p. 18 | Go, and Sin No More by Francis M. Wilcox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 7, 1916

“Go, and Sin No More”

By Francis M. Wilcox

FRANCIS M. WILCOX

Into the holy presence of the Christ. They hale the breaker of the sacred law. Most heinous was the sin against her charged. With shame of face, and weeping, downcast eyes, She waited for the Lord to speak her doom. “This woman,” spoke the righteous Pharisee, “Was taken in great sin; such should be stoned, So says our sacred law—what sayest thou?”

With searching glance the Master swept the face Of culprit and of her accusing foes, And then he spoke, “The one who has no sin, Let him be first to cast at her a stone.” Lowly he bent, and wrote upon the sands, Wrote plainly there the sin of priest and scribe, Who, sharply pricked at heart by conscience’s spur, No longer urged their charge, but one by one They silently withdrew. Before her Judge, Trembling, she stood alone, in dark despair, “Where, friend, are thine accusers?” Christ inquired. “Hath no one cast a stone?” “No one,” she said. “Then I condemn thee not; go thou in peace, And sin no more,” the Master made reply.

With joy unknown before, the guilty soul Found freedom in the Lord’s redeeming love. Her life, transformed by Heaven’s pardoning grace, Reflected forth the righteousness of him Who gave release from galling yoke of sin.

This word to you, poor sinner, is proclaimed: “Go forth, and sin no more. I came to save Poor fallen man from sin’s defiling grasp. There’s victory through my grace for every soul Who wills to break from Satan’s cruel power.”