p. 160 | Presumptuous Sins by E. Goodrich

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 17, 1866

Presumptuous Sins.

By E. Goodrich

Presumptuous sins are those sins that represent God as the respecter of persons, and that teach that God will approve in one that which he will not justify in another. They are much more likely to manifest themselves with those who hold the truth in unrighteousness, than with those who have little or no knowledge of the true and the right way. The bold and Heaven-daring scoffer, who openly defies the power of God by saying, "If there is a God, I defy him to crush me," is indeed a very great sinner. His anger, and the word "if" condemn him, yet he may not be as presumptuous a sinner as the cool hypocritical Pharisee, who, while he condemns, and is ready to stone the adulteress, is himself guilty of like, or even greater sins—and while he asks mercy of God for his own transgressions, he will not forgive his fellow-men their trespasses. No one should consider himself exempt from the danger of falling into presumptuous sins, but every one should walk humbly and carefully before God, claiming no exemption from duty, nor indulgence in sin.

E. GOODRICH.

Edinboro, Pa.