The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 398

JUSTIFICATION

3S8

we urgently request that every minister of the Word, and every man in his place, help and labor, with clear consciousness and energy, to stop this dissolution of the right, with all the means at their disposal; and especially solemnly and effectually to has ordained,

restore to its

own

conspicuous place the juridical feature of the sin-

ner's relation to his God.

When

this is done,

we

shall feel again

the stimulus that will cause the soul's relaxed muscles to contract,

rousing us from our semi-unconsciousness.

Every man, and

member of the Church, must again realize his juridGod now and forever; that he is not merely man or

especially every ical relation to

woman, but a creature belonging to God, absolutely controlled by God; and guilty and punishable when not acting according to the will of God.

This being clearly understood,

it is

evident that regeneration

and calling and conversion, yea, even complete reformation and sanctification,

can not be sufficient;

for,

altho these are very glori-

and deliver you from sin's stain and pollution, and help you not to violate the law so frequently, yet they do not touch your ous,

juridical relation to God.

When

a mutinous battalion gets into serious

and the and twenty wounded, who had not mutinied, and brings them back and feeds them, do you think that that will be all? Do you not see that such battalion is still liable to punishment with decimation? And when man mutinied against his God, and got himself into trouble and nearly perished with misery, and the Lord God sent him help to save him, and called him back, and he returned, can that be the end of it? Do you not clearly see that he is still liable to severe punishment? In case of a burglar who robs and kills, but in making his escape breaks his leg, and is sent to the hospital where he is treated, and then goes out a cripple unable to repeat his crime, do you think that the judge would give him his liberty, saying: "He is healed now and will never do it again"? No; he will be tried, convicted, and incarcerated. Even so here. Because by our sins and transgressions we have wounded ourselves, and made ourselves wretched, and are in need of medical help, is out general, hearing of

it,

delivers

them

straits,

at the cost of ten killed

guilt forgotten for this reason?

Why, people?

then,

are such undermining ideas brought

Why is

Christianity

is

it

among

the

that under the appearance of love a sentimental

introduced about the

"

dear Jesus," and

"

that

we

are

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