Chapter 15: The Reasons of the Former Point
of my corruption, if only I could prevent them from working!" They may continue, "Though I cannot keep them from working, if only I could stop them from prevailing!" But alas, their corruptions often overcome them, and this is the greatest burden of all—that corruption prevails in their hearts so frequently.
It is troublesome to fight with an enemy, but it is far more troublesome when the enemy prevails and wins the day. Though it is true that corruption will never fully gain the victory—that is, though it may prevail for a while in some skirmishes, it may win the battle but not the war—just as an enemy may win in some skirmishes but not in the final battle, so too will the saints of God gain victory at last.
But as long as they live, their corruptions will often prevail and defeat them, which is grievous and burdensome to them.
Chapter 15 The Reasons of the Former Point.
1. Because corruption (when it prevails) weakens the heart.
2. By it, God is dishonoured.
3. By it, our holy profession is scandalised.
4. By it, those over whom it prevails are made useless in their places.
5. Thereby the means of grace are made unprofitable.
6. Thereby our peace with God is disturbed.
7. Thereby the assurance of our salvation is shaken.
Now, to open this a little in detail, to show how burdensome it is to the hearts of the saints when corruption prevails in any measure.
They do not dismiss it as carnal people do, saying, "We are all sinners, and it is by God's grace we are kept. Lord, have mercy on us," and the like. No, instead, they regard the prevailing of corruption as the greatest burden they can endure in the world, and that in the following respects:
I First, because whenever corruption prevails, in whatever degree, it weakens the heart—it weakens the soul. Corruption may stir in the heart, and if the heart resists and gains strength against it, the heart is not weakened as it would be otherwise. But if corruption prevails in any degree, it weakens the heart.
We know that weakness makes us more aware of a burden. A sick person is a burden to themselves, and everything becomes a burden to them. When any corruption prevails, it makes the soul sick, and everything becomes a burden to it. I beseech you to consider this: here lies the reason why you are so weak and unable to bear other burdens. If anyone crosses you—your wife, children, or servants— you cannot bear it. If your neighbours cross you, you cannot handle it. The reason is something you may not consider: you have weakened your heart by some sin or another, breaking your peace with God, and now your heart has become weak. You are like a sick person who cries out at anything. One who is healthy can bear a hundred times more. But because you have brought sickness upon your soul, perhaps due to some sin that has prevailed over you, your heart and spirit are now weakened. When weak, everything seems burdensome to you. Thus, the prevailing of corruption becomes a
burden in this respect because it weakens the heart, making everything burdensome to you.
II Secondly, the saints and people of God regard the prevailing of corruption as the greatest burden for another reason: they know it dishonours God. Especially if corruption prevails to the extent of outward action, turning into an actual sin, it becomes exceedingly burdensome to a gracious person. This is because the name of the blessed God is dishonoured by the sin that has prevailed. While sin merely stirs within the heart without prevailing, the name of God is not dishonoured to the same degree. But when sin prevails, it dishonours God, and this is why it is a burden to the saints.
III Thirdly, it is a burden because it may cause scandal to my holy profession. Is this not a burden? Many wretched men and women may say they do not care what others think or say about them. But godly men and women, when they consider this, cry out, "Oh, what will the wicked say about this? How will they blaspheme and dishonour the name of God?" This becomes a burden to them because their holy profession is scandalised by it.
IV Fourthly, it is a burden because it renders them useless in the places where they live. Though some may have a genuine measure of grace in them and may go to heaven at last, yet, when their corruption
prevails, they become very useless in the places where they live. They may live, but they are burdens upon the earth because they are unlikely to be used to do any great service for God in the world, having so scandalised their profession through the prevailing of corruption.
V Fifthly, when corruption prevails over the saints, it not only makes them unprofitable but also renders the means of grace exceedingly unprofitable. It hardens their hearts, so that when they come to prayer, hear the Word, or participate in the sacraments, they find little benefit. Many of you complain that you do not profit by prayer, hearing the Word, or the sacrament. What is the reason? Perhaps there are certain sins that you continue to live in, which have prevailed over you, and thus, it is no wonder that you do not receive the profit you desire.
VI Sixthly, the prevailing of corruption is a grievous burden because it greatly disturbs the peace between God and the soul. Though there are many temptations, if the heart can conquer them, it finds greater peace through the victory. The soul never experiences such peace as when there have been strong temptations to sin, and those temptations are overcome. However, if temptation prevails, it disturbs our peace, and this is burdensome to those who understand the meaning of peace with God.
VII
Seventhly, the prevailing of corruption is a grievous burden because it often shakes the assurance of those who are godly. I do not understand what some people would make of the Lord's Prayer,
"Forgive us our sins," if they think that, regardless of what sin they fall into, they can still maintain their assurance as before. I say, what would they make of that petition, "Lord, forgive us our sins"? At the very least, to pray this is to ask the Lord to clear up the evidence of the forgiveness of our sins. Therefore, it must follow that falling into any sin, and the prevailing of any corruption, must shake our assurance while we live here in this world. Now, is this not a burden to any man or woman who previously had assurance of God's love and could look into God's face with joy, only to have this assurance shaken?
Yes, often it causes God to withdraw His countenance, which made David cry out, "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation." As if he were saying, "Lord, I used to find joy in Your presence and in communion with You, but now You have distanced Yourself from my soul. O
Lord, restore to me the joy of Your salvation." Now, is this not a burden—to lose the sweetness of your soul in communion with God?
Though it may be due to your weakness or whatever else, you cannot look upon God with the comfort you once had. Instead, the thought of God becomes a terror to your spirit. Is this not a burden?
Now then, is there any poor soul who understands what these things mean? Do you know what a burden the remaining corruption of the heart is, whether it is due to the sinfulness of your nature, the stirring of corruption, or the prevailing of corruption, so that you have no rest in your soul, but are laden with such a burden? Do you cry out with the apostle, "Oh, wretched man or woman that I am, who shall deliver me?" Let such a soul know that this text belongs to them: "Come to me," says Christ, "and I will give you rest from this