SINS OF OMISSION by D. Hildreth

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 24, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 49.

SINS OF OMISSION.

By D. Hildreth

"Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him naught; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee." Deut. 15: 9.

"Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy. . . . At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it; lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee." Deut. 24: 14, 15.

"Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." Judges 5: 23.

"Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way." 1 Sam. 12: 23.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Matt. 23: 23; Heb. 2: 1-3.

James' conclusion: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Chap. 4: 17.

These are only examples. The word abounds with testimony on this subject. If the idle words, foolish thoughts, vain actions of only a single year should be written out before us, what a huge scroll it would be! What a catalogue of sin and folly! We should not want to look at it the second time. The heart would sicken, and the head would faint. But it is nevertheless the fact that a faithful record of these things is kept in the archives of Heaven, and nothing will blot it out but the blood of Christ in answer to our prayers and confessions. There is no safety outside the provisions of the gospel, therefore turn ye to the Lord and live.

D. HILDRETH.