Joseph A. Benton Collection

[upper left corner] Luke Chap [Chapter] 12 – A.M. ~ [upper right corner] (No. 15.)

James 4:24 ~ [centered]

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not – to him it is sin. ~ I Define sin in general way. Importance of clear views – Must not confound things that differ. Search for truth here – as even – Affects us all, as mor. [moral] beings. – –––––––– II What sin is not ~ Consists (a) – not in – mere external conduct ~ (b) not in want of natural affections &c [etc.] (c) not in want of honesty – veracity – patriotism –––––––– III But in wrong heart – toward God. (a) in the pric. [principle] of supreme love & creative good (c) in ruling prop. [proper] heart to gratify self –

Depravity may be total & not utter. Eclipse total – yet one more full –

All may be dark – yet there are de-grees of Dark, darker, darkest.

Shades on a canvas – dim – shadowy – dusky – Fable – darkish – dark – excess – dark indeed darker – darker yet – most dark – darkness that may be felt – the very blackness of darkness

– Strength of wrong purposes differ – –

Well bred Children – will have this princ. [principle] much enthanced [enhanced] – little developed – great blessing that must be – Some grow up realy [really] holy ~

"He that offfendeth in one point – is guilty of all _!!" – Show this ~

[written on top of notes] I. Budington Charlestown. ~

VII For proofs we must go to scripts [scriptures] – & to conscience – to individual experience ~

Admission is universal, – all honest say they have sweet – have had a wrong heart – if they have it not now ~

Intelligently, freely, they have sinned – intellects are well – instincts are well – heart is wrong sin resides in the intent ~

[written in ink, upside down left center] Rev. W.

Remarks. ~

1 What then is to be done? Why to stop doing what he knows to be wrong – To repent of wrong done. Can he do this? Yes – by God's grace – let put himself to the work. The way is plain – act by his light he has –

2 If sinner refuse to stop – he will perish – from himself – despite all power – nat [nature] – of things forbids any thing to be done toward righting his heart till he consents – must be his own act – none can repent for him – if he repent not he will never stop sinning – of course never escape its conseqs [consequences] in himself ~

1 John 5:17 – All unright^ss [unrighteousness] is sin ~

Jno. [John] 9:41 If ye were blind ye sh'd [should] have no sin.

Rom. [Romans] 4:15. Where no law is there is no transgressⁿ [transgression] ~ Rom [Romans] 3:9-20 – whole passage ~ [9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever rthe law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore thy the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.]

Ps. [Psalm] 14:2-4. The Lord looked down from heaven upon t. [the] chilⁿ [children] of men to see if there were any that did seek understand & seek God – – 3 They are all good aside, they are all together become filthy: there is more that doeth good – no, not one."

~

Power of remorse – what points its sting Must feel it sometime. Heap rubbish on it – conceal &c [etc.] – all be cleared away by and by. Cant [Can't] always shut out our own hearts from our own minds – Dare to look inward – Shrink not!!