Simplicity In Preaching # 4

Simplicity in Preaching # 4

1. If you want to attain simplicity in preaching, you must have a clear knowledge of what you are going to preach.

2. If you would attain simplicity in preaching, you must use simple words.

3. If you would attain simplicity in preaching, you must seek to acquire a simple style of composition, with short sentences adn as few colons and semicolons as possible.

4. If you would attain simplicity in preaching, aim at directness.

5. If you would attain simplicity in preaching, make abundant use of illustration and anecdote.

Let me add to all this one plain word of application. You will never attain simplicity in preaching without plenty of work - pains and trouble. I say emphatically, pains and trouble. I have heard that a young and careless clergyman once said to Richard Cecil, "I think I need more faith." "No," said the wise old man - "you need more work. You need more pains. You must not thing that God will do with work for you - though He is ready to do it by you!" 

1. I will only say, in conclusion, that whatever we preach, or whatever pulpit we occupy, whether we preach simply or not, whether we preach written or extempore, we ought to aim not merely at letting off fireworks, but at  preaching that which will do lasting good to souls! Let us beware of fireworks in our preaching. Beautiful sermons, brilliant sermons, clever sermons, popular sermons are often sermons which have no effect on the congregation, and do not draw men to Jesus Christ. Let us aim so to preach, that what we say may really come home to men's minds and consciences and hearts, and make them think and consider.

2. All the simplicity in the world can do no good, unless you preach the simple gospel of Jesus Christ so fully and clearly that everybody can understand it. If 'Christ crucified" had not His rightful place in your sermons, and 'sin" is not exposed as it should be, and your people are not plainly told what they ought to believe, and be, and do - your preaching is of no use!

3. All the simplicity in the world, again, is useless without a good lively delivery. If you bury your head in your bosom, and mumble over your manuscript in a dull, monotonous, drowning way, like a bee in a bottle, so that people cannot understand what you are speaking about - your preaching will be in vain.

4. Above all, let us never forget that all the simplicity in the world is useless without prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the grant of God's blessing, and a life corresponding in some measure to what we preach. Be it ours to have an earnest desire for the souls of men, while we seek for simplicity in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and let us never forget to accompany our sermons by holy living and fervent prayer!

~J. C. Ryle~

(The End)

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From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. (John 1:16 NIV)

When the Lord has blessed and prospered, how many people have not themselves become something? Here is a successful movement! Here is my chance! There is a laying hold of that work, and a turning of it to personal account. That is the history of things. The most dangerous time for the work of God is the time of blessing. You will always find people coming in when there is blessing, not because they have God's end in view, but because a realm of blessing means personal good.... The Lord is calling us on to the fullness of Christ, and sometimes on the way He may let us see the working of His power, that He is with us. The world may be against us, the devil may be withstanding, and the Lord lets us see in some little way that He is with us. And then alongside of that there comes the most awful peril, in that we snap our fingers at everything and everybody, and at the devil himself. We are supported by the Lord in the position we have taken! We are vindicated! That is a perilous position. The Lord may have to say, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven! Do not find any personal gratification in the fact that the demons are subject unto you!" It is all in the same realm as glorying in a wrong way in the blessings of the Lord. We have to go on steadily, and take our encouragements when they come, thank the Lord quietly for them, and get on with the main business, not staying to gloat over the fruits of the Lord's blessing in a personal way.

There is a great deal of ground covered by that. It is often a source of so much gratification if only you can tell people of the success that is coming to you in the work of the Lord, how many people are coming, how many souls are being saved, how you are being used, how the Lord's seal is upon you. All unconsciously we take hold of the honor for our own flesh. The Lord has to hide so much from us, because it is dangerous for us; our flesh makes it dangerous. We shall be tried by blessing as well as by adversity. The keenest fires of trial are often those of success or prosperity. Such tests discover whether our hearts are fixed upon the Lord or upon things.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

Later You Will Understand # 2 (and others)

Later You Will Understand # 2 (and others)

In the same way, as our lives appear to ourselves - we see them when God is in the very midst of His work upon them. The work of sanctification is the process of bringing out the features of spiritual and divine beauty in human souls. And in this process, the Divine Artist oftentimes employs trials as His instruments. He first seems to destroy - but tribulation works patience. Many a man learns submission - when the Father's hand rests so heavily upon him that he cannot rise. Many a feature of beauty in the soul - is brought out in the darkness of affliction. The process seems to be destructive - but afterwards it yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Not at the time, but afterwards. When God finishes His work, it is beautiful and very good.

There was a time when the heart of Jacob was well-near crushed by an accumulation of adversities. Twenty years before, Joseph had been torn out of his arms and slain, as he supposed. Now Simeon was lying in a dark dungeon in Egypt, under the hand of a despotic master. And now Benjamin, too, was to be carried away. In the bitterness of his soul he cried out, "All these things are against me!" But these things were not against him - God had not yet finished His work. The final result had not yet been wrought out. All things seemed against him - but he lived to praise the Lord for all the strange providences which appeared so cruel at that hour. These were but the crude blocks out of which God was building up a beautiful home for his old age, and with which he was laying the foundation of future greatness and glory for his family. They were links in a golden chain of blessing.

So it ever is, "You do not know now what I am doing - but later you will understand." Wait until God has completed His work - and then all shall be well. You may see it even on the earth. Before you close your eyes in death - you may see the good brought out of the seeming evil of your life. But if not, if you die with the mystery still unsolved - then one moment in Heaven will explain all. Then you shall see all things completed. You shall see the web out of the loom - all its beautiful figures perfect, not one thread dropped or tangled. You shall see the temple finished - every brick in its place, and the whole  adorned with glory. You shall see the picture when the artist has put the last touches to it - and when it appears no more marred and spoiled, as you thought it would be by so much trial - but perfect and beautiful, bearing in every feature the likeness of Christ.

Then you shall see all the dark providences of your life carried out to their final result. You shall see both the discipline - and its blessing; both the affliction - and its rich fruits; both the furnace fires - and the brilliant gold.

When the night comes on, when the mists and fogs darken the sky and hide the stars, and the vessel cannot be guided - the sailor drops his anchor and waits for the morning. In the same way, faith does in the hour of darkness and perplexity. It cannot see  the good or the wisdom of the providences of life - but it knows that the hand of love is shaping them all, and that the end shall be blessing and glory! It knows that the morning will come, that the mists will clear away, and it may drop the anchor and wait for the day!

~J. R. Miller~

(The End)
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The Heart of Spiritual Maturity

Psalm 27:1-14

People will ask, “What can I do to really grow as a Christian?” Often they are looking for a secret path to maturity—some action they can perform. But the true key to growing in your relationship with Christ isn’t based on service or knowledge or any other outward accomplishment the world tends to admire.

Genuine maturity and effectiveness hinge upon your heart relationship with the Lord, rather than something you can do for Him. When you understand this truth, your whole paradigm shifts. It puts all Christians on the same level, from the high-profile preacher to the quietest member of the church. The believer’s talents, accomplishments, and personality are far less important than the commitment to simply know God.

The Lord called David “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22 NIV). What was it about him that God valued so highly? He certainly had his share of mistakes, sins, and character flaws. Yet more than anything else, what characterized his life was that he sought to know the Lord. Whether he was a shepherd, fugitive, warrior, or powerful king, the time he spent with his heavenly Father was his lifeline. In psalm after psalm, David laid everything before the Lord—and wholeheartedly longed to do His will. This was his greatest strength.

Do you want to grow spiritually and be transformed in your everyday faith walk? Take a step beyond asking, “What can I do for God so that I can be a better Christian?” Instead, come before the Lord and say, “Here I am. You have full access to my heart.”

~T. Austin-Sparks~

The Potter

The Potter

The doctrine of God's Divine Sovereignty is generally offensive to the carnal mind - because it strikes a death-blow at the root of man's pride, and lays the sinner low in the dust before God. Man does not like to be represented as lying absolutely helpless at the foot of divine mercy, entirely at the Lord's disposal. But God must be sovereign, and if ever we are saved, it must e in the exercise of His sovereignty.

God commands Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house, to be taught a lesson there: "So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do  with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel." (Jeremiah 18:1-6).

These words are as applicable to us, as to them. Observe, Our Position. We are in God's hand! He has full possession of us, and absolute power and authority over us. We cannot fly out of His hand, or escape from under His eye! We are in God's hand - as clay in the hand of the potter. We are powerless in His hand. We are wholly at His disposal - to be molded and changed, as to form, appearance, and value - just as He desires. He does with His creatures, according to His will - both in Heaven, and on earth. His will is our law; His decree is our destiny. This may seen in nature, in providence, and in grace.

He arranged our birth, our position in society, and our calling by His grace. Whatever He wills He works. Whatever He has purposed - he brings to pass. The potter does not more really preside over the clay - than the Lord presides over all the affairs of the world.

We are in God's hand, as marred vessels. We have no beauty, no apparent value - unfit for sale, and unfit for use. If we are to be of use, if we are to glorify His great name - we must be re-made. Therefore every Christian is said to be, "His workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works," and that according to His foreordination. Whatever we are spiritually - we are by His grace. Notice then, God's Sovereignty. He is our owner. The potter cannot claim the clay, which he has dug out of his own land - as absolutely as the Lord can claim us!

We are His - for He created us. We were not - until He gave us a being; we never would have been - had He not willed it. We are His - for He has preserved us. By the constant exercise of His sustaining energy - we have been kept in existence according to His sovereign will.

As believers, we are His by redemption. Every legal impediment has been removed out of the way of His claiming us, and justly re-molding us, and raising us to the highest happiness and glory.

He is our absolute owner. No one can justly question His right, or interfere with His disposal of us. He may do as He will. But as infinitely wise, whatever He does will reflect His wisdom.

As impartially just, whatever he does will be in accordance with justice - no part of the creation shall sustain any wrong by anything He sees fit to do. God will act wisely, justly, and in accordance with His mercy with us. Hence,

The Inquiry? "Can I not do with you as this potter does - says the Lord." Can I not break up the old marred form, reduce it to a shapeless mass, and reform you for My own use and glory? Yes, He can - and He does! Therefore we are regenerated, we are renewed and are begotten again to a lively hope.

But God puts the question to us to convince us that we are absolutely at His disposal; to impress us with a sense of our dependence on Him; to instruct and teach us that we are at His sovereign mercy; to silence all the carnal reasonings and objections of the flesh; and to humble our proud hearts!

O what a mercy it is, that the vilest can be changed! To change the nature and character of the sinner - is God's work alone! We are in one sense, that is in reference to all that is spiritually good - like passive clay in God's hand; He must work in us to will, and to do. He must form us for Himself - if we ever actively show forth His praise.

Our God is the divine potter - and who shall effectually resist the working of His mighty power? Who can justly complain, if all that God does as a Sovereign in our world, is done in the exercise of His mercy, and is for our welfare?

Who can find fault without folly - in seeing God, the only wise, the all-comprehending, just, and holy God - taking marred vessels, and making them into vessels of honor - glorifying Himself in doing so!

O my soul, lay low before the Lord, and let His own question deeply impress you, "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it: Why did you make me like this?"

O Lord, teach and sanctify me by Your Spirit, that I may not only admit the doctrine of your sovereignty; but admire its working, and adore its holiness, justice, and grace!

~James Smith~

(The End)

Later You Will Understand # 1

Later You Will Understand # 1

"You do not know now what I am doing - but later you will understand" (John 13:7).

Peter could not understand why Jesus should so condescend as to wash his feet. It perplexed and puzzled him, and he shrank from submitting to it. Jesus said, "You do not know now what I am doing - but later you will understand." And so it proved. There came days afterwards when he understood it all, when he knew why his Master had done it - and when he truly saw beauty, wisdom, love, richest instruction, and divine necessity in it.

And the same principle applies all through life. There are many things in the providence of God which at the time are dark and obscure - but which the future makes clear and plain. The Lord lays us aside in the midst of our usefulness, He desolates our homes, He breaks our harp strings, He pours bitterness into our cups of sweetness. Our lives are full of strange, perplexing things - and we do not know what they mean. Our dim eyes cannot read the dark pages. Our dull ears cannot hear the voice of love that speaks out to us from every circumstance. Our heavy hearts cannot perceive the love which throbs with full pulse in every event.

But there will come a day when every dark page in our life's history shall be explained - when all the tangle and confusion shall be unraveled, and the web shall lie before us woven through unto the end, warp and woof, with threads of gold and silver. This word of Christ is the key to all the dark and strange providences in the life of every believer; "You do not know now what I am doing - but later you will understand."

One reason for the present obscurity - is our ignorance, or present limited knowledge. We know now, only in part. We see now, only through a glass darkly.


The boy enters the college, and the teacher puts into his hand a paper of Greek, and asks him to read it. But he cannot understand a sentence of it. He cannot spell out a single word. He cannot tell what one letter is. It is a page of hieroglyphics to him. It is full of mysteries. But the years roll on. He applies himself to the study of the language. He masters the alphabet; he learns to spell out the words, and then to translate. By and by commencement day comes, and the professor hands him again the same page that so puzzled and perplexed him on the day of his entrance. It is all plain now. He reads it off with perfect ease - he understands every word. There is beauty for him now in every line. Every sentence contains some golden truth. It is a page of the New Testament in the very words first written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - and words of love, of heavenly wisdom, of divine instruction lie upon the page. As he reads they thrill his whole soul, and fill all his heart with the warmth and tender joy of Heaven. Every word is bright with the hidden fires of God's love. Riper knowledge has unlocked to him, all the mysteries of the page!

We are all scholars in God's school. The lessons set for us seem at first like the pages of an unknown language. We cannot pronounce the words. We cannot understand their meaning. They confuse and perplex us. We see no wisdom, no beauty, no love in them. But the passing years bring riper wisdom and fuller knowledge. 

Every day, the past becomes plainer; and when we stand at the end of our school days the old confusing pages will be clear and simple to us. We shall be able to read them off with ease. Then we shall see that every line held a golden lesson for our hearts - that every dark providence in our lives was one of God's precious love-thoughts written out for us - and the whole page will glow with divine beauty.

Only fuller knowledge is needed to explain to us much of the mystery of our lives. In the cloudless light and perfect revelation of Heaven - every shadow of mystery will vanish, and the strangest providences will seem as plain and easy as childhood's first lessons are to ripened and cultured manhood.

Another reason why many of the Lord's ways seem so strange to us, is because we see them only in their incompleteness. We must wait until they are finished, before we can fully understand what God is doing.

In the artist's studio, you may see pictures that are only faint outlines. There are the branches of a tree and no trunk; or there is the trunk and no branches. There is a head, only, finished - or the outline picture of a man with only one arm or one hand filled out. No one would judge of the artist's work in this unfinished state. He would wait until all his pictures were completed.

~J. R. Miller~

(continued with # 2)

Simplicity In Preaching # 3

Simplicity In Preaching # 3

On another occasion, being anxious to preach on the doctrine of indwelling sin, he chose his text out of the history of Joseph and his brethren, and gave out the words, "The old man of whom you spoke, is he yet alive?" (Gen. 43:27). Out of this question he ingeniously twisted a discourse about the infection of nature remaining in the believer - a grand truth, no doubt, but certainly not the truth of the passage. Such instances will, I trust, be a warning to all my younger brethren. If you want to preach about the indwelling corruption of human nature, or about Christ crucified, you need not seek for such far-fetched texts as those I have named. If you want to be simple, mind you choose plain simple texts!

Furthermore, if you wish to see through your subjects thoroughly, and so to attain the foundation of simplicity, do not be ashamed of dividing your sermons and stating your divisions. I need hardly say this is a very vexed question. There is morbid dread of "firstly, secondly, and thirdly" in many quarters. The stream of fashion runs strongly against divisions, and I must frankly confess that a lively undivided sermon is much better than one divided in a dull, stupid, illogical way. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He who can preach sermons which strike and stick without divisions, by all means let him hold on his way and persevere. But let him not despise his neigh or who divides. All I say is - if we would be simple, there must be order in a sermon as there is in an army. What wise general would mix up artillery,l infantry, and cavalry in one confused mass in the day of battle? What giver of a banquet or dinner  would dream of putting on the table the whole of the viands at once - the soup, the fish, the entrees, the meat, the salads, the sweets, the dessert, in one huge dish? Such a host would hardly be thought to serve his dinner well. Just so I say it is with sermons. By all means let there be order - order, whether you bring out your "firstly, secondly, or thirdly," or not - order, whether your divisions are concealed or expressed - order so carefully arranged that your points and ideas shall follow one another in beautiful regularity, like regiments marching past before the Queen on a review day.

For my own part, I honestly confess that I do not think I have preached two sermons in my life without divisions. I find it of the utmost importance to make people understand, remember, and carry away what I say - and I am certain that divisions help me to do so. They are, in fact, like hooks and pegs and shelves in the mind. If you study the sermons of men who have been and are successful preachers, you will always find order, and often divisions, in their sermons. I am not a bit ashamed to say that I often read sermons  of Mr. Spurgeon. I like to gather hints about preaching from all quarters. David did not ask about the sword of Goliath - "Who made it? who polished it? what blacksmith forged it?" He said, "There is nothing like it" - for he had once used it to cut off its owner's head. Mr. Spurgeon can preach most ably, and he proves it by keeping his enormous congregation together. We ought always to examine and analyze sermons which draw people together. Now when you read Mr. Spurgeon's sermons, note how clearly and perspicuously he divides a sermon, and fills each division with beautiful and simple ideas. How easily you grasp his meaning! How thoroughly he brings before you certain great truths, that hang to you like hooks of steel, and which, once planted in your memory, you never forget!

My first point, then, if you would be simple in your preaching, is, that you must thoroughly understand your subjects, and if you want to know whether you understand it, try to divide and arrange it. I can only say for myself; that I have done this ever since I have been a minister. For forty-five years I have kept note books in which I write down texts and heads of sermons for use when required. Whenever I get hold of a text, and see my way through it, I put it down and make a note of it. If I do not see my way through a text, I cannot preach on it, because I know I cannot be simple; and if I cannot be simple, I know I had better not preach at all.

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 4)

Simplicity In Preaching # 2

Simplicity In Preaching # 2

4. Finally, let me observe, that it is not course or vulgar preaching that is needed. It is quite possible to be simple, and yet to speak like a gentleman, and with the demeanor of a courteous and refined person. It is an utter mistake to imagine that uneducated and illiterate men and women prefer to be spoken to in an illiterate way, and by an uneducated person. To suppose that a lay-evangelist or Scripture-reader, who knows nothing of Latin or Greek, and is only familiar with his Bible, is more acceptable than an Oxford first-class man, or a Cambridge wrangler (if that first-class man knows how to preach), is a complete error. People only tolerate vulgarity and coarseness, as a rule, when they can get nothing else.

Having made these prefatory remarks in order to clear the way, I will now proceed to give my readers five brief hints as to what seems to me the best method of attaining simplicity in preaching.

1. My first hint is this - If you want to attain simplicity in preaching, take care that you have a clear view of the subject upon which you are going to preach. I ask your special attention to this. Of all the five hints I am about to give, this is the most important. Mind, then, when your text is chosen, that you understand it and see right through it; that you know precisely what you want to prove, what you want to teach, what you want to establish, and what you want people's minds to carry away. If you yourself begin in a fog, you may depend upon it you will leave your people in darkness. Cicero, one of the greatest ancient orators, said long ago, "No one can possibly speak clearly and eloquently about a subject which he does not understand" - and I am satisfied that he spoke the truth. Archbishop Whately was a very shrewd observer of human nature, and he said rightly of a vast number of preachers, that "they aimed at nothing, and they hit nothing. Like men landing on an unknown island, and setting out on a journey of exploration, they set out in ignorance, and traveled on in ignorance all the day long." 

I ask all young ministers especially, to remember this first hint. I repeat most emphatically - "Take care you thoroughly understand your subject. Never choose a text of which you do not quite know what it means." Beware of taking obscure passages such as those which are to be found in unfulfilled and emblematic prophecies. If a man will continually preach to an ordinary congregation about the seals and vials and trumpets in Revelation, or about Ezekiel's temple, or about predestination, free will, and the eternal purposes of God - it will not be at all surprising to any reasonable mind if he fails to attain simplicity. I do not mean that these subjects ought not to be handled occasionally, at fit times, and before a suitable audience. All I say is, that they are very deep subjects, about which wise Christians often disagree, and it is almost impossible to make them very simple. We ought to see our subjects plainly, if we wish to make them simple, and there are hundreds of plain subjects to be found in God's Word.

Beware, for the same reason, of taking up what I call "fanciful subjects" and "spiritualizing texts" - and then dragging out of them meanings  which the Holy Spirit never intended to put into them. There is no subject needful for the soul's health which is not to be found plainly taught and set forth in Scripture. This being the case, I think a preacher should never take a text and extract from it, as a dentist would a tooth from the jaw, something which, however true in itself, is not the plain literal meaning of the inspired words. The sermon may seem very glittering and ingenious, and his people may go away saying, "What a clever parson we have got!" But if, on examination, they can neither find the sermon in the text, nor the text in the sermon, their minds are perplexed, and they begin to think the Bible is a deep book which cannot be understood. If you want to attain simplicity, beware of spiritualizing texts.

When I speak of spiritualizing texts, let me explain what I mean. I remember hearing of a minister in a northern town, who was famous for preaching in this style. Once he gave out for his text, "He who is so impoverished that he has no oblation, chooses unto him a tree that will not rot" (Isa. 40:20). "Here," said he, "is man by nature impoverished and undone. He has nothing to offer, in order to make satisfaction for his soul. And what ought he to do? He ought to choose a tree which cannot rot - even the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 3)

Sin's Presence # 2

Sin's Presence # 2

It must ever be remembered that His thoughts and ways are often the very opposite of ours. Yet we must also remember that they are infinitely wiser and better than ours. God then must have some valid reason why He leaves sin in His people; and since He loves them with a boundless and unchangeable love - it must be left in them for their benefit. Faith may be fully assured that evil continues to be present with the saint both for the glory of God and for his own good. Thus, there is a bright side to even this dark cloud.

We are apt to think it is a most deplorable thing that sin still indwells us and to imagine it would be far better if we were rid of it. But that is our ignorance. Yes, it is something worse: it is a spirit of opposition to God, a rebelling against His dealings with us, an impugning of His wisdom, a casting reflection upon His goodness. Since He has given such abundant proofs that He has our best interests at heart, it must be most reprehensible for any to call into question His ways with them.

Rather, may we be fully persuaded that our loving Father would have completely removed "the flesh" from the soul of His children at the moment of their regeneration - had that been for their highest welfare. Since He has not done so, we must confidently conclude that God has a benevolent purpose in allowing sin to indwell them, to the end of their pilgrim journey. But does His Word furnish any hints of His gracious designs therein? Yes - but we must now limit ourselves unto one of them.

God leaves sin in His people - to promote their humility. There is nothing which He abominates, so much as pride. In Proverbs 6:16-17, the Holy Spirit has listed seven things which the Lord hates, and they are headed with "A proud look"! God feeds the hungry - but the rich He sends empty away. He "gives grace unto the humble," but "resists the proud" (James 4:6). It is the egotistical and self-satisfied Laodiceans who are so loathsome in His sight - that He spues them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16-17).

Now Christian reader, is it really and truly the desire of your heart that God will "hide pride" from you (Job 33:17)? If by grace it is so, then are you willing for Him to use His own means and method in accomplishing your desire, even though it is an unpleasant process, yes, galling to your complacency? If you are willing for your natural religiousness to be blasted and to be stripped of your peacock feathers, then it will be by evil remaining in you and bestirring itself to your grief!

Second Timothy 3:2 shows that pride springs from inordinate self-love. They who are undue lover of themselves - soon grow proud of themselves; which is odious to God, for it robs Him of His glory. Since God will be glorious unto His saints, as well as glorified by them - He subdues their pride by leaving that in them which humbles their hearts - but makes them admire Him the more for His longsuffering.

Divine light exposes filth within, of which they had no previous realization, causing them to cry with the leper. "Unclean, unclean!" ( Lev. 13:45). They have such painful discoveries of indwelling sin as often makes them lament. "O wretched man that I am!" (Romans 7:24). But how thankful we should be if God makes us "abhor" ourselves A(Job 42:6), and thereby make way for prizing Christ all the more!

In this life, holiness, my reader, consists largely of pantings after it - and grievings because we feel ourselves to be so unholy. What would happen to a man still left in this world - if he were full of sin one day and then made absolutely sinless the next? Let our present experience supply the answer. Do we not find it very difficult to keep our proper humble place, both before God and our brethren, when the evil within us is subdued but a little? Is not that evidence we require something to deliver us from self-righteousness? Even the beloved Paul needed "a thorn in the flesh" lest he "be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations" given him (2 Cor. 12:7).

The man after God's own heart prayed, "O Lord, open You my lips; and my mouth shall show forth Your praise" (Psalm 51:15): as though he said, "If You, Lord, will help me to speak aright, I shall not proclaim my own worth nor boast of what I have done - but will give You all the glory." As God left some of the Canaanites in the land - to prove Israel (Judges 2:21-22), so He leaves sin in us - to humble us.

Our consciousness of sin's presence has, first, an emptying influence: it makes way for a pardoning and cleansing Christ, by convicting the soul of its deep need.

Second, it has a continual abasing influence, bringing us to realize more and more our utter insufficiency and complete dependence upon God.

Third, it has an evangelical influence, for it serves to make us more conscious of the perfect suitability of the great Physician for such lepers as we feel ourselves to be.

Fourth, it has a God-honoring influence, for it brings the renewed soul to marvel increasingly at His "longsuffering to us" (2 Peter 3:9).

Fifth, it should promote a spirit of forbearance to our fellows: we ought not to expect less failure in them - than we find in ourselves.

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)