Joy in Tribulation, Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIV. Recollecting and applying these things by short meditation.
NOw then in the last place let the troubled soule in some inward conference, underset, and prop up his shaken faith by applying these assurances unto himselfe.
Say then in thy heart: How long (oh my soule) how long wilt thou suffer this feare, which hath torment, 1 Ioh. 4-18to hold thee downe in continuall affright, and vexation? how long shall it keep out that spirituall joy, which is thy only Paradise on earth?
Search, oh my Spirit, search ou… in these heavenly Records those sure evidences, whereby thy Lord hath graciously conv…yed unto thee this happy and blessed estate. Are they not layed up in the middest of thy heart? See here first divers strong assurances that God hath clensed thee from reigning hypocrisie, that hee hath given thee a thirst of righteousnesse, not onelyonly a desire to know him, but to walke with him in all sincerity of obedience. That hee hath given thee an unfeined delight, and joy, not onelyonly in the Promises, but in every Commandement of thy Lord, liking, and heartily loving that purifying fire of the Word, whereby thou art refined as gold, and seperate from this sinfull drosse, which is so mixed, and incorporate with thee. A zealous anger, and griefe burning within thee, detesting every sinne whereby thy Saviour is dishonoured; and above all, thine owne, in which thou (unthankefull wretch) too often forgettest that incomperable, incomprehensible love, wherewith hee hath compassed, and embraced thee. A continuall longing after the Lord Jesus, after his death, that thou maist be buried in it; after his resurrection, that thou maist be quickened by it; and not only justified in that other, but sactifi…d in this life, and renewed after that his glorious image, and divine beauty. True indeed, my weake soule, too true thou art full of infirmities, very unfruitfull, very unprofitable: every one out-strips thee, and those who have set out long after thee in this heavenly race, are now much before thee: But yet comfort thy selfe, for even in this estate thy gracious Saviour leaves thee not altogether comfortlesse, but still affords thee some token of his eternall love: for seeing thy weakenesse, thou art humbled within me, and broken with griefe of thy barrennesse.Esa. …7.15. Remember that he as much delights in the low feat of an humble spirit, as in the loftiest Throne of his glorious heavens.
But rise, my dejected soule, oh rise up in strong consolations, and glorious rejoycings. See here, oh see thou hast an infallible evidence that the Father of lights hath begotten thee through the word of Truth: and that thou art borne anew, not of mortall, but immortall seede, the Word of God; and therefore entred not into a corruptible, but eternall life. For, seest thou not that seede of thy Father abiding in thee? feelest thou not an unslaked thirst of that sincere milke of the Gospell, not that thou mightst have it in thy mouth for discourse, but in thy heart for growth; growth in all obedience, growth in all holinesse and perfection. Behold also, behold with joy unspeakeable, Thy Saviour hath assured his victory unto thee, and hath already throwne downe the dominion of sinne in thee. It is, indeed, an enemy, a strong, a grievous, encombring, vexing, and ah too often prevailing enemy, but an enemy: thou professest no obedience, but proclaimest open warre to every sinne: how much more will he, who conquered it reigning, subdue it rebelling in thee? yea, certainely, the Lord Jesus hath set up his victorious Crosse in thee, and he that now hangs out a flagge of defiance, will shortly set up his banner of triumph, trample all thine enemies, and bruise under thy feet both sinne, and Satan.
Consider also that the ble… sed Spirit (the life of thy spirit) dwelleth, and continually worketh in thee. It cannot bee that uncleane spirit (the Prince of disobedience) it cannot bee the spirit of the world, or that fleshly sinfull spirit within thee, which is ever washing thee from uncleannesse, seperating thee more and more from the world, and the corruption which is in the world through lust, which drawes and frames thy desires and actions to all obedience unto the Lord Jesus; which gives thee no peace in sinne, suffers thee not to rest in any imperfection, discovers thy corruption, causeth thee to groane under it, puts thee forward in thy race, enflames thy affections, and orders thy feet to turne out of the evill, into the good way, and to runne in it. Dost thou not finde in thee an unfeyned love to the Brethren? Doth not thy judgement highly esteeme them? Doth not thy will, doe not thy affections entirely love, and honour them? Doth not thy whole soule blesse them? How dost thou cleave to them in heart? How dost thou admire those that excell upon the earth in holinesse? How doest thou delight in them, and art ravished with their heavenly fellowship?
Looke now to thy evidence; sworne by the Father, written by the Spirit, sealed by the bloud of thy Saviour.
Is not hee borne of God, who loves the children of God? Is not hee a member, who loves a fellow-member? Is not hee quickened by the same Spirit, who is united in the same spirituall love to those who live & walk in the Spirit? Rejoyce then, oh my sonle, rejoyce in the Lord, and in these assurances of his everlasting truth, and favour. Cast out this spirit of bondage, this servile, this tormenting feare. Bring in that joy of the Spirit, seat it in the midst of thy heart. There let it abide, there let it reigne, making thee to delight in the Lord, to turne, and tune thy grones and sighs, to hymnes and spirituall songs, ever blessing him, who never ceaseth to blesse thee; to love his glory, and glory in his love, to serve him in joy, and rejoyce in his service.