And no doubt it is perfectly and
literally true: but answer me this, when does the wicked man do that
which is lawful and right? The minute after he has repented? or the day
after? or even seven years after?--the minute after he is forgiven, and
received freely back again as God's child, as he will be, for the sake of
that precious blood which Christ poured out upon the cross? Would to God
it were so, my friends. Would to God it were so easy to do right, after
having been accustomed to do wrong. Would to God it were so easy to get
a clean heart and a right spirit. Would to God it were so easy to break
through all the old bad habits--perhaps the habits of a whole life-time.
But it is in vain to expect this sudden change of character. As well may
we expect a man, who has been laid low with fever, to get up and go about
to his work the moment his disease takes a favourable turn.
No. After the forgiveness of sin must come the cure of sin. And that
cure, like most cures, is a long and a painful process. The sin may have
been some animal sin, like drunkenness; and we all know how difficult it
is to cure that.
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