Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-03-06
THE CHRONICLE
THE POWER OF SIN.

request OF the session.
Romans vii. %. "ButI 1 see another
law in my members warning against
the law of my mind, and bringing
me into captivity to the law of sin
which is in my members"
Some have supposed that the Apos-
tie is here describing the conflict
between the natural conscience and
the corruptions of depraved heart
In all ordinary circumstances /; others
have supposed that he refers TO the
conflict that is waged in the heart OF
q sinner under deep conviction; and
others that he refers to the conflict
between the religious principle and
the eOrruptions that remain in the
renewed, but partially sanctihed
heart. -1 .- ..s b.
Without, however, stopping to con-
slider which of these views is the
nearest right, it is enough for my
present purpose that they all agree IN
this. that the Apostle, in the picture
before us, clearly sets forth the POtoer
And this is the truth which I wish
to illustrate and apply on the present
occasion.
The power of sin in the human
mind is best evinced by an induc-
ton of those facts, which show the
principles and feelings, that
II overcomes, before it succeeds in
subjugating the mind to its iron
1t matters not whether
these principles and feelings relate to
things personal or things relative; to
things temporal OF things eternal, il
spurns them all alike. They melt
away before il like flax before the
flame. Such is its power that II
breaks asunder the strongest bonds
that can bind man to his fellows or
to his God. Neither the "green withs"
of social ties, nor the " new ropes = OF
religious influences, nor the web OF
divine threatenings are sufficient 70
hold it in check. Whenever 1t would
arise and enjoy some coveted lndui-
peuce. il snaps these restraints like 50
many threads of tow. IL sets at
naught all law, human and divine.
1t strikes with equal impunity against
every principle Of natural and re-
vealed religion. 1t manifests the
same despite TO the spirit efhnmanlty
and the spirit of grace. 1t hesltates
not 20 trample under foot both the
blood of man and the blood OF Christ.
That all this is true of the power OF
sin in the human mind is evident
from the following facts: 81.
I. It overpowers the EoUe Of reputd-
ton. This is q powerful principle, and
one that is indigenous TO the human
mind. The wise man hath said" A
good name is rather to be chosen than
great riches: and loving favour rather
than silver and gold " And what Is
slus left as truth upon the printed
mage, is with equal clearness engraved
by the Creators hand upon the tab
lets Of the mind. All men desire the
respect of those around them. They
love TO be spoken well of. Long after
the heart has teeome a sink of ini-
ouity:I q cage of unclean BIRDS 8
sepulchre within which is concealed
ali manner of corruption, Will men
strive TO whitewash the outside, that
they may appear fair unto their fel-
lows and still retain their good
opinion. They can live without self
respect far more easily than they can
without the respect of others. And
hence it is, that when these Whited
sepulchres that have for years stood
in the midst of an intelligent and
yirtuous people, that have long been
seen and looked upon with favor, are
once torn loDen aud their corrup-
tions held up to public seorn, they
so speedily cease to exhibit any
longer the least outward appearance
Of dpcpucV ..-..--.
For a good name (I do not say a
good character but, for q good name
among others, men will contend
Longer and more fiercely than for
auy other possession. All else they
count as /" trash " in the comparison.
The daily chronicles OF any COM
munity are witnesses 90 this. fGr on
this page we read q lengthy report Of
a trial before one of our courts Of
Justice; in which the ablest legal
talent OF the country is eontendIng
with almost superhumRn power OF
argument and appeal scores OF wit
nesses are detained day after day from
their customary employmentsi q mul-
titude of anxious and curious specta.
tors fill the room and thus time and
money and talents and labor are
poured out like water, and for what
to retain a good name, by repellins
an unjust or injurious statement
claimed to be libelious.
And on that page we read of per
sonal combat between men in whlef
one is shot and instantly deprived o
life. and the other becomes q fpgitiVt
and a vagabond, because they has
been educated to believe that dueiilnt
was the only honorable method o
| redressing personal insult. and de
I Tending good name. s.-a. -,
On another page We read OF suicide
20 escape from the public disgrae'
| that comes from shame, or fraud, o
| other crimes just discovered. - -.
And on the next page we read Q
wars and rumors of wars, becaus
some nation claims that another ha
shown It tdisrespeet, and itmust main
/ tain its honor or good name At tn
point Of the bayOnet and the canon
mouth. -..-.-,. .s.s.
In these daily CHRONICLES of humal
| conduct we find the scales RLG weight
with which to weigh the love Of pepu
tation implanted in the heart of man
The infantile heart thrills zbeneatl
the poaper Of this principle as
bounds away with light and joyou
step. because of maternal appreciation
and the glorified soul experiences
SIS he enters the golden streets Of tn
New Jerusalem with bis Saviour
pIaudit, " Well doEe, good and faith
ful servant" J"
Yet this love of reputation, Whic
is implanted in the heart of man b
his Creator, which has received th
commentator of the spirit of insp
ration, whieb manifests itself in tn
purest JOYS Of childhood, which i
imam leads to the sqnanderipg Of tin'
and toll, and money, and even to th
shedding Of blood, and which ca
i find its fullest reslization only in tn
; eternal appreciation of the lRhnitel
Wise and Holy One, is less powerfI
than sin. denomination of this "
have but to open our eyes and loo
around US; for on every side are me
and women, young and old. doin
! that which, If persisted in, mui
sooner or leter end in q total loss (
their good BalaR. And in every con
munity we find slaves 10 Gin, boun
by the CALLING fetters of passion ap
appetite. guarded by the "strong ma
armed, . and goaded onward with IL
] lash of temptation, and already
lost as 10 forfeit the respect OF u
good and FirtaDgs, and spurn as vi
I thing their love OF reputation rath'
than deny themselves their sinfll il
duIgences, and abandon their YiciOI
: Tho uAr