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The Sermon

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 16, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 19.

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The Sermon.

By A. S. Hutchins

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, PREACH THE WORD. 2 Tim. iv, 2.

THE SOURCE OF TRUE PROSPERITY;

Or: How to Obtain Mercy.

BY ELD. A. S. HUTCHINS.
TEXT. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Prov. xxviii, 14.
To the man desirous of salvation the doctrine of this text is of the utmost importance. It is stated in terms too plain to be misunderstood by the believing, obedient child.
In the examination of this subject, we shall consider, 1. The nature and consequence of sin. 2. The provision for removing sin. 3. The mercy obtained if we confess and forsake sin.
1. The nature and consequence of sin. From the sacred pages of inspiration, we learn that “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John iii, 4. And again, we read, “All unrighteousness is sin.” Unrighteousness is defined by Mr. Webster, “Injustice; a violation of the divine law, or of the plain principles of justice and equity.” Righteousness is defined, “Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life, to the divine law.”
As sustaining these definitions, we call attention to the language of Moses, speaking of God’s commandments: “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” Deut. vi, 25.
Hence, the righteous man keeps the law of God. He conforms in life and heart to its holy requisitions; while the sinner is its transgressor. He is a rebel against the just and holy principles of God’s government. “He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning.” 1 John iii, 18. We say, then, in the language of inspiration, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Prov. xiv, 34.
The sinner is not the servant of God; but he is the servant of the enemy of all righteousness, the great originator of all evil. Said Jesus to a certain class, “Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” John viii, 44. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Rom. vi, 16.
“The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. viii, 7. It wars against the glory of the Most High, and against its own highest, eternal good; and that of its fellow-creatures. This rebellion weakens all the nobler powers of the mind, perverts the judgment, blunts the sensibilities, sears the conscience, fills the heart with unbelief; and degrades the sinner physically, mentally, and morally.
Sin drove the first happy pair from the garden of Eden and shut them away from the tree of life. Sad and awful the change now! Joy and peace which filled their hearts in their once delightful home, must give place to sighs, and groans, and many a bitter regret, as they go forth to reap the reward of transgression. Sin called forth the destructive deluge of wrath upon the antediluvians, and swallowed up that ungodly race. Sin ruined the cities of the plain, and brought down the storm of fire and brimstone upon them. Rebellion against God and hatred to his people, led the Egyptian host to rush madly and wildly into the jaws of death. Unbelief and stubbornness of heart, led the once highly favored people of God, who had received so many distinguished tokens of his love and care for them, to prefer the life and companionship of a murderer, to that of the dear Saviour; and to cry of him, “Crucify him, crucify him.”
Sin had led them on from one degree of impenitence to another, till they could bear false witness against the innocent Son of God, on the night of his betrayal and apprehension; and greedily thirsting for his blood, to urge on and hurry forward his mock trial, and his sentence to die a condemned criminal upon the cross. They could look upon that blessed Jesus as the nails were driven through his feet which had borne him to their dwellings with tidings of mercy and salvation; they could gaze upon him as the nails were forced through those hands which had rested so gently upon the sick and afflicted, the dying and the dead, imparting health and life; they could stand gazing upon him in his dreadful agony upon the cross as he bled, thirsted, and groaned, and bowed his lovely head in death; but the heavens could not; they veiled themselves in clouds of darkness, and refused to witness the dreadful scene, when the spotless Lamb of God who “knew no sin,” must die as a criminal unworthy to live. The earth groaned and trembled, and the rocks burst asunder.
“Thy grief and thy compassion, Were all for sinner’s gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, But thine the deadly pain.”
But we pass to the consequence of sin, which is DEATH. “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James i, 15. This was the penalty threatened Adam for transgression. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. ii. 17. Or, “dying thou shalt die.” Margin.
Touching the nature of the death here threatened, it seems needless to mistake; for when fully defined to Adam subsequently to his transgression, it is made thus plain by God, whose majesty he had insulted, and whose precepts he had trampled under foot: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Gen. iii. 19. From this time forward, he is in a “dying” condition, his steps bending toward the grave, which he reached in nine hundred and thirty years.
As Adam could impart nothing to his posterity better than what he now possessed, a race of sinners under the sentence of death came forth. Mark its ravages! All the vast generations of men that like the broad swelling wave have arisen, have passed away by its steady and fearful strokes, and lie hidden in the secret depths of death and the grave. No age, rank, or nationality, exempts from death. “There is no discharge in that war.”
The king and his subjects, the slave and his master, the mighty warrior and the humble, devoted, Christian, are there. “There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and the great are there; and the servant is free from his master.” Job iii, 17–19. Our nearest and dearest friends have been torn from us by the ruthless hand of death, and they too are hidden there.
Through the degenerating influence of sin, our days are shortened “as an hand-breadth,” and our downward steps will soon bring us to the embrace of death, and its portals would forever close upon us and lock us in everlasting silence, in payment of the penalty incurred by the fall of man, were it not for the bright star of hope which shines forth from the pages of divine revelation, dispelling the darkness of such a cold and gloomy thought. From this source of light and truth, and life and immortality, we learn that “the righteous hath hope in his death.” Prov. xiv, 32. A halo of light now hangs over the resting place of the dear saints of God.
2. The provision for removing sin. The Scriptures testify that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John iii, 16. “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” Rom. v, 8.
The attention of the fallen pair was early directed to the Messiah and his work. Gen. iii, 15. Holy men of old manifested their faith in him, through their various offerings and sacrifices, which pointed forward and typified the great and saving Antitype. Through faith in him and obedience to the Father, their sins were forgiven. Says David: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psa. xxxii, 1, 2.
As he went forth upon his mission, to turn men from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, the attention of the people was called to him in the following impressive language, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John i, 29.
For this he sacrificed the glory which he had with the Father before the world was; for this, he who was rich became poor; for this he went about doing good, “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” For this, he shed his most precious blood upon the cross, and died the just for the unjust, and lay down in the cold grave. Yes, Jesus the Life-giver once rested in a tomb. He has sweetened its domain, he has lighted its portals, and bids us look up and hope in him.
He burst the bands of death and the grave, and arose a triumphant Conqueror. He ascended to the Father to the mansions of glory.
“Bleeding Jesus, blessed Saviour, Now reigns on high.”
Oh! let us remember the sovereign love of our dear Master, our dying Lord! And may we follow in his steps.
In the gift of the dear Son of God, to die for the fallen sinful race, the attributes of love and mercy, manifest themselves in our Creator, in the strongest possible manner. So, with the inspired penman, we may say, “God is love.” Man had placed himself where even the mercy of God could not be exercised in his behalf, for his salvation, upon any other plan than that of the atonement. And this could be effected only through the unspeakable goodness of the Father, and the willingness of the Son to “humble himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Through the efficacious blood of this propitiatory sacrifice, we can now gain access to him whose law we have broken, and have all our sins purged away, our names written in the Lamb’s book of life, and we finally stand among the redeemed on Mt. Zion. Consoling thought! Blessed prospect! God can now be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.
Our great High Priest, the blessed Saviour, now pleads his blood in our behalf in the heavenly Sanctuary. And how inexpressibly comforting and cheering the words of the beloved disciple, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John ii, 1, 2.
The vicarious death of our dear Redeemer upon the cross, opens a way for all men to escape the awful consequence of sin. All are graciously invited to avail themselves of the merits of the Saviour’s blood, and live. None need remain away and perish. “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life.” Soon Jesus will finish his work in the Sanctuary, the sins of God’s people will be blotted out, and forever borne away.
Dear friends, it is your privilege and mine, to be in readiness for that important day, that our sins may all be blotted out. It is our privilege to be wholly consecrated to the Lord. Says the apostle in view of the preparatory work to meet the Saviour when he cometh, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. v, 23. And then adds the gracious assurance, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
Our adorable Redeemer has promised to come again. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John xiv, 3. As he was taken away from the disciples and caught up to Heaven, two men stood by them in white apparel, “Which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts i, 10. Mark the expression, Shall so come. Not in a mysterious, hidden, manner. Not with a mystical body, but that same Jesus will come again. Blessed thought! Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Darkness rests not upon the minds of the saints of God, respecting that bright morning, around which cluster the high and buoyant hopes of the resurrection of the dead, and the gift of immortality and eternal life.
“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” The signs of the times justify us in the belief that the coming of the Son of man is near, “EVEN AT THE DOORS.” The sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, the rolling oceans, the church, and the world in its moral and political attitude, all, all bid us look for Jesus’ coming as right upon us.
The sleeping saints will then awake and come forth to meet their coming Lord, and the righteous living be changed. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. iv, 14–17.
Now to the righteous is restored the life through Christ, which was lost by the fall of Adam. And herein is fulfilled that scripture, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor. xv, 22. Now they receive the gift of eternal life. To this glorious day the apostle looked for his crown, and there all the lovers of the appearing of Christ look for theirs. Says Paul: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Tim. iv, 7, 8. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” 1 Pet. v, 4. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Col. iii, 4.
This redeemed company live and reign with Christ a thousand years. It is evident from the word of God that this reign is in the New Jerusalem.
At the expiration of the thousand years the wicked dead are raised [Rev. xx, 5] to receive their reward. Paul teaches us that “the wages of sin is death.” Rom. vi, 23. And John says, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power.” Rev. xx, 6. Again we read, “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Rev. i, 11. As the sinner did not overcome sin he can not have the overcomer’s reward; but as a reward for his personal transgressions, the second death falls upon him.
In probation he was exhorted, “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Eze. xviii, 31. As the death here spoken of which may be escaped by turning away from transgressions, can not be that death incurred by the fall of Adam, it follows that it must be the second death. This we may escape, but if we remain impenitent, it will certainly overtake us.
The element used for the utter destruction of Satan and all the incorrigible host of sinners, is fire from God. “And fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them.” “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. xx. Here inspiration leaves them, and here must we, assured by the Scriptures of divine truth, that God “will render to every man according to his deeds.” Rom. ii, 6.
The element used to accomplish this destruction, we understand will also purify this earth [2 Pet. iii, 10], which is to be the final abode of the saints. When this is accomplished, then shall be realized the promise of the dear Saviour, “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. v, 5. See also Isa. xi, 6–9; lxv, 17–25; lxvi, 22; 2 Pet. iii, 10–13; Rev. xxi, 1–4.
Now sin is removed. Its great originator and all his sympathizers, have met their due reward. Nothing now can tempt or worry the people of God: “Thy people also shall all be righteous.” The glorious peaceful rest of the redeemed is gained. And now is fulfilled the Scripture.
“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Rev. v, 13.
3. The mercy obtained if we confess and forsake sin. Having briefly examined the nature and consequence of sin, and the provision for its removal; we are better prepared to appreciate the language of the text: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
We have seen that “sin is the transgression of the law;” and that it is only through the blood of Christ, that our sins can be washed away. Here is a fountain in which we may wash and be clean.
The high and holy platform then to which we invite the sinner, wracked and worn with his heavy load of sin and iniquity, is, “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts xx, 21. True saving faith in Christ, is preceded by genuine repentance of sin. Acts iii, 19; xxvi, 20; Matt. xxi, 32.
As the life-long transgressor of the holy law of God, is awakened to a sense of his deplorable condition, and resolves by divine aid, to change his mode of acting; to reform and amend his life, in what estimation will he hold that sacred and much-abused law? Most assuredly if he has an apostolic conversion, he will exclaim from the depths of his enlightened soul, “The law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good.” Rom. vii, 12.
He pleads not for its abolition; no, but for its life, as did the real mother for the life of the contested infant in the days of king Solomon. And the spontaneous language of his heart is, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John v, 3.
With this unerring rule as a guide with which to walk with God, he enters upon his new, his Christian life, assured “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John i, 7.
Says the beloved disciple, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The life of the Christian commences with the confession of his many sins. In deep contrition he confesses to his holy and benevolent Creator, his transgressions and ingratitude; and sincerely resolves to live in accordance with the divine law; which teaches us to love God with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the mind, and with all the strength; and our neighbor as ourself.
Has he grieved, injured or defrauded his neighbor, he humbly confesses his guilt, and as a pledge of his sincere penitence, he is ready like Zaccheus, to restore that which he has wrongfully taken. And oh! the peace and joy of that man who has a conscience “void of offence toward God, and toward men!” And who can say with that grayheaded man, who had walked with God from childhood,
“Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? or whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it.” 1 Sam. xii, 3.
As such an one moves on in the pleasing pathway of duty, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; should he at any time go astray, it is his delight to confess and forsake his wrong. He walks in the light as it shines forth from the pages of inspiration; and true prosperity attends him. “Mercy shall compass him about.”
The peace of God which now fills his heart, and the soul-inspiring hope of eternal life, leads him to be merciful to all. Follow this devoted man in the walks of life; behold him as a compassionate and pitiful neighbor; as a winning and loving father; a tender and affectionate companion; and a faithful, cross-bearing and self-denying Christian.
In conclusion, let me say, my dear impenitent friend, your life need not be a blank. You need not live to no purpose, if you will confess and forsake your sins; if you will repent and believe, “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,” you shall have mercy. Through obedience you may obtain the palm of victory and the crown of life; you may join with all the redeemed,
“When the sleeping myriads will unite, With the pure angelic choirs above, To swell the strains of redeeming love.”
And my dear brethren, let us labor to keep ourselves “in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” And may we all be gathered where the “tabernacle of God shall be with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.” Amen.