There is a perilous progress in sin!

[Fragrant Grace]

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psalm 1:1

A thought provoking sermon written from Alexander Smellie, "The Hour of Silence" 1899

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There is a perilous progress in sin!

At first I content myself with walking in the counsel of the wicked. It is an occasional companionship. It is a meeting only now and again.
For a little while I am with them, and then some better influence calls me away . . .
a remembrance of my mother's prayers,
a sentence in a letter from a friend,
a verse of Scripture shot suddenly into my mind.

But by and by I am found standing in the way of sinners.
They have gained a greater power over me, and a completer fascination. I have learned to love them too well.
I linger much longer in their society, and it is hard for me to tear myself from them.
The poison is working, the leaven is spreading--my condition is more fixed and more hopeless by far!

And, at last, where do you see me?
I am sitting in the seat of the scornful.
I am at home among those who laugh at God and Christ and Heaven and Hell.
You cannot see any difference between me and them.
I have joined their ranks. I am one of their number.
Their resorts are mine;
Their sneers and sarcasms are mine;
Their seared conscience and withered heart are mine!
Oh dreary ending of a dreary journey!

As I would escape that lowest depth of all--let me not look over the precipice, nor set my feet on the fatal slope.

Blessed is the man who says, "I will not!" to the first allurements of sin.

Blessed is the man who will not so much as walk in the Enchanted Ground.

***

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 1



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[B-A-C]

I am reminded of a comic strip I saw years ago.

An overweight lady says, I'm going for a drive today, but I'm not going to the store.
In the second frame she says, I'll drive by the store, but I won't go in.
In the third frame, I'll go in the store, but I won't walk down the candy aisle.
In the fourth frame, I'll walk down the candy aisle, but I won't buy any candy.
Of course in the last frame it shows chocolate on her face.

I think this is a great illustration of human nature. We already know what we want to do before we even leave the house.
I won't drive by the liquor store, I won't drive by the pornography store, I won't drive by the casino, I won't drive by the prostitutes, etc....

Jas 1:14; But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15; Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Blessed is the man who says, "I will not!" to the first allurements of sin.

Amen!