Works of John Bunyan – The Greatness of The Soul, And Unspeakableness 0f the Loss Thereof; What Shall A Man Give In Exchange For His Soul.86

 

USE FIFTH Part 3

Objection 2. But all my discouragement does not lie in this. I see so much of the sinful vileness of my nature, and feel how ready it is to thrust itself forth at all occasions to the defiling of my whole man, and more. Now, this, added to the former, adds greatly to my discouragement.

Answer. This should be a cause of humiliation and of self-abasement, but not of discouragement; for the best of saints have their weaknesses, and these are their weaknesses. The ladies as well as she that grinds at the mill, know what doth attend that sex; and the giants in grace as well as the weak and shrubs, are sensible of the same things, which thou layest in against thy exercising of hope, or as a matter of thy discouragement. Poor David says (Psa 77:2), 'My soul refused to be comforted,' upon this very account, and Paul cries out under sense of this, 'O wretched man that I am!' and comes as it were to the borders of doubt, saying, 'Who shall deliver me?' (Rom 7:24). Only he was quick at remembering that Christ was his righteousness and the price of redemption, and there he relieved himself.

Again; this should drive us to faith in Christ; for therefore are the corruptions by Divine permission still left in us; they are not left in us to drive us to unbelief, but to faith—that is, to look to the perfect righteousness of Christ for life. And for further help, consider, that therefore Christ liveth in heaven, making intercession, that thou mightiest be saved by His life, not by thine, and by His intercessions, not by thy perfections (Rom 5:6–9; Col 1:20). Let not, therefore, thy weaknesses be thy discouragements; only let them put thee upon the duties required of thee by the gospel—to wit, faith, hope, repentance, humility, watchfulness, diligence, etc. (1 Peter 1:13; 5:5; 2 Cor 7:11; Mark 13:37; 2 Peter 1:10).

Objection 3. But I find, together with these things, weakness, and faintness as to my graces; my faith, hope, love, and desires for these and all other Christian duties are weak; I am like the man in the dream, who would have run, but could not; who would have fought, but could not; and who would have fled, but could not.

Answer 1. Weak graces are graces, weak graces may grow stronger; but if the iron is blunt, put it to more strength (Eccl 10:10). 2. Christ seems to be most tender to the weak: 'He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.' (Isa 40:11). And again, 'I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick' (Eze 34:16). Only here will thy wisdom be manifested—to wit, that thou grow in grace, and that thou use lawfully and diligently the means to do it (2 Peter 3:18; Phil 2:10, 11; 1 Thess 3:11–13).