Homilist Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head… That there were two grand opposing moral forces at work in the world, "the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent," is manifest from the following conceptions: — 1. The universal beliefs of mankind. All nations believe in two antagonistic principles. 2. The phenomena of the moral world. The thoughts, actions, and conduct of men are so radically different that they must be referred to two distinct moral forces. 3. The experience of good men. 4. The declaration of the Bible. Now in this conflict, whilst error and evil only strike at the mere "heel" of truth and goodness, truth and goodness strike right at the "head." Look at this idea in three aspects: — I. AS A CHARACTERISTIC OF CHRISTIANITY. Evil has a "head" and its "head" is not in theories, or institutions, or outward conduct; but in the moral feelings. In the liken and dislikes, the sympathies and antipathies of the heart. Now it is against this "head" of evil, that Christianity, as a system of reform, directs its blows. It does not seek to lop off the branches from the mighty upas, but to destroy its roots. It does not strike at the mere forms of murder, adultery, and theft; but at their spirit, anger, lust, and covetousness. This its characteristic. II. AS A TEST OF INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIANITY. Unless Christianity has bruised the very "head" of evil within us it has done nothing to the purpose. 1. It may bruise certain erroneous ideas, and yet be of no service to you. 2. It may bruise certain wrong habits, and yet be of no real service to you. III. AS A GUIDE IN PROPAGATING CHRISTIANITY. The great failure of the Church in its world-reforming mission may be traced to the wrong direction of its efforts. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. |
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