Some of us do not think that it is sin at all; and tell us that man
is no more responsible for his belief than he is for the colour of
his hair, and suchlike talk. Well, let me put a very plain question:
What is it that a man turns away from when he turns away from Jesus
Christ? The plainest, the loveliest, the loftiest, the perfectest
revelation of God in His beauty and completeness that ever dawned, or
ever will dawn upon creation. He rejects that. Anything more? Yes! He
turns away from the loveliest human life that ever was, or will be,
lived. Anything more? Yes! He turns away from a miracle of self-
sacrificing love, which endured the Cross for enemies, and willingly
embraced agony and shame and death for the sake of those who
inflicted them upon Him. Anything more? Yes! He turns away from hands
laden with, and offering him, the most precious and needful blessings
that a poor soul on earth can desire or expect.

And if this be true, if unbelief in Jesus Christ be indeed all this
that I have sketched out, another question arises, What does such an
attitude and act indicate as to the rejector? He stands in the
presence of the loveliest revelation of the divine nature and heart,
and he sees no light in it. Why, but because he has blinded his eyes
and cannot behold? He is incapable of seeing 'God manifest in the
flesh,' because he 'loves the darkness rather than the light.' He
turns away from the revelation of the loveliest and most self-
sacrificing love. Why, but because he bears in himself a heart cased
with brass and triple steel of selfishness, against the manifestation
of love? He turns away from the offered hands heaped with the
blessings that he needs. Why, but because he does not care for the
gifts that are offered? Forgiveness, cleansing, purity a heaven which
consists in the perfecting of all these, have no attractions for him.