"Sometimes, when I see some of the worst characters in the street, I feel as if my heart must burst forth in tears of gratitude that God has never let me act as they have done!"
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
'nuff said.
He's admitting if it were not for God alone he would be exactly like the wretch in the street -- "there but for the grace of God go I."
Spurgeon adds,
"I have thought, if God had left me alone, and had not touched me by His grace, what a great sinner I should have been! I should have run to the utmost lengths of sin, dived into the very depths of evil, nor should I have stopped at any vice or folly, if God had not restrained me. I feel that I should have been a very king of sinners, if God had let me alone. I cannot understand the reason why I am saved, except upon the ground that God would have it so."
Spurgeon gives all credit to God alone for the fact that he wasn't lying face down in the gutter himself, but instead was the fortunate recipient of God's mercy by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
I'm thankful for the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in my life, too.
How about you?