p. 7 | NARCOTIZED BY SIN by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 7, 1889

NARCOTIZED BY SIN.

By Editor

In discussing the fact of the non-church attendance of the masses the Occident says:—

"The masses on this coast do not attend church because fear is not awakened in them. It is in them as sure as conscience is in them, but it is not aroused. It is narcotized by long sinning and insidious unbelief."

This is the exact truth, and is only giving in other words the reason which we assigned a week or two ago, namely, that people do not attend church because of a lack of interest in spiritual things. The Occident says, too, that the consciences of the people are becoming more stupid, but that they "can be aroused." No doubt they could be aroused, but the question is, Will they be? There is small ground for hoping that such will be the case. Nothing can arouse consciences narcotized by sin except the plain, cutting truths of the word of God, and as the time has come when men will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears are heaping to themselves teachers after their own lusts, the probability of there being any general arousing does not seem very great.