Thread: All other systems of religion (or rather of "philosophy falsely so called") allure their disciples by the indulgence of carnal lust or self complacent pride.
All other systems of religion (or rather of "philosophy falsely so called") allure their disciples by the indulgence of carnal lust or self complacent pride.
Posted : 6 Aug, 2013 02:21 AM
Psalm 119:140 Your word is very pure: therefore Your servant loves it
.
The Psalmist's love for the law of his God may account for the
zeal he felt on account of its general neglect. All other
systems of religion (or rather of "philosophy falsely so called")
allure their disciples by the indulgence of carnal lust or self complacent pride. The word of God outweighs them all in its
chief excellence-peculiar to itself-its purity. "Every word is very
pure- tried to the uttermost" in the furnace, and found to be
absolutely without dross. Its promises are without a shadow of
change or unfaithfulness. Its precepts reflect the holy image of
their Divine Author. In a word, it contains 'truth without any
mixture of error for its matter'-Therefore Your servant loves it.
'No one but a true servant of God can therefore love it,
because it is pure; since he who loves it must desire to be like
it, to feel its efficacy, to be reformed by it.' The unlettered
believer cannot well discern its sublimity; but he loves it for its
holiness. The mere scholar, on the other hand, admires its
sublimity-but the secrets which it reveals (such as the pride of
the natural heart struggles to conceal) forbid him to love it. Its
purity, which is the matter of love to the one, excites enmity in
the other. From "the glass" which shows him "his natural
face"-his neglected obligations-his fearfully self-deluded state and his appalling prospects-he turns away in disgust. The
indulgence of sin effectually precludes the benefit of the most
industrious search into the word of God. The heart must
undergo an entire renewal-it must be sanctified and cleansed,
yes, be "baptized with the Holy Spirit," before it can discern,
or- when it has discerned-can love, the purity of the word of
God. Witness the breathings of Brainerd's soul in this holy
atmosphere-'Oh, that my soul were holy, as He is holy! Oh,
that it were pure, even as Christ is pure; and perfect, as my
Father in heaven is perfect! These I feel are the sweetest
commands in God's book, comprising all others.' 'Oh, how
refreshing'- exclaims the beloved Martyn-'and supporting to
my soul was the holiness of the word of God! Sweeter than
the sweetest promise at this time, was the constant and
manifest tendency of the word, to lead men to holiness and
the deepest seriousness.'
The valuable end for which we "desire this word" is, "that we
may grow thereby"-grow in purity of heart and conduct;
learning to shrink from the touch of sin; "cleansing ourselves
from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and perfecting holiness in
the fear of God." Our "esteem" for it-"more than our necessary
food"-will be in proportion to our growth in grace, an evidence
of this growth, and a constant spring of holy enjoyment.
An additional excitement to love its purity is the exhibition of
that purity embodied in our perfect pattern, in Him, who was
"holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners." For
the habit of "beholding the Savior" with the eye of faith "in the
glass of the word," conforms us to His image. But be it ever
remembered, that its holiness can have no fellowship, and
communicate no life, except in its own atmosphere. Oh, for a
larger influence of the Spirit of God upon our souls, that we
may enjoy the purifying delights of the word of God; that we
may live in it, live by it to the glory of our dear Redeemer, and
