Despair undervalues the promise, undervalues the invitation,
undervalues the proffer of grace. Despair undervalues the ability of
God the Father, and the redeeming blood of Christ his Son. Oh,
unreasonable despair!
Despair makes man God's judge; it is a controller of the promise, a
contradictor of Christ in his large offers of mercy; and one that
undertakes to make unbelief the great manager of our reason and
judgment, in determining about what God can and will do for sinners.
Despair! it is the devil's fellow, the devil's master; yea, the
chains with which he is captivated, and held under darkness for
ever: arid to give way thereto, in a land, in a state and time that
flows with milk and honey, is an uncomely thing.
I would say to my soul, O my soul, this is not the place of despair;
this is not the time to despair in. As long as mine eyes can find a
promise in the Bible, as long as there is a moment left me of breath
or life ill this world, so long will I wait or look for mercy, so
long will I fight against unbelief and despair.
This is the way to honor God and Christ; this is the way to set the
crown on the promise; this is the way to welcome the invitation and
the inviter; and this is the way to thrust thyself under the shelter
and protection of the word of grace.
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