The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningwere made good, You shall have your weight or measure or number, even thoughyou buy it for a penny or a farthing. God says, 'Shall I count them pure with thewicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?' (Micah 6.11). No! No!However great professors they are, I will not count them pure, but an abomination.(d) Beware of counterfeit and false lighting. Alas, one can hardly see day by day inmany men's shops: they either shut out the light, or one can scarcely see how theylet it in, so that men may seek for light at noonday. Men have learnt to draw up orlet down so much by the ell or by the yard, that people can scarcely see what theylook at with their eyes. That which seemed very fine and fair by a false light isfound to be far otherwise by a true one. Now by the same reason that weights are,lights are an abomination to the Lord, that is, because they are false and deceitful.If you tell me that it is the custom of the city and all the world, I ask you, will thatanswer God and make it no sin?(e) Take heed of breaking bargains and agreements, when you see that you canbuy cheaper from or sell dearer to someone else. I am almost afraid that thispractical kind of religion is with many like an old almanack out of date; it is as ifreligion were confined to the first table--some duties to God--and the second table--duties to man--were of little concern or consequence. Yet most frequently in HolyWrit the characters of godly men are drawn from their obedience to the commandsof the second table. And this that I am dealing with is one of thesecommandments: 'He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not' (Psalm15.4). This ought to hold good in promises as well as oaths, in bargaining as wellas swearing; for a man ought to be just, though he has not sworn to be so. Butwoe to them that promise and swear to, yet are not just but both false andperjured!(f) Take heed of carnal and sinful compliance with customers and tradesmen intheir swearing and drinking to excess. 'Have no fellowship with the unfruitful worksof darkness, but rather reprove them' (Ephesians 5.11); do this even though youprofit by those who work them. You shall not suffer sin upon your brother, norupon yourselves (Leviticus 19.17). Otherwise it is to hate him in your heart, whichis a great sin; for he who hurts his brother is a murderer (1 John 3.15). Perhapsyou will say, this is the best way to lose our customers, and we may as well shutup shop and go away. If that happens, it is better to part with any one than God,and to lose anything rather than his favour and loving kindness, which is betterthan life, and therefore much better than a livelihood. But it may not so transpire;it is better to trust God than to be beholden to the Devil and sin. Do as you oughtto do, and if bad men do not become your customers, then good men may. Whenyour ways please the Lord, he can and will make your enemies to be friends, and atpeace with you (Proverbs 16.7).Whatever you do, keep a good conscience towards God and man, and though thechildren of this world shall call you fools, yet they will call themselves fools anotherday for calling you so now. It is undoubtedly better and more profitable to pleaseGod than men. And what will it profit you to gain the world and lose your soul! Weare too prone to comply with, and to be drawn away by those from whom we makea living, and we therefore have a kindness for them. But consider what God said,'Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land147