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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 all
have for humiliation and self…abasement。 Let us sit down before the
picture of sin displayed to us in the Bible； and consider what guilty；
vile； corrupt creatures we all are in the sight of God。 What need we
all have of that entire change of heart called regeneration； new birth；
or conversion！ What a mass of infirmity and imperfection cleaves to the
very best of us at our very best！ What a solemn thought it is； that
〃without holiness no man shall see the Lord！〃 （Heb。 xii。 14。） What
cause we have to cry with the publican； every night in our lives； when
we think of our sins of omission as well as mission； 〃God be
merciful to me a sinner！〃 （Luke xviii。 13。） How admirably suited are
the general and munion Confessions of the Prayer…book to the actual
condition of all professing Christians！ How well that language suits
God's children which the Prayer…book puts in the mouth of every
Churchman before he goes up to the munion Table〃The remembrance of
our misdoings is grievous unto us； the burden is intolerable。 Have
mercy upon us； have mercy upon us； most merciful Father； for Thy Son
our Lord Jesus Christ's sake； forgive us all that is past。〃 How true it
is that the holiest saint is in himself a miserable sinner；〃 and a
debtor to mercy and grace to the last moment of his existence！
With my whole heart I subscribe to that passage in Hooker's sermon on
Justification； which begins； 〃Let the holiest and best things we do be
considered。 We are never better affected unto God than when we pray；
yet when we pray； how are our affections many times distracted！ How
little reverence do we show unto the grand majesty of God unto whom we
speak。 How little remorse of our own miseries！ How little taste of the
sweet influence of His tender mercies do we feel！ Are we not as
unwilling many times to begin； and as glad to make an end； as if in
saying； Call upon Me；' He had set us a very burdensome task？ It may
seem somewhat extreme； which I will speak； therefore； let every one
judge of it； even as his own heart shall tell him； and not otherwise； I
will but only make a demand！ If God should yield unto us； not as unto
AbrahamIf fifty； forty； thirty； twentyyea； or if ten good persons
could be found in a city； for their sakes this city should not be
destroyed； but； and if He should make us an offer thus large； search
all the generations of men since the fall of our father Adam； find one
man that hath done one action which hath passed from him pure； without
any stain or blemish at all； and for that one man's only action neither
man nor angel should feel the torments which are prepared for both。 Do
you think that this ransom to deliver men and angels could be found to
be among the sons of men？ The best things which we do have somewhat in
them to be pardoned。〃 ＇4＇
That witness is true。 For my part I am persuaded the more light we
have； the more we see our own sinfulness： the nearer we get to heaven；
the more we are clothed with humility。 In every age of the Church you
will find it true； if you will study biographies； that the most eminent
saintsmen like Bradford； Rutherford； and McCheynehave always been
the humblest men。
On the other hand； I ask my readers to observe how deeply thankful we
ought to be for the glorious Gospel of the grace of God。 There is a
remedy revealed for man's need； as wide and broad and deep as man's
disease。 We need not be afraid to look at sin； and study its nature；
origin； power； extent； and vileness； if we only look at the same time
at the Almighty medicine provided for us in the salvation that is in
Jesus Christ。 Though sin has abounded； grace has much more abounded。
Yes： in the everlasting covenant of redemption； to which Father； Son；
and Holy Ghost are partiesin the Mediator of that covenant； Jesus
Christ the righteous； perfect God and perfect Man in one Personin the
wor