Sermon IX - The Comforts of Mourners for Sin - Matthew 5:4
comfort and solace. After Adam's fall, our condition was such that God could have forever rejected us, paying no attention to any mourning for sin. However, it is through the redemptive work of Christ's blood that mourning for sin is regarded by God. You are not dealing with God based solely on your own merits but through His
Son, who presented His sorrows to the Father on behalf of your soul.
Thirdly, understand that Jesus Christ has made a sufficient atonement for sin. In other words, the Lord Jesus Christ has rectified all the harm that sin has caused to God. The Lord has not suffered more harm from your sin than He has received honour through Christ's suffering for sin. Your sin may have been grave and greatly offended God, but the Lord Jesus has paid the price for all that wrongdoing. Now, when there is a means of atonement, when I approach God seeking forgiveness for my sin and assistance in overcoming it, I know that God will never suffer any harm from my sin that has not already been reconciled through the blood of His
Son. If I were dealing with God on His own terms, I might think that the Lord would eventually take vengeance on me, even if He is currently patient with me. However, now that I understand the true meaning of atonement that Jesus Christ has accomplished and the price He has paid, I see a way in which all the harm my sin has caused to God has been rectified. This realization cannot help but uplift the heart greatly.
SERMON IX
The Comforts of Mourners for Sin "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4
To proceed, fourthly, know that it is God's very way of bringing sinners to eternal life to lead them in a path of mourning for sin. Just as the Israelites were brought out of the captivity of Babylon, which served as a type of God bringing sinners out of the captivity of sin,
He said, "With supplications and weeping will I lead them." It is the method God employs to draw sinners to Himself. The way to Jerusalem, which symbolizes the vision of peace, passes through Bethani, the house of sorrows. Christ Himself took that path when
He journeyed to Jerusalem. Throughout all ages, God has led His servants to true comfort through the way of sorrow. The route to the valley of Beracho, the valley of blessing, is through the valley of Bacah, the valley of tears. In these indulgent times, some believe they have discovered a new route to comfort. May they find success with their new approach to comfort. Some think that there is a quicker way to comfort than the one Christ has presented here in His Word.
They consider His preaching, in this Sermon of His, that the way to comfort is through mourning, to be legalistic. If you regard Christ as a legalistic preacher for proclaiming that the blessed ones are the mourners who shall receive comfort, then you may cherish your thoughts. If you dare to rely on the comfort you have obtained by other means, then proceed with your audacity. However, Christ presents this way and declares that those who mourn are the ones He takes it upon Himself to comfort. Christ is anointed to preach glad tidings to the mourners.
Fifthly, take solace in knowing that it is the work of the Spirit, sent into the world as the Comforter, to convict of sin (John 16:8). As
Christ promised the coming of the Comforter, He explained the role of the Comforter. The first task of the Comforter is to convict souls of their sinful state, to bring awareness of their condition outside of Jesus Christ, to illuminate their wretched condition. The Spirit, even the comforting Spirit, convicts, according to the text. One might have expected that, in accordance with human ways, it would be the spirit of the Law, a legalistic spirit, that convicts of sin. Yet, it is the Spirit, the comforting Spirit, that convicts of sin. Therefore, if you lack this conviction of sin, no matter how much you may speak of the comforts of the Holy Spirit, there is undoubtedly a misunderstanding within you. For when the Holy Spirit comes to comfort, He first enters the heart to convict of sin. Therefore, you, whose spirit is convicted of sin, of the unbelief that resides in your heart, and is convicted powerfully to the point of being deeply affected, this should be a comfort to you. O Lord, through Your mercy, I am not only on the path that You lead those whom You have purposed to save, but I also experience the work of the Comforter. I hope He has come to my soul, for He has convicted me of my sin, and I find my heart affected by sorrow for my sin in a way different from before.
Sixthly, another source of comfort for those who mourn for sin is that the Lord values your mourning. You may think that you can do little for God, as you have a wretched and sinful soul, and you are weak and unable to do much. But if you can mourn, know that such mourning (as has been explained) is a sacrifice to God, as acceptable as any offering you can present to Him. In Psalm 51, it is said, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O
God, you will not despise." Such mourning is equivalent to all sacrifices. Therefore, even when you have no offering to present to God, if you possess a broken spirit for your sin, God highly values that. Let me tell you this: there is nothing that God values more than the tears of a broken heart, that which springs from a contrite spirit.
It is a blessing, for godly sorrow arises from both faith and a sense of sin. I can confidently say that, next to the blood of Jesus Christ, nothing is esteemed higher by God than this. Therefore, you can find comfort in the present.
Seventhly, know that although in our eyes the difference between sins is significant, and rightly so, as we should strive to consider our sin in all its enormity and aggravations, when it comes into the hands of Jesus Christ for satisfaction, great and small sins do not make such a difference in His work of mediation. If you spill water in a house from a pail, it creates a great mess, but there is not much difference if you pour it into the Thames. Similarly, though the difference of sin weighs heavily on our consciences, when it comes to the infinite sea of the mediation and satisfaction of Jesus Christ and the grace that is found there, the difference is not so significant. Oh, may only those who mourn for sin hear this, so that the hearing of it may lead others to have their hearts broken as well.
Eighthly, for your comfort, know this: as long as receiving comfort from the Word makes you aware of your unworthiness, that sense of unworthiness should not hinder you from taking comfort. It is a certain rule that when taking comfort makes me more aware of my unworthiness, that sense of unworthiness should not prevent me from embracing comfort. This is a common concern that troubles those who mourn; they fear that taking comfort would be presumptuous. But remember this rule: if taking comfort makes you more aware of your unworthiness, that sense of unworthiness should not hinder you from grasping onto comfort. Let this be both a rule of guidance and encouragement for those who mourn for sin.
Furthermore, there are various rules to assist those who mourn in managing their spirits while seeking comfort.
The first rule is to strive for a quiet and patient heart. Sorrow can be tiresome to our flesh and blood, but when the sorrow is for sin, it is accompanied by the grace of God. Therefore, if mourning for sin leads to impatience, frustration, and agitation, it is not right.
Mourning for sin should have a sweetness to it and should make you patient under God's hand, waiting for the time when He will speak comfort to your soul. You may find yourself in a condition where you are aware of such a great evil upon you that no creature in heaven or earth can comfort you. In such a state, resolve to wait for the day of goodness, for the time of love, when God will speak peace to your soul. And in the meantime, commit to waiting upon Him, using all the means at your disposal until your last breath, regardless of the outcome. Let this be a guiding principle for how to direct your heart when you are in a state of mourning.
And then a second rule is this: Do not just dwell and fixate on the pit of despair you find yourself in. Even while mourning for sin, even if you don't yet have assurance that your sins are forgiven, look up to the promise. You may think it doesn't apply to you, but fix your gaze upon it. Look up to the brazen serpent if sin has stung you, just as those who were bitten in the wilderness looked up to the brazen serpent. Present the Covenant of Grace to your soul, for just as the presentation of the Law has the power to terrify the heart, the presentation of the Gospel has the power to draw the heart to it.
There is a vivifying quality in the grace of the Gospel when it is beheld. It is not merely an object for the eyes or understanding; there is power in it. It enters the heart to work upon it. Many who mourn allow their hearts to sink and only consider the darkness of their souls, but they do not lift their eyes to the graciousness of the promise. We have an excellent Scripture for this in Psalm 86:4-5.
David says, "Rejoice the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul." That's the way to find joy. You pray to the Lord, longing
for Him to bring joy to your soul, and yet you let your soul grovel on the ground. But rejoice the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. This Scripture is extremely valuable to those who mourn for sin, for nothing reveals more fault in mourners than their desire for joy in their hearts while allowing their hearts to remain low. They do not stir themselves up or strive to lift up their souls.
David says, "For to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul." And in verse 5, "For you, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all who call upon you." The Lord is ready if you can only lift up your soul and be ready. Therefore, beware that the anguish and trouble of your soul do not hinder you from looking upon the promise, from listening to the promise that is made to you. In Exodus 6:9, we find that when Moses spoke to the children of Israel, the text says, "They did not heed Moses." Why? What did Moses come for? He came to bring them a message of comfort, but they did not listen to him because of their anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.
The anguish of their spirits and the cruel bondage prevented them from listening to Moses. Be cautious that you, as a mourner for sin, do not find yourself in the same condition when it's time for me to apply the promise to you. Do not let your anguish of spirit and cruel bondage prevent you from heeding what is said to you. It is not good for a person crossing a narrow bridge over a great and deep river, especially if they have a weak head, to keep looking at the river and contemplating its depth and the abyss they would fall into if they were to slip. Such constant staring would be enough to make them fall. Instead, let them look straight ahead to the shore and proceed as carefully as they can. Once they have reached the shore, they can then look back safely and thank God for their deliverance. It should be the same for a heart afflicted by sin. While you mourn and see it as a dreadful abyss ready to swallow you, you are fixated on it, which puts you in danger of being consumed. But the truth is, when you are on this precipice (for the work of repentance is akin to a precipice),
you are to look at the promise, at the grace of God in the Gospel that is offered to you. And when you have reached the shore and are able to apply the promise of grace, then you may look back at the dreadful abyss that almost swallowed you and give thanks to God for His deliverance.
And then a third rule in seeking comfort is this: Do not be more concerned with obtaining comfort for yourself than with the glory of God. Even when you mourn for sin, strive to have your heart in such a frame that you are as concerned and careful about the glory of God as you are about finding comfort for yourself. We have experienced that many who are greatly afflicted by their sin are solely focused on comfort. They long for someone to speak words of comfort to them, and no words are acceptable unless they bring immediate comfort.
But in the meantime, they are little aware of the dishonour God has endured or how God should receive honour. In contrast, a heart that is rightly influenced, when it apprehends the evil of sin, is equally preoccupied with the dishonour that their sin has brought to God.
They contemplate how this dishonour can be rectified. They think, "If I were to continue living in a way that dishonours this blessed
God, what would become of me? How much better would it have been if I had never been born than to live dishonouring a God who is so glorious in Himself and infinitely worthy of all honour from His creatures." It is good when the honour of God occupies your heart, and you are concerned about it. Because you cannot mend that breach, you listen to what you hear in the Gospel of Christ. But you are also careful that any rule that opposes your sin or helps you in obedience to God is embraced by your heart as eagerly as the rules that bring immediate comfort. Let me explain this using a simile to ensure better understanding: Many with weak stomachs, on the verge of collapse, long for something invigorating. They seek hot drinks, thinking that these will provide them with more energy and
heat, suiting their condition. However, the truth is that hot drinks only scorch and deplete them, making them weaker and weaker, and depleting their natural heat. But a wise physician, when he comes and inquires about their intake, will tell them that they have spoiled themselves. They should have purged the ill humours in their bodies, taken broths and other things that may not be as hot, but gradually strengthen their constitution, nourish them, and produce good blood. Good blood, in turn, raises good spirits, and those are the best spirits. While one might experience a temporary surge of heat from hot drinks, it does not last. But if one can acquire heat from good blood, that will endure, and the person will live and become strong.
This principle applies to Christians in every way. Some are very aware of their sin and long for all comfort. They desire only to hear about Christ and His free grace, and nothing else satisfies them unless it directly brings them comfort. Well, perhaps that might provide temporary heat, but the truth is that this heat fades away and comes to nothing. On the other hand, if a wise physician for the soul applies the word that can purge the evil from their hearts, the word that carries the essence of sanctification and walking with God in the path of holiness, and if they are encouraged to embrace those things alongside the free grace of the Gospel, where Christ is presented not only as a Priest offering sacrifice but also as a King ruling in the heart, that will produce good blood. Therefore, be concerned about the glory of God, about how you should live to His praise, as much as you are concerned about finding comfort for yourself. Otherwise, the eager pursuit of comfort for yourself may lead to your downfall.
Fourthly, and then furthermore, you must seek comfort in order to obtain grace, rather than seeking grace solely for the purpose of comfort. There are those who seek grace only because it brings them comfort and eases their conscience, but they have no genuine love for grace apart from its potential to bring personal comfort. However, a
godly soul seeks comfort to enhance and advance grace. They desire comfort because it will enlarge their heart for God. The more peace they experience in their soul, the more it will further the grace within them. Therefore, they seek comfort. On the other hand, a hypocrite seeks grace only because they cannot have comfort without it. The true seeker of God's comfort desires it to facilitate the growth of grace within them.
Fifthly, the last rule I would give to mourners is this: If you are unable to exercise a faith of assurance, try to exercise a faith of adherence instead. This is something anyone can do. You may say that only believers can do this, but you do not know whether there is already a seed of faith in your heart. Let your condition be as sorrowful as can be imagined. You claim to be a wretched sinner, and we will grant that. Yet, even in this very moment when you view yourself as such a vile sinner, there is nothing preventing you from exercising a faith of adherence. That is, casting your soul upon the free and full grace of God in Christ and clinging to it. You may ask,
"But can I presume? Do I have any right to it?" I say this: No soul has any right to the promise of grace other than by casting themselves upon it, which grants them the right. Now, it may be that you do not have the faith of assurance, which concludes, "Well, Christ is mine, and because I know this, I will trust and believe in Him." However, you can still do this: I see the promise offered to wretched and sinful creatures. Although I do not know if He is mine, I will venture my soul and eternal state upon it. I will lie here and entrust my soul to the free grace of God in Christ for forgiveness, sanctification, salvation, and all that is good. This is the path to finding comfort.
Endeavour to exercise an act of faith in adherence, cleaving to it, even if you cannot exercise an act of assurance. I have spoken these words in an attempt to comfort mourners. For Christ promises that they will find comfort. If I can bring this promise, spoken by Christ in
this sermon, to just one soul, it will be sufficient. Even if some may harden their hearts and misuse what is said, it will be enough, and Christ will accept it. If the promised comfort can be brought home to even one soul through this sermon, Christ says, "You shall be comforted." And how can this be achieved if not through the Word?
Therefore, it is right for you to come and listen to the Word. It may be that you have come to hear the Word many times, but it has not comforted your soul. There has been no union between the Word and your soul, and so you have departed without comfort. Nonetheless, come again and again. Do not say that it is in vain for you to attend the Word because you have already heard, I am certain, as precious truths as any can be heard, and you have not found them comforting.
Well, even though they have not comforted you at that time, there has not yet been a connection between your heart and those truths.
Still, come again and again, and eventually there will be a connection between the Word and your soul. In one sentence, the Spirit of God may implant something in your soul that you have not experienced in your entire life. Oh, one may say, "I find my heart troubled and mourning for sin. I long for comfort, and God knows I have read the Word, where I find precious and excellent truths. But they do not reach my heart." Well, I will continue to come and wait, hoping that the angel will come and stir my heart. Even if it has not happened yet, eventually you will be able to say, like Mr Glover speaking to his friend Austin, "Oh, he has come! He has come!" So, persist in using means, waiting for the Word to come and connect with your heart so that you may find comfort. Now, I cannot say for certain if it is the comfort of Jesus Christ that has comforted my soul in my mourning condition. Oh, if only I knew whether it is His comfort or not. Well, let me give you two or three signs to discern whether it is the comfort of Jesus Christ or not.
Firstly, if your joy and comfort are the joy of the Lord, then it becomes your strength. As Nehemiah said to the people, joy brings strength, and comfort brings strength to your soul. For instance, can you say, "Through God's mercy, although I was weak before and could not overcome certain corruptions, since God has spoken peace to my soul, I have found more strength in my heart to overcome my corruptions than ever before"? If your comfort has such an effect, it is from God. If it leads you towards Him, it comes from Him. If it is a delusion or a fancy, it will not produce these results. Hypocrites are exposed in this regard as much as in anything else. When they are in terror, they are cautious of sin and diligent in their duties. However, when they have peace, they become more careless. It is different for those whose hearts are sincere with God.
Secondly, the true comfort of Christians is sustained by that which initially produced it. Just as in nature, what begets a thing also nourishes it, so it is with the human heart. Whatever nurtures your comfort is what brought forth your comfort, and what brought it forth will also nourish it, and nothing else. Therefore, if your comfort is truly spiritual and originates from the Spirit of Jesus Christ in your heart, nothing will nourish your comfort more than Jesus Christ
Himself. This will create within you a longing for more communion with Him. Hypocrites may have comfort, but what sustains and maintains their comfort are external things they possess, the esteem of the world, their talents and abilities, and earthly pleasures.
However, the comforts of the saints are sustained by higher principles. The Scriptures compare their joy to the light of the sun, which cannot be sustained by low and base things like the light of a candle. Therefore, if you find that the light in your soul is sustained by principles that are above, by the Sun of Righteousness shining into your heart, then it is true comfort.
Thirdly, if your comfort is of such a nature that it governs all other comforts in your heart, particularly the comfort of hoping for the forgiveness of your sins, then it is genuine. The comforts of a hypocrite, although they may experience great joy, cannot overpower their natural comfort, nor can they displace the corrupt joy that was already present in their souls. However, the joy of the saints is different. It overrules natural joy and eradicates corrupt and sinful joy. Just as the light of the sun extinguishes the light of a kitchen fire and dims the light of a candle, the light and warmth of true comfort in the soul will displace the carnal joy previously experienced. As Augustine said, "How sweet it is to be without such sweetness."
There was a time when I thought I could not imagine living without the sweetness of certain sinful desires. But now, how sweet it is to be without them. Many of you may live merrily, but the joy you have is nothing more than joy in base and low things—a corrupt joy.
However, if you were to experience the comforts of the Holy Spirit, it would supplant that joy, leaving no room for the corrupt joy that currently satisfies your heart. This concludes my address to those who are mourners. However, I have a few more words to speak.
Firstly, I address those who have not yet experienced such mourning, and secondly, I will speak to the saints, encouraging them to mourn further since Christ promises such comfort. For those who are reluctant to mourn, there is a group of people who are afraid of mourning, thinking that it will lead them to despair if they give in to mourning for their sins in any way. Consequently, when their hearts are touched by the Word, they strive with all their might to dismiss it, resolving never to return to hear it again if it penetrates their consciences and cuts deep. They cannot sleep as peacefully that night as they did before. They regard mourning for their sins with such apprehension, as if it were the most wicked thing in the world. Oh, deluded soul, you are utterly mistaken. Remember this text and
understand that, if you acknowledge this to be the book of God and these to be the words of Christ, you may know that you are mistaken.
Christ declares that those who mourn are blessed. If you desire to become a blessed person, be receptive to the spirit of mourning. If the Spirit of God begins to approach your soul through the Word, be willing to open your heart to Him, embrace it, and cherish that Word. Recall this text, speaking figuratively, from the book of Daniel, chapter 7, verse 28: "My thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed, but I kept the matter in my heart." This is an instructive passage. Daniel had something revealed to him by God.
Granted, your situation differs from Daniel's, but God had conveyed a message to him, and the text states that his thoughts troubled him, and his countenance was visibly affected. Did he cast it aside? No, he kept the matter in his heart. I firmly believe that when some of you come to hear the Word, there are moments when something pierces your spirits, troubling your thoughts. When you lie awake on your beds at night, there is something that troubles your hearts, and you seek the company of others to distract yourself from it. Oh, no!
Rather, you should hold on to it. How do you know if the Lord is now in the process of making you blessed? Previously, you had been on a path leading to wrath and misery, in a cursed way. Now, the Lord
Christ is drawing near to bless you, as far as you know. You have an opportunity for blessedness that, if rejected, may never come again.
If you disregard the Word that is beginning to work in your heart, the Lord may decree that it never strikes your heart again, and that the Spirit never accompanies this Word again. Then, when you seek comfort on your sickbed, this Scripture may be held against you:
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." You will regret having rejected the ways of the Spirit that would have led you to mourn. If you desire comfort on your sickbed and deathbed, be willing to mourn and continue in the work of the Holy Spirit when it begins to stir your heart in a mournful way over your sins. Do not be
deterred by any notion, even if some may teach a new way to completely abandon mourning. Know that it is the old way in which the saints of God have previously walked. Embrace this, and to help you embrace it, here are a few instructions.
Firstly, it is advisable for those whose hearts are troubled by their sins to find solitude, to remove themselves from the presence of others and retreat. Whenever you feel your heart beginning to be troubled, take time alone to meditate on your sin and bring the matter before God in the privacy of your soul. It is worth noting the excellent example we can learn from Peter when he committed his great sin and Jesus looked upon him. As you know, the text says, "He went out and wept bitterly." However, I discovered in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 14, verse 72, it is mentioned that "when he thought thereon, he wept." The term translated as "thought thereon" in the original language signifies any kind of violence a person inflicts upon themselves. Some translations render it as "cast himself out," indicating a forceful act of separating oneself from company. Peter had had enough of them. So, when you feel the Spirit of God beginning to stir and work in your heart, cast yourself out from the company, as it were, and diligently engage your thoughts in matters that may further affect your heart.
Secondly, present God to your soul to the utmost extent possible.
Consider that you are dealing with an infinite God in all your ways.
Present God and Christ to your soul. You may say, "I dare not." But do not be afraid of this. One day, you will behold the Lord in His glory. Therefore, present the Lord to your soul now in His glory.
Thirdly, do not be content with any duty until you find your heart starting to break. Call yourself to account. Now, I am praying to God, and I can say, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them." But do
I find my heart mourning for them? I refer to my own sins. Do I acknowledge them with bitterness and trouble of soul? Oh, it would be an excellent disposition not to cease until you sense some movement in your heart. You may object, "But I cannot get my heart to stir. God knows I would give a great deal if, every time I approached God's presence, I could lament and mourn for my sin.
Oh, but I cannot." It is good that you acknowledge your desire to do so, whereas there are some who think that once they become believers, they need not mourn. To refute this mistaken opinion, understand this: After the assurance of the pardon of sin, more mourning is required and typically preached by the saints than before. I can even provide you with a remarkable example from David. You will find that after David had sinned, and the prophet came to convict him of his sin, David confessed his sin. The prophet, speaking in God's name, told him that the Lord had forgiven his sin.
However, a considerable time later, when David composed Psalm 51, you will see that he began mourning afresh, even though his sin had already been forgiven, and he was aware of it. Take a close look at Psalm 51 and observe the title that David gives to the Psalm: "To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the Prophet came unto him after he had gone into Bathsheba." So, Nathan had come to David before he wrote this Psalm. When Nathan confronted him, he assured David that his sin had been forgiven. Yet, David wrote this
Psalm and lamented his sin with bitterness. He cried out to God to restore the joy of his salvation, so that the broken bones might rejoice. Even though he had received that message from God that his sin was forgiven, his very bones were broken. If the Lord were to send a messenger from heaven to inform you, man or woman, that all the sins you have ever committed throughout your life are freely forgiven, what would you do? Truly, upon hearing such news, you have every reason to retire to your closet this evening and lament your sin. If possible, let your tears flow tonight, as David says, he
made his bed swim with tears. Therefore, the assurance of the pardon of our sin does not hinder mourning for sin. It simply makes our mourning more sweet and infused with the gospel. To assist you in attaining such a heart of mourning, look up to God and seek the spirit of mourning. As mentioned in the latter part of Zechariah 12, "I will pour the spirit of grace and supplication upon them, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son and shall be in bitterness for him as one is in bitterness for his firstborn." Notice that God has promised not only comfort to mourners but also mourning to sinners. Therefore, you are not excluded. The promise is boundless:
"I will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplication, and they shall mourn." So, cry out to the Lord and plead His promise. Also, remember the promise, "I will take away the heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." God's promise is not contingent on certain conditions or individuals but is a free and absolute promise.
Furthermore, it is beneficial to engage with those who are brokenhearted Christians. Being in the company of such individuals will make you reflect and think, "Lord God, someone who lives so righteously and graciously possesses a broken heart. I, on the other hand, have a wretched heart, yet I cannot find my heart breaking."
The fellowship of these humble and contrite hearts will greatly aid you.
Lastly, if you cannot mourn, then mourn that you cannot mourn.
This will be acceptable to God. You may say, "I cannot command my heart to mourn for sin as I desire." However, can you not go to God and lament and complain about this as the greatest evil that afflicts you? Say, "Lord, I consider this dull and hard heart of mine to be a most fearful evil upon me."