Vs. 158 — I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word.

Prayer:

I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word. Then … then I saw that I was once as they are. At that very moment my self-righteous indignation collapsed, rather it seemed more to have turned against me.  Suddenly I was disgusted with myself. Is it not, O’ Lord, only by Your grace that I have been delivered unto newness of life and filled with Your love? Yes, it is not of my works or any goodness or frame of consciousness within myself that I now love and know the Gospel truth. Oh, I repent of this judgmental and self-righteous attitude towards others. Forgive me. How can I judge them for what I am unable to do? Even today I cannot fully keep Your word and walk as I ought. As You have mercy upon me, so have mercy upon those who are as I was. Open their eyes to see Jesus and turn their hearts to the cross. Quicken them to new life in Christ Jesus that we may rejoice in praise together with the hosts of heaven.

Richard Baxter (1615–1691):

Oh, if you have the hearts of Christians or of men in you, let them yearn towards your poor ignorant, ungodly neighbours. Alas, there is but a step betwixt them and death and hell: many hundred diseases are waiting ready to seize on them, and if they die unregenerate they are lost for ever. Have you hearts of rock, that cannot pity men in such a case as this? If you believe not the word of God, and the danger of sinners, why are you Christians yourselves? If you do believe it, why do you not bestir yourself to the helping of others? Do you not care who is damned, so you be saved? If so, you have sufficient cause to pity yourselves, for it is a frame of spirit utterly inconsistent with grace: (“The Saints’ Everlasting Rest.”)

 

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