Spurgeon: July AM
* 07/14/AM
"If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it."
--Exodus 20:25
God'S altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace
of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom
delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a
system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved
tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the
gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another
gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and
amendments of the Lord's own Word are defilements and
pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a
hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations
for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted
in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted,
and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon
the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so
far from perfecting the Saviour's work, their carnal confidences
only pollute and dishonour it. The Lord alone must be exalted in
the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or
hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in
seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments
declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord
Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with
thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and
accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and
rest in Him alone.
Many professors may take warning from this morning's text as
to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians
far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of
revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us
strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing
that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all
the more fit to build an altar for the Lord.