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“TAKE HEED ... HOW YE HEAR”

J. B. Stoney

When light first breaks in on the soul, it is sweet to it, to the

new nature. It is the work of God; but in order to promote it,

and to enjoy what the light confers, I must practically prefer it

to everything else. If I do not give it first place and absolute

attention, it remains inactive, like a light in a dark lantern;

hence it is said, “take heed how ye hear”. If you have had a

glimpse of the unsearchable riches of Christ have you been

diverted by it from other things which claimed your attention

and interest, or have you gone on as usual? Can you sit and

talk as usual, dress as usual, read the books you used to

read? In a word, though you have tasted of something great,

has it no peculiar effect on you? Has it produced no marked

alteration in your feelings about, things? If not, it really does

not control, you, and this is the secret why you do not

advance. If it (the knowledge of Christ) controlled you, in spite

of yourself, and without perceiving it, you would retire daily

more and more from usual things, because more and more

engrossed with the Lord. You would not make any

arrangements to break away from this thing or that thing, but in

seeking to know more of Christ, like a bird ascending to the

sky, you would leave earthly things behind. The sky and air

would be more beautiful to you as you ascended, and the

things you had separated from would not be accounted of … It

is here where so many are detained. They wish for wings—

they admire flying, but the moment they find that flying will

distance them from old haunts and old tastes, they are content

to hop, and not to fly; they are sluggards, they desire and have

nothing. The fact is, the more we grow up in the knowledge of

Christ, the more we must separate from everything that is

contrary to Him.

(‘Ministry by J. B. Stoney’. Vol. 12, p.209)