LORD, Keep Me From Presumptuous Sins!

A hazardous game!
(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883) 

"If we play around the viper's hole--
it no wonder that we are bitten!"

An old proverb advises us not 
to play with sharp-edged tools, 
lest we cut our fingers. 

It is a sin to trifle with sin! 

If we must play, we had 
better find harmless toys! 

That evil which caused CHRIST 
a bloody death, is no fit theme 
for any man's sport. 

Playing with wickedness 
is a hazardous game! 

Sooner or later, we will pluck 
the lion of sin by the beard, 
and we shall be torn in pieces! 

This is true of indulgence in strong drink:
"Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when 
it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down 
smoothly! 

In the end it bites like a snake, 
and poisons like a viper!" 

This is equally true of all other forms of evil, 
especially of the lusts of the flesh. Lewd words, 
soon lead to foul deeds. Yet such is the folly 
of men, that they run dreadful risks in sheer 
wantonness, as though vipers and cobras 
were fine playmates, and devils 
were merry-makers!

"Keep your servant from deliberate sins! 
Do not let them control me. Then I will be 
free of guilt and innocent of great sin." 
Psalm  19:13 

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GraceGems has published William Nicholson's very comforting short article,
 "Trust in God".