8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee. Sin seen
by God must work death; it is only by the covering blood of atonement that life
comes to any of us. When God was overthrowing the tribes in the wilderness he
had their iniquities before him, and therefore dealt with them in severity. He
could not have their iniquities before him and not smite them. Our secrets ins in the light of thy countenance. There are no secrets before God. If
by his countenance is here meant his love and favor, it is not possible for the
heinousness of sin to be more clearly manifested than when it is seen to
involve ingratitude to one so infinitely good and kind. Rebellion in the light
of justice is black, but in the light of love it is devilish. How can we grieve
so good a God? The children of Israel had been brought out of Egypt with a high
hand, fed in the wilderness with a liberal hand, and guided with a tender hand,
and their sins were especially atrocious. We, too, having been redeemed by the
blood of Jesus, and saved by abounding grace, will be verily guilty if we forsake
the Lord. What manner of persons ought we to be? How ought we to pray for
cleansing from secret faults?
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