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  THE NEED OF PERSONAL REVIVAL
  by Richard Baxter
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Summary: Richard Baxter emphasizes the need for personal revival and
spiritual earnestness in our lives and in our preaching, warning against
the dangers of insensitivity and hard-heartedness.

Topics: "Personal Revival", "Spiritual Growth"
Scripture References: Jeremiah 20:9, Ezekiel 33:7, 2 Corinthians 5:11, James 3:1, 1 Peter 4:17

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DESCRIPTION
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Richard Baxter passionately reflects on his own shortcomings as a
preacher, expressing deep remorse for not being more serious and fervent
in delivering the message of salvation. He questions his own sincerity
and earnestness in preaching about life, death, heaven, and hell,
feeling convicted by his conscience for not being more emotionally
engaged in his sermons. Baxter acknowledges his own dullness and slow
spiritual growth, feeling ashamed of every sermon he preaches, realizing
the weight of responsibility in sharing God's truths with others.

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CONTENT
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I know not what others think, but for my own part I am ashamed of my
stupidity, and wonder at myself that I deal not with my own and others
souls as one that looks for the great day of the Lord; and that I can
have room for almost any other thoughts and words; and that such
astonishing matters do not wholly absorb my mind. I marvel how I can
preach of them slightly and coldly; and how I can let men alone in their
sins; and that I do not go to them, and beseech them, for the Lord's
sake, to repent, however they may take it, and whatever pain and trouble
it should cost me.

I seldom come out of the pulpit but my conscience smiteth me that I have
been no more serious and fervent. It accuseth me not so much for want of
ornaments and elegancy, nor for letting fall an unhandsome word; but it
asketh me, 'How couldst thou speak of life and death with such a heart?
How couldst thou preach of heaven and hell in such a careless, sleepy
manner? Dost thou believe what thou sayest? Art thou in earnest, or in
jest? How canst thou tell people that sin is such a thing, and that so
much misery is upon them and before them, and be no more affected with
it? Shouldst thou not weep over such a people, and should not thy tears
interrupt thy words? Shouldst thou not cry aloud, and show them their
transgressions; and entreat and beseech them as for life and death?'

And for myself, as I am ashamed of my dull and careless heart, and of my
slow and unprofitable course of life, so, the Lord knows, I am ashamed
of every sermon I preach; when I think what I have been speaking of, and
who sent me, and that men's salvation or damnation is so much concerned
in it, I am ready to tremble lest God should judge me as a slighter of
His truths and the souls of men, and lest in the best sermon I should be
guilty of their blood. Me thinks we should not speak a word to men in
matters of such consequence without tears, or the greatest earnestness
that possibly we can; were not we too much guilty of the sin which we
reprove, it would be so.

Truly this is the peal that conscience doth ring in my ears, and yet my
drowsy soul will not be awakened. Oh, what a thing is an insensible,
hardened heart! O Lord, save us from the plague of infidelity and hard-
heartedness ourselves, or else how shall we be fit instruments of saving
others from it? Oh, do that on our souls which thou wouldst use us to do
on the souls of others.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/richard-baxter/the-need-of-personal-revival/
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