A wounding before healing

Whitefield · #1 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote:

There are sharp reproofs, and sad corrections of his holy law, which must make way for the pleasant and sweet gospel. There is a reproof of life,—a wounding before healing,—that whoso refuse them, despise their own soul, but 'the ear that heareth them abideth among the wise,' Prov. 15.31,32. Woe unto that soul that correction or reproof or threatening is grievous unto; 'he shall die,' Prov. 15.10; 'he is brutish,' Prov. 12.1. There is a generation of men that can endure to hear nothing but gospel-promises; that cry out against all reproving of sins, and preaching of God's wrath against unbelieving sinners, as legal, and meddling with other men's matters, especially if they reprove the sins of rulers, their public state enormities; as if the whole word of God were not profitable; as if reproofs were not as wholesome as consolations; as if threatenings did not contribute to make men flee from the wrath to come into a city of refuge. Let such persons read their own character out of wise Solomon, 'Correction is grievous to them that forsake the way.' 'Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee; give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser,' Prov. 9.8,9. If we were pleasers of men, then were we not the servants of Jesus Christ; let us strive to profit men, but not to please them. Peace, peace, which men's own hearts fancy, would please them; but it were better for them to be awakened out of that dream, by reproof, by correction; and he that will do so, shall 'find more favour of him afterwards, than he that flattereth with the tongue,' Prov. 28.23.

Hugh Binning
from Lecture III in The Common Principles of the Christian Religion

Augusta · #2 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009, 01:56 PM

That's awesome! Thanks for posting that.

william.m. · #3 (**permalink**) 07-16-2009, 10:09 AM

A translation from a Gaelic saying by Rev T ,Mackay"The law is the needle that pierces, and the gospel the thread that mends.There must be a wound before there is healing ,or a tying up"
"Is e an lagh an t-snathad a tha tolladh, is e an soisgeal an snaithlean a tha fuaigheal. Feumaidh lot a bhi ann mu's bi slanachadh no ceangeal suas ann."