Daily Devotionals

Bowen's Daily Meditations

Devotional: March 22nd

" Sin has reigned unto death." - Romans 5:21.

About the reign of sin there is no doubt. The tyrant, with an astonishing refinement of tyranny, forbade you to believe in his tyranny, and compelled you to go hither and thither chanting his praises as though he were one of the most loving of masters. How grossly you were deluded. A king is for the protection of his subjects; but this monarch reigned unto death. He was a deformed and revolting monster; you were cheated into the idea of his loveliness. He taught you to boast of liberty, while he loaded you more and more with chains. You staggered beneath great burdens which you bore to his treasury, while you were taught to believe that you were enriching yourself. He showed you pictures of superb banquets, and swore that you should sit down at such; and all the while he gave you but moldy crusts to eat. He introduced his courtiers to you as a troop of friends; but gave them each a whip to lash you. He gave you a poisoner to be your cup bearer; a gaoler to be your guardian; a headsman to be your guide. An earthquake rocked your house; your bed was poised on the verge of an abyss; and a drawn sword was suspended over your table. You supposed that there was a sun there, but it was sackcloth; and a moon, but it was blood. In the garden was the upas tree, and in the field the hemlock. The streets of that city of death were streets of tombs. Ye shall not surely die, said all men, one to another; but they were all dead men while they spake. Sin reigned unto death, and cheated all his subjects into the idea that they owed life to him.

Happy for you that this is a thing of the past. Sin hath reigned, but has now no more dominion over you. You have been translated into another kingdom.

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