Responding to Christ's Kindness

Let us think to ourselves: when he is so kind to us, will we be cruel against him in his name, in his truth, and in his children? It cannot but cut the heart of those that have felt this love of Christ to hear him wounded who is the life of their lives and the soul of their souls. This makes those who have felt mercy weep over Christ whom they have pierced with their sins. The apostle could not find a more heartbreaking argument to enforce a sacrifice of ourselves to God than to appeal to us 'by the mercies of God' in Christ (Rom. 12:1).
This mercy of Christ should also move us to commiserate the state of the poor church, torn by enemies without, and rending itself by divisions at home. What a joyful spectacle is this to Satan and his faction, to see those that are separated from the world fall in pieces among themselves! Our discord is our enemy's melody. So far as men are not of one mind, they will hardly be of one heart, except where grace and the peace of God bear great rule in the heart (Col. 3:15). Open show of difference is only good when it is necessary, although some, from a desire to be somebody, turn into byways and yield to a spirit of contrariness in themselves. If it be wisdom, it is wisdom from beneath: for the wisdom from above, as it is pure, so it is peaceable (James 3:17). Our blessed Saviour, when he was to leave the world, what did he press upon his disciples more than peace and love? In his last prayer, with what earnestness did he beg of his Father that ‘they all may be one' as he and the Father were one (John 17:21).
Further, what spirit will we think them to be of who take advantage of the infirmities of men's spirits to relieve them with false peace for their own worldly ends? A wounded spirit will part with anything. Spiritual tyranny is the greatest tyranny, especially when it is where most mercy should be shown.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Bruised Reed, pp. 73-78 [81-84]
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