The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningforgotten, for God has honoured him. King Josiah, Daniel, and the three children oryoung man of Israel are all enrolled in the court of honour and heaven. In the NewTestament, St. John is called the disciple whom Jesus loved, his bosom-favouriteand darling, and the reason usually given is because he came to Christ and becamehis disciple while still very young. It is said in commendation of Timothy that heknew the Scriptures from a child (2 Timothy 3.15).Many parents are afraid to have serious and divine things taught their children lestit make them melancholy and depress them. But is anything better able to fit themfor service to God or man than religion? Or is any spirit comparable to that truegreatness and gallantry of spirit which consists in being afraid to sin? We shouldteach children moral and religious courage and bravery, which fears to sin morethan to die, and to make the choice of Moses, preferring the reproaches of Christbefore the treasures and pleasures of this world. In this way they are likely toattain better names and greater wealth, to enjoy more pleasure and prefermentthan any that this world can confer upon them. They who are taught to love andserve God best are best bred; and they attain most honour who honour God, forthem will God himself honour.I do not speak in derogation of anything that passes for virtue among men, andthat is attractive and genteel. I would, however, press you to more, to what iscommendable to God and in his sight of great price, that is, to remember him inthe days of your youth. For evil days are coming; sickness, old age, death isapproaching: the Judge is at the door. Certainly that is best while we are youngthat will be best when we are old and die; and that can be worth very little at thebeginning which will be worth nothing at the end of our days. The sins of youth willlie heavy upon old age. Even if God give repentance to you when you are old, it willcost you the more because you did not repent sooner, and you will regret that youhave been so long in sin and that you have only a little while to live in which totestify your conversion. Job thought it sad to possess the sins of his youth (Job13.23,26). Things that are sweet in youth often prove the bitterness of old age,and what are pleasures while young bring pains when old. This made King Davidpray to God that he would not remember against him the sins of his youth (Psalm25.7). Though I might add much more, I suppose this will suffice to show howimportant it is for us to be religious early, since sin is so dangerous and destructivea thing.(6) Sin being so pernicious, how welcome should the Gospel beIt brings the good and joyful news of the Saviour, telling us how to be saved fromsin, the cause of wrath, and from wrath as the effect of sin. How beautiful, then,should be the feet of those who bring this blessed remedy to us (Romans 10.15)! Ifwe had gout or a gallstone what would we not give for a remedy, an infalliblemedicine to cure us? We always welcome surgeons though they cause us pain, andapothecaries though they bring us loathsome drugs; indeed, so dear is health tous, that we not only thank but reward them too. What a welcome, then, shouldChrist and his gospel have! They come with saving health to cure us of the worst ofdiseases and plagues, that of sin. Surely we should press with violence, and be soviolent as to besiege heaven and take it by force; and we should no less hasten toreceive the gospel, and take into us the wine and milk thereof and the waters of120