Night of Weeping

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. THE REBUKING. It is worth while noticing the word which id used in the two well-known passages which speak of chastisement, "Neither faint when thou art rebuked ot him."* " As many as 1 love, I rebuke and chasten."t A little inquiry into its meaning. and a little comparing of texts will help to set it in its true light. . It is the same word used in Matt. xviii. 15: " If thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault." It is the same word used in Luke iii. 19, when John is said to have re proved Herod. It is the same word used in John xvi. 8, 16 When He cometh, He will reprove the world of sin." We learn, then, from these expressions, that rebuke is not simply some stern word or frown, implying displeasure on the part of God, but such a frown as " tells us our faults "--such a frown as reproves or convinces us of sin. It is God's way of pointing out what he sees to be amiss in us, of call - Heb xii. 5. t ReT- 19 ing our attention to it as a thing which displeases him, and. on account of which, if not put away, he must certainly deal with us in chastisement. The word rebuke seems to imply something more gentle than chastisement. And it is of some importance to consider it .in this light. I know not a better illustration of it than Christ's address to the churches of Asia. The especial preciousness of these lies* in this, that they show us what the heart of Christ is when reproving. What a discovery do they give us of this Let us hear him addressing them. Thus he rebukes the angel of the church of Ephesus: --" Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love; remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent." Thus he rebukes the church of Pergamos: " I have a...