Mortification of Sin - Chapter Four

Chapter Four - How Life and Comfort Depend on Mortification

I do not say they proceed from it, as though they were necessarily tied to it. A man may be carried on in a constant course of mortification all his days, and yet perhaps never enjoy a good day of peace and consolation. So it was with Heman in Psalm 88. His life was a life of perpetual mortification and walking with God, yet terrors and wounds were his portion all his days.

But God singled out Heman, a choice friend, to make him an example to those who afterwards should be in distress. Can we complain if it is with us as it was with heman, that eminent servant of God? This shall be his praise to the end of the world. God makes it His prerogative to speak peace and consolation. 'I will do that work', says God, 'I will comfort him' (see Isa. 57:18-19). But how? By an immediate work of the new creation: 'I create it', says God. The use of means for the obtaining of peace is ours. the bestowing of it is God's prerogative. (pgs. 21-22)