p. 99 | EXTRACT FROM SCOTT by A. C. Hudson

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 18, 1859

EXTRACT FROM SCOTT.

By A. C. Hudson

[Bro. Smith: It is pleasant to me to come across such passages as the following from Scott’s Practical Observations on Prov. xxviii. It is peculiarly pleasant to find them in old writers. They remind us of old paths. Though you may not deem them worthy of republication in the Review, yet I trust you will not be uninterested in reading them, they are so applicable to those of our times.]

A. C. Hudson.

“It is evident that numbers are not aware of their guilt and danger; but are either insensible through ignorance, or presumptuous through a form of godliness.’ Though they ‘turn away their ears from hearing the law,’ yet they contend for the doctrines of the gospel; they hope to be saved from hell by grace and faith, though they are not saved from sin, and this present evil world. They also attend on ordinances, and make many long prayers, though they neglect justice, truth and mercy: but such prayers are an abomination to the Lord; for they never heartily pray to be delivered from hardness and blindness of heart, hypocrisy, covetousness, and the love of the world, or to have the law of God written on their hearts. Yet alas! there are such numbers who agree in forsaking the law, and in excusing and commending each other; and they meet so many teachers of their own stamp, that they keep themselves and one another in heart and countenance: and they verily conclude, that all else in religion is needlessly strict and scrupulous. So that when such as regard the whole word of God, conscientiously keeping the commandments and walking uprightly, as well as believing the promises, and trusting the mercy of God through Christ for salvation, attempt to contend with them, and argue, ‘that without holiness no man shall see the Lord,’ they treat all their warnings with supercilious contempt, as the result of ignorance, bigotry, and a narrow mind.

“Especially those who are rich or grow rich in this cause, become ‘wise in their own conceits;’ so that ‘there is more hope of a fool than of them.’ And they despise the poor, especially when, being men of understanding, they search them out, and detect their hypocrisy and delusion. For ‘evildoers understand not judgment;’ their lusts blind them, and God sends them strong delusions to believe a lie; so that they mistake hardness of heart, vain confidence and carnal security, for gracious assurance and holy boldness. While the established believer, trusting in the Lord, and walking in the path of duty, fears no enemy or danger, but dreads always lest he should be deceived by his own heart, to dishonor God and commit iniquity; these self-deceivers treat tenderness of conscience and all jealousy of themselves as want or weakness of faith, or remains of a self-righteous spirit; and thus they harden their hearts against fears of every kind, till they fall into mischief. But true piety begins and proceeds in deep humility.”