[Sept. 17th, 1866.]
No subject is more difficult than that of sin. Concerning no other have there been so many controversies. And in none other have those controversies been so persistent. They are renewed with every generation.
There are two ways of looking at the subject, two guides assumed in the study of it. The one, philosophy or human reason, the maxims of morals; the other, the Scriptures, with which Christian experience always concurs. Often men adopt a principle in the philosophy of morals which seems clear to the understanding, which they find does not accord with their experience, and which the Scriptures do not recognize. And they feel they must renounce one or the other guide.
I. Sin, as determined by the Scriptures, and by experience of Christians, is want of conformity to the standard of right. That standard is the nature and law of God. Sin, or sinfulness may be predicated,
- Of acts; 2 Of feelings; 3. Of volitions, specific or generic; 4. Of dispositions; 5. Of innate and immanent states of the mind.
II. Indwelling sin belongs only to the fourth and fifth classes. That is what is meant by indwelling sin is the original, inherent, hereditary corruption of our nature, and those modifications of this natural corruption induced by the habits of the individual. Or, it may be said to be inherent corruption as it exists in any individual.
III. The Scriptures teach, 1. Not only that all men sin; not only that all are under influences which render their sinning certain; but that the nature itself is corrupt or sinful. It is not such as God made. It is not conformed to his nature and law. It is not such as it ought to be.
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That Regeneration consists in the production, not of new acts, nor of new views, feelings and purposes, but of a new principle antagonistic to the principle of depravity.
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That Regeneration does not destroy the principle of evil, which remains, although weakened and counteracted.
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That these two principles, the flesh and the Spirit, the law of the mind and the law in the members are in constant conflict.
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That the new principle is generally victorious, constantly increases in strength and constitutes the character. It has on its side God, his Word, his Spirit, reason, conscience and the will. Against it are arraigned the world, the flesh and the devil.
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That the new principle does not always prevail as to specific acts, and never as to complete conformity to the will of God.
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That the final and complete victory of the new principle is certain. We are not engaged in a doubtful or hopeless conflict.
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This victory is due not to us, not to the strength of the new principle, but to Christ by his Spirit, who works in us to will and to do.
IV. This victory is conditioned on our part, 1. By constant watchfulness. 2. By constant effort directed and guided by the word of God. 3. By constant penitence. 4. By constant faith. 5. By constant use of the means, including the whole panoply of God.
V. The practical conclusion is that we are infected with a mortal disease which can be kept in check and ultimately eradicated only by the most assiduous care and by the faithful adherence to the prescriptions of the Great Physician. But with care and through his power and skill we are sure to be restored not only to the paradisiacal health and beauty but to the full conformity to the image of Christ, and crowned with the wreath of victory. Those who are thus crowned are those who come out of great tribulation and conflict.
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