Turning Point

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I now revisit that painful message which first provoked such a flood of prejudice and contradiction against our sincere labours, and by which my stand upon the very reformed faith was called into public question. Yet, just as the blessed Word doth assure us, God, in His unerring Providence, doth crown our graces with suffering and trials! And, O the marvel of His sovereign working! That very trial became the cause for which I was eventually constrained to praise the Name of God! For it was this testing which, by a gracious, severe, and necessary discipline, led me at last into the correct and biblical form of church government, creed, and confession—under which I now stand, and to which I wholeheartedly and joyfully adhere. Thus, even the sharpest sting of human opposition was turned by the hand of God into a refuge of truth and a foundation of assurance!

Now consider the very heart of that message which stirred such controversy. The truth pressed home was simply this: that patience is the blessed fruit of faith tried by fire, and not the cause or the means of our eternal salvation. But alas! There remain amongst us those who, lacking the sweet unction of grace and true spiritual discernment, are utterly Pharisaical in their strict, unyielding adherence to the mere letter of the Law! These men, upon misunderstanding a single, linguistic inch of doctrine, will immediately sentence it as being equal in scope to the total length of damnable heresy! One laments the lack of charity in such graceless judgment. May the Lord grant us a heart that cleaves to the truth, yet loves the brother, even when that brother is quick to condemn!

We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.
1 Corinthians 4:12-13

For this seeming mishap I bless God who forever is worthy of praise, for the revelation and wonder of His glorious covenants.

The Trial of our Faith: James 1 : 1 - 5
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