But what is the cause of thy mourning? There is nothing apart from Jesus worth mourning for, or beside sin worth mourning over.
Is it because of the unevenness of thy walk with God? On account of the deep depravity of thy nature? Because men keep not God's law? Or because Jesus hides His face, and your evidences fade and wither.
You may well mourn after Jesus, but you must not despond; for He will turn again, He will have compassion upon you. The depravity of the heart is enough to make an angel weep; but forget not the precious blood that cleanseth, or the promised graces that sanctifies.
Look not too much at the defects which appear in your walk, nor at the corruption which works in your heart; but deal with the blood and grace of Jesus, as the means of thy cure. Read and believe His promises; confess and plead at His throne; wait and watch in His ways; be careful, lest by inordinate mourning you grieve His Spirit. He cannot be unkind, He never will forsake you, He was anointed "to comfort all that mourn."
Cease, O believer, cease to mourn; Return unto thy rest, return; Why should thy sorrows swell? Though deep distress thy steps attend, Thy warfare shall in triumph end; With thee it shall go well.
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
But what is the cause of thy mourning? There is nothing apart from Jesus worth mourning for, or beside sin worth mourning over.
Is it because of the unevenness of thy walk with God? On account of the deep depravity of thy nature? Because men keep not God's law? Or because Jesus hides His face, and your evidences fade and wither.
You may well mourn after Jesus, but you must not despond; for He will turn again, He will have compassion upon you. The depravity of the heart is enough to make an angel weep; but forget not the precious blood that cleanseth, or the promised graces that sanctifies.
Look not too much at the defects which appear in your walk, nor at the corruption which works in your heart; but deal with the blood and grace of Jesus, as the means of thy cure. Read and believe His promises; confess and plead at His throne; wait and watch in His ways; be careful, lest by inordinate mourning you grieve His Spirit. He cannot be unkind, He never will forsake you, He was anointed "to comfort all that mourn."
Cease, O believer, cease to mourn; Return unto thy rest, return; Why should thy sorrows swell? Though deep distress thy steps attend, Thy warfare shall in triumph end; With thee it shall go well.