The New Life

THIS
XVIII.
STUMBI^INGS.
••
In many things we all stumble."—Jas. iiL a.
word of God by James is the description of
what man is, even the Christian, when he is not
kept by grace. It serves to take away from us all
hope in ourselves.* " Now unto Him that is able to
guard you from stumbling ... be glory, majesty,
dominion and power . . . for evermore"
(Jude 24, 25). This word of God by Jude points to
Him who can keep from falling, and stirs up the soul
to ascribe to Him the honor and the power. It
serves to confirm our hope in God.^ " Brethren, give
the more diligence to make your calling and election
sure : for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble"
(2 Pet. i. 10), This word of God by Peter
teaches us the way in which we can become partakers
of the keeping of the Almighty : the confirmation of
our election by God in a godlike walk (see vers. 4, 8,
II ).
It serves to lead us into diligence and conscientious
watchfulness.'
For the young Christian, it is often a diflScult question
what he ought to think of his stumblings.
1 Rom. vii. 14, 23; GaL vi x.
3 3 Cor. i.
9 ; X Thess. v. 24 ; a Thess. ii. x6, 17, iii 3.
' Matt xzvi 41 ; I«uke xiL 35
; x Pet. L X3, v. &-10.
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On