Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 329
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322 LIFE OF PAUL . Ministersof the gospelwhose charactersare otherwisealmostfaultless, frequentlydo great harm by allowingtheirforbearancetoward the erringtodegenerateintotolerationof theirsins, and even participationwiththem. In thiseasygoingway theyexcuseand palliatethat which the word of God condemns ; and after a time theybecome soblindedaseven tocommend the veryoneswhom God commands them toreprove. The onlysafe-guard againstthesedangersisto add to patiencegodliness,-to reverenceGod ,his characterand his law ,and to keep hisfearever before the mind . By communion with God , throughprayerand the readingof hisword,we should cultivate such a sense of the holiness of hischaracterthatwe shallregardsin ashe regards it. Godlinessleadsto brotherlykindness; and thosewho do not cherishthe one, willsurely lack the other . He who has blunted his moral perceptionsby sinfulleniencytowardthosewhom God condemns, willerelongcommit a greater sinby severityand harshnesstowardthosewhom God approves. Viewed through the perverted medium of an unconsecratedspirit,thevery integrityand faithfulnessof the true-hearted Christianwillappearcensurable. By the prideof human wisdom,by contempt fortheinfluenceof the Holy Spirit, and disrelishfor the humbling truthsof God's word, many who professto be Christians, and who feel competent to teach others, will be led to turn away from the requirementsof God . Paul declaredto Timothy : " The time will come when theywillnot endure sound doctrine; but after theirown lustsshallthey heap to themselves