Psalms 78:59 - Homilies By S. Conway

God turned against his people.

I. THIS AN AWFUL POSSIBILITY . We have an instance here told of. And the history of nations, Churches, individuals, furnish many more.

II. BUT GREATLY DISBELIEVED . The devil will do his bad best to make men not believe it. Therefore uses:

1 . False theology, wresting the Scriptures. There were people in St. John's day (see 1 John 1:1-10 .) who said they had no sin. Some trusted in their Abrahamic descent; others did not believe in sin at all, they counted it to be but infirmity; others talked of the imputed righteousness of Christ, and affirmed that whatever sin they might commit, they, being in Christ, were guiltless; others, as today, believed that God was too merciful to condemn any one.

2 . The deceitfulness of sin.

3 . The ill example of others.

III. MUCH NEEDING , THEREFORE , TO BE INSISTED ON . Slight views of sin lie at the root of well nigh all departures from God, hut such views are impossible when it is seen to what they lead.

IV. BUT NEVER TO BE FEARED BY THOSE WHO WILL LIVE IN THE LOVE OF GOD .—S.C.