The Twenty First of February.IN WORKS THEY DENY HIM--- Titus 1:10."They profess that they
know God; but in works deny him." --- Titus 1:10.
There is a profession of a
special kind, which in its own nature is exposed to the reproach of the
world: "They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
There is a being in Christ,
and not living godly; for there are branches in the vine, by profession,
that bring forth no fruit; men that have not in them the mind that was
in Christ Jesus, which torments the men of earth: but they that will live
godly, that is, engage in a profession that shall, on all occasions, and
in all instances, manifest the power of it, they shall suffer persecution.
We see many every day keep
up a profession; but such a profession as will not provoke the world.
Now this is to be ashamed of the gospel, to be ashamed of the power and
glory of it, to be ashamed of the Author of it. No man can put Jesus Christ
to greater shame than by professing the gospel without showing the power
of it, Phillipians 3:18. There can be no more vile and sordid hypocrisy
than for any to pretend unto inward, habitual sanctification, while their
lives are barren in the fruits of righteousness and obedience. Reader, of all the dangers
in profession, beware of customary, traditional, or doctrinal owning of
gospel truths, without an experimental acquanitance with the reality and
efficacy of them; for all such will have their portion where is "wailing
and gnashing of teeth."
O fairest Pearl of price |