WHAT DO YE MORE THEN OTHERS?

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST  9

 Matthew 5:47

What do ye more then others? 

 
What do you possess more than others?
 
Look around at the asylum

   —at the union house

   —at the prison

   —at the hospital

   —at the sick room

   —at the hovel.
 
Look at the blind

   —the deaf

      —the lame

         —the dumb

            —the insane

                —the idiot.
 
Look back at what saints once were called to endure, 

   see the wanderer covered only with a sheep skin

   —the confessor in his dungeon

   —the martyr at the stake

   —the praying slave under the lash of his cruel owner.
 
Look at thy heart—at the bible—at the sanctuary.
 
Look up into heaven.
 
Look down into hell.
 
Can you count your mercies?
 
Have you not received much?
 
What do you profess more than others?
 
That your principles are far better than those of the worldling—the pagan—the papist—and many professed protestants.
 
You profess to give to the Lord the heart, the head, the hand, the life, the property, all.
 
What do ye more than others?
 
For the poor—the church—the world?
 
For the young?
 
For the spread of the gospel, and the honour of Christ?
 
Do you more than some heathens, or papists, or worldlings?
 
You know more than others.
 
You talk more than others,
 
More is expected from you than others.
 

Where is the holy walk that suits

The name and character we bear?

And where are seen those heavenly fruits,

That show we’re not what once we were?

 
James Smith