My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
Earnest musing sets the heart hot and burning within with animating power until the inward fire compels speech with the tongue about what has been seen and felt. Keeping before the mind the worth of souls and the matchless depths of a Saviour's love in such musing awakens the soul and energizes it, thrilling the whole being with the power of truth. Earnest searching and reflection on the vivid truths revealed in Scripture makes hearts burn and brightens hope with its precious promises strewn through it.
Dwelling on the history of the patriarchs, the prophets, and the men who loved and feared and walked with God makes the heart glow with the spirit that animated those worthies. As the mind dwells on the virtue and piety of holy men of old, their spirit kindles love and holy fervor to be like them in character, awakening holy emulation and desire to follow their example. Beholding by faith the wonderful plan of redemption and the glory of the only begotten Son, and contemplating the unfathomable love shown in Christ's death on Calvary's cross so that sinners might not perish but have everlasting life, inevitably supplies words with which to extol the Saviour's glory and tell His excellencies. His glory is not merely to be contemplated but to be spoken, for musing upon the wondrous love of God makes the heart hot and kindles fire within so that one cannot but speak.
For those preaching weighty truths, this inward burning cures listlessness and indolence and gives power to labor earnestly and with untiring zeal, to affect hearts and to show firm belief in what is preached to others. By contrast, framing excuses for neglecting to become acquainted with the word leads to neglecting the claims of God, deforms the character, and makes words and acts a reproach to the truth.
Earnest musing sets the heart hot and burning within with animating power until the inward fire compels speech with the tongue about what has been seen and felt. Keeping before the mind the worth of souls and the matchless depths of a Saviour's love in such musing awakens the soul and energizes it, thrilling the whole being with the power of truth. Earnest searching and reflection on the vivid truths revealed in Scripture makes hearts burn and brightens hope with its precious promises strewn through it.
Dwelling on the history of the patriarchs, the prophets, and the men who loved and feared and walked with God makes the heart glow with the spirit that animated those worthies. As the mind dwells on the virtue and piety of holy men of old, their spirit kindles love and holy fervor to be like them in character, awakening holy emulation and desire to follow their example. Beholding by faith the wonderful plan of redemption and the glory of the only begotten Son, and contemplating the unfathomable love shown in Christ's death on Calvary's cross so that sinners might not perish but have everlasting life, inevitably supplies words with which to extol the Saviour's glory and tell His excellencies. His glory is not merely to be contemplated but to be spoken, for musing upon the wondrous love of God makes the heart hot and kindles fire within so that one cannot but speak.
For those preaching weighty truths, this inward burning cures listlessness and indolence and gives power to labor earnestly and with untiring zeal, to affect hearts and to show firm belief in what is preached to others. By contrast, framing excuses for neglecting to become acquainted with the word leads to neglecting the claims of God, deforms the character, and makes words and acts a reproach to the truth.