Spurgeon: June PM
* 06/14/PM
"O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face . . . because we have
sinned against Thee."
--Daniel 9:8
A deep sense and clear sight of sin, its heinousness, and the
punishment which it deserves, should make us lie low before the
throne. We have sinned as Christians. Alas! that it should be
so. Favoured as we have been, we have yet been ungrateful: privileged beyond most, we have not brought forth fruit in
proportion. Who is there, although he may long have been engaged
in the Christian warfare, that will not blush when he looks back
upon the past? As for our days before we were regenerated, may
they be forgiven and forgotten; but since then, though we have
not sinned as before, yet we have sinned against light and
against love--light which has really penetrated our minds, and
love in which we have rejoiced. Oh, the atrocity of the sin of a
pardoned soul! An unpardoned sinner sins cheaply compared with
the sin of one of God's own elect ones, who has had communion
with Christ and leaned his head upon Jesus' bosom. Look at
David! Many will talk of his sin, but I pray you look at his
repentance, and hear his broken bones, as each one of them moans
out its dolorous confession! Mark his tears, as they fall upon
the ground, and the deep sighs with which he accompanies the
softened music of his harp! We have erred: let us, therefore,
seek the spirit of penitence. Look, again, at Peter! We speak
much of Peter's denying his Master. Remember, it is written, "He
wept bitterly." Have we no denials of our Lord to be lamented
with tears? Alas! these sins of ours, before and after
conversion, would consign us to the place of inextinguishable
fire if it were not for the sovereign mercy which has made us to
differ, snatching us like brands from the burning. My soul, bow
down under a sense of thy natural sinfulness, and worship thy
God. Admire the grace which saves thee--the mercy which spares
thee--the love which pardons thee!