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Utterly destroy it!
by Spurgeon.
"That henceforth we should not serve sin."
--Romans 6:6
Christian, what have you to do with sin?
Has it not cost you enough already?
Burnt child, will you play with the fire?
What! when you have already been between the jaws
of the lion, will you step a second time into his den?
Have you not had enough of the old serpent?
Did he not poison all your veins once, and will you
play upon the hole of the asp, and put your hand
upon the cockatrice's den a second time?
Oh, do not be so mad! so foolish!
Did sin ever yield you real pleasure?
Did you find solid satisfaction in it?
If so, go back to your old drudgery, and
wear the chain again, if it delights you.
But inasmuch as sin did never give you what it
promised to bestow, but deluded you with lies,
do not be snared by the old fowler a second time
--be free, and let the remembrance of your ancient
bondage forbid you to enter the net again!
It is contrary to the designs of eternal love, which
all have an eye to your purity and holiness; therefore
do not run counter to the purposes of your Lord.
Another thought should restrain you from sin--
Christians can never sin cheaply; they pay a heavy
price for iniquity-- Transgression destroys peace of
mind, obscures fellowship with Jesus, hinders prayer,
brings darkness over the soul-- therefore do not be
the serf and bondsman of sin.
Oh! if you have fallen into any special sin during this day,
it may be my Master has sent this admonition today, to
bring you back before you have backslidden very far.
The only proper treatment of sin, is to
destroy it- cut it off and cast it from you.
Do not pamper it or excuse it, but smite it,
smite it to the heart if you can, and never be
satisfied until you have utterly destroyed it.
Turn to Jesus anew; he has not forgotten his love to you;
his grace is still the same. With weeping and repentance,
come to his footstool, and you shall be once more
received into his heart; you shall be set upon a rock
again, and your goings shall be established.
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