The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-11-04

E<S&3 turned every one
to his own way.
and all have sinned and come short
OF the glory OF God" Our history and
our conscience bear witness TO the
truth of Il. The present writer and
reader must make the same humillat.
ing confession: Il have trespassed
against my God"
The evil thing IL already done and
the record Is already made. The
temptation to think that we can do
enough good to blot out the evil is
a subtle one We cannot 60 back over
the road and live II over in such a
manner as to hide the record we have
left. We sometimes say. II wish I
could 20 back and do II differently"
The record Ia there and all we can
say OF II Is. In the words OF Pontius
PLATE. What I have written ! have
written" The words spoken that
should have remained unuttered may
be forgotten but they are all record.
ed. The deeds OF evil we cannot undo
The sins are already committed and
the sinner should not be so much ex.
ercised about what will happen in the
future rs about what has happened In
the past
There may be a difference In the
number and character OF sins commit.
ted. but trespass there is against each
one. To trespass means to get over
the fence" or "out OF bounds" God
has set bounds for man TO walk In
and rs far az the fatal results are
concerned one might as we'll be
mile out OF those bounds as merely
a foot. God says that he that keep
eth the whole law and yet oaendeth
In one point Is guilty OF ALL" II a
mans life depended on the strength OF
chain. nine strong links would not
avert the catastrophe resulting from
a weak link that breaks. One sin IL
enough to put one 'out OF bounds"
Therefore this is q proper confession
for everyone to make. Il have tres
passed against my God"
II. The gracious comfort for the sin.
ner-"yet now there il hope concern
ing this thing"
In spite OF the trespass whether
large or small. every sinner has this
hope. God says to all Come now
and let US reason together: Though
your sins be as scarlet. they shall be
as white as snow" The natural thing
for a sinner TO do is to hide from the
One who has been Offended. This
Adam did when God came into Eden
after the fall. But not in Judgment.
but In grace does God come. Not to
condemn but to save. In the future
he will come TO Judge and TO condemn.
but today there Is hope for all. The
message from Gods Word is. Now
Is the accepted time. behold today is
the day OF salvation" Many say. Il
will think about the matter" but tho
Lord says today" at once, now. not
tomorrow. Many have gone to a hope
less eternity just because they per.
sisted In thinking about instead OF
accepting Gods gracious offer OF a
present salvation. And this text pro-
claims a universal hope. including all
who have trespassed. II Is extended
10 everyone. Over and over Gods
Word declares that "Whosoever shall
rall upon the name OF the Lord shall
be saved" "Whosoever will may come
md take OF the water OF life freely"
'Whosoeyer believeth on him shall
lot perish but have everlasting life"
III. The wise conduct for the sin.
Ter. Therefore let US make a cove
liant with our God"
This is not merely covenant TO
urn over a new leaf or TO mend our
ways or any OF the many expedIents
escorted to TO give peace and rest to
he troubled conscience. but II is turn.
ng to God, coming out from behind
he tree to him who alone can blot
'ut the record OF the trespasses and
live us a clean record. The words
" the prophet are as true today as
hey were when uttered. LET the
Wicked forsake his way and the un.
righteous man his thoughts and let
lin return unto the Lord and he will
lave mercy upon him and 10 our God
or he will abundantly pardon" There
s abundant pardon with the Lord for
very trespass and for every sin and
he blood OF Jesus Christ Gods Son
an blot out every mark and stain
rOm fha Rinuar'a raoa.a