Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-08-28
EvANGELIcAL DOCTRINE.

But to thy wild revenge there is no bound,
deadly sin Far down amidst the caves
ofruned mind thy blasphemies resound
And thy worms riot in those living graves,
Which wall and foam midst dark Damnation's
waves
knowledge but arms thee for thy frantic sweep;
Zen truths divine are scorpions to thy slaves!
All memories of the yearning heart but heap
he'd Goals of wrath, which at thy bidding cling
Round the lost soul that quivers at thy sting
In our last number we defined sin to be
the transgression of the law; and follow
ed this definition with these three state
mentS
l., All sin implies voluntary action.
2 All those voluntary affections are
sinful, which are in theiI nature supreme
| ly selfish.
3. All sin sets at defiance the authori-
ty of God @
These principles We proposed to apply:
|. To the nature of SIN 10 general. 3. To
original sin.
The law Of God assumes the complete
moral agency of its subjects; as This is the
general, and will be The universal and
eternal state of all intelligent beings. The
peculiar application of these principles to
the character Of infants and the nature of
what is commonly called original sin,
contemplates condition of being which
is an exception to the general state of the
moral universe.
In applying the principles stated above,
to the nature of sin in its general and eter-
nal bearings, we may present the follow
ing statements, as worthy of serious con-
sideration
l. The natural tendency Of all SIN is
eUil, and only eUil
1t is selfish, voluntary affection, exer.
cised in defiance of Divine authority. AS
it is voluntary, it is vigorous, rapid, intel
lectual, and influential. 1t is not a mere
abstraction it is a wrong attitude of i'm
mortal mind, acting with fearful rapiditv,
and nerved by most powerful emotion.
AS it is selfish affection, it degrades
Jehovah, and violates the rights of all in
telligent beings. AS it does all this in de-
fiance of Divine authority, it mocks the
penalty of the law and the perfections of
its Author. Thus, outrageous in all the
elements of nature, its tendency is bound
less ruin. Give it universal prevalence
and perpetual ascendancy, and all the re-
lations of moral existance would be cords
of nguish-conducting TO each portion
of intelligence the electric shock of ago.
ny. Invest it with an appropriate form,
and it would be the incarnation of malice
and wo. Its features would be inconceiv-
| ably horrid, and its movements would
make all the wheels of creation groan.
2. EUeTy act Of SIN as infinitely odi-
Gus and Gb0miaable.
The character, projections, and glory Of
God are infinitely valuable and amiable
Sin contemns them ALL The vileness of
its nature Is to be measured by the extent
of this contempt, and this by the beauty
and glory of the things condemned
The peace and happiness of the universe
is good of infinite value. Sin is at war
with it all. The example of every sin is
eternal: it is always guilty-always, when
millions of ages have rolled by, will de-
serve detestation.
3. If all san as hateful IN ats nature,
then the degrees Of ITS OdiOusaess increase
aoath the increase Of knowledge.
knowledge enlarges and multiplies the
motives against sin, displays the evil eff
fects of transgression; and makes sin ap-
pear more malignant and hateful. Since,
moreover, responsibility depends upon
reason and conscience sufficiently enlight-
ened to be in exercise, each degree of in
formation supplied, increases responsibility,
and each degree of responsibility violated,
enhances guilt.
A. If these principles are correct, then
no moral agent should rest satisfied a
moment, short of perfect and uninter-
rupted holiness. He cannot select any
lower standard than this, without commit
ting sin.
$. Then, moreover, every sinner, i'm
repenting of his sins and justifying the
condemning sentence of the law, should
regard the least sin, or what may seem to
him the least, with unmeasured abhor-
renee. True conviction and true repent
ance must ever spring only from just
views of the nature of sin.
6. The principles qohicb zoe hare ad-
oocGted prooe, that the aohOLe character of
a moral agent, acho continually persists an
traasgressiOn, must be a great and GwtitI.
mountain Of guitt.
Suppose every violated interest should
rise up and stare him in the face. Sup.
pose the universe fitted with eyes, TO con-
centrate its gaze of indignation upon him.
Suppose one shred after another of his
character to be held up before God, until
the whole was revealed. How must IN
FINITE HOLINESS. feel towards such a
tcharaeterl
z. It's impossible, according to these
! principles, to e0ntempLaie efernnk rOkasata-