The Sin of Licentiousness Click to go to our Home Page
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May 17, 1887
The Sin of Licentiousness
By Mrs. E. G. White
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them
in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a
people."
When the law of God is written in the heart it will be exhibited
in a pure and holy life. The commandments of God are no dead letter. They
are spirit and life, bringing the imaginations and even the thoughts into
subjection to the will of Christ. The
heart in which they are written will be kept with all diligence; for out of it
are the issues of life. All who love Jesus and keep the commandments
will seek to avoid the very appearance of evil; not because they are
constrained thus to do, but because they are copying a pure model, and feel
averse to everything contrary to the law written in their hearts. They will not
feel self-sufficient, but their trust will be in God, who alone is able to keep
them from sin and impurity. The atmosphere surrounding them is pure; they will
not corrupt their own souls or the souls of others. It is their pleasure to
deal justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God.
The danger that lies before those living in these last days, is the absence of pure religion, the absence of heart
holiness. The converting power of God has not wrought in transforming their
characters. They profess to believe sacred truths as did the Jewish nation;
but in their failing to practice the truth, they are ignorant both of the
Scriptures and the power of God. The power and influence of God's law are
around about, but not within the soul, renewing it in true holiness. Therefore
the Lord sends his appeals to them to urge upon them the practice of what is
right. The appeals of his Spirit are neglected and rejected. The barriers are
broken down, and the soul is weak, and for want of moral force to overcome, is
polluted and debased. They are binding themselves in bundles as
fagots, ready to be consumed at the last day.
The Jewish priests were required to be in person all that was symmetrical and
well proportioned, that they might reflect a great truth. "Be ye clean
that bear the vessels of the Lord." The Lord required not
only a well proportioned mind and symmetrical body of the Jews' ministry in
holy office, but he required also pure and uncorrupted minds.
And he requires no less of us, in this dispensation, in the
ministry of the gospel. His called and chosen are to show forth the
praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.
The same Bible that contains the privileges of God's people, and his promises
to them, contains also the sacred duties and the solemn obligations he requires
of the shepherd who has charge of the flock of God, so that the people can see
by comparing the living preacher with the divine picture whether he has
credentials from heaven in likeness of character to him who is the Chief
Shepherd. God designs that the teacher of the Bible should in his character and
home life be a specimen of the principles of the truth which he is teaching to
his fellow men.
What a man is, has a greater influence than what he
says. The quiet, consistent, godly life is a living epistle, known and
read of all men. A man may speak and write like an angel, but
his practices may resemble a fallen fiend. God will have the believers of the
truth zealous to maintain good works. As they occupy high positions, they will
be tested by a higher standard. They will be sifted, defects and vices will be
searched out; for if such exist, they will be developed in words and
deportment. True character is not something shaped from without, or put on, but
it is something radiating from within. If true goodness,
purity, meekness, lowliness, and equity are dwelling in the heart, that fact
will be reflected in the character; and such a character is full of power.
The officers who were sent to take Jesus reported that never man spake like
this man. But the reason of this was, that never man
lived like this man; for if he had not so lived, he could not so have spoken.
His words bore with them a convincing power, because they came from a heart
pure, holy, burdened with love and sympathy, beneficence and truth. How
rejoiced are those who hate God's law, to find spot and stain of character in
one who stands in defense of that law! They are only too glad to cast a
reproach upon all the loyal and true, because of the faults and impure
practices of a few. There is eloquence in the quiet and
consistent life of a pure, true, unadulterated Christian. We shall have
temptations as long as we are in this world. But instead of injuring us, they
will only be turned to our advantage, if resisted. The bounds
are placed where Satan cannot pass. He may prepare the furnace that consumes
the dross, but instead of injury, it can only bring forth the gold of the
character, purer, upon higher vantage ground than before the trial.
The crime that brought the judgments of God upon Israel was that
of licentiousness. The forwardness of women to entrap souls did
not end at Baal-peor. Notwithstanding the punishment
that followed the sinners in Israel, the same crime was repeated many times.
Satan was most active in seeking to make Israel's overthrow complete. Balak by the advice of Balaam laid the snare. Israel would
have bravely met their enemies in battle, and resisted them, and come off
conquerors; but when women invited their attention and sought their company
and beguiled them by their charms, they did not resist temptations.
They were invited to idolatrous feasts, and their indulgence in
wine further beclouded their dazed minds. The power of self
control, their allegiance to God's law, was not preserved. Their senses were so
beclouded with wine, and their unholy passions had such full sway, overpowering
every barrier, that they invited temptation even to the attending
of these idolatrous feasts. Those who had never flinched in battle, who were
brave men, did not barricade their souls to resist temptation to indulge their
basest passions. Idolatry and licentiousness went together.
They first defiled their conscience by lewdness, and then departed from God
still farther by idolatry, thus showing contempt for the God of Israel.
Near the close of this earth's history Satan will work with all his powers in
the same manner and with the same temptations wherewith he tempted ancient
Israel just before their entering the land of promise. He will lay snares for
those who claim to keep the commandments of God, and who are almost on the
borders of the heavenly Canaan. He will use his powers to their utmost in order
to entrap souls, and to take God's professed people upon their weakest points. Those
who have not brought the lower passions into subjection to the higher powers of
their being, those who have allowed their minds to flow in a channel of carnal
indulgence of the baser passions, Satan is determined to destroy with his
temptations,—to pollute their souls with licentiousness.
He is not aiming especially at the lower and less important marks, but he makes
use of his snares through those whom he can enlist as his agents to allure or
attract men to take liberties which are condemned in the law of God. And men in
responsible positions, teaching the claims of God's law, whose mouths are
filled with arguments in vindication of his law, against which Satan has made
such a raid,—over such he sets his hellish powers and his agencies at work, and
overthrows them upon the weak points in their character, knowing that he who
offends on one point is guilty of all, thus obtaining complete mastery over the
entire man. Mind, soul, body, and conscience are involved in the ruin.
If he be a messenger of righteousness, and has had great light, or if the Lord
has used him as his special worker in the cause of truth, then how great is the
triumph of Satan! How he exults! How God is dishonored!
The licentious practice of the Hebrews accomplished for them that which all the
warfare of nations and the enchantments of Balaam could not do. They
became separated from their God. Their covering and protection were removed
from them. God turned to be their enemy. So many of the
princes and people were guilty of licentiousness, that
it became a national sin; for God was wroth with the whole congregation.
The very same Satan is now working to the very same end, to weaken and destroy
the people who claim to be keeping the commandments of God, as they are just on
the borders of the heavenly Canaan. Satan knows it is his time. He has but
little time left now in which to work, and he will work with
tremendous power to ensnare the people of God upon their weak points of
character. There will be women who will become tempters, and who will do
their best to attract and win the attention of men to themselves. First, they
will seek to win their sympathy, next their affection, and then to induce them
to break God's holy law. Those who have dishonored their minds and affections
by placing them where God's word forbids, will not
scruple to dishonor God by various species of idolatry. God will leave them to
their vile affections. It is necessary to guard the thoughts; to
fence the soul about with the injunctions of God's word; and to be very careful
in every thought, word, and action not to be betrayed into sin. It is necessary
to guard against the cultivation of the indulgence of the lower passions. This
is not the fruit of sanctified thoughts or hearts.
It is now the duty of God's commandment-keeping people to watch and pray, to
search the Scriptures diligently, to hide the word of God in the heart, lest
they sin against him in idolatrous thoughts and debasing practices, and thus
the church of God become demoralized like the fallen churches whom prophecy
represents as being filled with every unclean and hateful bird. With the
Hebrews, God's judgment fell upon them at once. A plague immediately broke out.
The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and the plague visited those
who were most guilty. But "the wages of sin is death," and for their
hidden licentious indulgences God poured upon them his wrath.
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy." The
ringleaders in this demoralizing work, which was so debasing, so corrupting to
Israel, so insulting to God, were ordered to be put to death by the hand of
public justice, which was the only way to turn the wrath of God from the
congregation of Israel. The command came from the Lord, to
take the heads of the people who went out of the camp to associate with Moab,
and hang them upon before the sun as sacrifices to God's justice, and as a
terror to the rest of the people. The command was executed.
They were first slain, then their bodies were hung up in sight of all Israel
for a terror to the congregation of Israel, that they seeing their
leaders and their princes so severely punished for their licentiousness and
idolatry, without regard to wealth, or station, or what they had been, might
have a deep sense of the abhorrence of God for sin, and a terror of God's wrath
against them. And the men who have great light, and to whom
one would look for an example, are in the sight of God very great sinners, if
they transgress his law or deliberately lower the standard of his law to
minister unto lust.
Never was vice more bold, stubborn, or daring than it was in Zimri, a prince of the chief house in the tribe of Simeon.
Such an exhibition of effrontery toward God was almost too great for belief. He
publicly appeared before the people leading a Midianitish
harlot, one of high standing, a daughter of a chief house in Midian, in the sight of Moses and the congregation. He
thus showed open contempt of God. He gloried in his
shame; for wine had perverted his senses. He openly declared his sin as that of
Sodom. The position he had occupied had been one of influence. Moses
and the people who had taken no part in this great
departure from God's law, were weeping and lamenting at the door of the
tabernacle for the sins of the people, and the plague that had begun.
But amid all this demonstration of sorrow, this prince defied the judges to
molest him if they dared. The priests were weeping between the porch and the
altar, crying, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to
reproach." Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, and rose up
from among the congregation, and took a javelin, and went after the man of
Israel into the tent, and killed them both. This staid the
plague.
With this history before the peculiar people of God in these last days, there
is no excuse for any one who will follow the example
of ancient Israel in sin. But Satan will work in this special temptation to
make void the law of God, and make light of God's special injunctions and
warnings. The point to be marked
is, that Moses' prayers were not heard, neither his weeping nor the sorrow and
prayers of those who had maintained their integrity, until justice was executed upon that demoralized God-defying
prince. God says of Phinehas, He "hath turned away my wrath from the
children of Israel." It was the greatest mercy that Phinehas
could do to Israel, to deal
promptly and decidedly with the guilty, and thus be instrumental in turning the
wrath of God from the congregation of Israel. Something besides prayers and
tears are needed in a time when reproach and peril are hanging over God's
people. The wicked works must be brought to an end. The very work of
justice done by Phinehas was an
atonement for Israel.
(Concluded
next week.)
(Concluded.)
There is to be a people fitted up for translation to heaven, whom Enoch represents. They are looking and
waiting for the coming of the Lord. The work will go on with all those who will
co-operate with Jesus in the work of redemption. He gave himself for us that he
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works. God has made every provision that they should be
intelligent Christians, filled with a knowledge of his
will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. A theoretical knowledge of the
truth is essential. But the knowledge of the greatest truth will
not save us; own knowledge must be practical. God's people must not only know
his will, but they must practice it. Many
will be purged out from the numbers of those who know the truth, because they are not sanctified by it.
The truth must be brought into their hearts, sanctifying and cleansing them
from all earthliness and sensuality in the most private life. The soul temple
must be cleansed. Every secret act is as if we were in the
presence of God and holy angels, as all things are open before God, and from
him nothing can be hid.
In this age of our world the marriage vows are often disregarded. God never
designed that marriage should cover the multitude of sins that are practiced.
Sensuality and base practices in a marriage relation are educating the mind and
moral taste for demoralizing practices outside the marriage relation. God is
purifying a people to have clean hands and pure hearts to stand before him in
the Judgment. The standard must be elevated, the imagination purified; the
infatuation clustering around debasing practices must be given up, and the soul
uplifted to pure thoughts, holy practices. All who will stand the
test and trial just before us, will be partakers of
the divine nature, having escaped, not participated in, the corruptions that
are in the world through lust. The works of Satan are
not half discerned, because purity and holiness do not mark the life and
character of those who claim to be ministers of Christ.
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, we are thus
fortified against the temptations of Satan. Christ and his purity and his
matchless charms should be the soul's contemplation. There
is spiritual power for all, which they may have if they will,
that they may resist temptation, that duty may be done and the soul hold fast
its integrity. Those who feel their need of being
strengthened by might by God's Spirit in the inner man,
will not lose their integrity. Earnest prayer and watching thereunto will carry
them through temptations. We must be united to Christ by living faith.
We are now amid the perils of the last days. Satan has come down with great
power to work his deceptions. He fastens the mind or imaginations upon impure,
unlawful things. Christians become like Christ in character by dwelling upon
the divine Model. That with which they come in contact has a molding influence
upon life and character. I have read of a painter who would never look upon an
imperfect painting for a single moment, lest it should have a deteriorating
influence upon his own eye and conceptions. That
which we allow ourselves to look upon oftenest, and think of most, transfers
itself in a measure to us. The imagination trained to dwell upon God and his
loveliness will not find delight in dwelling upon scenes that are created by
the imagination that is excited by lust. "But with many
of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil
things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters as were some of them; as
it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink,
and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them
committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted,
and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also
murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened
unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the
ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh
he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:5-12.
Satan is at work now as he worked in Eden, as he has worked through all
successive generations. The arch-fiend knows well with what material he has to
deal. He knows the weak points in every character; and if these weak points are
not strengthened, he will display his infernal wisdom in his devices to
overthrow the very strongest men, princes in the army of Israel. All along
through successive generations are wrecks of character which have been
destroyed, because the soul was not garrisoned. And now as we
near the close of time, Satan will work with masterly activity to undermine
principle, and corrupt moral character. Sin is committed by
many who think their crime is effectually concealed. But there is One who says,
"I know thy works;" "there is nothing covered which shall not be
revealed; and hid, which shall not be known." When the mind is infatuated
with the idea of sin, there will be deception practiced; lies will be told; for
those who commit such sins will not be slow to lie as well. But all sin shall
be revealed.
God sees the sinner. The eye which never slumbers knows everything that is
done. It is written in his book. One may conceal his sin from father, mother,
wife, and friends, and yet all lies open before God, and is
placed in his book of record. Darkness, secrecy, deception, and crime added to
crime have not obliterated the record. David was a repentant man, and although
he confessed and hated his sin, he could not forget it. He exclaimed,
"Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither
shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if
I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the
morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand
lead me.... Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day."
God is everywhere. He sees, he knows all things, and understands
the intents and purposes of the heart. It is in vain that an attempt should be
made to conceal sin from his notice. He saw our first
parents in Eden. He saw Cain when he raised his hand to kill Abel. He saw the
sins of the inhabitants of the old world, and numbered their days and punished
them with a flood. He saw the sins of his own covenant people, the Jews, when
they plotted against the life of the Son of God. As surely does he mark every
transgression, and every secret thing will be brought into Judgment. They may
be hid from mortal man, they may be hid from the good, the pure, and the holy,
from friends and from foes, yet God sees them. All sins will be revealed in the
day of Judgment, and unless they have been repented of
beforehand, they will receive punishment according to their magnitude: for a
record of all the deeds of men is kept in the book of God's remembrance. All
the good actions, all the evil actions of life are recorded. The fact that the
accumulated sins are treasured up and at last exposed,
is a terrible fact. And why those professing to be sons and daughters of God
venture in the face of light, in the face of knowledge, to sin against their
own conscience and by their sin involve others in the
same ruin, is a mystery. Have they ever tasted of the powers of the world to
come? Have they ever enjoyed sweet communion with God? Then how can
they turn to sensual, condemning, soul-degrading practices?
The last great day is right upon us. Let all consider that Satan
is now striving for the mastery over souls. He is playing the game of life for
your souls. Will there be sins committed by you on the very borders of the
heavenly Canaan? Oh what revealings!
The husband will know for the first time the deception and falsehood that have
been practiced by the wife whom he thought innocent and pure. The wife for the
first time will know the case of her husband, and the relatives and friends
will see how error and falsehood and corruption have been clustering about
them; for the secrets of all hearts will stand revealed. The hour of Judgment
is almost here,—long delayed by the goodness and mercy of God. But the trump of
God will sound to the consternation of the unprepared who
are living, and awaken the pale nations of the dead. The great white throne
will appear, and all the righteous dead will come forth to immortality.
Whatever have been the little sins indulged will ruin the soul, unless they are
overcome. The small sins will swell into the greater sins. Impure
thoughts, private, impure actions, unrefined, low, and sensual thoughts and
actions in the marriage life, the giving loose reins to the baser passions
under the marriage vow will lead to every other sin, the transgression of all
the commandments of God. Men that God has entrusted with noble talents
will be, unless closely connected with God, guilty of great weakness, and not
having the grace of Christ in the soul will become connected with greater
crimes. This is because they do not make the truth of God a part of them. Their
discipline has been defective, the soul culture has not been carried forward
from one advance to another, inborn tendencies have
not been restrained, but have degraded the soul. For all the
natural weaknesses Jesus has made ample provision, that they may be overcome
through his grace. If not overcome, the weakness will become a tyrant, a
conqueror, to overcome them, and the heavenly light will become beclouded and
extinguished.
I feel compelled to write most earnestly on this point because I feel the peril
that is upon us. We have in past history the example of most
painful characters showing the danger of men in high places being corrupted.
Men of masterly minds, who possessed large talents of influence, yet did not
put their trust wholly in God, but allowed themselves to be praised and petted
and lauded by the world's great men, lost their balance, and thought that great
men's sins were not vices. The heavenly guide left them, and their
course was rapidly downward to corruption and perdition. They completely lost
the just standard of honor, lost all distinction between right and wrong,
between sin and righteousness. There are lights and shades in character, and
one or the other certainly triumphs. But God in heaven is
weighing moral worth. He will judge righteously. The wicked
will not always remain unchecked. Nothing but grace and truth brought into the
inner life, inwrought in the character, is sufficient to keep the greatest, the
most talented men morally erect. If intellectual greatness could have been sufficient,
their characters would have been firm as a rock. But they needed virtuous
characters. Paul says, I am what I am by the grace
of God that is in me. God's people must arise, and gird themselves with the
whole armor of righteousness.
Basel, Switzerland.