Matthew 14:1-11 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,… The state of the wicked is a very restless one. The wildness and inconsistency of Herod's imagination. I. THE REPROACHES OF CONSCIENCE UNAVOIDABLE, proved from (1) Scripture; (2) Reason; (3) Experience. Tales of ghosts and spectres accounted for upon this principle. II. To ACCOUNT FOR THE DIFFICULTIES THAT ATTEND THE PROOF OF THIS PROPOSITION, it is to be observed — 1. That our judgments often mislead us when they are formed only upon the outside and surface of men's actions. 2. That the reprehensions of conscience are not a continued, but intermitting, disease. 3. The few instances of wicked men that go out of the world without feeling the stings of conscience, to be ascribed either to ill principles early and deeply imbibed, or to an obstinacy of temper, or to a natural and acquired stupidity. These only prove that there are monsters in the moral, as well as in the natural world, but make nothing against the settled laws of either applications. Even for pleasure's sake we ought to abstain from all criminal pleasures. It is the best way to secure peace to ourselves by having it always in our consciences. Let those chiefly listen to this reprover who are otherwise set in great measure above reproof. (F. Atterbury.) Parallel Verses KJV: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,WEB: At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, |
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