Troy a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 5:8
"Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies;
*Very bitter is the enmity of the world against the people of Christ. Men will forgive a thousand faults in others, but they will magnify the most trivial offence in the followers of Jesus. Instead of vainly regretting this, let us turn it to account, and since so many are watching for our halting, let this be a special motive for walking very carefully before God.
If we live carelessly, the lynx-eyed world will soon see it, and with its hundred tongues, it will spread the story, exaggerated and emblazoned by the zeal of slander. They will shout triumphantly. Aha! So would we have it!
SEE HOW THESE CHRISTIANS ACT!
THEY ARE HYPOCRITES TO MAN!
Thus will much damage be done to the cause of Christ, and much insult offered to His name. The cross of Christ is in itself an offense of our own. It is "to the Jew a stumblingblock": let us mind that we put no stumblingblock where there are enough already.
"To the Greek it is foolishness": le us not add our folly to give point to the scorn with which the wordly-wise deride the gospel. How jealous should we be of ourselves!how rigid with our consciences!
In the presence of adversaries who will misrepresent our best deeds, and impugn our motives where they cannot censure our actions, how circumspect should we be! Pilgrims travel as suspected persons through Vanity Fair. Not only are we under surveillance, but there are more spies than we reck of. The espionage is everywhere, at home and abroad. If we fall into the enemies hand we may sooner expect generosity from a wolf, or mercy from a friend, than anything like patience with our infirmities from men who spice their infidelity towards God with scandals against His people. O Lord, lead us ever, lest our enemies trip us up!
Amen.
May the Father keep you through His Son Jesus Christ.
Yort ( Troy )
