Chapter 3: Doubtful Actions are Sinful 10. Intermarriages of Christians with impenitent sinners.
This answer always comes up. "But after all you say, it is not certain that these marriages are not lawful." Supposing it be so, yet does not the Bible and the nature of the case make it at least doubtful whether they are right? It can be demonstrated, indeed, to be unlawful
But suppose it could not be reduced to demonstration; what Christian ever did it and did not doubt whether it was lawful? And he that doubteth is condemned. See that Christian man or woman that is about forming such a connection doubting all the way whether it is right: trying to pray down conscience under pretext of praying for light: praying all around your duty, and yet pressing on. Take Care! You know you doubt the lawfulness of what you propose, and remember that "he that doubteth is damned."
Thus you see, my hearers, that here is a principle that will stand by you when you attempt to rebuke sin, if the power of society be employed to face you down, or put you on the defensive, and demand absolute proof of the sinfulness of a cherished practice. Remember the burden of proof does not lie on you, to show beyond a doubt the absolute unlawfulness of the thing. If you can show sufficient reason to question its lawfulness, and to create a valid doubt whether it is according to the will of God, you shift the burden of proof to the other side. And unless they can remove the doubt, and show that there is no room for doubt, they have no right to continue in the doubtful practice, and if they do, they sin against God.
REMARKS 1. The knowledge of duty is not indispensable to moral obligation, but the possession of the means of knowledge is sufficient to make a person responsible.
If a man has the means of knowing whether it is right or wrong he is bound to use the means, and is bound to inquire and ascertain at his peril.
2. If those are condemned, and adjudged worthy of damnation, who do that of which they doubt the lawfulness, what shall we say of the multitudes who are doing continually that which they know and confess to be wrong?
Woe to that man who practices that which he condemns. And "happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth."
3. Hypocrites often attempt to shelter themselves behind their doubts to get clear of their duty.
The hypocrite is unwilling to be enlightened, he does not wish to know the truth, because he does not wish to obey the Lord, and so he hides behind his doubts, and turns away his eye from the light, and will not look or examine to see what his duty is, and in this way he tries to shield himself from responsibility. But God will drag them out from behind this refuge of lies, by the principle laid down m the test, that their very doubts condemn them.
Many will not be enlightened on the subject of temperance, and still persist in drinking or selling rum, because they are not fully convinced it is wrong. And they will not read a tract or a paper, nor attend a temperance meeting, for fear they shall be convinced. Many