Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-04-19

ggyazn,&<MA count is closed
XAAz2ss2lsazs Is it not wise tc
matter a little carefully?
Our thoughts are presented from
the evangelical standpoint as to the
nature. manifestation. and outcome Of
sin. The widely prevalent modern
though erroneous. view of sin makes
It rather an advantage than disad
vantage. Adams fall being upward
rather than downward.
One of the first suggestions is that
sin is self-perpetuating. 1t is a com
mon saying that one sin leads to an
other-that sin follows sin somewhat
automatically. Sin. however, is not
to be considered as consisting chiefly
in outward transaction, but in the
motive that is behind it. When man
dies his personality with it's stamped
character continues, and reason would
say that his course of action with re-
spect to the moral law is to continue
Professor Denney says: The very
conception of human freedom involves
the possibility of its permanent mis-
use. or what our Lord himself calls
eternal sim
The punishment of sin is not today
held up before the transgressor, but
rather the sin itself Is not the sin
really the great evil? 1t may be said
that if man can cease from sin out
wardly in this life, sin may not be
come permanent. But this ceasing
from sin is by almighty power alone,
and this power is denied after death.
If II is further said that man by the
mere force of his own will can cease
from sin. we reply that the ceasing is
only in the outward manifestation,
and not in the real SHINING, which be-
longs to the motive.
Meager light is thrown on the acnv.
ity of the wicked after death. but we
know the scripture teaches that men
who die in sin go to dwell with the
devil and his angels. What is the en-
ployment of the devil? Does any one
who believes in a personal devil be-
lieve that he does not continue to sin =?
Is he not intensely active, the instiga'
tor OF all the cruelty. oppression. wars,
denominations. lies and wretchedness
In the universe? II so. what about
those whom scripture calls his chill
dren? Jesus said they do the deeds
of their father. and are they any less
children after death than before?
There is no evidence that after
death there is a cessation from sin IL
we consider the employment or expe-
riences of the inhabitants of the other
world AS to heaven. about which we
know much more than about hell, we
learn the employment of the right
eous. There is no intimation of sim
ming. there is consequently no gospel
preaching. mission work. social regen-
Grafton. or anything of that kind. but
the inhabitants of heaven are engaged
in the praise of God, in worshiping
him in his glorious majesty. and doing
his behests whatever they may be. In
the text we read that he that Is
righteous is to do righteousness still,
and he that is holy. is to be made
more holy. Some one might say, 'If
the conditions in this life have a ten
dency to perpetuate themselves, will
not Christians who show imperfection
by SHINING. continue to show their
imperfection in heaven in the same
way?" We might admit that if we
did not have the direct teaching of
scripture that there is no sin in heav-
en-. nothing that defiles. that works
abomination or makes q lie. From
analogy we would conclude from the
employment of the inhabitants of
heaven. the employment of the wicked
will be unrighteous or sinful
The teaching of scripture, though
not abundant. seems to be clear Jesus
said Mark 1929. A. r. W that IL a
man sin against the Holy Grost he
shall be guilty of an eternal sin. This
certainly teaches that there is at least
one eternal sin. sin that continues
In action forever Revelation 22:11
seems to leave the matter beyond dis
pute. and It is we'll to observe that
this teaching comes at the very close
OF the Bible. He that is unrighteous
let him do unrighteousness still. and
he that is filthy. let him be made
filthy still" The marginal reading
suggests the phrase yet more" for
the word still" in each case. Here.
certainly. the employment OF the
wicked is clearly presented.
What a sad fate. doomed to eternal
SHINING! The only escape is to have
the motive to sin removed by the in
dwelling life of Christ. Then the
habit of doing righteousness will es-
tablish the character that does right