|
Christian Exhortations
"Let no one despise thy youth,
but be a model of the believers,
in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Till I come,
give thyself to reading, to exhortation, to teaching."
— 1 Timothy 4:12-13. —
"I exhort therefore, first of all,
that supplications, prayers, intercessions be made for all men;
for kings and all that are in dignity,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all piety and gravity;
for this is good and acceptable before our Saviour God,
who desires that all men should be saved
and come to the knowledge of the truth."
— 1 Timothy 2:1-4. —
"There are few things less understood than the real nature of exhortation.
We are apt to attach an idea of legal effort to that word which is quite foreign to it.
Divine exhortation always assumes that a certain relationship exists, that a certain standing is enjoyed,
that certain privileges are apprehended. The Spirit never exhorts save on a divine basis.
For example, 'I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God'. (Romans 12:1).
Here we have a fine instance of divine exhortation. 'The mercies of God' are first put before us,
in all their fulness, brightness, and preciousness, ere we are called to hear the voice of exhortation."
From Things New and Old by C. H. Mackintosh.
Exhortations
|