Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 1.pdf/157

 fixed in the man. Sins are then loved: when loved, they are not remitted, and when not remitted, they are described as having never forgiveness.

O God of love! guard us by thy Spirit from this deadly sin. May we be impressed with the truth, that as death leaves us, judgment will find us; and that if this unpardonable sin be loved, heaven, the world of the blessed, is for ever lost.

HEN one of the scribes came and asked Jesus, "Which is the first commandment of all?" (Mark xii. 28) Jesus replied, "The Lord our God is one Lord." "Well, Master," returned the scribe, "Thou hast said the Truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he." Jesus Christ, who is the very Truth itself, is the best, and should be, in all religious matters, our only instructor; for he spake as never man spake, and his every word is spirit and life. This first clear and rational truth, "The Lord our God is ONE Lord" (Deut. vi. 4), was taught again and again to the Jews, and they were commanded strictly to observe it and to keep it entire, free from all mixture with idolatrous notions, that it might be well with them; and that they might increase mightly in the land, this truth was to be written in their hearts—they were to teach it diligently to their children, to talk of it when they sat in their house, when they walked by the way, when they sought re-