Increasing Responsibility.
By R. F. Cottrell
EVERY increase of light brings a corresponding increase of responsibility. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Jno. iii, 19. The reason why the last generation of men will prove to be more vile and abominable in the sight of the Lord than any preceding one, will not be on account of their barbaric ignorance and dark, uncivilized heathenism; but it will be because they sin against greater light. They may have an exterior polish, and sin more genteelly than those who have not been favored with equal opportunities. But the more favorable opportunities they have enjoyed, will only sink them lower in the scale of morality. There can scarcely be a greater sin than despising the light. It is the condemnation of the world. If light, when given, had been cherished, the world need not be in its present dark and deplorable condition. The light of the gospel might have been in every land at the present day, but for the fact that men, sinful men, love darkness rather than light. But leaving heathen lands and directing our attention to Christendom—to those who have the Bible, and how few do we find who so far value the precious truths it reveals as even to make any profession of faith and obedience. What an account of slighted mercy is accumulated against their names! But let us come nearer still. How few that make the profession of religion are willing to correct their faults and errors when they are pointed out by the word of God. How few that will leave the path of traditional and fashionable error and turn their feet into the testimonies of the Lord, when increasing light from the word of God makes the path of duty clear. How few are sufficiently converted to God to leave the doctrines and commandments of men, and yield to the plainest requirements of that Bible which they profess to believe and follow! But yet a little nearer. We, brethren, who profess to be reformers, who have taken our stand upon the highest platform of truth, who profess to keep all the commandments of God and thus make a profession almost infinitely higher than the professed Christian world around us, how is it with us? We acknowledge that God has highly favored us with light. Are we walking in the light? Do we let it shine? Are we as much in advance of others in moral duty, as our superior illumination demands? If we are not, let us reform, and reform now! We shall not be excused if we do not live up to our light. Let us know and realize that light unheeded will only increase our condemnation. The interests of our own souls and of those who are perishing around us, demand that we should walk in the light, and there is no excuse.