Puritan: William Guthrie
Source: The Christian’s Great Interest
Originally Delivered: ~1668, Scotland
The Lord’s Day: October 25, 2026
“O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” – Rom 7:24
“First, the Lord uncovers the sight of men’s sin and misery to them, to chase them out of themselves, and to put them out of their own righteousness. Men naturally have high thoughts of themselves, and incline much to the covenant of works; the Lord therefore uncovers to them so much of their sin and corruption, even in their best things, that they are made to loathe themselves, and despair of relief in themselves; and so, they are forced to flee out of themselves, and from the covenant of works, to seek refuge elsewhere (Heb. 6:18). “They become dead to themselves, and the law” (Phil. 3:3).
The second great end is, to commend Christ Jesus to men’s hearts above all things, that they may fall in love with Him, and take themselves to that treasure and jewel which only enriches (Matt. 13:44). The sight of man’s own misery is a ready way to make him prize Christ highly, who alone can set such a wretch at liberty; yea, it not only leads a man to a high esteem of Christ, but also of all things that relate to that way of salvation, as grace, the new covenant, faith, etc., and makes him carefully gather and treasure up his golden scriptures, for the confirmation of his interest in these things.
The third great end is, to deter and frighten people from sin, make them violent against it, and consent to put their neck under Christ’s yoke. God kindles some sparks of hell in men’s hearts by the discovery of their sin, as a ready means to make them stand in awe, knowing “how bitter a thing it is to depart from the Lord” (Jer. 2:19). So, we find rest offered to the weary, upon condition they will take Christ’s yoke: “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:29).
The fourth great end is, to work in men a patient and thankful submission to all the Master’s pleasure. The sight of a man’s own vileness makes him silent and constrains him to lay his hand on his mouth, whatever God does to him: “I was dumb and opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it” (Ps. 39:9). “God hath punished us less than our iniquities” (Ezra 9:13). “I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned” (Micah 7:9). The man cares not what God does to him, or how He deals with him, if only He saves him from the deserved wrath to come: any mercy is a great mercy to him who has seen such a sight of himself.
So then, if the Lord has driven you out of yourself, and commended Christ to your heart above all things, and made you resolve, in His strength, to wage war with every known transgression; then your convictions of sin and misery is sufficient, and you are to debate no more concerning it. Only be advised to study new discoveries of the sense of your lost condition every day, because of your old and new sins; and also to seek fresh help in Christ, who is a priest forever to make intercession; and to have the work of sanctification and patience with thankfulness renewed and quickened often: for some of that which depresses you, exalts Christ, and renders you conformed to His will, must accompany you throughout all your lifetime in this world.