Pastor's Column: Directions for hating sin
By LYNDON DECKER
First Southern Baptist Church
In my last article for this column, I gave some directions for hating sin as given by a Biblical Scholar, Richard Baxter, who lived in the 1600's. I want to conclude that list at this time as I feel that there is much food for thought in what Mr. Baxter presented.
Direction V: Remember that the soul of man is made to love, obey, and glorify our Maker; and then you will see what sin is, which disables and perverts it. How excellent, and high, and holy a work are we created for! Should we defile the temple of God and serve the devil filthiness and folly?
Direction VI: Think what pure and sweet delights a holy soul may enjoy from God, in His holy service; and then you will see what sin is, which prefers fleshly lusts instead of these delights. O how happily might we perform every duty, and how fruitfully might we serve our Lord and what delight should we find in His love, if it were not for sin, which brings down the soul from the doors of heaven, to wallow with swine in a dunghill!
Direction VII: If you could see and hear for just one hour how the blessed spirits in heaven are occupied in loving and magnifying the glorious God in purity and holiness, it would make you loathe sin ever after, and look on sinners as on men in bedlam wallowing naked in their dung. Think what a life it is which you must live forever, if you live in heaven, where is no sinning, no worldly mind, no pride, no passion, no fleshly lust. And then think whether sin, which is so contrary to it, be not a vile and hateful thing.
Direction VIII: Look but to the state and torment of the damned, and think well of the difference between angels and devils, and you may know what sin is. Angels are pure, devils are polluted. Sin dwells in hell, and holiness in heaven. Remember when you sin that you are imitating the devil, and are so far like him (John 8:44). And the end of all is that yo may feel his pains. If hell-fire is not good, then sin is not good.
Direction IX: Look always on sin as one that is ready to die, and consider how all men judge of it at the last. What do men in heaven say of it? And what do men in hell say of it ? And what do men at death say of it? And what do converted souls, or awakened consciences, say of it ? Will any of them speak well of it?
Direction X: Look always on sin and judgment together. Remember that you must answer for it before God, and angels, and all the world; and yo will the better know it.
Direction XI: Look now but upon sickness, poverty, shame, despair, death, and rottenness in the grave, and it may a little help you to know what sin is. These are things within your sight or feeling; you do not need faith to tell you of them.
Direction XII: Look but upon some eminent, holy persons upon some eminent, holy person upon earth, and upon the mad, profane, malignant world; and the difference may tell yo in part what sin is. Is not the mad confused, ignorant, ungodly state of the world a very pitiful sight?
