Robert Robinson had been saved out of a wretched life of sin at the age of twenty-three. Robinson later wrote the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Sadly, Robinson wandered far from those streams and turned from the Lord. One day — he was traveling by stagecoach and sitting beside a young woman engrossed in her book. She ran across a verse she thought was beautiful and asked him what he thought of it.
Prone to wander — Lord, I feel it —
Prone to leave the God I love.
Bursting into tears, Robinson said, “Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then.”
– Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories, p. 52.
Warning signs ignored can lead to disaster.
Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
Don’t neglect the warning signs. Give it some thought.
Gary