Page:The Christian's Last End (Volume 2).djvu/346

Surgite, et nolite timere.—Matt. xvii. 7.

“Arise, and fear not.”

How is it, My dear disciples, that you have so soon lost your courage? You said first: “Lord, it is good for us to be here;” let us build tabernacles, that we may remain always in this place of delights. And now the mere sound of a voice from the clouds terrifies you to such an extent that you fall down in fear and trembling? “Arise, and fear not.” See, I am still with you. To this effect did Our Lord address His disciples. My dear brethren, what happened to them occurs daily to many servants of God, who are determined to walk constantly on the way to heaven. During the time of inward peace and consolation, that is, when they feel a zeal and taste for spiritual works of devotion, oh, then their hearts are filled with joy, and they cry out with the apostles: “Lord, it is good for us to be here!” Oh, how pleasant it is to serve God, and to love Him with our whole hearts! But if God permits the foul spirit to approach them with his temptations, either to impure imaginations, or a shameful rebellion of the flesh, or to spiritual dryness, oh, then they lose heart! Then they think all is lost, and almost despair of salvation, so great is their terror and anguish. Dear Saviour, call out to them: “Arise, and fear not!” Are you so frightened at the devil and his assaults? With all his power he cannot harm you as long as I am with you by My helping grace. So it is, etc. Continues as above.

The almighty God has an earnest, and as far as in Him lies, an efficacious will to bring all men to heaven; therefore we have nothing to fear as far as God is concerned in this respect, but