do not rejoice in iniquity, it is nevertheless “sweet
in their mouth,” and they “drink it in
like water.” Their plea is, that they do
not speak of it with pleasure, but with grief bear
their testimony against it. But grief is a very
different passion from that which swells in their bosoms.
Grief is solitary and silent. “He sitteth
alone and keepeth silence.” Who ever heard
of a man’s proclaiming his grief to every passing
stranger? Yet, you may not be five minutes in
the company of one of these persons, till he begins
to proclaim his grief at the delinquencies of his Christian
brethren. And the harsh and bitter spirit, which
palms itself on the conscience as a testimony against
sin, is but an exhibition of impenitent pride.
It bears not the most distant semblance of Christian
humility and fidelity. “Brethren,”
says the apostle, “if a man be overtaken in
a fault, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
But, from the fault-finding and censorious spirit
of some people, one would suppose it never came into
their minds to consider whether it might not be possible
for them to fall into the same condemnation; although
an examination of the lamentable falls that have taken
place might show a fearful list of delinquents from
this class of persons. David, while in his fallen
state, pronounced sentence of death upon the man in
Nathan’s parable, whose crime was but a faint
shadow of his own. The Scribes and Pharisees
were indignant at the wretched woman who had been taken
in sin; yet they afterwards, by their own conduct,
confessed themselves guilty of the same crime.
Judas was one of your censorious fault-finders.
He was the one that found fault with the tender-hearted
Mary, for her affectionate tribute of respect to the
Lord of Life, before his passion. He thought
it a great waste to pour such costly ointment on the
feet of Jesus; and that it would have been much better
to have sold it and given the money to the poor.
He was very compassionate to the poor, and a great
enemy of extravagance; but a little while afterwards,
he sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver.
So, in every age, if you examine into the character
of apostates, you will find that they have been noted
for their severity against the sins of others; and
particularly in making conscience of things indifferent,
and pronouncing harsh judgment against those who refuse
to conform to their views. Especially will such
persons be grieved with their brethren on account
of their dress, or style of living, or their manner
of wearing the hair; or some such matter that does
not reach the heart. I was once acquainted with
a woman, who (except in her own family and among her
neighbors) had the reputation of being very devotedly
pious, who went to her pastor, (an aged and venerable
man,) greatly grieved because he was in the habit of
combing his hair upwards, so as to cover his baldness.
She was afraid it was pride. She was a great