The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

INTENSIVE PUNISHMENT 181
became his safeguard against after-failure, and was
the first foundation-stone upon which a sounder
character began to rise in the eleventh hour of
his opportunity. The history is true to experience,
for the power to rule his life in virtue and righteousness
comes to many a man in the hour when he is
faithful to his convictions, and makes an outward
confession of Jesus Christ.
I.
These words of admonition show to us that in the
Lord's judgment the beginnings of sin were
inward, and it might work as much havoc in
the soul as in the body.
No account is
taken of the traditions and the social
expediencies which from time immemorial have
branded sin in its outward developments, and have
ignored its
poisons in the secret channels of the life.
A critical Pharisee who had heard these words might
have said, " Such a warning is overstrained. The
poor man is all right. He has fallen into no new
breach of the commandments, and he gives no
sign whatever of reverting to the laxities of his
early life. He is an old man, beyond reach of all
fleshly temptations ; and why throw the past in
his teeth Is he not fulfilling the duties binding
upon a devout and reverent Jew, and could he be
in a better place than the temple Does this socalled
prophet mean to imply that the atmosphere