MAN IS BORN OF MANY MOODS, AND WHATEVER OUR MOOD, GOD ALONE CAN HELP OUR SOUL!

1. Sometimes when we study a verse we do not appreciate what God can do with it to help a soul
2. God's greatest work is what He does in the hearts of men, but we often fail to see it.
3. Instead of a study of words in a book, lets study this verse in its influence in a life.

I.- THE BIRTH AND BREAKING OF A MAN

You cannot always tell what God is going to do with the soul of a man by his youth.

A.- BORN IN A MANCE, BROKEN BY HEARTBREAK, TORN BY A BULLY TEACHER, INSANE FROM SERVICE

1. In 1731 an Anglican rector of George II, and Ann Donne (of John Donne's family) had a boy.
2. He was only 6 when his mother died, -She was the center of his affection.
3. In school his teacher bullied him, he was browbeaten and made miserable-
4. He trained to be a lawyer, wound up as a solicitor - First attack of melancholy-1752
5. He fell in love with his cousin, a very unhappy situation, had to give up his love- 1759
6. In the midst of an examination for a government post he had a nervous breakdown- 1763
7. The rest of his life he had 5 deep spells of melancholy to the point of insanity

B.- DRIVEN BY HIS FALSE HEART, SOME SAY SCRIPTURE DROVE HIM MAD

1. In his melancholy he felt totally damned, that there was no hope of forgiveness for him
2. He felt terrible fear of failure, that nothing he could do seemed to turn out right
3. Every circumstance of life seemed to drive him deeper- he attempted suicide 3 times

He studied and wrote much about the greatness of his sin- he felt it deeply

II.- THE SECOND BIRTH, AND THE USE OF A BROKEN VESSEL

In the midst of his greatest need, God sent friends and a verse

A.- THE VERSE IS ROMANS 3:24,25 AND IT HAS TO BE TAKEN WITHIN ITS CONTEXT TO BE UNDERSTOOD

1. He felt his sin so deeply, too bad that some of his feeling is not around today
2. He found his salvation as he strove to gain courage for a suicide attempt.
3. His eyes fell onto a verse that promised justification, and redemption, remission of sins

B.- GOD SENT A KIND WOMAN, THE WIFE OF A COUNTRY PASTOR, TO MOTHER HIM BACK TO SANITY

1. Mary Unwin and Rev. Morley Unwin took him in to board while he recovered from his sickness
2. Her motherly love, and tender care showed him the kind words and help he needed- 1765
3. In spite of criticism she continued her ministry even after her husband died-

C.- GOD SENT A TENDER PASTOR WHOSE HEART HAD ALSO BEEN BROKEN BY SIN TO ENCOURAGE HIM

1. Secular writers say that the influence of John Newton aggravated this man's depressive fits
2. But Mary Unwin and John Newton encouraged their charge to write poems and hymns to ease his mind
3. Together they published a great book of verse and music- great, well loved hymns

God used the crucible of affliction and the tender love of saints to mix help for millions

III.- THE BROKEN VESSEL GAVE OUT MILK AND HONEY

Much is expected of the great and the wise, but only God can use a broken heart and mind

A.- MY FAVORITE CHURCH HYMN CAME FROM THE BROKEN REED THAT NEEDED THE LORD SO DESPERATELY

1. Zech 13:1 "In that day there shall be a fountain opened...for sin and for uncleanness."
2. Turn in your hymn book to #192 and see what came from the pen of William Cowper- broken man
3. Every time you hear it, think of Rom 3:24 and Thank God for his free grace and salvation

B.- THE CHURCH BOOKS OF THE WORLD ARE FULL OF HIS MOST TENDER AND HELPFUL HYMNS

1. #16- God moves in mysterious ways
2. #155- The Spirit breaths upon the Word
3. #353- 0 for a closer walk with God
Read these for medicine for the Soul- Then thank God for a man- William Cowper- And thank God for salvation that saved him.

C.- HIS LAST POEM SHOWED HIS GREAT MELANCHOLY AND THE OBSESSION AGAINST WHICH HE STRUGGLED

1. Read -"The Castaway" Eng Lit book, Page 644
2. Though he despaired of the "Rougher sea" of life itself, he knew the Lord Jesus Christ
3. Turn your sorrow and melancholy over to the Lord, may He use it so well for you.

We oft expect God to take away the storm, but He delights in using us through it!

HAVE YOU FOUND THE SWEET PEACE THAT WAS COMPER'S ONLY REFUGE- THE FOUNTAIN OF BLOOD?

1. No matter what your experience, some person has been through it before, & still found God
2. God has had much experience in guiding souls, let Him guide you.  But you must follow
3. If the storms of life cause you to turn from God- they are endured but without victory

If the storms turn you to the Lord- the worst become the sweetest and the best.