the Fourth Week of Advent
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Daily Devotionals
Golden Treasury
Whoso loveth instruction loves knowledge, but he that (self-conceitedly) hates reproof is brutish, Proverbs 12:1. Was he even a great philosopher.
Therefore we should take and make the best of the reproofs of others, though they were not without blemishes, and not be like thorns and briers, pricking and hurting those that touch the m. Nothing can be said so bad of us, which we have not the root of in our heart. And though we are convinced of, and strive against our own weakness, yet it may not be so earnestly that we conquer. Therefore God comes to our assistance in a sharp, reproof of others; for he knows how to use even the faults of others to our good. And if we receive everything as from him alone, striving so much against this our frailty that we may not be offensive to our neighbour any more, we certainly gain a great victory and blessing. But if we grow impatient and make many excuses, unwilling to put up any thing, we make evil worse, and neglect the amendment of ourselves and others.
O Lord make us better and give patience.
How should the sons of Adam’s race
Be pure before their God?
If he contend in righteousness
We fall beneath his rod,
To vindicate my words and thoughts
I’ll make no more pretence;
Not one of all my thousand faults
Can bear a just defence.
