Isaiah 1:16-17 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil;… I. Its primary principle is, that REFORMATION SHOULD BEGIN AT THE SOURCE OF HUMAN CONDUCT. Change the springs of all action and you change every element of conduct. Ye must be born again. Out of the heart proceed all evils. 1. It does not set aside all forms of outward help — society, industry, family, church, but these are auxiliaries to the central endeavour of the human will. 2. It recognises, too, that the complete work is by stages, gradual — though the purpose may be immediate. II. Not only is the central element of reformation clearly established, but what may be called THE WORKING PLAN OF REFORMATION FROM EVIL IS LAID DOWN. (Daniel 3:27. Compare that with Matthew 3:8-10.) 1. Right-doing is the way to cease wrong-doing. Ephesians 4:28 — not enough to stop getting by stealing, but must do that by learning how to get by working! The way to cure evil, is to set a current of contrary action. 2. The illustration of the inward government of mind — how feelings of one class rise or fall in answer to the excitement or somnolency of another. 3. The two faulty forms. (1) Forming a purpose, without taking practical steps — empty resolves — by repentance — leaves only; no fruit. (2) Reformation by external regulation — mechanical. III. THE DIFFICULTIES OF VICE, OF HABIT, WHEN THEY ARE SIMPLY WATCHED AGAINST. 1. They leave men lonesome — unhappy. 2. The soul develops power to overturn evil only by inspiration of opposite virtues. IV. THE REASON SO MANY PEOPLE BECOME NEGATIVE, FEEBLE, AND UNINTERESTING WHEN THEY BECOME RELIGIOUS. V. THE REASON SO MANY ARE STRONG, NOBLE, AS WORLDLY MEN IN BUSINESS, BUT WITHOUT FORCE IN SPIRITUALS. They let loose their whole selves in the one case. They tie up the strong elements in the other, for fear of mischief — and do not let out any other. (Proverbs 3:13-18; also 8:11, etc.) VI. WHEN MEN TURN FROM EVIL LET THEM GO CLEAR OVER TO RELIGION! (H. W. Beecher.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; |
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