Principles by the Engine of his Temptations Secondly These sad thoughts are Caused by a deep sense of sin and the desert of it this worketh terror dejection and despondency of spirit when God represents and sets before a Man the greatness of his sins Thus David himself sadly complains Mine Iniquities are gone over mine head as a heavy burthen they are too heavy for me Psal 38.4 Thirdly They are caused by spiritual desertion or God's hiding his Face from the Soul Thou did'st hide thy Face saith David and I was troubled Psal 30.7 And Sion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Isa 49.14 Wherefore hidest thou thy Face saith Job and holdest me for thine Enemy Wilt thou break a Leaf driven to and fro and wilt thou pursue the dry Stubble For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth Job 13.24 25. Fourthly From the apprehension of Divine wrath and displeasure Though God be Reconciled to Believers in Christ yet they often apprehend God's Frowns rather than his Smiles his Chidings rather than his Kisses and these make sad impressions upon them Thus Job complains The Arrowes of the Almighty are within me the Poyson whereof drinketh up my Spirit the Terrors of God do sett themselves in array against me Job 6.4 and verse 8 9. He wanted words to express the greatness of his misery and sorrow wherewith his spirit was even over-whelmed Such sad apprehensions Heman also had Whilst I suffer thy terrors saith he I am distracted thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrors have cut me off Psal 88.15 16. Fifthly These sad thoughts and cogitations are sometimes caused by violent temptations and suggestions to the most horrid evils as to Self-murther final Despair Blasphemy cursed Atheisme the Soul is so terrified therewith that it is ready to chuse a sudden violent death rather than life Thou scarest me with Dreams saith Job cap. 7. v. 14 15. and terrifiest me through Visions so that my soul chuseth strangling and death rather than my life Such horrid Blasphemous suggestions and injections from Satan some poor Christians have sad experience of which fill their souls with terror and amazement and make them even weary of their lives Sixthly Sad Thoughts are caused by looking at Death in the Chastly Glass of the Law of God and not in the Comfortable Glass of the Gospel and so Death appears to be the King of Terrors and of all Terrible things the most Terrible Oh! What will become of me thinks the poor Trembling Soul when I dye How shall I be able to shoot that great and vast Gulph of Eternity and to endure the Bitterness and Terrors of Death I that cannot bear with Patience a little Pain of the Tooth-ake Stone Strangury How shall I look upon that Pale-Horse and his Rider whose Name is Death Rev 6.8 Saints themselves have many times sad Thoughts and Apprehensions touching Death when the Soul shall be stript naked of the Body and all worldly Comforts and brought into the Immediate Presence of God The Conscience here in this Life being not perfectly and wholly purged and pacifyed there remaines still some Defilement some Guilt which causeth some Doubts and Fears even in true Believers You have heard the Causes now let us come to the Remedies of these sad Thoughts First then If Melancholy be the Cause use the means which God has appointed for the Cure of it Three Things I commend to you 1. Ye should with Dependence on God the Supreme Cause and Being use the most proper Physick moderate Exercise good Diet. As for Bodily Distempers they are ordinarily cured by Corporal Medicines and not by Spiritual Means I say with Dependance on God for Success ye must use Physick for except the Lord build the House they Labour but in vain that build it Psal 127.1 And King Asa is blamed because in his Disease he sought not to the Lord but to the Physitians 2 Chron. 16.12 2. Converse frequently with wise compassionate experienced Christians such as have been exercised with Melancholy Distempers themselves and are not ignorant of Sathan's Methods otherwise ye speak to them and they to you in an unknown Tongue 3. Consider That though the Cure of Melancholy be a torture to the most Learned Physitians in the World yet God the Soveraign Physitian can easily rebuke it If He speak the word Be thou healed then thou shalt be sound and whole The Lord knows our frame how frail and weak we are what advantage Satan takes against us from these melancholy Distempers and how they disable and dis-spirit us for Religious Services and render our Lives burthensome and uncomfortable to us and therefore he will pitty us as an indulgent Father pittieth his Children And though the Distemper should not wholly be removed yet we may well hope that he will so abate it for his own Names sake that it shall not over-whelm us no nor hinder our Spiritual Good but be a means to humble us and keep us low in our own Eyes Secondly If your sad disconsolate Thoughts be caused by Spiritual Distempers as Unbelief carnal Reason Doubts and Fears something is to be done in the general and then more particularly 1. In general Endeavour in the Strength of God to comfort these sad Thoughts by applying Spiritual Consolations suâ—table to your Distemper so you find in the Text In the multitude of my Thoughts i. e. sad Thoughts within me Thy Comforts delight my soul Psal 94.9 Let not the Consolations of God â—â—em small to thee neither do thou indulge any secret Sin Job 15.11 2. You should often chide your selves keenly and rationally for these sad unbelieving thoughts 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 Psal 42.5 11. This sadness and dejectedness in Saints is very unreasonable and of ill consequence for it drinks up their spirits disables and dispirits them for the Service of God and Men But I will speak more particularly to this matter First Does Satan work upon and by those Innate Principles of Darkness Unbelief carnal Reason which are in thy heart and nature and likewise on thy Bodily distempers especially Melancholy O then take to thee the whole Armour of God especially the Shield of Faith that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil and to quench all his fiery Darts Ephes 6.11 16. Pray earnestly that God would rebuke Satan and remember that Christ prays for you And the Lord said unto Satan The Lord Rebuke thee O Satan Is not this a Brand pluckt out of the fire Zach. 3.2 Greater is Christ that is in you and for you than Satan that is against you Secondly Do thy sins make thee sad and disconsolate Do they press thee down with a great weight and doest thou groan under the body of Sin as an
I shewed it and he attended further than I read I not knowing what followed But it followed Him that is weak in the Faith receive ye Rom. 14.1 which he applyed to himself and opened unto me But by this Admonition he was Confirmed and without all turbulent delay was conjoyned in a good Pleasure and purpose most congruous to his Manners wherein he long ago excelled me Thereupon we go in to my Mother tell her She rejoyceth We declare how it was done She exults and Tryumphs and blesseth Thee who art able to do above All that we are to ask or think Because she saw that thou hadst granted her far more concerning me than she was wont with her miserable and lamentable Groans to ask of Thee Thus far Augustine Who would not now delight to read and understand the Divine Scriptures whereby Augustine and Alipius were thus Converted and Comforted Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments tells us That Mr. Bilney the blessed Martyr having been long under great Doubts and Fears in his Soul whil'st he adhered to the Popish Doctrines at length opening the New-Testament he light on that Text 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief which God so blessed to him that thereby his doubts and Fears were dispell'd and he received much spiritual Peace and Comfort in the Assurance of the love of God from this free promise of Grace Bishop Latimer that Godly Martyr standing at the Stake ready to shed his blood for the Truth lifting up his Eyes to Heaven with an amiable and chearful Countenance comforted himself with that Scripture Faithful is God who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able 1 Cor. 10.13 Alice Benden Martyr being kept in Prison nine weeks with Bread and Water and Sequestered from her Companions was in great heaviness and Soul distress till on a Night as she was in her sorrowful Supplications rehearsing those words Why art thou cast down O my Soul c. And again The Right Hand of the most High can change all this she received much comfort Mr. Midgeley Minister at Ratchdale in Yorkshire oppressed with melancholly thoughts and temptations to Self-murther and going down to the Water-side to Drown himself having the New-Testament in his Pocket it came into his thoughts before he flung himself in to read a little in his Testament and opening the same he happily cast his Eye upon that precious word of Grace Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you Rest Matth. 11.28 29. Whereupon this poor tempted Soul was much revived and broke forth into these words Say'st thou so then I will not down my self 'T is well observed by a Godly Writer that we had better want Meat Drink the light of the Sun Aire Earth and all the Elements yea Life it self than that one sweet Sentence of our Saviour Come unto me c. Mrs. Katherine Brettergh who was wont to task her self to the reading at least eight Chapters of Scripture every day in her Sickness before her Death * Vid. Mr. Will. Leigh's Souls-Solace against sorrow she fell into great distress and anguish of Spirit sometimes she would cast her Bible from her and say it was indeed the Book of Life but she had read the same unprofitably and therefore feared it was become to her the Book of Death Sometimes she would say her sins had made her a prey to Satan a spectacle to the World a disgrace to Religion and a shame to her Husband Kindred and all true Christians And here she would weep most bitterly she wished she had never been Born or that she had been any other Creature rather than a Woman She would often cry out Woe Woe Woe c. a weak a woful a wretched a forsaken Woman and utter such like pittiful Complaints against her self with Tears continually trickling down her Cheeks But at last before her death she was raised up to unspeakable joys and comforts by applying Scripture-promises Oh said she my soul hath been compassed about with terrors of Death fear within and fear without the sorrows of Hell were upon me and a roaring Wilderness of Woe was within me which she repeated again and again But Blessed Blessed Blessed be the Lord my God who hath not left me Comfortless One time she took her Bible in her hand and looking up towards Heaven she said O Lord it is good for me that I have been Afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes the Word of the Lord is better to me than thousands of Gold and Silver She desired her Husband to read some part of Scripture to her he read that excellent Chapter John 17. and as he read v. 9. she interrupted him saying O Lord Jesus dost thou indeed pray for me O Blessed and Sweet Saviour how wonderful how wonderful how wonderful are thy Mercies When he came to v. 24. Father I will that they whom thou hast given me c. Stay said she and let me meditate on the goodness of the Lord for now I perceive and feel the Countenance of Christ my Redeemer is turned towards me and the bright shining Beams of his Mercy are spread over me Oh happy am I that ever I was Born to see this Blessed day Praise praise Oh praise the Lord for his Mercies for He hath brought me out of darkness and the shadow of death O my sweet Saviour shall I be one with thee as thou art one with thy Father and wilt thou Glorifie me with that Glory which thou had'st with the Father before the World was And dost thou so love me that am but Dust and Ashes as to make me partaker of Glory with Christ What am I poor Wretch that thou art so mindful of me Oh how wonderful how wonderful how wonderful is thy Love To a Christian Friend that came to see her wondering at her joys she said O the joys the joys the joys that I feel in my soul they be wonderful they be wonderful they be wonderful Thus she was ravished in Spirit and tryumphed in the praises of God At last with a sweet Countenance and still Voyce she said My Warfare is accomplished and mine Iniquities are pardoned Lord whom have I in Heaven but thee And I have none on Earth but thee My Flesh faileth and my Heart also but God is the strength of mine Heart and my Portion for ever He that preserveth Jacob and defendeth his Israel he is my God and will guide me unto Death Guide me O Lord my God and suffer me not to faint but keep my soul in safety and with that she presently fell asleep in the Lord. Mr. John Holland an eminent Saint and Preacher of the Gospel did wonderfully raise and comfort himself with the holy Scriptures even in the Valley of the Shaddow of Death his Heart was replenished with Heavenly Thoughts and Delights
Lord heare my Cry LONDON Printed for Ben Harris I.D. sc OF THE Causes and Cure OF SAD Disconsolate Thoughts IN CHRISTIANS BY One of their Sympathizing Fellow-Members W. Traughton LONDON Printed for Benjamin Harris and are to be sold at his Shop at the Stationers-Armes in Sweetings-Rents in Corn-hill near the Royal Exchange 1677. EPISTLE To a Pensive Disconsolate SOVL My dear Friend HAving taken these Notes on a subject of great concern which may be much more inlarged I did consider with my self that they might be very seasonable and suitable to your case and condition for you have been an afflicted soul for a long time often complaining to God and Man of the darkness of your spirit and the sad and dismal thoughts wherewith you have been haunted and exceedingly disquieted as if no Mans condition were so sad and dark and disconsolate as yours But yet there is no Temptation as you may assure your self which hath seized on you but other Christians have had experience thereof and God who is Faithful will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10.13 Blessed be God you have a tender and gratious High Priest that undertakes for you in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2.18 We have not saith the Apostle a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without Sin let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.15 16. He it is that gathers the weak Lambs with his Arm and carryes them in his Bosom and gently leads those that are with Young Isa 40.11 He will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax but will send forth Judgment unto Victory Math 12.20 This Merciful and Compassionate Jesus never rejected any that came to him and will he cast you off if you come to Him with the burthen of your Sins Sorrows Temptations Melancholick distempers No he will not he hath promised he will not Joh. 6.37 There 's an Emphasis in the Original two Negatives He will not in any wise by any means cast ye out The doubled Negatives serve to make the Assertion so much the stronger and to raise our Faith above all doubts and fears O then poor Soul be not discouraged draw not back from â—he living God through an evil heart of unbelief Give not way to groundless Jealousies and carnal Reasonings but believe and you shall see the Glory of God in giving you speedily a gracious Issue out of all your Temptations and a comfortable deliverance from the sad disconsolate perplexing thoughts of your own heart which indeed is your greatest Enemy for the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17.9 Read over these Notes seriously and beg of God earnestly to give you Grace to improve the seasonable directions therein mentioned and to teach you effectually by his Spirit for who Teacheth like him Job 36.22 When he giveth Quietness who then can cause Trouble And when he hideth his Face who then can behold Him Whether it be done against a Nation or against a Man only Job 34.29 If ye think the publishing of these Notes may tend to the Edification and comfort of some other tempted afflicted souls who are in the like condition with your self it is left to your Freedom to get them published otherwise you may make a private use of them for your self and near Relations as God shall direct and enable you to whose Gracious Protection I commend you and yours THE CAUSES CURE OF SAD Disconsolate Thoughts c. Text Psal 94.19 In the Multitude of my Thoughts within me thy Comforts delight my Soul SOme Intérpreters understand this Text of that Heavenly Delight which David found in Holy Meditation a Work wherein he was much exercised and whereof Spiritual Joy and Delight is a Natural and Moral Effect But if we look more narrowly into the Context we shall see that the Prophet speaks not of Holy Thoughts and Meditation but of Sad disquieting and perplexing Thoughts which did arise in his Heart against which he found the Consolations of God to be the most effectual Remedy Observ That Saints should watch against sad melancholly unbeleiving disconsolate Thoughts and Cogitations Hence it is even from their Unbeleif that they are so apt to make sad and dismal Conclusions touching their Spiritual Estate My Soul refused to be Comforted saith David Psal 77.2 3 7 8 9. I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my Spirit was over-whelmed Will the Lord cast off for ever c So Heman that Godly wise Man saith Psal 88.4 5. I am counted with them that go down into the Pit I am as a Man that hath no Strength free among the Dead like the Slain that lye in the Grave whom Thou remembrest no more c. I will here describe 1. What these sad disconsolate Thoughts are 2. The Causes of them 3. The Remedies of them 4. Give you some Helps and Directions against them Quaery What do you mean by sad disconsolate Thoughts Answ Such Thoughts I mean as the Saints themselves are exercised with in reference to their Spiritual Condition oft-times they have sad uncomfortable Reflexions heavy Burthens on their Souls great Pressures of Spirit Why haft thou set me as a mark against thee saith Job cap. 7. v. 20. so that I am a Burthen to my self Quae. What are the Causes of these sad thoughts Answ They are caused both by natural distempers of Body and by spiritual distempers or Soul pressures First Partly by bodily distempers especially by Melancholly which is a black cloudy muddy distemper that darkens the Intellectuals depraves the Fancy saddens the Spirit of a Christian and renders his Condition and Life uncomfortable to him 't is Satan's Chariot wherein he Tryumphantly rides his Anvil on which he continually beats the Element or Bath in which he Bathes himself Though a Man have Grace and Spiritual experience and acquaintance with God yet if he be of a melancholly temper and constitution he cannot act chearfully as a Christian should do buâ— is like a VVaggon or Coach whose wheels are out of order so that the Passenger cannot comfortably perform his Journey Secondly There are spiritual Causes of these sad dark uncomfortable thoughts and they are six First Those remaining Principles of darkness carnal Reason Slavish fear and unbelief which are in the hearts of God's own People who are but in part Regenerated here in this Life Satan who is a Spirit of darkness and delights most in spiritual wickedness Eph. 6.12 works upon and corresponds with these remainders of unbelief and carnal Reason in the Saints as being most suitable to him who improves his long experience skill and power to draw out and heighten these
intollerable burthen Rom. 7.24 O then remember that sweet Invitation of thy Saviour Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Matth. 11.28 Apply to thy soul the Soveraign Blood of Christ which cleanseth from all Sin 1 Joh. 1.7 which pacifieth the Conscience and purgeth it from dead works Heb. 9.14 which speaks better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 Cast the burthen of thy sins thy guilt thy punishment on Christ on whom God made to meet the Iniquities of us all and by whose Stripes we are healed Isa 53.5 6. His soul was sad and sorrowful to the death that thy soul might rejoyce the Spirit of the Lord God was upon him and he was sent by God to bind up the broaken-hearted to give them that mourn in Sion Beauty for Ashes the oyle of Joy for Mourning and the garment of Praise for the spirit of heaviness Isa 61.1 2 3. Thirdly Doth the Lord hide his Face from thee so that thou beholdest not the light of His Countenance as formerly Think with thyself notwithstanding that God's Love is Unchangable and Everlasting He changeth not as Man doth Mal. 3.6 Though he seem to hide his Face and forsake thee for a small moment yet with Everlasting kindness will I embrace thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Isa 54.7 8. He retaineth not his Anger for ever He will turn again He will have Compassion upon us Micah 7.18 19. If thou prayest to God in Faith He will be favourable to thee and thou shalt see his Face with joy Job 33.26 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Isa 50.10 Though the tender Mother go sometimes where the Child doth not see her yet still her Bowels are towards the Child God when he seems to with-draw from his people yet still his Love and Compassion are towards them Christ upon the Cross cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me that we might not be forsaken of God Fourthly Doest thou yet apprehend some tokens of God's wrath and displeasure which fills thy heart with fear and amazement Remember that Christ our Sponsor and Surety hath born the whole VVrath of God the whole Curse of the Law for all those that come to him and believe on him He hath Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us Gal. 3.13 He it was that trode the Wine-press of the fierceness of the Wrath of God and there was none to help him Isa 63.5 6. Rev. 19.15 By this Jesus we are delivered from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 The Lord is merciful and gracious He will not always Chide neither will he keep his Anger for ever As a Father pittyeth his Children so the Lord pittyeth them that fear Him for he knoweth our frame He remembreth that we are but dust Psal 103.8 9 13 14. He will not contend for ever neither will He be always Wrath lest the Spirit should fail before him He will restore Comforts to him that Mourns and will Create the fruit of the lips Peace Peace Isaiah 57.16 19. Fifthly Doth Satanical Injections and violent Temptations to the most horrid Evils and Blasphemies haunt and hurry thee day and night Consider poor soul that they are thy Tryals not thy Sins if thou dost not yield thereunto but abhor and resist them thou art like the modest Virgin that 's forcibly Ravished by a wicked Man without her consent 'T is his Sin not hers though a great Affliction to her Oh flye to the Throne of Grace and Mercy for help and succor in this time of Need rest thy self on God's free promise and word of Grace He is Faithful and will not suffer you to be Tempted above that you are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10.13 The Lord is Faithful who shall stablish you and keep you from Evil 2 Thes 3.3 The Lord shall preserve thee from all Evil He shall preserve thy soul Psal 121.7 Thou shalt be kept by the power of God through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 Let thy soul take Sanctuary in the free Promise of Grace Sixthly Doth the fear of Death and Eternity cause sad thoughts of heart in thee O learn to look at Death in the comfortable Glass of the Gospel of Christ and not in the dreadful glass of the Law Death to a Believer is swallowed up in Victory the Sting of this Serpent is taken away by Christ O Death saith he I will be thy Death O Grave I will be thy Victory Christ hath conquer'd Death perfum'd the Grave and opened a way for poor Sinners to Everlasting Glory The Sting of Death is Sin and the Strength of Sin is the Law But Thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.56 57. Forasmuch as the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood Christ Himself took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of Death were all their Life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.14 15. Here five or six special Helps and Directions when ye are troubled and perplexed with sad Thoughts and much Darkness upon your Spirits DIRECTION I. Call to Remembrance what hath formerly pass'd betwixt God and your Soul what Love-tokens ye have received from him though you be now under a Cloud As when the Title of your Land is questioned you search old Records and Evidences so ye should do in this Case Thus David when his Soul had before refused to be Comforted and his Spirit was in a manner overwhelmed yet now he would consider the Dayes of Old the Years of Antient Times and call to Remembrance his Songs in the Night c. Psal 77.2 3 5 6. And Job when the Wrath of God seemed to be kindled against him and God counted him as one of his Enemies and his Reines were consumed within him yet still saith he Job 19.11 27 28. The Root of the Matter is found in me He acknowledged that he had the Root of true Faith in him and knew that his Redeemer liveth Though the Exercise of his Faith was at present suspended as to the comfortable Effects of it yet he had an evidence of his good Estate from his former Experience As in the Winter-Season though the Plant seems to wither yet the root of it still remaines in the Earth and when the Spring comes and the Sun shines upon it with a powerful Influence it will appear DIRECTION II. Plead and expostulate Humbly with thy God when he seems to hide his Face from thee make use of Arguments in thy Prayers taken from the Infinitness of God's Mercy and the Greatness of thy Misery Thy Saviour in His great Soul-Agony and
Distress prayed often and earnestly Luk. 22.44 Is any among you Afflicted saith the Apostle Jam. 5.13 let him Pray This Direction may be drawn out and improved in five Particulars 1. Suppose thy Case be as sad as Jobs was Cap. 10. v. 15 16 17. thou art full of Distraction and Confusion the Lord hunts thee as a fierce Lyon and increaseth his Indignation upon thee contending still with thee as if he were thy greatest Enemy Yet now fall down and Prostrate thy self humbly at his Feet as a poor silly helpless Lamb and if thou must needs dye and perish yet dye at His Feet mourning and bleeding out thy-Heart in Sighs and Tears Take heed of a fretting murmuring Spirit which is exceeding offensive to God Be still and quiet not a word put thy Mouth in the Dust It is good that a Man should hope and quietly wait on God Lam. 3.26 29. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him saith the Church Mic. 7.9 Kiss the Rod as a submissive Child and acknowledge that it is of the Lord's Mercy that thou art not consumed 2. When God seems to pursue thee hard and to bend his Bow and shoot his Arrows against thee desire him humbly to Remember the Thoughts of Love and Peace which he had to poor Sinners from Eternity These Thoughts he delights in they are more than can be numbered Psal 40.5 and what Are they restrained in Him Hath God forgotten to be Gratious Hath He for ever shut up his tender Mercies Surely He hath not Psal 77.9 Put him in mind of that infinite All-sufficient Righteousness and Merit which is in Christ whereof Himself hath no need no nor the Blessed Angels that never sinned But it is reserved for poor sinful Men and Women such as thou art If thou sayest Thou art unworthy yea but He loves freely Hos 14.4 If the greatness of thy Sins be objected against thee tell him That there is plenteous Redemption for thee in and with Christ Psal 130.7 Art thou ungodly and wicked in thy self the Scripture saith That he Justifies the ungodly Rom. 4.5 and that Christ received Gifts for Sinners yea for the Rebellious that the Lord God might dwell with them Psal 68.18 Art thou no better than a Dogg Yea but the Doggs they eat the Crumbs that fall from their Master's Table Christ hath reserved some Crumbs of Mercy and Comfort for thee Math. 15.27 3. If he still pursue thee in his Anger and set thee as a Mark to shoot at so that thou art a Burthen to thy self Job 7.20 Ask him humbly with Tears in thy Eyes What he aimes at Is it to have the Victory over thee that he might be justifyed in his Sayings and might over-come when he is Judged Rom. 3.4 Tell him freely Thou wilt yeild to him as a poor Captive and stand out with him in nothing and that he shall need no other Judge or Jury to condemn thee but thy self Thou art very willing to justifie him in all things and to sentence and condemn thy self only beseech him to consider what Victory what Honour it will be to so Great and Infinite a God as He is to pursue a little dry Stubble to break a poor Leaf that is bruis'd already and crumbles under his Fingers if he do but touch it Job 13.25 Say to Him Thou art Impar Congressus Thou art far from being an equal Match to Him and He is so Noble so Generous as not to set Himself against a Worm against a poor weak Leaf that yeilds and falls under His hand having said That He will not contend for ever lest the Spirit should utterly fail before him Isa 57.19 4. If it should be hinted to thee as if God would glorify Himself in thy Eternal Destruction and Condemnation tell him 'T is true he may But yet before he thrust his Sword in thee desire Him with Reverence and Submission to consider That he first sheathed it in the Blood of His Son and what profit will there be in thy Blood and Destruction If Satisfaction to Divine Justice be his end and designe He may have that in and from the Propitiatory-Sacrifice and Death of Christ and so be no loser And as for thy Salvation it will be more for his Glory than thy Condemnation If he require more Ojbedience of thee Alas this is not the way to perform it when thy poor Soul is distracted with his Terrors and thou art as a Man that hath no Strength numbred amongst the Dead as Heman speaks Psal 88.4 5 15. The more Spiritual Peace and Joy and Soul hath the more Service and Obedience it will be able to perform to God who loves a chearful Giver The Joy of the Lord is the Strength of the Soul Nehem. 8.10 If it be suggested to thee That if thou hadst more Assurance Joy and Inlargement thou wouldst abuse it and grow wanton Tell God humbly That he may also prevent that if He please by the Power of His Grace and by writing the Law of Love in thy Heart by his Spirit which will constraine thee to love Him and to live to Him 2 Cor. 5.14 And Love is as strong as Death Many Waters cannot quench it neither can the Floods drown it Cant. 8.6 7. And though thou hast a froward and stubborn Heart which thou canst not chuse but sadly complain of yet so had he whom the Prophet speaks of Isa 57.17 18. God hid his Face from him was wrath and smote him and he went on frowardly in the way of his Heart Yet for all this saith the Lord I have seen his wayes and will heal him and restore Comforts to him 5. If thy Temptation be so great and thy Condition so sad as if there were no other Remedy but God and thou must part yet labour notwithstanding to have good thoughts of God and to bless Him for those glorious Attributes and excellencies of Mercy Truth Wisdom Holiness that are in him Bless Him for his mercy and goodness to others and for enabling them to serve him with chearfulness and success Bless him for the good things which thou hast formerly received from Him and if thou hast done or suffered any thing for God in thy time wish with all thy soul it had been a thousand times more And confess thy self unworthy lesser than the least of those Mercies he hath bestowed on thee and that thou art infinitly ingaged to Him for what is past if He should cast thee off for time to come and never smile upon thee again Desire Him only that He would preserve and maintain in thee good and honourable thoughts of His Majesty that thou maist not in the least derogate from His Honour or Blaspheme his Holy Name however he is pleased to deal with thee as to Spiritual Peace and Comfort And who knows but whilst thou art thus bemoaning thy self as Ephraim did though the Lord at present seem to look Stern and to speak Angerly to thee yet
he will quickly come and speak Peace to thy soul and list up the light of his Countenance on thee I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself saith the Lord Is Ephraim my dear Son Is he a pleasant Child For since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my Bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy on him Jer. 31.18 19 20. DIRECTION III. Call to mind and improve the Soul sorrows and Agonies of thy Saviour and Surety who bore the Wrath of God in his soul for thee that thy poor Pensive soul might be comforted and delivered from the Terrors of God His Soul was heavy and sorrowful to the Death yea he was surrounded and environ'd with sorrow and amazement of Spirit and cryed out bitterly on the Cross My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Matth. 27.46 And in the days of his Flesh He offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 Now tell God humbly and believingly that he hath laid thy Sin Guilt Curse upon his Son and in the fierceness of his Wrath fell upon him standing in thy stead and room that he might set thee free who is not in the least able to wrestle with the Terrors of God say to him that his own blessed Son hath drank off the Cup of Divine Wrath to the bottom even the very dreggs of it and therefore why should thy poor soul which is redeemed by the precious Blood of thy Saviour tast any part of this bitter Cup Did God withdraw the comforts of his Spirit from the humane Nature of Christ and fill it with sadness and sorrow for thy sake that thou mightest obtain Spiritual peace and comfort O then why should'st not thou earnestly pray for and expect the fruits of Christ's Agony and Death in having thy soul revived and filled with spiritual peace and joy DIRECTION IV. Renew thy Faith and Repentance in good earnest as if thou had'st never done it before Suppose it be suggested to thee by Satan that thou did'st never as yet truly believe and repent of thy sins Thou maist Answer thus Well I will not question that now but resolve by the Grace of God forth-with to Repent heartily of my Sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Some Christians are apt to look back altogether on what they have done and if that do not afford them comfort then they are ready to give up all for losk and to sink under discouragement But though a Christian may sometimes look back and reflect on his former evidences and experiences yet certainly to cast thy self at present by a direct act of Faith upon the free Grace of God in the Gospel-promise is the shortest cut and the readiest way to silence thy doubts and Satans suggestions as sometimes it falls out that a Man may with as little charge and trouble obtain a new Lease as prove the old one good and Authentical Be peremptory and resolute therefore in believing and casting thy self on a Crucified Jesus and say with Esther I will go to the King and if I Perish I Perish Esther 4.16 and with Job Though he Kill me yet will I trust in him Job 13.15 Venture thy Soul upon him as one that 's ready to sink when the Bladders are taken from him will yet venture to swim without Bladders And as the four Lepers said one to another Why sit we here until we dye If we enter into the City the famine is there and we shall dye and if we sit still here we shall dye also Therefore let us fall into the Host of the Syrians if they save us alive we shall live and if they Kill us we shall but dye 2 King 7.3 4. So resolve to throw your self upon Christ and if ye must dye then dye at his feet But this is so far from being the way to Perish that it is the direct way to true Peace Comfort and Happiness DIRECTION V. Trust in the Name of God Jehovah for Comfort and Salvation He that walks in darkness and sees no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay himself upon his God Isa 50.10 * Vid. Mr. Goodwins Child of light walking in darkness the consideration of the Sweet Gratious Merciful Nature and Name of God will support and keep the soul from sinking The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous runeth to it and is safe Prov. 18.10 There is enough in the Name of God to Answer all our Objections and resolve all our doubts as this name was proclaimed to Moses The Lord the God merciful and gratious long-suffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin Exod. 34.6 7. This Name of God is to be found and is revealed in and by Christ to poor Sinners Hearken to him and obey his Voyce saith the Lord for my Name is in him Exod. 23.21 God was in Christ Reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them 2 Cor. 5.19 This is the Name where-with he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 And his Name shall be Jesus for he shall save his People from their sins Matth. 1.21 When we see nothing in our selves to rest upon as in the case of desertion no sight of Graces no light of comfort there-from as in Pauls Voyage by Sea for many days together neither the light of the Sun nor Stars appeared Act. 27.20 Yet then the Name of God will stay and bear up the drooping spirit of a Christian My flesh and my heart faileth saith David but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 73.26 And though my House be not so with God i. e. as the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by the clear shining of the Sun after Rain yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my Salvation and all my desire although he make it not to grow 2 Sam. 23.5 DIRECTION VI. On which I shall a little inlarge Furnish thy self with fit matter out of the holy Scriptures for Heavenly thoughts and meditations that thy heart may endite and meditate a good matter and thy Tongue may be as the Pen of a ready Writer Psal 45.1 The Lord help thee poor Soul not only to read these Divine writings but to meditate therein day and night to hide them and lay them up in thy heart as a divine Cordial to revive and comfort thee as a divine Lamp to guide and direct thee Psal 119.92 105. and as part of the spiritual Armour to enable thee to vanquish thy spiritual Enemies in the Hour of Temptation Eph. 6.13 David even in those dark times before the Incarnation of Christ professeth of himself that the Word of God was in the mid'st of his Bowels Psal 40.8 And
that he had hid the word in his heart that he might not Sin against God Psal 119.11 And Hierom tells us of one Nepotian who by long and assiduous Meditation of the holy Scriptures had made his breast the Library of Jesus Christ in respect of Divine thoughts and cogitations Holy Job esteem'd the Word of God more than his necessary food Job 23.12 And the Psalmist preferr'd it before the Honey and the Honey-comb before great spoyles and thousands of Gold and Silver Psal 19.9 Psal 119.103 162. And the blessed Apostle commands us not only to have the word of Christ with us but in us and not only to have it in us but to have it dwelling and abiding in us richly in all Wisdom and spiritual understanding Col. 3.16 As for Mens writings they are mingled with Vanity Mistakes Imperfections Corruptions savouring too much of a carnal Spirit but God's Word * In Sacra Scriptura quicquid docet veritas quicquid praecipitur bonitas quicquid promittitur felicitas Nam Deus veritas est sine fallacia bonitas sine malitia fellcitas sine miseria is satisfactorily full without all Vaninity most Wise Faithful and True without Falshood or Folly compleatly perfect without the least Imperfection most pure and refined without Corruption or Carnal mixtures wholly Spiritual sweetly resembling that most Divine Spirit which endited the Scriptures Here are unfolded the mysteries of the Covenant of Grace made up of Heavenly Cordials for Sin-sick souls Here are the promises of this life and of that which is to come exceeding great and precious Here are the comforts of God able to counterpoise and overcome the greatest sadness and sorrow Art thou poor Here 's a Treasury of Riches Art thou sick here 's a Shop of Soul-medicines Art thou fainting here 's a Cabinet of precious Cordials Art thou Afflicted here 's thy Solace Art thou Persecuted here 's thy Protection Art thou deserted here 's thy support Art thou Tempted here 's thy Victory Whilst thou livest here 's the Rule of thy Conversation and when thou dyest here 's the hope of thy Glorification and therefore well might one of the Antients profess that he adored the fulness of the Scriptures And Luther himself used to say he would rather eat up his own Writings which yet were instrumental to give much Heavenly light and knowledge than that People by reading them should neglect the reading and studying of the Holy Scriptures This is the Book of Books as David said of Goliah's Sword there 's none like that Ex allis paleae viles hinc grana leguntur Aurea Tu paleas linquito grana lege Mens Books with worthless Chaff are stor'd God's Scriptures golden grains afford Reject the Chaff and spend thy pains In Gleaning up these golden Grains The Holy Scripture is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in the paths of Righteousness and for Support and Consolation that drooping dejected Spirits may not be overwhelmed with Satan's Temptations This sweet Consolatory Vertue and Soul-supporting Property of the Scriptures is demonstrated by the happy Experience and Sense of Spiritual Comfort and Refreshing which Saints find therein even such of them as are exercised with great Dolors and Troubles of Spirit Thus David did comfort and support himself with the word of God in his saddest Affliction This is my Comfort in my Affliction saith he for thy Word hath quickned me And unless thy word had been my delight I had perished in my Affliction Psal 119.50 51 92. Paul writes unto the Saints at Thessalonica that they should comfort one another with these Words 1 Thes 4.13 And the Love-sick Spouse being ready to fall into a Spiritual Swound through the Sense of Christ's Estrangements from Her cryes out to the Ministers of the Word the Friends of the Bridegroom O stay me with Flaggons and comfort me with Apples for I am sick of Love Cant. 2.5 Wine and Apples are pleasant refreshing Cordials to fainting Spirits And so are the pretious Promises and sweet Doctrines of Christ to sad and pensive Souls Augustine and his dear Companion Alipius How were they in their great Soul-Afflictions raised up and comforted with two Sentences of Scripture Augustine as he tells us in his Confessions lib. 8. Cap. 12. Tom. 1. deeply laying to heart his Sin and Misery such a mighty Storm arose in his Soul as brought a shower of Tears whereupon he with-drew from Alipius a good distance that he might more freely and fully pour out himself in Tears I laid me down saith he under a certain Fig-Tree I know not how and I opened Sluce to Tears and the Floods of mine Eyes burst out thy acceptable Sacrifice And not in these Words but to this Sense I spake many things to Thee But thou O Lord how long How long wilt thou be angry for ever O Remember not former Iniquities For I felt my self held by them and I cast forth miserable Expressions How long How long To Morrow and To-Morrow Why not now Why not this Hour an end of my Filthiness These things I spake and wept in the bitter Contrition of my Heart And behold I heard a Voyce as of a Boy or Girle I know not whether from a neighbouring House saying with Singing and oft repeating * Tolle lege Tolle lege Take up and Read Take up and Read And presently with changed countenance I intentively began to think whether Boyes in Playing were wont to sing any such thing Nor could I remember that ever I heard it The violence of my Tears being repressed I rose up Interpreting nothing else to be divinely commanded me than that I should open the Book and read what Chapter I first found For I had heard of Antonius that by Reading of the Gospel which he happily light upon he was admonished as if what he had read had been spoken to him Go and sell all that thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come follow me and that by this Oracle he was presently converted to thee Therefore being thus incited I returned to the same place where Alipius sate for there I had laid the Apostle's Book when I thence rose I snatch'd it up opened and silently read that Chapter on which mine Eyes were first cast Not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no Provision for the Flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof Rom. 13.13 14. Nor would I read further nor was there need For presently with the close of this Sentence as it were with the light of Security infused into mine Heart all my darksom Doubtings fled away Then either putting my Finger in the place or what other signe I know not I shut the Book and with a chearful Countenance I told it to Alipius But what was done in himself which I knew not he thus declared He asks to see what I read
The Day before he dyed he called for the holy Bible with these very words Come O come Death approacheth let us gather some Flowers to comfort in this Hour And turning with his own Hands to the Eight Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans he gave me the Book saith Mr. Leigh who relates these Passages in a printed Book and bade me Read At the end of every Verse he made a Selah or Pause and gave the Sense in such sort and feeling as we perceived was much to his own Comfort but more to our Joy and Wonder Having thus continued his Meditation and Exposition for the space of two Hours or more on the suddain he said O stay your reading What Brightness is this I see Have ye light up any Candles To which it was Answered No It is the Sun-Shine For it was about five a Clock in a clear Summer's-Evening Sun-shine saith he nay my Saviour's Shine Now farewell World welcome Heaven The Day Starr from on high hath visited mine Heart O speak it when I am gone and Preach it at my Funeral That God dealeth familiarly with Man I feel his Mercy I see his Majesty whether in the Body or out of the Body I cannot tell God He knoweth But I see Things that are unutterable And raising himself as Jacob did upon his Staff he shut up his blessed Life with these blessed words O What a happy Change shall I make from Night to Day from Darkness to Light from Death to Life from Sorrow to Solace from a factious World to a Heavenly Being O my dear Bretheren Sisters and Friends it pittieth me to leave you behind yet Remember my Death when I am gone And what I now feel I hope you shall find ere you dye That God doth and will deal familiarly with Men. And now thou fiery Chariot that came down to fetch up Eliah carry me to my happy Hold And all ye blessed Angels who attended the Soul of Lazarus to bring it up to Heaven bear me O bear me into the Bosom of my best Beloved Amen Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly And so he fell asleep O therefore Enrich thy Soul with those Hevenly Treasures and fill thy Heart with those blessed Truths and Divine Mysteries that are contained in the Scriptures as the Saints whom I have mentioned and many thousands more have done in their great Straits and Temptations Acknowledge the Goodness of God and magnifie the Riches of his Grace towards poor Sinners Many and wonderful O Lord my God are Thy Thoughts to us-ward they are more than can be numbered Psal 40.5 And again How pretious are thy Thoughts unto me O God How great is the Sum of them Psal 139.17 Now that thou may'st have a right and spiritual understanding of the Holy Scriptures whilst thou readest them for the benefit and comfort of thy sad disconsolate soul First Beg Wisdom of the only VVise God who gives liberally and upbraideth not Jam. 1.5 that by God's VVisdom thou mayest know God's Mind and discern the true sence and meaning of the Scriptures by the Assistance of the Divine Spirit which Indited the same What the VVoman said of Jacob's-Well may be truly affiâ—med of the Scriptures Thou hast nothing to draw with and the VVell is deep John 4.11 Scripture mysteries are profound and our Capacities but shallow desire the Lord therefore to anoynt thine eyes with Eye-salve that thou mayest see and to open thine Understanding that thou may'st rightly and spiritually understand the Scriptures Rev. 3.18 Psal 119.18 Luk. 24.45 Luther professed that he got more Understanding by Prayer than by all his Study besides Secondly Labour for a truly gracious Spirit which being once attain'd thou wilt be able to penetrate into the inward Marrow and mystery of the Holy Scriptures He will best comprehend the true sence of Scripture in his head that hath it written and impress'd upon his heart Thou wilt never as one truly observes understand Paul's meaning unless thou art endued with Paul's spirit The Secret of God is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Psal 25.12 14. And Christ in the Gospel will manifest himself to them that Love him and such shall know the mind of the Lord Joh. 14.21 22 23. Thirdly Come to the reading and perusing of the Scriptures with an humble self-denying frame of heart and be not puffed up with a vain Conceit of thine own knowledge and attainments He that thinks he knowes any thing knowes nothing yet as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 Empty Vessels are most receptive and so are self-emptied Christians It 's a great help to Knowledg not to be ignorant of our Ignorance * Deo meo gratias ago quod Ignorantiam meam non ignoro The fruitful showers quickly glide away from the lofty Hills But they stay and smoke in the Low-Valleys God who resists the Proud gives Grace and Spiritual Knowledge to the humble With the Lowly is true Wisdom Prov. 11.2 And the Meek and Humble he will teach his Way Psal 25.9 Math. 11.25 Fourthly Observe and eye Christ and Salvation by him as the very Scope Marrow and Substance of the whole Scriptures What are the Scriptures but as it were the Spiritual swadling-Cloaths of the Holy Child Jesus He is the Truth and Substance of all the Types and Shaddows He is the Matter and Quintescence of the Covenant of Grace under all the Administrations thereof The Center of all the Promises In whom they are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 The Thing signifyed sealed and exhibited in all the Sacraments of the Old and New-Testament The holy Scripture What is it else but Christ's Light whereby we come to know him Christ's Voyce whereby we hear and follow Him and Christ's Cords of Love whereby we are drawn into sweet Union and Fellowship with Him But to Conclude Suppose thou should'st have Breach upon Breach and still remain a sad pensive Soul all thy Dayes here in this Life without any Spiritual Comfort or Inlargment after all thy Wrestlings and Endeavours it may be for twenty thirty or forty Years yet What is this to Eternity What if it were for a hundred Years so thou com'st to Heaven at last and escap'st those Everlasting Torments which are prepared for the Wicked Ye shall weep and lament saith Christ to his Disciples Joh. 16.20 but the World shall rejoyce Yea but your Sorrow shall be turn'd into Joy and the World 's Rejoycing into Sorrow and Lamentation Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be Comforted Math. 5.4 The Lord supports his People by the secret powerful Influence of his Grace whil'st they walk in darkness and want the Light of Spiritual Consolation And here let us consider these four things 1. God doth never totally desert his Saints The Lord will not forsake his People for his great Name 's sake 1 Sam. 12.22 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 The Words are Emphatical Here