is he building and preparing him to be a more excellent structure The gardiner digs up his garden pulls up his fences takes up his plants and to the eye seemes to make a pleasant place as a waste but wee know he is about to mend it not to mar to plant it better and not to destroy it So God is present even in desertions and though he seeme to annihilate or to reduce his new creation into a confused Chaos yet it is to repaire its ruines and to make it more beautifull and more strong The glory of the second temple was greater than the glory of the first Hag. 2.9 In the repairing of an house we see how they pull down part after part as if they intended to demolish it but the end is to make it better it may be some posts and pillars are removed but it is to put in stronger it may be some lights are stopped up but it is to make fairer lights So though God take away our props it is not that we may fall but that he may settle us in greater strength hee batters downe the life of sense to put us upon a life of faith and when he darkens our light that we cannot see it is but to bring in fuller light as when the starres shine not the Sunne appeares repairing our losse of an obscure light with her clear bright shining beams So then we see that though God doe forsake his people yet not totally not for ever not ceasing the affection of love but the acts and not those which concerne our being but such as concerne our well being As abundant quicknings and aid of grace victorious and triumphant power over sinne the cleare and satisfying testimony of his Spirit c. CHAP. III. Foure other considerations about desertions HAving premised these things in the generall I shall now come to the specialls to speake of these desertion in their severall kindes and first as they befall the godly Desertions as they befall the godly are of two sorts Withdrawing of 1 Influence of grace 2 Of comfort 1 Inward 2 Outward For all the complaints which the Saints doe make of Gods hiding and withdrawing himselfe arise from one of these three grounds or all 1. That God doth not carry on their spirituall life as he was wont 2. That he gives not that peace joy comfort assurance as he was wont A man may want Gods gracious presence in outward things yet enjoy his internall presence in the soule yea often there is most of God within when least without 3. That he brings them into outward straits and doth not deliver them Before I come to speake directly and particularly of these I will propose foure briefe observations about them 1. That a man may misse much of Gods externall presence in the sweet and comfortable way of his providence providing protecting and ordering all occurrents to contentment yet may enjoy inward communion with him his soule may be most abundantly animated and quickned with the Spirit when he hath most discouragements without yea God is wont when he gives least in the world 2 Cor. 1.4 5. to give most of himselfe and his people seldome have much of the fatnesse below and of the springs above at once as the sunne and the stars appeare not together But when hee shuts up all doores of hope and helpe in the world then he sets open the doores of heaven So Saint Stephen when hee saw nothing but death in the world Then saw heaven opened and Christ sitting at the right hand of God Acts 7. Such mercy found Iacob when he was a poore pilgrim in a strange land then he saw that heavenly ladder and the Angels ascending and descending as a pledge of Gods care and their readinesse for his good Gen. 28.12 The abundance of the spirit both of grace and peace is usually powred forth in a day of sorrow as when the dough which the Israelites brought from Egypt was spent God gave them bread from heaven And there are 2. causes of it 1. Gods tender love which is such that he will not add affliction to his peoples sorrow Because Gods love is such that he wil not adde sorrow to sorrow When therfore he is pleased in his wisdome to put a cup of affliction into their hands he is wont to give them also the cup of consolation when he casts them into outward straits he doth recompence it with inward inlargements The Church never had such full predictions of Christ and precious promises of great mercy as when the most dreadfull evils hung over her head as appeares in the prophecies of all the Prophets And the faithfull usually finde their worst dayes their best dayes and when they meet with troubles they find most peace This the Apostle witnesseth As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ 2 Cor. 1.4 And though our outward man perish yet our inward man is renewed day by day g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 die die ut Tertul. legit in li. de resur carn i. e. quotidie Vid. Esti com in lo. 2 Cor. 4.16 2. The capacity of the soul is widened The capacity of the soule is inlarged in affliction and enlarged in affliction heavenly communion with God is sweetest in an evill day and the soul longs after God that in him it may finde all supplyed which it wants in the world Now the more God stirs up desires of himselfe the more the soule is prepared to communion with him and the more it hath of him the hungry man eats most and hee that is most athirst drinks most When the life of nature and sense is cut off the soule seekes a life in God and is much in all endeavours of injoying God now she seekes him in prayer she enquires for him in the word and by all meanes reacheth hard after him So David when he was in the wildernesse panted and breathed after God hee prayeth hee cryeth his thoughts are with God all the day yea in the night he meditates upon him and saith he My soule followed hard after thee Psal 63.8 2. One may want the comforting presence of God yet have the quickning presence One may want inward comfort yet not be deserted in respect of the influence of grace the tenure of grace and peace is not the same a man may lose the sence of grace and yet retaine the life of it Though he be more happy that hath grace and peace yet hee may be as holy that hath grace without peace yea and as the clouded summers sunne yeelds more comfort to the earth than a bright shining winters sunne so when the soul is most clouded it may be most quickned when the light of Gods favour is hid the quickning heat of the spirit may most abound 3. He that loseth Gods quickning presence loseth also his comforting presence The comforting presence is never without the quickning presence
in you as heretofore 4 A man is not so humbled the practicall understanding being renewed Not humbling is the Count Palatine d Curopalates vid. Seld. honoris tit next to God in the palace of the soule the power of judgement is in its hands it hath power to send out writs to summon men to its barre and to examine causes and to passe sentence and when God is with it it will afflict and chastise the soule for sinne So it is said that Davids heart smote him 2 Sam. 24. but when conscience groweth carelesse and men judge not themselves when they condemne not and afflict not themselves for sinne but the sword lieth still in the scabbard and execution is not done but crimes are winked at the offender is justified or spared it is a signe of a sleepe fallen upon them and that God hath withdrawne himselfe or if you be judged by the light yet are not humble if you can shift and ward off the blows of conscience so that it cannot wound you the efficacie of it is weakned and God is departed David was in this case his conscience was too dallying and indulgent it did not arrest him nor seise upon him with her wonted Majestie because God suffered him to he for a time as he permitted him to fall but when the spirit came in the ministery of Nathan then conscience was armed with a stronger power and laid hands on him bound him in chaines and laid him up in prison and now David humbleth himselfe confesseth his sinne weeps and sighs and mourns night and day and could have no quiet till he had his pardon and was reconciled to his God Psal 32. CHAP. IX When a man is deserted the minde is more vaine and abated in frequency complacencie consistencie in holy thoughts THe third evill that befals the minde is vacuity and emptinesse Third evill in the minde vacuity and emptinesse when God withdrawes himselfe it becomes like an empty house without inhabitant when the cloud of divine presence fils his tabernacle and the foule receives oracles from his mouth then a man hath sweet converse with him and walks with him e Pedibus duntaxat terram tangentibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chr. hom 3. de incompr Dei nat is a man with his friend as it is said of Noah Gen. 6.9 and Enoch Gen. 5.20 God is his centre and he is much in pursuit of him My soule thirsteth after thee and I will remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches my soul followeth hard after thee Psal 63. he was much in the thoughts of God God was with him f De Ignatio fabulatur nomen Jesu cordi ejus insculptum invcniri and he with God when he went to sleepe yea when he awakened his heart was towards him When I awake I am still with thee Psal 139.18 yea I am continually with thee and what was the cause of it Thine hand upholdeth me Psal 73.23 an awakened heart hath God ever in sight I have set the Lord alwayes before me Psal 16.8 As water striveth to ascend as high as the head-spring from whence it cometh so a heavenly Christian as he springs from above is ever streaming thither but there are times when the minde becomes vaine and very empty of God and full of vanity either being like a watch that stands still or like a Conduit-cock that runs at waste either sleeping and not acting or pouring out and spending it selfe upon things that profit not In this state the soule hath lost much of a threefold excellency which it had 1 Complacency in holy thoughts 2 Frequency in holy thoughts 3 Consistency in holy thoughts First Complacencie time was when the thoughts of Gods glory and mercy and works and word and of Christ and other spirituall things Lesse complacencie in thoughts of God were as honey feeding and delighting the soule meditations were great refreshments and recreations they were wont to fill the heart with sweet content and comfort adding much to all spirituall life both of grace and peace How precious are thy thoughts to me Psal 139.17 Juvat immensospatiantem vivere coelo David reckoned his recourse to and converse with God among his chiefe treasures And indeed what is better to man in a right temper then from the Nebo of a spirituall meditation to behold Canaan and by heavenly mindednesse to walke with Christ and Angels and Saints in heaven to have that in a kinde of presence by this prospective which is yet so distant This I say peradventure was your happinesse but now you are changed and fallen from this glory your soules creepe on the dust and savour not the sweetnesse of the things above they hunger not so much after that bread of eternall life but feed upon vanities and worldly things you are not so delighted in slipping out of the world and retyring your selves that you might be with God nay haply it is become a burthen e Nulla res tam facilis est quin difficilis sit si invitus facias Sen. ep 12. to fix your thoughts on that which was your food and life before your minde is become heavy the earth hath got into your hearts and weighed them downe so that you finde it hard and tedious to pully and winde them up to such spirituall and setled meditations in which formerly you have had delight if it bee thus it is a signe that God hath much withdrawne himselfe from you 2. Frequency Lesse frequency it may be it hath been the dayly course of thy soul to visit heaven soaring on the wings of an heavenly minde and taking her flight to God and Christ as the Eagles that flie to the dead body Mat. 24.18 thou wast wont to finde in every place a passage to thy God and wert often improving that quicknesse of thy minde which is able to step from the deepest dungeon to the highest heavens in a moment The mind is so quick of foote that it is swifter than the Sun and can move further in a moment than the Sun doth in a day and thou wert wont to send this winged messenger and it returned unto thee like Noahs Dove with Olive branches of peace and comfort in its mouth Indeed a Christian drives two trades in the world one is seene the other is secret and in this he is busie when hee seemes to be vacant and is least alone when most alone when he is mured up within his Chamber or walking in a solitary way he is conversing with such companions as the world is not acquainted with he is speaking with God and hearing God speaking to him words of wisdome making him wiser than the Auncient words of reproofe piercing like a sword yet not to hurt but heale and words of comfort stronger than death and sweeter than life yea when he seemes to be in the deepes of affliction he is mounted above all sorrowes and his soule is above
course it is full of unquietnesse therefore when by divine assistance the soule is loosed of her bonds and freed from impediments of running her desired course it is peace 4. Betwixt hope and reason Betwixt hope and reason if a mans wayes be not exact reason will give check to hope and feare and anxiety will breake in and it cannot be peace but where reason concludes for hope apprehending not only the excellency of the end and the possibility but the probability and the certainty if hope expect and the understanding dispute against it going about to overthrow its title it cannot but breed trouble supplies from heaven will prevent this for these supplies keep the soule in her way and the way leads to the promise and the promise strengthens hope and in this way reason will joyn with it the understanding will see all cleare and so the heart will be quiet 5. Betwixt the ordinances and the heart Betwixt the ordinances and our hearts this concord lyeth not only in this that a man shall more prize them but also that he shall receive more by them For 1. The heart doth more sympathize with theÌ„ it is more receptive Gods presence in the soule doth capacitate it it makes it more meet for the Gospell and as wood that is dry will take fire more then wood that is wet because it is nearer the nature of fire so the heart draweth more life and partakes of the power of ordinances by how much the more it hath a preparednesse through grace 2. Where God is present in the soul he is present in the ordinances as all the servants are ready to serve him whom the master honours God hath a more full command of all then any Soveraigne and if he will that the meanes of grace shall bring in much of heaven it will be done and where a man is thus feasted with the fat things of Gods house it is a great solace to him partly because the things themselves are excellent and partly because they are testimonies of Gods speciall favour and grace 6 Concord betwixt duty and ability it is a great discomfort when a man seeth his way and cannot walk in it or when there is that disproportion of strength to his work that he doth it not without much contention difficulty wearinesse but when a man is able then he is merry at his work his labour is no paine having the help of a God of power He runs and is not weary and walks and faints not Esay 40.31 That is done with alacrity which is done with facility 7 Concord with the Saints With the Saints holinesse is their proper quality and therefore the more holinesse the greater agreement there will be a sweet consenting and concentring with them your motion on and theirs your hearts and theirs your end and theirs will harmonize so sweetly that you shall have their counsell countenance company comfort and it is a great solace to have communion with them who are so neare â— God and so full of God 2 It brings glory Effect glory 1. A glorying spirit 1. A glorying spirit that is it worketh joy and triumph iâ— God when the soule is caried in a holy course the presence of God is so deare and the contentment and sweetnesse oâ— his way so precious that he not only blesseth his God but he also blesseth himself in his God he seeth that Gods with him and this is a sign of his favour For wherein shall it be knowne here that and thy people have found grace in the sight is it not in that thou goest with us Exod. 33.16 And so a noblenesse oâ— spirit is begotten in him through which he is set above the world so the through his God whom he findes better than a thousand worlds he tramper upon the world o Moreus Galeacius said Hee that counts all the gold and silver in the world worth one â—â— Communion with Jesus Christ is worthy to be accursed Rom. 8.31 And neither enticed with hopes nor detered with feares but like a conquering Champion breakes through the armies and hoasts of the world what need he feare the assaults of creatures that hath with him the power of the Creator and how is he armed against all trouble That hath the spirit of glory and of God resting upon him 1 Pet. 4.14 2 It is an honour to a man to be full of grace and full of life It is an honour to have God dwelling in us if reason which is but humane do exalt a man so much above the beast then how much more doth grace which is divine exalt the Saints above men yea if those ornaments of the reasonable creature which are gotten by humane endeavour and are common to all be such a crowne of glory what honour is it to have the Spirit of God making the godly the tabernacle of his rest and filling them with the glory of his presence and the blessed operations of his grace To be trees even green and flourishing filled with fruits of grace to receive daily from heaven that which excels the Crownes of Kings to have Christ under thy roofe supping with thee Apoc. 3.20 To sit downe daily not only with Abraham Isaac and Iacob but with Christ himselfe to be led into his wine-celler to have the mighty God walking with thee what glory is all this to thee which is the highest honour of the Angels 3 It is an honour to have God co-working with thee Honour to have God working with us his hand with thine a man would think it an honour to be with Princes in employment while thou enjoyest inward quicknings and assistance as heaven joynes it selfe with thee so thy work appeares to be a noble employment and a service acceptable As the sacrifice of Abel Gen. 4. had this testimony of Gods acceptance fire came from heaven upon it as also afterwards in the Law Levit. 9.24 So when God enkindles the soule with his Spirit for spirituall Sacrifices it is a signe that they are accepted of him The Apostle by this proves his Ministry to be of God and according to God because God did work in him and gave him sufficiency to those great things 2 Cor. 3. 6 Consider there is a necessity of divine assistance It is necessary to have the assisting presence of God we are not like a Ship rigged and fitted and sent out to Sea and so left to shift for it selfe but God is our continuall Pilot and that power which wrought at first unto the working of Conversion Ephes 1. worketh still Col. 1.18 unto fructification augmentation and perseverance what need we have of the help of this power may appeare if we consider 1 That the most excellent Saints have failed The best have failed without it when they have been left to themselves 2 That our taske is great Our taske great 3 That our strength is small 1 Through the debility of grace received Our
being in his heart you will be sure that if he have any power with the Father he will worke your peace q Multo efficacior Christi mors in bonum quam peccata nostra in malum Christus potentior ad salvandum quam Daemon ad perdendum Bern. Why doe you afflict your selves if you beleeve you shall be established Christ will carry you in to the Father and will draw out his kindnesse towards you And know that if the Father love the Son hee will shew favour to his friends and who can expresse that love that Christ beares to a mourning soule that flyeth for refuge to him his love was such that he died for you and will he not speake a good word for you You sit poring and searching for pillars of hope within you and bestow much paines to answer your owne feares but the ready way to make the businesse cleare is by going to Christ stand not so much upon this quaere Whether you have believed in truth or no but put all out of doubt by a present faith The doore is open enter and live you may more easily build a new house and fabricke of comfort by taking Christ then repaire your old dwelling and cleare all sutes that are brought against your tenure Heare Christ calls you Come unto mee all yee that are weary and heavy laden and I will refresh you Matth. 11.28 And Ho every one that thirsteth come c Esay 55.1 Let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the waters of life freely Apoc. 22.17 And now will you not goe Oh that you would goe how soone would your mourning bee turned into joy and your sadnesse into gladnesse how would those everlasting armes of mercy embrace you and you should have future happinesse in a kinde of presence r Pulchewimam insulam videmus etiam cum non videmus Lyps ep ad Cambden 2 Seeke peace much Be not weary but strengthen your selves in the promise let this pillar hold up your trembling hands for he that shall come will come and will not tarry Seek much Behold hee commeth and his reward is with him Oh me thinkes I see the fountaine opening it selfe to the thirsty I see the clouds dissolving prepare your vessels stay a while for I heare the sound of many waters you are at the right doore knock and knock hard the Lord is there there dwells everlasting mercy Harke how the Saints sing for joy looke in and see Paradise and rivers of joy feeding them how came they to get in but by lying at the gate hold on for in due time you shall reape if you faint not Gal. 6. My friends these are not dreames but they are reall truths which Jehovah will make good to them that believe You come it may bee but you come not in faith and you stay not with patience f Futura expectâ—ns presentibus angor Sen. consult with reason and with the Scriptures Is there a way to God or no if yea which is that way If God tell you this is the way then walke in it wait in it and though you have lost your comfortable enjoyment of Christ yet I say to you as the Angells to them This same Iesuâ— which is taken from you shall so come as yee have seene him Acts 1.11 Therefore keepe your eyes upward pray much and the heavens will open when you beleeve and pray you have the key of heaven in your hand those everlasting doores will open to you therefore hold up your selves in seeking it may bee you may meete with fire and a tempest and stormes but stay and the still voyce will come 3 Come in much love to God come as a friend Come in love then come and welcome many desire ease and defire to be delivered from wrath and hell but come in love desire God to bee your friend and bee willing to bee his friend let love shew it selfe in two things 1 Lament thy sinne that hath caused a strangenesse betwixt God and you Come weeping for sinne and humbled for thy unkindnesse and all is forgiven You thinke too meancly of God when you thinke hee hath much adoe to pardon you He is ready to forgive and he overfloweth in pardoning mercy t Magnam injuriam Deo facit qui diffidit de ejus misericordia Aug. Bonitas invicti non vincitur infiniti misericordia non siâ—â—tur Fulgent Tua quidem malitia mensuram habet Dei autem misericordia mensuram non habet tua malitia cir cumscripta est c. Chrys Hom. 3. de poenitent Si bis si ter si centies millies peccas coties pâ—â—â—â—tentiam age c. idem He expects your acknowledgment and repentance and then you are friends 2 Come with new and strong engagements of heart bring your selves as an offering to him and sacrifice your selves upon that golden altar Jesus Christ say Lord if thou wilt love me I will love thee be thou mine and I am thine and will be thine Thus two old friends shall renew their friendship and they that were at a distance shall meet in love he that did depart shall returne with kindnesse and he that was forsaken shall be received with mercy and the ancient joy which was in heaven at his first conversion shall bee renewed at his restauration Now clap your hands ye heavens and earth for the sonne that was lost is found and he that was dead is alive The exile is received and a covenant of peace is renewed betwixt a man of sorrowes and the God of peace through the Prince of peace to whom be praise for ever FINIS