Stand Fast

Puritan: Thomas Lye

Source: Sermons of the Great Ejection

Originally Delivered: 1662, Oxford, England on Black Bartholomew’s Day

The Lord’s Day: September 06, 2026

“Therefore, my beloved and longed for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” – Philippians 4:1

It is the great and indispensable duty of all sincere saints, in the most black and shaking seasons, to stand fast, fixed and steadfast in the Lord. I beseech you to hear me as those that would and may live with me to eternity. What is it that we should be steadfast in? I would advise you to a steadfastness of judgment, of resolution, of faith, and of conscience.

I would advise you to be steadfast in judgment. Strange doctrines are the greatest fetters that assault a sound judgment; they are like waves which, if they do not split, will shake the ship to purpose. Therefore, your duty is to cast anchor well, to stand firm on the rock of truth.

It is not enough to stand in judgment, but we must be steadfast in our resolution. “Be steadfast, immovable” (1 Cor. 15:58). Be like the poles of the heavens; though all the world turns, the poles, they say, are immovable. If I am not mistaken, you may see a great turn in the world, and behold at this day the greatest turn that ever was in England; but yet you must not move, you must not stir.

Then there is steadfastness in faith. God has but one way to heaven; there is but one truth. If Baal be God, follow Baal; do not stand wavering; do not consult with flesh and blood. It is an infinite mercy that God will give to any of us to leave relations, estates, congregations, anything for Christ. It is an infinite mercy we do not split upon a rock. Be sure to be either for God or Baal. A godly man many times halts in his way, but never halts between two opinions.

We also need steadfastness of conscience. Indeed, the genius of my ministry has lain this way. Hold fast to a God who decrees, to a Christ who redeems, to a Spirit who quickens, to a Gospel which promises, to a heaven which is prepared, to a God who is infinitely more ready to save you than you can possibly be desirous to be saved by Him. You can never believe God’s love so much as God’s love engages you to believe.

Furthermore, you must be steadfast in practice. It is not the running well, but the reaching the goal; it is not the fighting, but the conquering that gives you title to the reward.

A steady condition is the fullest condition. Oh! My brethren, saints living steadfastly on their foundation are continually supplied by God, as the fountain continually pours itself into the streams. How many thousands there are yet living in England who can tell you that they never enjoyed more of God, than when they enjoyed least of the creature.

A steady condition is the freest condition. A man that deserts his principles is a slave to every condition, afraid of every turn of events, of every aspen leaf in the world. But he that stands fast by the power of the Spirit of God enjoys liberty and freedom.

While you stand by God, God has promised to stand by you; and the truth is, I have but one God, what matters all the titles possessed by worms? Should there be a thousand devils, yet all those devils are in one chain, and the end of that chain is in the hand of one God. Oh! God will show Himself strong: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chron. 16:9).

The temptations of the world are great upon us at this time. You that are husbands and parents know it. Eve lost all she had by hearing one sermon. Therefore, this is an admirable support: “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). I have overcome the world for you; and likewise I have overcome the world in you.

Though Christ will never save me without sanctification, yet Christ never intended that my sanctification should merit His salvation. Be as holy as you can, as if there were no gospel to save you. Yet when you are as holy as you can, you must believe in Christ as if there were no law at all to condemn you.

Would you stand fast? Then you must be praying Christians. There is no relief to be expected from earth; all our relief is to be expected from God and that is to be obtained by prayer.

I can truly say this: I have not spoken one word that I remember that I would not have said to you if I had been a-dying and called to go to God as soon as I had gone out of the pulpit.

Editor’s Note: This excerpt was from Thomas Lye’s “farewell” sermon to his congregation before being ejected from his pulpit for refusing to conform to the church of England. August 24, 1662 would become known as “Black Bartholomew’s Day”, when some 2,000 Puritan pastors were removed from their pulpits.