The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-07-31

s""s NV" ""s WI As"AA - ouA We
free from its blasting influence and
pure from its blighting touch.
Keeping in mind the fact that
John is writing to the children,
''lttle children, he, calls them,
and that he feels responsible for
their faultless presentation before
the presence Of the Father, We
need not wonder that he is anxious
that every hindrance to their COM
plete salvation be removed.
But who is to carry out this great
purpose of the gospel? Surely not
only the man called Of God tor the
public declaration of the gospel
message but every teacher in the
Bible school. every worker OF the
pew, every true disciple Of our Lord
is preacher OF the truth concern.
ing Him and his whole life whether
in the pulpit or the pew, In the
prayer meeting or in the Bible
school, 10 the home or in the office,
at the work bench, in the shop,
ought to be perme lted with one
pulsing purpose. "to prevent sim
The "these things" Of the text
are worthy OF closer scrutiny
than We gave in our introduction.
There may clearly be noted in the
preceding chapter the progress
toward climax. In the sixth verse
John says, ''lt we say that we have
fellowship with Him aud walk in
darkness we lie aud do not tell the
truth. In eighth verse, "lf we
sav that we have no sin we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in
us, and in the tenth verse he de-
clares 'lf we say that we have not
sinned we make him Ii ar and his
word is not in US. These words
seemed unlike the beloved disciple,
they sounded harsh, severe and
unj ust, VIII hat can he mean? He tells
them: "My little children, do you
not see my meaning? | have said
because OF sin we lie. we deceive
ourselves, We make God liar, we
produce not the truth, his truth is
not in us, his word is not in us. "
Do YOU not see what a heinous
thing sin is and how much
the human heart needs cleansing
from it, but it is better, far better,
not to sin, and therefore "these
things harsh and severe as they
NAV seem 10 you, write | unto you
in order that We sin not. What a
grand purpose Ah that each of
us might be swayed aud controlled
bv its power.
The second thought which the
text presents is-The great hin.
drance to the progress o! the Chris
tian-sin. 'lf any man sin" Holl.
ness IS to be your constant aim,
though there may be constant tail.
ures. Let me remind you that the
writer is addressing Christians. If
any man among you who profess
ing 10 be followers OF the Christ, in
whose heart He is supremely prec-
Ious. ii any man among YOU sin.
Not the stranger at your doors. but
the disciple within your doors; not
the outcast OF the world, but the
chosen OF our Father; not the elite
OF sinful society bat the elect 0!
God; not the drunkurl Of the gut
ter, but the child OF the kingdom;
not the criminal OF the cell but the
Christian IN the church; not a felon
but follower; not unforgivcu, un-
redeemed humanity, but forgiven.
redeemed men are those to whom
the writer addresses himself, and
from whose lips there will fall hon
est confessions because OF constant
sins, How weak is poor human
nature. We come into the kingdom
fresh from our contact with the Sa-
vlour O! mankind. The first flush
OF religious experience still fingers
In our hearts and floods our souls.
We are conscious Still! of the first
flood o. liz ht that beamcd upon us
from the light OF the world The
touch Of the Divine hand yet thrills
us with the consciousness OF Faith.
ery forgiveness. When III Il mo.
mcnt OF passion Of sudden tcmDta.
ton, of flash forgiveness, we com.
nit sin. Songs at once are turned
to sorrow, light ls quickly changed
to & oOm, our forgiveness seems but
fancy, and redemption all dream.
To any Christian man Johns
words are applicable. "lf we,
Christians, say we have no sin we
deceive ouraelvcs and the truth is
not in us. "lt we. Christians,
say we have not sinned we make
God liar and his word Is not in
US. y AL all have slnned and come
short 0. the glory OF God. Don't
pride Yourself, my brother on your
sjnlcs character. don't boast OF
your humllity. don't declare your
holiness, don't eXult in your COM
p'ctc separation from sin. for any
man may sin and thou mast be the
the mau.
II looks as if John lacked conf
dcnce IN his brcthrea. lie had IN
'hc strongest possible language de-
CIared against sin and reminded
them that hc had written TO prevent
them IRON SHINING and then vir-
'naIly admits that they NAV be
gudtH Of SHINING Couldu't he trust
them Did he wish 10 set before
them an i.lcal of perfection to which
they could constantly look but never
reach, Or a standard Of holiness,
to which they would no, whsle in
the flesh perfectly attain, lie OK.
prcsBlv tel , then, that he writes 10
prevent them rom SHINING and vet
he recognises the prouene,s of hu.
man nature 10 sin and acknowledge,
IT, There is this thought that is
comforting III the "l.. John $ 'it
any man sin implies ANY man
may spn," We are no better than