The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-21
SINS OF IGNORANCE
AND THEIR PUNISHMENT.

The Reverend VI. T. Haw. pastor OF y.
Paufs NJ. F. Church, South. preached yes
terday morning on Sins of Ignorance"
from Leviticus, V. Z: And il a soul sin
and commit any OF these things which are
forbidden to be done by the commandments
Of the Lord, though he wist it not, yet is he
guilty. and shall bear his iniquity." He
said. N part:
"The books o: Leviticus and Numbers
treat repeatedly and at length of sins Of
ignorance. Perhaps the average listener in
4 modern congregation Is surprised and
amazed to learn Of this classification OF sin
ners, and that they must bear their tn
The Old Testament handling Of such sins
was marked by mercy. yet was emlnently
wise. The plea of ignorance. II allowed.
tempts to fraud. and encourages Incidence
and careiessness. The maxim. Ignorance
is no excuse In law. Is the best, public In
structor In any State. Open a door OF es-
cape here. and you demoralize In every dc
main the forces that seek TO preserve law
and order. Yet issT hat pubic sentiment
door wide open by day and by night TO
the injury OF everybody.
The Bible asserts sins into lots: sins OF
impulse, sins Of ignorance. and sins or will
fuine~. and suits the treatment 10 tie
trouble.
for acknowledgment. sacrifice and atone
meut-
"A confession of ignorance not only calls
for great moral courage. but also tends
nightly to cure the disease. A clearly I'M
derstood. open. specific act OF Acknowledge
ment will not lightly be repeated. This 5
ssThe sacrifice cost something. it diminished
the flock A penalty has ever been a whole
some stfmulant TO thoughttulness. An aft
The insitgator should be a conscious and
voluntary sufferer in his own misdoings.
These thoughts. largely personal. are sup
piemented on either side by the idea OF
atCnement. God must be regarded and re-
spected. His just and reasonable law has
been violated.
reconciled. RestitU ZION and compensation
are a part OF the programme IN the matter
OF sacrifice
perienceS of this kind he must Of necessity
be a sadder and a wiser man, Considern-
tion will likely crown his thinking He Will
porsess IN educated spirit
THE les.o on should inspire US with a deep
de: ire and earnest effort 10 know all the
mind of God. Strange as 1t may seem. the
imperfectIy Informed as to the mind Ct the
master CT ncerning our work and life on
Garth. The impressions. maNims and prac-
tees Of heathenism are largely In evidence
in our sentiments ideals and usages-
The thIs'l do manner in which SO much
Of our work is done and our lie Is spent
car only be cured by scripturaI treatment
"A proper comprehension OF our lesson
must teach US TO deal both more charitaDly
and more wisely With our nelghoors sins
of this order. viewing them with proper
len.ency and undertaking as far as II may
become US to remove the cause. Il
by the wise treatment OF TINS Phase OF
trar sgresstcn the whole system OF calling
man TO account for his conduct finds itself
strengthened and conserved
Here We have. strange enough. the hlgn-
est pressure brought to bear 10 give the life
Of man tone and pitch This Is the very
poetry of ethics. II rises above the clouds.
1t nipples and sings with the purity OF a |
not ntain stream. 1t rounds up the whole
life toward God" |