There was a time when sin was unknown in God's universe. All creatures obeyed Him and were happy and at peace. Thousands and tens of thousands of holy Angels showed forth the glory of God by their joyful obedience. Created in a state of supernatural grace, they were each in his own degree full of wisdom, of perfect beauty.

Their trial during their time of probation consisted in having to acknowledge their dependence on, and their subjection to God. The larger number of them did so in a spirit of loyal and unwavering obedience. But a third portion of them, led by Lucifer, refused to obey. They conceived an inordinate love of themselves, and from this arose a desire to be independent of God. They would not humble themselves; they considered it unworthy of themselves that they should submit to the will of God in all things. Thus pride grew up within them; and they deliberately placed themselves in opposition to God.

This open rebellion to God lasted but a moment. In an instant all their supernatural beauty was gone, the malice of their souls corrupted their whole being. All their beauty was turned to loathsome foulness. Cast out of God's Heaven, they were hurled down to the lowest Hell; outcasts for all eternity, filled with eternal misery and despair. And all this the effect of one sin, and that a sin of thought!

Beg of God an appreciation of the unspeakable evil of sin.