The Lower Courts

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1 John 3:19-22

And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.…

The fault of many is that they will not lay spiritual things to heart at all, but treat them in a superficial manner. This is foolish, sinful, deadly. We ought to put our ease upon serious trial in the court of our own conscience. Certain of a better class are satisfied with the verdict of their hearts, and do not remember the higher courts; and therefore either become presumptuous, or are needlessly distressed. We are about to consider the judgments of this lower court. Here we may have —

I. A CORRECT VERDICT AGAINST OURSELVES. Let us sum up the process.

1. The court sits under the King's arms, to judge by royal authority. The charge against the prisoner is read. Conscience accuses, and quotes the law as applicable to the points alleged.

2. Memory gives evidence. As to the fact of sin in years past, and of sin more lately committed. Items mentioned. Transgressions of the commandments. Failure in motive, spirit, temper, etc.

3. Knowledge gives evidence that the present state of mind and heart and will is not according to the Word.

4. Self love and pride urge good intents and pious acts in stay of proceedings. Hear the defence! But alas! it is not worth hearing. The defence is but one of "the refuges of lies."

5. The heart, judging by the law, condemns. Henceforth the man lives as in a condemned cell under fear of death and hell. If even our partial, half enlightened heart condemns, we may well tremble at the thought of appearing before the Lord God. The higher court is more strictly just, better informed, more authoritative, and more able to punish. God knows all. Forgotten sin, sins of ignorance, sins half seen are all before the Lord. What a terrible case is this! Condemned in the lower court, and sure to be condemned in the higher!

II. AN INCORRECT VERDICT AGAINST OURSELVES. The case as before. The sentence apparently most clear. But when revised by the higher court it is reversed, for good reasons.

1. The debt has been discharged by the man's glorious Surety.

2. The man is not the same man; though he has sinned he has died to sin, and he now lives as one born from above.

3. The evidences in his favour, such as the atonement and the new birth, were forgotten, undervalued, or misjudged in the lower court.

4. The evidence looked for by a sickly conscience was what it could not find, for it did not exist, namely, natural goodness, perfection, unbroken joy, etc. The judge was ignorant, and legally inclined. The verdict was therefore a mistaken one.

III. A CORRECT VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL. Our heart sometimes justly "condemns us not."

1. The argument for non-condemnation is good: the following are the chief items of evidence in proof of our being gracious —

(1)  We are sincere in our profession of love to God.

(2)  We are filled with love to the brethren.

(3)  We are resting upon Christ, and on Him alone.

(4)  We are longing after holiness.

2. The result of this happy verdict of the heart is that we have —

(1)  Confidence towards God that we are really His.

(2)  Confidence as to our reconciliation with God by Jesus Christ.

(3)  Confidence that He will not harm us, but will bless us.

(4)  Confidence in prayer that He will accept and answer.

(5)  Confidence as to future judgment that we shall receive the gracious reward at the last great day.

IV. AN INCORRECT VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL.

1. A deceived heart may refuse to condemn, but God will judge us all the same.

2. A false heart may acquit, but this gives no confidence Godward.

3. A deceitful heart pretends to acquit while in its centre it condemns.

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