Sacred Therapy, Book 3 · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
Concerning the converts suspicion, that all his devotion is but lip-labour which is not joyned with a tender and melting heart, and with Gods sensible approbation.
AS some are suspicious of their condition, because of their ordinar tendernesse and melting of heart; So other some are suspicious of their condition, because they find not their heart tender and soft in their devotion. All converts do agree in this, that God must be worshiped in spirit and truth, and that it is not acceptable worship to God, if a man draw near him with his lips, when his heart is far from him: whereupon, every convert, when he is mindfull of his duty, goeth about to worship God with understanding and inward affection of heart, to confesse sin, deprecat wrath, ask of God things necessar, interceed for others, give thanks to God for his benefits, and praise him for his works and working, so as his affections may be conform to his expressions, and the conscience may approve both his words and his hearty affections, and God may, with his peace and consolation, approve the worshiper. But some converts are, who, albeit in sincerity they worship God, yet they count all their devotion to be but lip-labour, except they find their affections wakened up and their heart tender, and some vigour of spiritual life in their exercises, and the sense of Gods approbation of their worship, by giving sense of his peace and consolation to them in their worship. Hence oft-times doth suspicion arise, without just ground, that they are deserted of God, that he is displeased with them; and this suspicion being entertained, doth send forth complaints, and bringeth on coldrifenesse in prayer and discouragement.
2. This unjust suspicion of the grace of prayer, the Lord doth oft-times chastise by with-drawing peace and comfort, and order in prayer and of words also, that he who complained that his devotion was but lip-labour, because he sound not such measure of affection as he would have had, nor that consolation which he wished to have, shall find himself in worse taking after his complaining, then he was in at first, when he began to suspect his condition. It is true, that confusion of mind, and want of words to expresse the case wherein he is, may fall on a convert, by reason of afflictions and manifold temptations, and yet he may be free from this suspicion of Gods affection and acceptation of his person and prayers; as the Apostle doth teach us, Rom. 8. 26. Likewayes, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. But when this cutting short of the gift of prayer, in any measure, doth follow after suspicion of Gods respect and good will toward the complaining and discouraged convert, it is a fatherly chastisement from God, threatning the convert with a greater measure of desertion and heavier temptation, except he repent his folly and return to God, whom by his suspicion and misbelief he hath offended.
3. For remedy of this evil, these five things must be distinguished by the afflicted convert; 1. the labour of the lips, or formality in prayer or devotion; 2. prayer in faith; 3. prayer with felt and observed affection in prayer; 4. prayer approven of God; 5. prayer with the sense and feeling of Gods approbation.
As to the first, the labour of the lips, or formality in prayer which the Scripture doth condemn, is when a man prayeth with his mouth for things necessar or lawfull and is about the external work of devotion, wherein he pleaseth himself, and doth rest upon the work wrought without affection of heart or faith, as we see, Is. 58. 1, 2, 3. and this is not the case of the convert of whom we are speaking; for, because he esteems his devotion to be but a formality, he is displeased with himself and is unquiet.
As to the second, prayer in faith, is when the convert misseth freedom of speech, and answerable affection to his speech in his devotion in prayer, praises, thanksgiving, intercession, &c. yet, because the duty is commanded, he doth offer it up to God with hope of acceptation, and yet is displeased with himself, and humbled in the sense of his coldrife affections, which is the duty of the convert of whom we are speaking, but the not esteeming this his devotion through Christ acceptable, is his fault.
As to the third; prayer or devotion with felt affection in discharging it, is when the convert poureth out his heart unto God with fredom of speech, and yet cannot be quiet, because he doth not feel any sign of Gods approbation of him and hearing of his supplication, and this was the case of the Psalmist in sundry Psalms. But this is not the case of the convert we are speaking of; for, he complaineth of the hardnesse of his heart and want of affection, and doth weaken his own faith, which is his fault.
As to the fourth; prayer approven of God, is when the convert doth offer his devotion to God in sincerity, and prayeth for what is promised, in hope to be heard and answered in due time. And this prayer or devotion is approven by God in Scripture, whether the convert be satisfied with the measure of answerable affection to his words, or not, as the Apostle testifieth. 1 Ioh. 5. 14, 15. And this should be observed by the convert, of whom we are speaking, for rectifying his judgment and quieting of him, albeit he neither find his affection moved as he would, nor find consolation from God as he would.
As to the fifth; prayer or devotion, with the sense and feeling of Gods approbation, is when God not only approveth the converts prayer and devotion, by his Word in the Scripture, but also by his Spirit doth sensibly comfort the supplicant, and sends him to his calling with joy. So did he deal oft-times with the Psalmist David, and so did he comfort Samuels mother, in, and after her prayer, 1 Sam. 1. This is the thing which the convert we speak of would be at, and which would satisfie him if he could come to it.
4. This condition is the sweetest to the supplicant, and much to be desired, with submission to Gods dispensation whatsoever it be, but it is not the only condition acceptable to God, as we see, 1 Ioh. 5. 14. 15. This is the confidence which we have in God, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us, and if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask we know we have the petitions that we desired of him. And that the mater is so, may be perceived in David's condition at sundry times; for, Ps. 119, seven or eight times he prayeth, Quicken thou me according to thy word. He findeth in himself much deadnesse of spirit, yet he continueth meekly praying to be quickened in the service of God.
5. Wherefore, so oft as the convert is displeased for any defect he findeth in his devotion, let him, 1. humble himself in the sense of his imperfection, and betake himself so much the more to the intercession of Christ, and lay hold more firmly upon the satisfaction made by the Mediatour, and draw by faith grace for grace out of his fulnesse, and let him in faith and sincerity worship God, and live holily in his conversation and not be afraid that his devotion shall be esteemed of God to be but lip-labour. 2. To this end, let him rightly construe Gods dispensation, and consider that his gifts are wisely given forth for the good of his people: for, sometime he giveth to will that which is good, without ability for the time to effectuat what the convert willeth; he may give a willing heart to pray affectionatly, and not for the time grant ability to pray as his child would, Rom. 7. 18. Sometime he may give no more but to sigh and groan, without ability to expresse the confused desires of his heart, Rom. 8. 26, 27. Sometime he will suggest words, and make the supplicant in sincerity of faith present the words put in his mouth, Hos, 14. 1. 2. Sometime he will grant to the supplicant to bear out much disputation in his prayers, without sensible consolation, Ps. 77. Sometime he will grant the supplicant a loosed heart in prayer and abundance of tears, and yet seem for a time not to regard them, Ps. 6. Sometime he will grant confidence and consolation to the supplicant, as, Ps. 6. and many other Psalms. And certainly, the variety of divine dispensation to his children cannot be told; in all which, he requires of his supplicants meek submission, and perseverance in prayer, with confidence to find a good answer at last: for, if his child do not accept well of the measure which is bestowed on him, he may readily find the measure he complained of, more scant, and confusion of mind without words to fall upon him, and if yet he shall not wisely submit himself to Gods exercising of him, he may fall in harder trouble and questioning of his state in grace, and be tempted to restrain prayer till he cease complaining, and flye for refuge to Christ the Mediatour, and come to a better estimation of the measure of presence with him when he began to complain.