“Spare thy People, Lord!”
By R. F. Cottrell
The Lord will hear this prayer, a prayer of his own inditing. Is it not time to make this petition with earnestness and faith? “We feel assured that an important crisis in our cause is at hand. Great trials, and also glorious victories, are before us.” I know not how these words may sound to others, but to me they seem prophetic. I believe that the time is at hand for “the fall and the rising of many in Israel.” Warning after warning has been given. Some are heeding these, and are striving for a perfect consecration, and to have their hearts fully in the work of the Lord, deeply imbued with the love of the truth, and with the love of precious souls who may be saved through their faithfulness. Others seem careless. They have slipped out at the back door, are resting from the work, and feel quite at ease. Perhaps they are waiting to see how the cause succeeds, secretly hoping it will come to naught, unless a great revolution takes place in harmony with their own rebellious views and feelings. But the work will move on, and unless they soon move in the way of repentance and confession, they will be left behind forever. There is an individual work to be done. The solemn inquiry is, Who shall stand? Who shall fall? Lord, is it I? My brethren and friends, let us see to this matter at once. I am trying to do so for myself. I have come far short of duty; and I want to confess my way out into the light. I hope still to have the prayers of those who are permitted to come near to the Lord. Lord, help me to draw near. By faith and prayer and the performance of duty we may draw near. The Lord is good; he is not a respecter of persons. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” How precious the assurance. The promise cannot fail. While then as individuals we draw near, our prayer shall be for others, “Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach.”