Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-06-30


date betwixt an offended God and offend
ing man, it follows that the breach is vast
ly wide. For such an high priest be-
came US who is holy, harmless, undefled,
and separate from sinners, made higher
than the heavens"-Heb. r: 26. Every
one feels that the Nervousness of sin is set
forth by the greatness of the sacrifice
which was required to atone for it.
Hence it is that infdels in order to do
away the necessity Of redemption by the
blood of Christ, either deny the apostacy
of man wholly, or labor to lessen his
criminality.
l am aware that there are objections to
this doctrine, viz: s..s-
l. A finite creature cannot do an infn-
lite act. 1t is readily conceded that GER
tain powers are requisite in order to the
commission of sin at all. A mere brute
cannot commit sin, because he possesses
not the powers to judge of the moral fit
ness of things, or to distin guish the NOR
al quality of actions. One must be capa-
BILE Of discerning things Of a moral nature,
in order to love or hate them. And this
capacity, it is obvious, man does possess,
wherever you find him. "For when the
gentiles, which have not the law, do by
nature the things contained in the law
These having not the law are law unto
themselves, which show the work of the
law written in their hearts," &c. Rom.
q: IA, Is. However blind he may be
with respect to his own sins, by reason of
selfshness, he can feel a wrong when
done to himself by another, and heartily
condemn it for It's injustice. 1t is not pre-
tended that sin is infinitely wise. nor that
il Is omnicient, or omnipotent-but infn-
itely malignant, hateful and criminal.
Another objection is, that this principle
levels all distinction betw;xt sins, and rem
ders every sin equally criminal-as what is
infinite can not be increased or diminished.
know not that shall be able to give a
satisfactory answer to this objection. But
it should be considered that the divine law
is spiritual and primarily respects the
heart, and lis requirements are summari.
ly fulfilled in love. Consequently sin
primarily and summarily consists in ha,
tired of God and holiness; and as to par
ticular acts they are more or less crimi
nal, according as they flow more or less
from hatred of God As principle sir
has initiate malignity in it, aiming a
nothing short Of the annihil;tion Of al
that is holy, good and lovely in the uni
verse. But there are. many violations 0
the external precepts Of the law of CO.
which take place through fear, ignorance
or sudden temptation. These acts hav
less criminality in them than known, de
!. Iiberate and wilful transgressions have.
: This view of the subject accounts fo
e the light and trifing manner in which 81
i is considered and treated by the ungodly
& They cannot deny that their disposition
! and conduct are contrary to the law
3 God !; nor is this exactly as it should b
n But they d. not see Ito use the languag
1t of an Apostle) the exceeding sinfulness
g sin. And this results in a great measu1
t from their low and dishonorable views
L the divine character and law, and the
le exalted ideas of themselves and their libe
5, ty and independence But when one
y brought to see that the Nervousness of b
n sins is to be measured by the infinite gre
is ness and perfection ofthe characterand Ia
IS of God, he no longer feels himself at i
an cry to sport in doing mischief w
IN such an one it becomes a serious and a
full concern.
I'M Again, this view of the subject sers
m, to enhance the riches of the grace of 9
= ia pardoning sin. while it demonstra
os- the necessity Of divine mediator, and
IN efficacy of the blood Of him whom 9 6
aid hath set forth to be the propagation
ce, our sins, that God might be just and
&c iustifer of Him that believeth in Jesu
ur- Rom. 8: 25, 26.
Il Who can contemplate the awful col
Zee Equences of sin without viewing it TO
re- an infinite evil2 And yet what
mite such extremely limited. sinful and