Note, 1. Sin may possibly be pleasant in the commission: Bread of
deceit, wealth gotten by fraud, by lying and oppression, may be sweet
to a man, and the more sweet for its being ill-gotten, such pleasure
does the carnal mind take in the success of its wicked projects. All
the pleasures and profits of sin are bread of deceit. They are stolen,
for they are forbidden fruit; and they will deceive men, for they are
not what they promise. For a time, however, they are rolled under the
tongue as a sweet morsel, and the sinner blesses himself in them. But,
2. It will be bitter in reflection. Afterwards the sinner's mouth shall
be filled with gravel. When his conscience is awakened, when he sees
himself cheated, and becomes apprehensive of the wrath of God against
him for his sin, how painful and uneasy then is the thought of it! The
pleasures of sin are but for a season, and are succeeded with sorrow.
Some nations have punished malefactors by mingling gravel with their
bread.