Status Updates From Josiah's Reformation

“Consider also, if a man had been so kind and bountiful to me, if I should reward his kindness with unkindness, I should have been ashamed, and have covered my face with shame; and yet how unkind have I been unto God, that hath been so kind to me, and yet I never a whit ashamed!”

“And why is (pride) called a sacrilegious sin? Because it robs God of his glory. For God hath said, 'My glory I will not give to another,' Isa. 42:8. Is not the grace, goodness, and mercy of God sufficient for us, but we must enter into his prerogatives, and exalt ourselves? We are both idols & idol-worshippers, when we think highly of ourselves, for we make ourselves idols. Now God hates idolatry…”

Tenderness of heart/ Sinning against conscience: As water, when it begins to freeze, will not endure anything, no not so much as the weight of a pin but after a while will bear the weight of a cart; the heart being tender, trembles at the least sin, and will not bear with any one; but when it once gives way to sins against conscience, it becomes so frozen that it can endure any sin, & so becomes more and more hard.

This is God's mercy to those that are true-hearted. He will give them teachers suitable to their desires; but those that are false-hearted shall have suitable teachers, who shall instruct them according to their lusts.