Time Well Spent in Sacred Meditations, Part 42 – Part 53
Doubting.
1. What manner of doubting may ſtand with Hard to diſcerne vvhat doubting ſtands vvith faith.faith, though it weaken faith, and what doubting quite ſhuts out faith, is not eaſily ſeene, and more hardly uttered to the ſight of the weake.
2. Although this be by the wiſe providence of God that many of Gods true children, who therefore have had ſound com Gods children doubt and vvaver oftentimes, vvhichwhich the Lord diſpoſeth to good.fort in Chriſt, doe eſpecially in their infirmitie oft greatly waver and doubt and ſo become uncomfortable, which the Lord for good cauſe diſpoſeth, leſt by their ſudden change from ſo damnable State and uncomfortable, to ſo happy and joyfull, they ſhould be lifted up, made conceited and ſecure, and ſo preſumptuous, the forerunners and cauſes alſo of a fearefull fall; yet this is certaine, that this is their ſinne, a weakneſſe which To doubt is a ſinne, and to bee vvithſtood.muſt be withſtood and overcome, for the attaining whereto, the cauſe of this doubting muſt be ſearched and ſo removed, which ordinarily is our owne infirmities, neglect and Hovv to remove the ſame.weakneſſe in good duties, too great proneneſſe and ſtrength in ſinne, whereupon the tender conſcience feareth his former comfort was vaine, and ſo doubteth of his eſtate; for the right removing hereof, this is duly to be conſidered that as the roote of our comfort in Chriſt is not the ſtrength of our Chriſtian life, ſo the weakneſſe herein ought not to breede doubting of our ſalvation by Chriſt. But Cauſes of Salvation.for ſo much as all our comfort ſtands in this that God who juſtifieth the ungodly hath freely given his Sonne, and in him is reconciled to us being his enemies, and hath by his Goſpell called us, and by his ſpirit wrought faith in our hearts to receive Chriſt ſo given unto us, whereby wee being dead in ſinne and having no goodneſſe in us, were made alive to God, and ſo were new borne, and then doe beginne to bee changed firſt in affection, and then in converſation by little and little, from a childe growing to a riper age in Chriſt. Therefore if wee The aſſurance of our nevv birth a remedie againſt doubting.have this aſſurance of our new birth, though we feele much weakneſſe of the ſpirituall life, yet wee ought not to doubt whether wee bee Gods children, ſeeing hee that is ſo new borne as aforeſaid, can never dy; but rather we are to remember, 1. Wee are but children, and therefore weak. 2. Wee are very ſubject to many ſpirituall diſeaſes, ſome ſuch as take away ſenſe of life, and therefore muſt ſeeke to bee cured and not deſpaire of life ſeeing wee cannot periſh. This cannot breede ſecuritie Senſe of our vveakneſſe and infirmities no breeder of ſecurity.in ſinne to any, for he that ſeeing himſelfe miſerable doth beleeve to bee ſaved by Chriſt, cannot but love God, and for love ſtudie and travell to obey him, no more then fire can be without heate, ſo that they who ſay they thus beleeve and live not Chriſtianly, are lyars & the truth Faith and an holy life goe together.is not in them. If any tender conſcience, ignorant & weak (for ſo muſt they needs be) ſhould ſay, I am ſuch a one, becauſe they Comfort to a tender conſciencefeele ſo little grace in them, they may manifeſtly be diſproved by the true effects of faith, which no faith can be without, true love of God, his Word, his Saints, deſire to pleaſe God, griefe for former and preſent ſinnes, and ſuch like. If any hypocrite The hypocrite diſproved.will ſay he thus beleeveth, and in ſome meaſure thus liveth, let him try his inward affections why hee doth all duty, it will bee found not in love to God and recompence of his kindneſſe, but either for the credit of the world, or mercenarily for obtaining Gods favour, whom his ſecuritie, jollitie, preſumption, and want of ſenſe of his infirmities and of an holy feare of falling and care to pleaſe God in ſecret will deſcrie.
3. A true beleever falling into ſin, ought (if hee can) Having fallen into ſinne to doubt of Gods favour vvill not raiſe up.hold his confidence, though he be foulie fallen, and rather lament that hee Gods childe ſhould ſo diſhonour his father; for the doubting of Gods favour cannot raiſe him from his fall, but the beholding of it, is that alone which will breede holy and acceptable ſorrow for ſinne and conſcience of amendment.
4. Its evident that many They vvho moſt ſuſpect their ovvne vveakneſſe prove ſtrongeſt in the time of tryall.of the carefulleſt Chriſtians ſeeing their infirmities, doe moſt doubt whether they have faith, who yet for the moſt part in time of tryall finde more then others who bee more ſecure and confident, but yet this is their fault, that they looke too much to effects and not to the cauſe of their juſtification, and in beholding the effects The ſaints looke too much on the effects, too little on the cauſes of juſtification.through ignorance and feare, judge amiſſe, not ſeeing the true effects of faith in them, being blinded with their wants.
5. This is found in many true Chriſtians, that they oft doubt of their ſalvation, and feare they bee not Gods children, becauſe they ſee ſuch ſinnes and wants in themſelves, and hereupon be oft moved to greater care of an holy life thinking that otherwayes Many ſeeing much corruption in themſelves, vveaken their faith that they might by feare be made more carefull in life, vvho ſhould indeed increaſe their faith, that they might be more quickened thereby to an holy life.they may not beleeve; and on the other ſide, that if they ſee more mortification of their corruptions, and more ſtrength to good duties, that they may boldly beleeve: wherein they pittifully deceive themſelves many wayes, 1. That they often obtaine not their deſire in mortification. 2. That if they by this meanes prick themſelves to more care for a ſeaſon, yet ſo ſoone as their feare is ſlacked their care is ended. 3. That if their care ſhould continue, yet this is not that which can either cauſe them firſt to beleeve, or elſe any way encreaſe their faith, onelyonly this can more certainely prove, that they have and do indeede beleeve, and ſo may comfort them; for there is nothing that can beget or encreaſe faith, but Gods promiſe, and ſeales thereof truly applyed. They therefore who doubting doe thus think to encreaſe faith by leading a better life, doe take a wrong courſe, and plainely ſhew that in their holy life, they ſeeke themſelves and not the Lord, and are not moved thereto by the true love of God, which is the chiefe mother of true obedience, whereas they ought rather, (having good cauſe to doubt whether they have ſoundly beleeved, ſeeing they finde in themſelves no comfortable fruits of their faith) to labour more ſtedfaſtly to beleeve, that ſo their faith, as fire encreaſeth by the heate of it, may ſend forth more fervent effects of love to God and obedience, which ſhall then effectually comfort them, ſeeing ſuch fruits of ſuch a root.
6. In the deepeſt thoughts of our ſalvation A principall means of vveakning faith.this oft riſeth up to weaken our faith, that God having ordained ſome to deſtruction, and yet (to make the ſole cauſe of mans perdition to bee in himſelfe) prepared a remedy for all, and in his teſtament bequeathed it to all, and publiquely proclaimed it to the world, though for his part determining to give grace to receive it onelyonly to his choſen, and to leave the other to themſelves, what warrant wee have to beleeve, that we are of them to whom God hath determined to give his grace, and who indeed ſhal receive it, and not of thoſe who herein deepely deceive themſelves, whereunto the The removall thereof.ſoundeſt anſwere is this, that, the ſecret determination of God is to himſelfe, and not to be enquired in to of us, who cannot know our election till wee know our effectuall calling; who to this end muſt attend to his revealed will, wherein he certifieth all to whom the Goſpell commeth, that he would have none periſh, but beleeve, & therefore inviteth all of them, exhorteth, entreateth thē by his miniſters to be reconciled unto him, and ſore threatneth if they beleeve not. Upon all which this may bee concluded, that its great ſinne and follie for him to whom the Lord hath revealed his will concerning his ſalvation, and by many meanes prepared him thereto (as giving him ſight and ſenſe of his miſerie, knowledge of, and unfained deſire of Chriſt the onelyonly remedy, calling and commanding him to receive him, together with cleere knowledge that he in his word hath promiſed this remedie to him) for him I ſay its great ſinne notwithſtanding all this (upon no ground, but onelyonly a ſuſpicious feare) to doubt that God will not yet ſave him, but doth this to his farther condemnation, whereof there is no feare, but to ſuch as contemne this grace, or receive it in vain, not being drawne thereby in truth to love and ſeeke Gods honour by unfained obedience to his will, whereas all they who knowing the benefit by Chriſt in reſpect of the greatneſſe of it, and their owne great unworthineſſe doe feare they ſhall never obtaine it, though they above all deſire it, they I ſay ought to be bold and count it no preſumption Its no preſumption to give credit to God in his Word.to give credit to God in his word, that hee will according to his promiſe beſtow his Sonne, and in him eternall life upon them; for ſuch doth Chriſt expreſſely call unto him, Mat. 11. 28. yea hereupon ought they boldly without feare to adventure their ſoules health & eternall happineſſe, that by this perſwaſion they may bee drawne to love and obey God, and ſo bee confirmed, yea more to feare their hearts from this horrible ſinne of unbeleefe (the greateſt of all other) Unbeleefe an horrible ſinne.whereby they knowing what God hath ſaid, yea unto them, doe yet in not giving credit to him that he will be as good as his word, make him a lyar, and ſo a falſe God; much more ſuch as have received the earneſt of Gods Spirit renewing their heart… and lives, ought to be of good comfort and ſhake off ſuch doubts. The cauſe of this Cauſes of diſtruſt.diſtruſt is in many their owne unworthineſs, which bewrayeth great ignorance and errour, that God giveth his Sonne to the worthy, though not of merit (which no Proteſtant holdeth) but ofmeer mercy to thoſe that truely repent them, (which is petie Poperie) whereas the truth of God is, that hee having given his Son to none but ſuch as had no grace nor repentance in them, that they by receiving Chriſt by faith, might receive grace to beginne to repent, and ſo daily to grow therein, therefore as none ought to beleeve becauſe they have repented, ſo none ought to be afraid to beleeve becauſe of his Our unvvorthines muſt not let us from beleeving.unworthineſſe, the ſenſe whereof doth make him moſt fit to beleeve, and receive Chriſt. The want of knowledge and due regard of this one point is a principall cauſe of diſtruſt on the one ſide, and vaine preſumption on the other, both workes of perdition.
7. For removing of Hovv to remove doubts of Gods favour.our doubts of Gods favour either generally or in ſome particular actions▪ there muſt bee, 1. A ſound judgement to direct when wee ought to doubt or not, and 2. A daily labour according to our judgement to doubt and beleeve as cauſe is.
Dreames.
Of dreams which make ſome deepe impreſſion in The uſe to be made of dreames vvhetherus, and abide longer, its good to make ſome profit, and they may be thought to come from God or the devill, according to their divers ends and effects. An evill,evill dreame ſhewes an evill heart, in ſome ſinne either committed, or whereto we be ſubject, and may ſhortly follow. If they be terrible, they may terrible,forewarne of ſome evill to come, that we may avoide it by good meanes, yet ſo as we neither feare orthem too much, nor quite contemne them: ſo for the good, that we perſwade not our ſelves of having it, good.nor yet neglect it. The ſame may be ſaid for the event of witcheries and ſlanders.
Dulneſſe and Deadneſſe.
1. A common thing it is in Gods children after Dulneſſe vvhen chiefely found.their greateſt joyes to feel great dulneſſe and deadneſſe of minde. When the ſame ſeiſeth upon us, 1. We ought to ſearch the cauſe, whetherdoing ſome The cauſes thereof to be ſearchedevill, leaving off ſome good to bee done, neglecting the meanes of ſalvation, not ſeeing or not repenting ſome ſinne ſeene, or not repenting ſo ſoundly; or for unthankfulneſſe for former graces. 2. Wee muſt uſe the remedie, not The remedie to bee uſed.pleaſing our ſelves in this deadneſſe, but ſtirring up our ſelves as from ſlumber, calling to minde Gods ſpeciall mercies on us, and our unworthy receiving and uſing of them, uſing all good meanes to quicken us. 3. In uſing the meanes to offer our ſelves to God, Gods help to be vvaited for.waiting patiently for his helpe, eſteeming neither too little nor too much our Note.affliction.
2. It falleth out that Gods children are ſometimes more dull with the Why the godly are ſometimes more dull vvith the publique meanes then vvithout.publique meanes, then without, which may ariſe from hence, that either they are too remiſſe in the uſe of the private, or elſe fall to loathing the publique, becauſe they have them ſo often, or put too much confidence in ſuch places, which the Lord correcteth by denying the uſe, and ſuch like.
Dutie.
For infirmities ſake to leave a duty undone is to The omiſſion of a duty for infirmities ſake hovv dangerous.cover ſinne, not to overcome it.
Earneſtneſſe.
IN our earneſtneſſe its In earneſtneſſe the heart is to be ſearchedneceſſary to ſearth our hearts, whether it be of the Spirit, or of the fleſh, and if we cannot ſee the depth of our hearts, it argueth want of prayer and travailing with our affections to know them.
Eaſe.
Long eaſe will bring either Long eaſe hovv dangerous.ſuperſtition, prophaneneſſe or hereſie through our corruption.
Elect and Reprobate.
A Reprobate of knowledge Difference betvveene the faith of the elect and of the reprobatelying in deſpaire, may beleeve that both Chriſt can and would eaſe him, if hee could beleeve and come unto Chriſt to be eaſed, but diſtruſting this, comes not, turnes away frō God. But the elect beleeving that Chriſt will eaſe all commers to him, is drawne by Gods Spirit to apply this to himſelfe, and make reckoning he comming ſhall bee eaſed, and therefore indeed ſeeketh with faith to Chriſt, and is eaſed; to come to Chriſt is not ſimply to beleeve, What it is to come to Chriſt.but (beleeving Chriſt will be as good as his word) in ſpirit to goe unto the throne of grace, and deſire the ſame, as a begger invited comes for reliefe.
Evills.
Theſe be two evills very dangerous: To pretend Tvvo dangerous evills.great comfort, and make ſmall conſcience in our life, and to confeſſe our faith is weake, and yet to be content therewith.
Excuſe.Unvvillingneſſe to do good to be ſtriven againſt
When we are unwilling to doe good, an excuſe is too readie, its good therefore earneſtly to ſtrive to overcome this, and then to take opportunity to doe the ſame.
Examples.
Particular examples Particular examples vvhen to be made generall inſtructions.may be made generall inſtructions, when the cauſe of the mis generall.
Exerciſe.
As God hath given great variety of heavenly The variety of heavenly exerciſes tedious to our nature.exerciſes, and matters to be exerciſed in, ſo we ſhall finde ſuch irkeſomeneſſe in our nature, that wee care not to uſe this variety for our reliefe.
Failings.
WHen we ſee wherein wee have failed What uſe is to bee made of our failings.in any part of our daily practiſe, we are not to make ſlight thereof, or favour our ſelves therein, but labour ſpeedily to recover, leſt we grow hardned and incurable.