Sunday, August 21, 2016

Lesson of Uzziah for the Clergy

Strangers are come into
the sanctuaries of the Lord's house.
  Jeremiah 51:51
"In this account the faces of the Lord's people were covered with shame,
for it was a terrible thing that men should intrude into the Holy Place reserved for the priests alone.
 
Everywhere about us we see like cause for sorrow.
How many ungodly men are now educating with the view of entering into the ministry!
How fearful it is that ordinances should be pressed upon the unconverted,
and that among the more enlightened churches of our land
there should be such laxity of discipline.
 
To adulterate the Church is to pollute a well,
to pour water upon fire,
to sow a fertile field with stones.
 
*Our zeal must, however, begin at home.
*Let us examine ourselves as to our right to eat at the Lord's table.
*Let us see to it that we have on our wedding garment, lest we ourselves be intruders in the Lord's sanctuaries.
Many are called,
but few are chosen;
the way is narrow,
and the gate is strait.
 
Uzziah...smote with Leprosy
 He who smote Uzziah for touching the ark is very jealous of His ordinances; as a true believer I may approach them freely, as an alien I must not touch them lest I die.
 Heartsearching is the duty of all who are baptized or come to the Lord's table. "Search me, O God, and know my way, try me and know my heart."
Charles Spurgeon