How Are We Convinced of Sin? by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 29, 1866

How Are We Convinced of Sin?

By Dudley Marvin Canright

I HAVE heard many zealous professors, who depend much on the Spirit, often say, "If I was only convinced that it was my duty to keep the Sabbath, I would do it. When I can feel like it, I will begin to act." From this, we would suppose that a few plain texts of scripture would readily convince them. But no; the law of God, and the plainest texts of scripture, make no impression upon them, although they cannot answer them, nor evade their force. Yet they are Christians, and profess to have very nice consciences toward God. Their excuse (for that is what it is) is that the Spirit does not teach them so; it does not make them feel that it is wrong to keep Sunday, or right to keep Sabbath. One man told me that he cared not how positive the Bible was on this point, unless the Spirit told him to keep the Sabbath, he should not do it! Now if this is the way that men are to be convinced of sin, of what use is the Bible? If we are to be guided entirely by feeling, or by the Spirit, as they call it, what need have we for the Bible? Again, is not the Bible given by the inspiration of the Spirit? Then must not the Spirit and the Bible agree? Certainly they must. Now then, if the "spirit" by which a man is guided, teaches him to act differently from what the Bible plainly requires him to do, can it be the same Spirit that inspired the writing of that Bible? It cannot; hence it cannot be of God. This rule then, will not do to be guided by. The law of God, and not our feelings, is the rule by which we are to be convinced of sin, be governed here, and be judged in the future. "But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced (how? by your feelings? No; but) of THE LAW as transgressors." James ii, 9. Again, "For by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. iii, 20. Paul says, "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law." Rom. vii, 7. If men will not hear the word of God nor his law, but wait to know their duty toward God by a direct revelation of his Spirit, we fear that they will not only wait too long, but also be found guilty of despising the word of God. Of them Jesus has well said, "They have Moses and the prophets, the (holy Scrip

tures); let them hear them. If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Luke xvi, 29, 31.

D. M. Canright.