March 22

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whose confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." — Proverbs 28:13.

THIS passage bears two aspects; terror to the wicked, and joy to the righteous. It is like the pillar of cloud and fire, with the dark side towards the Egyptians, but the bright side towards the Israelites. Note

THE CONTRASTED CHARACTERS. Let us look at each.

The hypocrite. "He that covereth his sins." Some commit evil openly, others secretly; but none can escape the scrutinizing eye of Omniscience. In how many ways do men cover their sins; by palliation, or denial, and sometimes with the cloak of religion and friendship!

The penitent. Two things are stated of him; he confesses and forsakes his sins: the one more particularly regards the heart, the other the life; the one includes genuine repentance, the other practical reformation. If a new principle has been implanted, old things must pass away, old lusts be mortified, old pursuits abandoned, and old companions discarded.

THE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. What is said of these two characters? Observe

The misery of the one. "He shall not prosper." But do we not often see the wicked rolling in wealth and affluence; extending their connections, credit, and influence in the world, and increasing in their temporal comforts? Yes, but all this may be the case when misery and wretchedness possess the heart, and there is no favor from God, no peace of conscience, and no hope for eternity.

The happiness of the other. "He shall have mercy." This is what we want: our state is one of misery, and requires the exercise of mercy; mercy to pardon our sins, renew our minds, cleanse our hearts, and enrich us with grace here, and glory hereafter.

"Let deep repentance, faith, and love, Be joined with godly fear, And all our conversation prove Our hearts to be sincere."