following-Him
Active Member
Thank you Jim,
God Bless
Sheila
God Bless
Sheila
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Faithful decides to put Talkative’s talk to a test.Faith. Well, I was not so fond of his company at first; but I am as sick of it now. What shall we do to be rid of him?
Chr. Take my advice, and do as I bid you; and you shall find that he will soon be sick of your company too--except God shall touch his heart and turn it.
Faith. What would you have me to do?
Chr. Why, go to him, and enter into some serious discourse about the power of religion; and ask him plainly (when he has approved of it, for that he will) whether this thing be set up in his heart, house or conversation.
Talkative ask the question of Faithful, “What is the difference between crying out sin and hating it?”Talk. I perceive, then, that our talk must be about the power of things; well, 'tis a very good question, and I shall be willing to answer you. And take my answer in brief, thus: First, Where the grace of God is in the heart, it causes there a great outcry against sin. Secondly--
Faith. Nay, hold; let us consider of one at once: I think you should rather say, it shows itself by inclining the soul to abhor its sin.
Talk. Why, what difference is there between crying out against, and abhorring of, sin?
Faith. Oh, a great deal! a man may cry out against sin of policy; but he cannot abhor it, but by virtue of a godly antipathy against it. I have heard many cry out against sin in the pulpit; who yet can abide it well enough in the heart, and house, and conversation. Joseph's mistress cried out with a loud voice, as if she had been very holy; but she would willingly, notwithstanding that, have committed uncleanness with him (Genesis 39v15). Some cry out against sin, even as the mother cries out against her child in her lap; when she calls it "slut" and "naughty girl, "and then falls to hugging and kissing it.
Talk. You lie at the catch, I perceive.
Realising that there are many tick lists in the Word of God I want to focus on this one because I find it greatly challenging. The description of our Christian apparel is one of which I fear many of us fall short.Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Talkative has just expressed his pride in his great knowledge of Bible truths. He seems to think that knowledge makes him spiritual. Yet 1 Corinthians 13v2 tells us “…though I understand all mysteries, and all knowledge…and have not charity I am nothing.” Knowledge of spiritual truths is no sign of salvation, anymore than spiritual talk is. Many men know vast amounts about the Bible, but never do anything about it. Faithful says, “There is knowledge and knowledge.”Faith. This sign should have been first; but first or last, it is also false: for knowledge, great knowledge, may be obtained in the mysteries of the Gospel, and yet no work of grace in the soul (1Corinthians 13v2). Yea, if a man have all knowledge, he may yet be nothing; and so consequently be no child of God. When Christ said, Do you know all these things? and the disciples had answered, Yes: he added, Blessed are ye if ye do them! He doth not lay the blessing in the knowing of them; but in the doing of them. For there is a knowledge that is not attended with doing: "he that knows his Master's will, and does it not." A man may know like an angel, and yet be no Christian; therefore your sign of it is not true. Indeed, to know is a thing that pleases talkers and boasters; but to do is that which pleases God. Not that the heart can be good without knowledge; for without that the heart is naught: there is, therefore, knowledge and knowledge. Knowledge that rests in the bare speculation of things; and knowledge that is accompanied with the grace of faith and love, which puts a man upon doing even the will of God from the heart: the first of these will serve the talker; but without the other the true Christian is not content. "Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart" (Psalm 119v34).