The Axe at the Root of Professors Miscarriages, Chapter 5
Chap. V. The Miſcarriages oppoſite to Aſſurance the reflex Act of Faith.
1. REgardleſneſs of getting Aſſurance: Againſt want of Aſſurance.which is called by ſome Divines, Senſus Fidei, the feeling, or perceiving of Faith: by others, Flos Fidei, the very luſtre, and eminency of Faith. When God requires all the Act, of Faith, he doth not only require, that we know him, and believe him, and conſent to have him, and relye upon him; but he requires, that we know that we do ſo. It is true, Aſſurance is not ſuch a duty, as concerns all men, at all times, and immediately; it concerns only ſome, and thoſe in an order, and mediately: Though therefore it is not the ſin of Ʋnbelievers, not to know that God is their God, for that cannot be known by them; ſuch are not bound immediately to be perſwaded of an intereſt in God, unleſs we will ſay, that they are bound to be perſwaded of a lye; God being the God of Believers only; yet it is the … of Believers, …ickman's diſcourſe concerning the ſpirits …ealing up believers. page 76, 77.to let their intereſt in God to hang hovering, and in diſpute. It muſt be confeſs'd, that Gods not evidencing the direct Acts of Faith unto Believers, is not their ſin; for God may refuſe to evidence them, out of Soveraignty, or for the meer try…l and exerciſe of grace, and nor for the Believers ſins; but yet, for a Believer to be regardleſs of getting Aſſurance, is his ſin; yea, if God refuſe, for any long time, to evidence the direct Acts of Faith, he may thank ſome ſin or other. He that bids us, Work out your ſalvation, and make your calling and election ſure, would not ſo let us be at uncertainties concerning our ſelves, did not we ſleight ſome Ordinance, or omit ſome Duty, or give way to ſome Luſt. And is not this your ſin ſtill? Do not you ſtill want that feeling or perceiving of Faith, which is not meerly humane, and ſubject to falſhood and deluſions, but from Gods Spirit, perſwading the Soul, that it doth know, believe, conſent to, and cruſt in God, and therefore infallible; for the Spirit can no more inwardly p…rſwade a ſoul of, then he can externally bear witneſs to, any thing that is falſe? It is a good rule, laid down by a late worthy in our Iſrael, Burges's Reſ… nings, &c. Part 1. fol. 20, 21.… in all the Acts of Faith, whether they be direct, or reflect, the firmneſs and certainty doth more depend upon Gods ſpirit, confirming us, then upon the clearneſs of the Arguments. But which of us can ſay, that we know infallibly we are believers from Gods ſpirit perſwading us of the truth of our faith? It is true, no Man hath ſuch perfection of degrees of aſſurance in an ordinary way, Do…little in Morning Exerciſe at Criple gate, …m. 12. p. 3 …, 307.as that one degree more cannot be added to the former: and yet (as one well reaſoneth) there is not any repugnancy in aſſerting an infallible aſſurance, and denying a perfect aſſurance; for I infallibly know that there is a God, and that this God is good and juſt, and yet I have not a perfect knowledge of a Deity, or of his goodneſ, and juſtice; for in this life we know but in part. Is not your want of aſſurance that God is your God evidenced ſtill in your Not being …et above the tormenting fear of death: not yet deſpiſing the periſhing vi…ities of this World: not yet ſlighting the cenſures of the ungodly: Hickman in ſupra: p. 135, to page 155.remaining ſtill without an holy boldneſs in prayer: not yet taking comfort in Word and Sacraments: not yet abounding in praiſe and thanks giving: not yet kindly mourning for your ſins, nor watching againſt them: and not yet diſregarding cavils againſt the Truth? Is not God contending with you upon thi… account? God hath often called upon you in the Miniſtry of the Word, to give all diligence to make ſ…e th… you are believers, and that God is your God upon your ſaith in him; but though God hath ſpoken in your proſperity, you have not heard: Jer. …And is not he …ing his Rod to make way for his Word to enter into your hearts? Is not he dep…iving you of all your outward delights, Cauſing all your deſirable things to periſh at his rebuke, that they may not hinder you any longer from making ſu…e, what cannot be taken away from you, that your hearts may not be taken up any longer with other enjoyments, and thereupon want either time or will to purſue the one thing neceſſary? Are not the Childs Babies taken away to make it learn its Leſſon? Hath not God made a Thorn to grow up with every Flower; the Star Wormwood to fall into every eſtate you are in, that you may yet at length ſay, it is not good to be ſo buſie to ſecure theſe bitter-ſweets, and careleſs of ſecuring an intereſt in the unmixed chief good? Is not God bringing you into life-threatning dangers, that you might not only hear with the hearing of the ear, but ſee with your eyes the neceſſity of having your intereſt in God cleared up unto your ſouls?
2 Careleſneſs of preſerving aſſurance, Againſt careleſneſs to keep Aſſurance. Non minor eſt virtus, quam quaerere, pa…ta …ueri.when gotten. It was your duty to be as carefull to keep, as to gain, aſſurance. When you had gained aſſurance, you ſhould have remembred that you took God to be your God, to rule you, and make you happy in the enjoyment of himſelf, not to make you rich and great in this World, and that therefore Gods people being in the hands of the Midiamites, will not evidence that the Lord is not with them, Judg. 6.13. H…bman &c. p. 183. to 193. D…ut. 26 10, 11.though Gideon ſay, If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? You ſhould have remembred that ſincere, not perfect, faith in God, intereſts ſouls in him, and that therefore frailties and infirmities do not diſſolve the union: you ſhould have been very thankfull for the firſt fruits of the Heavenly Canaan: Pſal. 85. 8. Eccl. 5. 4, 5, 6.you ſhould have been very careful not to return unto folly: you ſhould not have deferd to pay your vows unto God: yea you ſhould have brought forth ſuch fruit after aſſurance, as you either did not, or could not, before aſſurance. But have not you been careleſs of diſcharging your duty herein? Have not you forgotten the termes of the Covenant you have entred into with God? Have not you been unthankful even for an Heaven upon Earth? Have not you been guilty of wilful Relapſes? Have not you refuſed or delayed to pay your vows? Have not you done as little for God, as you might have done, had the light of his countenance been never lifted up upon your ſouls? And is not God therefore angry with you? Is not he greatly diſpleaſed with you? That is his meaning, when he ſaith, he hath no pleaſure in ſuch fools. Mat. 13.12.Hath not he taken away what you had? Hath not he deprived you not only of many viſible tokens of his preſence, but of the ſpiritual light of his countenance, that you may more value, and be more chary of, aſſurance, if ever you enjoy it again? And what! ſhall God loſe his end? O! Culverwell's VVhite ſtone. page 152.If ever God vouchſafe you any more of the hidden Manna, take heed of waſting and crumbling it away: take heed of loſing the white ſtone any more: O! maintain the Oyle of gladneſs in the Cruſe: be not any more willing to part with thy ſweetneſs, thy fatneſs, and pleaſantneſs: Be never more willing to be left to the courteſie of a Wave: O! never more be weary of the Sun-ſhine: take heed of being once more cloyed with the cluſters of Canaan, and of nauſeating the Honey comb.
3. Remiſneſs in recovering Aſſurance, when loſt. Hath not this been your miſcarriage? Againſt Remiſneſs in recovering Aſſurance.and is not God therefore contending with you? Hath not God deprived you of ſealing. Ordinances; becauſe you had before driven him from his own Ordinances, and were not reſtleſs for his return? Is it not the deſign of God in taking away from you ſealing. Ordinances to make you yet ſenſible of the loſs of the ſealing-ſpirit, and that you may give him no reſt till he hath returned you both, that the Winter may be paſt, and the time of ſinging may return? Is it nothing to you to be under a ſpiritual Famine? Can you now live without the hidden Manna? Are you ſtill willing to continue under ſuch a diſmal Cloud, yea to ſet in it?
O that none of the three foregoing miſcarriages may be your ſins any more!
Firſt, Take heed therefore of thinking any more either that aſſurance is not attainable at all, or that it is not tenable, when attained; or that it is not recoverable, when lo…t. Reynold's VVorks fol. 100….Apprehenſions of impoſſibility in either will kill all endeavours, yea deſires after it, becauſe they will kill hope. Though the will ſometimes, being inordinate, may be tickled with a deſire of impoſſibilities, under an implicit condition, yet no hope, whether regular, or corrupt, can reſpect its object under that apprehenſion. It worketh two paſſions moſt repugnant to this Hatred and Deſpair; the one being a proud oppoſition, the other a dreadfull flight from that good, in which the Mind perceiveth an impoſſibility of attaining it. Treaſure up therefore the promiſes that God hath made, that Believers ſhall have, keep, Ezek. 34: 30. Hoſ. 2.19. 23.recover aſſurance; not only that they ſhall know that God is their God, but they ſhall walk in his Light, and if at any time through their own default they loſe the Light of his countenance, that upon their Repentance he will heal their back-ſlidings, and love them freely, m ni…eſt himſelf as graciouſly as ever. Promiſes they are of things, as future. they are undertaking of good things, which ſhall come to pa…: Now every future thing is a poſſible thing.
Secondly, Take heed of ſlighting any more the want of Aſsurance. Uncertainly, as to the truth o… faith, and as to intereſt in God, i… no light evil, it is even an inſupportable b…rden, eſpecially to thoſe that have experienced what an Heaven upon Earth there is in Aſſurance. Though one may be a B…i…e…, and not know that he is a Believer: and though Aſſurance … it is gained may be loſt; yet verily you … to … whether your Faith in God be true, and wh… he…e … you were Aſſured, if you can carry the want, or lo…s of Aſſurance, as it i… were no burden, and do not follow after the gaining or rec vering of Aſſurance with un…t…e…able ſighs and groa…s. …ſal: 3… 7: 42: 3, 4.Thou hid thy faith (ſaith David) and I was troubled. It wa… indeed his daily ſorrow of heart, yea it was a… death unto him. It is true, ſome …un into the other extream: they are too much troubled for not gaining, or loſing Aſſurance, looking on their caſe as deſperate, and themſelves as guilty of the unpardonable ſin, in d…ivin… God away from them; but do you take heed of both extream, not only leſt you ſhould be troubled too much, but leſt you ſhould be troubled too little.
Thirdly, Take heed (not only leſt your complaints, but) led your reque is for the procuring, or preſerving, or recovering of Aſſurance be heartleſs. Are you in ſears whether you be believers, whether God be your God, eſpecially in ſuch days as theſe? you ſhould be (as David was) all prayer: you ſhould even envy your ſelves the time you are forced to ſpend in eating and drinking, and ſleeping. Never expect to ge… Aſſurance a… firſt without ſuch pantings, as the chaſed Hart hath after the waterbrooks, without earneſt entreaties, and longing, of Soul. Are you for the preſent under the light of God… countenance? Deprecate hea…ily an Eclipſe. Ha…e you loſt your aſſurance? Deſi…e earneſtly from God new ſtamps and impreſſions: tell him, though you have …oſt the Print, yet he hath not loſt the Seal: Pſal. 30.6, …, 8. 77 1, 2. 88, 1, …, ….give him no reſt, till he give your ſoul' reſt. Read but the Pſalms of David, …enned by him, when he w… in de…tion, you'l think that he breathed out his Soul with hi… Pet…ms. How earneſt alſo was Heman? yea Jeſus Churſt's Agony made him more to expreſs his earneſtneſs, than at other times. Luke 22: 44.Being in an Agony, he prayed more earneſtly. This is one end of Gods preſent diſpenſations towards you: Hoſ. 5: 15:I will go (ſaith God) and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and ſeek my face: in their afflictions they will ſeek me early: i.e. betimes, Hickman, &c. page 205:with all ſpeed, with ca…e and vigour alſo, at ſuch a rate as Men are wont to do things in the morning. If your doubts do not prevail ſo far, as to make you leave off hearty praying, your hearty prayers will prevail ſo far, as to make you leave off doubting.
Fourthly, Take heed of contenting your ſelves (not only with heartleſs, but with fruitleſs complaints. Some (ſaith a famous Author) are of a whining temper, Symmonds deſerted Soul's caſe and cure. page 486.apt to ſill the ears of all their familiars with ſad relations of their mournful caſe; but there is little elſe to be found beſides complaints: the ſoul humbleth not himſelf before God, nor contends in prayer, nor ſtriveth by the Ordinances and holy walking to finde what it always was without, or hath loſt. He compares them to the ſick man, who lyeth grieving himſelf, but no way ſeeking in earneſt to help himſelf; and to Iſſachar, crouching under his burthen. To ſpend time (ſaith another) in whining complaints, Hickman, &c. page 200.is more eaſie and more pleaſing to thoſe who have bruiſed themſelves; but to ſtir up ſtrength, and be doing, is more ſafe and pleaſing to God. I would not (ſo he goes on) have deſerted ſouls chidden for crying out and roaring: How can they do other, whoſe wounds ſtink, and are corrupt, whoſe ſores run all the night long? But they muſt not ſpend all their time in roaring, but get the broken bones ſet, and make uſe of them; ſo ſhall they recover ſtrength and rejoyce.
Fifthly, Take heed of neglecting any longer any one means of Gods appointment, either for the getting, or keeping, Hickman, &c. page 167. to page 173.or recovering of Aſſurance. The neglect of any one (as one well obſerves) may provoke God to reject your attendances on him in the other: 'tis alſo uncertain in which God will manifeſt himſelf, and evidence to you the truth of your Faith in him. Sometimes he doth it in prayer: ſometime in the reading or hearing of the Word of God: ſometimes in religious holy conference: ſometimes in receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper: ſometimes in ſinging of Pſalms.
Sixthly, Take heed of remaining any longer lazie and ſlothful…n the uſe of the means. O! 2 Pet. 1.10.yet at length give diligence to make your calling ſure; Culverwell's VVhite Stone, page 150, &c. 157, &c.i. e. your effectual calling, that your faith in God is a full anſwer thereunto. Aſſurance both requires and deſerves all diligence. Such is the darkneſs, deceitfulneſs, and inconſtancy of the heart: ſuch is the malice, policy, and diligence of Satan to improve it: of ſo much conſequence is this buſineſs, and ſo dangerous is it to be deceived herein, that all diligence is little enough. So ſatisfactory alſo is this aſſurance, that no labour will be grudg'd by thoſe that do believe it. Antipharmacum, &c. page 41. See many more pathetical conſiderations to humble for lazineſs and to ſtir up to diligence herein in Morn. Exer. at Criple-gate. page 141.315, 316. Iiſdem alitur quibus dignitur.O! the rather now give all diligence to put your faith in God out of doubt, becauſe a Day of great trouble is approaching, yea already begun. What have you beſide, this to oppoſe to all your troubles here? When it comes to reſiſting to blood, and giving up all, can you fadge with ſuch work, while your ſpirits are dubious & cloudy in this point? O my friends! Believe it, 'tis nothing but this that can make a Saint tryumph & glory in abaſures & tribulations. And little do you imagine how inſupportable troubles are, when the ſpirit is low and dubious in point of intereſt.
In particular, Take heed of being lazie, or any other ways miſcarrying, in ſelf examination Aſſurance conſiſts in a reſſex Act, and by ſuch workings it is gotten, maintained, and recovered. The main reaſon why ſome never had Aſſurance, why others do not keep aſſurance, and why others do not recover aſſurance; is, becauſe they are not often enough, nor diligent enough in reflecting upon the deift, & courſe of their hearts & lives: they do not often enough rightly & throughly compare themſelves with the ſure marks of true faith in God, laid down in the Word of God. Many will take ſome little pains to …inde out the marks of true faith in God, and ſome little time they will ſpend in comparing their hearts with thoſe marks, but they will not continue diligent in this great duty of ſelf-examination, till the matter be brought to ſome iſſue; they will not behold their faces in the Glaſs long enough to beget in themſelves a true notion or Idea of themſelves, but go away, and preſently forget what manner of perſons they were. But let it not be ſo with you any more. Do you make it your buſineſs to go through with this work, and therefore take heed of being miſtaken as to what faith in God, and what aſſurance of faith, is. Neither make more, Hickman, &c. page 120, 121, 122.nor fewer eſſentials of faith in God; neither more, nor leſs, neceſſary to intereſt in God, than God hath made. Expect not ordinarily to have aſſurance of faith wrought, preſerved, or recovered by ſome vocal, or as it were vocal, teſtimony of the ſpirit: or as ſoon as you be aſſured to be void of all fears, and filled with all joy in believing. Set not about this work unſeaſonably, but when you finde your hearts in the moſt ſerious and quiet frame. He that will ſee his Face in a Glaſs, muſt be fixed, and not in motion. Be ſtill, Pſal. 4.4.and ſo commune with your own hearts! When you are full of dark and black temptations, you are in a miſt, and not able to ſee things aright. The muddied Water is not fit to give the true ſhape of the Face. Hearken not to what carnal reaſon, and Satan ſay for, or againſt your interest in God. Before faith in God, T. Goodwin's child of light, &c. page 26.27, 28.ca…al reaſon and Satan uſe their utmoſt ſtrength to perſwade Souls of the goodneſs of their condition without Faith, thereby to prevent the entrance of Faith, and their ſeeking after it at all, as not needfull to intereſt them in God: After ſaith in God is wrought, Hickman, &c. page 127, 128, 129.and erected upon the ruines of all Satans ſtrong holds, and the Souls carnal reaſonings, Satan and carnal reaſon, in revenge of ſuch an overthrow, muſter up new Forces to perſwade the Believer by all the Objections, they can raiſe, that it doth not believe aright, that its faith is not ſaving. Take heed therefore of ſelflove, and ſinful jealouſie, and prejudice upon either account, when you ſet about this work. As ſelf-love and ſelf-flattery bribreth and ſetteth carnal reaſon to plead for the intereſt of Unbelievers in God; ſo when once faith is wrought, ſinfull jealouſie doth edge and ſharpen the wit of carnal reaſon, to argue and rangle againſt the work of Faith; and all ſuch Objections as carnal reaſon doth finde out againſt it, are pleaſing to this corrupt principle; when you try your ſelves, Burges's Refinings: part 1 page 57, 58.you will but deceive your ſelves, if you do not caſt out theſe two curſed corrupt Principles out of your ſouls: if your hearts be prepoſſeſt with either, your judgments will be blinded, and become partial in paſſing ſentence upon your eſtate. Take heed of trying your ſelves by falſe marks of faith in God, of weighing with falſe weights. Hereby you may miſcarry both on the right hand, and on the left: on the right hand, if you try your ſelves by marks of perfect faith in God: on the left hand, if you try your ſelves by ſuch things as are not indeed Scripture-marks of true faith in God; for as God is the Principium eſſendi, the beginning or cauſe of the being of any grace; ſo Gods Word is the Principium cognoſcendi, the Principle by which we know what is true grace. I cannot but mind you of three Rules of Direction, Ob. Sedgw. of Faith: chap. 13. ſect. 1.which, a worthy now with God, hath left you in this caſe. (1) There are ſome things without which faith cannot be in the heart, and yet they do not neceſſarily and infallibly conclude that a Man hath faith. Conclude not for your ſelves by finding the antecedents of Faith. (2) There are ſome things which faith only doth produce, yet becauſe it d th not produce them always, a Man must not therefore negatively conclude from the abſence of them, the abſence of faith. (3) There are ſome things, which faith only doth produce, not as eſsential properties, but as magnificent Testimonies. Conclude not againſt your ſelves for the want of ſuch effects of faith. Be ſure that you do not any longer try your ſelves by uncertain qualifications, that belong not to every Believer, at all times and none but believers; but try your ſelves by ſine infallible marks by the eſſential properties and effects of Faith in God. Set not about this work without hearty cries to God for his ſpirit to irradiate the grace you are ſearching after, and by witneſſing with your ſpirit to put you out of doubt. It is a vain thing for you to go about this work, much more to think to go through with it by any ſtrength of your own. And be ſure that you take heed of provoking God to withdraw from you in this work. Cant… 4.4, 5, 6, 7.Do not refuſe the Light of Aſſurance when offered: Hereupon Chriſt withdrew from the Spouſe; but put your ſelves in a diſpoſed an I prepared way to receive the evidencing Light of the Spirit, who will not affine you whether you will, or no. Do not make uſe of Signs in a prejudicial way to thoſe direct and immediate Acts of Faith, Burges, &c. page 56, 57.whereby you cloſe with God: While you are poring and digging into your own heart to finde faith there, forget not to exerciſe applicative Acts of Faith. When ever you would go down into your own hearts, and take a view of your own graces firſt cloſe with God himſelf in Chriſt, and afterwards begin afreſh upon the encouragement you have from the fight of grace within you, to act Faith upon God with a redoubled ſtrength. 2 Pet: 1: 9: Mat: 25: 29:He that lacketh theſe things, i. e. that doth not uſe them, ſo not to uſe Talents, is not to have them, is blinde and ſoon forgetteth all the grace he hath. If God do not appear preſently do not murmur and repine againſt him. While Job thought that God wronged him, God ceaſed not to ſcare him with dreams, and terrify him with viſions; but when he juſtified God, God appeared for him. But for a more full handling of the miſcarriages about ſelf-examination, which you ſhould mourn for, and take heed of, I ſhall refer you to the twentieth chapter of the Goſpel-glaſs.
4: Reſting in an imaginary Aſſurance. Againſt an imaginary aſſurancePreſumption is mainly the work of a ſtrong fancy. What the …ich Believer hath by propriety and in poſſeſſion, the ſame hath the preſumptuous Profeſſor in a dreaming fancy and imagination He pretends to be as knowing, as bel eving, as confident, as the true Believer; he never doubted of his Intereſt in God, none more …ocond and merry then he is thereupon. Hath not this been your ſin? And is not God therefore contending with you? Becauſe we have built our houſe upon the Sands, is not God razing all our ſandy Foundations? Pſal. 66.10. Pſal. 25.8.Becauſe we have been careleſs of trying our ſelves, is not God trying us as ſilver is tryed? May not we even ſay, God and upright is the Lord, that will teach ſinners his way: that by the Thunder-claps of his Righteous Judgements is reſolved to awaken us out of thoſe fooliſh dreams, in which if we ſhould die, we were undone for ever? O that we may be dreamers no longer! O, take heed of preſuming once more that God is your God, either becauſe he made you: ſo he did the Devils. Gods making you, puts you into the relation of creatures unto God, and God of a Creatour unto you, but not of a chief-good and ſupream Lord. He is your Creatour, Pſal. 17.14.whether you will, or no, but ſo he is not your God. Or becauſe you proſper in every thing, and are not in trouble and, diſtreſs as other men. The more you have of a portion in this life, the more cauſe you have to ſear that God is not your portion. Or becauſe Chriſt hath died for you to purchaſe an intereſt in God: So he hath, if you will conſent to have him for your chief good and Sovereign Lord, other wiſe not O! how great will your confuſion be, when your Gold ſhall be found Dreſs, your Wine to be Water, your Graces to be Corruptions; And you your ſelves appear no better then the mad Athenian, Burges Reſining, pa…t. 1. Serm. 6. Serm. 30. and 118.who thought all the Ships on the Sea were his. Take heed of ſuch a confidence of an intereſt in God, as hath ignorance and ſelf-love for its procreant cauſes: as is grounded on a meer natural light, or ſome falſe reaſonings: as is wrought, without any ſerious & deep humiliation for being without God preceding it, and eaſily without any oppoſition: as leaves the ſoul idle in the Work of God, without love to, and encouragement in God: as is not attended with an holy fear and humility: and as is not deſtroyed by ſin, but croſſes. Such a confidence is a preſumptuous confidence, and not aſſurance. Even hypocrites may have ſome experimental knowledge, Sern … 3.and yet not aſſurance of Faith: they may know that they are enlightned, and have other common gifts of the Holy-Ghoſt: that ſin is imbittered to their ſouls: that they do aſſent to ſcripture Truths: that they have ſome deſires after God and Chriſt: that they do at ſometimes and in ſome things truſt in God: and yet they want ſaving Faith, and therefore cannot know they have it. O! take heed of thieviſhly fingering the Kings Coin without a Warrant: Chriſt told the Jews, that they were of their father the Devil, John 8.54.though of his Father they ſaid, he is our God: they made their boaſts and brags, that God was their God; but God and Chriſt diſowned them.