For I fear, lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: and that I shall bewail many which have sinned. 2 Corinthians 12:20-21.
Much evil may steal into awakened Christians, many a sin may revive in them if they do not watch. All these sins enumerated by Paul appear again; he who considers himself an awakened and converted believer, and makes light of such sins, who neither mourns them nor repents and eradicates them, is in a blinded and perverted state a condition worse than total ignorance of Christ. He continues in devotional exercises, in singing psalms, in oral prayer, in reading and in everything which is in vogue, but does not change and better himself, and yet he considers himself a Christian. Then a person is in the condition described in 2 Peter 2:20-22. Beloved, always think thus: If Paul and Christ were to step in among us; if they were witnesses to all our deeds, would they find us as they would wish or would we find them as we would not wish? If Paul found such shameful things in his congregations, could he not also find them in our congregations? And how would his countenance then look? ’’Shall I praise you or shall I come unto you with a rod? For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. " Let no man who finds pleasure in himself deceive himself; but let him consider himself in the mirror of the word and prove his conduct according to the rule of truth.
Yet, though conscience’ voice appall me.
Father, I will seek Thy face;
Though Thy child I dare not call me,
Yet receive me to Thy grace;
Do not for my sins forsake me.
Let not yet Thy wrath o’ertake me.