To be near unto God - pagina 555

and the inclination to

flee

from God was stronger

than to be near unto God. We perceive this change in our spiritual attitude f' early, at once and in the most painful way,

when

it was a sin that tempted us; a sin which, once committed, startled us, and for which we would give anything if the stain of it could immediately be removed from our soul. When, if we may say it in an ordinary way, it was a bad sin. For nothing shows our low moral viewpoint so sadly as our general ignorance of our minor daily

neglected duties, unlovelinesses, expressions egotism, pride and vanity; small untruths, little dishonesties, and much more of the same kind. sins,

of

This

is still

entirely different

from what David

are faults which may stain the garment, but so little as to escape our notice. This refers to unknown sins, and which calls "secret faults."

They

only with later development of soul, will be recognized by us as such. But we know the sins which we say are "not so bad." We have become accustomed to them and therefore they have ceased to trouble us. Our soul no more reacts on them. And of this sort of sins it is certainly true, that they hinder the secret walk with God, but do not prevent it. They do not break what once existed. But they affect the hidden walk with God to this extent, that it becomes sporadic, remains fellowship from a distance, and that we fail of the fuller enjoyment of the same. Interruptions by sin in fellowship with God are only possible when, as a rule, you are near unto 547

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen