Sin: The Suicidal Action of the Human Will

Sin is the suicidal action of the human will.

Shedd goes on:

To do wrong destroys the power to do right.
This is illustrated in the effect of a vicious habit in diminishing a man’s ability to resist temptation.
But habit is the continual repetition of of wrong self-decisions, every one of which reacts upon the will as a faculty, and renders it less strong and energetic to good.
No man can do a wrong act, and be as sound in his will, and as spiritually strong, after it as he was before it.

From W.G.T. Shedd’s “Sin Is Spiritual Slavery,” found in Sermons to the Natural Man (1871)Justin Taylor