Preserving Spiritual Wakefulness (4)

(6) In the last place it is a thing of no small consequence, that we keep company with wakeful and faithful Christians, such as neither sleep themselves nor do willingly allow any to sleep that are near them. It is one of the best fruits of the communion of saints, and of our spiritual good acquaintances, to keep one another awake. It is an unpleasing work on both sides. But we will one day cry out against all of them that have pleased themselves and us, in rocking us asleep, and thank those that have pulled us ‘with fear' out of the fire (Jude 23), though against our wills. Certainly, a drowsy temper is the most ordinary temper in the world. What do worldly men mean when they fear not to lie, dissemble, and rush upon the pikes of God's displeasure? Were they awake, would they ever do this? Will not a fowl that has wings, avoid the snare? Or will a beast run into a pit when it sees it? They will catch drowsy tempers, as our Saviour said, of those latter times: 'For the abundance of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold' (Matt. 24:12). A chill temper grows ever from the coldness of the times that we live in. The life of many, we see, is a continual sleep. Let us especially watch over ourselves, in the use of liberty and such things as are in themselves lawful when done in a moderate use. Recreations are lawful; who denies it? To refresh a man's self, is not only lawful, but necessary. God knew it well enough, therefore he allotted time for sleep, and the like. But we must not turn recreation into a calling or spend too much time in it. It is true for the most part, more men perish in the church of God by the abuse of lawful things, than by unlawful. Let us keep awake, that we may carry ourselves so in our liberties, that we condemn not ourselves in the use of them.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Love of Christ (Bowels Opened), pp. 90-92 [89-91]
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