THE VIOLATION OF THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT UNDER THE GARB OF RELIGION.
There is such a thing as degrees of sinfulness in wicked acts. Thus we may be very certain that such crimes as blasphemy, adultery, and murder, possess greater inherent guilt, than theft, or lying, or covetousness. Yet it is easy to see that even these may be fearful in wickedness, and that they can never be any thing short of damnable in their character. But it is not the distinction between sins which make no pretense to any thing good, that is here alluded to. It is the blackness of that criminality which commits sin under the garb of piety, that is the special subject of these remarks. Those sins that are cloaked under a show of piety, and that are carried on under a pretense of godliness, are so much worse than ordinary deeds of blasphemy, adultery, or murder, that while these may sometimes be forgiven after the deepest penitence and humiliation on the part of the transgressor, such crimes, in all probability, can never be forgiven. Other sins may be prayed for; but sins of this kind seem to be exactly such as John says may not be prayed for. 1 John v, 16, 17. Our Lord has spoken something touching this kind of sin in what he said concerning those scribes “which devour widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.” Luke xx, 45–47. Religion was the pretense, and the devouring of widows’ houses was the real intent of the whole transaction. The unwary were deceived by this apparent piety, and thrown off their guard; and these men, thus getting the property of widows into their hands, because of their supposed superior piety, seized it for their own, regardless of the anguish which they caused. Our Lord has said with terrible emphasis, “THE SAME SHALL RECEIVE GREATER DAMNATION.” But there is another kind of crime committed in this same manner, which is still more wicked and Heaven-daring than that which our Lord has placed to the charge of the scribes. It is the violation of the seventh commandment, on precisely the same plan as that pursued by the scribes in robbing widows’ houses. What language can adequately describe the guilt of that man who makes his reputation for piety the means of deceiving the unwary, and of decoying them into his snare? What words can express the magnitude of such crimes when committed in the name of religion? And if to this be added the high profession of a minister of Christ, and the sacred office of pastor, are there any words in the English language that can express the baseness of such iniquity and crime? The professed minister of Christ, wearing the garb of Christianity, but taking advantage of that most awfully responsible and sacred office, to lead the unsuspecting into sin, and crime, and ruin, and death! The apostle Jude has fitly described these persons in the following language: Jude 4: “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness; and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” These are men who profess to know God, though they deny him in works, else they would have no place among the people of God. Titus i, 16. They have crept in unawares into the church. It is evident that they are men not suspected of wickedness. They pass for pious men, and perhaps, for religious teachers. But here is the statement of the Spirit of God concerning them: they turn “the grace of God into lasciviousness.” In plain English, they make their high reputation for piety the means of leading their victims to commit adultery. They teach them the innocence of sin! They study the depths of Satan in the practice of such wickedness as would make common sinners tremble, but which they are able to carry on in the name of religion! Jude well says of them: “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear, . . . raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” These are, indeed, fearful words. It is an awful thing to commit sin in the name of religion. But when the minister of Christ, in the professed exercise of his high calling, leads the members of his flock into shameful sin and crime, there are no words strong enough to express the measure of his guilt, or to portray the dreadful retribution which awaits him.