Luke 11:24-26 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he said… I. RELAPSING INTO SIN IS THE GREATEST INGRATITUDE. 1. It is the work of grace only, if our Lord, after we have committed a sin, receives us back into His house. 2. What should you say of the prodigal son if, shortly after the banquet, he had left his father's house again, thrown away the ring and shoes, and trodden under foot the best robe: if he had abused the presents of his father by new offences? 3. As the physician is filled with scorn of a sick person, whom he had healed with great care, and who by disobedience had plunged himself into peril of death again: so the Heavenly Physician will depart from a soul which repeatedly commits the same sins again. II. RELAPSING INTO SIN IS THE GREATEST FOLLY. 1. Sin is like a disease which becomes more perilous by repeated attacks. 2. In proportion as the power of sin increases, the strength of man's will decreases. 3. The time for conversion is getting shorter and shorter. III. RELAPSE IS THE FORERUNNER OF ETERNAL PERDITION. Conversion depends partly on the good-will of the sinner, and partly on the grace of God. We have seen that the strength of will relaxes with every fresh sin, and therefore the relapsed cannot rely on it. And the greatest energy alone cannot perform the work of conversion. Without a full measure of grace the conversion of the relapsed is impossible. 1. It is to be feared that the ordinary graces will produce no effect upon him. God by His grace shows to the sinner the deformity of sin, terrifies him by its consequences and punishment, and endeavours to gain his affections by pointing out to him the infiniteness of the Divine charity. But if the man continually relapses into his old sins, are these motives likely to make a lasting impression on him? 2. Or, are we entitled to expect from God extraordinary graces for the relapsing sinner? Should God show greater mercy towards us, because we have been so ungrateful to Him? When we continually tear open old wounds, think you the Heavenly Physician of our souls will prepare us a stronger remedy? (Bishop Ehrler.) Parallel Verses KJV: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. |
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