Friday, November 14, 2008

Quote of the Week

"No one was ever scolded out of their sins"

William Cowper (1731 -1800) ; In a Letter to John Newton.

3 comments:

Ted M. Gossard said...

ummm.... Better to be scared out of your sins than remain in them. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

I like the grace and love motive, but fear or hope should not be excluded I'm thinking from what God uses to bring people to himself through Christ.

William Cowper was a great hymn writer for sure, and one I've read (verified by the link I just gave) as one who was given to depression, and as the article says, doubts about his salvation. But for me that takes nothing away at all from his writings, in fact maybe that enhances them in that one like him at least believed in the consolations of God found in Christ and the work of Christ for us on the cross.

ThatsGoingToLeaveA said...

the description of cowper's experience reminds me psalm22 and psalm16, taken to be messianic, indicate this dual extreme of experience even in Christ- yet where we doubt He does not.

Every Square Inch said...

Ted - yes, Cowper was indeed given to depression but like you, I think God has used his weakness to display His own glory.

mark - therein is the glory of our salvation, isn't it? We're saved by a God who is personally acquainted with our weaknesses, yet has triumphed over them