They possessed a quiet purpose, a will.”
–Elmer Kelton (Stand Proud)
“Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life.”
–Proverbs 4:13 (HCSB)
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Let me pass on a few thoughts from Jospeh Alleine’s book. It has been an interesting read, An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners, first published in 1671.
“Sin is a real sickness, yea, the worst of sickness; it is a leprosy in the head; the plague in the heart; it is brokenness in the bones; it pierces, it wounds, it racks, it torments…. Sin naturally breeds diseases and disturbances in the soul. What a continueal tempest is there in a discontented mind! What a corroding evil is inordinate care! What is passion but a very fever in the mind? What is lust but a fire in the bones? What is pride but a deadly dropsy? or covetousness but an insatiable and insufferable thirst? or malice and envy but venom in the very heart? Spiritual sloth is but a scurvy in the mind, and carnal security a mortal lethargy. How can that soul have true comfort which is under so many diseases?
“The conscience cannot be truly pacified until soundly purified.”
Try to preach about sin today and you might find an empty church, it is just not politically or religiously correct. But then again, the Holy Spirit may come and convict and there may be a true revival. People are not considered sinners. They are misguided souls or just following their own way. Ah, but we need to follow the Way, Jesus said He was the Way.
People put their trust in politicians, psychologists, or worldly philosophers. They will go to their analyist, whether it be the local bar or some swanky person who will charge them $100 an hour. Put all the world’s philosophers, past and present against God an it would be a lopsided mismatch.
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”
–Proverbs 21:30-31