Whoever knows his brother's danger, and forbears to deliver -- doesn't God know it? Will God render it? The Hebrew midwives and later Esther delivered their own people drawn unto death.
- Reuben delivered Joseph from the pit.
- Jonathan saved his friend at imminent risk to himself.
- Obadiah hid the Lord's prophets.
- Ahikam and Ebed-melech saved Jeremiah.
- Daniel preserved the wise men of Babylon.
- The Samaritan rescued his neighbor from death.
- Paul's nephew delievered the great Apostle, by informing him of the murderous plot.
Excuses are always at hand for slightly passing over their sad condition -- we knew it not -- we knew not your state, how you came into it, or how to help you out of it. But the true reason is, we want charity, but abound in self-love.
But doesn't God consider the excuse of ignorance to be the mere cover for selfishness? Vain it is to plead ignorance before the All-seeing God. He that pondereth the heart will thoroughly sift; his Omniscience will perfectly know; his retributive justice will render.
How much more guilty to forbear the deliverance of immortal souls! The Lord preserve us from an indictment in the court of heaven for the murder of our brother's soul, by forbearing to deliver!
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