Evening journal., 1910-03-19
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sin AND SICKNESS RELATED.
Matthew 9;1-13s-March 90
THE Son of Man hath to sinsvV

Jesus left the country Of the Gergesenes
at their request, because they feared that
other healngs OF obsessed people might |
destroy other herds Of swine, the chief in
dustry Of that place. He came by boat to
his own city OF Capernaum, where most
OF his mighty works were done. The peo-
pie thronged about him and soon he was
busy preaching TO a houseful about tho
lovo and mercy Of God and the duty and
responsibility OF man. The house was Of
the ordinary type OF one story. with arge
tiles constituting the roof and with OUT
side stairs leading thereto. Presently a
paralytic borne upon stretcher was
brought by his friends that the Lord
might heal him. They could not entor be-
cause OF the multitude which filled tho
room and extended into the court. In Their
earnestness they climbed the stairs, re-
moved tho large stone tillng near tho con-
ter of the house and Let the man on the
stretcher down IN front OF the Savior. 1t
was not necessary to explain or to en-
treat. The Great Physicians heart went
out IN loving sympathy. He recognized the
prayer OF faith and answered # az once,
but not as might have been expected.
relationship between sin and sickness, and
to show himself powerful to deliver them
both, he said to the sick man, "son, be OF
good cheer Thy sins be forgiven theew
Possibly the paisied man and his friends
may have felt disappointed. Like many OF
our day they may have appreciated tho
loaves and fishes and healines aocomp-
lished by our Lord more than they were
able to appreciate his work as a Redeem
OF, the Sim Bearer, the one through whom
comes forgiveness Of sins.
But there were present some very re-
ligious people learned in the Law. who
understood that transgression OF the Di-
vine Law could not be forgiven, except
by the satisfaction Of that Law. When
these IN their hearts began 20 murmur,
Jesus knew Il and said aloud. (Which is
easier-to say, Thy sins be forgiven three,
or to say, Arise and walk?" The Master
would have his critics see that even they
without authority could say, Thy sins be
forgiven thee and none have power "a
know on tho subject. But they could not
heal the man and dare not say TO him
Arise and walk. He thus convinced then
that what they had thought the more dif
hcult was really the easier and that th'
one who could say the latter could doubt
less truthfully say the former. Then, turn
ing 20 the sick man, Jesus said. arise
take up thy bed and 30 unto thine house
and he did so.
on very similar occasion the Scrip
lures tell US that our Lord said to IN
. healed one go thy way and sin no more
less worse thing fall upon thee" 4
l. these words our Lord indicated a relation
d ship existing between sin and sickness
The more we consider the subject IN
, more we are assured OF this. sioknel
/ is so much Of death working In us towar
y completion. Before the death sentenS
e, came there was no sickness. After Il
IT Redeemer shall, during the Milenniur
have put away sin. the time will com
ar we are sure. when there shall be no mo
y. signing. no more crying no more dyinE
r Not only 20. but do we not all recogni
r that the dying we have inherited fro
D., father Adam has come 70 Us down throul
ir the ages along the lines OF mental, NOR
ie and physical sickness, impairment
functionf And do not all recognize thl
= to whatever extent sin Is INDUCED In VIII
e, ngly. the effect is not only moral abas