
hid
themselves among the
trees of paradise,"
and
the
thickest
shadows
of
the garden
;
but
the
eye
and the
voice
of God
reached
them
there
:
The
curse found them
out, though
that
was
a
curse allayed with the promised
blessing
of a
Saviour.
Guilt
will
work
in
the consci-
ence, and
tell
us,
that God
is
angry,
and
the
next thought
is,
" Where
shall
I
hide myself from an
angry
God
?"
But
when the mercy
of God
has
taught
us
where
we
may
hide
ourselves, even
-under the
shadow
of
the
cross
of
his
Son,
and
we
refuse
to make
him
our
refuge,
there re-
mains nothing but
a
final
horror of
soul,
and
a
hopeless
address to rocks and mountains to
.
hide
us
from
an
offended
God,
and
a
provoked
Saviour.
"
Whensoever, Oh
my
soul,
thou
shalt
find
or
feel
sóme
flattering iniquity alluring
thy senses,
making
court
to thy
heart,
and ready
to
gain ùpon thy
inward
wishes,
remember
the distress
and
terror of heart that
sinners
must
undergo
in
the
great
and
terrible
day
of
the Lord.
Think of
the rocks and mountains
which
they
vainly call
upon
to befriend them, to shield them from the
ven-
geance
of that
almighty arm, which
is
provoked
by
sin
to make
his
creatures
miserable. Remember, O my
soul,
and fear
;
remember, and resist the
vile
tempta-
tion,
and stand afar
off from
that
practice
which
will
make thee afraid to
see
the face
of
God."
Reflection
VI.
"Of
what
infinite
importance
is
it then
to sinners to
gain a
humble
acquaintance
and friendship
with
the Lamb of God,
who
takes away the
sins
of
the
world,
that
we
may
be able, with comfort, to
behold
the
face
of
him
that
sits on the
throne
in
that
day."
Which of
'us
can
say,
"
I
am
not a
sinner,
I
am
not
guilty before
God
?"
And which
of
us
then
has
the courage and hardi-
ness to
declare,
" I
have
no
need
of
a
Saviour
?"
And
is
there
any one
amongst
us,
who
hath
not
yet
fled
for
refuge