The Right Method for a Settled Peace of Conscience, Direction 21
DIRECTION XXI.
21. The next advice which I muſt give you is this, Be thankfull if you can but reach to a ſetled Peace and compoſure of your minde, and lay not too much on the high raptures and feelings of comfort which ſome do poſſeſs: And if ever you enjoy ſuch feeling Joyes, expect not that they ſhould be either long or often.
IT is the cauſe of miſerable languiſhing to many a poor ſoul to have ſuch importunate expectations of ſuch paſſionate Joyes, that they think without theſe they have no true comfort at all; no witneſs of the Spirit, no Spirit of Adoption, no joy in the holy Ghoſt. Some think that others have much of this though they have not, and therefore … themſelves becauſe it is no… … as with others: when alas, they little … how it goes with others! Some … raptures ſometimes themſelves; and therefore when they are gone, they think they are forſaken, and that all grace, or peace at leaſt is gone with them. Take heed of theſe expectations. And to ſatisfie you let me tell you theſe two or three things: 1. A ſetled calm and peace of ſoul is a great Mercy, and not to be undervalued and looked at as Nothing, 2. The higheſt raptures and paſſionate feeling joyes, are uſually of moſt doubtfull ſincerity. Not that I would have any ſuſpect the ſincerity of them without cauſe: but ſuch paſſions are not ſo certain ſignes of Grace, as the ſetled frame of the underſtanding and will▪ nor can we ſo eaſily know that they are of the Spirit: and they are liable to more queſtioning, and have in them a greater Poſſibility of deceit. Doubtleſs it is very much that Phantaſie and Melancholy, and ſpecially a natural weakneſs and moveable temper will do in ſuch caſes▪ Mark whether it be not moſtly theſe three ſorts of people that have or pretend to have ſuch extraordinary raptures and feelings of joy. 1. Women and others that are moſt paſſionate▪ 2. Melancholy People. 3. Men that by erroneous opinions have loſt almoſt all their underſtandings in their phantaſies, and live like men in a continual dream. Yet I doubt not but ſolid men have oft high joyes; and more we might all have if we did our duty: And I would have no Chriſtian content himſelf with a dull quietneſs of ſpirit, but by all means poſſible to be much in labouring to rejoyce in God, and raiſing their ſouls to heavenly delights: O what lives do we loſe, which we might enjoy! But my meaning is this: Look at theſe joyes and delights as Duties and as Mercies, but look not at them as Marks of trial; ſo as to place more neceſſity in them then God hath done, or to think them to be ordinary things. If you do but feel ſuch an high eſtimation of Chriſt and Heaven, that you would not leave him for all the world, take this for your ſureſt Signe. And if you have but ſo much Probability or Hope of your intereſt in him, that you can think of God as one that loveth you, and can be thankfull to Chriſt for Redeeming you, and are gladder in theſe hopes of your intereſt in Chriſt and Glory then if you were owner of all the world; take this for a happy Mercy and a high Conſolation. Yet I mean not that your joy in Chriſt will be alwaies ſo ſenſible, as for worldly things; but it will be more rational, ſolid, and deeper at the Heart. And that you may know by this, You would not for all the Pleaſures, Honours or Profits in the world be in the ſame caſe as once you were (ſuppoſing that you were converted ſince you had the uſe of Reaſon and Memory) or at leaſt as you ſee the ungodly world ſtill lye in.
3. And let me adde this: Commonly thoſe that have the higheſt paſſionate joyes have the ſaddeſt lives: for they have with all the moſt paſſionate fears and ſorrows. Mark it whether you finde not this prove true. And it is partly from Gods will in his diſpenſations: partly from their own neceſſities, who after their exaltations do uſually need a prick in the fleſh, and a meſſenger of Satan to buffet them, leſt they be exalted above meaſure: and partly and moſt commonly it is from the temperature of their bodies. Weak paſtionate women of moveable ſpirits and ſtrong affections, when they Love they Love violently, and when they Rejoyce, eſpecially in ſuch caſes, they have moſt ſenſible joyes, and when any fears ariſe, they have moſt terrible ſorrows. I know it is not ſo with all of that ſex; but mark the ſame people uſually that have the higheſt Joyes, and ſee whether at other times they have not the greateſt troubles. This week they are as at the gates of Heaven, and the next as at the doors of hell. I am ſure with many it is ſo. Yet it need not be ſo if Chriſtians would but look at theſe high joyes as Duties to be endeavoured and Mercies to be valued: But when they will needs Judge of their ſtate by them, and think that God is gone from them, or forſaken them, when they have not ſuch joyes, then it leaves them in terror and amazement. Like men after a flaſh of lightning that are left more ſenſible of the darkneſs. For no wiſe man can expect that ſuch Joyes ſhould be a Chriſtians ordinary ſtate; or God ſhould ſo diet us with a continual feaſt. It would neither ſuit with our health, nor the condition of this Pilgrimage. Live therefore on your Peace of conſcience as your ordinary diet: when this is wanting, know that God appointeth you a faſt for your health: and when you have a feaſt of high Joyes, feed on it and be thankfull: but when they are taken from you, gape not after them as the Diſciples did after Chriſt at his Aſcenſion; but return thankfully to your ordinary diet of Peace: and remember that theſe Joyes which are now taken from you, may ſo return again: however there is a place preparing for you, where your Joyes ſhall be full.