Evening, October 23
Go To Morning Reading
“Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”
Luke 22:46
When is the Christian most liable to sleep? Is it not when his temporal circumstances are prosperous ? Have you not found it so? When you had daily troubles to take to
the throne of grace, were you not more wakeful than you are now? Easy
roads make sleepy travellers. Another dangerous time is when all goes pleasantly in spiritual matters . Christian went not to sleep when lions were in the way, or when
he was wading through the river, or when fighting with Apollyon, but
when he had climbed half way up the Hill Difficulty, and came to a
delightful arbour, he sat down, and forthwith fell asleep, to his
great sorrow and loss. The enchanted ground is a place of balmy breezes,
laden with fragrant odours and soft influences, all tending to lull
pilgrims to sleep. Remember Bunyan’s description: “Then they came to an arbour, warm, and promising much refreshing to
the weary pilgrims; for it was finely wrought above head, beautified
with greens, and furnished with benches and settles. It had also in
it a soft couch, where the weary might lean.” “The arbour was called the Slothful’s Friend, and was made on purpose to allure, if it might be, some
of the pilgrims to take up their rest there when weary.” Depend upon it, it is in easy places that men shut their eyes and
wander into the dreamy land of forgetfulness. Old Erskine wisely remarked,
“I like a roaring devil better than a sleeping devil.” There is no temptation half so dangerous as not being tempted. The
distressed soul does not sleep; it is after we enter into peaceful
confidence and full assurance that we are in danger of slumbering.
The disciples fell asleep after they had seen Jesus transfigured on
the mountain top. Take heed, joyous Christian, good frames are near
neighbours to temptations: be as happy as you will, only be watchful.