When a man's own sin not only finds him out and comes roaring
after him, but when it dashes past him and gets into the woods and
thickets before him, and stands pawing and foaming on the side of his
way, that is a trial of faith and love and trust indeed. Sometimes a
man's past sins will fill all his future life with sleepless
apprehensions. He is never sure at what turn in his upward way he may
not suddenly run against some of them standing ready to rush out upon
him. And it needs no little quiet trust and humble-minded resignation to
carry a man through this slough and that bottom, up this hill and down
that valley, all the time with his life in his hand; and yet at every
turn, at every rumour that there are lions in the way, to say, Come lion,
come lamb, come death, come life, I must venture, I will yet go forward.
As Job also, that wonderful saint of God, said, 'Hold your peace, let me
alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will. Wherefore do I
take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? Though He slay me,
yet will I trust in Him. He also shall be my salvation; for an hypocrite
shall not come before Him.
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