Christian Directions
Samuel Rutherford's sermon 'Christian Directions' emphasizes the importance of prioritizing time with God, maintaining a focused heart in prayer, and dealing with others with integrity.
Samuel Rutherford emphasizes the importance of dedicating specific hours of the day to God for prayer and the Word, even if it means sacrificing time during the busiest hours. He encourages believers to maintain a constant awareness of spiritual matters amidst worldly tasks, remembering sin, death, judgment, and eternity, and offering quick prayers to God. Rutherford warns against distractions during private prayer and advises not to be disheartened if joy is not felt after prayer, as times of humility and hunger for God are beneficial. He stresses the significance of dedicating the entire Lord's Day to worship, whether in private devotion or public gatherings, and cautions against allowing known sins to harden the heart.
Text
1. That hours of the day, less or more time, for the Word and prayer, be given to God; not sparing the twelfth hour, or mid-day, howbeit it should then be the shorter time.
2. In the midst of worldly employments, there should be some thoughts of sin, death, judgment, and eternity, with at least a word or two of ejaculatory prayer to God.
3. To beware of wandering of heart in private prayer.
4. Not to grudge if ye come from prayer without sense of joy. Downcasting, sense of guiltiness, and hunger, are often best for us.
5. That the Lord's Day, from morning to night, be spent always either in private or public worship.
6. That words be observed, wandering and idle thoughts be avoided, sudden anger and desire of revenge, even of such as persecute the truth, be guarded against; for we often mix our zeal with our wild-fire.
7. That known, discovered, and revealed sins, that are against the conscience, be avoided, as most dangerous preparatives to hardness of heart.
8. That in dealing with men, faith and truth in covenants and trafficking be regarded, that we deal with all men in sincerity; that conscience be made of idle and lying words; and that our carriage be such, as that they who see it may speak honourably of our sweet Master and profession.
Sermon Outline
- Give Time to God
- Maintain a Focused Heart in Prayer
- Prioritize Worship on the Lord's Day
- Guard Against Sinful Thoughts and Actions
- Deal with Others with Integrity
- Spend time in the Word and prayer
- Consider sin, death, judgment, and eternity in daily life
- Be aware of wandering thoughts
- Accept downcasting and guiltiness as a sign of spiritual growth
- Spend the day in private or public worship
- Avoid idle and wandering thoughts
- Resist sudden anger and desire for revenge
- Keep faith and truth in covenants and dealings
- Speak truthfully and honestly with others
Key Quotes
“Not to grudge if ye come from prayer without sense of joy.” — Samuel Rutherford
“Downcasting, sense of guiltiness, and hunger, are often best for us.” — Samuel Rutherford
“We often mix our zeal with our wild-fire.” — Samuel Rutherford
Application Points
- Make time for prayer and the Word in your daily life.
- Be aware of wandering thoughts and accept downcasting and guiltiness as a sign of spiritual growth.
- Prioritize worship on the Lord's Day and spend the day in private or public worship.