William Perkins on an exhortation to godly sorrow. Harden not your hearts, beloved.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Regi Addictissimus

Completely sold out to the King
WilliamPerkinsforweb.jpg

The serious consideration of this, that the very Son of God Himself
suffered all the pains and torments of hell on the cross for our sins, is the
proper and most effectual means to stir up our hearts to a godly sorrow for
them. And that this thing may come to pass, every man must be settled without
doubt that he was the man that crucified Christ; that he is to be blamed as
well as Judas, Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the Jews; and that his sins were the
nails, spears, and thorns that pierced Him. When this meditation begins to
take place, bitterness of spirit with wailing and mourning takes place in like
manner. “And they shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and they shall
lament for him as one lamenteth for his only son” (Zech. 12:10). Peter, in his
first sermon, struck the Jews as with a thunderclap from heaven when he said
unto them, “Ye have crucified the Lord of glory,” so as at the same time three
thousand men were pricked in their hearts, and said, “Men and brethren, what
shall we do to be saved?” (Acts 2:37). Again, if Christ shed His heart blood for
our sins, and if our sins made Him sweat water and blood, oh then, why should
not we ourselves shed bitter tears, and why should not our hearts bleed for
them? He who finds himself so dull and hardened that the passion of Christ
does not humble him is in a lamentable case, for there is no faith in the death
of Christ effectual in him as yet.

William Perkins. A Declaration of the True Manner of Knowing Christ Crucified, In The Works of William Perkins, Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2020, Vol. 9:13.
Forthcoming very soon.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top