LORD, Give Me Prudence.

If they cannot have a fresh 
dish from satan's kitchen!
(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883) 

"If ravens are driven away from carrion, 
they love to abide within scent of it. 
 If you would be free from sin--
then avoid the temptations which lead to it!"

This first sentence is a grim parable, 
but all too true. We have seen those 
who dared not enter the devil's house--
linger long around his doors! 

The old woman in the fable 
could find no wine in the jar--
yet loved to smell at it. 

It is a clear proof of the love 
of human nature to evil that, 
when restrained from actual sin--
men will rehearse their former exploits, 
and dote on the lusts which they 
indulged years ago!

 If they cannot have a fresh dish 
 from satan's kitchen, they will have 
his crumbs, sooner than go without!

Our author gives sage advice 
at the outset, when he says:
 To avoid sin--avoid temptation.

He who would not be wounded, 
should keep out of battle. 

He who would not be tossed 
about, should not go to sea. 

He who would not be burned, 
should keep away from the fire. 

If men will get into the train which 
runs to the terminus of iniquity--
they must expect to be carried 
to their journey's end. 

If I stand in the way of sinners, 
I shall soon run with them. 

Oh to possess a godly fear, 
which shall lead me rather to go 
ten miles out of the way, than 
pass by the place of temptation! 

It is well to keep out of the smell 
of sin, for the very odor of it is baneful.

If we seek a temptation--
we shall soon find it. And within it, 
like a kernel in a nut, we shall 
meet with sin! 

Oh that we had the wit to see this, 
and were more firmly resolved not 
to stand in the broad road that leads 
to destruction, or even go near it--
lest we should become regular
 travelers upon it! 

"Keep to a path far from the adulteress, 
do not go near the door of her house!" 
Proverbs 5:8 

LORD, give me prudence. 
As I would not devour the carrion 
of sin, give me grace that the most 
distant scent of it shall at once sicken 
me, and cause me to keep my steps 
as far from it as possible!

"Blessed is the man who does not . . . 
  walk in the counsel of the wicked,
  or stand in the way of sinners,
  or sit in the seat of mockers." Psalm 1:1 

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GraceGems has published William Nicholson's insightful short article, 
"The Defense of the Gospel".