A lifting up for the downcast - Bridge - VII - Sermon 7

Required reading
A lifting up for the downcast by William Bridge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon VII (A lifting up in the want of assurance).

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

In this sermon Bridges teaches us that sometimes the discouragements of the saints are drawn from the want of their evidence for heaven.

But, again, Bridges suggests there is no need for discouragement because:
(i) it is not damning unbelief;
(ii) there is an overruling hand of grace and mercy;
(iii) you are never more fit to comfort others than when you have fears and doubts yourself;
(iv) there are other comforts;
(v) there is the promise of grace;
(vi) God's arm of anger and justice draws you;
(vii) your obedience may be more precious when you lack assurance.

What grabbed me
I appreciated the last point about obedience being stronger when one lacks assurance: 'Carry this for a rule with you, and remember it much ; that the less assurance you have, the more precious your obedience may be, and the more kindly God may take it at your hands. It is no great matter for a man to write, and to work by the day light, or candle light ; but for a man to write, or to work in the dark, is hard. So here, it is no great matter comparatively, for a man to pray, and to work spiritually, while he is in the light ; but for a poor soul to pray, and to work towards God, and to be obedient, when he is in the dark, and hath no assurance of the love of God, is something : I confess indeed that the more assurance you have, the more full your obedience will be, but the less assurance you have, the more ingenuous may be your obedience ; I say, the more full your assurance is, the more full and large your obedience will be; but the less assurance you have, the more ingenuous your obedience may be.'

A deficiency in assurance is no excuse for disobedience.

Next week's reading
Read Sermon VIII (A lifting up in the case of temptation).

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