September 20

Ninth Friday after Trinity

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I CORINTHIANS x. 12.

An early Greek bishop adds to these words of warning, "If S. Paul thus exhorts those who think they stand, what must be said to those who cannot think that they stand, but must know full well that they are fallen?" What must we ourselves do but make haste to arise, by instantly seizing the Hand of Him Who lifteth up those that are down—by seizing hold of His Hand and not letting Him go? We are surrounded by occasions of falling. There is no one but has his peculiar temptations, more or less, waiting on Him. Some owing to his peculiar disposition, some to his circumstances in life, some to his past sins; some one day assail him, others the next; some on one side, and when he is on his guard against them, some on another side coming upon him; some in thought, some in act or word; some in the flesh, others in the spirit; some in all these together. And by these temptations for the most part men are more or less overcome; they give way sometimes with a struggle, often without an effort; they yield often as a matter of course, as if from time to time it were a little matter, or as if the temptation were too great, and by its very greatness smoothed the way of their besetting sin. Remember, no temptation is an excuse for sin; for whatever it may be, it is only such as man's present state of probation admits of. God is the Disposer of all things. He knows, He measures, He deals out all events.

He maketh kings to sit in sovereignty; He maketh subjects to their power obey; He pulleth down, He setteth upon high; He gives to this, from that He takes away; For all we have is His: what He list do He may.