The Penn's Grove record., 1913-04-18

~ man dies his &C
$500 count is closed.
E Is it not wise to
look into this
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
1t rather al advantage than a 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 a man
dies his personality with its 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 t-ransgressor. but
rather the sin itself. Is not the sin
really the great evil? 1t nay be said
that If a 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 it is further said that man by the
mere force of his own viii can cease
from sin, we reply that the ceasing ia
only in the outward manifestation.
and not in the real SHINING, which be-
longs. to the motive.
Meager light is thrown on the activ-
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 10 sin?
Is ne not intensely active, the instiga-
tor of all the cruelty, oppression, wars,
denominations. lies and wretchedness
in the universe? If so, what about
those whom scripture calls his chill
dren?
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 sin
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 n might say. "If
the conditions in this life have a ten
dency to pe%rpetuate themselves. will
not Christians who show imperfection
by SHINING, continue to show their
imperfection in heaven IN the anne
way?" We might admit that II we
did not have the direct teaching OF
scripture that there is no sin in heav-
en-, nothing that defles, that works
abomination or makes a 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 q
man sin against the Holy Grost he
shall be guilty Of an eternal sin. This
certainly teaches that there is at least
n eternal sin, a sin that continues
In action forever. Revelation 22:1I
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 un~righteous
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 sun IN edcn case Here,
certainly, the employment Of the
wicked is clearly presented. A re-
cent writer has said, Every one acts
according to the truth of his nature;
IN this there is universal consistency.
Death. or the coming of the Lord.
fixes the character and desting. The
wicked will remain wicked. and con-
tfnue adding to their wickedness, the
righteous continue righteous. and
practice righteousness. In eternity
sin and suffering are united, equally
holipess and happiness. Even in the
AXE of fire. the lost Of men and angels
shall act according to their nature.
and suffering shall go on
without cessation" President Dwight
If Yale college said, Every sinner Is
condemned for his first sin. and for
every sin that follows, though they
continue forever"
What a sad fate. doomed to eternal
The only escape Is to have
he motive to sin removed by the In
iwelling life Of Christ. Then the
of doing righteousness will es-
the character that does right.
and the future is safe