The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph VenningLet us lay aside all the remains of haughtiness, and the sin that doth most easilybeset us. Let us not have any favourite sin, but out with our right eyes and off withour right hands, rather than offend. Yea, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthinessof flesh and spirit, without and within, that we may perfect holiness and grow up toa perfect man, the measure of the stature of Christ Jesus. Shall we continue in sin?No! Not in one, God forbid! The Apostle speaks (Romans 6) as if it were not onlyinconsistent but impossible for those to do so who have seen and tasted that theLord is gracious. For now they see the sinfulness of sin much more than they didbefore, as being that which attempted to murder God, and did indeed put the Sonof God to death. And they say, Shall we crucify him again? King David would notdrink the water that hazarded man's blood; how then, they say, can we do anywickedness and sin against the blood of God, which was shed to cleanse us fromour sin? Shall we take pleasure in that which put Christ to pain, and live in thatwhich put Christ to death? No! By no means! Shall his love and power have nobetter influence and effect than that? Have we put off the old man, and shall weput it on again? Are we dead, and shall we not cease from sin? Can we say webelieve in him, and not obey him? No! No! Get you hence, all idols! In this waygracious souls and new creatures both reason and resolve this case.I caution and beseech you then to take heed of living in any sin, whether inthought, word or deed:1. Take heed of sinning in thought.Seeing that sin is so sinful, it is evil even to be a thinking sinner, or a sinner thoughonly in thought. It is too commonly said that thoughts are free. They are indeedfree in respect of men, who cannot judge us for them, but God can and will. Manypeople who seem to be modest and sparing as to evil words and deeds will stillmake bold with thoughts and, as the saying is, pay it with thinking. Such arespeculative, contemplative sinners.There are some who are so wise as not to say with their tongues, yet such fools asto say in their hearts, that there is no God (Psalm 14.1). There are some who donot actually murder, yet by anger and envy are murderers in heart or thought, asJoseph accused his brethren in saying, You thought evil against me (Genesis50.20). There are thought-adulterers, who perhaps never were or durst beadulterers in actual deed (Matthew 5.28). There are blasphemers in heart, who donot speak it with their mouths but are like those who heard Christ forgiving sin andthought in their hearts that he blasphemed, and so they themselves blasphemedhim (Matthew 9.3-5). Some talk of the world and declaim against it as a vanity, butthey think vainly in their heart that their houses shall endure for ever (Psalm49.11); like the rich man who said within himself, Thou hast much goods laid up formany years, as if he thought these things his happiness. But it is said of the formerthat this their way is their folly (Psalm 49.13), and of the latter, Thou fool (Luke12.20). For the thought of foolishness, or the foolish thought, is sin (Proverbs24.9). Therefore it is said, Take heed that there be not a thought in thy wickedheart (Deuteronomy 15.9), that is, that there be not a wicked thought in thy heart.125