Many servants of the King, though not actually rebels against Him, are nevertheless disloyal in little things. They neglect the regulations of the service, they disobey Him in points of detail, they neglect His interests for their own enjoyment or supposed advantage, human respect prevents them from being thorough in the King's service; idleness makes them negligent of their duty. They let their arms get dull and blunted; they are not on their watch against the foe, and so are liable to be overcome by him. Is not this my case in the spiritual service of Jesus Christ?

These acts of disloyalty, which do not amount to actual revolt, but yet involve some degree of contempt for our King, and of ingratitude to Him, are what we call venial sins. They are an evil greater than any other evil in the universe, save actual rebellion. They gradually weaken our love and devotion to Him and prepare the way for open disaffection. They deprive us of many a favor and many a grace that we should otherwise have received; they impair our power of resisting the foes who attack us; they destroy our happiness and our peace of mind. Am I conscious of any that I willfully commit?

What is the punishment of these acts of disloyalty? Unless they are repented of and atoned for, they will involve a long and dreadful time of suffering when life is over. In darkness, and in bitter sorrow, and in desolation, and in agonizing pain, we shall lament over and expiate the little venial sins that undermined our love of our King in this life, and will condemn us to long imprisonment in the cleansing fires before we can see God's face in Heaven.