very low if he would build high。 A mistake here is most mischievous。
Wrong views about holiness are generally traceable to wrong views about
human corruption。 I make no apology for beginning this volume of papers
about holiness by making some plain statements about sin。
The plain truth is that a right knowledge of sin lies at the root of
all saving Christianity。 Without it such doctrines as justification；
conversion； sanctification； are 〃words and names〃 which convey no
meaning to the mind。 The first thing； therefore； that God does when He
makes anyone a new creature in Christ； is to send light into his heart；
and show him that he is a guilty sinner。 The material creation in
Genesis began with 〃light；〃 and so also does the spiritual creation。
God 〃shines into our hearts〃 by the work of the Holy Ghost； and then
spiritual life begins。 （2 Cor。 iv。 6。）Dim or indistinct views of sin
are the origin of most of the errors； heresies； and false doctrines of
the present day。 If a man does not realize the dangerous nature of his
soul's disease； you cannot wonder if he is content with false or
imperfect remedies。 I believe that one of the chief wants of the Church
in the nineteenth century has been； and is； clearer； fuller teaching
about sin。
（1） I shall begin the subject by supplying some definition of sin。 We
are all of course familiar with the terms 〃sin〃 and 〃sinners。〃 We talk
frequently of 〃sin〃 being in the world； and of men mitting 〃sins。〃
But what do we mean by these terms and phrases？ Do we really know？ I
fear there is much mental confusion and haziness on this point。 Let me
try； as briefly as possible； to supply an answer。
I say； then； that 〃sin；〃 speaking generally； is； as the Ninth Article
of our Church declares； 〃the fault and corruption of the nature of
every man that is naturally engendered of the offspring of Adam；
whereby man is very far gone （quam longissime is the Latin） from
original righteousness； and is of his own nature inclined to evil； so
that the flesh lusteth alway against the spirit； and； therefore； in
every person born into the world； it deserveth God's wrath and
damnation。〃 Sin； in short； is that vast moral disease which affects the
whole human race； of every rank； and class； and name； and nation； and
people； and tongue； a disease from which there never was but one born
of woman that was free。 Need I say that One was Christ Jesus the Lord？
I say； furthermore； that 〃a sin；〃 to speak more particularly； consists
in doing； saying； thinking； or imagining； anything that is not in
perfect conformity with the mind and law of God。 〃Sin；〃 in short； as
the Scripture saith； is 〃the transgression of the law。〃 （1 John iii。
4。） The slightest outward or inward departure from absolute
mathematical parallelism with God's revealed will and character
constitutes a sin； and at once makes us guilty in God's sight。
Of course I need not tell any one who reads his Bible with attention；
that a man may break God's law in heart and thought； when there is no
overt and visible act of wickedness。 Our Lord has settled that point
beyond dispute in the Sermon on the Mount。 （Matt。 v。 21…28。） Even a
poet of our own has truly said； 〃A man may smile and smile； and be a
villain。〃
Again； I need not tell a careful student of the New Testament； that
there are sins of omission as well as mission； and that we sin； as
our Prayer…book justly reminds us； by 〃leaving undone the things we
ought to do；〃 as really as by 〃doing the things we ought not to do。〃
The solemn words of our Master in the Gospel of St。 Matthew place this
point also beyond dispute。 It is there written； 〃Depart； ye cursed；
into everlasting fire：for I was an hungered； and ye gave Me no meat；
I was thirsty； and ye gave Me no drink。〃 （Matt。 xxv。 41； 42。） It was a
deep and thoughtful saying of holy Archbishop Usher； just before he
died〃Lord； forgive me all my sins； and specially my sins of
omission。〃
But I do think it necessary in these times to remind my readers that a
man may mit sin and yet be ignorant of it； and fancy himself
innocent when he is guilty。 I fail to see any Scriptural warrant for
the modern assertion that 〃Sin is not sin to us until we discern it and
are conscious of it。〃 On the contrary； in the 4th and 5th chapters of
that unduly neglected book； Leviticus； and in the 15th of Numbers； I
find Israel distinctly taught that there were sins of ignorance which
rendered people unclean； and needed atonement。 （Levit。 iv。 1…35； v。
14…19； Num。 xv。 25…29。） And I find our Lord expressly teaching that
〃the servant who knew not his master's will and did it not；〃 was not
excused on account of his ignorance； but was 〃beaten〃 or punished。
（Luke xii。 48。） We shall do well to remember； that when we make our own
miserably imperfect knowledge and consciousness the measure of our
sinfulness； we are on very dangerous ground。 A deeper study of
Leviticus might do us much good。
（2） Concerning the origin and source of this vast moral disease called
〃sin〃 I must say something。 I fear the views of many professing
Christians on this point are sadly defective and unsound。 I dare not
pass it by。 Let us； then； have it fixed down in our minds that the
sinfulness of man does not begin from without； but from within。 It is
not the result of bad training in early years。 It is not picked up from
bad panions and bad examples； as some weak Christians are too fond
of saying。 No！ it is a family disease； which we all inherit from our
first parents； Adam and Eve； and with which we are born。 Created 〃in
the image of God；〃 innocent and righteous at first； our parents fell
from original righteousness and became sinful and corrupt。 And from
that day to this all men and women are born in the image of fallen Adam
and Eve； and inherit a heart and nature inclined to evil。 〃By one man
sin entered into the world。〃〃That which is born of the flesh is
flesh。〃〃We are by nature children of wrath。〃〃The carnal mind is
enmity against God。〃〃Out of the heart （naturally as out of a
fountain） proceed evil thoughts； adulteries；〃 and the like。 （John iii。
6； Ephes。 ii。 3； Rom。 viii。 7； Mark vii。 21。） The fairest babe that has
entered life this year； and bee the sunbeam of a family； is not； as
its mother perhaps fondly calls it； a little 〃angel；〃 or a little
〃innocent；〃 but a little 〃sinner。〃 Alas！ as it lies smiling and crowing
in its cradle； that little creature carries in its heart the seeds of
every kind of wickedness！ Only watch it carefully； as it grows in
stature and its mind developes； and you will soon detect in it an
incessant tendency to that which is bad； and a backwardness to that
which is good。 You will see in it the buds and germs of deceit； evil
temper； selfishness； self…will； obstinacy； greediness； envy； jealousy；
passionwhich； if indulged and let alone； will shoot up with painful
rapidity。 Who taught the child these things？ Where did he learn them？
The Bible alone can answer these questions！Of all the foolish things
that parents say about their children there is none worse than the
mon saying； 〃My son has a good heart at the bottom。 He is not what
he ought to be； but he has fallen into bad hands。 Public schools are
bad places。 The tutors neglect the boys。 Yet he has a good heart at the
bottom。〃The truth； unhappily； is diametrically the other way。 The
first cause of all sin lies in the natural corruption of the boy's own
heart； and not in the school。
（3） Concerning the extent of this vast moral disease of man called sin；
let us beware that we make no mistake。 The only safe ground is that
which is laid for us in Scripture。 〃Every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart〃 is by nature 〃evil； and that continually。〃〃The heart is
deceitful above all things； and desperately wicked；〃 （Gen。 vi。 5； Jer。
xvii。 9。） Sin is a disease which pervades and runs through eve