Friday, May 14, 2010

Think It Possible You May Be Mistaken

The title is in reference to the warning Oliver Cromwell wrote to his Christian opponents.

"...bring not therefore upon yourselves the blood of innocent men, -- deceived with pretences of King and Covenant; from whose eyes you hide a better knowledge! I am persuaded that divers of you, who lead the People, have laboured to build yourselves in these things; wherein you have censured others, and established yourselves 'upon the Word of God.' Is it therefore infallibly agreeable to the Word of God, all that you say? I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken. Precept may be upon precept, line may be upon line, and yet the Word of the Lord may be to some a Word of Judgment; that they may fall backward, and be broken and be snared and be taken!...There may be, as well, a carnal confidence upon misunderstood and misapplied precepts, which may be called spiritual drunkenness. There may be a Covenant made with Death and Hell! I will not say yours was so. But judge if such things have a politic aim: To avoid the overflowing scourge; or, To accomplish worldly interests? And if therein we have confederated with wicked and carnal men, and have respect for them, or otherwise have drawn them in to associate with us, Whether this be a Covenant of God, and spiritual? Bethink yourselves; we hope we do."

-- To the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, 3 August 1650


I'd remind my "Christian conservative" friends of these words, and ask them to apply Cromwell's warning to their faction's ideas and operations. Most of all, I'd beseech anyone in that faction, in Christ's mercy, to think it possible you may be mistaken, and confederated with wicked men to accomplish worldly interests.

Church, REPENT !!


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