Romans 10:21. But to Israel -
To God’s ancient people, to whom the gospel had been preached when Paul wrote this Epistle: "to Israel" -
Romans 10:21. He saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
It is strange that many, who first hear the Word, and oftenest hear it, turn away from it, while others, to whom it comes as a complete novelty, are blessed the first time they hear it. I sometimes say that there are some hearers, who regularly occupy these seats, who are just like pieces of india rubber. They are easily impressed, they yield ascent to every truth that is uttered, but they soon get back into their old shape again, and they are exactly the same, after twenty years of hearing the gospel, as they were before, only that they are still more hardened. On the other hand, there will sometimes drop into this house of prayer a thoroughly irreligious man, with a heart as hard as a flint, but the very first tap of the hammer of the gospel breaks the flint so effectually that it is never a flint again, and God’s grace renews his heart there and then. It is our earnest desire, on all occasions whatever hearers are gathered here, that God’s saving power may be manifested to all present. So, may it be now, for Christ’s sake, and to God’s glory! Amen.
Romans 10:21. But to Israel -
To God’s ancient people, to whom the gospel had been preached when Paul wrote this Epistle: "to Israel" -
Romans 10:21. He saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
It is strange that many, who first hear the Word, and oftenest hear it, turn away from it, while others, to whom it comes as a complete novelty, are blessed the first time they hear it. I sometimes say that there are some hearers, who regularly occupy these seats, who are just like pieces of india rubber. They are easily impressed, they yield ascent to every truth that is uttered, but they soon get back into their old shape again, and they are exactly the same, after twenty years of hearing the gospel, as they were before, only that they are still more hardened. On the other hand, there will sometimes drop into this house of prayer a thoroughly irreligious man, with a heart as hard as a flint, but the very first tap of the hammer of the gospel breaks the flint so effectually that it is never a flint again, and God’s grace renews his heart there and then. It is our earnest desire, on all occasions whatever hearers are gathered here, that God’s saving power may be manifested to all present. So, may it be now, for Christ’s sake, and to God’s glory! Amen.