find myself knocked over." I know this Plastic Pliable very well,
and I tremble for him; but at the same time, if he is really
sincere, his weakness can be met by divine grace. The Holy Spirit
can cast out the evil spirit of the fear of man. He can make the
coward brave. Remember, my poor vacillating friend, you must not
remain in this state. It will never do to be mean and beggarly to
yourself. Stand upright, and look at yourself, and see if you
were ever meant to be like a toad under a harrow, afraid for your
life either to move or to stand still. Do have a mind of your
own. This is not a spiritual matter only, but one which concerns
ordinary manliness. I would do many things to please my friends;
but to go to hell to please them is more than I would venture. It
may be very well to do this and that for good fellowship; but it
will never do to lose the friendship of God in order to keep on
good terms with men. "I know that," says the man, "but still,
though I know it, I cannot pluck up courage. I cannot show my
colors. I cannot stand fast." Well, to you also I have the same
text to bring: "When we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly." If Peter were here, he would say,
"The Lord Jesus died for me even when I was such a poor weak
creature that the maid who kept the fire drove me to lie, and to
swear that I knew not the Lord." Yes, Jesus died for those who
forsook him and fled. Take a firm grip on this truth--"Christ
died for the ungodly while they were yet without strength." This
is your way out of your cowardice. Get this wrought into your
soul, "Christ died for me," and you will soon be ready to die for
Him. Believe it, that He suffered in your place and stead, and
offered for you a full, true, and satisfactory expiation. If you
believe that fact, you will be forced to feel, "I cannot be
ashamed of Him who died for me." A full conviction that this is
true will nerve you with a dauntless courage. Look at the saints
in the martyr age. In the early days of Christianity, when this
great thought of Christ's exceeding love was sparkling in all its
freshness in the church, men were not only ready to die, but they
grew ambitious to suffer, and even presented themselves by
hundreds at the judgment seats of the rulers, confessing the
Christ. I do not say that they were wise to court a cruel death;
but it proves my point, that a sense of the love of Jesus lifts
the mind above all fear of what man can do to us. Why should it
not produce the same effect in you? Oh that it might now inspire
you with a brave resolve to come out upon the Lord's side, and be
His follower to the end!
May the Holy Spirit help us to come thus far by faith in the
Lord Jesus, and it will be well!