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

INTENSIVE PUNISHMENT 191
wards felt a self-respecting recoil.
The divine forgiveness,
unwearied and inimitable, has brought us health
and salvation. Let us take heed lest old sins creep
back and leave their last indelible trail upon the life.
The recrudescence of past sin may be fatal to our
spiritual hopes. We have fallen and risen again;
is it once or twice or thrice Down into the sunless
depths, and back again into light and blessedness.
And yet another plunge into the cold, dark abyss,
the power of resisting passion and the desire for
virtue
almost gone, and then a new glimpse of light
and redemption. With failing pulse and dejected
spirit whelmed once more into the vortex of sin and
shame ; and yet another faint glimpse of the merciful
face of God. Let us beware of the further fall.
Moral buoyancy is not quite gone, and the hopeless
depths have not become our last prison-house.
The great Healer is still within reach and hearing,
and greets us once more in the temple. Listen to the
admonition joined to His plenary forgiveness :
art made whole ;
unto thee."
''Thou
sin no more lest a worse thing come
III.
Our Lord's words remind us of the intensive
punishment awaiting repeated sin :
" Lest a
worse thing come unto thee."
A solemn comparison is suggested between what
the man has suffered in this life, and what, if deaf to
warning, he may have to suffer in the life to come