Sacred Therapy, Book 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Wherein the regenerat mans doubt, whether he be in the state of grace, arising from his unquietnesse of spirit, is answered.
THis case is incident to many dear children of God, and may befall Champions in time of sad affliction, as we see in the Prophet, Ps. 42. 11. and 43. 5. why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? But even in time of outward prosperity, or when no great affliction bodily lyeth on, many, who in the sense of their sinfulnesse have fled to Jesus Christ, and have taken his yoke upon them, are troubled with doubtings, whether they be of the number of true believers, whether they have rightly come unto Christ, whether they have been well accepted of him; and for their doubting they can give no other reason, save this, I cannot be quiet, nor rest in assurance, that I am in the state of grace; if they be interrogat, what they think of the evident signs of their regeneration which have been and are to be seen in their conversation since they began in earnest to seek the face of God in Christ? They will possibly not altogether deny Gods work in them; but yet dare not lean weight upon these signs, because they do find these signs also brought in question, whether they have been or are kindly and sincere; mean time they are about to do that which is acceptable to God in the course of their calling, albeit with more heavinesse and lesse alacrity then b…cometh persons reconciled to God in Christ.
2. This disease will be found complicat and made up of moe mistakes and errors then one: and therefore is to be the more narrowly considered: because it is no small hinderance of a comfortable christian conversation, which God doth allow on his children; for in the party troubled with unquietnesse, we presuppone, I… there is a serious sense of sin, and purpose to do better. 2. An unfained embracing of the covenant of grace and reconciliation in Christ J…sus. And, 3. an honest, though weak, endeavour to bring forth the fruits of new obedience: and yet notwithstanding the person is not quiet, but walketh heavily and is discouraged, by reason of his uncertainty, whether he be in the state of grace or not: yea, he is cast down and disquieted, because he is disquieted, and cannot get a reasonable answer from his conscience when he asketh of it, why are thou cast down and disquieted within me?
3. The mistakes and errors, whence this dissatisfaction and unquietnesse doth flow are many; but we shall condescend upon eight or nine only. The first error, and cause of unquietnesse is, or may be this, that the party afflicted, albeit he have the habits of saving grace in him, and doth by Gods grace put forth these habits in actual exercise, yet he doth not reflect upon, nor turn his eye to observe, the operations of Gods holy Spirit in himself, nor the acts of saving grace, which the holy Spirit hath made him put forth, of which if he take not notice, they are to him for the time as if they were not; and so no wonder he be disquiet, while he perceiveth not in himself that which might make him quiet: For example, when the sense of sin is raised up in a mans spirit by the holy Ghost, if he do not observe that this is one of the operations of the holy Spirit convincing the world of sin, or if he do not turn back his eye on this operation, and upon his own act, stirred up thereby, to subscribe the sentence of the law against himself, no wonder that he doubt of his conversion, till he see the foot-steps of God the converter of him, from the love and approbation of sin, unto the hatred of it; and when he is …l…d to Christ the only Redeemer from sin and misery, and hath laid hold on him according to the covenant of grace offered in him, if he do not look back on this operation of God drawing him to Christ, and upon his own act of coming unto Christ, by the draught of Gods Spirit, what wonder he do not reckon himself among believers, albeit he be in Gods account one of that number? And when the holy Spirit hath kindled in him not only a purpose of new obedience, but also a begun endeavour to live holily, justly and soberly, if he do not observe and acknowledge these operations of Gods Spirit making him to bring forth these acts, what wonder that this mistake and inconsideration do open a door to disquietnesse and doubting, whether he be in the state of grace or not?
4. For removing this cause of disquietnesse, the afflicted person must beware that he passe not sentence of Gods dispensation towards him, according to the tentations and suggestions of Sathan, nor yet according to the opinion which his Pastor or friend may have of him, judging somewhat uncharitably of him, upon sinister suspicions: neither let him stand to the suspicions of his own incredulous heart; but let him consider what the Word of the Lord hath said of the person in whom these three, grace… do concur, to wit, 1. the sense of sin and inability to help our selves; 2. flying unto Christ for relief from sin and misery; and, 3. some measure of upright purpose and endeavour to serve God in new obedience; for of such saith the Apostle, Phil. 3. 3 We are the Circumcision or true Israelits, who have no confidence in the flesh, but rejoyce in Iesus Christ, and worship God in the spirit. Let him therefore esteem the discovery of his sinfull and wretched estate in himself to be the very fruit of the eye-salve and work of the Spirit bestowed on him by Christ, and let him esteem his hearty consent given to the covenant of grace and reconciliation, to be the undoubted act of saving faith. For, hearty consent to the offer of grace in Jesus Christ, presuppones, first, that the person sees no standing for him by the law or covenant of works, but is beaten from all confidence in himself, and made to believe and subscribe the righteous sentence of the law against himself to the praise of Gods truth and justice. Secondly, it imports the mans believing the testimony which God hath given of Christ Jesus, to wit, that God hath made a gift of life eternall to the soul that hungereth and thristeth for righteousnesse, and that this life is in his Son; yea it imports the mans receiving and embracing of Christ offered in the Gospel. Thirdly, it importeth, that the consenter to the covenant of grace as he hath renounced confidence in his own works, So he hath given up himself to God, to live by the grace of Jesus Christ unto eternall life. Now if the afflicted shall reflect upon these two operations of the holy Ghost, making him humble in the sense of sin, heartily to receive Christ Jesus for his relief, and withall do observe an unfained purpose and begun endeavour to live more holily and fruitfully by the grace and furniture of Christ, howsoever he labour under many infirmities, not only is he undoubtedly a new creature, but also by observing the foresaid evidence thereof, may conclude, that God hath begun a good work of grace in him, and so shall this first cause of disquietnesse be removed.
5. Another cause of disquietnesse is, or may be this, if the afflicted, after examination of the work of grace in himself, being convinced of his blessed estate and confirmed by present sense of Gods love shed abroad in his heart, do not hold fast his estimation of Gods work in himself longer then the sensible comfort thereof remaineth with him, but either doth retreat his judgment of his blessed estate, or doth not defend his right, doth not resist Sathan by being stedfast in the faith, no wonder his disquietnesse and dejection of courage return upon him.
6. For removing of this cause of disquietnesse, let the afflicted consider, that spiritual consolation, and sensible feeling of Gods favour, is granted to Gods children to make them stedfast in the faith of Gods grace toward them, when sensible comfort is with-drawn, and when they are put to the tryal and exercise of their faith, under trouble and temptations. And therefore, when the affl…cted, once being made clear of his interest in Christ, and of his keeping on him the yoke of Christ, doth find a change in his condition, let him presently humble himself before God, in acknowledgment of the power of the body of sin in himself, and of whatsoever evil fruit it hath brought forth, whereby he hath procured the change of his own comfortable condition; and let him … the acts of his repentance and of his … in Christ, striving against all temptations for the … once given to him, and disputing for his right and interest unto Gods grace in Christ, that he may with patience obtain the victory over his temptation, and be able, not only with D… vid to charge his own soul to trust in God, the help and health of his countenance, Ps. 42. and 43. but also to glory with the Apostle, and to say, 2 Tim. 1. 22. I know whom I have believed, and I am perswaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. And so may the second cause of disquietnesse be removed.
7. A third cause of disquietnesse is, or may be, this, if a sincere convert, finding himself come short both of his purpose and hope of making progresse in the course of new obedience and reformation of heart and conversation, shall, in … of being more humbled and beaten more out of confidence in his own strength and works and in … of laying … hold on the imputed righteousnesse …, discouragement, and so open a … calling his own conversion in question. In this case, the … of the true convert is augmented, by reason of the conscience of his sincerity in his couversion, wherein he renounced the love and service of all sin, renounced all confidence in his own worth or works, did flye unto the grace offered in Christ, and received him heartily, and purposed …onestly to serve God thereafter in newnesse of life, which maketh him say in himself, I can never put repentance from dead works, and faith in Christ, and purpose of new obedience more sincerely in exercise, then I have done; and now, seing I come short of my purpose and hope of profiting and can never more sincerely repent of sin or believe in Christ then I have done, have I not just cause of doubting of my estate and of discouragment and disquietnesse.
8. For removing this cause of disquietnesse, let the afflicted consider first, that there is a great difference between purpose and practice. A holy and sincere purpose o…t times cometh short in practice; for, the Apostle saith, Rom. 7 18. To will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. The inlake here is of strength to perform, and not in the sincerity of the will and purpose.
Secondly, let him consider, that there is a difference between the consent of a well-informed conscience to the discharge of holy duties, and the practical coming up of the not well-reformed heart, unto the actual discharge of those duties; for oft-times the heart is like a deceitfull bow, that disappointeth the archer; therefore, let not the afflicted deny the sincerity of his purpose, but let him be humbled for the corruption of his heart, which hath not answered his purpose and expectation.
Thirdly, let not the afflicted think, that he hath so fully renounced all confidence in his own works as he conceived: we may be clearly convinced not to lean to our own righteousnesse, and so more easily in our judgment renounce all confidence in our good behaviour; but the dregs of the sin of misbelieving Jews is not easily purged out of us, wherein they went about to establish their own righteousnesse, and did not submit themselves to the righteousnesse of faith, Rom. 9. and, 10. 3. As he therefore, who denyeth, that he leaneth his weight on his staff and yet falleth to the ground when his staff doth slide, is found to have leaned more weight on his staff then he pretended; So he is found to have leaned too much weight upon his own works, who is cast down, because his performances are not answerable to his purpose and hopes. Humbled indeed he ought to be, and to lament his misery under the body of death, but not be so dejected and discouraged, as to loose or s…cken his grips of the covenant of Grace; especially when he doth consider, that the Lord, by this experience of his own weaknesse, is teaching him thereafter to have a more high estimation, and make better use, of Christs imputed righteousnesse, and to lean lesse to his own purposes, and promises, and inherent righteousnesse, that so he may draw more ability from Christ by faith, to bring forth better fruits: for without me, saith Christ, you can do nothing, Joh. 15. 5.
Last of all, let him neither say nor think, that he cannot put forth any act of repentance or saith, or purpose of amendment of life, more sincerely then he hath done; for, no man hath attained such a measure of sincerity in the discharge of any act of saving grace, but there is room for him to receive a greater measure both of activity and sincerity in acting, then he hath attained already: but rather let him examine more narrowly, and find out the corrupt inclination of the heart to lean to its own inherent righteousnesse, and difficulty of subjecting it self wholly to the righteousnesse of …aith, and sanctification through faith in Christ; for, this doth the Apostle teach us to do, Philip. 3. 12, 13, 14. he did not think himself already perfect, but reached himself forth to those things which were before him, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And the end of the pressing of the Law is, that sin may be the more clearly discovered; that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through Christ Jesus our Lord, R…m. 5. 20, 21.
9. The fourth cause of disquietnesse is, or may be, this, if the true conv…rt, being frequently convinced of the manifold deceits of the heart, for this cause shall begin to call in question all the work of grace in himself: which inconvenience doth flow from his not putting difference between the true consent of the heart unto the covenant of Grace and acts of holinesse, in so far as the heart is renewed on the one hand, and the doubting or hesitation of the heart, in as far as it is not purged from the relicts of incredulity and backwarddesse unto godlinesse on the other hand; or, because he puts no difference between the effects of renewing grace, and the effects of in-dwelling sin in himself, both of them putting forth their power in the self same actions: for, if this difference shall not be observed, and sentence so given, as that which is in the renewed man be absolved and commended, and that which flowes from indwelling sin be disallowed and condemned, without prejudice to any good, which shall be found in the renewed man, it is impossible that the conscience can be quiet, or that any good action of the Saints can be approven, by reason of sin in us; for, the evil which we would not, shall be found in us, as is clear in the Apostles censure of himself, Rom. 7. 15. to 20.
10. For removing this fourth cause of disquietnesse, let the afflicted learn so to observe the inlakes and sinfull imperfections and pollutions of his best works, as he observe also that which is good in his actions, that of the good he may make thankfull confession unto God, and pray for the increase thereof; and of the inlakes and pollutions of his works, he may make confession also, and be humbled for them, and flye to the unsported righteousness of Christ, and to the founta in opened up in his house for sin and uncleannesse, Zech. 13. 1. This wisdom is taught us in the example of the father of the child possessed with a dumb and deaf spirit, crying out and saying with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief, Mark, 9. 24. he maintains the begun work of faith in himself, and confesseth the evil he found in himself, and flyeth by prayer to Christ to help him.
11. The fifth cause of disquie…nesse is, or may be this, if the true convert suspen… the absolution of his own faith and fruits thereof from being hypocritical and counterfeit, untill he find himself freed from disquietnesse, and do injoy peace and tranquillity of mind, which he doth apprehend should alwayes accompany sound, sincere and unfained faith, and on this ground he esteemeth that faith only to be true faith, which hath overcome all doubtings, and now being victorious, bringeth peace and quietnesse with it; and that faith which is tossed, or troubled with doubtings, he thinketh may justly be suspected of unsoundnesse, as if tentation to doubting, were a sufficient reason to make a question of the sincerity of believing: or as if it were a sufficient reason for a man to call his faith in question, whether it be true faith or not, because Sathan calleth it in question: for if this were a sufficient reason to question a work or act of grace in a man, no work of grace, nor no point of true religion, should be holden for sound and true, because Sathan never ceaseth to calum…iat and quarrel the truth, both of Gods Word and working, for he was so malicious and impudent as to question Christ, If thou be the Son of God, Mat. 4. 3.
12. For removing of this cause of disquietnesse, let the afflicted consider, first, that the assaults of the enemy do neither diminish the worth, nor the estimation of faith; for, faith fighting, is no lesse solid and sound in the time of battel, then it is after victory, standing victorious. 2. Let him consider that we are called to a warfare, not only against flesh and blood, but also against principalities and powers and spiritual wickednesses Ephes. 6. and that we may not promise to our selves, freedom or exemption from Sathans throwing fiery darts at us, …o long as we live, as the Apostle doth warn us, Ephes. 5. Let him consider thirdly, that objections and questions, moved against the converts faith, are rather a token of the sincerity thereof, then a reason for bringing it in question: for, the Pirat Sathan can discern well enough between an empty vessel and a ship loadened with precious wares, and useth to set upon the rich ship, that he may spoil it, if he can, of that most precious faith, and not trouble himself to molest a secure presumptuous person, lest he should waken him, by such means, out of his dream, and chase him unto God. But as for a man that is already fled from him and turned to God by faith in Christ, he will not fail to follow the chase, that if he cannot bring him back, yet he may vex him and dog him at the heels till his entry in heaven. Fourthly, let him consider, that the Lord useth to suffer Sathan to trouble the believer with suggestions to waken his faith, of set purpose to teach the believer to fight his battels, and by frequent exercises to be purified more and more, like gold or silver put oft-times in the furnace, yea, and that the wrestler may be made valiant in fight, Heb. 11. 34. whereupon the afflicted must be exhorted not only to take courage and to despise the malice of the adversary, but also to rejoyce when he doth meet with manifold tentations (as we are charged, Iam. 1. 2.) because of the fruit following by Gods blessing on such exercise. And to this end, let him put on the whole armour of God, that when he hath resisted and overcome one tentation, he may stand and resist another, Ephes. 6.
13. The sixth cause of disquietnesse, is, or may be this, if the true convert do not distinguish, but confound, the peace he hath with God, and the peace he hath in his conscience; if he do not distinguish but confound peace with God and rest from assaults of the …; if he do not distinguish, but confound, peace of mind, and peace of conscience; if he do not distinguish and put a due difference between these sorts of peace, he cannot choose but be disquieted, by susp…ting his peace, with God, because he hath not rest nor peace from Sathans assaults; he cannot eshew disquietnesse, when he conceives that his peace with God is dissolved, when trouble ariseth in his own conscience. And no wonder he be disquieted when he apprehendeth every perturbation of his mind to be a breach of peace with God, or with his own conscience.
14. For removing of this cause of disquietnesse, the afflicted must consider, first, that peace with God, doth follow immediatly upon an humbled sinners flying to Christ, and embracing the offer of reconciliation with God in Christ, when, in the mean time, the conscience possibly may be going on pursuing the convert with challenges for all sort of sin and guiltinesse; for he that is fled to Christ by faith, is justified, and being justified by faith, he hath peace with God, granted, decreed, pronounced in his favours, and registrat in the Court-book of the Evangel, albeit possibly the absolved convert, hath not drawn forth the extract of the decreet, nor considered it, when he hath read it, nor applied the same to himself according as the general sentence giveth him warrand.
Therefore, the humbled sinner, fled unto Christ, and engaged heartily to his service, must not take heed so much to what his sickly, and not clearly informed conscience doth say, as to what God, who is greater then the conscience, and giveth order and rule to the conscience, doth say to such a poor soul fled unto Christ.
Secondly, let him consider, that his peace is not …arred with God, by Sathans warring against him; for, peace with God, standeth well with warr against all spiritual enemies: and therefore the lesse rest he hath from Sathans trouble and molestation, let him be the more confident of his peace with God, whose battels he is fighting against Sathan.
Thirdly, let him consider, that perturbation of mind, doth neither hinder peace with God, nor peace of conscience: for the mind and thoughts of a man, for many reasons may be troubled and disquieted, when peace with God and peace of conscience are setled and established: for, when the mind is troubled, and tempted to anxiety, the Apostle sheweth how to remove the perturbation of the mind, and setle the peace of conscience also, Phil. 4. 6, 7. Be carefull, saith he, or anxious, for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanks giving, let your requests be made manifest to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Iesus. And in his own experience he lets us see the difference of perturbation of mind, from peace with God and the conscience also, 2 Cor. 7. 5, 6. When we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side, without were fightings, within were fears; neverthelesse, God that comforteth these that are cast down, comforted us in the coming of Titus: So also, 2 Cor. 2. 12, 13, 14.
15. The seventh cause of disquietnesse, is, or may be this, if the true convert be either ignorant or forgetfull of the way of obtaining, maintaining, repairing and recovering the true peace of God in himself, and of the change of Gods dispensation toward his children which is common; through many tribulations God doth bring his own to heaven. Sometime he shews them his countenance in a comfortable providence, sometime he hides his face, but doth not change his love toward them, Psal. 30. 7. Thou hidest thy face, saith David, and I was troubled, but here was his wisdom, he went the straight way to recover his peace, I cryed to thee, O Lord, and unto the Lord made I my supplication, and his mourning was turned into dauncing, Psal. 30. 7, 8. to the end. But many weak converts are not so wise, who by their inconfiderat courses do cast themselves in fears, jealousies and suspicions, both of Gods love to them and of their own interest in him: when they misse felt consolations they fall to quarrel their right. And if they resolve to have their condition helped, they prescribe their own time, way and measure, and nothing can satisfie them till they recover possession of lost sense, with the Spouse, Cant. 2. 5. Stay me with stagons, comfort me with aples (saith she) for I am sick of love. It is true, sometime God doth coudescend to their passionat put suit of comfort, but their not believing, in the mean time, and their hasting to have their condition altered, before patience hath wrought the perfect work, is not to be commended or approven.
16. For removing this cause of disquietnesse, let the afflicted consider, first, that the Lord neither sheweth his loving countenance to the weak disciple, nor hideth it from him, but out of love; he neither corrrecteth nor comforte…h him, but out of love; I am the Lord and change not saith he sensible 3. 6. Therefore you sons of Jacob are not consu…d. If he give consolation sensibly, it is to confirm their weak saith, by … experience of the fruit of believing in him, and if he withdraw his consolation, it is that he may excercise their faith, and train them to bel…ve his Word without a sensible pawn for it: And therefore, for removing, this cause of disquietnesse, by all … let the afflicted beware to mis-construst the Lords d…aling, but let him strive against all suggestions of Sathan. or … own misbelieving heart, and entertain friendly … of God; for a true friend, or father when they give them beter, will take it for no small … or fatherly affection to … Physicians and … from their Patients, … potions, when they … and carve and … they are exponed to aim at the …, much more should every man, whatsoever dispensation of God he meet with, give a good costruction of his working.
Secondly, let him consider, that the Lord hath his own way and order of working; first, he discovereth sin and misery and weaknesse in the creature, and after that he discovereth his grace, mercy and power in Christ to relieve; first, he humbleth, and then listeth up; first, he woundeth, and then he healeth; first, he smiteth, and then bindeth up; first he bringeth down to death, and then restoret…unto life, H…s. 6. 1. and, Ps. 9. 3. and therefore, let the afflicted be h…mbled under the sense of apprehended ca…ses of hi… disquietnesse, and seek of God the restoring of wha… is lost or wanting, and the healing of the wound in…ted, in due order. Now Gods order is this, he will, fi…, have the Law magnified, and his Justice acknowle…ed by all afflicted sinners, even by them who are in th…tate of Grace, and are not under the covenant or cuse of the Law, to whom notwithstanding the Law mus…till be a pedagogue to lead them to Christ; and w…n the Lords Justice is acknowledged, and all fretting …d murmuring against his dealing stopped, then come…, in the next place, the discovery of grace in Christ… for, since the fall of Adam, God hath alwayes been i… Christ, going about to reconcile the world to himself not imputing their transgressions to them, 2 Cor. 5. 19. And when God hath drawn the sinner by faith to the Mediator Christ, God incarnat, then there is a matrimonial contract made betwixt God in Christ reconciled and the believer, and an union between Christ and the believer in a judicial maner; and so the believer is made to have a right unto Christs person, according to that of the Spouse, Cant. 2. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his. And by this means also, the believer is made to have right unto Christs purchase and benefits, and to communion with him and his Saints, as the Apostle teacheth us, Rom. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? And after right given to the believer, in due time the Lord giveth and reneweth the earnest-penny of the inheritance, Ephes. 1. 13. In whom also ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise, who really reneweth the believer and giveth him peace, joy, consolation, strength and other gifts of grace, with an ebbing and flowing thereof in the sense and feeling of the believer, as may best…erve the good of the believer, and glory of God …gracious dispensation: and therefore,
Thirdly, let the afflected person, whatsoever crossedispensati…n he me… with, whatsoever distemper of soul he … into, v…a…soever grace or measure of grace he miss… or co…eth short of, seek his relief in Gods order; … is to say, let him justifie the Lords wisdom and j…ice, humble himself under his mighty hand, renew…e acts of repentance in humility, turn his face to … Christ by the renewed acts of faith in him, lay h…d on his right unto Christs person and benefits, that …may …om to the sensible feeling of what he hath right …to by the covenant of Grace. And whatsoever dects, transgressions, temptations unto discouragment and …isbelief, do brangle his confidence, let them humble himself indeed, but so as they do not drive him from that Covenant, but be made use of as spurres, and forcible motives to lay the faster hold on Christ and his infinit grace contracted in that Covenant.
17. The eight cause of disquietnesse, is, or may be this, if the true convert, daily lamenting his own sinfulnesse, and daily troubled with suspicion of his own blessed estate, by reason of his felt mani…old corruptions shall meet either with the calum…ies of men, or co…forters like Iob's friends, who in stead of healing his wounds in his affliction, shall foster his suspicion of his estate by uncharitable censure of the poor mans complaint of himself; in this case, if the aff…cted do not maintain his righteousnesse by …aith in Christ, as Iob did, and his upright endeavour to please God, which is manifest by his daily godly grief for his short coming in his aimed-at holinesse, no wonder he be disquieted.
18. For removing of this cause, let the afflicted consider and distinguish what is right in him, and what is wrong, and beware to confound these. For example, 1. This is right, that he doth not lean to the worth of his own works, nor is pussed up with a vain conceit of himself before God. 2. That he is sensible of his sinfull imperfections and corruptions, and of the bitter root of original sin in him. 3. It is right in him also, that he aimeth toward perfection, forgetting what is behind, and pressing toward the mark and prize of his calling. But this is wrong in him, 1. that he fostereth suspicions unjustly of his own blessed estate. 2. That he doth not observe the work of Gods grace in himself so carefully as he observeth his imperfections and corruptions. 3. That he doth not so much the more make use of Christs imputed righteousnesse, as he findeth the imperfection of his own inherent righteousnesse. 4. That he measureth Gods estimation of him, according to the estimation he hath of himself, when indeed God in Scripture doth shew no lesse approbation of him in his wrestleing, then he doth in the time of his victory and quiet condition. 5. That he doth not observe the difference of the way he doth walk into which is good, from the flidings, imperfections, errors and mistakes in particular actions and passages in that way. 6. That he doth lay more weight oft-times upon the judgment of mistaking spectators of his course, then he hath reason to do, and doth not take heed to the sentence of the Lord in the Gospel, concerning the poor in spirit, the contrite, the meek and lowly disciple. These things let the afflicted consider and make good use thereof, for his encouragment in the way of new obedience.
19. The ninth cause of disquietnesse is, or may be, this, if the true convert be not acquainted with living by faith; for there are many honest and tender-hearted converts, who, in the sense of their sins, are fled unto Christ, resolved never to depart from him, and carefull to lead a blamelesse life, who notwithstanding, whensoever they meet with changes of dispensation, with variety of temptations, fresh feeling of the power of sin in themselves, or any crosse bodily or spiritual, are disquieted and cast in suspicion of their state: and albeit they neither will give over to follow after Christ, nor will God suffer them to perish, yet they make themselves an uncomfortable and miserable life, by their leaning to present sense and feeling, when they should remember the saying of the Apostle (2 Cor. 5. 7. we walk not by sight but by faith) they are cast down, do mourn and complain, because it is not with them as they would, and are most part male-content with their lot, frequently regrating unto God their wants and imperfections, and seldom are they praising or thanking God for what they have gotten of him.
20. For removing this cause, let the afflicted, first, consider what the Apostle speaketh to the afflicted Hebrews, Heb. 10. 36. ye have need of patience, that when ye have done the will of God ye may receive the promise; for yet a little while, and he that will come, shall come, and will not tarry. Now, the just man shall live by faith, saith he.
Secondly, let him consider, that to live by faith, doth require these six duties, 1. That we renounce our own corrupt reason and sense, lest we count that to be our life which may be seen or felt, or that which may be altered and changed, but reckon that to be our life, which is hid with God in Christ, and shall be revealed at the glorious coming of our Lord. 2. That the covenant of grace, and rich promises of the Gospel be esteemed of us as our meet and drink, whereby our hearts may be sustained in all adversity, and our hope upholden in patience through the comfort of the Scriptures. 3. That we make use of all Gods benefits bestowed upon us by vertue of that new right made unto us in Christ for being partakers thereof. 4. That in all our actions we implore and seek our strength from Christ, and give him thanks for the measure whatsoever he bestoweth. So did the Apostle live, Gal. 2. 20. The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God. 5. That we rejoyce and glory more in Christ Jesus in the midst of trouble, then we grieve for our troubles whatsoever, whereby as with a sharp pinsell, he is drawing in us the lineaments of his own Image and conformity with himself; So did the Saints, Rom. 5. 3, 4, 5. Last of all, to live by faith, requireth that in every condition we should keep faith and a good conscience in Christ Jesus, and esteem our selves blessed of the Lord, albeit we be tossed with troubles immediatly sent from God to exercise us, albeit we do fall in manifold tentations, be assaulted with doubtings, and persecuted unjustly by men: for, it should and may suffice a believer in Christ, if he be not distressed, albeit he be troubled on every side; he must not dispair albeit he be perplexed; he shall not be forsaken, albeit he be persecuted; he shall not be destroyed, albeit he be cast down, 2 Cor. 4. 8, 9. Upon these and the like grounds, the Apostle lived a comfortable life, Phil. 4. 12. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound, every where and in all things I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thus must Christian souldiers live in the midst of their toyling, in warfare, in want of many things, in watching and running hazard of life, in hope of victory and promised glory, holding up their hearts by faith in Christ.
And these things which we have spoken in explication of this case, are not intended to hinder the tender hearted believer from praying, and endeavouring by all means, that the face of the Lord may shine upon him, and that he may be filled with the joy of his Spirit; for we are charged to seek his face and strength continually, Psal. 105. 4. But all our speech doth drive at this mainly, that the afflicted in his discouragment and unquietnesse, meekly submit himself to the will of God, howsoever he be exercised, alwayes going on in the way of God according to his vocation, through honour and dishonour, through good report and evil report, looking unto the promises which are made to him that endureth to the end. And what is spoken here of living by faith, must not be abused to softer negligence in well doing or bringing forth fruits of faith in every condition, or to hinder the daily exercise of repentance, or to require of a Christian a stoical stupidity under trouble; but the thing we aim at, is, that the Christian in all crosse dispensations and vexations, endeavour by faith to be of good courage in the Lord, and endeavour to draw vertue from Christ to bring forth fruits, giving glory to him, whatsoever measure he shall bestow more or lesse, because it is Christ who is made unto us wisdom and righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption, and in him alone shall the soul of the afflicted have rest, Matth. 11. 24.