moreĪ Lifting Up for the Downcast is an encouraging read consisting of 13 sermons preached out of Psalm 42:11. It is my duty, and I have reason to be humbled for my sin, although it be never so small but I have no reason to be discouraged under my sin, though it be never so great.'. The chapter I found to be most encouraging was 'A Lifting up in the Case of Great Sins.' The following lines are characteristic of William Bridge’s thought, 'Let Christians carry this rule always up and down with them, namely, that a man is to be humbled for his sin, although it be never so small, but he is not to be discouraged for his sin, though it be never so great. This is one of the more encouraging books by the Puritans, who tend to be very encouraging and practical in their writings. This book one more glorious representative of that wisdom.more When it comes to the cure of souls, the Puritan pastors are unparalleled - scriptural, sympathetic, insightful, encouraging, comforting, and wise.

The best cure for that is actually to read them. My reason for doing that is that I wanted those meditations to be encouraging, and who is more encouraging than the Puritans?Īnd this book once again puts the lie to the ludicrous notion that the Puritans were a censorious lot. I have been chipping away at this book for some time, using a page or two of it as a quarry for my weekly meditations on the Lord's Supper. When it comes to the cure of souls, the Puritan pastors are unpar A marvelous book. My reason for doing that is that I wanted those meditations to be encouraging, and who is more encouraging than the Puritans? And this book once again puts the lie to the ludicrous notion that the Puritans were a censorious lot. Downcast Christians of the twenty-first century can find help here as surely as did past generations.moreĪ marvelous book. For example in dealing with 'great sins' he says, 'If you would be truly humbled and not be discouraged not be discouraged and yet be humbled then beat and drive up all your sin to your unbelief, and lay the stress and weight of all your sorrow upon that sin.' The general causes of spiritual depression are the same in every age. He gives directions for applying the remedy. A correct diagnosis is more than half the cure but Bridge does not leave his readers there. In dealing with believers suffering from spiritual depression, Bridge manifests great insight into the causes of the saints' discouragements such as great sins, weak grace, failure in duties, want of assurance, temptation, desertion and affliction. In dealing with believers suffering from spiritual depression, Bridge manifests great insight into the causes of the saints' discouragements such as great sins, weak grace, failure in duties, want of assurance, temptation, desertion and affliction These thirteen sermons on Psalm 42:11, preached at Stepney, London, in the year 1648 are the work of a true physician of souls. Downcast Christians of the twenty-first century can find help here as surely as did past generations.These thirteen sermons on Psalm 42:11, preached at Stepney, London, in the year 1648 are the work of a true physician of souls.

For example in dealing with ‘great sins’ he says, ‘If you would be truly humbled and not be discouraged not be discouraged and yet be humbled then beat and drive up all your sin to your unbelief, and lay the stress and weight of all your sorrow upon that sin.’ The general causes of spiritual depression are the same in every age.

In dealing with believers suffering from spiritual depression, Bridge manifests great insight into the causes of the saints’ discouragements such as great sins, weak grace, failure in duties, want of assurance, temptation, desertion and affliction. These thirteen sermons on Psalm 42:11, preached at Stepney, London, in the year 1648 are the work of a true physician of souls.

New International Commentary of the Old TestamentĪ Lifting Up For The Downcast (Puritan Paperbacks).

A lifting up for the downcast