"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
The minister preaches the word of the gospel; the Holy Spirit applies that word to the hearts of the redeemed; but it is only when the believer "sees" Christ, with the eyes of faith, that he or she is thoroughly humbled, and marvels at God's love.
This is the universal testimony of all the Scriptures--(see Isa., ch. 6 as a classic example). Do we need to hear about the Lord? Yes. But we also need to behold Him. In so doing, we will never be the same; and we will forever disdain our formerly-held (but putrid) self-righteousness.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Surely, it is better to lack any mercy than a humble heart, it is better to have no mercy than lack a humble heart." --Thomas Brooks, in "Heaven on Earth"]
