The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venning(b) They palliate, excuse and disavow sin. This shows that they are ashamed oftheir sin and dare not own it. When sin was but young, yet Adam and Eve wereashamed of this their firstborn, just as lewd women are ashamed of their base-bornchildren; they cloaked and hid their sin (Job 31.33). If they do well what need isthere of excuses; if wrong, excuses plead against it and are accusations of itswrongness. Those who were invited to the wedding made excuses, which wereindeed proofs of their denials, and that they would not come (Matthew 22.3). Theirseeming civilities and apologies were arguments that they were criminal. All our figleaf aprons and coverings are proof that we are ashamed of what we have done.Many times sin is laid at the wrong door. Nature is blamed as if the fault were inman's constitution. The Devil is blamed because he tempted and beguiled. Andindeed, God Himself is blamed for permission, or even for more: 'the woman thougavest me' (Genesis 3). What does all this prove but that in the eyes of sinners sinis a very ugly and abominable thing?(c) They deny that they have sinned. They commit a sin to cover sin. It is a hardand difficult thing to bring sinners to confession, for sin is such a shameful thing. Itis said of the adulterous woman: 'She eateth and wipeth her mouth and says, Ihave done no wickedness' (Proverbs 30.20); she will sin to avoid the scandal of hersin. When Gehazi, by lying in his master's name, had taken a reward from Naamanthe Syrian and returned, his master asked him where he had been; he said 'thyservant went no whither' (2 Kings 5.25-26). He was so ashamed of what he haddone that he dared not own it. This is a clear evidence that sin is an ugly thing,that sinners will not, dare not admit and justify it.(ii) Sinners dare not look into their actions nor call themselves to account. Thus itis further apparent that sin is an unpleasing thing which sinners are ashamed of. Itis as troublesome for sinners to look into themselves to examine their lives as it isfor men whose business is declining to look into their books and cast up theiraccounts. 'Why is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?No man repented him of his wickedness saying, what have I done?' (Jeremiah8.5,6). Such men would never look behind them or within themselves. They do notcare to be alone lest the thoughts of their sins should stare them in the face. Theystudy diversions and pastimes and run into company lest their sins, like ghosts anddevils, should haunt and lay hold of them. And when these are over they sleepaway the rest of their time. They cannot endure to be at home lest an upbraidingconscience, which is a worse thing than a scolding woman, should fall upon them.They can afford no leisure to think how they have idled and sinned away, andthereby have worse than lost, so much of their time. We read of people on whosehands time lay heavy, like a burden, who therefore studied arts and methods oflaying it aside, that they might put the thoughts of the evil day far from them.Sometimes they lay on their beds, and being weary of that they would stretchthemselves upon their couches, and then fall to eating and drinking, and so rise upto play and dance (Amos 6.3-6). What does all this speak of but an unwillingness tohave any sense of sin or even to look on its picture, so hellish a thing is it!(iii) They will decry and punish in others sin which they themselves are guilty of,the better to conceal their own, or to compensate for it by being severe to others.When a thief has stolen and robbed he is the first that makes a hue and cry; they71