Essex Congregational Remembrancer 1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather to godliness. I. THE NATURE OF THE DUTY WHICH THE TEXT RECOMMENDS. 1. This duty includes a strict and impartial inquiry into our own hearts, as to what may be therein likely to prevent our advancement in godliness. 2. This duty requires an habitual attention to the duties of the closet. 3. This duty involves the exercise of much holy watchfulness and care in the ordinary pursuits of business, so that they may not be permitted to take away the heart. 4. This duty will call for occasional communion with our Christian friends. 5. This duty requires an earnest solicitude for the right improvement of our respective trials. 6. This duty demands of us a careful avoidance of such companions, conversation, and pursuits, as we have found in time past to be injurious to the advancement of personal piety. II. THE MOTIVES WHICH SHOULD INDUCE US TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS DUTY. 1. We shall do well to remember that no great advancement will be made in godliness without this exercise. 2. Let us seriously consider that our progress in true godliness will make ample amends for whatever difficulties we may have to encounter in its attainment. 3. There is much reason to believe that this exercise unto godliness will never be sincerely made in vain. 4. It is of importance to consider that unless we exercise ourselves unto godliness, so far from making further advances in the Divine life, we shall go backward, not forward. 5. It is worthy of our serious regard, that so far as we feel an unwillingness to exercise ourselves unto godliness, we give affecting proof of the want of a principle of godliness in our hearts. (Essex Congregational Remembrancer.) Parallel Verses KJV: But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.WEB: But refuse profane and old wives' fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. |
    |