Page:Words in Season.djvu/13



"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."— cxxxix. 23, 24.

THE purpose for which God has given his Word to men, is; first, that they might know God; and second, that they might know themselves. The value of self-knowledge cannot be overrated. Only as we know ourselves can we learn to know and appreciate the mercies of God. Unless we know how sinful we are, we can never desire to repent. Until we realize in our own experience what an evil and bitter thing is sin, how it corrupts the soul, how it turns us away from God and all goodness, how it makes us fain to satisfy our hunger with the husks that the swine do eat, we shall never wish to arise and go to our Father. Unless we know our own deep heart-wants, we can never realize the blessedness of having those wants supplied. Every grace of meekness, of godly sorrow, of humility, and of spiritual hunger, implies self-knowledge. We 7