Little Sins by Delia A. Eddy

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1866

Little Sins.

By Delia A. Eddy

If we would be saved through the mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must resist by his grace the least of little sins. If we allow little sins and suffer them to stay for a moment in our hearts, little though they be, they open the door for larger ones. Open the door of our hearts ever so little to any sin, and the sin will soon be master of the house and all that is therein. We must check the first thoughts of evil, we must stop them at the door, and push them back. We must take pains to turn the current of our thoughts when we find them inclined to run in an evil channel. Our enemy begins with little trifling sins that we may be the less frightened when he proposes greater ones. He first casts a little dust into our eyes, and then a little more, and soon we become blind indeed. The hardening and blinding and deadening of a soul is not quickly done. Ask the most wicked and profane, whose consciences seem seared as with a hot iron, and they will tell you there was a time when they felt uneasy about a little fault, and keenly felt that act of disobedience, and some slight transgression. Oh, who then can doubt that it is little sins that lead us from God. If from such have grown all the iniquities that have been acted in the world, all the bold rebellions against God, and the crucifying of Christ afresh, are we aware how far we may be drawn away from the blessed side of Christ if we allow little sins to have their way, and note them not? Alas, it is the little foxes that spoil the vines. Watch these little sins and we shall not be drawn into greater ones. With all our watchfulness, all our prayers, our wrestling against the powers of darkness, and all endeavor to keep pure hearts, we are often overtaken in a fault, and our souls often stained by acts of disobedience, and infirmities. What shall we be if we watch but little, and let offenses creep in, and take no account of little matters, and only care to keep out and restrain the greater floods of wickedness? Although the heart is deceitful beyond measure, yet God says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

May God enable his people to watch each thought, and be on their guard against letting little sins find a dwelling-place in their hearts. If we indulge once in an impure thought, it will come again, and its stay will be longer, and it will be harder to shake it off; and it will not come alone. All those who have gone the farthest into sin, and who now feel the mastery of some favorite sin, must confess that the evil began with little sins, that pressed themselves into their hearts, and they did not check them at the first. May the Lord sanctify his people that they may walk in the light as he is in the light, and while we are in the land where the wheat and tares must both grow together until the harvest, which is the end of the world, may we now be preparing ourselves for the time when Christ shall come to thrust in his sickle and reap; for then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Then no lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon. It shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isa. xxxv, 9, 10. DELIA A. EDDY,