xxviii. 17. _And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of
lies._
Numerous are the stratagems of Satan to ruin souls. In some he
effects this by hurrying them on in the broad way of open
transgression; in others, by rendering them the victims of some
peculiar constitutional sin--pride, avarice, &c.; in others, by
inciting a spirit of disbelief of the truth (Ps. xiv. 1); in others,
by inducing inattention to the things of the soul. But our text leads
us to contemplate _the false refuges to which he causes others to
betake themselves._
+I. Sinners often feel the necessity of a refuge.+ This arises
sometimes from--1. _An internal sense of guilt._ Unless in cases of
utter obduracy, transgression and remorse are ever wedded together.
Even pagans have these pangs of guilty torture. Under these, men sigh
for peace, long for rest, and earnestly desire a refuge. 2. _The
calamitous events of life._ Sudden adversity, domestic bereavement,
visiting the open grave of some friend, bodily indisposition, mental
disquietude, &c. 3. _The supposed nearness of death._ Men who mock at
religion in health, quail at the approach of death. Voltaire trembled
in a storm, anxious then to have deliverance, to obtain a refuge.
4. _Under the alarming influence of the preached word._ When the
truth has flashed across the mind and startled the conscience. Thus
Felix, and thus thousands. How lamentable that these impressions and
convictions are often so fleeting; but still more so, when the
convicted sinner flees to sources of false security.
+II. Sinners frequently betake themselves to refuges of lies.+ Of
these notice--1. _Partial reformation of life._ Giving up the grosser
sins of which they have been guilty, intemperance, profanity, fraud,
&c. When the whole body is diseased, the amputation of one member is
fruitless. 2. _A general regard to Christian morality,_ to the
outward acts of obedience, and the decencies of society. 3. _An
outward profession of religion._ Punctual regard to public worship, a
proper regard to ordinances, a name among the people of God. 4. _A
prominent and public sectarian spirit._ Rigid adherence to party,
sect, and creed; violent anathematising all others; great ardour in
the public events of the Church to which they belong. "Come, see my
zeal," &c. 5. _Distinguished generosity._ Liberality to the poor,
works of beneficence, co-operation with the compassionate and
benevolent. All these things are good in their legitimate sphere and
extent, but they are all often only refuges of lies; they may engage
a man's anxious attention, while the root of the matter has yet no
place in his heart (1 Cor. xiii. 1-3; Matt. vii. 22, 23). 6. A still
more commonly frequent refuge of lies: _a general reliance on the
mercy of God._ A kind of self-confident persuasion that God is good,
that He will not punish, an indefinite resting on His clemency,
forgetting His righteousness, purity, truth, &c.
+III. Such refuges of lies will be ultimately swept away.+ They will
be so--1. _In a dying hour._ Then the mental vision often becomes
peculiarly acute, the moral sense keen and distinct, and the honesty
of the spirit throws off the tinsel mask, which is now manifestly
worse than useless. How poor and worthless is self-righteousness, in
all its possible extent, to a spirit just stepping into the presence
of the holy God. A queen of England, although professing to be
"Defender of the Faith," and having bishops at her control, felt
this, and died in circumstances of unutterable alarm. 2. _In the
morning of the resurrection._ Then all classes and distinctions will
be reduced to two. None but the righteous will have a part in the
first resurrection. Others will rise with shame, confusion, and
horror to everlasting contempt. 3. _In the decisions_ _of the
judgment._ God will judge all men in righteousness. The wicked and
the righteous will be separated (Matt. xxv. 32, 33); no pretence,
disguise, plea, stratagem, importunity, or effort, will avail. All
refuges of lies will be swept away.
APPLICATION.--1. Warn against these destructive schemes and wiles of
Satan. 2. Exhibit the one only refuge, Jesus Christ, who delivers
from the wrath to come. 3. Urge instant faith in Him. "Count all
things but loss," &c. All who believe in Him are secure for both
worlds. To this Refuge let _all_ repair, earnestly, and now.--_Jabez
Burns, D.D.: Pulpit Cyclopædia,_ iii. 153-156.