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STEADFASTNESS IN DUTIES
THE way of duty is difficult, while that of sin is easy [Note: A learned prelate speaks admirably to this purpose:—“Vice is first pleasing; then easy; then delightful; then frequent; then habitual; then confirmed: then the man is impenitent; then he is obstinate; then he resolves never to repent; and then he is damned.” Jer. Taylor’s Serm. p. 260.]. After we have received grace, we are still prone to depart from God; but the prospect of an happy issue of our labours is a strong support. The Gospel encourages us to expect a certain and seasonable recompence.
We have here,
I. A word of caution—
Well-doing respects every part of a Christian’s duty. We may apprehend ourselves weary in it, when we are not really so. We are not necessarily so, because our affections are not so lively as they once were—
[Age and infirmity may occasion a stupor of the mind: a more enlarged view of our own depravity may cast us down. Love itself may grow in some respects, even while its ardour seems to abate [Note: Php_1:9. ].]
We are not necessarily so, because our corruptions appear to have increased—
[When we are first awakened, we know but little of our own hearts. As we proceed, the Lord discovers to us more of our hidden abominations [Note: This may be illustrated by Eze_8:6; Eze_8:13; Eze_8:15.]. The discovery of them, as of objects in a dark place, argues only more light from heaven.]
We are not necessarily so, because we do not find enlargement in prayer—
[Excess of trouble may, for a time, distract and over-whelm the soul. Our Lord himself seems to have experienced somewhat of this [Note: Joh_12:27.]. Our prayers, perhaps, are never more acceptable, than when they are offered in broken accents, in sighs, and groans [Note: Rom_8:26.].]
But we have reason to apprehend that we are weary in well-doing,
1. When we do not make a progress in our religious course—
[We cannot stand still in religion: we must advance or decline. There are seasons when we grow rather in humility than in the more lively graces; but if we neither shoot our branches upward, nor our roots downward, it must be ill with us [Note: 2Pe_3:18. Heb_6:7-8.].]
2. When we are habitually formal in religious duties—
[The best of men find cause to lament an occasional deadness; but no true Christian can be satisfied in such a state [Note: Nine times in the 119th Psalm does David cry, “Quicken me, O Lord”—]. Habitual formality therefore proves, either that we have never been truly in earnest, or that we are in a state of miserable declension [Note: Php_3:3.].]
3. When we do not carry religion into our worldly business—
[As long as we are in the world, we must perform the duties of our station; but if our souls be prospering, we shall maintain a sense of religion even when we are not actually engaged in the offices of it [Note: Pro_23:17.].]
4. When our consciences are not tender—
[It is essential to a Christian to hate evil [Note: Rom_12:9.]: he strives to “avoid even the appearance of evil.” He will in no wise allow one sinful temper or inclination [Note: Act_24:16.].]
We cannot be too much on our guard against such a state.
To confirm what has been spoken, let me add,
II. A word of encouragement—
If we persevere in our exertions, we shall reap the fruit of our labour—
[There will be a harvest to all who labour in God’s field. It may not come so soon as we would desire; but it shall come, as the earthly harvests, “in due season.” We must, however, wait God’s appointed time. If we faint, we shall lose all that we have before wrought [Note: 2 John, ver. 8. Heb_10:38.]: but if we continue patiently in well-doing, we shall succeed at last [Note: Rom_2:7.].]
Our prospects of the harvest may well encourage us to persevere, since it will be,
1. Certain—
[The husbandman endures many toils for an uncertain harvest: his hopes may be blasted in a variety of ways. But God has pledged himself, that his faithful servants shall be rewarded [Note: Heb_6:10.]: nor shall either men or devils prevent the accomplishment of his promise [Note: Pro_11:18.].]
2. Glorious—
[What are all the harvests that ever were gathered since the creation of the world, in comparison of that which the Christian will reap? Shall we faint then with such a prospect in view?]
3. Everlasting—
[However abundant our harvests here may be, we must renew the same process, in order to supply our returning wants: but when once we have reaped the heavenly harvest, we shall “rest from our labours” for evermore. If then a year of toil be considered as compensated by a transient supply, shall not an eternity of happiness be thought worth our care, during the short period of human life? Do any, that are now in glory, regret the pains they bestowed to get there? Let us “be followers of them,” and we shall soon participate their bliss [Note: Heb_6:12.].]