63. The Importance of Self Knowledge

"Let no man deceive himself." 1 Cor. 3:18

What a compound of contrarieties is this heart of mine! Heavenly Father! howwonderful is your forbearance; how amazing your patience! I pray unto youfor humility. You graciously hear my request; and put me into a situationwhere my pride is mortified and wounded. Do I then rejoice at perceivingsuch an answer to my prayer? Alas! no. How are my feelings hurt; how dofretful complainings fill my breast. Lord have mercy on so weak, so wretcheda creature, and make me more sensible of the mercies I pray for, and moreresigned to your will.

I pray for the grace of self-denial. In answer to my supplication you giveme an opportunity of exercising this grace. Do I bless you for this token ofyour love? Do I cheerfully embrace this opportunity for self-denial? Ah! no.My heart makes a thousand excuses for a little longer self-indulgence,saying, as Lot did with respect to Zoar, "Is it not a little one?" Oh! hownumberless are the arts of self-deception. How slowly do we attain to theknowledge of ourselves! Lord increase my faith. Subdue my corruptions.Conquer my stubborn will. Cast me into the mold of the gospel, and make mewholly yours.

The danger of self-deception increases in proportion to the magnitude of thething about which we are deceived. The salvation of the soul is the chiefconcern of man; to be deceived on this point, is eternally fatal. TheScriptures divide all mankind into two great classes, the spiritually andthe carnally minded. The one walk by faith, the other by sight; the one, arethe children of God; the other, the children of the devil. The former havetheir affections set on things above; the latter delight in everythingearthly and sensual; their views are bounded by time; their interests arefounded on the 'shadow of a moment'. Strange as it may appear, yet, uponthis airy nothing, the men of the world build their hopes, which vanish likethe midnight dream.

Our Savior has described by parable, the character and end of the richworldling. When the man was promising to himself years of ease and pleasure,the sentence went forth to cut the cumberer down. "You fool! this night yoursoul shall be required of you."

A reflecting mind, impressed with the value of eternal things, mourns overthis infatuation. What man would dare to sleep on the brink of a loose andcrumbling precipice; or to stand on the summit of a mast, during the heavingof the vessel in a storm? And yet, thus rash is the man who trusts in hisriches, and prides himself on worldly greatness. He leans on a vapor; hegrasps a shadow; he sinks into destruction!

No character is more common than the carnally-minded. It is the character ofall the unregenerated part of mankind, whether among Jews, and Heathens, orthe baptized members of the visible Church. Actions speak more forcibly thanwords. They are the test of character. Like fruit upon the tree, they showthe nature of the man, while motives, like the sap, are hidden from ourview.

Faith, producing love and obedience, characterizes the trees ofrighteousness of the Lord's planting; but are these graces of the Spirit tobe found in the hearts of the worldly? Do we not there behold, as evidencedby the life; sensuality and enmity to God? Such people, if rich, arehonored; if generous, are applauded; if possessed of power, are courted andflattered. But what said our Lord; "Woe unto you when all men shall speakwell of you!" "That which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination inthe sight of God."

The world is full of such people, and the visible Church has beencontaminated in every age, by men who love filthy lucre, the lust of power,or the lust of the flesh. Paul mourned over a Demas, who loved this presentworld. John over a Diotrephes, who loved to have the pre-eminence. And theearly Fathers of the Christian Church, over those who stained by impuritythe so-called angelic state of celibacy. The Church of Rome is proverbialfor these evils. Oh! that our Reformed Churches may ever shine in the beautyof holiness, and by a weanedness from the world. But alas! the world hascrept into the Church. Hence arises the drooping state of our onceflourishing vine. Lord look down from heaven, behold and visit this Vine.Water it with the dew of grace. "Revive your work in the midst of theyears."

The history of the gospel is chiefly the history of Christ's conquest overthe spirit of the world. And the number of true Christians, is only thenumber of those who, following the Spirit of Christ, have lived contrary tothe spirit of the world. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he isnone of his." "Whoever is born of God overcomes the world." This is thelanguage of the whole New Testament. This is the mark of Christianity, "Youare dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

O! my soul, as standing on the borders of eternity, weigh well these things.Seek after heavenly wisdom, to know yourself. Dread self-deception. Prepareto meet your God.

There are a thousand ways whereby we may deceive ourselves. Vices, throughthe artifice of Satan, are decked with rose-buds, and concealed underspecious titles. He puts a fascinating mask upon the face of sin, and thus,like the angler, hides the hook. The wretched sinner, like the silly fish,sees not the snare. Like the maniac, he imagines himself a king, while heldin fetters, though his scepter is but a straw! Are not such people objectsof pity? Should they not be subjects for prayer?

Oh! my soul, feel the pulse of your affections. Do they beat for Christ? Ishe your Portion, your Eternal All? If so, then the Spirit of Christ and ofglory rests upon you. God numbers you among his beloved people, his chosenones, his jewels. But if you are a stranger to the covenant of grace; if youare unacquainted with Christ as the hope of glory; if you have never feltthe plague of inward corruption; if you have never come to Christ as a poorheavy laden sinner, nor taken his yoke upon you; if, in short, you are notrenewed in the spirit of your mind, striving against sin, crucifying theflesh, renouncing the world, and perfecting holiness in the fear of God;then are you, however honored, applauded, or courted by the world, an enemyof God, a child of wrath, an heir of hell!

Oh! eternal Spirit of all grace and truth, display your saving power in mysalvation. Convince me of sin. Reveal me to the mighty Savior. Lead me tothe garden of Gethsemane, to the hill of Calvary, that there I may beholdthe bloody sweat, and hear the dying groans, of my crucified Redeemer.There, in the sacred mount, melt my heart to penitence and love, and make mewholly, and entirely yours.

A self-righteous spirit is a spirit of self-delusion, "By the works of thelaw shall no flesh be justified." This is a standing truth of the gospel,which age; cannot alter, though ages past and present have wrought hard topluck it from the word of life.

Who, then, can be saved? The gospel tells us "Believe on the Lord JesusChrist, and you shall be saved." Faith in Christ opens the storehouse ofheaven. Faith lays hold on Him who is the Possessor of all things. This isthe mighty instrument which baffles all the arts of Satan, and the malice ofthe world. It shows the sinner to himself, and leads him to his Savior.

When Paul, by faith, beheld the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and himself, asthe chief of sinners; when he beheld by faith, the preciousness of Christ,and the fullness, the fitness, and the freeness of his great salvation; hewas overwhelmed with the view. Then he renounced his boasted virtues, hislegal righteousness, and desired only, that he might win Christ, and befound in him. Then he gloried in nothing save in Christ crucified. Then hiswish was, to die, and to be with Christ. He hastened to the cross, andthere, through faith, he washed away his sins. He seized, by faith, the robeof righteousness which his Savior wrought, and wrapped it round his nakedsoul. He sought for grace to sanctify him, body, soul, and spirit; toprepare him for sufferings in his Master's service, to preserve him untoeternal glory. He sought and found the blessing. Or, rather, Jesus, inSovereign Love, sought him out, when hastening on his bloody errand toDamascus, and made him a vessel of mercy, a monument of grace, "a pattern tothose who would hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."

Was Saul, the persecuting murderer, converted into a patient lamb? Then, Osinner, fear not, Jesus ever lives. His grace can also save you. Howwonderful is the operation of grace. The churches of Judea, heard thewonderful story; "He who persecuted us in times past, now preaches the faithwhich once he destroyed. And," adds the Apostle, "they glorified God in me."God ever gives his witness to the faithful preaching of the gospel, bymaking it the instrument of turning many to righteousness; and Satan giveshis witness to it, by opposing it with all his might. This arch-enemy wellknows the force and efficacy of preaching the doctrine of the atonement; ofa free justification by faith, without the deeds of the law; of the work ofthe Holy Spirit on the heart; and against such preaching, he plants hisartillery. He enlists, not only the worldly and profane, the infidel and theskeptic into his service, but also the formalist and the moral; yes, evensome in the ministerial office, who, blinded by prejudice, think that theyought, like Saul of Tarsus, to do many things contrary to such preaching asthis.

Do not facts attest this painful statement? We never find a 'moral preacher'derided by the world; neither do we see a moral preacher bringing souls toChrist. He may, by dint of eloquence, arrest the profligate in his course,and lead him to a momentary reflection; but all his powers of rhetoriccannot change his heart. This conquest is reserved for the faithfulpreaching of the Cross. Christ crucified is the blessed magnet, which drawsperishing souls to happiness and heaven. The gospel is "the power of Godunto salvation, to every one that believes," though esteemed foolishness bythe worldly-wise. Blessed are they, who hold forth, by their doctrine, andin their lives, the gospel of the grace of God. They may be called to endurethe wrath of Satan, and the hatred of the world; the reproach of theformalist, and the anathemas of ecclesiastical rulers; but they shall havethe smiles of Christ here, and their portion in his kingdom, though burnedat the stake, as heretics unfit to live.

Blessed be God! against this true Church, the gates of hell shall notprevail. The waves of trouble may dash against it, but it cannot beoverthrown, because it is founded upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, the eternalSon of God. The work of redemption is the work of omnipotence. The word ofGod is mighty in operation. It is as a fire to consume the chaff of error indoctrine, and the dross of sin in practice. It is as a hammer to break inpieces the adamantine heart of the rebellious sinner. It is the wisdom ofGod, and the power of God.

O! my soul, have you experienced this transforming grace, through abelieving reception of Christ crucified? "Examine yourself whether you be inthe faith; prove your own self." Rest not in forms and ceremonies, howeverexcellent. "Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils." Let all yourhope and confidence be in God.

True religion, such as God will approve, is not confined to particular timesand places, but, if truly received into the heart, will show its influencein every place, in every part of the conduct. It is like the sap of a livingtree, which extends to the most distant boughs, and circulates through thesmallest fibers. Not only actions, but words; not only words, but thoughts;yes, motives, affections, and desires, are guided by the law of truth, andinfluenced by the law of love.

True religion consists in the right dispositions of a heart, sanctified bythe Spirit of Christ; a heart, where self is humbled, where Jesus reigns,where holiness is promoted. When the renewed soul is enabled, through thepower of the Spirit, not only to discern the exceeding sinfulness of sin,but also to forsake it; when it is strengthened by faith to overcome theworld, and to trust in the righteousness of Christ alone for salvation; notpleading its own good works, (those never failing fruits of faith), but theriches of redeeming love; when the renewed soul is brought, through thepower of the Holy Spirit, to put on the Lord Jesus Christ,. in his temper,mind, and spirit, being clothed with humility, beautified by meekness, andadorned with charity; when thus renewed and born again, living upon Christby faith, and being spiritually united to him, as the member to the head,the soul can cast itself in deep contrition at the foot of the loss,bewailing the imperfections of its holiest services, and imploring pardonand acceptance through the atoning sacrifice and all-perfect righteousnessof the Redeemer; then is that soul truly a member of Christ, a child of God,and shall soon be made the happy inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.

Is this the prevailing character of baptized Christians? Does the visibleChurch thus shine in the beauty of holiness? Are all her members temples ofthe Holy Spirit? Would it not be so, if all were spiritually born again inbaptism, since Paul has declared that "the gifts and calling of God arewithout repentance?" Oh! it is well to have the mind scripturallyenlightened, at a time when many would substitute the doctrines of men forthe truth of God.

Some people are apt to confound the sign with the thing signified, and thusto make the ordinance of baptism and spiritual regeneration to be one andthe same operation; that is, that every child sprinkled with water isinvariably born again of the Spirit.

"The agency of the Holy Spirit, when he testifies of Christ and glorifieshim, is quite distinct from the means which conveys the testimony. Thisimportant distinction is carefully noted in Scripture. In confirmation ofthis truth, it is written, that the Lord opened the heart of Lydia to attendunto the things which were spoken by Paul. In this instance we plainly seethe man of God preaching Christ, and all that is needful for the conversionof the soul on one hand; on the other, the God of all grace exercising hispowerful influence, by which the Apostle's preaching obtained success."(Venn)

Preaching the Gospel is a divinely-appointed means of grace; so also are thesacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Super; but, as in the former, theagency of the Holy Spirit is quite distinct from the means; so it is withrespect to the two latter. Many heard Paul preach with as much power asLydia did; but they remained unconverted, and why? because of the hardnessof their hearts! Many receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper withoutbenefit, being destitute of true faith. And multitudes are baptized in thename of Christ, who never manifest their love to him, being still in thebonds of iniquity; for the agency of the Holy Spirit can alone render themeans effectual, and not any power or virtue vested in the priest, or in thesacramental rite, apart from, the Sovereign grace of God.

The Holy Spirit's influence must, then, ever be earnestly implored, throughfaith in the name of Christ, whenever we hear the gospel preached, andwhenever the sacraments are administered. We must cease from man. "Who thenis Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as theLord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave theincrease."

How different is the language and the doctrine of the Apostles, from theirboasted successors in the Church of Rome. Oh! that our Reformed Churches mayever be preserved from Papal errors; and, like the primitive Church ofJerusalem, "continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Then will a divine blessing restupon the labors of faithful ministers, "and many people will be added untothe Lord." Ordinances will then become as wells of salvation, out of whichwe shall draw, by faith, the living water, through the blessed influence ofthe Holy Spirit.

"Simon Magus was baptized, and yet remained in the gall of bitterness, andin the bond of iniquity, as much after his baptism as he was before. And soit may be with us. And this is an infallible proof, that the change whichthe Scriptures call the new birth, does not always and of necessityaccompany this sacred ordinance. As the circumcision of the heart did notalways accompany the circumcision of the flesh, so neither does therenovation of the soul always accompany the outward rite of baptism, whichshadows it forth; and if only our opponents will distinguish the sign fromthe thing signified, and assign to each its proper place and office, therewill be an immediate end of this controversy." (Simeon)

Oh! my soul, pray earnestly to be guided into all truth. Guard against theinfluence of those, who would draw you from the simplicity of the gospel. Itis most important, not only to know, but to be established, in the truth asit is in Jesus.

In the transactions of life, one false step is often attended with temporallosses; but in religion, false doctrine, producing wrong conduct as itsnatural fruit, endangers the salvation of the soul. Errors in doctrine arealways dangerous, and never more so, than when they are disguised andclothed with the name of truth. Let me, then, never trifle with a subjectwhich involves my present comfort and future felicity.

Am I born again? What question can be more important. Am I a child of God,or am I not? There are some who will say, "You are." If I ask, When was Imade one of God's children? They will reply, "When you were baptized." Must;I, then, rest satisfied with this answer? Must I conclude that I am adoptedinto the family of God, through the baptism of water, without any internalevidence of the baptism of the Spirit? Must I take to myself the preciouspromises of the new covenant, if destitute of a new heart? Must I callheaven my home, if my affections are glued to this world? Surely I ought tolook further into this weighty subject, lest, like the foolish virgins, whenthe cry is made, "Behold, the bridegroom comes; go out to meet him," Ishould only have the lamp of an outward profession, while destitute of theoil of an inward and spiritual grace.

John the Baptist, when showing the superior nature of the Baptism of Christ,said "He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire;" adds, "Hisfan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather hiswheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchablefire." How strikingly is the mixed character of the visible Church describedby this simile. He who runs may read, except his eyes be blinded throughunbelief, and prejudice, and error.

What can be more awakening, than the declaration which Jesus made tocircumcised Jews, and therefore equally applicable to baptized Christians,when he was commending the faith of the Roman Centurion; "Verily I say untoyou, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you,That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down withAbraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the children ofthe kingdom, (awful thought,) shall be cast out into outer darkness; thereshall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Surely this should make everyChristian to tremble, yes, all who rest their hopes of heaven upon theirChurch membership, and their baptismal regeneration, if they are unrenewedin the spirit of their mind. "The children of the kingdom shall be cast outinto outer darkness." Searching words indeed!

The Church, it is true, received me when an infant, into her maternal bosom,by the outward rite of baptism. I was then signed with the sign of thecross, as a badge of my profession, that I might become, through grace, afaithful soldier of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was supplicated for me,and, in the language of hope and charity, I was admitted to the privilegesof the gospel covenant, as a regenerated member of the universal Church.But, though thus received, much remained to be done. When come to years ofdiscretion, I was taught by the Church, that all who truly receive theinward and spiritual grace of baptism, must die unto sin, and live untorighteousness; must repent and believe the gospel; that I am bound toperform, in my own person, the promises and vows then made for me by mysureties, and that if such performance be left undone, I am, by a naturalinference, unregenerated, and have no saving interest in the blessings ofthe baptismal covenant.
That my mind might be deeply impressed with this truth, the Church puts thisquestion to my conscience; "Do you not think, that you are BOUND to believe,and to do, as they have promised for you?"

In the same spirit of hope and charity, the Church teaches me to say, "Yes,verily, and by God's help so I will. And I heartily thank our heavenlyFather, that he has called me to this state of salvation through JesusChrist our Savior. And I pray unto God to give me his grace, that I maycontinue in the same unto my life's end."

Truly this is the language of a regenerate heart; language which only such aheart can sincerely utter in the presence of a heart-searching God. All whocan say from the heart, in sincerity and truth, not trusting to their ownstrength, but to the grace of God, that they will renounce the devil and allhis works; the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinfullusts of the flesh; that they will believe all the articles of the Christianfaith, and keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same allthe days of their life; and whose lives are agreeable to their profession,are truly the members of Christ, the children of God, and the inheritors ofthe kingdom of heaven.

But, I would ask, is this the heartfelt language, is this the sinceredetermination, of every baptized child? Experience, alas! says no, for atree is known by its fruits. If, while repeating these solemn vows andpromises made for them at their baptism, and ratified by themselves atconfirmation, the works of the devil are practiced; the pomps and vanity ofthe world idolized; the sinful lusts of the flesh indulged; the truths ofthe gospel, practically disbelieved; and the will and commandments of God,habitually transgressed; can such people be considered as regenerated, inthe saving sense of the term? Though sprinkled with water, and baptized inthe name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and thusadmitted as members of the visible Church, can they, while thus enslaved bysin, be the very members incorporate in the mystical body of Christ, whichis the blessed company of all faithful people; and be also heirs, throughhope, of his everlasting kingdom?

Surely a broad distinction must be made between real and nominal Christians,if we would avoid a strong delusion. If the blind lead the blind, it is nomarvel, if both fall into the ditch. Oh! let us understand what regenerationreally is, and the self-righteous will shrink from claiming it in baptism;and the spiritually-minded will regard baptism as a real help to holiness,humility, and love. From all this, it is evident, that throughout herbeautiful liturgical services, from the baptismal font, to the burial of thedead, the Church of England provides for the strengthening and refreshing ofreal believers, not for the formal services of her worldly members. Shecould not furnish two liturgies- one for the sincere, and the other for thehypocrite. If any of her members draw near to God with their mouths, whiletheir hearts are far from him, they, and not the Church, will be answerablefor such hypocrisy.

Though baptized when infants, and thus brought into a covenant relation withGod, we are bound, when arrived at riper years, to repent and believe thegospel. If we live and die impenitent and unbelieving, we shall never beadmitted into the temple above. Great, indeed, is the delusion of those whoplace their hopes of heaven on the performance of outward forms, whiledestitute of the Spirit of Christ. And great is the responsibility of thoseministers who, to such people cry, "peace, peace, when there is no peace."

"Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life; and fewthere be that find it;" are the words of Him to whom all hearts are open,and from whom no secrets are hidden. Surely this declaration should awakenall our solicitude, when it is added, "Wide is the gate, and broad is theway, that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in there."

Am I now walking with the many, or the few? How important is self-knowledge.How dangerous is self-deception! Oh! that I may have grace to detect thedeceits of Satan, the corruptions of my heart, the temptations of the world.The door of mercy is still open. The God of all grace is waiting to begracious. Jesus is pointing to his hands, his feet, his side. The Spiritbids me fly from the wrath to come; to hasten to the Ark of the everlastingCovenant. Oh! my soul, why linger, like Lot in Sodom? "The Spirit and theBride say, Come." The Savior says, "Come, for all things are now ready;" thefeast is provided; "and yet there is room." God the Father, Son, and Spirit,the Eternal Jehovah, invites you to happiness and glory; he calls you to theMarriage Supper of the Lamb, where saints and angels are the guests; yes,where He Himself will be your everlasting Portion.

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