We should observe, for one thing, how our Lord speaks of the misuse of religious privileges. It intensifies man's guilt, and will increase his condemnation. He tells His disciples that if He had not " spoken " and " done " among the Jews things which none ever spoke or did before, "they had not had sin." By this, we must remember, He means, " they had not been so sinful and so guilty as they are now." But now they were utterly without excuse. They had seen Christ's works, and heard Christ's teaching, and yet remained unbeliev- ing. What more could be done for them ? Nothing — absolutely nothing ! They wilfully sinned against the clearest possible light, and were of all men most guilty.
Let us settle it down as a first principle in our religion, that religious privileges are in a certain sense very dangerous things. If they do not help us toward heaven, they will only sink us deeper into hell. They add to our responsibility. "To whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required." (Luke xii. 48.) He that dwells in a land of open Bibles and preached Gospel, and yet dreams that he will stand in the judg- ment day on the same level with an untaught Chinese, is fearfully deceived. He will find to his own cost, except he repents, that his judgment will be according to his light. The mere fact that he had knowledge and did not improve it, will of itself prove one of his greatest sins. " He that knew His Master's will and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes." (Luke xii. 47.)
Well would it be for all professing Christians in England, if this point was more thoroughly considered ! Nothing is more common than to hear men taking comfort in the thought tliat they " know what " is right, while at the same time they are evidently unconverted,