18. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him. Moral honesty cannot be absent where true grace is present. Those who
excuse others in trickery are guilty themselves. If a man be ever so religious,
if his own actions do not rebuke dishonesty, he is an accomplice with thieves. Andhast been partaker with adulterers. One by one the moral precepts are thus
broken by the sinner in Zion. Under the cloak of piety, unclean livers conceal
themselves. We may do this by smiling at unchaste jests, listening to
indelicate expressions, and conniving at licentious behavior in our presence;
and if we thus act, how dare we preach, or lead public prayer, or wear the
Christian name? Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. No amount of
ceremonial or theological accuracy can cover dishonesty and fornication.
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