Homilist Psalm 39:8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. I. THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN NATURE. 1. Thought. "While I was musing." What a wonderful power is the power of thought! (1) By thought man can turn the universe to his service. (2) By thought man can rise to the Creator, rise to some knowledge of Him, resemblance to Him, fellowship with Him. (3) By thought he can regulate his own destiny. By it he can change his character. Thought is the helmsman of the soul. 2. Moral emotion. "The fire burned." It was the fire of moral feeling. All the sentient existences we know of have some kind of feeling, but man alone has moral feeling — feeling in relation to sin, to duty, and to God. This feeling is kindled by thought. 3. Speech. "I spake." What a wonderful power is the power of speech. By it we reveal ourselves, we achieve conquests over souls, and win them to our wishes and our ways. How great is man! II. THE PROCESS OF REPENTANCE. But how is this fire to be kindled? Here is the method. By musing. Upon the inconvenience of sin, its consequences, or its punishment? Thought must dwell upon God's mercy, not merely in nature and providence, but in the mission, sufferings, and death of God's only begotten Son. III. The PHILOSOPHY OF TRUE ELOQUENCE. "While I was musing the fire burned, then spake I with my tongue." When is the tongue eloquent? 1. When it is used as a relief to the soul. 2. When it is used as a vehicle of strongest moral emotions. Moral emotions are electric. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.WEB: Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don't make me the reproach of the foolish. |
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