The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-01-08

God by MS tranSgressiou' II an 4iSiu
prisoner by a chain it is not necessary
that 7 should break every link in the
-~chain that might 60 free, but only one
and that the very weakest. and so he that
offends In one point is guilty or all and
nothing less, while he that otfends IN all
points is guilty of all and nothing more.
'.All have sinued and come short OF The
glory OF God
Three important questions grow out o.
this text as / have considered 1t. First. L
do not ask If you are a sinner, for as we or
dinartly use this word. we think of one
who is lawless, wild and profanc. But l
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 prodiSal. He was as truly
a pro6igal when he had taken the first step
over the threshold of his father s house
as when afterward you see him sitting III
the midst of the swine, and trying to I'LL
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
dead when the first sign of the dread dis.
ease appears, small though it may be, as
when afterward you behold him, Il loath-
soue object, sitting outside the city gates,
with bandaged mouth, crying, "Unclean.
Unelear!" He was a leper, however. from
the first. and by the law dead. This is
the teaching OF the text. Ii YOU have re-
jected the Son of God. whatever your po-
Sition. There is no difference"-all are
alike lost.
\ 1t is not even a question OF great sin.
Many a man might plead mot guilty" ii
such charge were made, but first of oil
SECRET SINS.
/. There is a text which declares "our
secret siRs in the light of His counte-
nance" and another reads that All things
are naked and open before Him with
whom we have to do In the light of this
whs can stand?
Not long ago in one of the school build
ings of Chicago picture of an eye was
placed upon the blackboard as an illustra-
tion, and in little time by order of the
school board it was painted out, for it had
been so perfectly painted that whatever
position a child might be in in the room
that eye was upon it. The effect was dis
astrous. But there is one eye which never
slumbers and can never be painted out.
-'Thou God seest me-" The sin was at
midnight He saw it. 1t was in New
York or London or Paris. He saw 1t.
Thus to the charge OF secret sin" YOU
must plead guilty, and there is no differ
>enec.'
q SINFUL THOUGHTS.
- But the. charge is even closer. We
arc responsible for the sinful thought
which tarTies in the mind by the consent
OF our will. Who can stand in the light or
this?
A distinguished scientist has made the
statement, which wise men receive, that II
a man stands out lii the sunlight and acts,
sun and a pictare which Is never lost Is
made. And If he speaks, the sound bounds
away, up and up. far beyond his reach. and
makes its record forever. And II lie re-
fuses to step into the light. or III the dark
mess speak y word, this scientist declares
that by the very thoughts OF his mind ce;'-
tain physical disturbances Occar which
make record lasting as iiple.
I remember sendingA az telegram in
western city, and shortly after realizing
that my message had been wrong l made
my way to the Office to recall it. Why
said the operator, with smile. 1T is gone,
and is flashing over the wires 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 are 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 building famous
for its beauty. Over the magnificent door
way you may read these words, Nothing
to 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 1t has hell
back of it. 1t blights the life, wrecks the
character, and blasts the fondest hopes of
the soul. And when that awful day comes
and situation Is gone and character lost.
and the hearts of loved ores broken. and
you are cast stranded wreck on the
shores Of time. you will cry out in terror,
20 wretcheG man that L am. who shall de.
liver me"-and there will be no deliver
anee. You will be more degraded then but
not more guilty than now, for the chlefest
of sins is unbelief, and that was the cause
OF your downfall There is no difference"
God pity you.
Do you know the Bible description OF
&he end of a career OF sin from the world
standpoint? weeping, wailing and gnash-
5ng Of teeth" Without are dogs, and
<scrccr2:S a"d whoremongerS. and murder
ers. and ido,aterS. and whoso2yer lovcth
md Iua!,cei nc col ss,e 4. ron! =: !
a company. \ minister could never lead
zssan TO serious thought until lie quoted the
text: ''The wicked shall be turned into
bell, and ali the nations that forget God
Great sin. humanity speaking. is not nee
.sssary. but only forget Him and There is
no difference"
II ron had read that remarkable book,
sEobert Fslconer," written by Geo. Mac
ysonald, you will remember the dream of
she wife of Andrew Falconer. He was
drunkard aad after her death, the dream
heinr told him, resulted in his conversion.
She said in her letter, which she had writ
ten him:
! Il thought, Andrew. that the resurrec
lion morn had colhe. and | was looking
ISc.ywhs.e fOr you! Finally in my wan