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deceitful above all things； and desperately wicked；〃 （Gen。 vi。 5； Jer。
xvii。 9。） Sin is a disease which pervades and runs through every part
of our moral constitution and every faculty of our minds。 The
understanding； the affections； the reasoning powers； the will； are all
more or less infected。 Even the conscience is so blinded that it cannot
be depended on as a sure guide； and is as likely to lead men wrong as
right； unless it is enlightened by the Holy Ghost。 In short； 〃from the
sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness〃 about us。
（Isa。 i。 6。） The disease may be veiled under a thin covering of
courtesy； politeness； good manners； and outward decorum； but it lies
deep down in the constitution。
I admit fully that man has many grand and noble faculties left about
him； and that in arts and sciences and literature he shows immense
capacity。 But the fact still remains that in spiritual things he is
utterly 〃dead；〃 and has no natural knowledge； or love； or fear of God。
His best things are so interwoven and intermingled with corruption；
that the contrast only brings out into sharper relief the truth and
extent of the fall。 That one and the same creature should be in some
things so high and in others so lowso great and yet so littleso
noble and yet so meanso grand in his conception and execution of
material things； and yet so grovelling and debased in his
affectionsthat he should be able to plan and erect buildings like
those to Carnac and Luxor in Egypt； and the Parthenon at Athens； and
yet worship vile gods and goddesses； and birds； and beasts； and
creeping thingsthat he should be able to produce tragedies like those
of 苨chylus and Sophocles； and histories like that of Thucydides； and
yet be a slave to abominable vices like those described in the first
chapter of the Epistle to the Romansall this is a sore puzzle to
those who sneer at 〃God's Word written；〃 and scoff at us as
Bibliolaters。 But it is a knot that we can untie with the Bible in our
hands。 We can acknowledge that man has all the marks of a majestic
temple about hima temple in which God once dwelt； but a temple which
is now in utter ruinsa temple in which a shattered window here； and a
doorway there； and a column there； still give some faint idea of the
magnificence of the original design； but a temple which from end to end
has lost its glory and fallen from its high estate。 And we say that
nothing solves the plicated problem of man's condition but the
doctrine of original or birth…sin and the crushing effects of the fall。
Let us remember； besides this； that every part of the world bears
testimony to the fact that sin is the universal disease of all mankind。
Search the globe from east to west and from pole to polesearch every
nation of every clime in the four quarters of the earthsearch every
rank and class in our own country from the highest to the lowestand
under every circumstance and condition； the report will be always the
same。 The remotest islands in the Pacific Ocean； pletely separate
from Europe； Asia； Africa； and America； beyond the reach alike of
Oriental luxury and Western arts and literatureislands inhabited by
people ignorant of books； money； steam； and gunpowderuncontaminated
by the vices of modern civilizationthese very islands have always
been found； when first discovered； the abode of the vilest forms of
lust； cruelty； deceit； and superstition。 If the inhabitants have known
nothing else； they have always known how to sin！ Everywhere the human
heart is naturally 〃deceitful above all things； and desperately
wicked。〃 （Jer。 xvii。 9。） For my part； I know no stronger proof of the
inspiration of Genesis and' the Mosaic account of the origin of man；
than the power； extent； and universality of sin。 Grant that mankind
have all sprung from one pair； and that this pair fell （as Gen。 iii。
tells us）； and the state of human nature everywhere is easily accounted
for。 Deny it； as many do； and you are at once involved in inexplicable
difficulties。 In a word； the uniformity and universality of human
corruption supply one of the most unanswerable instances of the
enormous 〃difficulties of infidelity。〃
After all； I am convinced that the greatest proof of the extent and
power of sin is the pertinacity with which it cleaves to man even after
he is converted and has bee the subject of the Holy Ghost's
operations。 To use the language of the Ninth Article； 〃this infection
of nature doth remainyea； even in them that are regenerate。〃 So
deeply planted are the roots of human corruption； that even after we
are born again； renewed； 〃washed； sanctified； justified；〃 and made
living members of Christ； these roots remain alive in the bottom of our
hearts； and； like the leprosy in the walls of the house； we never get
rid of them until the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved。
Sin； no doubt； in the believer's heart； has no longer dominion。 It is
checked； controlled； mortified； and crucified by the expulsive power of
the new principle of grace。 The life of a believer is a life of
victory； and not of failure。 But the very struggles which go on within
his bosom； the fight that he finds it needful to fight daily； the
watchful jealousy which he is obliged to exercise over his inner man；
the contest between the flesh and the spirit； the inward 〃groanings〃
which no one knows but he who has experienced themall； all testify to
the same great truth； all show the enormous power and vitality of sin。
Mighty indeed must that foe be who even when crucified is still alive！
Happy is that believer who understands it； and while he rejoices in
Christ Jesus has no confidence in the flesh； and while he says； 〃Thanks
be unto God who giveth us the victory；〃 never forgets to watch and pray
lest he fall into temptation！
（4） Concerning the guilt； vileness； and offensivenesS of sin in the
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 as