Preserving Spiritual Wakefulness (2)
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.—Rom. 13:11
(3) Labour for an abundance of the Spirit of God. What makes men sleepy, and drowsy? The want of the Spirit. We are dull, and overladen with gross passions, whereby the strength sinks and fails. Christians should know that there is a necessity, if they will keep themselves awake, to keep themselves spiritual. Pray for the Spirit above all things. He is the life of our life, the soul of our soul. What is the body without the soul, or the soul without the Spirit of God? Even a dead lump. Let us keep ourselves in such good ways, as we may expect the presence of the Spirit to be about us, which will keep us awake.
(4) We must keep ourselves in as much light as possible. For all sleepiness comes with darkness. Let us keep our souls in a perpetual light. When any doubt or dark thought arises, upon yielding comes a sleepy temper. Sleepiness in the affections arises from darkness of judgment. The more we labour to increase our knowledge, and the more the spiritual light of it shines in at our windows, the better it will be for us, and the more we will be able to keep awake. What makes men in their corruptions to avoid the ministry of the word, or anything that may awaken their consciences? It is the desire they have to sleep. They are aware, that the more they know, the more they must practice, or else they must have a galled conscience. A gracious heart will be desirous of spiritual knowledge especially, and not care how near the word comes, because they honestly and freely desire to be spiritually better. They make all things in the world yield to the inward man. They desire to know their own corruptions and evils more and more. They love the light ‘as children of the light, and of the day' (1 Thess. 5:5). Sleep is a work of darkness. Men of dark and drowsy hearts, desire darkness, so their consciences may sleep.
(4) We must keep ourselves in as much light as possible. For all sleepiness comes with darkness. Let us keep our souls in a perpetual light. When any doubt or dark thought arises, upon yielding comes a sleepy temper. Sleepiness in the affections arises from darkness of judgment. The more we labour to increase our knowledge, and the more the spiritual light of it shines in at our windows, the better it will be for us, and the more we will be able to keep awake. What makes men in their corruptions to avoid the ministry of the word, or anything that may awaken their consciences? It is the desire they have to sleep. They are aware, that the more they know, the more they must practice, or else they must have a galled conscience. A gracious heart will be desirous of spiritual knowledge especially, and not care how near the word comes, because they honestly and freely desire to be spiritually better. They make all things in the world yield to the inward man. They desire to know their own corruptions and evils more and more. They love the light ‘as children of the light, and of the day' (1 Thess. 5:5). Sleep is a work of darkness. Men of dark and drowsy hearts, desire darkness, so their consciences may sleep.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Love of Christ (Bowels Opened), pp. 87-89 [88-89]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
The Love of Christ (Bowels Opened), pp. 87-89 [88-89]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Categories
Recent
2025
January
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 1'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 2'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 3'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 4'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 5'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 6'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 7'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 8'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 9'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 10'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 11'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 12'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 13'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 14'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 15'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 16'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 17'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 18'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 19'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 20'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 21'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 22'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 23'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 24'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 25'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 26'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 27'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 28'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 29'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 30'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 31
February
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 1'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 2'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 3'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 4'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 5'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 6'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 7'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 8'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 9'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 10'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 11'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 12'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 13'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 14'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 15'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 16'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 17'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 18'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 19'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 20'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 21'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 22'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 23'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 24'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 25'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 26'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 27'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 28
March
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 1'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 2'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 3'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 4'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 5'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 6'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 7'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 8'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 9'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 10'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 11'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 12'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 13'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 14'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 15'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 16'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 17'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 18'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 19'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 20'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 21'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 22'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 23'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 24'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 25'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 26'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 27'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 28'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 29'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 30'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 31
April
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 1'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 2'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 3'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 4'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 5'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 6'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 7'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 8'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 9'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 10
No Comments