Evangelist Psalm 26:9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: Many disputes there are concerning the origin of human souls. The Bible assigns the first origination to God, and closely connects all with the first man. "All souls are Mine; as the soul of the master, so the soul of the servant." He is the great Lord of human souls. I. THE WORTH OF THE HUMAN SOUL. Evinced — 1. By its intellectual capacities: thought, reason, memory, conscience, affection. 2. By its moral capacities. It is naturally endowed with an ability to know, serve, love, and enjoy God. 3. By its immortality. It perishes not with the body. "The spirit of man goeth upward," — to God. 4. By the efforts of fallen spirits to effect its destruction. 5. By the means which God has used for its salvation. II. THE SOULS OF ALL WILL BE GATHERED TOGETHER, CLASSED AND FIXED FOREVER, IN A STATE SUITABLE TO THEIR CHARACTER. 1. What is more reasonable than such an association of similar minds after their probation? 2. Its probability is to be inferred from the nature of God and the present state of trial. 3. Its certainty is proved by Divine testimony. "He will render to every man according to his works." III. THE SOULS OF SINNERS ARE GATHERED AT DEATH INTO A STATE OF SHAME AND SUFFERING. 1. This is a matter of positive Divine assertion. 2. Realise the fact. An entire company of lost souls! — shut up with such forever. Think of a prison full of felons and blasphemers! 3. Consider the threatenings connected with the fact. The wrath of God. Sin will forever live in them and incur wrath. Spiritual death will triumph over their soul, and never cease. IV. THE PRAYER OF THE TEXT. "Gather not my soul," etc. 1. How can this be answered, seeing we are sinners? The language of the prayer proceeds from a consciousness of deserving to be gathered with sinners. 2. Yet the prayer supposes the possibility of being heard and answered. The scheme of salvation shows how it can be. 3. The sincerity of the prayer will be proved by returning to God practically and in heart. If we would not be gathered with sinners at last we must break off from them now. (Evangelist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:WEB: Don't gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men; |
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