Chapter 33: Two other ways whereby the former point is clarified
Chapter 33 Two other ways whereby the former point is clarified, with some consequences from the same and the use of the whole. The first way is that while the soul is performing duty, its strength is continually renewed. Secondly, the soul has the love of God shed abroad into the heart. The first consequence is the happiness of a Christian here.
Secondly, hence comes the perseverance of believers. The use of all is to exercise much faith in Christ.
Ninthly, the rest that the soul has in Christ—that is, to continue in duties with freedom of spirit, without making them burdensome—is this: when the soul comes to Christ, it not only receives strength to do the duty, but while it is performing the duty, its strength is renewed. The soul receives sweetness, goodness, and strength from Christ while it is engaged in the performance of duty, making the duty easy, sweet, and comfortable.
To illustrate: if a man is doing difficult work, such as trying to cut through a knotty piece of timber, and he makes no progress, expending his strength but achieving nothing, he quickly becomes weary. But if a man is engaged in work where, the more strength he uses, the more he gains—where his strength is enlarged and renewed as he works—he will find the task easy. If, while he is working, he experiences sweetness and reward, he can work joyfully. This man labours with ease because he gains more strength than he expends, and he does not only work for future wages but experiences sweetness even in the act of working.
This is how it is with evangelical obedience. When a soul performs duties in this manner, its strength is renewed daily. The more service you do for Christ, the more strength you receive. Just as a man who
is cold and numb finds that his strength returns as he works and warms up, so it is with a Christian. When beginning a duty, they may feel dull and sluggish, but as they persist, strength from Christ comes in. Many can testify to this: you have begun a duty feeling unfit or dull, but as you proceeded, Christ gave you the strength to carry on.
This should encourage you not to neglect duties just because you feel unfit for them. Strength comes in the act of doing, not before. So get up and do the duty, and you will find the strength you need. In fact, the more you do, the more strength will come.
This explains why a godly person, though they may feel weary in the performance of duty, never grows weary of duty itself. There is a significant difference between the godly and the carnal in this respect. A godly person, though tired during the duty, is never tired of the duty. In contrast, those who perform duties merely out of a sense of natural conscience quickly become weary of the task. Some tools, for example, wear out with use, while others become better the more they are used. So it is with those who perform duties only from natural conscience—they wear out and eventually give up. But one who performs duties in an evangelical way finds that the more they do, the more they are able to do.
Therefore, Christians, let this be an encouragement to you: the more you do, the more you will be enabled to do. The one who used his five talents well was given even more, while the one who sat idle lost what he had. As strength comes in, you will also experience great sweetness in your heart. As David said, "In keeping your commandments there is great reward" (Psalm 19:11). The reward is not just for keeping them, but in the very act of keeping them.
Imagine if a person were paid for every hour they worked—this would encourage them greatly. But if they had to wait for their wages
until the work was complete, it would feel more burdensome. Work that brings immediate sweetness and reward is easy work. This is what is expressed in Hosea 10:11: "Ephraim is like a trained heifer that loves to thresh, but I passed over her fair neck; I will make
Ephraim to ride, Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods."
At first glance, the text seems difficult, but it speaks to this very point. Ephraim, like a heifer, loves easy work—treading out the corn, where the ox is not muzzled and can eat as it works. But God says, "I will make Ephraim to plow"—meaning, Ephraim prefers easy work, where there is immediate reward. But the Gospel does not require difficult work without reward. It is more like the work of treading out the corn, where the labourer can feed while working. In the Gospel, while you are engaged in God's work, you also receive nourishment from it. There is a constant sweetness that comes to the faithful while doing the Lord's work.
Therefore, continue in the work of the Lord, and you will find rest and sweetness in your soul as you labour.
And that is the reason scholars can study for long hours, which would be tedious for others. I challenge those employed in other tasks, who think the work of a scholar is so easy, to get up in the morning, shut yourselves in a room, and spend two or three hours reading, meditating, and writing. Then, do it again for half a day or an entire day, and see if it is not more tedious and exhausting to the flesh than any other work. For scholars, though it is physically tiring, they can continue because they find sweetness in their work. It is not like other work, where men labour solely for wages afterwards.
Scholars, while engaged in their studies, have truths and heavenly notions flowing into their minds, making the work easy and delightful. This is the happiness of a Christian: while engaged in holy duties, the "sun of righteousness" shines upon them, and sweetness
fills their hearts. This is where rest and ease in the performance of duties can be found.
Tenthly and lastly, when the soul comes to Christ, it finds abundant rest in holy duties because the love of God is shed abroad in its heart. This makes everything delightful. You know how Jacob, because he loved Rachel, endured frosty nights without complaint, considering them nothing because of his love for her. In the same way, when the love of God fills a Christian's heart, everything they do becomes delightful, making all tasks easier. Love never complains about difficulty. If you hear someone grumbling about the difficulty of holy duties, it's a sign they lack the love of God in their heart.
Now you have heard these ten points, which reveal how ease and rest of spirit in the performance of holy duties are found. There is more to be said at the end of this chapter, especially when Christ says, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light," which we will discuss if God grants the opportunity.
Application I. From all this, we see the happiness of a Christian. Many think a Christian's happiness lies solely in the future, in heaven, but the truth is, the way to happiness is heaven itself here on earth. Oh, how good is the way of the Gospel, which gives rest as we journey toward heaven. No amount of malice from the world or the devil can disturb the peace and rest of a Christian.
II. This also explains why true believers persevere. You've heard the doctrine of perseverance discussed, and perhaps wondered, "Is it certain that a soul with true grace will persevere?" Yes, it is certain.
Once someone has truly come to Christ, they will not turn away,