Use 3

Who is among you that fears the Lord and has been in darkness, but is now out of that eclipse and walks in the light again? You who have been in the dungeon and have been set free again; who have had the wounds of your spirit healed and your souls raised from the lowest depths, when they drew near to the grave, and have found a ransom — learn your duty also.

First, to be thankful to God and Jesus Christ, and to love him the more. For you know and have tasted what he did for you. You know how bitter even a few sips of the cup were which he drank down completely, and therefore must love him the more. You also have more experience of God's power and faithfulness, and what a miracle God has wrought in raising you up again. He has shown you wonders among the dead, as Heman speaks. Be thankful. Thus David in Psalm 116:3 compared with verse 1: 'I love the Lord — and why? The sorrows of death surrounded me, the pains of the grave took hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow, I was brought low and he helped me.'

Second, learn to pity others in that condition. Who can do it better than you, who have experience of the like? If you hear of any soul in distress, it is expected of you to pray for him more than of another. Christ learned to pity us in all our weaknesses the more by bearing our weaknesses himself. To that end God raised you up, that you might be able to comfort others with the comforts you have received and might pray for them. Therefore in Isaiah 57:17, when any poor soul is struck down, God is moved to restore him again for his mourners' sakes as well as his own.

Third, declare what God has done for you. You have been in hell — give warning to others against coming there. 'Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men' (2 Corinthians 5:11). If the rich man had come back from hell, what stories would he have told to scare all his brothers? Tell such stories yourself. You have seen the wonders of God in the deep; now that you are ashore, tell men of the rocks and shoals and storms they are likely to meet with in such and such courses — of uncleanness, worldliness, and the like. David says that when he should have his broken bones healed again, he would teach sinners God's ways (Psalm 51).

Fourth, take heed of what may prove the occasion of such a condition. The devil may come and cast you into your old fits if he finds the same materials to work upon — such as gross sins, acts of uncleanness, lying, unjust dealing, etc. You know what brought David to his broken bones. Likewise take heed of performing duties formally, coldly, and in hypocrisy, and of resting in them — which are but as a hollow tooth, as Solomon speaks, that is, broken; better out of the head than in. These may cause the toothache again. Take heed of sinning against light; if the devil finds no such things in you, he would not trouble you. So also, get straggling doubts answered and do not let them lie neglected — they may one day come together and make an army. Though they rise now in your consciences scattered and apart, and you can despise and neglect them, they may not always remain so.

Who among you fears the Lord and has been in darkness, but is now out of that eclipse and walking in the light again? You who have been in the dungeon and have been set free; whose spirit's wounds have been healed and whose soul has been raised from the lowest depths, when it was near the grave, and who have found a ransom — learn your duty as well.

First, be thankful to God and to Jesus Christ, and love Him all the more. You know and have tasted what He did for you. You know how bitter even a few sips of that cup were — the same cup He drained completely — and therefore you must love Him more. You also have greater experience of God's power and faithfulness, and of what a miracle He worked in raising you up again. He showed you wonders among the dead, as Heman says. Be thankful. So David says in Psalm 116:3 compared with verse 1: 'I love the Lord — and why? The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow — I was brought low, and He saved me.'

Second, learn to have compassion on others who are in that condition. Who is better suited to show it than you, who have gone through the same? If you hear of a soul in distress, you are expected to pray for that person more than others are. Christ learned to have compassion on us in all our weaknesses precisely by bearing those weaknesses Himself. God raised you up for this very purpose — so that you might comfort others with the comfort you have received and pray for them. So in Isaiah 57:17, when a poor soul is struck down, God is moved to restore him again partly for the sake of those who mourn for him.

Third, declare what God has done for you. You have been in hell — warn others not to go there. 'Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people' (2 Corinthians 5:11). If the rich man in Luke 16 had come back from hell, what stories would he have told to warn his brothers? Tell those stories yourself. You have seen the wonders of God in the deep; now that you are safely on shore, tell others about the rocks, the shallows, and the storms they are likely to meet if they pursue certain courses — of immorality, worldliness, and the like. David said that when his broken bones were healed, he would teach sinners God's ways (Psalm 51).

Fourth, be on guard against what might bring that condition back. The devil may throw you back into your old troubles if he finds the same material to work with — gross sins, acts of immorality, lying, dishonest dealings, and the like. You know what brought David to his broken bones. Also be on guard against performing duties in a formal, cold, or hypocritical way, and against resting in those duties as if they were enough — which is like a hollow tooth, as Solomon says: broken and better out than in. These things can bring the toothache back. Be on guard against sinning against clear light; if the devil finds no such material in you, he will not trouble you. Also, deal with stray doubts when they arise and do not leave them unaddressed — one day they may gather together and form an army. Though they rise in your conscience scattered and isolated now, and you can shrug them off, they will not always stay that way.