The Brook and the River

‘^ A travelhy may easily pass over the head of a brook; but when he goeth down, thinkitig tofitid it narrower, it is so broad that he cannot pass at all. Every delay brings on a jiew degree of hardness of heart on our part, and a new desertion on Gods partP Never will his sin be less powerful than at this moment, though the ungodly man should wait for fifty years. The domination of evil is ever growing, never waning. Manton well points out the two dangers of delay — our own hardening, and the Holy Spirit’s withdrawal. Either of these may well cause fear and trembling in self-confident hearts.

To-day let the anxious soul pass the brook by God’s gracious help; to-morrow the stream will be hard to ford, and anon the torrent will sweep all before it. Tarry not, O thou who wouldst be saved.