The Cause and Cure of a Wounded Conscience, Dialogue 18
XVIII. Dialogue. Of the different time and manner of the comming of comfort to such who are healed of a wounded conscience.
Tim.
HOw long may a servant of God lye under the burden of a wounded conscience?
Phil.
*Act. 1. 7.It is not for us to know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in his owne power. God alone knows whether their griefe shall be measured unto them, by houres, or dayes, or weeks, or moneths, or many yeeres.
Tim.
How then is it that Sain… Paul saith, that God will give us the *… Cor. 10. 13.issue with the temptation, if one may long be visited with this malady?
Phil.
The Apostle is not so to be understood, as if the temptation and issue were twins, both borne at the same instant; for then no affliction could last long, but must be ended as soone as it is begun; whereas we *Act. 9. 33read how Aeneas truly pious, was bedrid of the Palsie 8. yeeres; the woman diseased with a *Mat. 9. 2.bloody issue 12. yeeres; another woman bowed by infirmity *Luk. 13. 11.18. yeers; and the man *Joh. 5. 5.lame 38. yeeres at the poole of Bethesda.
Tim.
What then is the meaning of the Apostle?
Phil.
God will give the issue with the temptation, that is, the temptation and the issue bear both the same date in Gods decreeing them, though not in his applying them: At the same time, wherein he resolved his servants shall be tempted, he also concluded of the means and manner, how the same persons should infallibly be delivered. Or thus: God will give the issue with the temptation; that is, as certainly, though not as suddenly. Though they goe not abreast, yet they are joyned successively, like two links in a chaine, where one endeth, the other doth begin. Besides, there is a two-fold issue; one, through a temptation; another, out of a temptation. The former is but mediate, not finall; an issue, to an issue, onelyonly supporting the person, tempted for the present, and preserving him for a future full deliverance. Understand the Apostle thus, and the issue is alwayes both given and applyed to Gods children, with the temptation, though the temptation may last long after, before fully removed.
Tim.
I perceive then, that in some, awounded conscience may continue many yeeres.
Phil.
So it may. I read of a poore widdow, in the Land of*Melchior Adamus in vita Theologorum … pag. 198. Limburgh, who had nine children, and for 13. yeares together, was miserably afflicted in mind, only because she had attended the dressing and feeding of her little ones, before going to Masse. At last it pleased God, to sanctifie the endeavours of Franciscus Junius, that learned godly Divine, that upon true information of her judgement, she was presently and perfectly comforted.
Tim.
Doth God give ease to all in such manner, on a sudden?
Phil.
O no: Some receive comfort all in a lump, and in an instant they passe from Midnight, to bright day, without any dawning betwixt. Others receive consolation by degrees, which is not poured, but dropt into them by little and little.
Tim.
Strange, that Gods dealing herein should be so different with his servants.
Phil.
It is to shew, that as in his proceedings there is no *Jam. 1. 17variablenesse, such as may import him mutable or impotent, so in the same there is very much variety, to prove the fulnesse of his power, and freedome of his pleasure.
Tim.
Why doth not God give them consolation all at once?
Phil.
The more to employ their prayers, and exercise their patience. One may admire why *Ruth 2. 8Boaz did not give to Ruth a quantity of Corn more or lesse, so sending her home to her mother, but that rather he kept her still to gleane; but this was the reason, because that is the best charity, which so relieves anothers poverty, as still continues their industry▪ God in like manner, will not give some consolation all at once, he will not spoil their (painful but) pious profession of gleaning; still they must pray, and gather, and pray and gleane, here an eare, there a handfull of comfort, which God scatters in favour unto them.
Tim.
What must the party doe when he perceives God and his comfort beginning to draw nigh unto him?
Phil.
As*Joh. 11. 20 Martha, when she heard that Christ was a comming staid not a minute at home, but went out of her house to meet him: So must a sick soule, when consolation is a comming, haste out of himselfe, and hie to entertain God with his thankefullnes. The best way to make a Homer of comfort encrease to an Ephah, (which is*Exo. 16. 36. ten times as much) is to be heartily gratefull for what one hath already, that his store may be multiplyed: He shall never want more, who is thankefull for, and thrifty with a little: Whereas ingratitude doth not only stop the flowing of more mercy, but even spils what was formerly received.