If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Exodus 20:25
"GOD'S altar
was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labor
might be seen upon it.
Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the
doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial
with the depraved tastes of fallen nature;
instead, however, of
improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another
gospel, and not the truth of God at all.
All alterations and amendments
of the Lord's own Word are defilements and pollutions.
---The proud heart
of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul
before God; natural ability is
much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human
tools upon the divine altar.
It were well if sinners would remember that
so far from perfecting the Savior's work, their carnal confidences
only pollute and dishonor it.
---The Lord alone must be exalted in the
work of atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or hammer will
be endured.
---Rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are
all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord."
Charles Spurgeon
