Wednesday, January 16, 2013

A Puritan Devotional

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?  Matthew 16:26

In worldly concerns, men discern their opportunities, and are careful to improve them before they are past.  The farmer is careful to plough his ground and sow his seed in the seed in the proper season.  When the harvest is come, he will not sleep away the time, or the crop will soon be lost.  How careful and eagle-eye is the merchant to improve opportunities to enrich himself!  How apt are men to be alarmed at the appearance of danger to their worldly estate!  O how they stir themselves inn such a case to avoid the threatened calamity!  But if we consider how men generally conduct themselves in things on which their wellbeing infinitely depends, how vast is the difference.  In these things, how cold, lifeless, and negligent most are.  How few among the multitudes are wise!  What a need there is for a constant repetition of admonition and counsel, to keep the heart from falling asleep!  How many objections are made!  O how difficulties are magnified, and how soon is the mind discouraged!  How unaware men are of the need to improve their time for their spiritual interest, and their welfare in another world!  How hardly convinced are men of the uncertainly of life and its enjoyments!  We have abundant instructions to lead and conduct us in the paths of righteousness.  They are abundantly set before us in the Word of God.  Scripture is adapted to the faculties of mankind, to greatly enlighten the mind.  We have far greater means to assist us to be wise in eternal things as real, it cannot be for lack of sufficient evidence of their truth which is manifested by the clearest evidence.
From "Voices from the Past" Edited By Richard Rushing, page 128, published by Banner of Truth Trust

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