A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will
groan after restoration. In this renewal the same
exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We
needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We
wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only
the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a
word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the
loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon
discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we
need it now. No man can be renewed without as real
and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's energy as
he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh
and blood are as much in the way now as ever they
were. Let thy personal weakness, O Christian, be an
argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for
help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be
powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but
he hastened to the mercy-seat with "renew a right
spirit within me." Let not the doctrine that you,
unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be
a goad in your side to drive you with an awful
earnestness to Israel is strong Helper. O that you may
have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded
for your very life—"Lord, renew a right spirit within
me." He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will
prove his honesty by using the means through which
God works. Be much in prayer; live much upon the
Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your
Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future
uprisings of sin. The Lord has His own appointed
ways; sit by the wayside and you will be ready when
He passes by. Continue in all those blessed
ordinances which will foster and nourish your dying
graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed
from Him, cease not to cry, "Renew a right spirit within
me."
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