What stupid blockheads!

(Joseph Philpot, "Daily Portions")

"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them.
    Matthew 15:16

What lessons we need day by day to teach
us anything aright, and how it is for the most
part "line upon line, line upon line; here a
little, and there a little." O . . .
  what slow learners!
  what dull, forgetful scholars!
  what ignoramuses!
  what stupid blockheads!
  what stubborn pupils!

Surely no scholar at a school, old or young,
could learn so little of natural things as we
seem to have learned of spiritual things after . . .
  so many years instruction,
  so many chapters read,
  so many sermons heard,
  so many prayers put up,
  so much talking about religion.

How small, how weak is the amount of
growth compared with all we have read
and heard and talked about!

But it is a mercy that the Lord saves whom
He will save, and that we are saved by free
grace, and free grace alone!