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A Lifting Up for the Downcast
These thirteen sermons on Psalm 42:11, preached at Stepney, London, in the year 1648 are the work of a true physician of souls. In dealing with believers' suffering from spiritual depression, Bridge manifests great insight into the causes of the saints' discouragements such as great sins, weak grace, failure in duties, want of assurance, temptation, desertion and affliction.
A correct diagnosis is more than half the cure but Bridge does not leave his readers there. He gives directions for applying the remedy. For example in dealing with 'great sins' he says, 'If you would be truly humbled and not be discouraged; not be discouraged and yet be humbled; then beat and drive up all your sin to your unbelief, and lay the stress and weight of all your sorrow upon that sin.
The general causes of spiritual depression are the same in every age. Downcast Christians of the twenty-first century can find help here as surely as did past generations.
A correct diagnosis is more than half the cure but Bridge does not leave his readers there. He gives directions for applying the remedy. For example in dealing with 'great sins' he says, 'If you would be truly humbled and not be discouraged; not be discouraged and yet be humbled; then beat and drive up all your sin to your unbelief, and lay the stress and weight of all your sorrow upon that sin.
The general causes of spiritual depression are the same in every age. Downcast Christians of the twenty-first century can find help here as surely as did past generations.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1649
108 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 1, 2014
A marvelous book. I have been chipping away at this book for some time, using a page or two of it as a quarry for my weekly meditations on the Lord's Supper. My reason for doing that is that I wanted those meditations to be encouraging, and who is more encouraging than the Puritans?
And this book once again puts the lie to the ludicrous notion that the Puritans were a censorious lot. The best cure for that is actually to read them. When it comes to the cure of souls, the Puritan pastors are unparalleled -- scriptural, sympathetic, insightful, encouraging, comforting, and wise. This book one more glorious representative of that wisdom.
And this book once again puts the lie to the ludicrous notion that the Puritans were a censorious lot. The best cure for that is actually to read them. When it comes to the cure of souls, the Puritan pastors are unparalleled -- scriptural, sympathetic, insightful, encouraging, comforting, and wise. This book one more glorious representative of that wisdom.
January 30, 2024
2024: fantastic.
2021: Love this book so much. What a blessed reminder that there is always a way out of all kinds of discouragements for the believers: Christ and His promises.
2019:What a blessing to be able to read the Puritans! This book was of great encouragement for me in a particular hard season.
2021: Love this book so much. What a blessed reminder that there is always a way out of all kinds of discouragements for the believers: Christ and His promises.
2019:What a blessing to be able to read the Puritans! This book was of great encouragement for me in a particular hard season.
May 19, 2024
No review can do this book justice. Bridge blends profound theology, intense pastoral concern and love, striking and memorable images, and a wonderful way with words to produce exactly what is advertised by the title: a lifting up for the downcast.
Bridge walks through every reason a Christian might be downcast, along with all their variations, and provides encouragement in that situation and reasons drawn from both Scripture and systematic theology to be encouraged and persevere. He walks masterfully between the lines of trivializing difficulties and empathizing helplessly, between excusing sins by reason of circumstance and adding further discouragement by harping on real sins. The Puritan epithet ‘Physician of the Soul’ is justly and well deserved.
Bridge walks through every reason a Christian might be downcast, along with all their variations, and provides encouragement in that situation and reasons drawn from both Scripture and systematic theology to be encouraged and persevere. He walks masterfully between the lines of trivializing difficulties and empathizing helplessly, between excusing sins by reason of circumstance and adding further discouragement by harping on real sins. The Puritan epithet ‘Physician of the Soul’ is justly and well deserved.
January 18, 2016
This is one of the more encouraging books by the Puritans, who tend to be very encouraging and practical in their writings. The chapter I found to be most encouraging was "A Lifting up in the Case of Great Sins." The following lines are characteristic of William Bridge’s thought, "Let Christians carry this rule always up and down with them, namely, that a man is to be humbled for his sin, although it be never so small, but he is not to be discouraged for his sin, though it be never so great . . . It is my duty, and I have reason to be humbled for my sin, although it be never so small; but I have no reason to be discouraged under my sin, though it be never so great."
December 2, 2018
Typically puritan in style, Bridge is a physician of the soul and examines every cause of discouragement in the life of the Christian with great wisdom and insight, seeking to draw the reader out of their darkness and to look up to the light of Christ.
August 27, 2025
My two sons have been after me to complete this book before I transition to eternity.
Well, to everyone’s surprise including my own I took the entire past two days to read this excellent book.
“A Lifting Up For the Downcast” is a “must read” for every believer serious with their Pilgrim’s Progress and Sanctification, and walk in Christ Jesus.
William Bridge preaches on Psalm 42:11,
“Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?
Wait for God, for I shall still praise Him,
The salvation of my presence and my God.”
— Psalm 42:11 (LSB)
And answers this question in Psalms, identifying the many obstacle’s believers face (both good and bad) that result in being joy stealers in our Christian walk.
I will list some of the quotes that stood out to me.
“Labor to mortify your affections, to get your will melted into the will of God.” (Pg. 26)
“So long as a man’s title to Christ is in question, he cannot improve Christ as he should. If a man be going on a journey, and know not his way, he loses much of his way, and of the comfort of it in inquiring of the way, and wondering whether he be right or wrong. So when a man is doubting and fearing , and knows not whether he be in the the way to heaven or no, how much precious time is lost! Thoughts of Christ lost. Thankfulness for mercy lost!. Of all hearts, the Scripture says an unbelieving heart is an evil heart. And when men’s hearts are discouraged and cast down, are they not unbelieving? Who would not therefore take heed of these discouragements, and of the interruption of their peace?” (Pg. 44)
“The only way which the Psalmist teaches here is, to hope, trust, believe in God. If you would not be discouraged in any condition, then never make your comforts depend on your condition.” (Pg. 75)
“My flesh and my heart fail,
But God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.”
— Psalm 73:26
“When a man is truly humbled and grieved for sin, the object of his grief is sin as a dishonor done unto God (but) when a man is discouraged and not humbled and grieved for sin, then his trouble is all about his condition , and what will become of him.” (Pg. 101)
“There is a great difference then between discouragement and humiliation…there is not a drop of humiliation in a flood of discouragement.” (Pg. 102)
“The Lord has given us two eyes, the eye of conscience, which is to look upon God’s commandments, and the eye of faith, which is to look upon God’s promise.”
“All discouragements weaken; humiliation weakens not. The greatest humiliation does not weaken, but the least discouragement does.” (Pg. 131)
“Though God does not answer you immediately, yet He does hear you immediately.” (Pg. 149)
“Consider what comforts lie behind your temptations. As temptations sometimes lie in ambushes behind your performances, so comforts lie in ambush behind your temptations.” (Pg. 219)
“The more useful and serviceable a man is to God, the more apt and ready God will be to pardon his failings.” (Pg. 278)
“Hoping, trusting, waiting on God, is the special, if not the only, means appointed against all discouragements.”
Again, I highly recommend reading this timeless piece.
Chas Morse
Well, to everyone’s surprise including my own I took the entire past two days to read this excellent book.
“A Lifting Up For the Downcast” is a “must read” for every believer serious with their Pilgrim’s Progress and Sanctification, and walk in Christ Jesus.
William Bridge preaches on Psalm 42:11,
“Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?
Wait for God, for I shall still praise Him,
The salvation of my presence and my God.”
— Psalm 42:11 (LSB)
And answers this question in Psalms, identifying the many obstacle’s believers face (both good and bad) that result in being joy stealers in our Christian walk.
I will list some of the quotes that stood out to me.
“Labor to mortify your affections, to get your will melted into the will of God.” (Pg. 26)
“So long as a man’s title to Christ is in question, he cannot improve Christ as he should. If a man be going on a journey, and know not his way, he loses much of his way, and of the comfort of it in inquiring of the way, and wondering whether he be right or wrong. So when a man is doubting and fearing , and knows not whether he be in the the way to heaven or no, how much precious time is lost! Thoughts of Christ lost. Thankfulness for mercy lost!. Of all hearts, the Scripture says an unbelieving heart is an evil heart. And when men’s hearts are discouraged and cast down, are they not unbelieving? Who would not therefore take heed of these discouragements, and of the interruption of their peace?” (Pg. 44)
“The only way which the Psalmist teaches here is, to hope, trust, believe in God. If you would not be discouraged in any condition, then never make your comforts depend on your condition.” (Pg. 75)
“My flesh and my heart fail,
But God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.”
— Psalm 73:26
“When a man is truly humbled and grieved for sin, the object of his grief is sin as a dishonor done unto God (but) when a man is discouraged and not humbled and grieved for sin, then his trouble is all about his condition , and what will become of him.” (Pg. 101)
“There is a great difference then between discouragement and humiliation…there is not a drop of humiliation in a flood of discouragement.” (Pg. 102)
“The Lord has given us two eyes, the eye of conscience, which is to look upon God’s commandments, and the eye of faith, which is to look upon God’s promise.”
“All discouragements weaken; humiliation weakens not. The greatest humiliation does not weaken, but the least discouragement does.” (Pg. 131)
“Though God does not answer you immediately, yet He does hear you immediately.” (Pg. 149)
“Consider what comforts lie behind your temptations. As temptations sometimes lie in ambushes behind your performances, so comforts lie in ambush behind your temptations.” (Pg. 219)
“The more useful and serviceable a man is to God, the more apt and ready God will be to pardon his failings.” (Pg. 278)
“Hoping, trusting, waiting on God, is the special, if not the only, means appointed against all discouragements.”
Again, I highly recommend reading this timeless piece.
Chas Morse
January 30, 2023
The Puritans often described how much an hypocrite may look like a Christian yet without being converted ; or how much a Christian can be abase and weak in grace, yet without being an hypocrite. They worked hard so that the hypocrite would not be presumptuous, and that the weak Christian would not be discouraged.
This book from William Bridge is a magnification of the latter sort. Discouragement is a sin, Bridge’ says, and christians, even in the worst spiritual or natural conditions, have no reason at all to be discouraged.
The book is really good, but there is a bit of repetitions past halfway. 4.5 ⭐️
This book from William Bridge is a magnification of the latter sort. Discouragement is a sin, Bridge’ says, and christians, even in the worst spiritual or natural conditions, have no reason at all to be discouraged.
The book is really good, but there is a bit of repetitions past halfway. 4.5 ⭐️
May 26, 2022
This book of a thousand encouragements did not disappoint.
December 17, 2025
There were parts of this that were too "Jesus love you, dammit!" for my taste, but overall very encouraging. I especially loved this quote: "It is the love and favour of Christ that you mourn after and are discouraged for the want of. You cannot get a more ready and compendious way to get this love than, when you are in the dark, to throw yourselves into Christ’s arms at a venture. This takes and wins the heart of Christ over to you: "What! will this poor soul throw himself into my arms, saith Christ, now I do seem his enemy? Well, then I will shew myself to be his friend."
September 1, 2023
First one down in my challenge to read all 60x Puritan Paperbacks. The goodreads rating scale doesn't really help when scoring these Puritan books as this one, like all the others I've read in the past, is easily 5 stars+ when compared to the other chaff coming off the bookshelves. Hence, I'm going to also score these internally amongst the other Banner of Truth paperbacks to get an idea of where they stack up against the other Puritan powerhouses.
In this case William Bridge gets 4/5 stars amongst fellow redwood giants.
This one was so good, although certainly exhaustive and wordy at times as William Bridge attempts to Biblically shoot down any and all possible reasons why a believer could justify being in a state of discouragement or depression. I felt like Bridge's work was speaking directly to my own soul and that his implications echoed some of the greatest lessons the Lord has taught me in the deepest valleys of my own life.
Anchored in Psalm 42:11, ("Why art thou cast down my soul?") William Bridge's thesis is that "all true peace within arises from the sight of peace made without," ultimately finding it's foundation in Christ's blood as the object of our faith. In thirteen sermons or chapters, he begins by showing why saints should never be discouraged, gives nine chapters to the top reasons why many Christians find themselves in the valley, and then concludes with the ultimate "cure of discouragements."
His conclusion is that it is our faith in Christ and in Him alone that is our sure and steady anchor to lift us above our circumstances and afflictions: "If Christ is mine, then all is mine, life is mine, and death is mine; and what though all my comforts be dead and are gone, and are all out of sight, yet Christ is a living Christ, Christ is a living Saviour; and therefore be of good comfort, O my soul."
Below are my favorite quotes from each of the 13x sermons:
Chapter 1: The Good Man's Peace:
"Labour to mortify your affections, and to get your will melted into the will of God. As the winds are to the sea, so are the affections to the soul of man."
Chapter 2: True Peace May be Interrupted:
"God expects that a man should be humbled for his former false peace, and thankful for his present true peace ... when a man draws his comfort only from something that he finds within himself; from grace that he finds within, and not from grace without; from Christ within, and not from Christ without; then his comfort will not hold."
Chapter 3: Saints Should Not Be Discouraged Whatever Their Condition Be:
"There is no matter of discouragement which the saints do or can meet with, but there is a greater encouragement bound up therewith, or comes along with it. God never more graciously appears to his people, than when there is the matter for their greatest discouragements."
Chapter 4: A Lifting Up in the Case of Great Sins:
"The purpose of our sorrow and grief is, to embitter our sin to us, to make us prize Jesus Christ, to wean us from the delights and pleasures of the creature, to reveal the deceitfulness and naughtiness of our own hearts."
Chapter 5: A Lifting Up in the Case of Weak Grace:
"Yet though your strength be abated, and your grace weakened, through your own sin, grace, being true saving grace, shall never be annihilated, for it is a new creation; and nothing created by God can be annihilated by us."
Chapter 6: A Lifting Up in the Case of Miscarriage of Duties:
"Prayer is the pouring out of the soul to God; not the pouring out of words, nor the pouring out of expressions; but the pouring out of the soul to God. Many times, words and expressions are a great way off from the soul; but sighs and groans are next the soul."
Chapter 7: A Lifting Up in the Case of Lack of Assurance:
"So far as a good man is sunk in unbelief, so far he will rise in faith. So much as a man is shaken by unbelief, and by the lack of assurance, so much he will rise unto assurance and be confirmed and steeled in it."
Chapter 8: A Lifting Up in the Case of Temptation:
"God would never permit his people to be tempted unless he intended to destroy their temptations by their temptations."
"As for the sin against the Holy Ghost, he never sins against the Holy Ghost that fears he has sinned against the Holy Ghost."
Chapter 9: A Lifting Up in the Case of Desertion:
"Labour more and more to live by faith. 'When God seems to be mine enemy,' says Luther, 'and to stand with a drawn sword against me, then do I cast and throw myself into his arms.'"
Chapter 10: A Lifting Up in the Case of Affliction:
"A Christian has never more experience of God's upholding sustaining grace, his sin is never more revealed and healed, his grace is never more exercised and manifested, and God is never more present with him, than when he is most afflicted: and he is never more a partaker of Christ's sufferings than in and by his own sufferings."
Chapter 11: A Lifting up in the Case of Unserviceableness:
"I have read in Scripture that the people have been too many, and the means too strong, for God to work by; but I never read that it was too small or weak for God to work by."
Chapter 12: A Lifting Up in the Case of Discouragement Drawn from the Condition Itself:
"Had I been settled in the world, I should never have been fixed upon God himself; but being unsettled in the world, I learn to settle upon God himself ... a man does not observe the present behavior of his soul in his present condition, and therefore God leads him into a new condition, and then he sees what his behavior was in the old condition."
Chapter 13: The Cure of Discouragement by Faith in Jesus Christ:
"Faith is the help against all discouragements ... could a man but see what would be end and issue of his affliction, he would be quiet under it. It is in regard of our affliction as it is in regard to sea water. Take the water as it is in the sea, and it is salt and brackish; but drawn up by the sun into the clouds, and it becomes sweet, and falls down as sweet rain ... the proper work of faith is to see the hand of God in every dispensation."
“We do not live by feeling, but by faith. It is the duty of a Christian to begin with faith, and so to rise up to feeling.”
In this case William Bridge gets 4/5 stars amongst fellow redwood giants.
This one was so good, although certainly exhaustive and wordy at times as William Bridge attempts to Biblically shoot down any and all possible reasons why a believer could justify being in a state of discouragement or depression. I felt like Bridge's work was speaking directly to my own soul and that his implications echoed some of the greatest lessons the Lord has taught me in the deepest valleys of my own life.
Anchored in Psalm 42:11, ("Why art thou cast down my soul?") William Bridge's thesis is that "all true peace within arises from the sight of peace made without," ultimately finding it's foundation in Christ's blood as the object of our faith. In thirteen sermons or chapters, he begins by showing why saints should never be discouraged, gives nine chapters to the top reasons why many Christians find themselves in the valley, and then concludes with the ultimate "cure of discouragements."
His conclusion is that it is our faith in Christ and in Him alone that is our sure and steady anchor to lift us above our circumstances and afflictions: "If Christ is mine, then all is mine, life is mine, and death is mine; and what though all my comforts be dead and are gone, and are all out of sight, yet Christ is a living Christ, Christ is a living Saviour; and therefore be of good comfort, O my soul."
Below are my favorite quotes from each of the 13x sermons:
Chapter 1: The Good Man's Peace:
"Labour to mortify your affections, and to get your will melted into the will of God. As the winds are to the sea, so are the affections to the soul of man."
Chapter 2: True Peace May be Interrupted:
"God expects that a man should be humbled for his former false peace, and thankful for his present true peace ... when a man draws his comfort only from something that he finds within himself; from grace that he finds within, and not from grace without; from Christ within, and not from Christ without; then his comfort will not hold."
Chapter 3: Saints Should Not Be Discouraged Whatever Their Condition Be:
"There is no matter of discouragement which the saints do or can meet with, but there is a greater encouragement bound up therewith, or comes along with it. God never more graciously appears to his people, than when there is the matter for their greatest discouragements."
Chapter 4: A Lifting Up in the Case of Great Sins:
"The purpose of our sorrow and grief is, to embitter our sin to us, to make us prize Jesus Christ, to wean us from the delights and pleasures of the creature, to reveal the deceitfulness and naughtiness of our own hearts."
Chapter 5: A Lifting Up in the Case of Weak Grace:
"Yet though your strength be abated, and your grace weakened, through your own sin, grace, being true saving grace, shall never be annihilated, for it is a new creation; and nothing created by God can be annihilated by us."
Chapter 6: A Lifting Up in the Case of Miscarriage of Duties:
"Prayer is the pouring out of the soul to God; not the pouring out of words, nor the pouring out of expressions; but the pouring out of the soul to God. Many times, words and expressions are a great way off from the soul; but sighs and groans are next the soul."
Chapter 7: A Lifting Up in the Case of Lack of Assurance:
"So far as a good man is sunk in unbelief, so far he will rise in faith. So much as a man is shaken by unbelief, and by the lack of assurance, so much he will rise unto assurance and be confirmed and steeled in it."
Chapter 8: A Lifting Up in the Case of Temptation:
"God would never permit his people to be tempted unless he intended to destroy their temptations by their temptations."
"As for the sin against the Holy Ghost, he never sins against the Holy Ghost that fears he has sinned against the Holy Ghost."
Chapter 9: A Lifting Up in the Case of Desertion:
"Labour more and more to live by faith. 'When God seems to be mine enemy,' says Luther, 'and to stand with a drawn sword against me, then do I cast and throw myself into his arms.'"
Chapter 10: A Lifting Up in the Case of Affliction:
"A Christian has never more experience of God's upholding sustaining grace, his sin is never more revealed and healed, his grace is never more exercised and manifested, and God is never more present with him, than when he is most afflicted: and he is never more a partaker of Christ's sufferings than in and by his own sufferings."
Chapter 11: A Lifting up in the Case of Unserviceableness:
"I have read in Scripture that the people have been too many, and the means too strong, for God to work by; but I never read that it was too small or weak for God to work by."
Chapter 12: A Lifting Up in the Case of Discouragement Drawn from the Condition Itself:
"Had I been settled in the world, I should never have been fixed upon God himself; but being unsettled in the world, I learn to settle upon God himself ... a man does not observe the present behavior of his soul in his present condition, and therefore God leads him into a new condition, and then he sees what his behavior was in the old condition."
Chapter 13: The Cure of Discouragement by Faith in Jesus Christ:
"Faith is the help against all discouragements ... could a man but see what would be end and issue of his affliction, he would be quiet under it. It is in regard of our affliction as it is in regard to sea water. Take the water as it is in the sea, and it is salt and brackish; but drawn up by the sun into the clouds, and it becomes sweet, and falls down as sweet rain ... the proper work of faith is to see the hand of God in every dispensation."
“We do not live by feeling, but by faith. It is the duty of a Christian to begin with faith, and so to rise up to feeling.”
August 23, 2023
"A Lifting Up for the Downcast" (#1 of 60 in Banner of Truth's latest list of Puritan Paperbacks) is my first exposure to William Bridge and, despite some very useful thoughts, he fits perfectly the stereotype that has developed concerning puritan writers. The complaint usually follows the pattern of "they take 300 pages to cover one verse that could have been said in 100 pages." Well, this one is 371 pages on one verse and even Bridge himself closes the book by saying, "You have had the patience to hear it." Please don't misunderstand me. I thoroughly love the Puritans and their writings. This particular one, however, was a struggle. If I were to recommend this book to a struggling brother or sister in Christ, I would advise they read only chapters 1, 3, 10, and 13. This would reduce the argument to around 115 pages and would cover the bulk of the useful and encouraging material.
Chapter 1 (The Good Man's Peace) is really the exposition of Psalm 42:11. The remainder of the book is commentary and application. Chapter 3 (Saints Should Not Be Discouraged Whatever Their Condition Be) and Chapter 10 (A Lifting Up in the Case of Affliction) is where Bridge shines. Essentially, he argues in the former that when a true believer has become discouraged due to a circumstance, they have really become discontent and lack faith in a Sovereign God. The latter is where I've seen people most often become discouraged in today's world. When we are afflicted with illness or some other hardship, we are quick to latch onto the victim mentality and demand justice in our situation. Really, we are simply comparing ourselves to our perception of others. Their life is great, my situation is an injustice. How quickly we forget what we truly deserve.
Bridge closes the book in chapter 13 (The Cure of Discouragements by Faith in Jesus Christ) by arguing that the remedy is true faith. Faith quiets the heart. We need true, effectual faith though. When we experience hardship we quickly become the toddler we've all seen who falls and, while suffering no injury at all, immediately screams as though death has arrived. Is it true injury or fear that causes their screams? It is fear because, once a parent arrives and comforts them they see that all is well and that they have simply overreacted in their temporal situation. This is us. Our Father has provided all the comfort we will ever need in His Word if we will only spend time in it. Our temporal situation may seem bad but He is sovereign and we must trust Him and realize that when we become discouraged because of our situation, we really are slipping away from that trust and into sin.
One last note: This new list of Puritan Paperbacks is an excellent marketing tool to get people excited about reading more. It worked for me and some I know as we've set off on a goal to read them all. That being said, why would you start with this one? Start with one that will get people hooked. This one, I fear, will scare many away assuming all Puritan Paperbacks are like this one. They are not. Most are exceptionally pastoral and soothing to the soul. If you're new to Puritan writing, I would implore you to continue. The journey is worth it.
Chapter 1 (The Good Man's Peace) is really the exposition of Psalm 42:11. The remainder of the book is commentary and application. Chapter 3 (Saints Should Not Be Discouraged Whatever Their Condition Be) and Chapter 10 (A Lifting Up in the Case of Affliction) is where Bridge shines. Essentially, he argues in the former that when a true believer has become discouraged due to a circumstance, they have really become discontent and lack faith in a Sovereign God. The latter is where I've seen people most often become discouraged in today's world. When we are afflicted with illness or some other hardship, we are quick to latch onto the victim mentality and demand justice in our situation. Really, we are simply comparing ourselves to our perception of others. Their life is great, my situation is an injustice. How quickly we forget what we truly deserve.
Bridge closes the book in chapter 13 (The Cure of Discouragements by Faith in Jesus Christ) by arguing that the remedy is true faith. Faith quiets the heart. We need true, effectual faith though. When we experience hardship we quickly become the toddler we've all seen who falls and, while suffering no injury at all, immediately screams as though death has arrived. Is it true injury or fear that causes their screams? It is fear because, once a parent arrives and comforts them they see that all is well and that they have simply overreacted in their temporal situation. This is us. Our Father has provided all the comfort we will ever need in His Word if we will only spend time in it. Our temporal situation may seem bad but He is sovereign and we must trust Him and realize that when we become discouraged because of our situation, we really are slipping away from that trust and into sin.
One last note: This new list of Puritan Paperbacks is an excellent marketing tool to get people excited about reading more. It worked for me and some I know as we've set off on a goal to read them all. That being said, why would you start with this one? Start with one that will get people hooked. This one, I fear, will scare many away assuming all Puritan Paperbacks are like this one. They are not. Most are exceptionally pastoral and soothing to the soul. If you're new to Puritan writing, I would implore you to continue. The journey is worth it.
April 8, 2024
A thorough treatment of psalm 42 'why are you downcast oh my soul'. Bridge spends much time going through various reasons we may be downcast such as our sin, lack of assurance and trials, in each case gently proving why we have 'no scripture reason to be discouraged'. He raises hypothetical questions from the reader for every kind of situation, addressing matters rigorously and settling each objection. Far from being overly lofty and bashing the discouraged, he is chockablock with encouragement, drawing out both many scriptures and many analogies from life to explain things more clearly. The last chapter was the best as it drew everything together with how to face discouragement. As you might guess, in wonderful puritan fashion he raised up Jesus as the wonderful remedy of remedies. This was my first time I've read a full puritan book and I'm refreshed by 'the breeze of the centuries', though I think next time I'll go for a slightly shorter, more focused work!
October 23, 2024
“Beloved, God's call is our wall, which will bear off, and bear up one's heart under troubles and discouragements. Oh, says a gracious soul, What abundance of opposition do I meet with in my condition; but yet the Lord has called me into this condition, and therefore I am quiet, I am contented, I am satisfied. I confess I did not expect to have met with so much affliction in my condition as now I do; but God has called me into it, and therefore I have comfort. Thus it is with all the saints. They are led by God's call into their condition, and they can shew their patent; they can say, Here is my call. If a man do not live upon the condition itself, but upon God's call into his condition - and God doth call his people into whatsoever condition they are - then they have no reason to be discouraged by reason of their condition.”
February 3, 2020
Using Psalm 42:11 as a starting point, he goes to great lengths to show with thoroughness and clarity that no matter what fears, feelings, condition, or circumstances a believer finds themself in, they have no reason for discouragement. He anticipates objections and doubts throughout and writes with a gentle and pastoral heart. This book is medicine to the soul.
January 8, 2026
Looks like I’m in the minority here, but I found this one a struggle. There’s a lot of repetition. Basically saying the same thing just in slightly different ways. I didn’t think the writing always flowed naturally like some of the best Puritan writers.
There were some things I found helpful and some, not so much. I don’t think I would recommend it above other books on similar topics.
There were some things I found helpful and some, not so much. I don’t think I would recommend it above other books on similar topics.
August 14, 2023
The best book I’ve read this year outside of the Bible.
January 28, 2021
A Lifting Up for the Downcast is an encouraging read consisting of 13 sermons preached out of Psalm 42:11. William Bridge's primary aim is to prevent Christians from becoming discouraged. Each chapter is filled with Scripture and gospel-centered reasons why Christians should not fall into discouragement because of any of life's struggles.
This book is a hard read. It comes in at right under 300 pages, but reads like a 400-page book. Chapters/sermons are long, and Puritan writing is not the easiest to follow at times. There are also many times where Bridge simply takes Scriptures out of context and uses them to make a point.
This book is a hard read. It comes in at right under 300 pages, but reads like a 400-page book. Chapters/sermons are long, and Puritan writing is not the easiest to follow at times. There are also many times where Bridge simply takes Scriptures out of context and uses them to make a point.
October 21, 2025
The best resource to consult for spiritual discouragements. Precious reading. “Ye that are of a fearful spirit, be strong, fear not: behold your God will come, even God with a recompense, he will come and save you.” (Isa. 35:4)
January 19, 2009
This book contains 13 sermons based on Psalm 42: 11 from the year 1648. These sermons address many aspects of spiritual discouragement and depression in the life of a believer. Great sins, weak grace, failure in duties, want of assurance, temptation, desertion, affliction -- all these are addressed and examined in light of scripture. There is indeed a lifting up for the downcast in these lectures.
I found it interesting that the general causes of spiritual depression are really the same in every age, and as such downcast Christians can find help now just as past generations did.
I found it interesting that the general causes of spiritual depression are really the same in every age, and as such downcast Christians can find help now just as past generations did.
July 24, 2017
If all of your joy and peace comes from God, then no amount of disappointment in this life can unsettle you or cause you to become discouraged.
The promises of God are enough of a reason for us to be joyful and content in this life.
Bridge leaves no corner unswept, but gives us every reason to trust wholly in Christ -- all our excuses are left ground to dust as to why we should be discouraged.
The promises of God are enough of a reason for us to be joyful and content in this life.
Bridge leaves no corner unswept, but gives us every reason to trust wholly in Christ -- all our excuses are left ground to dust as to why we should be discouraged.
July 1, 2015
William Bridge understands discouragement. I think he espouses Biblical answers in this book and is right on target. I love the Puritans but I do think that their "archaic" manner of writing probably hindered this book a bit. The reader simply has to work through the answers a bit more than one would like. It's a good one though!
December 17, 2012
The prescriptions for spiritual lethargy never changes as this 17th Century collection of powerful sermons by Puritan preacher William Bridge plainly demonstrates.
July 1, 2014
An excellent exposition that addresses the question for the Christian: Do I not have reason to be discouraged?
July 28, 2024
A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge (first published in 1649) is part of a 3 (maybe 4) book series I'm reading on suffering and worldly struggles. In true Puritan fashion, he takes a verse from Psalm 42 and finds a way to exposit 400 pages of incredibly rich and helpful material. He explores many perspectives on why one would be downcast in this world (sin, assurance, temptation, affliction, etc.), and then each of those takes seemingly countless angles to encourage the reader that, if in Christ, there is no reason to be downcast. He doesn't ignore suffering but points us to hope and away from discouragement. Much like other books that can be found in your hand again due to "seasons of your life," this too I'm sure will find me fingering through the pages as I refresh myself in both the Truth of the scriptures he opens and the personal wisdom he offers. Very much worth the read if you too are struggling and find yourself saying:
Psalm 42:5–6a (ESV)
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:5–6a (ESV)
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
October 30, 2021
A thorough book dealing with heart issues that rarely affect Christians today. Thirteen sermons on Psalm 42:11:
Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted within me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,
who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
address spiritual depression that can arise when we look within or at our own gifts and abilities rather than at Christ as the fountainhead of our salvation. This can arise when we are conscious of our great sins, our failure to carry out the duties we should, when we feel deserted by God or simply discouraged.
The style is dense, needing slow reading to get the best from the prose.
Christians struggling from these issues, or those pastoring them, will find many encouragements here.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted within me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,
who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
address spiritual depression that can arise when we look within or at our own gifts and abilities rather than at Christ as the fountainhead of our salvation. This can arise when we are conscious of our great sins, our failure to carry out the duties we should, when we feel deserted by God or simply discouraged.
The style is dense, needing slow reading to get the best from the prose.
Christians struggling from these issues, or those pastoring them, will find many encouragements here.
December 29, 2025
“Christ is faithful, I have always found Him so. Those whom He loves, He loves to the end. And I know He loves me, for I love Him. My love is but the reflection of His love, I could not love Him if He did not love me first”
“The more you see Christ walking in the sweet shades of divine love toward poor sinners, the sooner will your faith revive, and your comforts be restored”
Some good lines of encouragement throughout the book. Was often long and redundant however, and many assumptions were made not based on specific text.
“The more you see Christ walking in the sweet shades of divine love toward poor sinners, the sooner will your faith revive, and your comforts be restored”
Some good lines of encouragement throughout the book. Was often long and redundant however, and many assumptions were made not based on specific text.
October 7, 2023
I enjoyed this less than I expected. There was simply way too many imaginary and absurd objections answered. The book makes a quite mortifying reading unless you swim in an 8 kilometers deep sea of melancholy. The first few objections in each case would have been enough, and I am quite melancholy and unbelieving myself. Just my opinion.
November 22, 2020
In this book, Bridges will answer all the readers attempts to justify their condition of discouragement and despair with exhaustive reason and scripture. The reader loses. If your a weak discouraged sinner you will profit though I’d recommend two other books before this.
February 6, 2020
The depth of this book! The treasures within it! For anyone who struggles with depression, this is a must read. It will certainly serve as a balm to your soul.
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April 14, 2022I particularly appreciated the chapter on "... in lack of assurance".
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