Here is, 1. The folly of indulging sin, of palliating and excusing it,
denying or extenuating it, diminishing it, dissembling it, or throwing
the blame of it upon others: He that thus covers his sins shall not
prosper, let him never expect it. He shall not succeed in his endeavour
to cover his sin, for it will be discovered, sooner or later. There is
nothing hid which shall not be revealed. A bird of the air shall carry
the voice. Murder will out, and so will other sins. He shall not
prosper, that is, he shall not obtain the pardon of his sin, nor can he
have any true peace of conscience. David owns himself to have been in a
constant agitation while he covered his sins, Ps. xxxii. 3, 4. While
the patient conceals his distemper he cannot expect a cure. 2. The
benefit of parting with it, both by a penitent confession and a
universal reformation: He that confesses his guilt to God, and is
careful not to return to sin again, shall find mercy with God, and
shall have the comfort of it in his own bosom. His conscience shall be
eased and his ruin prevented. See 1 John i. 9; Jer. iii. 12, 13. When
we set sin before our face (as David, My sin is ever before me) God
casts it behind his back.