View source for 67. Teach me good judgment and knowledge

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<p>'''67. Teach me good judgment and knowledge; but now have I kept Your word.<br />
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  The teaching of good judgment and knowledge will lead us to deprecate, instead of desiring, a prosperous state. But should the Christian, by the appointment of God, be thrown into the seductive atmosphere, he will feel the prayer that is so often put into his lips, most peculiarly expressive of his need, &quot;In all time of our wealth—Good Lord, deliver us!&quot; (Litany.) A time of wealth is indeed a time of special need. <br /><br />It is hard to restrain the flesh, when so many are the baits for its indulgence. Such mighty power is here given to the enemy, while our perception of his power is fearfully weakened! Many and affecting instances are recorded of the hardening of the heart even of the Lord's people, in the deadening influence of a proud and worldly spirit.<br /><br /> But the fate of the ungodly is written as with a sunbeam for our warning, &quot;When Jeshurun waxed fat, he kicked—I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, I will not hear.&quot; But how awful will be the period, when the question shall speak to the conscience with all the poignancy of self-conviction, &quot;What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed?&quot; What is the end of this flowery path? &quot;Death!&quot; &quot;Surely You set them in slippery places: You cast them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors&quot; &quot;the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.&quot;<br />
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  Our Saviour's allotment for His people, &quot;In the world you shall have tribulation&quot;—marks not less His wisdom than His love. This is the gracious rod, by which He scourges back His prodigal children to Himself. This is the wise discipline, by which He preserves them from the poisoned sweetness of carnal allurements, and keeps their hearts in a simple direction towards Himself, as the well-spring of their everlasting joy. With all of them this one method has been pursued. All have been taught in one school.<br /><br /> All have known the power of affliction in some of its varied forms of inward conflict or outward trouble. All have found a time of affliction a time of love. All have given proof, that the pains bestowed upon them have not been in vain. Thus did Manasseh in affliction beseech &quot;the Lord, and humble himself greatly before the Lord God of his fathers.&quot; Thus also in afflictions the Lord &quot;heard Ephraim bemoaning himself;&quot; and beheld Israel &quot;seeking Him early,&quot; and the forlorn wandering child casting a wishful, penitent look towards his Father's house, as if the pleasures that had enticed his heart from home, were now embittered to the soul.<br /><br />
  And thus the Christian can give some account of the means, by which his Father is leading and preparing him for heaven. Perhaps he did not at first see the reason. It was matter of faith, not of consciousness. But in looking back, how clear the path, how valuable the benefit, Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now have I kept Your word. 'I never prized it before. I could indeed scarcely be said to know it. I never understood its comfort, until affliction expounded it to me.<br /><br /> I never until now saw its suitableness to my case.' But what an heightened aggravation of guilt, when these especial mercies fail of their gracious end—when vanity, worldliness, and sin still reign with uncontrolled sway! Ah! when sinners are unhumbled &quot;under the mighty hand of God&quot;—when they are afflicted, and not purged by affliction—when it is said of them, &quot;They received not correction&quot;—it seems the forerunner of that tremendous judgment, &quot;Why should you be stricken any more?&quot;<br />
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  Heavenly Father! keep Your poor, weak, erring child from this fearful doom. Let not that measure of prosperity, which You may be pleased to give, prove my curse. But especially let every cross, every affliction which You are pleased to mingle in my cup, conform me more to my Saviour's image, restrain my heart from its daily wanderings, endear Your holy ways and word to my soul, and give me sweeter anticipations of that blessed home, where I shall never wander more, but find my eternal happiness in keeping Your word.
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