CONCLUDING REMARKS

Many other things we might give you warning of, gentle Reader, if we had not exceeded the measure of a preface already. It remains that we commend you to God, and to the Spirit of His grace, which is able to build further than we can ask or think. He removes the scales from our eyes, the veil from our hearts, opening our minds that we may understand His Word, enlarging our hearts, yes, correcting our affections, that we may love it above gold and silver, yes, that we may love it to the end. You are brought unto fountains of living water which you did not dig [GEN 26:15] [? JER 2:13]; do not cast earth into them, with the Philistines, neither prefer broken pits before them, with the wicked Jews. Others have labored, and you may enter into their labors. O receive not so great things in vain. O despise not so great salvation. Be not like swine to tread under foot so precious things, neither yet like dogs to tear and abuse holy things. Say not to our Savior with the Gergesites, Depart out of our coasts [MAT 8:34]; neither yet with Esau sell your inheritance of the firstborn for a meal of stew [HEB 12:16]. If light be come into the world, love not darkness more than light: if food, if clothing, be offered, go not naked, starve not yourselves. Remember the advice of Nazianzene, "It is a grievous thing (or dangerous) to neglect a great fair, and to seek to make markets afterwards." Remember also the encouragement of Chrysostom, "It is altogether impossible, that he who is sober and watchful should at any time be neglected." Lastly remember the admonition and threat of Augustine, "Those who despise God’s will inviting them, shall feel God’s will taking vengeance on them." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God [HEB 10:31]. But it is a blessed thing and will bring us to everlasting blessedness in the end when God speaks to us, to listen carefully; when He sets His Word before us, to read it; when He stretches out His hand and calls us to answer, "Here am I, here we are to do Your will, O God." The Lord work a desire and conscience in us to know and serve Him, that we may be acknowledged of Him at the appearing of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, to whom with the Holy Spirit be all praise and thanksgiving. Amen.

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This Page Last Updated: 12/09/98 A. Allison Lewis aalewis@christianbeliefs.org