Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

at last deny that he ever had it, and even ridicule a work of grace in the
heart! Such instances have appeared among men.
Where there are so many snares and dangers, it is impossible to be too
watchful and circumspect. Satan, as a roaring lion, as a subtle serpent, or
in the guise of an angel of light, is momentarily going about seeking
whom he may deceive, blind, and devour; and, when it is considered that
the human heart, till entirely renewed, is on his side, it is a miracle of
mercy that any soul escapes perdition: no man is safe any longer than he
maintains the spirit of watchfulness and prayer; and to maintain such a
spirit, he has need of all the means of grace. He who neglects any of them
which the mercy of God has placed in his power, tempts the devil to
tempt him. As a preventive of backsliding and apostacy, the apostle
recommends mutual exhortation. No Christian should live for himself
alone; he should consider his fellow Christian as a member of the same
body, and feel for him accordingly, and love, succour, and protect him.
When this is carefully attended to in religions society, Satan finds it very
difficult to make an inroad on the church; but when coldness, distance,
and want of brotherly love take place, Satan can attack each singly, and,
by successive victories over individuals, soon make an easy conquest of
the whole.
"But he that lacketh these things:" he, whether Jew or Gentile, who
professes to have faith in God, and has not added to that faith, fortitude,
knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and
universal love, "is blind," his understanding is darkened, and cannot see
afar off, shutting his eyes against the light, winking, not able to look truth
in the face, nor to behold that God whom he once knew was reconciled
to him; and thus it appears he is wilfully blind, "and hath forgotten that
he was purged from his old sins"—has at last, through the nonimprovement
of the grace which he received from God, his faith ceasing
to work by love, lost the evidence of things not seen: for, having grieved
the Holy Spirit by not showing forth the virtues of Him who called him
into his marvellous light, he has lost the testimony of his sonship; and
then darkness and hardness having taken the place of light and filial