11. Discourse X
DISCOURSE X
QUESTION. WHAT SHOULD A PERSON DO
WHO FINDS HIMSELF UNDER THE POWER
OF A PREVAILING CORRUPTION, SIN, OR
TEMPTATION?
A NSWER. I shall only premise this one thing, and then inquire whether it applies to us or not:—This prevalence has many degrees.
It may be a prevalence leading to outward scandal, or to the complete loss of inward peace, or to the unsettling and stripping us of that tranquility of mind to which Christ calls us. Now, please consider that I speak to it equally and in every degree. And perhaps there may be none of us but, at one time or another, after inquiry, will have had experience in one degree or another, either to disquietment, loss of peace, or scandal.What should such a person then do, who finds it so with him?I answer,—First. He should strive to affect his mind with the danger of it. It is inconceivable how cunning sin is at avoiding an apprehension of its danger. "Despite this," says the man,
"yet I hope I am in a state of grace, and shall be saved, and come to the end
of it at one time or another;" and so the mind wards off a due sense of the danger of it. I implore you, brothers and sisters, if this is your condition, strive to affect your minds that this state, as far as I know, will end in hell; and do not let your minds be relieved from the apprehension that, upon due and good grounds of faith, these ways lead down to the chambers of death.
Do not comfort yourselves, imagining you are members of the church, and have good hopes of salvation through Jesus Christ; but consider where this leads, and affect your minds with it.
Secondly, when a person is faced with the danger of sin, the next step is to burden their conscience with the guilt of it. The truth is, our minds are often slow to comprehend the danger of sin due to various reasons, and our consciences are reluctant to bear the weight of its guilt. I am not referring to individuals with hardened consciences, who feel no guilt no matter how much is placed upon them, but even the consciences of reformed individuals. Unless they utilize all the methods by which conscience can be burdened - such as understanding the holiness of God, the law, the love of Christ, and all those things that make the conscience feel the weight of its guilt. As soon as it begins to feel slightly ill from the guilt of sin, it immediately seeks comfort. "This sin has occurred, it has accumulated this and that guilt; I have been neglectful in this or that duty for so long; I have been involved in this or that foolishness for so long, and have been so devoted to the world: I must turn to Christ through faith, or I am doomed."
It fears increasing its burden. But let the conscience bear the burden, and not easily cast it off, unless it can, through genuine faith guided by the word, place it upon Christ; which is not something that can be done routinely.
Thirdly, "What should we do if we have this understanding of its danger and can be burdened with its guilt?" Pray for deliverance. "How?" you may ask. The Scriptures mention "roaring," Ps. 32:3, "The voice of my roaring;" and also "shouting," Lam. 3:8, "I shouted and cried." This is a time to pray that God would not hide his face from our roaring, nor ignore our prayers when we shout to him; that is, to cry out with all the strength of our souls.
Christ is able "to succour" and help those who "cry out" to him. The word signifies so; and our word "succour," signifies rushing in to help a person who is about to be destroyed. These may seem difficult to us, but it is a significant thing to save our souls and to free ourselves from the traps of Satan.
Fourthly, remember every warning and every word that you are convinced was directed against your specific corruption. None of you who may have the power of particular corruptions, but God, at one time or another, in his providence or word, gives specific warnings, so that the soul may say, "This is for me, I must comply with it;" but "it is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was,"—there is an end of it. But if God gives you such warnings, note them down, treasure them up, do not lose them; they must be accounted for. "He who, being often reproved, hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
Fifthly, I will remind you of two rules, and then I will conclude:— 1. In your perplexities regarding the power of sin, exercise faith, that, despite all you see and feel that you are almost lost and gone, there is a power in God, through Christ, for the subduing and conquering of it.
2. It is in vain for anyone to think they can mortify a prevailing sin, who does not at the same time strive to mortify all sin, and to be found in every
duty. Here is a person troubled and perplexed with a temptation or corruption; both are the same in this case: he cries, "Oh, that I were delivered! I would rather have deliverance than life! I will do my best to guard against it." But perhaps this person will not maintain a constancy in secret prayer;—he will go up and down, and wish himself free, but will not commit to such duties wherein those lusts must be mortified. Therefore, take this rule along with you,—never hope to mortify any corruption that grieves your hearts, unless you strive to mortify every corruption by which the Spirit of God is grieved; and be found in every duty, especially those under which grace thrives and flourishes.