Our hearts so often condemn us (we probably don’t know our hearts as we think we do). But God is greater than our hearts. Calvin wrote, “the human heart has so many crannies where vanity hides, so many holes where falsehood lurks, is so decked with deceiving hypocrisy, that it often dupes itself.” It never dupes God (see Hebrews 4:13). Look to God and his grace for healing comfort.
Evil Speaking
Evil speaking is the hateful accusation from evil intent and a wanton desire to defame. Evil speaking is obviously from the mouth, but behind it lies the evil intent that is from the heart. So let us watch what we say and how we say it.
The Secret
Calvin points out in his commentary on Psalm 18 (vv. 21 – 24) that “whoever, therefore, would desire to persevere in uprightness and integrity of life, let them learn to exercise themselves daily in the study of the Word of God; for, whenever a man despises or neglects instruction, he easily falls into carelessness and stupidity, and all fear of God vanishes from his mind.”
Capacity & Command
Augustine points out in his work On the Spirit and the Letter, that “God does not measure the precepts of his law according to human powers, but where he has commanded what is right, he freely gives his elect the capacity to fulfill it.” (NPNF V. 83 – 114)
The Knowledge of Providence
Calvin points out in his Institutes that “if you pay attention you will easily perceive that ignorance of providence is the ultimate of all miseries; the highest blessedness lies in the knowledge of it.” (Institutes, I. 17. 11)
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