Charles Simeon on why true believers love the whole will of God. "There is not any thing that more truly characterizes a Christian than this [that is, loving the whole will of God]: it draws a line of distinction between him and all other persons upon earth. The self-righteous Pharisee, and the most refined hypocrite, have secret objections against the law of God; they think its precepts too strict, and its sanctions too severe. They would be glad if it left them somewhat greater latitude. They would be content that it should forbid gross outward sins, and insist on the performance of outward duties: but that it should call for continual self-denial, that it should require brokenness of heart and contrition for the most secret offences, and demand the utmost exertion of all our faculties in the service of our God, this appears too much; they would wish for an easier way to heaven. But a person that possesses the smallest measure of true holiness, is the very reverse of this. He lothes himself for not complying more perfectly with the demands of the law; but he never condemns the law as too strict; he would not have it require one jot or tittle less than it does. He even admires and loves it for its purity; he says with David, “The commandment of the Lord is pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.” He acknowledges it to be not only “holy, and just, but good” also, and calculated to make every one happy that obeys it. And though he cannot obey it perfectly, he can truly say, “I delight in the law of God after my inward man:” yea, the language of his heart is, “O that my ways were made so direct, that I might keep thy statutes.”
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 13:18:38 +0000
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