"Order My Steps In THY WORD: And Let Not Any Sin Have Dominion Over Me."

He took special pains to fetch 
them out, and hang them up!
(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883) 

"A benumbed snake is still a snake. 
A washed sow is not changed. Just so, 
our natural corruption does not 
always break out in full."

There may be a winter to our corruptions--
as well as to animal and vegetable life. 
And then the sin which dwells 
in us may be quiet, as though 
frozen into a rigid powerlessness--
but what of that? The weather will 
change, and then the nest of vipers 
will be all astir again, each one 
with envenomed tooth aiming to destroy!

Experience has taught the wise observer 
that sin may be bound by sin, and one 
evil passion may hold the rest in check. 

One man is kept from immorality,  
by covetousness: he would be 
glad to revel in vice--
if it were not so expensive. 

Another would be a profligate, 
but then it would not be respectable, 
and thus his pride checks his passions. 
This restraint of sin by sin, is no proof 
that the nature is one jot the better--
but that it only puts on a fairer 
appearance, and is more likely to deceive. 

Nothing will overcome with inbred 
sin, but the killing of it! 

When Joshua had captured the five 
kings in the cave, he was not content 
to simply shut them in with large stones. 
No, he took special pains to fetch 
them out, and hang them up! 

The condemned race must die--
and then Israel can breathe freely. 

Sin will be our death--
if we do not put it to death! 

Checks and restraints are of small 
value; what is needed is the root-cure--
crucifixion with CHRIST! 

To cure sin by sin, is a mere piece 
of stage playing, which will never 
answer before GOD.

O Destroyer of the serpent and his seed--
break the head of sin within me, so that 
it may never lift up its usurped power 
within my soul. Let the sword of the Spirit 
do a thorough work within my nature, until 
not a single rebel lust shall remain alive 
in the wide domains of my being. 

Furbish your sword, Almighty CAPTAIN, 
and do YOUR office within me, 
for I cannot rest until sin is slain!

"Look THOU upon me, and be merciful 

unto me, as THOU used to do unto those 

that love THY name.

Order my steps in THY word: and let not 

any sin have dominion over me."

(Psalm 119:132,133)

  
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