The Souls Conflict With Itself, Chapter 8
CAP. VIII.
Of unfitting dejection: and when it is excessive. And what is the right temper of the soule herein.
§. 1.
THen, how shall we know when a man is Quest.cast downe and disquieted, otherwise then is befitting?
There is a 3. fold miscarriage of inward Answ.trouble.
1. When the soule is troubled for that … should not be vexed for, as Ahab, when 1hee was crost in his will for Nab… vineyard.
2. In the ground, as when we grieve 2.for that which is good, and for that which wee should grieve for; but it is with too much reflecting upon o… owne particular.
As in the troubles of the state … Church, we ought to be affected; b… not because these troubles hinder any liberties of the flesh, and restrain pride of life, but from higher respects: A… that by these troubles God is dishonoured, the publike exercises of Religion hindred, and the gathering of soules thereby stopped: As, the States and Common-wealths which should be harbours of the Church, are disturbed; as lawlesse courses and persons prevaile; as Religion and Justice is triumphed over, and trodden under. Men usually are grieved for publique miseries from a spirit of selfe-love only, because their owne private is imbarqued in the publique. There is a depth of deceit of the heart in this matter.
3. So for the measure, when wee trouble our selves (though not without 3cause) yet without bounds.
The spirit of man is like unto moist elements, as ayre and water, which have no bounds of their owne to containe them in, but those of the vessell that keepes them: water is spilt and lost without something to hold it; so it is with the spirit of man, unlesse it be bounded with the Spirit of God. Put the case a man be disquieted for sinne (for which not to be disquieted is a sin) yet we may looke too much, and too long upon it, for the soule hath a double eye, one to looke to sinne, another to looke up to Gods mercy in Christ. Having two objects to looke on, wee may sinne in looking too much on the one, with neglect of the other.
§. 2.
Seeing then, disquieting and dejectin Quest.for sinne is necessary, how shall wee k… when it exceeds measure?
First, when it hinders us from holy duties, Answ. 1or in the performance of them, by distraction or otherwise; whereas they are given to carry us to that which is pleasing to GOD, and good to our selves.
Griefe is ill when it taketh off the soule from minding that it should, and so indisposeth us to the duties of o… callings. Christ upon the Crosse was grieved to the utmost, yet it did not take away his care for his mother; so the good theefe in the middest of his pangs laboured to gaine his fellow, and Luk. 23. 42to save his owne soule, and to glorifie Christ. If this be so in griefe of body which taketh away the free use of reason, and exercise of grace more then any other griefe, then much more in griefe from more remote causes, for in extremity of body the sicknesse may be such, as all that wee can performe to God is a quiet submission, and a desire to bee carried unto Christ by the prayers of others; we should so minde our griefe as not to forget Gods mercy, or our owne duty.
Secondly, when wee forget the 2grounds of comfort, & suffer our minde to runne onelyonly upon the present grievance, it is a sinne to dwell on sinne and turmoile our thoughts about it, when we are called to thankfulnesse. A Physitian in good discretion forbids a dish at sometimes to prevent the nourishment of some disease, which another time hee gives way unto. So wee may and ought to abstaine from too much feeding our thoughts upon our corruptions in case of discouragement, which at other times is very necessary. It should be our wisedome in such cases to change the object, and labour to take off our minds, and give them to that which calls more for them; Griefe oft presseth unseasonably upon us, when there is cause of joy, and when we are called to joy; as Ioab justly found fault with David for grieving too much, when GOD had given him the victory, and rid him and the State of a traiterous sonne. GOD hath made some dayes for joy, and joy is the proper worke of those dayes. This is the Psal. 118. 24.day which the Lord hath made. Some in a sicke distemper, desire that which increaseth their sicknesse; so some that are deepely cast downe, desire a wakening ministery, and what ever may cast them downe more; whereas they should meditate upon comforts, and get some sweet assurance of Gods love. Joy is the constant temper which the soule should bee in, Rejoyce evermore, 1. Thes. 5. 16.(saith the Apostle.) If a sinke bee stirred, we stir it not more, but goe into a sweeter roome. So wee should thinke of that which is comfortable, and of such trueths as may raise up the soule, and sweeten the spirit.
Thirdly, Griefe is too much, when it inclines the soule to any inconvenient 3.courses: (for if it bee not lookt to it is an ill counsellor) when either it hurts the health of our bodies, or drawes the soule (for to ease it selfe) to some unlawfull liberty. When grief keeps such a noise in the soule, that it will not heare what the messengers of God, or the still voice of the Spirit saith, as in combustions, loud cries are scarce heard: so in such cases the soule will neither heare it selfe, nor others. The fruit of this overmuch trouble of spirit, is increase of trouble.
§. 3.
3. Another question may bee, Quest.What that sweet and holy temper is, the soule should be in, that it may neither bee faulty in the defect, nor too much abound in griefe and sorow.
1. The soule must bee raised to a Answ.right griefe.
2. The griefe that is raised, though it bee right yet it must bee bounded. Before wee speake of raising griefe in the godly, wee must know there are some who are altogether strangers to any kinde of spirituall griefe, or trouble at all; such must consider, that the way to prevent everlasting trouble, i… to desire to be troubled with a preventing trouble. Let those that are not in the way of grace thinke with themselves what cause they have, not to take a minutes rest while they are i… that estate. For a man to bee in debt both body and soule, subject every minute to be arrested and caried prisoner to Hell, and not to bee moved: Fo… man to have the wrath of GOD ready to bee powred out upon him, and Hell gape for him, nay to cary a hell about him in conscience (if it were awake) and to have all his comfort here hanging upon a weake threed of this li…e ready to bee cut and broken off every moment, and to bee cursed in all those blessings that he enjoyes: and yet not to be disquieted, but continually treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, by running deeper into God… books: for a man to bee thus, and not to bee disquieted, is but the Devills peace, whilest the strong man holds possession: A burning Ague is more hopefull than a Lethargy; The best service that can be done to such men, is to startle and rouze them, and so with violence to pull them out of the fire (as Iude speakes) or else they will another day curse that cruell mercy that lets Jude 23.them alone now. In all their jollity in this world, they are but as a Booke fairely bound, which when it is opened is full of nothing but Tragedies. So when the booke of their consciences shall be once opened, there is nothing to bee read but lamentations and woes. Such men were in a way of hope, if they had but so much apprehension of their estates, as to ask themselves, What have I done? If this bee true that there are such fearefull things prepared for sinners, why am I not cast downe? Why am I no more troubled and discouraged for my wicked courses? Despaire to such is the beginning of comfort; and trouble the beginning of peace. A storme is the way to a calme, and hell the way to heaven.
But for raising of a right grief in the 1. Right grief, hovv raised.soule of a holy man, looke what is the state of the soule in it selfe, in wh… termes it is with God; whether there be any sinne hanging on the fyle unrepented of. If all bee not well with in us, then heres place for inward trouble, whereby the soule may afflict it selfe.
God saw this griefe so needfull for his people, that he appointed certaine dayes for afflicting them; because it is Levit. 16. 29.fit that sinne contracted by joy should bee dissolved by griefe; and sinne is so deepely invested into the soule, that … separation betwixt the soule and it cannot be wrought without much griefe; when the soule hath smarted for sinne, it sets then the right price upon reconciliation with God in Christ, and it fe… leth what a bitter thing sinne is, and therefore it will bee afraid to bee … bold with it afterward; it likewise aweth the heart so, that it will not bee so loose towards GOD as it was before; and certainely that soule that hath … the sweetnesse of keeping peace wit… God, cannot but take deeply to heart, that there should bee any thing in us that should divide betwixt us and the fountaine of our comfort, that should stop the passage of our prayers, and the current of Gods favours both towards our selves and others; it is such an ill as is the cause of all other ill, and damps all our comforts.
2. Wee should looke out of our 2.selves also, considering whether for troubles at home and abroad God calls not to mourning or troubling of our selves; griefe of compassion is as well required as griefe of contrition.
It is a dead member that is not sensible of the state of the body. Ieremie for feare he should not weepe enough for the distressed estate of the Church, desired of God, that his eyes might be Ierem. 9. 1.made a fountaine of teares. A Christian, as hee must not bee proud flesh, so neither must he be dead flesh; none more truely sensible either of sinne or of misery (so farre as misery carries with it any signe of Gods displeasure) then a true Christian: which issues from the life of Grace, which (where it is in … measure) is lively, and therefore sensible: for God gives motion and sense for the preservation of life. As God bowels are tender towards us, so God people have tender bowells toward him, his cause, his people, and his Church The fruit of this sensiblenesse, is earn… prayer to God. (as Melanchton … well) If I cared for nothing, I would pr… Si nil curarem, nil orarem.for nothing.
2. Griefe being thus raised, must, 2. Griefe to be bounded.as wee said before, bee bounded a… guided.
1. God hath framed the soule a… planted such affections in it, as may answere 1. When our affections are pliableall his dealing towards his children; that when he enlargeth himselfe towards them, then the soule sho… enlarge it selfe to him againe; when … opens his hand wee ought to open o… hearts; when hee shewes any token… displeasure we should grieve; when … troubles us, wee should trouble a… grieve our selves. As God any … discovereth himself, so the soule sho… be in a sutable pliablenesse. Then … soule is as it should bee when it is ready to meet GOD at every turne, to joy when he calls for it, to mourne when hee calls for that, to labour to know Gods meaning in every thing.
Againe GOD hath made the soule 2. Whē fit to have communion with God.for a communion with himselfe, which communion is especially placed in the affections, which are the springs of all spirituall worship. Then the affections are well ordered, when wee are fit to have communion with God, to love, joy, trust, to delight in him above all things. The affections are the inward movings of the soule, which then move best when they move us to God, not from him. They are the feet of the soule, whereby wee walke with, and before God. When wee have our affections at such command, that wee can take them off from any thing in the world at such times as wee are to have more neare communion with God in hearing or prayer, &c. As Abrahā whē he Gen. 22. 5.was to sacrifice, left whatsoever might hinder him at the bottome of the Mount. When we let our affections so farre into the things of the world, as we can… take them off when wee are to de… with God; it is a signe of spirituall i… temperancie. It is said of the Israelites that they brought Aegypt with the… into the wildernesse; so many bring th… world in their hearts with them, wh… they come before God.
But because our affections are ne… well ordered without judgement, … 3. When our affections are suber▪ dinate.being to follow, not to lead; It is … evidence that the soule is in a fit temper, when there is such a harmony … it, as that wee judge of things as they are, and affect as we judge, and exec… as wee affect. This harmony with… breeds uniformity and constancie … our resolutions, so that there is (… were) an even thred drawne throug… the whole course and tenour of … lives, when wee are not off and on, … and downe. It argues an ill state of body, when it is very hot, or very col… or hot in one part, and cold in anoth… so unevennesse of spirit argues a distemper; a wise mans life is of one colour like it selfe. The soule bred fro… heaven, so farre as it is heavenly minded, desires to be (like heaven) above all stormes uniforme, constant; not as things under the Sunne, which are alwayes in changes, constant onelyonly in inconstancie. Affections are as it were the winde of the soule, and then the soule is carried as it should be, when it is neither so becalmed that it moves not when it should, nor yet tossed with tempests to move disorderly. When it is so well balaced that it is neither lift up, nor cast downe too much, but keepeth a steddy course. Our affections must not rise to become unruly passions, for then as a river that overfloweth the bankes, they carry much slime and soile with them. Though affections be the winde of the soule, yet unruly passions are the stormes of the soule, and will overturne all, if they be not suppressed. The best (as wee see in David here) if they doe not steare their hearts aright, are in danger of sudden gusts. A Christian must neither be a dead sea, nor a raging sea.
Our affections are then in best temper, 4.when they become so many graces of the Spirit; as when love is turned to When our affections become graces.a love of God; joy, to a delight in the best things; feare, to a feare of offending him more then any creature; sorrow, to a sorrow for sinne, &c.
They are likewise in good temper, when they move us to all duties of love 5 When fit to perform duties.and mercy towards others; when they are not shut, where they should be open, nor open where they should be shut.
Yet there is one case wherein exceeding In case of Gods dishonour, exceeding affection is no excesse.affection is not over exceeding, As in an extasie of zeale upon a sudd… apprehension of Gods dishonour, and his cause trodden under foot. It is better in this case, rather scarce to be … owne men then to be calme or quiet. It is said of Christ and David, that their hearts were eaten up with a holy zeale for Gods house. In such a case Moses unparalleld for meekenesse, was turned into an holy rage. The greatnesse … the provocation, the excellencie of th… object, and the weight of the occasion, beares out the soule, not onelyonly without blame, but with great praise, in such seeming distempers. It is the glory of a Christian to be carried with full saile, and as it were with a spring tide of affection. So long as the streame of affection runneth in the due channell, and if there bee great occasions for great motions, then it is fit the affections should rise higher, as to burne with zeale, to be sicke of love, to be more vile Cant. 25. 1 Sam. 6. 12for the Lord, as David; to be counted out of our wits with Saint Paul to further the cause of Christ and the good of soules.
Thus we may see, the life of a poore The life of a Christi… an is a life of trouble.Christian in this world, 1. he is in great danger if hee be not troubled at all. 2. when he is troubled, he is in danger to be over troubled. 3. when he hath brought his soule in tune againe, hee is subject to new troubles. Betwixt this ebbing and flowing there is very little quiet. Now because this cannot bee done without a great measure of Gods Spirit, our helpe is to make use of that promise of giving the holy Ghost to them Ioh. 11. 13.that aske it. To teach us when, how long, and how much to grieve: and when, and how long, and how much to rejoyce; the Spirit must teach the heart this, who as he moved upon the waters before the Creation, so hee must move upon the waters of our soules, for wee have not the command of our owne hearts. Every naturall man is carried away with his flesh and humours, upon which the devill rides, and carries him whither he list; he hath no better comsellors then flesh and blood, and Sathan counselling with them. But a godly m…n is not a slave to his carnall affections, but (as David here) labours to bring into captivity the first moti… of sinne in his heart.