按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sight of God； my words shall be few。 I say 〃few〃 advisedly。 I do not
think； in the nature of things； that mortal man can at all realize the
exceeding sinfulness of sin in the sight of that holy and perfect One
with whom we have to do。 On the one hand； God is that eternal Being who
〃chargeth His angels with folly；〃 and in whose sight the very 〃heavens
are not clean。〃 He is One who reads thoughts and motives as well as
actions； and requires 〃truth in the inward parts。〃 （Job xv。 18； xv。 15；
Psa。 li。 6。） We； on the other handpoor blind creatures； here to…day
and gone tomorrow； born in sin； surrounded by sinners； living in a
constant atmosphere of weakness； infirmity； and imperfectioncan form
none but the most inadequate conceptions of the hideousness of evil。 We
have no line to fathom it； and no measure by which to gauge it。 The
blind man can see no difference between a masterpiece of Titian or
Raphael； and the Queen's Head on a village signboard。 The deaf man
cannot distinguish between a penny whistle and a cathedral organ。 The
very animals whose smell is most offensive to us have no idea that they
are offensive； and are not offensive to one another。 And man； fallen
man； I believe； can have no just idea what a vile thing sin is in the
sight of that God whose handiwork is absolutely perfectperfect
whether we look through telescope or microscopeperfect in the
formation of a mighty planet like Jupiter； with his satellites； keeping
time to a second as he rolls round the sunperfect in the formation of
the smallest insect that crawls over a foot of ground。 But let us
nevertheless settle it firmly in our minds that sin is 〃the abominable
thing that God hateth〃that God 〃is of purer eyes than to behold
iniquity； and cannot look upon that which is evil〃that the least
transgression of God's law makes us 〃guilty of all〃that 〃the soul
that sinneth shall die〃that 〃the wages of sin is death〃that God
shall 〃judge the secrets of men〃that there is a worm that never dies；
and a fire that is not quenchedthat 〃the wicked shall be turned into
hell〃and 〃shall go away into everlasting punishment〃and that
〃nothing that defiles shall in any wise enter heaven。〃 （Jer。 xliv。 4；
Hab。 i。 13； James ii。 10； Ezek。 xviii。 4； Rom。 vi。 23； Rom。 ii。 16；
Mark ix。 44； Ps。 ix。 17； Matt。 xxv。 46； Rev。 xxi。 27。） These are indeed
tremendous words； when we consider that they are written in the Book of
a most merciful God！
No proof of the fulness of sin； after all； is so overwhelming and
unanswerable as the cross and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ； and the
whole doctrine of His substitution and atonement。 Terribly black must
that guilt be for which nothing but the blood of the Son of God could
make satisfaction。 Heavy must that weight of human sin be which made
Jesus groan and sweat drops of blood in agony at Gethsemane； and cry at
Golgotha； 〃My God； my God； why hast Thou forsaken Me？〃 （Matt。 xxvii。
46。） Nothing； I am convinced； will astonish us so much； when we awake
in the resurrection day； as the view we shall have of sin； and the
retrospect we shall take of our own countless shortings and defects。
Never till the hour when Christ es the second time shall we fully
realize the 〃sinfulness of sin。〃 Well might George Whitfield say； 〃The
anthem in heaven will be； What hath God wrought！〃
（5） One point only remains to be considered on the subject of sin；
which I dare not pass over。 That point is its deceitfulness。 It is a
point of most serious importance； and I venture to think it does not
receive the attention which it deserves。 You may see this deceitfulness
in the wonderful proneness of men to regard sin as less sinful and
dangerous than it is in the sight of God； and in their readiness to
extenuate it； make excuses for it； and minimize its guilt。〃It is but
a little one！ God is merciful！ God is not extreme to mark what is done
amiss！ We mean well！ One cannot be so particular！ Where is the mighty
harm？ We only do as others！〃 Who is not familiar with this kind of
language？You may see it in the long string of smooth words and
phrases which men have coined in order to designate things which God
calls downright wicked and ruinous to the soul。 What do such
expressions as 〃fast；〃 〃gay；〃 〃wild；〃 〃unsteady；〃 〃thoughtless；〃
〃loose〃 mean？ They show that men try to cheat themselves into the
belief that sin is not quite so sinful as God says it is； and that they
are not so bad as they really are。You may see it in the tendency even
of believers to indulge their children in questionable practices； and
to bind their own eyes to the inevitable result of the love of money；
of tampering with temptation； and sanctioning a low standard of family
religion。I fear we do not sufficiently realize the extreme subtlety
of our soul's disease。 We are too apt to forget that temptation to sin
will rarely present itself to us in its true colours； saying； 〃I am
your deadly enemy； and I want to ruin you for ever in hell。〃 Oh； no！
sin es to us； like Judas； with a kiss； and like Joab； with an
outstretched hand and flattering words。 The forbidden fruit seemed good
and desirable to Eve； yet it cast her out of Eden。 The walking idly on
his palace roof seemed harmless enough to David； yet it ended in
adultery and murder。 Sin rarely seems sin at first beginnings。 Let us
then watch and pray； lest we fall into temptation。 We may give
wickedness smooth names； but we cannot alter its nature and character
in the sight of God。 Let us remember St。 Paul's words： 〃Exhort one
another daily； lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin。〃
（Heb。 iii。 13。） It is a wise prayer in our Litany； 〃From the deceits of
the world； the flesh； and the devil； good Lord； deliver us。〃
And now； before I go further； let me briefly mention two thoughts which
appear to me to rise with irresistible force out of the subject。
On the one hand； I ask my readers to observe what deep reasons we a