A lifting up for the downcast - Bridge - V - Sermon 5

Required reading
A lifting up for the downcast by William Bridge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon V (A lifting up in case of weak grace).

My summary
Today we read Bridges' fifth sermon on Psalm 42:11.

Bridge now shows us that sometimes the discouragement of the saints arises from the weakness of their graces.

Firstly we observe that the saint weak in grace:
(i) is more apt and ready to stumble and fall;
(ii) is more easily quenched in regard of his comforts;
(iii) cannot glorify God as the strong Christian may;
(iv) does not do great things for God;
(v) does not mind and tend the public;
(vi) does not wait long on God;
(vii) is not helpful to others.

But this is no reason to be discouraged, for the saint weak in grace:
(i) is not excluded from mercy;
(ii) has promises to run unto;
(iii) has more kisses from God;
(iv) Christ will condescend unto his infirmities;
(v) has the Spirit of adoption;
(vi) may still do much for God ;
(vii) is a new creation.

Moreover, Bridge encourages us to know that weak faith:
(i) loves examination;
(ii) is very inquisitive after the ways of God;
(iii) works much in humiliation;
(iv) works according to the proportion of its own weakness;
(v) is willing to learn of others;
(vi) is very sensible of its own weakness.

We are also taught to consider that faith grows:
(i) with obedience to God;
(ii) with exactness in duty;
(iii) with our understanding of Christian liberty.

What grabbed me
I thought Bridge made a helpful point about faith growing with the Christian's sense of liberty: 'The more a man sees and understands his Christian liberty, and yet doth walk more strictly, the more he doth grow in grace : some think they grow in grace, because they have more understanding in their Christian liberty, though they do walk more loosely ; these are deceived in their spiritual growth ; but if I know my Christian liberty more fully, and now do walk more strictly in my life, then do I grow in grace indeed. Now is it not thus with you ? Yes ! through grace I am able to say, that I see my Christian liberty more than I did heretofore ; and yet I am more strict in my life : though I cannot yet pray as I would, and hear as I would, and perform duty as I would, yet I do perform my duties with more exactness than formerly ; and though I have not so much affection as I had in this or that work of God, yet now I find, that I am more dilated, and my obedience is more extended and extensive unto God's ways and commandments than before. Then though you are still weak in regard of others, yet you are grown stronger in regard of your former self, and therefore certainly, you have no just cause or reason to be discouraged in this regard. '

It is a strange tension, but as we grow in a true understanding of our Christian liberty, we grow stricter in our lives.  And consequently grow in faith.

Next week's reading
Read Sermon VI (A lifting up in case of miscarriage of duties).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.