Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-01-08
mo DIFFERENCE"
Sunday Sermon By DR.. J. Wilbur Chap.
man.
Explains For the Benefit Of Unregenerate
Man One Of The Most Difficult State.
ments Ia All the Bible.

prepared by tne famous cNahSSiie'' 'hS
Rev. DR.. j. Wilbur Chapman. IL is emit,
tied mo Difference" and was preached
from the text: For there is no difference.
Rom. iii: %.
This is one of the most difficult state
ments to receive in all the Bible, and l can
well understand how the unregenerate man
would resent its application. can near
him say, What no difference between the
man who has fallen to the very lowest
DEPTHS of sin and wretchcdness, and the
man who, Boosting OF his morality, has
swerved only little from the path OF duty
and the law of God?' And the answer to
this question is both eyes" and no"
There is difference in Nervousness and
degradation wide as the poles, but, no
difference so far as guilt is concerned, TOR
both have rejected the Son or God, ana
this is the sin of sins.
If two men were before the court, one
charged with a great otfense and the other
with one of less degree, it would profit the
latter man but little to say, But, Your
Honor, / am not so great an offender as
my companion i'll misery The Judge
might well reply, You are both guilty; in
that there is no difference, and TINS IS
the teaching of my text.
Gods word declares--"IIc that offends
in one point is guilty of all not meaning,
of course, that he has of necessity broken
every law. but he has broken away from
God by his transgresson. Ii | am held
prisoner by n chain it is not necessary
that l should break every link in the
chain that might 60 free, but only one
and that the very weakest, and so he that
offends III one point is guilty, of all and
nothing less. while he that offends In all
points is guilty OF all and nothing more.
"All have sinned and come short of the
glory of God"
Three important questions grow out OF
this text as | have considered 1t. First, l
do not ask if You are sinner, for as we or.
dinariy use this word, we think OF one
who is lawless, wild and protane. But |
ask:
HAVE YOU OFFENDED IN ONE SIN
GLE POINT?
If so, "There is no difference" Man
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 prodigaI. 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 III
the midst of the swine, and trying to fill
his belly with husks which the swine did
eat.
He is more degraded in the second pic
ture, but not more guilty.
Look at the leper. He is Just as truly
ease appears, small though it may be. as
when afterward You behold him. a !oath-
some object sitting outside the city gates,
with bandaged mouth, crying, "Unclean,
Unc,can!" He was leper however. from
the first. and by the law dead. This is
the teaching Of the text If YOU have re.
jected the Son OF God. whatever Your po-
sition, There is no difference all are
alike lost.
1t is not even question OF great sin.
Many man might Plead mot guilty. II
such a charge were made. but first OF all
SECRET SINS.
]. There is a text which declares ''onr
secret sins in the light of His countc-
nance" and another reads that All things
are naked and open before Hm wlth
whom we have TO do In the light OF this
who can stand?
Not long ago in ono of the school build
ingS of Chicago a picture OF an eye Was
placed upon the blackboard As in iiiustra-
ton, and in a little time Ivy order OF the
school board it was painted out for 1t had
been so perfectly painted that whatever
position child might he III in the room
that eye was upon 1t. The effect was dis
astrous. But there is one eve which never
slumbers and can never he painted out
Chou God seest me- The sin was at
midnight. He saw it, 1t was in New
Thus to the charge OF secret sin You
must plead guilty, and there is no differ
encc.
SINFUL THOUGHTS.
.. But the charge is even closer. We
are responsible for the sinful thought
which tames in the mind by the consent
OF our will. Who can stand in the hight OF
this?
4 distinguished scientist has made tie
: -.
a man stands out i'll the sunlight aud acts,
his act good or bad, flashes away to the
sun and picture which is never lost is
made. And II he speaks, the sound hounds
away, up and up. far beyond his reach, and
makes its record forever And if ne re-
fuses to step into the light, or in the dark
ness speak word, this scientist declares
that by the very thoughts of his mind GER
tain physical disturbances occur which
make Il record lasting as time.
| remember sending a telegram in a
western city, and shortly after realizing
that my message had been wrong | made
my way TO the Office to recall it. 'Why,'
said the operator. with a smile. 1T is gone,
and is flashing over the wire, now. beyond
my recall" SO with your sinful thoughts.
They bound away, and no man can recall
them when once they go.
The answer to this charge must be-
"guilty.'
BEGINNING IN SIN.
3. Some ave beginning now. He'd by
the fascination of the evil one and lured
on by his charms they are rushing on to
hell. On one of the busiest streets OF the
gay city of Paris stands a building famous
Tor its beauty. Over the magnificent door.
way you may read these words, Nothing
10 pay" The admission is free. the enter.
tainment within is fascinating, and hun.
dreds of young men pass through the por.
tails, the rank and file OF them taking their
first or last step to hell.
All sin is dearly bought. for it has he'll
back of it. 1t b;ights the life wrecks the
character, and blasts the fondest hopes Of
the soul. And when that awiul day comes
and situation is gone and character lost,
and the hearts OF loved ones broken, and
you are cast stranded wreck on the
shores of time, You, will cry oHt in terror,
20 wretched man that am, who shall de-
liver mend there will be no deliver.
ance. You will be more degraded then but
not more guilty than now, for the chiefest
of sins is unbelef, and that waa the cause
of your downfall. There is no difference"
God pity you
DO YOU know the Bible description Of
the end of career OF sin from the world
standpoint, Weeping, wailing and snash
ing of teeth without are dogs, and
sorcerers and whorcmongers, and murder
ers, and idolaters. and whosoevcr loveth
and maketh lie God save us from such
a company A minister could never lead
man to serious thought until he quoted the
text: The wicked shall be turned into
hell. and all the nations that forget God"
Great sin, humanity speaking, is not nee.
essary. but only forget Him and There is
no difference"
If you had read that remarkable book
"Robert Faconer," written by Geo. Mac.
Donald, you will remember the dream of
the wife of Andrew Faconer. He was
drunkard and after her death, the dream
being told him. resulted in his conversion.
She said in her letter which Che had writ