Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-01-15
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED
mo DIFFERENCE"

The Rev. DIR. j.. Wilbur Chapman Ex-
plains Tor tho Benefit Of Unregeherate |
Man One Of the Most Didicult state.
ments in All the Bible.
New YORK CITY.-The following timely
and interesting sermon is one of a series
Rev. DR.. j. Wilbur Chapman It is enti-
tied ..No Difference and was preached
from the text: For there is no difference"
Rom. ill., %.
This is one Of the most difficult state
ments to receive in all the Bible, and can
well understand how the unregenerate man
| would resent its application. I can hear
| him gay, What! no difference between the
man WHO has fallen to the very lowest
depths OF sin and wretchedness, and the
man who. boasting Of lis morality, has
/ sweryed only little from the path Of duty
and the law of Godi" And the answer to
| this question is both "yes' and no"
| There is difference in Nervousness and
| degradation wide as the poles. but mo
difference so far as guilt is concerned. for
both have rejected the Son. Of God, and
this is the sin OF sins.
Ii two men were before the court, one
charged with great offense und the other
with one Of less degree. it w ,uld profit the
latter man but little to sa., But, Your
my companion in Misery The Judge
might well reply, You are both guilty: in
that there is no difference " and this is
the teaching Of my texts
Gods word declares-.:He that offends
in one point is guilty of ALI mot meaning,
OF course, that he has Of necessity broken
every law. but he has broken away from
God by his transgression. If am held a
prisoner by !. chain it is not necessary
that should break every link in the
chain that [ might go free, but only one
and that the very weakest, and so he that
offends in one point is guilty of all and
nothing less. while he that offends in all
points is guilty Of all and nothing more.
glory Of Cod"
Three important questions grow out of
this text as have considered it. First, I
dO not ask ii you are sinner, for as we or
dinarily use this word, we think Of one
who is lawless, wild and profane. But 1
ask:
HAVE YOU OFFENDED IN ONE SIN
GLE pOINTg
If 50, There is no difference Mar
would not say It, [ know. but God says it.,
and it is written in the book, and by the
book we shall be judged.
Look at the prodigal. He was as truly
a prodigal when he had taken the first step
over the threshold OF his fathers house
as when afterward you see him sitting in
the midst OF the swine, and trying to FIJI
his belly with husks which the swine did
cat.
He is more degraded in the second pic
ture, but not more guilty.
Look at the leper. He is just truly
dead when the first sign of the dread dis
ease appears, small though it may be. as
when afterward you behold him.. a loath-
with bandaged mouth, crying, "unelean!
Unclean" He was leper, however. from
+ the first. and by the law dead. This is
the teaching of the text. If you have re.
iected the Son of God, whatever your po
. sition: There is no diference'-all are
, alike lost.
, 1t is not even a question Of great sin
Many a man might plead mot guilty. il
: such charge were made, but first of all
. SECRET SINS.
l, There is a text which declares "oul
t secret sins in the light of His counte
nance and another reads that "All things
are naked and open before Him viii
7 who can stand!
< Not long ago in one Of the. school build
y ings of Chicago picture Of IN eye was
placed upon the blackboard as an illustra
t ton, and in a little time by order Of th'
] school board it was painted out, for it hat
position a child might be in in the room
that eye was upon it. The effect was dis
+ astrous. Bus there is one eye which never
4 slumbers and can never be painted out
= Thou God seest me- The sin was a
! midnight: he saw it; It was in Nev
:, Thus to the charge Of secret sin, yo'
: must plead guilty, and there is no differ
cnce.'
e SINFUL THOUGHTS.
n .. But the charge is even closer. W
are responsible for the sinful though
/. which tarries in the mind by the consen
this?
e distinguished scientist has made tn
Y statement, which wise men receive, that
), man stands out in the sunlight and acts
his act. good OR bad: flashes away to tn
e sun and a picture which is never lost
d made. AMI if he speaks, the sound bound
!, makes its record forever. And If he n
. fuses to step into the light or in the darl
ness speak word this scientist declare
d that by. the very thoughts Of his mind Gel
3 tain physical disturbances occur whic
- make record lasting as time.
I remember sending a telegram in
western city, and shortly after realizin
that my message had been wrong | mad
- my way TO the Office to recall it. why,
said the operator, with smile, 1T is gon
3 my recall So with your sinful thought
u They bound away, and no man can reca
= them when once they go.
le The answer to this charge must be-
guilty
s. BEGINNING IN SIN.
IL 3. Some are beginning now. Held /
Ia the fascination of the evil one and lure
~ / on by his charms they are rushing on
IS hell. On one of the busiest streets of II
i gay city Of Paris stands "a building famo,
for it's beauty Over the. magnificent doc
way you may read these, words, s.Nothir
=. to pay" The admission is free, the ente
tainment within is fascinating, and hui
;, dreds Of young men pass through the po
le tails. the rank and file Of them taking the
20 first or las. step to he'll =.
- All sin is dearly bought: fq.. it has he
e back of it. It b.ights the lisse wrecks ii
O. character, and blasts the. e.foadegt hopes
as the soul. And when at--awfiI day com
~ and situation is gone and character los
y aad the hearts Of loved ones broken, al
1e you are cast stranded wreck on tt
e shores of time, you will cry out in terro
20 wretched man that am. who shall d
liver me"-and there will be no delive
ance You will be more degraded then b
not more guilty than now, for the chiefe
of sins is unbelief, and that was the eau
s; OF, your downfall "There is no difference
he God pity you.