Sacred Therapy, Book 3 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Of the converts esteeming the peace of God to be but a carnal security.
VVE have brought forth some examples of the first sort of the conscience erring, by esteeming an evil condition to be a good condition. Now let us look upon some examples of a conscience erring, by esteeming a good condition to be an evil condition. Of the which sort this shall be one.
Sometime some converts do mistake the peace of God granted unto them after hard exercise, and do esteem the quietnesse of their conscience, to be nothing else but a carnal security and sleepy disposition of the conscience. To which case that we may speak the more clearly, we do not deny that many are, who indeed fall in a carnal security and please themselves therein, conceiving they have the peace of God and a blessed quietnesse of conscience. Such persons have no doubt nor suspicion but all is well with them, for they do not examine and compare their condition and wayes with the Word of God, but sleep sweetly in their carnal security and negligence of spiritual duties, like to these luke-warm Laodiceans, Rev. 3. Of such we do not speak here. 2. Again we do not deny, that true converts are in danger to suffer the peace which God hath granted unto them, to degenerat unto a carnal security. For easily may a convert after consolation divine fall in a sleep, as the Spouse did in the Canticle, 5. 2. But we are speaking of the case of a convert, watching unto duties, who after no small vexation in his conflict with the tentations of the devil, with the terror of the law and sense of divine wrath, hath gotten the victory by faith in Christ, and hath obtained peace with God graciously granting his petition; we are speaking here of these converts who after the Lord hath granted peace unto them through faith in Christ, dare not injoy their peace, but do suspect that their peace is not sound, and at length do count and call it carnal security; and so do breed themselves new troubles of mind. The pretense and seeming reason whereby they do deceive themselves is this. When God, say they, seemed unto us angry with us, when we found no peace and were wrestling under the sense of sin, and in doubt whether such as we should find mercy, then we did pray very earnestly, night and day, then we were diligent in hearing and reading of the Word of God, and were painfull in the exercise of all duties of religion and obedience. But now we find our selves much cooled and slackened in all these duties, whereupon we justly suspect the peace which we now do find, to be nothing else but a carnal security of a sleeping conscience. By this mistake all thanksgiving for the peace granted unto them is well-near suffocat & extinguished. Their former condition under doubts and fears, is judged to be better then their present condition, they wish their former fears may return, rather then they should continue in this condition, wherein their tears are dryed up, and their former diligence eaten up. Hence go they on to lay forth their complaints before their intimat acquaintance, concerning Gods dispensation and dealing with them, because the spirit of fear and reverence toward God, the spirit of grace and supplication is much diminished and near-by quenched in them. By which complaints they do not only breed trouble to themselves, but also make heavy the hearts of their godly friends, and do tempt them to fall into the like complaints and to grieve the Lords Spirit.
2, This mistake doth arise, partly from the not considering and esteeming of the gracious gifts of peace, and other graces bestowed upon them, and partly from a wrong comparison of their former & present condition. For, first the afflicted person taketh no notice of the evidences of a new creature in himself, he doth not consider how great a benefit is bestowed upon him, when he feareth to offend God, feareth to be shut out from society with him, and earnestly desireth to be sure of his favour in Christ: he hath not a due estimation of having peace with God and war with sin in himself, joyned together; to be freed from the torment of the conscience condemning him according to the law, and withall a desire and delight in the obedience of the Gospel joyned together. 2. He doth inconsideratly exact of his conscience, that his soul should be in the same disposition before peace be granted, and after that it is bestowed, or that his affections should be stirred up one and the same way in both these cases: for before peace is given he cannot choose but he must have sorrow, heavinesse of heart, unquietnesse, fear, and such like other sad affections. But after that God granteth peace, these perturbations are quieted, tormenting fear ceaseth, lamentations are restrained, tears are washen away in a good measure, and in their place, do thanksgiving to, and praises of God succeed, and every duty do call for their own place in a pacified mind, so that the mans body be not neglected as before, but care had of keeping health, for inabling to do what is required of him in his calling toward every one with whom he liveth: For, now his condition being changed, why should not his affections, and the effects depending on them be changed also? Who can reasonably exact the same duties of a man in a fight, which he may require of him when he hath gotten the victory? who can expect the same carriage from a man when he is sick and when he is in health? Doth not the Apostle say, Iam. 5, 13. If any man be afflicted let him pray? Is any merry, let him sing Psalms.
3. For remedy of this evil, 1. le… the afflicted examine himself whether this peace hath had a conflict of conscience and faith under the sense of sin and fear of the wrath threatned in the Law, going before it or not? 2. Whether this peace hath followed upon flying to Ch…st by faith, unto whom he did cleave in his sad exercise? 3. Whether this peace hath followed after prayer and supplication made to God for it, that he might without fear of his enemies serve God all the dayes of his life? 4. And last of all whether his heart still inclineth and endeavoureth to give obedience to the commands of God, and to be grieved for his shortcoming therein? If these things do concur which beseem a convert, let him perswade himself his peace which he hath censured for carnal security, is the solid peace of God mistaken by him. And therefore, 1. let him no more suspect the gift of God, but hold fast the Word of God, which faith of the soul chased to Christ, hath laid hold on, that being now justified by faith, he may have peace with God, Rom. 5. 1. For, God doth not give to his supplicant carnal security for peace, a stone for bread, and an adder for fish. But, 2. let him observe the wiles and malice of Sathan, who cannot indure that the soul fled from him to Christ should have peace, or in the enjoying of it blesse God for his gift of grace. And, 3. let him study to make use of this peace granted to him, going on in the obedience of Gods commands chearfully, and to be ready for new conflicts and assaults from Sathan, and not be afraid of being deprived of the peace of God, while he by faith in Christ is yoked in battel against sin which he seeth in the world and feeleth in himself.