Preserving Spiritual Wakefulness (3)

(5) Labour to preserve the soul in the fear of God because fear is a waking affection, yea, one of the most wakeful. Naturally we are more moved with dangers than stirred with hopes. Preserve the fear of God by all means. It is one characteristic of a Christian, who, when he feels he has lost almost all grace, yet the fear of God is always with him. He fears sin, and the consequence of it. God makes that awe the bond of the new covenant ‘I will put my fear into their hearts, that they will never depart from me' (Jer. 32:39). Of all Christians, mark those that are most gracious, spiritual, and heavenly, they are the most fearful and careful of their speeches, courses, and demeanours, tender even of offending God in little things. Sometimes a good Christian may in a state of sleepiness be faulty some way. But as he grows in the sense of the love of God, he is afraid to lose that sweet communion in any way, or to grieve the Spirit of God. Let us preserve by all means this awe-filled affection, the fear of God. Let us then often search the state of our own souls; how it is between God and our souls; how fit we are to die, and to suffer; how fit for the times that may befall us. Those that will keep wakeful souls, must consider the danger of the place where they live, and the times; what sins reign, what sins the company they converse with are subject to, and their own weakness to be led away with such temptations. There is no Christian, but he has some special sin, to which he is more prone than to another. Here now is the care and watchfulness of a Christian spirit, that knowing by examination, and trial of his own heart, his weakness, he does especially fight against that which he is most inclined to; and is able to bring the strongest arguments to dishearten himself and others from the practice of it.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Love of Christ (Bowels Opened), pp. 88-90 [88-91]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.