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Almost 300 years ago, a collection of sermons by the Dutch-American Reformed minister Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen was published. The timing of this publication (1721) predates the First Great Awakening, yet reflects very much its spirit and emphasis on experimental piety.
Today’s post extracts an encouraging word from one those sermons: The Christian’s Encouragement in the Spiritual Conflict. Frelinghuysen took as his text Luke 22:31-32: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Remakkable and full of consolation for the children of God are the words of David: “Though the righteous fall he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” (Ps. 37 : 24.) A righteous or just person is not one who is perfect, for such an one is not to be found among the children of Adam, and perfection is the prerogative of the second Adam alone; but he is one who has fled for refuge to the grace of God, and is justified by the faith of Christ. All men still sin, even the righteous; "We all offend in many things,” is the inspired observation of James; "A just man falleth seven times," that is, frequently, is that of Solomon, Prov. 21 : 16; falleth into miseries and difficulties, or (as the pious also do) into sins and imperfections, 1 Cor. 10:11, 12: "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." When the righteous falls either into misery or sin, he is not utterly cast down: "He riseth up again," said Solomon; by a new repentance he is raised up and helped out of his situation, "for the Lord upholdeth his hand;" he raises him up, and strengthens him after the inward man; so that he falls indeed, but does not fall away. Of this we have many instances, as that of David ; he fell and was not cast away, but arose again, Ps. 51, and of Peter, who fell grievously, but was not cast away; for the Lord upheld him, or which is the same, prayed for him, as is taught in the words of our text.
Do you struggle and fall, dear Christian? Then you are in good company with all of your fellow-believers and indeed the best known of all saints. Praise God that Christ is your refuge, and that, indeed, he prays for you, that your strength fail not. When we fall, Christ is He who lifts us up. Be encouraged then, dear saint, for He has promised never to leave or forsake you who put your trust in Him (Deut. 31:6).
Read the full sermon, and others, by Frelinghuysen here, or pick up a copy edited by Joel R. Beeke, titled Forerunner of the Great Awakening: Sermons by Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen (1691-1747) here. There is great encouragement to be found today in this message from a sermon that was preached three centuries ago.
