Hindrances to confession of sin.
"I kept silence."
I. PRIDE. Men cannot bear to think themselves wrong—to put themselves down on the common level; still less, below those who have sought and obtained pardon. This pride is itself a great sin (James 4:6; 1 Timothy 3:4),
II. WANT OF HONESTY OF CONSCIENCE. Even proper self-respect should make one say, "Anything rather than self-deception! Let me know the truth of myself!"
III. INDOLENCE. Many are busy enough outwardly, but mentally indolent, spiritually stagnant.
IV. SOME ARE TOO BUSY. Too much occupied with the appendages of life ever to know what it is truly to live I
V. CARELESSNESS. Two kinds of hardness of heart noted in Scripture.
1. Stubborn self-will.
2. Want of feeling ("fat," Isaiah 6:10).
VI. INSENSIBILITY TO GOD'S CLAIMS. Their greatness, urgency, inevitableness, the blessedness of yielding to them. This lies deep at the root of all the rest. Were these felt, pride would bow, conscience wake, indolence and carelessness vanish; all worldly concerns and aims appear in comparison as "less than nothing, and vanity."
VII. HENCE LOW VIEWS OF GOD'S LAW, of the absolute necessity of righteousness, and the infinite evil of sin.