Required reading
The Christian's daily walk, in holy security and peace by Henry Scudder (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 15 (Concerning false fears) by reading Sections 1 to 4.
My summary
Today Scudder continues to instruct about impediments to peace. The subject he now deals with are false fears.
Firstly Scudder teaches us that there is a needful holy fear - not all fear is bad.
Secondly Scudder looks at where causeless fear may arise from:
(i) natural distempers;
(ii) thoughts of the greatness of punishment and sin.
Thirdly Scudder removes fears concerning not being one of the elect.
Fourthly Scudder dismantles fears concerning the unforgivable sin.
What grabbed me
I appreciated Scudder's advice to someone who fears greatly due to their sin: 'Lastly, To make an end of removing this fear, I ask thee, who art troubled with the greatness of thy sins past, and with fear that they can never be pardoned. How stand you affected to present sins ? Do you hate and loath them ? Do you use what means you can to be free from them ? Are you out of love with yourself, and humbled because you have indulged them to God's dishonour, and your own hurt ? And do you resolve through faith in Christ Jesus, to return from your evil ways, Ezek. xviii. 21, 22, and to enter upon a holy course of life, if God shall please to enable you ; and is it your hearty desire to have this grace to be able ? And are you afraid, and have you now a care lest you fall knowingly into sin; then, let Satan, and a fearful heart object what they can, you may say, though my sins have been great and heinous, for which I loath myself and am ashamed, yet now I see that they were not only pardonable, but are already, through the rich mercy of God, pardoned, Ezek. xxxvi. 25 — 33. For these are signs of a new heart and a new mind. Now to whomsoever God gives the least measure of saving grace, to them has he first given pardon of sin, and will yet abundantly pardon. For he saith. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon, Isa. Iv. 7. '
If you are concerned about your sin and eager for forgiveness through Jesus Christ, you're on a good path.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 15 (Concerning false fears) by reading Sections 5 to 8.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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