---

I. MANY MEN PLAY TRICKS WITH GOD AND THEIR CONSCIENCES.

1. The guile of the human heart shows itself in a refusal to come to serious consideration. The most frivolous amusements, the most carking cares, and even the most weary ceremonials of fashions, are adopted as a happy release from the labour of reflection. Death, judgment, eternity, heaven, and hell — they dare not think of these: and why? Because they know that all is wrong with them, and so they practise a crafty carelessness and a cunning indifference.

2. Others who do think a little are partial in their judgments of themselves. They present accounts, but these are cooked and made to appear other than they should by a sort of spiritual financing.

3. Many are evidently tricking themselves wilfully because they rest on such frivolous grounds of confidence. Could any man depend on his own good works unless he had juggled with his judgment?

4. Others avoid all home truths, and keep clear of searching doctrines. The preacher is too censorious, and that is your excuse for remaining in spiritual apathy. Even books come in for like censures. The plain-speaking volume is not "conceived in a gentle spirit," or is too narrow, bigoted, and one. sided.

5. Many are clever at parrying home thrusts by introducing other themes. You know how the lapwing pretends to have a broken wing, and flies as if it must be taken and all with the view of leading the passenger from her nest, so do our hearers try to lead us away from the main matter.

6. Another very cunning trick which is often practised by sinners who are full of guile is this, they pass on to other people anything which is uncomfortably applicable to themselves. It seemed as if the preacher had made a cap specially to fit that head, but. the result was that the person who watched the making exclaimed, "Dear me! How well he has taken my neighbour's measure."

7. One sorry piece of craft which Satan teaches to many is to make them doubt, or pretend to doubt, anything in Scripture which frowns upon them.

8. While yet far from God, many calm and quiet themselves with outward religion.

9. There are others who conceal in the secret of their hearts a blasphemous notion which they hardly dare to put into words, but it amounts to this that the reason why they are not saved is not by any means due to themselves.

10. Perhaps the most numerous victims of this guile are those who flatter themselves that they will come right some day. If you resolve that you will repent in a year's time, what is that but a daring defiance of God by declaring that you will continue in sin for twelve months at least? Have you ever looked at it in that light?

II. THE PARDONED MAN GIVES EVIDENCE OF CEASING FROM THIS GUILE.

1. He makes an open confession of his sin to God.

2. He has done with all sorts of excuses and palliations.

3. Sincerity has entered into his belief in the terrible things of God's Word. He now sees their certainty and their justice.

4. He now wishes to be dealt with personally and impartially whenever he reads a book or hears a sermon.

5. He desires in everything that he does to be true.

6. He also desires to be rid of all sin.

7. He seeks after perfect purity of life, and he has heartily ceased from guile, for now as an heir of heaven he lives in the presence of God, and delights to remember the all-seeing eye.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

---

---

KJV: Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

WEB: Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn't impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.