The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 374

of this in this world. In the degree sin is lessened suffering is lessened, nnd evon with regnrd t-0 the extent of suffering for which we arc not directly rcsponsil>lo tho pain is uot unnatural. We have a Te\'6aled illustration of this from the other world. In hennn there is no sin, and there is no suffering. In bell there is unmixed sin, aud there is unmixed suffering. Suffering must end with sin, not beforo; but then it will. III. To DO AWAY WITH SIN REQUIRES D1vnIE AND HUMAN CO-OPERATION, "Siu no more." This is the Divine v0ice appealing to man for his consent nnd co-operation ngainst sin. 1. Thi.$ appeal presuppnses two things at least. (1) That to resist sin effectually is a posswuity. In connection with what Christ bas done and is doing, cmd what man can do, this is possible. We are not asked to perform impossibilities. A similar help which accompanied the effort to rise and walk, will accompany the effort to resist sin. (2) That to resist sin is a most bi11di11_q duty. It is each man's duty to Goo, to himself, and to others. 2. This Divine appeal is made to man's moral natu1·e. (1) To his individual consciousness. "Sin no more." Men a.re to be restored, not in the abstract, but in the concrete. Not as multitudes, but as individuals. Each man is directly appealed t-0. (2) To his individual sirzfm consciousness. "Sin no more." Thou bast sinned, thou art a sinner. The Divine voice appeals to man as a sinner; thus his sin is brought home to him. This is an essential step to its removal, and unless an assenting echo comes from within, the Divine power has nothing to work upon. (3) To the powers in man which can di,sti11guisli and resist sin. H:s conscience and will. 'l'he one can distinguish between good and evil, and the other can say yes or no to its dictates, as well ns to the dictates of Heaven. Conscience is ever on the side of good, and against e'l'"il and such. The will is not; hence to educate the conscience, and stir up and gain the human will to the right side, is the chief aim of Christ and his gospel. 3. This Divine appeal is mcide througn, the most powerful, motives. (1) Those arising from cxmsideratwns of sin i,tsel,f. (a) Experience of its evil consequences in tl1e past. " Lest a worse thing come unto thee "-implying that its consequences in the past wero bad. The sin of this man had cost him thirty-eight years of untold suffering and misery; only n faint shadow of its spiritual consequences. Every hell is against ·sin, and sin re.ally is against itself. Man should learn from his failures, and grow wiser by experience. (b) Its cerv1in worse ronsequences in the future. "Lest a worse thing," etc. ( ci) How- ever bad has been the experience of sin, its worst has not been yet felt ; there is some- thin" worse in store. (/J) A repetition of sin tends to its final issue. Every repetition fixes°it deeper in the character, and makes it more difficult of cure. It is in the very nature of sin to go from bad to worse, and the next step in it may lead to the worst of all-to utter inability to resist, and the consequent impossibility of relief. This should be a strong motive against sin, and a mighty influence to incline the will agaiast it. (2) Those motives arising from considerations of the Divine goodness. "Debold, thou art made whole." (a) Deliverance from the painful consequences of sin is not a sufficient guarantee auainst falling into it again. The danger may be greater. It will be a point at which th~ man will be specially attacked; and if it becomes strong, it must become so by special watchfulness an? prayer. (b) D~li~eran~e from the painful ~~nsequenc~s of sin should be a strona motive not to commit 1t agam. "Behold, thou, etc. This should awake (ci) a senS: of special d~ty-n~t to sin. _(fJ) A sense of special obligatio~s to the Deliverer. (-r) A sense of special gratitude to hun for the deliverance. And this can never be manifested while sin is wilfully committed, for it is as detestable to God as it is ruinous to man. (c) All the special and general goodness of God in providence and grace is in order to keep us from sio. With Divine eloquence it tells each man, "Sin no more." This is the case especially with regard to our personal deliverances. And if these will oot keep us from sin, what will? LF.IIIIONB. 1. Christ ctJ,red, bodi-es in order to ctl/l'e souls. His physical cures were introductory to the spiritual He performed the miracle of Bethesda in order to teach the lesson of the temple: "Sin no more." 2. No cure is complete unless the soul is cured of the disease of sin. Jesus sought the ma? in or~er to fi!1ish his ~ork. At Bethesda it was incomplete. How maoy are sat1Sfied with the mtroduct1on ! But Divine goodness is wasted unless it is canied out to its natural issues, the restoration of the BOul. 3. To keep awa,,1 from sin is bet~ t!1an to be del_iveredfr~ it. Preve~- t.ion is easier and ea.fer thau cure. Prevention lB ever possible, cure 18 not, It Is possible ro be, in the palsy of Bin where there is no Divine Physician, 4. Jeaua helpa arr. v. 1-47.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 239