not this strange Sure I may well be disquieted who fish all night and catch nothing who act much and have but little or no income Time was when the spirit blew and my spices flowed Time was when the King sat at his table and my spiknard smelt Time was when the father smiled the son imbraced and the spirit warmed in every duty in every Ordinance But now oh now I want these injoyed incomes and may I not well bee disquieted and cast downe 6 The insultation of Satan and Enemies Sometimes causeth castings downe Satan is impudent and he doth sometimes insult if hee perceive the soule a little more then ordinary sad he takes advantage presently to say Where is now your God David was much disquieted and went in mourning because of the oppression of the enemy Psal 42.9 I am apt to thinke Satan may at lest be included in that word the Enemy For he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the enemy in an especial manner Ah Lord saith the poor soul the lamb may well tremble when the lyon doth triumph Satan triumphs very terribly He calls all my hopes into question he askes me where is my God my Christ my Comforter He bids mee shew him my Promises and hee demands what is become of my confidence And may I not be cast downe justly over whom Satan thus insults And besides as Satan insults sometimes so his children wicked men insult often Jam 3.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to kill And as if their tongues were set on fire with hell they speake as their father doth They say daily unto me where is thy God ver 9. Now this is a killing to us say some soules And truly if the Lord bee with us why then is all this befallen us as hee said when they were under the oppression of the Midianites Judg. 6.13 Thus while Satan and wicked men are so impudent as to insult some soules are so weake as to bee cast downe 7 Even corporall affliction is sometimes a cause of spirituall casting downe A sick-sick-body many times causeth a sad soule Hezekiah was sicke and that made him sadde the tidings of corporall death begat spirituall disquiet That tragicall relation of Hezekiahs casting downe is titled thus the writing of Hezekiah King of Judah when he had been sicke Esay 38.9 Indeede it falls out so that the soule following the temperament of the body is much disquieted when the body is afflicted Many souls chearfull enough when in health are over sad when sicke If God afflict the body we are apt upon that our selves to cast downe the soule It s needlesse in this to expatiate experience too too frequent shewes this that externall affliction is oft the principal and first cause of internall dejection 8 Adde to all these in the last place this viz. sence of Divine wrath This indeed of all the other is the greatest and most grounded cause of spirituall dejection A little wrath will make the soule to stoope If God in anger do but touch the hills they tremble His fury is poured out like fire faith the Prophet and the rockes are thrown down by him as it is Nahum 1.6 Surely say some soules we cannot dwell with everlasting burnings and such are all appearances of divine wrath Well might Job upon this ground say is my strenght the strength of stones as t is chap. 6.12 Alas if his strength had been the strength of rockes and mountaines it must needs faile when the arrowes of the Almighty were within him as t is there vers 4. It was this which cast down David here deeply for so he crys as out of the depth vers 7. Deep calleth unto deep at the noice of thy water-spouts all thy waves and thy billowes are gone over me I shall have occasion peradventure more then once in this Treatise to touch on this therefore I shall say no more here but only this that nothing hath in it more force to cast downe even the stoutest soules then the sence of Divine wrath CHAP. 10. Some Vses of the Doctrine by way of Application YOu have seen now the nature of spiritual dejection together with the diverse workings and causes thereof It stands us upon to mind these things and to improve them Christians you see you have cause enough to be cast down and even the choisest Saints are sometimes for those causes really cast downe and dejected There bee but three words of Application which I shall touch on in this Section and conclude it First Let this informe us of our imperfect state while we are in the flesh Our highest injoyments are not so sure as to deliver us from feare of falling Saints you see of the richest sort even such as are choicest are apt to be and sometimes are much cast down It s the vanity of some that they thinke and speake of present injoyments above what is meet Some have said Soules may come up to such a height as that they neither shall nor can be disquieted Yea some go so far as to censure all kind of doubting and to conclude soules in a damnable state because in a disquieted Surely such have not learned this truth as it is in Jesus You see a David cast downe and disquieted And you heare that even choicest Saints upon many causes are lyable to the like dejections Bee informed therefore to take heed how you dreame of a perfect and unalterable enjoyment of rest here Your rest though unspeakeably sweet is not unchangeably sure T is possibly you may think because you sometimes rejoyce with joy unspeakable that therefore your injoyment is unalterable But be not deceived even after high injoyments you may be dejected Even a Paul after a rapture as high as the third heaven was cast down low by a messenger from hell David said once hee should never bee moved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word is as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. well or good pleasure yea and his bottome was free grace Divine good pleasure had made his mountain so firme Psal 30.6 7. And yet marke this David is now moved very much even to a soul-tumult Howle Fir-trees for the Cedar is fallen Be not high-minded ye babes in Christ sith father may and do fall Certainly if this be a truth as its clear it is that Saints of the highest attainments may be and sometimes are cast down then surely there is no perfect unalterable state of peace and unsettlednesse here It s true when we come home we shall sit down and be disquieted no more But our hope is not here Whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 Such as talke of being at home in this life forget that they are in the body Christians beware of it for its a delusion to thinke that here you are above dejection you are not at any time so setled but you may be disquieted And therefore
Secondly Learne hence to be thankefull for any freedome from disquietings Be thankefull O ye unshaken soules to Christ It s his sweetnesse which hath kept you from being in a storm It s greater mercy to have a soule kept free from disquietings then to have a body kept free from distempers seest thou another soul cast downe be thankfull to the Lord Jesus that thou art not sitting by it in the same case Take heed of thinking that your settlement is of your selves and consequently of cersuring others who are disquieted It s certainly a great fault in many that they censure such as they see dejected They find fault with that in others which they are not able to prevent in themselves Did not Christ beare up thy spirit Oh soule thou wouldest quickly sincke There are causes of spiritual dejection in thee as well as in others It s Christ that keepes them under otherwise they would soon cast thee down Bee thankefull therefore to Christ and take heed of censuring others Yea Thirdly Prepare for dejections Such as are subject to saintings have their cordialls in readinesse so should you have O soules who are lyable to spirituall faintings There are cordials enough did you know them It s your Saviours goodnesse that hee stored up remedies suitable to all your distempers acquaint your selves with them before you need them that they may not be to seeke when they should be used Quest You will say what preparation shall we make Answ For this I shall speak something more generall and something more particular Generally In order to spirituall preparation for soule dejection mind these things First That such a thing there is as soul-dejection and that you are lyable unto it Be not strangers unto this truth but know as the most healthfull body may sometimes be distempered so the most holy soule may sometimes be disquieted The not minding of this makes many soules which are cast downe sadder then otherwise they would be It s an aggravation unto any sorrow that it comes unexpected Be sure therefore to remember this that t is possible sadnesse may seize upon your soules and cast you down It s common to saints to be dejected sometimes This being often and seriously thought on before dejections come will prepare you to beare them when they come Secondly Be well acquainted with the Coverant of grace The not aright and clear understanding of it as hath been shewed is the cause of much dejection Acquaint your souls therefore with this in the freenesse of it doe not mix water with wine 't will abate the strength of it and render it lesse able to comfort what God holds forth free let not us looke upon as conditionall The pure wine of the Covenant which is the best cordiall for a fainting spirit looseth its vertue when t is mixed with the puddle waters of conditions Bee built up therefore in the freenesse of the Covenant Know also the fulnesse of it It extends it selfe to the forgiving of all sinnes and to the bestowing of all grace Remember also the firmenesse of the Covenant its immutable unalterable whatsoever fainting fit overtakes thee the Covenant of grace thus known and beleeved will revive thee Thirdly Treasure up your own and others experiences The remembrance of experiences in times of lifting up will exceedingly support in times of casting downe when the spirit begins to be in a storme for divine absence Call to minde that it sometime injoyed the calme of a divine presence Many soules forget the time of their first love and the effect of that is sinfullnesse And many forget the day of Christs first lâ—ve and the fruit of that is sadnesse In the day of your dejections call to mind the time of your espousalls The premeditation of what the soule sometimes enjoyed is a good preparation for a time when it may be dejected But these things are onely in the generall I shall therefore proceed to particulars And my advise to soules is that they indeavour to acquaint themselves as much as they can with particular cases And accordingly to provide suitable cordialls It s a peece of humain prudence in provision for corporall distempers that men do not only lay up some generall Catholicke medicines as Phisitians call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But they provide particular medicins for particular diseases Surely we should be if not more yet at least as much careful in provision for spiritual distempers as for corporal And in order thereunto we should study to understand what may be a suitable support unto us under soul-castings down An essay unto which we shall hold forth in the following Section SECT II. CHAP. I. Satisfaction to soules cast downe and discovering their feares about the truth of the worke of grace HAving in the former Section hinted at severall fears which appeare in soules cast downe I shall now apply my selfe to satisfie dejected soules with reference to those particular feares And I shall proceed in that order which I mentioned them in and beginne with the feare of a soule cast downe and venting it selfe about the work of grace Oh say some soules the worke of grace is precious but I feare in me it s not perfect Case Satan hath had his workings in me Eph. 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I feare whether Christ hath wrought the good worke in me I have found the Devill powerfully working in me But I feare Christ hath not as yet begun to worke upon me c. In order to the raising of a soul cast down Satisfaction and fearing this I shall offer briefly Some 1 Cautions and 2 Considerations First Some Cautions we had need be wary in our conclusions which we make about our soules state 'T is easie but 't is dangerous to conclude amisse here It s as well I will not say as much a fault to conclude against our soules as having no worke of grace as 't is to cousen our soules as if we had Be cautious therefore O soule who sayest thou fearest Christ hath not yet wrought upon thee Take heed how thou judgest even thy selfe in this case and for this end take with thee these 3 Cautions viz. 1 Of binding your selves to particular examples 2 Of confining Christ to any methods or wayes 3 Of concluding any thing from present sence First Take heed of binding your selves to particular examples Oh say some Christ hath not wrought upon us Quest Why Oh soules not upon you Ans Why Hee hoth not wrought upon us as upon such and such Reply But consider O soules Gods workes are not alway alike Though the worke of grace be the same in all in regard of the matter yet it is not the same alwayes in regard of the manner The manner of Christs working is divers It s bad eyeing in order to the judgement of our worke of grace examples Christ comes to Matthew at the receit of custome and speakes to his heart so home that Matthew
to the full when thou shalt enter into thy Masters joy when thou shalt rest from thy labours thy income shall follow thee when thou shalt come to Abrahams bosome and there thou shalt come dejected soule as poore a Lazarus as thou art then thou shalt have every prayer every sigh every groane come to remembrance and say now thou hast all that which we went out for Rouse up therefore O cast-downe soule God is a good Master you shall not labour in vaine Be not dejected but be stedfast unmoveable alway abounding in the worke of the Lord for as much as you know your labour is not in vaine in the Lord as t is 1 Cor. 15. last why then should you be cast downe for lacke of income CHAP. 20. Cure for Soules cast downe upon insultation of Satan and enemies I Remember another cause I mentioned of dejections was the insultation of Satan and enemies many soules are dejected at this that Satan and his instruments triumph over as it is at large shewed before Now to cure and comfort those Cure let me intreate dejected soules to minde and remember these insuing things First Satan will insult without ground Hee 'l say to David Where is his God and hee 'l but if to Christ concerning his being the sonne of God Sathan is an impudent enemy who will bragge and triumph against a soule for nothing It is the nature of a Dogge to barke a Lion to roare Woolfe a Wolfe to howle and it is the nature of Sathan to insult Be not therefore cast downe at it Secondly Though Sathan insults Christ is a friend and loves us still even at that time that Sathan insulted and buffeted Paul Christs grace was sufficient Should the Childe be cast down for the insulting of the Groome or the Scullion when he is beloved of his Father as his Heire What though Satan say Where is thy God thy hope c. mayest not thou O soule say My God and hope is in Heaven still All the Devils in Hell and men on earth shall never can never seperate between thee and thy God neither Principalities nor Powers nor Life nor Death nor any thing can separate c. Triumph O soule in that Rom. 8.35.37 though Sathan insult be not thou cast downe Thirdly The time shall come when thou shalt tread upon thy insulting enemy and when he shall be ashamed for all his insultations Remember O cast downe soule the God of peace will though thou canst not and that shortly tread downe Sathan under your even thy feet Rom. 16.20 Christ will take thee by the hand and owne thee in the presence of God Angels and men yea and Devills too And then thy enemy Sathan shall see who said where is thy God even then he shall see thy God as thine and be confounded for all his insultation over thee Lastly for wicked men who now it may be deride and scoffe at thee be not dejected for them Because the day will come when they will wish they were as thou art When they shall as much admire at thy happinesse and wisdome as now they sleight thy state and thoughts when God shall bring thee forth to light and thou shalt behold his righteousnesse Then shall all thy enemies see it and be ashamed which said where is the Lord thy God Then shall they licke the dust like a Serpent and shall fear not only because of the Lord our God but also because of thee as it is in that Excellent Scripture Mich. 7.9.10.17 which scripture if thou read seriously and act faith upon I dare assure thee of cure for this cause of dejection viz. insultation of Sathan and enemies CHAP. 21. Cure for Soules cast downe upon corporall Afflictions SPirituall dejection is sometimes caused by corporall affliction A sick body doth in some persons make a sad soul Cause When Hezekiah was sick and had received the sentence and message of death he turned to the wall and wept And the thoughts of the dying of his body produced dejection in his soul Thus indeed it is oft with others Now to cure this cause of dejection I shall not need to be large Only take a few ingredients which mixed together and applyed may serve in this case to raise the dejected Spirit First Consider the great ground of this dejection is a deceit Cure Afflicted soules interpret affliction amisse and therefore are cast downe They take every whipping to be an effect of anger whereas its a signe of love Your Father O dejected soul in your sicknesse is sweet He makes thee sick in thy body to cure some disease in thy soul He doth not afflict thee willingly T is only that thy spirit may be well that he makes thy body ill You have had fathers of your flesh who corrected you and yee gave them reverence should you not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits live Heb. 12.9 This is spoke in reference to affliction By this chastisement God seales up child-ship Do not despise therefore the chastenings of the Lord nor be not dejected for the word will beare this translation when thou art by sicknesse rebuked of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. they â—eject their own spirits Philo. Heb 12.5 It s a fault in the chastised child to be dogged and it s a failing in thee O soule by reason of corporall affliction which is but a fatherly chastisement to be dejected Besides Secondly Your father knows your frame He knowes what you can beare and hee 'le lay no more upon you then your strength can master The Lord will not alwayes chide neither will he keep his anger for ever 't is spoken of affliction by diseases as seemes to be hinted vers 3. But as a father pittyeth His children so the Lord pittieth them who feare him for hee knoweth our frame he remembreth wee are but dust As for man his dayes are but as grasse as a flower in the field so he flourisheth Psalm 103.9 13 14 15. Mind this O thou sick and sad soule thy father knowes thy frame he minds thou art but dust and he pittyes thee in all thy affliction which he layes upon thee Yea he sits by and makes all thy bed in thy sicknes as t is Psa 41. And he maketh sore and bindeth up be woundeth and his hand maketh whole as it is in Job 4 18. that is spoken of sicknesse too Christ if hee will can make thee whole And certainly if thou couldest beleeve thou shouldest see his glory as t is Joh. 11.40 Hath he not said enough to make thee say as David said I shall not dye but live to declare the workes of God The Lord hath chastened me sore but hath not given me over unto death see that place Psalm 118.17 18. O bear up dejected heart though thou be sick yet thou mayst recover and goe up to the house of God where thou mayest praise him for health restored to thee and
say Blesse the Lord O my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy name who forgiveth all thine iniquities and healeth all thy diseases Quest Prethee mind this and say doth it not speake to thy dejection Answ No wilt thou say I would beare sicknesse but that I feare death This thought I shall dye is that which casts me down Reply 'T is true I thinke and I know here is the bottome of the doubt and dejection to speake therefore to it directly I le grant it thou shalt dye though it may be not now but suppose I say now Case even now thou shalt die yet consider these things and thou needest not be dejected First Christ came to deliver thee from this feare Cure It s the feare of death that doth more deject then death it self Now remember Christ came to free thee from this feare For as much as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himselfe likewise tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill And marke it deliver them who through the feare of death were all their life time subject unto bondage Heb. 2.14 15. Consider Christ hath destroyed him that had the power of death the Devill and hath delivered thee Couldest thou beleeve this and why shouldest thou not thou mightest triumph But Secondly Christ hath tooke away the sting of death Death is a Bee having the hony of deliverance from this vile body c. but it hath no sting For what saith the Scripture The sting of death is sin the strength of sin is the law but thankes bee to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ goe thou to that glorious chapter 1 Corinth 15. and read it O thou that art dejected with feares of death Thirdly Christ will be with thee in that hour thou fearest Thou shalt not dye alone for though all thy friends shall leave thee yet wil not Christ This David knew for speaking of his shepherd and who is the shepheard but our Lord Jesus as t is Hel 13.20 He saith although I walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evill he needed not for observe what he saith THOU ART WITH MEE thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Psal 23.4 Albeit thy relations bid thee farewell and shake hands as not being willing nor able to keep thee longer company yet Christ wil not leave thee nor forsake thee In truth in life nor death hee 'le never doe that as t is Heb. 13.5 Fourthly Death shall be no death to thee A change it wil be and that from worse to the better but it s not a death Did not Christ say it Whosoever liveth and beleeveth in me shall never dye yea though he were dead yet shal he live John 11.26 Thou must not call that death which the Scripture cals but sleep The Scripture speakes of the dead in Christ that they sleep in Jesus 1 Thess 4.14 And she is not dead but sleepeth and our friend Lazarus sleepeth Now why shouldest thou O soule who art weary be cast down with the thoughts of sleep Fiftly Christ hath sweetned death for thee He hath layne in the grave and so honoured and softned that bed unto beleevers Would any child be afraid to lye in its mothers bed Is it not an Honour to lye down in the same bed in which the King of glory lay Art dejected O soule to go into thy Saviours Sepulchre what art thou cast downe with the feares of gain to dye is gaine said Paul Philip. 1.21 Sixtly Christ will raise you up againe Hee hath said so and if he should not he would not only breake his own word but disobey his fathers will neither of which hee 'l doe This is the fathers will who hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should loose nothing but should raise it up at the last day This Christ spake once yea twice and pray marke it wel John 6 39 41. Christ O soul wil raise thee up againe Should the child be afraid to goe to sleep at night when his Father promiseth to raise him up in the morning Christ hath promised to raise up your bodies again yea and he hath promised to give you a new spirit into the bargaine for t is sowne a Naturall but raised a Spirituall body Put all this together O thou dejected soul and tell me now What cause hast thou to be cast downe with the thoughts of death May not these considerations cure that cause of thy dejection Thou art now troubled with sicknesse weaknesse paines c. but let death come doe not feare it and thou shalt be cured of all Diseases yea and which is better freed from all defilements Methinkes therefore you should rather desire to be desolved then feare death and imitate those who groaned to be uncloathed of this earthly house as knowing they have a better even a building with God an house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 Goe O cast down soule to that Scripture and thou wilt in it finde a Cordiall to cheere and cure thy spirit in this feare CHAP. 22. Cure for soules cast downe and dejected by the sence of Divine wrath A Little wrath of the Almighty casts the soule very low Cause even as low as Hell for what else is Hell but Divine wrath felt How many dejected hearts are there that cry out that the Almighty is angry that he frownes upon them and that every wrinckle in his forehead is a grave burying all their comforts When men smite God can cure and when God giveth quietnesse who then can make trouble but when be hideth his face who then can behold him Job 34.29 Indeed this is a sad cause of dejection and it puts the soule into a very dejected case indeed yet it is not incurable a soule that is cast down by the sence of Gods wrath may be raised if Christ will helpe it to minde and beleeve these particulars First This case is not singular even many holy men and women in all Ages of the world have been in this condition Cure Company is a comfort even in misery Thou needest not cry out O soule and say Was there ever sorrow like unto mine Yes there was thou feelest thine owne paine but David Job Heman Hezekiah c. felt as much peradventure more wrath then thou dost but why doe I speake of particulars When as I remember the Lord had not mercy but INDIGNATION upon Judah and Jerusalem i. e. the whole body of Israel threescore and ten yeares Zach. 1.12 yea as the body so the head of all the godly was made sensible of Gods wrath for Christ drunk the cup of his Fathers wrath it is more then a bad and unsound way of arguing I am under Gods wrath and therefore I am not Gods Childe This way of arguing condemnes all Gods
Stay a little O my soule waite for God in expectation For yet notwithstanding all thy present distempers I shall confesse my weaknesse and praise him for the salvations of my countenance and for his being my God still Thus you see the words opened I will give a Reason why I speak to Davids Expostulation rather from this last verse then from the fift verse The Reason is because t is here set out fuller then there though happily few mind it this last is as it were a second Edition with Additions for there are two additions in this verse unto that First In that t is but said I shall praise him for the helpe of his countenance But here t is I shall praise him for the helpe of my countenance In that hee acts faith as wee say in Thesi in this hee doth it in Hypothesi In that hee beleeves Gods salvation or saving help imminent as it is in himselfe In this hee beleeves it eminent or flowing out from him There David onely saith hee shall praise God as a Saviour here hee saith hee shall praise him as his Saviour T is one thing to beleeve the healths of Gods countenance another thing to beleeve the healths of our countenance Here David applyes the healths of Gods countenance to his own there he doth not this is one addition The second is more visible for here he adds that he shall praise him as his God which is not at all there There t is onely I shall praise him the health of his countenance Here t is I shall praise him the health of my countenance and my God Now in this verse which is the patterne of holy expostulation with ones soule with reference to sadnesse we may note these particulars 1 The object of this expostulation and that is Davids owne soule It s not enough to expostulate with God so he did verse the 10. But we must expostulate with our selves So David doth here 2 The manner of the Expostulation t is rationall and t is serious Here are two Whyes why cast down and why disquieted 3 The charge that he layes upon his soule He commands it to waite to tarry to expect God 4 The ground of all this both why David did thus expostulate and why he did charge his owne soule and that was because he knew did beleeve and was confident he should yet for all this praise God c. CHAP. 3. The Doctrines which arise from the Text. HAving thus opened and divided the Text it will not now be difficult to draw forth the Doctrines The kernell is visible when the shell is cracked And the graine is cleare when the buske is threshed There are four Doctrines which I shal gather as the principall graine in this floare And if Christ will helpe mee in the managing of them they will be bread to eate I. Even the choicest Saints and such as are according to Gods heart are lyable to spirituall dejections and disquiets II. It s the wisdome and should be the care of Saints when they are cast downe not to give way thereunto but to argue the case with their owne soules III. Saints in their deepest dejections when they are most disquieted should be content to tarry and waite for Gods cure and comfort IV. It s the duty and the glory of Saints to act faith and to beleeve even then when they are cast down lowest and see God least These foure Doctrines I conceive lye clear in these words of David And albeit I dare not say but there are others yet I conceive these the cheife truths which the spirit would teach us from this Text. I shall shew how each Doctrine is deduced from and may bee observed in the words as I handle them particularly and by themselves CHAP. 4. The first Doctrine spoken unto and proved from the Text and Examples WHat was Davids case hath beene others and may be ours This therefore is the first Doctrine which I shall speak unto and indeed be largest in viz. That Even the choicest Saints and such as are according to Gods owne heart are lyable to spirituall dejections and disquiets Surely though this be not simply expressed yet it is so strongly included that he that runs may read it That David was a choice Saint none will deny and that hee was according to Gods owne heart Act. 13.22 God himselfe doth witnesse Now 't was hee who here speakes and sayth Why art thou cast down O my soule And David was not single His case was but as others have beene Job was dejected before him his soule was cast downe as we say with a witnesse when he rent his mantle and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground as t is Job 1.20 he was much disquieted And as Job went before so Hezekiah came after David in soule dejection Surely his soule was cast downe when hee did chatter as a Crane and mourne as a Dove as t is Esay 38.14 I need not tell you of Asaph or of Heman Surely you have heard of their dejections and disquiets If you have not heard you may read their cases Psal 77. and Psal 88. Surely Asaph was much dejected when his spirit was overwhelmed And I think you le grant Heman was much dejected if you remember that hee was distracted Surely he was low when in the lowest pit and surely he was very much cast downe when hee cryed hee was free among the dead But why do I speake to you of others when I may appeale to your selves Saints have you never been sad were your hearts never cast downe have your spirits never been disquieted what have you always gone upon the Hills have you never been in the Valleyes In your way at least to Syon did you not passe thorough the Valley of Baca Though you now have beauty had you never ashes Have your garments of praise made you forget the spirit of heavinesse But why doe I renew griefe by its remembrance your sighings seale to this truth that even choice soules may be cast downe CHAP. 5. The amplification of the Point in some particulars I Shall handle this point of spirituall dejections something largely and the order which I shall walke by is this viz. I shall indeavour to discover 1 The nature of spirituall dejections what it is or what they are 2 The workings of them what they are and how they are 3 The causes of them whence they flow and how they arise The first thing which I shall speake unto is the nature of soule dejections Now this I shall be but breife in Spirituall dejection or soul-casting downe may easily bee guessed at if you consider either On the one hand viz. the right That the soule hath some sweet and spirituall injoyments in the injoyment of which it is much lifted up Holy joy puts the soule upon the Wing and causeth as it were a mounting upward David sometimes kept holy day as t is vers 4. of this Psalme in that day hee sang
too well it may be to tell what these workings of dejection are Let this suffice for that second head viz. the workings of spirituall dejection CHAP. 9. The causes of spirituall casting downe HAving seen both the nature and the workings of spirituall dejection I shall now come to inquire after the causes It s cleare enough that even holy and precious soules may bee and sometimes are cast downe and disquieted and if you now would know whence it comes to passe I conceive the reasons may be such as these 1 Remainders of corruption 2 Falls into sin 3 Ignorance of the Covenant of grace 4 Spirituall indisposition to duties 5 Want of former incomes 6 Insulting of Satan and enemies 7 Some corporall affliction 8 Appearance of Divine wrath These I finde to bee the maine though sometimes there are other causes why the soul is cast downe 1 Remainders of corruption Sin gave the soule its first fall 'T was that which first cast down Adam and t is that which still disquiets the children of Abraham It s true grace is the souls recovery from sin whom God converts he doth cure But yet corruption being never totally in this life mortified the remainders thereof trouble the soule even of a Saint many times The remainders of corruptions are like unto the remainders of some peccant humours which even after a sure recovery do sometimes groan and cause aguish shiverings 2 Falls into sinne Every new act of sinne is a tripping up of the soules heels When David fell into sin he was cast downe Beleivers are lyable to falling into sin and this makes them lyable to failing in soule It s no wonder to see a soule disquieted in point of comfort if it have been defiled in practise of corruption It s no marvell if Israel fall before the men of Ai if Achan be in the Campe. A sinning Jonah will soon make a storming Sea And if the soule have sinned no wonder if it be in a tempest But 3 Ignorance of the Covenant of grace Indeed it is by grace that we stand and if we be ignorant of that we shall soone be cast down I am perswaded that this is the greatest I had almost said the only reason why soules are at any time Cast downe viz. they know not the Covenant of grace at least they are ignorant of it In 1 Its fullnesse 2 Its freenesse 3 Its firmnesse 1 They are ignorant of it in its fullnesse What could disquiet the soule if it knew the Covenant of grace extended it selfe unto every sin in its pardon and to every grace in its supply The soul is apt to limit the holy one of Israel It s apt to think there are some sins unto which the Covenant doth not extend It beleives it may be the Covenant of grace reacheth to the pardon of many sins but questions whether it reach to all If it did not question that why is it cast downe so that it doubts the pardon of some sins Or Secondly They are ignorant of its freenesse How would the soul live above disquiets and dejections if it did but know and beleive the Covenant were free wholly free constantly free every way and in every part of it free It s our misery we are apt to mixe works with grace and to cloud the Covenant with Conditions Whereas we are to know that the Covenant is onely grace the nature of which is to bar out workes For if by grace then it is no more of workes OTHERWISE GRACE IS NO MORE GRACE and if it be of workes then is it no more of grace OTHERWISE WORKES IS NO MORE WORKES as it is in that golden place Rom. 11.6 The soule when cast down saith it wants this condition and it wants that qualification But alas it knowes not that the Covenant gives all and requires none It s free infinitely free and did the soule know this it would be raised but it s the ignorance of this that casts it down And besides 3 Soules know not the firmenesse of the Covenant of grace they are apt to thinke it mutable Did the soule but know that Gods foundation standeth firme and is still the same surely it could not easily be dejected Why consider ye dejected hearts Gods Covenant is not changeable Though you faile on your part yet he 'le be faithfull on his God will not cast off Israel for all that they had done as t is Jer. 31.37 His Covenant was as firme as heaven though their carriage had been as foule as bell The Covenant of grace is the Covenant of an unalterable and unaltering God God knew what ficklenesse was in the soul ere he entred into Covenant I knew saith the Lord and Oh! mark it mind it soules that thou wouldest deale very treacherously as t is Esa 48.8 Gods bow is still in the cloud though the imaginations of the heart of man is evill Dejected soules measure God by themselves but they know not his thoughts are above theirs They know not the firmenesse of his Covenant therefore it is that they are so often cast down Thus the ignorance of the Covenant of grace is a prime and principall cause of soul dejection Then 4 Another cause of dejection is spirituall indisposition unto duties The soul is it may be as Sampson was it riseth and findeth its strength gone The soul peradventure could saile as with a full gale in duty heretofore but now alas it can hardly as they say sterne the tide i.e. keep up against indisposition The living waters which were wont to flow out of the soule in power and fullnesse are it may be stopped the soule findes not that alacrity and freenesse that it was wont to finde Time was it could more God-ward and Christ-ward upon the least breathing But alas Now the spirit breaths and blows strongly and the soul is sluggish It riseth to go it may be but with that unwilling willingnesse and it strives to act but with that dead livelinesse that surely it thinkes all its strength is gone and that it is but in vain to doe any thing c. and this casts it downe Or 5 Want of former incomes in duties do deject some Alas cry dejected souls we doe as much as ever but we want much of our incomes Time was I could hardly lisp but God heard and now I pray often and no returne at all Job he cryes out Oh that it were as in the months passed as in the dayes when God preserved me when his candle shined upon my head and when by his light I walked through darkenesse Job 29.2 3. Oh saith the soule I pray read hear meditate confer communicate c. as much if not more then formerly and yet I injoy lesse What shall or can I say to this what to sow much and reape but little To eate and not to eate enough to drinke and not to be filled to earne wages and not to put it into the bag so the soule alludes unto that Hag. 1.6 is
a substance Doe not dispute thy selfe O soul into doubts rather receive satisfaction Christ will not lose any that are given to him It s his Fathers will he should not as he saith Joâ— 6.39 And surely hee 'l be faithfull to his Father Oh therefore be not thou fearefull of falling but if thou wilt fear let it be with a feare of diligence to keepe thee from security let it not be with a feare of diffidence to fill thee with sorrowes Christ who in no wise would cast thee off when thou commest will in no wise lose thee now thou art come If thou wander hee 'l seeke thee if thou fall hee 'l raise thee yea and what ever may be thy feares hee 'l uphold thee in his Grace even to the Grave and besides hee 'l raise thee up againe at the last day Thus have I passed through those particular Cases which I proposed to my selfe to resolve But alas all that I have said is but dead unlesse Christ quicken it READER pray over these conceptions that a spirit of life may come into them that they may so quicked dejected Soules that they may arise and say to themselves Why are we cast downe and why are we disquieted Let us not give way to our feares and sadnesse but exercise our faith and patience for we shall yet see God as the health of our countenance and as our God But these things are more fully to be spoken unto in the following Sections CHAP. 15. Cure for Soules cast downe by remainder of corruption HAving past through the particular cases of dejected soules I thought it not amisse to adde by way of supplement unto them some other I remember I touched upon eight grounds of Spirituall dejection and least upon the mention of them any soule should be troubled I shall offer somethings to satisfie such who is or may be cast downe about them so that as in the former Section I indeavoured to satisfie the particular feares of dejected soules I shall in this endeavour to cure the generall causes of all dejection Divines know there is a difference between a Cause and a Case the one is the bitter seed the other the sower fruit of dejection Now as I have said something to the one so shall I likewise speake a little to the other To begin then in that order in which I prepared them The first cause of Spirituall dejection was the remainders of corruption Cause this indeed is the root and ground of all dejections And in order to the Cure of a soule cast downe in the sight and sence of remaining corruption I shall lay downe these considerations First Cure Consider that the worke of Christ upon the soule doth not in this Life altogether destroy Place these 2 Sheets k l next after Fol. 132. sinne As long as the soule is in the body there will be sinne in the soule even Paul had a body of sinne and death in him and till death destroy the body thou must not looke to have sinne altogether dead in thee This is granted by all and why should it be questioned by thee O dejected soule Secondly Consider remaining corruption will worke one time or other A Dogge though in a chaine will barke and sometimes bite too a man cannot carry fire in his bosome but sometime or other it wil heat him if it doe not burne him Thou cryest out O dejected soul that they remaining corruption doth oft disturbe thee but why shouldest or how canst thou expect the contrary While thou dwellest in this house of Clay that Dunghill wil annoy thee But Thirdly Remember corruptions groaned under as a burden are rather a ground of rejoycing then of dejection for First it argues a life of bolinesse to feele a weight in sinne Dead men feele no weight be it never so heavie and Secondly it argues an activity of life to groane Many soules rather glory in then groane under a weight of sinne but it is a speciall mercy thou art not as they are Fourthly Beleeve it O soule Jesus Christ doth simpathize with thee under this thy burthen While thou groanest under and art cast down at the sight of remaining corruption thou art the object of Christs compassion It is a good plaister for any sore to consider the pitty of our Saviour Christ pitties thee O poore dejected soule to see thee labouring and groaning under the remainder of sinne Heb. 4.2 Fifthly Consider remaining corruption shall never ruine thee As the remaining Canaanites did not could not ruine Israel in the promised Land so neither shall remaining corruption ever ruine thy soule Could corruption ruine thy holinesse joy salvation glory c. thou mightest be much dejected indeed but that it cannot shall not doe Thy holinesse thy joy thy salvation thy glory c. are all safe in the impregnable bulwark Christs hand which is the infinite power of God and though corruption remaine in thee it shall never ruine these Sixthly Consider Jesus Christ dyed to redeeme thee from the remainders of corruption And doe thou act thy faith on thy Saviours death for thy sinnes death the vertue of his death remaines to keep under corruption from having dominion It is thy duty and let it be thy care and endeavour to goe to Jesus Christ for strength against and victory over thy remaining corruption therefore up and be doing that is beleeving Doe not sit solitary as one cast downe to see some remainders of sin Suppose O soule you had seene some gallant Captaine rescuing a person or place from the power of some potent enemy by breaking the strength and power of the Enemy and by taking up his abode in some Castle neare the place Suppose after this there should appeare some scattered Parties should the person or place be dejected at the remainder of a routed adversary should not they rather goe to their Conquerour and Captaine and intreat him to suppresse those remaining forces Beare up O cast-downe soule the case is thine Christ the Captaine of thy salvation hath routed the maine body of sinne upon his crosse and spoiled corruption of his chiefest strength he hath set up a garrison in thy soule and put in a party strong enough to repell and keep under the remaining forces O goe to him stirre up his Spirit to come forth and to bring thy Conquerours sword to check and suppresse thy tumultuous enemies I meane to lift up thy Saviours crosse against thy corruptions And beleeve it soule there is a vertue still in that Crosse to keep the remainders of corruption under Be not therefore cast downe but beleeve and if thou by the Spirit whom Christ hath put into the garrison of thy soule doe goe forth and mortifie sinne thou shalt live and it shall dye at last CHAP. 16. Cure for Soules cast downe by falls into sinne THe second cause of Spirituall dejection was as I mentioned falls into sinne This casts down the soule that the remainders of corruption doe
not only worke but that sometimes they prevaile sometimes the soule is actually overtaken with sinne and falls it may be into some foule fact now this causeth casting downe to cure which Cause I shall speake something in particular when I have premised this one thing in generall viz. It must be confessed it is sad to fall into sinne Sadnesse After the soule hath been in Christs armes to fall into the pits of Satan for so sins are must needs goe to its heart indeed it goes to Christs He is offended really and mightily that any soules who have tasted his grace in pardoning past sins and knowen that such a pardon cost his bloud I say he is offended that such should afterward commit or fall into any sinne but yet all things weighed there may be much yea and enough said to cure and comfort a soule dejected because of falls into sin after grace As First Such a thing as this is consistent with grace This is that which causeth the dejection of such soules as fall into sinne Cure that they are thereby drawne to doubt the truth of their grace for say they surely had we been ever really and strongly wrought upon wee could never have failen into such and such sins But yet these soules should doe well to remember that Sampson fell againe and againe into the same sinne of wantounesse See Judg. 14.3 15.20 16.1 and yet he is in the Catalogue of the children of Abraham and reckoned up amongst the worthy beleevers Heb. 11. It s the opinion of many holy and wise persons that David fell more then once into the sinne of lying and that therefore he prayed to be kept from the way of it Psal 119.29 I mention not this to countenance much lesse to incourage presumptuous desperate sinners but only to cure perplexed and dejected Saints ye are deceived O ye dejected soules if you thinke your falls into sinne be inconsistent with grace Secondly Consider falls into sinne are not falls from salvation The Covenant of Grace is not made null by thy fall O cast-downe soule though Israel have played the Harlot yet Christ remaines a Husband Jer. 3.1.1.14 God did expresly say though thy children sinne and though I visite their sinnes with a rod yet my Covenant will I not breake Psal 89. Peradventure O soule thou art cast downe as thinking thy fall into sinne hath cut off the band of the Covenant but thou art mistaken Yea Thirdly There is a speciall salve prepared for this sore a particular cure for this cause of dejection viz. Promises of pardon after falls into sinne I LE HEALE BACK-SLIDINGS Hos 14.3 Surely that supposeth falls into sinne after grace for what else is backsliding and that directly proposeth pardon and healing to such soules Returne yee backsliding children and I will heale your backslidings Jer. 3.22 Marke O dejected soule Christ calleth thee to returne and he speakes to thee as to a Childe still notwithstanding thy falls into sinne therefore be thou advised to arise and to goe to him urge him with his promise and hee 'l make it good Neither is this my advice but the advice of the Lord. Heare him in Hos 14. O Israel returne unto the Lord thy God marke it thy God still for thou hast fallen see soule how he points at thy state by thine iniquity Take with you words and turne to the Lord and say unto him Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously Rise up therefore and obey this command and counsell and certainly in this case thou wilt finde cure and comfort CHAP. 17. Cure for soules dejected about the Covenant of Grace I Said that ignorance of the Covenant of Grace was likewise a cause and a chiefe cause of Spirituall dejection and therefore I hinted in the use of the first Section advice to study it I shall briefly offer something to this here for many times dejected soules cry out They are and may be well cast downe for alas they are not in that Covenant Cause Were I in the Covenant of Grace cryes the dejected soule I could rejoyce but alas I doubt it and therefore I am dejected Alas I finde many things in that Covenant promised which indeed I could wish but alas I want and how can I thinke I am in the Covenant when I have not the things promised in it in my owne soule c. But let me intreat thee a little to consider these particulars in order Cure to cure this cause of thy dejection First The things of the â—ovenant are not wrought all together there are many particulars promised as feare new spirit tender heart c. each of which is wrought in its time and order It is true the generall root of all these is given to the soule viz. The Divine nature but yet the particular branches spring up in their season Thou wouldest see all O soul but thou must stay the time and thou shalt Secondly Neither is any one particular perfectly wrought at once a soft heart is a thing wrought by degrees and to have the Law written in our hearts is businesse of time it is a long Copy which Christs Spirit is writing a long time As we are alway learning so that is alway writing Thou O poore soule wouldest have all together and at once and in truth who would not be glad if it might be to have it so but we must wait for this worke is not the businesse of a day but of our whole life Thirdly Christ knowes who are in Covenant though we doe not He is the Mediator of it and he may see and know that thou art in that Covenant though thou doe not The Father who hath made a Purchase in his owne name and his Childes may and doth know the Childe to be in the writing though the Childe doe not Christ your Father made the Covenant in the purchase of his Bloud on your behalfe and so knowes thy name to be in it though thou cannot see nor read it there by reason of thy infant age and condition of Childe-hood But Lastly Suppose it as thou fearest take hold of the Covenant now 1 It is a free Covenant reached out to poore sinners upon tearmes of grace Free Grace rich grace and not upon workes or qualifications It promiseth all things but it requires nothing but acceptance 2 It is a full Covenant it extends to all sinnes originall actuall great little to sins of ignorance and infirmity to sins of presumption and obstinacy I say therefore Arise O cast-down soule God in the Covenant of Grace calls to rebels and saith Let them take hold of my strength that they may make peace with me they shal Esa 27.5 He calls every one to come to incline his eare and saith Hee 'l make an everlasting Covenant with them even the sure mercies of David Isa 55.1 2. It may be thou thinkest that thou hast stood out too long It is true a day
come into the world to save sinners and did not Paul say of which I am chiefe This O soule is Gospel Christ came indeed to save sinners and for thee to say I am chiefe or principall sinner yet I le goe too and rely upon Christ for salvation it is not presumption but faith O therefore doe not thinke and say it is presumption for thee to beleeve Further It is presumption to expect cure or comfort in the use of unlawfull meanes or in the neglect of appointed meanes But faith is so farre from being an unlawfull meanes that it is the only appointed meanes Thou readest and prayest and hearest c. And now thou art called upon to beleeve and callest thou this presumption Thou art very much mistaken O soule Besides it cannot be presumption to obey a command Christ commands us to beleeve as was shewed he forbids our disquieting and castings down and he requires us to beleeve in his Father and in him Now callest thou obedience presumption beware of that O soule Doth the child that is sad and heavy and abstaines from meate and lyes upon the ground doth this childe presume when upon his fathers command hee ariseth and eates and is merry Did the Prodigall presume when his father said let us eate and be merry Admit thy selfe to be the Prodigall O soule yet sith Christ bids thee arise and eate and be merry why shouldest thou thinke this presumption Obj. But Christ commands not me he speaks not so to me Answ Why not to thee O soule I say why not to thee Is thy soule excluded when none is Doth not Christ call any every thirsting soule saith he not if ANY thirst let him come Called he not Publicans Harlots Sinners Persecutours yea did he not ascend to receive gifts for Rebels Psalm 68.18 why therefore O soule dost say Christ calleth not thee I witnesse in Christs name and let this stand in Print as a proofe that I as an Embassadour of Christ speak to you and in his name I beseech you to accept of grace and reconciliation freely Thou even thou O dejected soule art the man and woman that Christ cals upon to beleeve Thou who art dejected and in the dark and seest no light Christ saith to thee beleeve so shalt thou be established Now doe not say that this is presumption Once againe because I find soules harping upon this string Thou sayest I shall presume if I beleeve let me grant it yet t is but perishing by presumption and so thou must certainly except thou beleeve I remember how the leprous men spake one to another Why sit we here untill we dye if we say we will enter into the City we shall dye there and if we sit still here wee dye also Come let us go to the Hoast if they save us alive we shall live and if they kill us we shall but dye 2 Kings 7.3 4. Reason thou so O soul If I sit still in my dejected state and dispaire I shall dye and if I do act faith and beleeve I can but dye Therefore I le up and beleeve yea though Christ should kill mee I le beleeve If I must perish I le perish in a way of beleeving Say therefore to thy soule as David did why art cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted Waite on God beleeve in Christ If I must perish I le perish trusting in him that I shall praise him But know O soule If thou doe beleeve thou shalt see Christs glory Thou shalt see the glory of his power in helping the weakest and the glory of his grace in doing for the worst And when thou seest this thou shalt praise him as thy God Wherefore then to wind up all remember though thou be low and see little yet doe not dispaire Although thy eyes have failed with looking and thy heart with longing Although thy strength bee gone and thou be now ready to dye yet do not dispaire But in thy lowest ebbe of dejection when thou art disquieted and cast down most act thy faith and say Though I bee low I may rise Yea though I bee cast downe I shall bee raised When I am in the deepest dejection and cannot mount up my selfe Then shall Christs power be manifested and magnified in my weaknesse And I shall after all my sighs and groanes yet sing prayse unto God as the health of my countenance and my God Surely this is thy duty to endeavour and 't will be thy glory to performe Blesse the Lord O my soule and all that is within mee blesse his Holy Name The Printer to the Reader BY reason of the Authors absence from the Presse some faults have escaped which might have been otherwise avoyded but I hope they are such as a little care of thine Reader will correct and a little charity pardon In hope of which I have omitted the ordinary observation of Errata's and corrections FINIS A TABLE Shewing the Principal things in this Treatise SECT I. THe Text is spoken unto 1 In its context where is set forth 1 The occasion the Psalme page 1 2 3 2 The division of the Psalme page 1 2 3 2 In its self and here is 1 The explication of the words p. 4 5 6 7 8 2 The devision of them into parts p. 9 3 The Doctrines deduced from them p. 10 3 In its first and principall doctrine which is 1 Proposed p. 11 2 Proved p. 12 3 Amplified 1 Shewing the nature of spirituall dejections p. 13 14 2 Shewing the workings which are 1 Fears and doubts as p. 15 1 Whether God ever wrought upon the soul p. 16 2 Whether grace be true p. 17 3 Whether Cal Conviction Comfort be of the spirit p. 18 4 Whether actings be from love or light ibid. 5 Whether the heart be sincere p. 19 6 Whether it shall conquer corruption p. 20 7 Whither the soule have closed with Christ savingly p. 21 8 Whether the soul shal persevere or fall off from Christ ib. 9 Whither or no the soule ever prayed as it ought or God ever heard it p. 22 10 Whether the soule heard the word as it ought p. 23 11 Whether the soule have a right unto or ever closed with the promises p. 24 12 Whether abstinence from sin have been upon religious or moral principles p. 25 13 Whether one hath not sinned against the Holy Ghost ibid. 14 Whether the soul shall not fall from grace p. 26 2 Griefes and Sorrowes p. 27 3 Shewing the causes of dejection as 1 Remainders of corruption p. 28 2 Falls into sin p. 29 3 Ignorance of the Covenant of grace ibid. 4 Spiritual indisposition to dutys p. 31 5 Want of former incomes p. 32 6 Insultation of Satan enemys p. 33 7 Corporall affliction as sicknesse c. p. 34 8 Sence of divine wrath p. 35 4 Applyed 1 To informe us of our imperfect state as to rest and peace while we are here p. 36 2 To be thankefull in case of