Stubborn Sins

AM Howbeit this kind goeth ?iot out but by prayer and fasting.” — Matt. xvii. 21.

There are temptations in the human soul which are not easily extinguished, which can only be extinguished through a process of pain. There are sins which may disappear in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the blast of God’s trump of judgment. Saul, who yesterday was walking in darkness, may see to-day a light above the brightness of the sun, and in an instant the old life may fall and a new life may rise. But Saul’s temptation came from within, and was therefore sooner reached by the Spirit. There are temptations which come from without, which are given to the soul by its union with the body. These are they which ofttimes cast the man into the fire and ofttimes into the water; these are they which make him lunatic by destroying the force of his will. And these are they which go not out except by prayer and fasting. Prayer alone will not do; prayer gives but the grand resolution to abstain, but resolution, if not followed by action, fades in the light of morning. Fasting alone will not do; fasting is but the abstinence of the flesh, but the abstinence of the flesh is weariness without the consent of the spirit. The old habits of a man’s life may not vanish in the moment of his conversion. If thou hearest him confess Christ to-day, and seest him act wrongfully to-morrow, do not say that he was therefore a hypocrite. “Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?” is what thou shalt have to ask of many, but do not thence conclude that the garden was a delusion. The flowers that are planted in Gethsemane rise slowly, and they grow through struggle. There are dark and rainy days, there are bleak and tempestuous nights, there are seasons of protracted cold which forbid the seed spontaneously to spring. Give thy charity to the struggling soul. Give to its prayer and fasting thy prayer and thy fasting. Forbear to use thy full liberty until thy weak brother also shall be free. Thou art able to go unhurt through all the world, but thy brother cannot yet go with thee; -limit thyself for him, fast for him. Thinkest thou that this is weakness? Hast thou not read of One who said, not alone of His liberty but of His life, “I have power to lay it down “? It is not weak to be like Christ; it is strong — infinitely strong. Thou art thy brother’s keeper, let

Cain say as he will. Thine is a Divine charge — the charge of God, the charge of angels, the charge of being a ministering spirit sent forth to the heirs of salvation. Keep that which thy Father hath committed unto thee until the liberation day.