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 passions; it lifts the veil from his selfish desires, it makes him aware of the existence of many corruptions which he knew not to be within him; it shews him capable of many actions which he imagined would have been most revolting to his heart; and, with a burst of horror at what the truth has shewn him to be capable of, he is ready to ask with Hazael of old, "Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?"

The truth is, we often see the force of a divine command, but we, at the same time, discover that to be obedient to it will require the surrender of some of our most cherished inclinations and desires, which are in direct opposition to it. If the truth we so clearly perceive would only leave us in possession of our inclinations; if it would let us believe without calling upon us to do, we should be quite willing to let it remain as one of the ornaments of our memory, and we might occasionally converse about its beauty, and regret that the world continued to be so blind to its brightness. But when it enters into conflict with our most cherished worldly pleasures, when it causes us to bear persecution from the wicked "who are not in trouble as other men," then we become offended, and often, too much like the early disciples, we walk no more with Jesus.

Let us look to the Lord for assistance, and pray continually that the righteous dispensations of His providence may be so submitted to, that each truth, as it is successively presented to our acceptance, may contend against our evils and errors, and may prepare our souls for the more willing reception of the divine influence, which shall in the end regenerate us!