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THE ONLY EFFECTUAL MEANS FOR REFORMING MANKIND?
by John Newton

The Gospel of Christ, the glorious Gospel  of the blessed God, is the only
effectual
means for reforming mankind.

To the man who possesses and knows the use  of this grand, this wonderful
machine, if I may
be allowed the comparison, what is otherwise  impossible becomes easy.

The Gospel removes difficulties insurmountable  to human power. It causes
the blind to see, the
deaf to hear; it softens the heart of stone, and  raises the dead in
trespasses and sins to a life
of righteousness.

No force but that of the Gospel is sufficient to  remove the mountainous
load of guilt from an
awakened conscience, to calm the violence of  tumultuous passions, to raise
an earthly soul
from groveling in the mire of sensuality or  avarice to a spiritual and
divine life, a life
of communion with God.

No system but the Gospel can communicate  motives, encouragements, and
prospects,
sufficient to withstand and counteract all the  snares and temptations with
which the spirit
of this world, by its frowns or its smiles, will  endeavor either to
intimidate or to bribe us
from the path of duty.

But the Gospel, rightly understood and cordially  embraced, will inspire the
slothful with energy
and the fearful with courage. It will make the  miser generous, melt the
grouch into kindness,
tame the raging tiger in the breast, and, in a  word, expand the narrow
selfish heart and fill
it with a spirit of love to God, cheerful unreserved  obedience to His will,
and benevolence to mankind.


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["EXAMINE YOURSELVES WHETHER YOU ARE IN FAITH." (2 Cor 13:5)]
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