“If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.” — Exodus 22:6

But what restitution can he make who casts abroad the fire-brands of error, or the coals of lasciviousness, and sets men’s souls on a blaze with the fire of hell? The guilt is beyond estimate, and the result is irretrievable. If such an offender be forgiven, what grief it will cause him in the retrospect, since he cannot undo the mischief which he has done! An ill example may kindle a flame which years of amended character cannot quench. To burn the food of man is bad enough, but how much worse to destroy the soul! It may be useful to us to…

reflect how far we may have been guilty in the past, and toenquire whether, even in the present, there may not be evil in us which hasa tendency to bring damage to the souls of our relatives, friends, orneighbours.

The fire of strife is a terrible evil when it breaks out in a Christian church.Where converts were multiplied, and God was glorified, jealousy and envydo the devil’s work most effectually. Where the golden grain was beinghoused, to reward the toil of the great Boaz, the fire of enmity comes inand leaves little else but smoke and a heap of blackness. Woe unto thoseby whom offences come. May they never come through us, for althoughwe cannot make restitution, we shall certainly be the chief sufferers if weare the chief offenders. Those who feed the fire deserve just censure, buthe who first kindles it is most to blame. Discord usually takes first holdupon the thorns; it is nurtured among the hypocrites and base professorsin the church, and away it goes among the righteous, blown by the windsof hell, and no one knows where it may end. O Thou Lord and giver ofpeace, make us peacemakers, and never let us aid and abet the men ofstrife, or even unintentionally cause the least division among Thy people.

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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen