Morning   “Thou hatest wickedness.”   Psalm 45:7

“Be ye angry, and sin not.” There can hardly be goodness in a man if he be not

angry at sin; he who loves truth must hate every false way. How our Lord Jesus

hated it when the temptation came! Thrice it assailed him in different forms,

but ever he met it with, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” He hated it in others;

none the less fervently because he showed his hate oftener in tears of pity than

in words of rebuke; yet what language could be more stern, more Elijah-like,

than the words, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour

widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer.” He hated wickedness, so

much that he bled to wound it to the heart; he died that it might die;

he was buried that he might bury it in his tomb; and he rose that he might

forever trample it beneath his feet. Christ is in the Gospel, and that Gospel is

opposed to wickedness in every shape. Wickedness arrays itself in fair garments,

and imitates the language of holiness; but the precepts of Jesus, like his

famous scourge of small cords, chase it out of the temple, and will not tolerate

it in the Church. So, too, in the heart where Jesus reigns, what war there is

between Christ and Belial! And when our Redeemer shall come to be our Judge,

those thundering words, “Depart, ye cursed” which are, indeed, but a

prolongation of his life-teaching concerning sin, shall manifest his abhorrence

of iniquity. As warm as is his love to sinners, so hot is his hatred of sin; as

perfect as is his righteousness, so complete shall be the destruction of every

form of wickedness. O thou glorious champion of right, and destroyer of wrong,

for this cause hath God, even thy God, anointed thee with the oil of gladness

above thy fellows.

 

Evening   Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city

Jericho.”    Joshua 6:26

Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jericho, much more the man who labours to

restore Popery among us. In our fathers’ days the gigantic walls of Popery fell

by the power of their faith, the perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of

their gospel trumpets; and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed

system upon its old foundation. O Lord, be pleased to thwart their unrighteous

endeavours, and pull down every stone which they build. It should be a serious

business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error which may have a

tendency to foster the spirit of Popery, and when we have made a clean sweep at

home we should seek in every way to oppose its all too rapid spread abroad

in the church and in the world. This last can be done in secret by fervent

prayer, and in public by decided testimony. We must warn with judicious boldness

those who are inclined towards the errors of Rome; we must instruct the young in

gospel truth, and tell them of the black doings of Popery in the olden times. We

must aid in spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for priests,

like owls, hate daylight. Are we doing all we can for Jesus and the gospel? If

not, our negligence plays into the hands of the priestcraft. What are we doing

to spread the Bible, which is the Pope’s bane and poison? Are we casting abroad

good, sound gospel writings? Luther once said, “The devil hates

goose quills” and, doubtless, he has good reason, for ready writers, by the

Holy Spirit’s blessing, have done his kingdom much damage. If the thousands who

will read this short word this night will do all they can to hinder the

rebuilding of this accursed Jericho, the Lord’s glory shall speed among the sons

of men. Reader, what can you do? What will you do?