The Cause and Cure of a Wounded Conscience, Dialogue 16
XVI. Dialogue. Obstructions hindring the speedy flowing of comfort into a troubled soule.
Tim.
HOw commeth it to passe, that comfort is so long a comming to some wounded consciences?
Phil.
It proceeds from several causes, either from God, not yet pleased to give it; or the Patient, not yet prepared to receive it; or the Minister, not well fitted to deliver it.
Tim.
How from God not yet pleased to give it?
Phil.
His time to bestow consolation is not yet come: now no plummets of the heaviest humane importunity can so weigh downe Gods Clock of Time, as to make it strike one minute before his houre be come. Till then his Mother her selfe could not prevaile with *John 2. 4.Christ to worke a Miracle, and turn water into wine: and till that minute appointed approach, God will not, in a wounded conscience, convert the water of affliction, into that wine of comfort, which maketh glad the heart of the soule.
Tim.
How may the hindrance be in the Patient himselfe?
Phil.
He may as yet not be sufficiently humbled, or else God perchance in his providence fore-seeth, that as the prodigall child, when he had received his portion, riotously misspent it; so this sick soule, if comfort were imparted unto him, would prove an unthrift and ill husband upon it, would lose and lavish it. God therefore conceiveth it most for his glory, and the others good, to keep the comfort still in his owne hand, till the wounded conscience get more wisdome to manage and employ it.
Tim.
May not the sick mans too meane opinion of the Minister, be a cause why he reaps no more comfort by his counsell?
Phil.
It may. Perchance, the sicke man hath formerly slightand neglected that Minister, and God will not now make him the instrument for his comfort, who before had beene the object of his contempt. But on the other side, we must also know that perchance the parties over-high opinion of the Ministers parts, piety, and corporall presence, (as if he cured where he came, and carryed ease with him) may hinder the operation of his advice. For God growes jealous of so suspicious an instrument who probably may be mistaken for the principall. Whereas a meaner man, of whose spiritualnesse the patient hath not so high carnall conceipts, may prove more effectuall in comforting, because not within the compasse of suspition to eclipse God of his glory.
Tim.
How may the obstructions be in the Minister himselfe?
Phil.
If he comes unprepared by prayer, or possessed with pride, or uns…ilfull in what he undertakes; wherefore in such cases a Minister may doe well to reflect on himselfe, (as the*Mat. 17. 19. Disciples did when they could not cast out the Devill) and to call his heart to account, what may be the cause thereof; particularly whether some unrepented-for sinne in himselfe, hath not hindred the effects of his councells in others.
Tim.
However you would not have him wholly disheartned, with his ill successe.
Phil.
O no; but let him comfort himselfe with these considerations. First, that though the Patient gets no benefit by him, he may gain experience by the patient, thereby being enabled more effectually to proceede, with some other in the same disease. 2. Though the sickman refuseth comfort for the present, yet what doth not sink on a sudden, may soake in by degrees, and may prove profitable afterwards. Thirdly, his unsucceeding paines may notwithstanding facilitate comfort for another to worke in the same body, as Solomon built a Temple with most materialls formerly provided, and brought thither by David. Lastly, grant his paines altogether lost on the wounded Conscience, yet his*1 Cor. 15 58. Labour is not in vaine in the Lord, who without respect to the event will reward his endeavours.
Tim.
But what if this Minister hath beene the means to cast this sick man downe, and now cannot comfort him againe?
Phil.
In such a case, he must make this sad accident the more matter for his humiliation, but not for his dejection. Besides, he is bound, both in honour and honesty, Civility and Christianity, to procure what he cannot performe, calling in the advice of o…hers more able to assist him, not conceiving out of pride or envie, that the discreet craving of the helpe of others, is a disgracefull confessing of his owne weaknesse; like those malitious Midwives, who had rather that the woman in travaile should miscarry, then be safely delivered by the hand of another, more skilfull then themselves.