Concerning many men, we may offer Christ's prayer, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." They sin in ignorance, or rather without thought of their character and relation to God, and of the doom which they are bringing upon themselves. There may be such persons before me now. Acting, then the part of a true and faithful friend, I warn you--+I. That God counts you as His enemies.+ By cherishing your sins you defy His authority, and place yourself in a position of hostility to Him.[1] +II. That God feels Himself, injured, oppressed, and as it were hemmed in by your iniquities.+ Note this most suggestive phrase, "I will _ease me_ of mine adversaries," and see outline on verse 14. God's laws are His territories, and by your transgressions you invade them. Your sins are _trespasses._ God feels toward you as the French feel towards the Germans who have taken possession of and settled down in Alsace and Lorraine; you put upon God an indignity which He cannot and will not bear. +III.+ That while God endures your trespasses for a time, in the merciful hope that by His forbearance you may be led to repentance, +He will not restrain His anger for ever,+ but will presently give free vent to it,[2] and sweep you into that place where, though you may retain the disposition to sin against Him, you will not have the power. _Application._--Now consider--1. That this is not the resolve of some feeble being destitute of resources for the accomplishment of his purposes. He who thus solemnly warns you is "the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel." 2. Whether you have resources that will enable you to cope with this adversary whose indignation you have aroused (Luke xiv. 31). If not, consider--3. What is the course that wisdom would suggest to you in your present circumstances (Luke xiv. 32).[3] FOOTNOTES: [1] If a king warns a city of traitors, and calls upon them to search them out and send them away, and they never regard the message, but willingly give them harbour and entertainment, it is a sign that they are disaffected to him: to cherish a sin after warning is open defiance of God.--_Manton,_ 1620-1667.