Chapter 7

Use 1. This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts. Reproof.

First, those who think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground, which wanted moisture (Matthew 13). We have many cry out of hard times, but are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst condition of the body; surely to be hot in sin, and to be so dry as to have no tears, is the worst condition of the soul. How many are like Gideon's dry fleece, and like the mountains of Gilboa — there is no dew upon them. Did Christ bleed for sin, and can you not weep? If God's bottle is not filled with tears, his vial will be filled with wrath. We have many sinners in Zion, but few mourners in Zion. It is with most people as with a man on the top of a mast: the winds blow, and the waves beat, and the ship is in danger of shipwreck, and he is fast asleep. So when the waves of sin have even covered men, and the stormy wind of God's wrath blows and is ready to blow them into hell, yet they are asleep in security.

Second, it reproves those who, instead of weeping for sin, spend their days in mirth and jollity. Instead of mourners, we have those who revel. They take the timbrel and harp; they spend their days in wealth (Job 21:13). They do not mourn in soul, but indulge the flesh. They live as Epicureans, and die as atheists. James bids us turn our laughter to mourning (James 4:9), but they turn their mourning to laughter. Samson was brought forth to make the Philistines sport (Judges 16:26); the jovial sinner makes the devil sport. It is a saying of Theophylact: It is one of the worst sights to see a sinner go laughing to hell. How unseasonable it is to take the harp and viol when God is taking the sword! Ezekiel 21:9-10: A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also polished; should we then make mirth? This is a sin that enrages God. Isaiah 22:12-13: In that day did the Lord of Hosts call to weeping and to mourning, and behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine. And it was revealed in my ears by the Lord of Hosts: Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you until you die, says the Lord God of Hosts. That is, this your sin shall not be done away by any expiatory sacrifice, but vengeance shall pursue you forever.

Third, it reproves those who, instead of mourning for sin, rejoice in sin. Proverbs 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:12: Who take pleasure in iniquity. Wicked men are worse in this sense than the damned in hell; for the damned take little pleasure in their sins. There are some so impudently profane that they will make themselves and others merry with their sins. Sin is a soul-sickness (Luke 5:31). Will a man make merry with his disease? Ah, wretch — did Christ bleed for sin, and do you laugh at sin? Is that your mirth which grieves the Spirit? Is it a time for a man to crack jokes when he is upon the scaffold and his head is to be struck off? You that laugh at sin now — the time is coming when God will laugh at your calamity (Proverbs 1:26).

Fourth, it reproves those who cry down mourning for sin; they are like the Philistines who stopped the wells (Genesis 26:15). These would stop the wells of godly sorrow. Antinomians say this is a legal doctrine; but Christ here preaches it: Blessed are they that mourn. And the apostles preached it (Mark 6:11): And they went out and preached that men should repent. Holy sincerity will put us upon mourning for sin; he that has the heart of a child cannot but weep for his unkindness against God. Mourning for sin is the very fruit and product of the Spirit of grace (Zechariah 12:10). Such as cry down repentance cry down the Spirit of grace. Mourning for sin is the only way to keep wrath off from us. Such as would break this pillar go about to pull down the vengeance of God upon the land. To all such, I say as Peter said to Simon Magus (Acts 8:22): Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. Repent that you have cried down repentance.

Use 1: This teaching brings a charge against several kinds of people. A reproof.

First, it reproves those who think of themselves as good Christians but have never learned the art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb. People have tears for all sorts of things, but none to spare for their sins. There are many who complain but few who mourn. Most are like the stony ground that lacked moisture (Matthew 13). We hear many complaining about hard times but find few who are troubled by their hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst condition for the body. Surely to be hot in sin and so dry as to have no tears is the worst condition for the soul. How many are like Gideon's dry fleece, like the mountains of Gilboa — no dew falls on them. Did Christ bleed for sin, and can you not weep? If God's bottle is not filled with your tears, His vial will be filled with wrath. We have many sinners in Zion but few mourners in Zion. For most people it is as with a man asleep at the top of a ship's mast. The winds blow, the waves pound, the ship is on the edge of sinking — and he sleeps right through it. So when the waves of sin have all but covered people, and the storm of God's wrath blows and threatens to drive them into hell — they sleep on, undisturbed.

Second, it reproves those who, instead of weeping for sin, fill their days with laughter and pleasure-seeking. Instead of mourners we have revelers. "They take the tambourine and harp... they spend their days in prosperity" (Job 21:12-13). They do not grieve in their souls but pamper their flesh. They live like pleasure-seekers and die like atheists. James tells us to turn our laughter to mourning (James 4:9) — but they turn their mourning to laughter. Samson was brought out to entertain the Philistines (Judges 16:25). The jovial sinner provides entertainment for the devil. Theophylact observed: one of the worst sights is a sinner going laughing to hell. How out of place it is to take up the harp and lyre when God is taking up the sword! Ezekiel 21:9-10: "A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished. Should we then make mirth?" This is a sin that enrages God. Isaiah 22:12-13: "In that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and mourning... but instead there is joy and merrymaking, slaughtering cattle and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine. 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.'" "But the Lord of hosts revealed Himself to me: 'Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you until you die.'" That is: this sin will not be wiped out by any sacrifice — vengeance will pursue you forever.

Third, it reproves those who, instead of mourning over sin, take pleasure in sin. Proverbs 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:12: those "who take pleasure in wickedness." Wicked people are in this sense worse off than the damned in hell — for the damned take little pleasure in their sins. Some are so boldly corrupt that they make themselves and others laugh about their sins. Sin is a sickness of the soul (Luke 5:31). Would a person make jokes about his own disease? You poor wretch — did Christ bleed for sin, and do you laugh at sin? Is what grieves the Spirit your idea of entertainment? Is it the right time for a man to crack jokes when he is standing on the scaffold with the executioner's blade above his head? You who laugh at sin now — the day is coming when God will laugh at your disaster (Proverbs 1:26).

Fourth, it reproves those who attack the teaching of mourning for sin. These are like the Philistines who stopped up the wells (Genesis 26:15). They want to stop up the wells of holy sorrow. Antinomians call this a legalistic teaching. But Christ Himself preaches it here: "Blessed are those who mourn." The Apostles preached it too (Mark 6:12): "They went out and preached that people should repent." True sincerity will move a person to mourn over sin. The one who has the heart of a child cannot help but weep over his unkindness toward God. Mourning for sin is the very fruit and product of the Spirit of grace (Zechariah 12:10). Those who attack repentance are attacking the Spirit of grace. Mourning for sin is the only way to hold back God's wrath. Those who would tear down this pillar are working to bring God's judgment down on the land. To all such people I say what Peter said to Simon Magus (Acts 8:22): "Repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you." Repent of having cried down repentance.