Posted on 07/20/2005 10:35:07 AM PDT by Jonathon Edwards
The reproach of Christ, in these days, takes this shape. “Oh,” they say, “the man is too precise.” “He is right. But still, Truth is not always to be spoken. The thing is wrong, no doubt, which he denounces, but still, the time has not come yet—we must be lenient towards these things. The man is right in what he says, but we must not be too precise nowadays. We must give and take a little—there must be charity.”
God’s Word, in this age, is a small affair. Some do not even believe it to be Inspired. And those who profess to revere it set up other books in a sort of rivalry with it. Why, there are great Church dignitaries nowadays who write against the Bible and yet find bishops to defend them! “Do not, for a moment, think of condemning their books or them. They are our dear Brethren and must not be fettered in thought.” Some believe in Popery. But here, again, the plea will be, “They are our dear Brethren.” Some believe in nothing at all—but they are still all safely housed in one Church, like the beasts, clean and unclean, in Noah’s ark.
Those who come out with Christ, get this reproach—they are too precise—in fact, they are “bigots.” That is how the world brings it out at last—“bigots”—a set of “bigots!” I have heard say that the word, “bigot,” took its rise from this—that a certain Protestant nobleman being commanded, in order to gain his lands, to kneel down and in some way or other commit the act of idolatry towards the host, said, when he came atlast to the point, “By God, I will not!” And they called him henceforth a “By-God.” If this is the meaning of the word “bigot,” we cheerfully adopt the title! And were it right to swear, we would declare, “By Him that lives! By Heaven! We cannot speak a lie and we cannot bend our knee to the shrine of Baal, bigots or no bigots.”
The Truth of God is first and our reputation next. Then they say, “Ah, these people are behind their time. The world has made such advances. We are in the nineteenth century—you ought to know better! The discoveries of science put your narrow views out of court.” Very well, Christian, be content to be behind the times for the times are getting nearer to judgment and the last plagues.
“Ah, but,” they say, “these people seem to us to be so self-righteous. They think themselves right and nobody else.” Very well, Christian, if you are right, think yourself right! And if everybody else should call you self-righteous, that does not mistake you so. The Lord knows how we cling to the Cross and as poor sinners, look up to Christ and Christ alone. Our conscience is void of offense in this matter. “Ah,” they say, “they are not worth noticing. They are all a pack of fools.”
It is very remarkable that in the judgment of their own age good men always have been fools. Fools have been they who have turned the world upside down. Luther and Calvin, Wesley and Whitfield were all fools. But somehow or other God managed, by these fools, to get to Himself a glorious victory. And then they turn round and say, “It is only the poor—only the lower orders. Have they any of the nobility and gentry with then?” Well, this reproach we can pretty well bear because it is the old standard of Christ that the poor have the Gospel preached unto them. And it has ever been a sweet reflection that many who have been poor in this world have been made rich in faith!
Yet we are going to keep coming out with Christ throughout the world, so keep calling us names, Christians, for it is WE who will hear the well done faithful servents in the very near future!:o)
Ping to a few saints.
Thanks for the ping my dear elect Brother.
Will read it in the morning.
GC
By your patience possess your souls." -- Luke 21:18-19."But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
Isn't that a great verse (noted from Topcat's thread.)
"By your patience possess your souls."
Folks just don't preach like this anymore..
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