1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?… Surely there was a cause. David's was not intemperate zeal, nor his anger causeless or unprovoked. It was time even for the holy shepherd to play the warrior, when God was thus openly dishonoured and His cause despised. What is the state of this Christian land now? Is there not a sin, an ancient enemy of God's church, a bold and bitter opposer of His Gospel, which has poured in upon our land like a flood, and dares us to the teeth, and almost courts opposition? Is there not a giant champion of the devil's host, that stalks forth before its fellows, and seems to challenge the soldiers of the cross and defy God's Christian Israel? Has not drunkenness invaded this our land, spread itself throughout the length and breadth of it, and "set up its banners for tokens?" "Is there not then a cause" why professing Christians should bestir themselves to save and purify their land from this foul and destroying army? I. THE SPREAD OF DRUNKENNESS. This fearful sin is widely spread through our land. II. LET US CONSIDER ITS EFFECTS. 1. What are its effects upon the soul? It is a dark cloud about the soul, that hides God from it — that shuts out the light of His Holy Spirit, that would shine into the darkness. It hardens the heart, that it cannot feel. It sears the conscience as with a hot iron (Hosea 4:11). Even natural kindness is extinguished. 2. Now mark its effects upon the mind. 3. Now mark its effects upon the body. 4. Mark next its effects on the estate. III. AND WHAT CAN BE DONE. the gospel of the grace of God can change it, and that alone. (W. W. Champneys, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?WEB: David said, "What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" |
    |