As light cannot be a fountain of darkness, so God cannot be in any way the author or source of the state of sin or of the action that leads to it. Sin is the very opposite of God. Therefore "say not, He hath made me to err for He hath no need of wicked men. The Lord hateth all abomination of error" (Eccli. xv. 12, 13). God is the source of our energy and freedom, and supplies us with the means of action; but He does not determine for us how we shall use these powers. If we choose to act aright, then indeed "it is God who worketh in you both to will and accomplish" (Phil. ii. 13); but when we sin, although the concurrence of God still underlies our existence and physical action, yet the direction of that energy into a sinful channel is entirely our own doing. It is not that God consents to our sin; He consents to and permits our liberty of sinning, which is essential for our virtues. God does not abandon us to sin. Through the operation of external and internal influences independent of our will, we are exposed to opportunities of sin. God does not derange the whole order of the universe to prevent forces from working out their proper effects; but He intervenes in the innersanctuary of our will with secret aid sufficient to keep us from mortal sin. The influence of God is for ever working adversely to sin, either deterring the sinner or calling him to repentance. Never think that you are coerced by superior force to sin, or that God has abandoned you to your enemies. You have always Omnipotence on your side, provided that you take the appointed means to bring it into action.
