It is one of the chief privileges of the Gospel the honorable badge of our profession.

Posted : 21 Mar, 2013 02:26 AM

Psalm 119:39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for Your

judgments are good.





There is a reproach, which we have no cause to fear, but

rather to glory in. It is one of the chief privileges of the Gospel the honorable badge of our profession. But it was the

"reproach" of bringing dishonor upon the name of his God,

that David feared, and deprecated with most anxious,

importunate prayer. The fear of this reproach is a practical

principle of tender watchfulness and circumspection, and of

habitual dependence upon an Almighty upholding power.

"Hold me up, and I shall be safe,"-will be the constant

supplication of one, that fears the Lord, and fears himself. We

do not, perhaps, sufficiently consider the active malice of the

enemies of the gospel, "watching for our halting;" else should

we be more careful to remove all occasions of "reproach" on

account of inconsistency of temper or conversation. None,

therefore, that feel their own weakness, the continual

apprehension of danger, the tendency of their heart to

backslide from God, and to disgrace "that worthy name by

which they are called," will think this prayer unseasonable or unnecessary-"Turn away my

reproach which I fear."

Perhaps also the conflicting Christian may find this a suitable

prayer. Sometimes Satan has succeeded in beguiling him into

some worldly compliance, or weakened his confidence, by

tempting him to look to himself for some warrant of

acceptance (in all which suggestions he is aided and abetted

by his treacherous heart): and then will this "accuser of the

brethren" turn back upon him, and change himself "into an

angel of light," presenting before him a black catalogue of

those very falls, into which he had successfully led him.

Bunyan does not fail to enumerate these "reproaches," as

among the most harassing assaults of Apollyon. In his

desperate conflict with Christian, he taunts him with his fall in

the Slough of Despond, and every successive deviation from

his path, as blotting out his warrant of present favor with the

King, and blasting all hopes of reaching the celestial city.

Christian does not attempt to conceal or palliate the charge.

He knows it is all true, and much more besides! but he knows

that this is true also-"Where sin abounded, grace has much

more abounded." "The blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God

cleanses from all sin." Believers! In the heat of your conflict

remember the only effective covering. "Above all, taking the

shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the

fiery darts of the wicked." Do you not hate the sins, with which

you have been overtaken? Are you not earnestly longing for

deliverance from their power? Then, even while the

recollections of their guilt and defilement humble you before

the Lord, take fresh hold of the gospel, and you shall

"overcome by the blood of the Lamb." Victory must come from

the cross. And the soul that is directing its eye there for

pardon, strength, and consolation, may sigh out the prayer

with acceptance-"Turn away my reproach which I fear." But how deeply is the guilt of apostasy or backsliding

aggravated by the acknowledgment, which all are constrained

to make-"Your judgments are good!" How affecting is the

Lord's admonition with us!-"What iniquity have your fathers

found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked

after vanity, and are become vain? O My people! what have I

done to you, and how have I wearied you? testify against Me.

I have not caused you to serve with an offering, nor wearied

you with incense." No, surely we have nothing to complain of

our Master, of His work, or of His wages: but much, very

much, to complain of ourselves, of our unwatchfulness,

neglect, backsliding; and to humble ourselves on account of

the consequent reproach upon our profession.

Never, however, let us cease to cry, that all the reproach

which we fear on account of our allowed inconsistencies of

profession, may, for the Church's sake, be "turned away from

us." Meanwhile, "let us accept it as the punishment of our

iniquity;" and, in the recollection of the goodness of the Lord's

judgments, still venture to hope and look for the best things to

come out of it from our gracious Lord.



by

Charles Bridges

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