The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningrepentance gives glory to God (Joshua 7.19), and sin endeavours to obstruct andhinder this. It began to practise upon Adam and Eve, and still carries on this tradeamong the children of men (Revelation 16.9). Faith would give glory to God; so, inorder that men may not believe, sin employs the Devil to blind their eyes (2Corinthians 4.4). Good men would do all they do to the glory of God, but sin will letthem do nothing at all, and is ever throwing one dead fly or another into their mostprecious boxes of ointment. Sin is so malicious, that it will not only displease anddishonour God itself, but labours to defeat and frustrate the endeavours of all whoattempt to do otherwise. If sin's desires might take place, there should not be aperson or thing by whom and by which God should be pleased or glorified. It givesout false reports of God and goodness, lays prejudices and rocks of offence andstumbling in men's ways, that they may be out of love with all that is good. Sodesperately is it bent against the honour of God.8. Sin is contrary and opposite to the being and existence of God. (This was hintedat before.) It makes the sinner wish and endeavour that there might be no God, forsinners are haters of God (Romans 1.30). As he who hates his brother is amurderer (1 John 3:15), so, as much as in him lies, he who hates God is amurderer of God. Sin keeps garrisons and strongholds against God (2 Corinthians10.4,5). It strives with and fights against God, and if its power were as great as itswill is wicked, it would not suffer God to be. God is a troublesome thing to sinners,and therefore they say to him, Depart from us (Job 21.14), and of Christ Jesus, Letus break his bands in sunder, and cast his cords far from us (Psalm 2.3) And whenthe Holy Ghost comes to woo and entreat them to be reconciled, they resist andmake war with the spirit of peace (Acts 7.51). So that they are against everyperson in the Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit. In short, and for a conclusion, sin iscontrary to God and all that is dear to him or has his name upon it; and though it isagainst all good, yet not so much against any good as against God, who is, andbecause he is the chiefest good.Before we pass on, let me beseech you, whoever you are who read this, to pause alittle and consider what is said. For what is said of sin is to be considered by thesinner, and is meant of your and my sin. Shall I not plead for God and your soul,and entreat you to be on God's side, and to depart from the tents of wickedness?Poor soul! Can you find it in your heart to hug and embrace such a monster as this?Will you love that which hates God, and which God hates? God forbid! Will you joinyourself to that which is nothing but contrariety to God, and all that is good? Oh,say to this idol, this devil, get hence, what have I to do with you, you (Elymas)sorcerer, you full of all malignity and mischief; you child, yea father of the Devil,you who are the founder of Hell, an enemy to all righteousness, who ceases not topervert the right ways of the Lord, and to reproach the living God! Away! away!Shall I be seduced by you to grieve the God of all my joy, to displease the God ofall my comfort, to vex the God of all my contentment, to do evil against a goodGod, by whom I live, move, and have my being? Oh no!Thus consider these things, and do not go on to provoke the Lord, lest a worsething befall you than any hitherto. Do not contend with God who is stronger thanyou are, who is able when he will (and he will one day be found both able andwilling enough) to turn the wicked into hell, the element of sin and sinners, whoshall go into it as into their own place, as Judas did (Acts 1.25). Oh, learn to pity12