Direction 6

Then sixth, stand not now disputing it, but be determined and resolute in your faith and turning to God, let the outcome be what it will. Faith is never stopped cold — it is a most desperate thing. Job vows he will trust God though he kills him (Job 13:15). So do you: whether God will condemn or save you, do what he will with you, do not cease to cast yourself upon him for mercy, nor to serve and love him. Go on to use the means diligently and constantly, and be all the more diligent. Fear and hate sin still. Pray day and night as Heman did when he thought himself cut off: 'I have cried day and night, though I be as one you remember no more' (Psalm 88:1, 4-5). And so at verse 9: 'I have called daily' — though in verses 10-12 he thought himself as it were in hell and thought it a miracle ever to be raised up again, yet he says in verse 13: 'But I have cried to you.' That 'but' seems to express his resolution — that though these were his apprehensions of his condition, yet however he had and would go on to seek the Lord. Suppose you find no relish in the ordinances, yet use them. Though you are desperately sick, yet eat still; take all that is brought to you — some strength comes of it. Say: 'Be I condemned or saved, hypocrite or not hypocrite, I resolve to go on.' And there is good reason for it: if you should leave off serving the Lord and resolve never to look after him more, then you are sure to be condemned. If there is an evil heart in you to depart from the living God, you are undone. But this other way of seeking him, you may in the end prevail. 'Who knows but that God may be merciful?' In Lamentations 3:29 this counsel is given to a soul that is yoked and deserted: to put his mouth in the dust. And he waits, suffers, and does anything — not only if he has hope, but if there may be hope. If there is but such a thought that it may prove so, he will make the venture. So do you. See what Esther did in the like desperate case. She thought: 'If I hold my tongue, God will destroy me; and it is better to make a venture upon the king to speak and so carry my life in my hand.' Therefore she said, 'If I perish, I perish.' And so the lepers reasoned in a desperate case (2 Kings 7:3-4): 'If we go into the city we are sure to die, for the famine is there; if we sit still, we also die. Come, let us fall into the hands of the Assyrians — if they save us alive, so; if they kill us, we shall but die.' There were many strong arguments to think they would kill them, for they were Jews — of the enemy's side — and might be suspected as spies; if not, they were lepers who might infect the camp, fit for nothing but to be knocked on the head. Yet in this desperate case they took the surer and more probable part, ventured to fall to the Assyrian side, and the outcome is known to you all. So reason thus: 'If I give over believing, humbling myself, praying, attending on the means, I shall certainly perish — there is no help for it. I will therefore go on to do all these as sincerely as I can to the utmost. And if God saves me a sinner, a leper, an enemy — so. If not, I can but be condemned.'

But let me tell you: such a resolution can never go to hell with you. Yes, if any have a place in heaven, such a soul shall. For this puts not the devil only to it — for in this case what can the devil himself say to you? If you will venture your soul, service, and all upon God, let the outcome be what it will, in this resolute yet safe way; if you will in pure trust refer it to God with contentedness and submission — what is that to him? But it puts God to it also, who cannot find it in his heart to condemn one who shall go on to do thus. When you thus freely serve him, choose him, venture and leave yourself and all the outcome of your ways to him — you by this one act in such a case shall win more upon him and his love than perhaps by all your obedience all your life before. Your salvation and the assurance of it — that is God's work; leave it to him. Try his faithfulness. It is self-love that makes us so much troubled about it. Go on to believe, repent, mourn for sin, hate and forsake it, use the means — that is your work. And doing so, you cannot be condemned.

Sixth, stop debating and instead be firm and resolute in your faith and turning to God, whatever the outcome may be. Faith is never at a dead end — it is the most determined thing in existence. Job vows he will trust God even if God kills him (Job 13:15). Do the same: whether God condemns or saves you, whatever He does with you, do not stop casting yourself on Him for mercy, or serving and loving Him. Keep using the means diligently and consistently, and be all the more diligent. Continue to fear and hate sin. Pray day and night as Heman did when he thought himself cut off: 'I have cried out by day and in the night before You, though I am as one whom You remember no more' (Psalm 88:1, 4-5). And in verse 9: 'I have called daily upon You' — though in verses 10-12 he thought himself practically in hell and considered it a miracle that he would ever rise again, yet he says in verse 13: 'But to You I have cried, O Lord.' That 'but' expresses his resolve — that whatever his perception of his condition, he had sought the Lord and would continue to do so. Even if you find no enjoyment in the ordinances, keep using them. Though desperately sick, still eat; take whatever is brought to you — some strength comes from it. Say: 'Whether I am condemned or saved, a hypocrite or not, I resolve to press on.' And there is good reason for this: if you stop serving the Lord and resolve never to look to Him again, you will certainly perish — there is no hope in that direction. If there is an evil heart in you that departs from the living God, you are lost. But this other way — seeking Him — you may in the end prevail. 'Who knows but that God may be merciful?' In Lamentations 3:29 this counsel is given to a soul that is bowed down and abandoned: to put his mouth to the dust. He waits, endures, and does whatever is needed — not only if he has hope, but if there may be hope. If there is even the thought that it might turn out well, he will take the risk. Do the same. See what Esther did in a similarly desperate situation. She reasoned: 'If I stay silent, I will be destroyed; it is better to risk going to the king, even if it costs my life.' Therefore she said, 'If I perish, I perish.' The lepers reasoned the same way in their desperate case (2 Kings 7:3-4): 'If we go into the city, we will die there from the famine; if we sit here, we will also die. Come, let us fall on the mercy of the Assyrian camp — if they spare us, we live; if they kill us, we merely die.' There were many strong reasons to expect they would be killed — they were Jews, from the enemy's side, likely to be suspected as spies; and even if not, they were lepers who might infect the camp and were fit for nothing but to be put down. Yet in this desperate situation they took the better and more hopeful option, ventured to go to the Assyrian side, and you all know what happened. Reason the same way: 'If I stop believing, humbling myself, praying, and attending the means of grace, I will certainly perish — there is no escaping it. I will therefore press on doing all of these as sincerely as I can, to the best of my ability. And if God saves a sinner, a leper, an enemy — so be it. If not, I can only be condemned.'

But let me tell you: such a resolve can never go to hell with you. If anyone has a place in heaven, a soul like that does. For this not only puts the devil to silence — for in such a case, what can the devil say? If you will venture your soul, your service, and everything upon God, whatever the outcome, in this resolute yet safe way; if in pure trust you leave everything in God's hands with contentment and submission — what can he do with that? But it also puts the matter to God, who cannot bring Himself to condemn someone who goes on doing exactly this. When you freely serve Him, choose Him, venture everything, and leave yourself and all the consequences of your ways in His hands — by this one act in such a moment you will win more of His heart and love than perhaps by all your obedience in all your life before. Your salvation and the assurance of it — that is God's work; leave it to Him. Test His faithfulness. It is self-love that makes us so troubled about it. Press on in believing, repenting, mourning for sin, hating and forsaking it, using the means — that is your work. And doing so, you cannot be condemned.