Sacred Therapy, Book 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Wherein is solved the doubt of the regenerat man, raised by his suspicion, whether he be elected or not.
IT cometh to passe sometimes, that a sinner lamenting his sins, and seeking liberation from sin and misery, doth call in question whether he be regenerat, because he hath a deep and fixed suspicion, that he shall possibly be …ound not among the Elect, and by consequ…nce be found a reprobat: of whom if ye ask a reason why he saith so, he can give no solid answer, only he will tell you he can perceive no certain signs and evidences of his election: yea, that he findeth nothing in himself, but that which may be found in reprobats, and that he is affraid he be found one of that number, and that this suspicion hath taken deep root in him, that he cannot rid himself of this doubt and fear.
2. This case, we must confesse, is very dangerous, except it be timously cu…ed; for, here faith is taken as it were by the throat, and the ground of hope is like to be razed. The suspicion of Gods decree is dayly fostered and augmented, and the afflicted person, not only doubteth of Gods good-will to him, but is tempted unto desperation: By this means the command of God to believe the promises and consolations of the Gospel, seem to him to be offered to him all in vain: the hope of successe, or profiting in the use of the means appointed by God, is undermined, so long as this suspicion is entertained; yea, all the exercises of religion become burthensome, out of a fear he shall follow the exercise thereof to no purpose; and so the duties of religion, are oft-times left undone, or cast off for a time, if the tentation grow strong, and continue with him without cure or comfort; thus he standeth upon the border and precipice of some sort of desperation, if his fear and suspicion be not removed in some measure.
3. For cure of this case, the Pastor or prudent friend, as in all his conferences with the afflicted, So here in speciall, must seriously pray to God, that he would blesse the means of information and consolation, which he is about to use for the satisfying of the afflicted.
To this end therefore, first, let all the reasons whereby the afflicted pretendeth to make his reprobation probable, be resumed and refuted as frivolous all of them. And certainly, they cannot but be found frivolous, because God hath not given any certain evidence or sign of reprobation, so long as a man is alive, except that sin unto death, the sin against the holy Ghost, in a malicious refusing, rejecting and hostile opposing of Jesus Christ wittingly and willingly: for, as to finall unbelief and impenitency, no man can passe sentence upon any person, that hath heard any thing of the Gospel, so long as breath is in him; for, God can convert a soul to himself in the pangs of imminent death, as he did the thief on the crosse.
All the evil which the afflicted can say of himself, cannot prove him a reprobat, the hight which his reckoning can rise unto to fortifie his own suspicion of himself, is only to give appearance that he is … regenerat; mean time we pre…uppone the afflicted person under this tentation, to labour under the sense of manyfold sins (which do furnish strength unto the tentation) and to be hungry and thirsty for righteousnesse, and to be desirous to draw near to God in Christ, if he could be delivered of his suspicion of Gods purpose and affection towards him. And therefore his christian friends are bound in charity to expound this his hunger for righteousnesse, and thristy desire of reconciliation through Christ, to be a begun work of gracious regeneration, and so also a hopefull sign that he is elected.
Secondly, after refutation of his pretended reasons for his suspicion and fear, this suspicion must be set before him as a strong tentation of Sathan, and a soulmurthering lie, thrown as a fiery dart at him, (such as the Apostle, Ephes. 6. maketh mention of) of set purpose to beat the shield of faith out of his hand: Wherefore he must be exhorted to resist the Tempter, and that so much the more, as Sathan out of envy and malice doth slander God, and the begun work of grace in the man, and all to vex the soul of him whom he cannot keep in his snare.
Thirdly, the giving so much way to this wicked suggestion, must be represented to the patient as an act of ignorance and folly, yea an act of iniquity and injury unto God, and to his own soul: for, what a madnesse is it to pry in upon the secret counsell of God, and to neglect his revealed will set down in Scripture? what presumption to intrude our selves upon his secret decrees, and to cast behind our back his open commands given to us? To refuse obedience to Gods ordinances given to us for our salvation, except he shall first…ll us what is his purpose about us in particular? To open our ears to the false suggestions of the devil a lyar, and murtherer from the beginning, and stop ou… ears from hearing the voice of God speaking to us in Scripture? Wherefore, let the afflicted under this temptations take heed to what is said, De…t. 29. 29. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but these things that are revealed belong u…to us and our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this Law. Let the Lords Command be first obeyed, and then the decree of God concerning the believer in him, shall be timeously revealed: for, his promises are agreeable with his decrees, and his promises are offered to us, that thereby his decrees may be brought on unto a just and gracious execution.
Fourthly, let the afflicted call to minde, what benefits the Lord hath bestowed upon him from his infancy, and in special, that he hath offered, and doth continue to offer, Christ Jesus unto him, if he will receive him for wisdom, righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption; and upon this ground he is bound to give unto God a good construction in every sort of dispensation toward him, and look upon God as his friend and father.