O LORD, Please Help

"No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." —Luke 9:62 [KJV]

The eye, though a little member, yet perhaps of all others is the greatest inlet to temptation. The first motion to sin entered by seeing. Eve SAW the fruit was good and pleasant to the eye. Looking begat longing; so lust was conceived, and brought forth sin. Sin when it was finished brought forth death upon her and all her posterity. When Satan dared to tempt Jesus, he began the attack by presenting to His view the kingdoms of the world and the glories thereof. Seeing this, what reason is there, with Job, to make a covenant with our eyes! with David, to pray daily, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity!" 

No state more awful than to set out in the best cause, and to turn back to the worst enemy. The last end of such is most dreadful. Most deplorable indeed, to turn away from following Jesus, and make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Whether he be minister or disciple who hath put his hand to the gospel-plough, if his eyes are attracted to, and his heart allured after the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, these will render him unfit for the kingdom of God. For these are as contrary to the Spirit, frame, and genius of Jesus and His kingdom, as heaven is to hell. No man can serve two such opposite masters. 

If thou hast chosen Jesus for thy portion and thy all, wherefore dost thou look back to the world? What slight and contempt doth such a conduct pour upon blessed Jesus! It is a sad evidence the heart is not whole with Him. Such conduct speaks loudly, as though there was somewhat desirable in Christ and His ways; but not enough to win the heart wholly, engage the affections entirely, and fill the mind with happiness completely. "If any man draw back, My soul, saith the Lord, shall have no pleasure in him." And verily such a soul can have no pleasure in God. Whither then will he fly? to what refuge betake himself in the hour of calamity, and in the day of distress? 

Oh! a forsaken Jesus, a slighted gospel, and neglected salvation, will wound the conscience with the keenest sting. See to it, O professor; watch over thy lustful eye. It is ever looking back to, and longing after more from this world than thou at present possesseth. O, beware of thy deceitful heart, lest that turneth from Jesus to the world. If so, thy hand will soon let go the gospel-plough: and yet you will find carnal pleas for your conduct. 

Many poor, dry, barren professors, have ever a reason (such as it is) at their tongue's-end for their covetous, worldly-minded spirit: when it is easy to observe, like Lot's wife, they face about to Sodom, and are become a standing monument of God's displeasure. "But," saith the apostle, of all the faithful members of Jesus, "beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak."—Hebrews 6:9.

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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