Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-26
NO USE TRYING
TO HIDE YOUR
SINS FROM GOD
Billy Sunday Draws Lesson From
David, Who Was Big Enough
to Confess His Sins.
BY z. 4. REFFTM.

81 L f. III u L NJ
Sin is relative. The greater ones
knowledge the heavier his respon-
sibility for his conduct, but no mat
ter how far he has fallen il is all
the same in the sight of God If he
repents and asks forgiveness. As
Ma han said to David when the lat
ter confessed: The Lord also hath
put away thy sin. Thou shalt lot
die"
This was the burden of the mes
sage Billy Sunday delivered last
night. His text was from Second
Samuel, 18th chapter, 18th verse:
David said unto Nathan, L have
sinned against the Lord" It was
a plain, straightforward talk given
in characteristic style, but with
rather fewer embellishments of at
tiJude and gesture than the evan
gelist usually INDUCES in. His ap-
peal was 10 the reason, more than
10 the emotions and he held an
audience which packed the taber-
nacle to the doors in closest atten-
ton
The bible tells all about David's
sin. spaTing nothing. That is proof
of its Divine origin. If man had
told the story he would have LETT
out some of the sordid details for
effect. Not so with God. He gives
the naked truth.
Depends Upon knowledge.
David's sin was the greater be-
cause he knew better. He had
knowledge and opportunity to i'm
prove himself In his time there
were few OF whom so much might
be expected. In this day it is diff
feTent, for knowledge is general.
Nobody sins nowadays without
knowing that he is doing so. and
guilt is corresponding greater.
Even so, there is still room for va
riations in possibility. 1t may
be worse for one man to lose his
temper than for another to get
drunk. Heredity. as well as train
ing, figure. Much criticism of the
acts of others is futile because the
critics really are worse than the
ones they criticise
Sin first exists in the mind. AS
a man thinketh. so is he" Christ
taught US that we are responsible
for our thoughts as well as for our
prevent birds from flying over ones
head, but he can prevent them from
building nests in his hair. Clean
thoughts are as necessary as clean
hands.
a sad feature is that sin hurts
others as well as the sinners. No
body is so isolated that his acts do
not involve the name and the hap
piness OF someone else. That is
part of our esponsfbility-to keep
from depriving others of their right
to enjoy life and to look their fell
lows in the eye.
May Not Feel Guilt.
Not every sinner feels like one.
He may be Injured to the state.
Some people refuse to come to the
tabernacle. That is a confession of
wrong. They feel their weakness,
perhaps without knowing that they
are weak, and they are afraid to
come out and hear the truth and
Law themselves open to Influences
working for God. There are plenty
of such folks in the three cities.
Only one way is open to forgive
ness and that is through Christ
Those who advocate substitutes are
liars and leaders of the blind.
-.Whosoever is born of God loveth
the brethren. That means the
real Christian loves every other
Christian" and, added Mr.. Sunday,
Il don't care whether he buttons
his collar in front or behind
whatsoever believeth in God
overcometh the world How"
asked the evangelist. do the con-
tents of your cellar harmonic with
your prayers?"
Forms and outward appearances
mean nothing. A man may know
the ritual of his church and he
may dress correctly and act like
Derfect gentleman in the public
view but God knows what is IN his
heart and the smallest of his sins
if unconfessed, will condemn him
eternally.
Special Delegations Present.
Many special delegations were
present in the tabernacle last night
and were called upon to stand and
show their numbers. Among the
visitors from abroad was party
from Little York. Half dozen
mems clubs from tri-city churches
responded when called upon. At
the close of the meeting these clubs
were invited up to shake hands
with Mr.. Sunday and each member
was given a card to sign as. re-
newal of his vows to the church
and to become part Of the records
of the meeting.
Homer Rodeheaver was in
charge of the music, singing The
Rugged Cross" as a solo and play
ing the trombone In his remarks
Mr.. Rodeheaver chided the Daven-
port contingent for permitting in
lerest in the prayer meetings to
lag. That city. he said, is far be-
hind those on this side of the river,
instances being reported in which
people had declined TO open their
homes for these services. ImpOr-
lance of keeping up the work was
stressed.
Rev. W. F. Bacon. pastor of Ply
mouth Congregational church of
East Moline pronounced the invOca-
lion.