The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-04-18

Is Il not wise to
matter little carefully?
Our thoughts are presented from
the evangelical standpoint as 10 tho
nature. manifestation, and outcome OF
sin. The widely prevalent modern,
though erroneous. view OF sin makes
It rather an advantage than a disad-
vantage. Adams fall being upward
rather than downward.
One OF the first suggestions Is that
sin Is self-perpetuating. IL Is 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 it's 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? II may be said
that II man can cease from sin out
wardIy In this life. sin may not be-
come permanent But this eeasing
from sin ia by almighty power alone.
and this power is denied after death.
II 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 I'm the real SHINING. which be-
longs TO the motive.
Meager light Is thrown on the actiy-
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-
Iieve 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
I'm 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 II
we consider the employment or expe-
riences OF the inhabitants OF the other
world AS 20 heaven, about which we
know much more than about hell. we
tearn 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
i'm the praise OF God. I'm worshlping
him in his glorious majesty. and doing
his behests whatever they may be. In
the text we read that he that is
righteous Is 10 do righteousness still,
and ne that is holy. Is to be made
more holy. Some one might say. III
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 n we
did not have the direct teaching Of
scripture that there Is no sin in heav-
en-. nothing that defiles. that works
abomlnation or makes n 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. II. W that II 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
I'm action forever Revelation 22:ii
seems 10 leave the matter beyond dis
pute. and II is we'll 10 observe that
this teaching comes at the very close
of the Bible He that Is unrighteous
let him do unrighteousness still. and
he that r. 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 20 eternal
sinningi The only escape IL TO have
the motive to sin removed by the IN.
dwelling rfe OF Christ Then the
habit Of doing righteousness will IS
lablish the character that does right
sousness and the future 's safe.