Strong Reasons against Spiritual Discouragement (2)

(5) Spiritual discouragement keeps beginners from progressing on and growing in the ways of God. It brings an ill report upon religion. It dampens, the spirits of those that walk the same way with us, when we should, as good fellow-travellers, cheer up one another both by word and example. In such a case the wheels of the soul are taken off, or else, as it were, want oil, making the soul pass on very heavily, and no good action able to come from it, which breeds not only uncomfortableness, but unsettledness in good courses. For a man will never go on comfortably and constantly in that which he heavily undertakes. That is the reason why uncheerful spirits seldom hold out as they should. Peter knew this well, and therefore he wills that there should be 'quietness and peace between husband and wife, that their prayers be not hindered’ (1 Pet. 3:7). Their prayers are hindered by family breaches. There is nothing more required for the performing of holy duties than uniting of spirits, and therefore God would not have the sacrifice brought to the altar before reconciliation with our brother (Matt. 5:24).
Therefore, we should all endeavour and labour for a calmed spirit, that we may better serve God in praying to him and praising of him; and serve one another in love, that we may be fitted to do and receive good, that we may make our passage to heaven more cheerful. So much as we are quiet and cheerful upon good grounds, so much we live, and are, as it were, in heaven. So much as we yield to discouragement, we lose so much of our life and happiness. Cheerfulness being, as it were, that life of our lives and the spirit of our spirits by which they are more enlarged to receive happiness and to express it.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Soul's Conflict with Itself, Works, vol. 1, p. 144
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