Law: repentance

Friday, November 8, 2019
    Feast of Saints & Martyrs of England
Meditation:
    So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
    —Romans 2:3-4 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Repentance is but a kind of table-talk, till we see so much of the deformity of our inward nature, as to be in some degree frightened and terrified at the sight of it...
    A plausible form of an outward life, that has only learned rules and modes of religion by use and custom, often keeps the soul for some time at ease, though all its inward root and ground of sin has never been shaken or molested, though it has never tasted of the bitter waters of repentance, and has only known the want of a Saviour by hearsay.
    But things cannot pass thus: sooner or later, repentance must have a broken and a contrite heart; we must with our blessed Lord go over the brook Cedron, and with Him sweat great drops of sorrow, before He can say for us, as He said for Himself: “It is finished.”
    ... William Law (1686-1761), Christian Regeneration [1739], in Works of Rev. William Law, v. V, London: G. Moreton, 1893, p. 152-153 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 2:3-4; Ps. 51:17; Luke 22:44; John 18:1; 19:30; Jas. 4:8-10; Rev. 2:5; 3:19
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, break down all my resistance to Your call to repentance. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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