152. LUK 23:34. THE UNKNOWN DEPTHS OF SIN

Luk_23:34. The Unknown Depths Of Sin

By the Rev Parsons Cooke, of Ware, Massachusetts.

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!"’97Luk_23:34.

Sin is quite a different thing in fact, from what it is in the general estimation of sinners. This truth I shall in this discourse endeavor to illustrate and carry round to different classes of sinners. In order to this, I shall attempt to show, in the first place, how sinners come at such limited and inadequate views of sin. In the second place, I shall show that their views of it are thus limited. And in the third place apply the truth to different classes of sinners.

I. How do Sinners come at their Notion that Sin is so trifling an affair?

1. They have a very limited view of their own feelings and purposes while in a course of sin; and infer that they cannot be very guilty, because they have never been conscious of a very evil intention.

In all sin, perhaps, they do not remember of having once intended harm against God or his kingdom. They are so deceived as to think that they have had no evil intention, and no feeling of opposition to God. when, in fact, the whole course of their affections has been opposed to God, when they have been hardening themselves against all the kindness of God expressed in the gospel, and been wading recklessly through the currents of redeeming blood.

2. Many derive their limited views of their sins from their meager conceptions of the Divine law.

They forget that God is a Spirit, and that he brings the thoughts and desires, as really as the doings of the hands and the motions of the tongue, under the control of his law. They imagine God makes little account of what passes within, and do not regard the law as a transcript of the heart of God.

3. Others erect a bar to conviction of personal guilt out of materials taken from infirmities incident to human nature.

They refer all to the common infirmity of the species, and they feel as little sense of personal guilt as they do for not having the power of angels.

4. Others diminish their conceptions of their guilt, by comparing themselves with greater sinners.

They see, perhaps, the majority of men in deeper wickedness than themselves, and hence conclude that their own sin is small Instead of looking into the mirror of God’s law, they measure themselves by the standard which a sinful world has set up. And by such a standard they are able to pronounce almost any decent course of life sinless. In this way, they hinder all just apprehensions of guilt.

5. Sin appears very different according to the different light and circumstances in which it is seen.

A man in the midst of sinful associates takes less account of sin than he does it the society of the godly. Sin, when seen from a dying bed, appears more dreadful than when death and judgment are put far away. And still more dreadful and odious will it appear when the light of heaven pours its rays upon it.

6. Again, delay of punishment goes to confirm men in the opinion that sin is a trifle.

"Because sentence against an evil work." &c. If every sin were followed immediately by its due visitation of God’s displeasure, how would the world’s opinion of sin be changed! We come now to show,

II. That their Views of Sin are exceedingly limited, or that Sin is quite another Thing in Fact, from what it is in the Sinner’s Estimation.

1. It is very different in its effects from what they esteem it.

They are unaware that the kingdom of God is a kingdom of spirits; and that rebellion of spirit as effectually invades this kingdom, as the fire and sword of civil war does an earthly realm. If God be true, the judgment-day will make such disclosures of the mischiefs done by sins of heart, as will cause a guilty world to stand aghast.

2. Sin is very different if we consider the state of heart which gives birth to it.

A man will swear profanely, and offer such insults to heaven, as one would think would cause the earth to tremble under him. He will treat with marked neglect, all the institutions of God; will make light of them, will scoff at them; and yet feel that all was done out of mere thoughtlessness, or perhaps what he will term mere good nature. God views sin in a very different light to this. He is surely in the right, and he will one day make it appear to your everlasting conviction.

3. The costly expiation for sin shows it to be no trifle.

We see what a deep and inflexible hatred God had for sin, when his own Son stood in the place cf the sinner. "Spared not his own Son," &c.

4. The retributions of eternity will make sin to appear quite another thing from what a is here esteemed’97When all the generations of the world are crowding around the throne of judgment, and when the design of all the preparation and parade of that day will be to make discoveries of sin. Last sentence Eternal darkness, &c.

III Let us apply the Truth to different Classes of Sinners.

1. The profane swearer is accumulating an amount of guilt of which he is little aware.

The same applies to the scoffer, the man of sensual pleasure, the worshipper of Mammon, those who are spending the season of youth in neglect, &c.

2. Sinners know not what they do when they refuse to love our Lord Jesus Christ.

"If any man love not the Lord," &c.

3. Those who continue to grieve the Holy Spirit, know not what they do.

This is a sin that is aimed most directly against the life of the soul. To resist the gospel is a sin of deep malignity; but it is more to resist the Holy Spirit, and deny him admittance when he seeks it into the heart. Sinners will find in the other world charges against them, not only for resisting, but for violating, their own convictions.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS