Trouble of the Mind and the Disease of Melancholy, Discourse · Part 3 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Shewing whence it is, that Melancholly and Troubled People love Solitarineſs; and whence it is, that ſerious Perſons are not ſo light and frothy in their Converſations, as others are. With ſome other Inferences deducible from the foregoing Doctrine. With ſome Advices to thoſe that have never been deſerted, and to ſuch as are complaining that they are ſo.
Inf. 1. HEnce you ſee the Reaſon why People in trouble love Solitarineſs. They are full of Sorrow; and Sorrow, if it have taken deep root, is naturally reſerved, and flies all Converſation. Grief is a thing that is very ſilent and private. Thoſe People that are very Talkative and Clamorous in their Sorrows, are never very ſorrowful. Some are apt to wonder, why Melancholly People delight to be ſo much alone; and I'll tell them the reaſon of it: 1. Becauſe the diſorder'd Humours of their Bodies alter their Temper, their Humours, and their Inclinations, that they are no more the ſame that they uſe to be; their very Diſtemper is averſe to what is joyous and diverting; and they that wonder at them, may as wiſely wonder why they will be diſeaſed, which they would not be, if they knew how to help it; but the Diſeaſe of Melancholly is ſo obſtinate, and ſo unknown to all but thoſe that have it, that nothing but the Power of God can totally overthrow it; and I know no other cure for it. 2. Another Reaſon why they chuſe to be alone, is, Becauſe People do not generally mind what they ſay, nor believe them, but rather deride them, which they do not uſe ſo cruelly to do with thoſe that are in other Diſtempers; and no Man is to be blamed for avoiding Society, when they do not afford the common Credit to his Words that is due to the reſt of Men. But 3. Another, and the principal Reaſon why People in Trouble and Sadneſs chuſe to be alone, is, Becauſe they generally apprehend themſelves ſingled out to be the Marks of God's peculiar Diſpleaſure; and they are often by their ſharp Afflictions a terror to themſelves, and a wonder to others. It even breaks their hearts to ſee how low they are fallen, how oppreſſed, that were once as eaſy, as pleaſant, as full of hope as others are. Job 6.21. Ye ſee my caſting down, and are afraid. Pſalm 71.7. I am as a wonder unto many. And it is uſually unpleaſant to others to be with them. Pſalm 88.18. Lover and friend haſt thou put far from me: and mine acquaintance into darkneſs. And tho it was not ſo with the Friends of Job, to ſee a Man whom they had once known Happy, to be ſo Miſerable; one whom they had ſeen ſo very Proſperous, to be ſo very Poor, in ſuch ſorry, forlorn Circumſtances, did greatly affect them; he, poor Man, was changed, they knew him not, Job 2.12, 13. And when they lift up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lift up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and ſprinkled duſt upon their heads towards heaven. So they ſat down with him upon the ground ſeven days and ſeven nights, and none ſpake a word to him, for they ſaw that his grief was very great. As the Prophet repreſents one under ſpiritual and great Afflictions, that he ſitteth alone, and keepeth ſilence, Lam. 3.28.
Inf. 2. Hence we ſee the Reaſon why the Servants of God have not ſuch light and frothy ſpirits as others. They do not indeed always mourn, but even when they rejoice, 'tis with a ſerious and ſolid Joy. Their own Sins, and the fear they have of ſinning, and the concern they have for the Sins of others, cauſe them to walk ſoftly. The many Miſeries to which they are obnoxious, and the many that they ſee the Church of God groaning under, keep them from innumerable Follies, from many Lightneſſes and Vanities in Converſation, which others do not ſcruple; tho frequently when their Countenances are grave, their Hearts are full of the moſt lively joys.
Inf. 3. What a mean ſorry thing a Chriſtian is many times in this World, as to his outward appearance. A Mourner never makes ſo great a ſhew as one in Triumph does. His Graces, and his Excellencies are many times like the Ground in Winter, covered with Rain and Storm, which make him not to be much regarded; becauſe Chriſt was a man of ſorrows and acquainted with grief, therefore the Jews ſaw no beauty or comelineſs in him, that they ſhould deſire him; they hid their faces from him, becauſe he was ſtricken, ſmitten of God, and afflicted, Iſaiah 53.3, 4. The life of all Believers is hid with God in Chriſt, Col. 3.3. 'Tis maintained with ſuitable nouriſhment, formed by the Goſpel, and preſerved by the Spirit; but becauſe of innumerable Temptations and Weakneſſes, the Glory of their Grace is very much eclipſed; 'tis hidden under a thouſand Croſſes and Infirmities, and does not yet appear in the cleareſt Light. A Chriſtian in this World is like a King, that Travels Incognito in a ſtrange Land; he is courſly treated by Men that do not know the greatneſs of his Birth and Quality; he Travels but in the habit of a Pilgrim, and cloathed with Heavineſs, and hath Tears for his Meat and Drink. Or he is as the Sun aſcending to his Meridian, but obſcured from our ſight with many thick and watry Clouds. Job 26.27, 28. When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkneſs. My bowels boiled, and reſted not: the days of affliction prevented me. I went mourning without the Sun: I ſtood up, and cried in the congregation. Now the Servants of God are going to the Port of Bleſſedneſs, as Jonas to the Shore covered with the Waters of Affliction. They ſeem now to a careleſs Eye, like the Seed that is buried in the Ground, to be quite caſt away; but they ſhall ariſe with new Luſtre.
Inf. 4. This aſſures us, that there is another, and a more happy Life after this. Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted, Matth. 5.4. He that goeth forth weeping, &c. Pſalm 126.6. John 16.16. This Sorrow is the forerunner of abiding Joy; theſe Tears of holy Perſons are fruitful and profitable Tears; and thoſe Souls that now are vext with the Sins of others, and their own, ſhall ere long be ſweetly refreſht; the Night is long and doleful, but the Morning comes that will cauſe them to forget all their former trouble. God puts their Tears into his Bottles, tho in appearance they fall upon the Earth unregarded, and ſeem to be loſt, even then they fall into the Lap of his Providence, which will make them to fructify by his Bleſſing, and to their eternal Joy. This little Grain that is ſown, will return back again into their boſoms with meaſure filled up, and running over; and their floods of Tears that now ſurrounded them, ſhall be turned into Rivers of Pleaſure for evermore*Charles Recueil. de Sermons, p. 119. If in this life only we had hope, we were of all men moſt miſerable, 1 Cor. 15.19. Miſerable indeed, if we were obliged to bear ſo many Croſſes, to meet ſo many Dangers, and ſuch various Calamities, and to have no reward; but thanks be to God, this is not our caſe. Whileſt we look upon this World, upon the manifold Evils that are here, we weep; but when we lift up our Eyes to that pure, and calm, and bleſſed World that is above, we may be chearful and rejoyce; here we are toſt among Rocks and Shelves, with threatning Waves, and high Winds; but there we behold our reſt. In this Wilderneſs we are purſued with the roaring Lyons, annoyed with Hunger, and with Thirſt, and other Inconveniencies; but we are all the while in our Journey to the promiſed Land, and ſhortly ſhall be there, and then we ſhall receive a bleſſed period of all our Conflicts, and our Difficulties.
Inf. 5. Seeing there is ſuch a weeping Night to the Servants of God, this verifies and confirms that Maxim of the Goſpel, That ſtrait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life. Thither muſt we go through the very depths, and wade through many Seas of grief, though all others find it to be difficult, becauſe of the frequent ſelf-denials and mortifications to which they are obliged; becauſe of the many ſins that beſet them, and the many ſufferings they muſt undergo; yet deſerted Souls find it to be a ſtrait way indeed, and to them it is covered with Thorns and Bryars; and though you, whoſe Mountain is yt ſtrong, whoſe hopes are yet unſhaken, think it eaſie; yet if ever you come to be ſorely tempted, to be afflicted with long and ſharp Tryals; if you come to be greatly pained in your Bodies, and greatly troubled in your Souls; if you be awakened with the ſight of Hell, and the threatnings of the Law, and broken with the terrors of the Almighty; you will joyn your cry to ours, and ſay, That the way is very ſtrait: Joh, and Hunan, and Aſaph, and David, and all others have found it to be ſo. There is indeed a Lion in the way, but that muſt not be an excuſe to ſloth, but a motive to our Courage; we muſt take the more caution, and be more watchful to avoid him. The ſenſe ſo God's diſpleaſure, is as an hot Furnace, into which many of his Children are thrown, though they ſhall come out unhurt; and when they are come forth, they ſhall be like Gold: yet it is grievous to Senſe, when they muſt be ſaved ſo as by Fire; when they muſt come to their Crown by Racks and Torments, by Anguiſh and Tribulation; and to Heaven by the very Gates of Hell.
I ſhall cloſe this Chapter with two Exhortations: 1. With reſpect to thoſe with whom it is yet day, and who have never been forſaken of God. And 2. To ſuch diſconſolate ſouls, with whom it is as yet a weeping and a mourning Night.
1. If you have not been forſaken, and have ever had the light of God's Countenance ſhining on you, beware of the approach of Night: Prevent as much as you can the declining of the Day. I have ſhewed you into what a Pit I and ſome others have fallen; take warning by our danger, and take heed leſt you alſo come into the like doleful Caſe. You have the ſmiles of your Heavenly Father, you have been ever with him; Oh! do not provoke him to turn thoſe reviving ſmiles into killing frowns; be not ſecure, be not ſelf-confident, be not faithleſs, but believe and guard your Faith, and be watchful; for your Enemy, the Devil, goes about ſeeking whom he may devour. Work while it is day, for when this night comes, I can aſſure you by ſad experience, that you cannot work. Pray now with fervour, for then you cannot Pray; Now Read, and Hear the Word of God, for then you will find no taſte even in the Bread of Life. Beware of Indifference and of Lukewarmneſs; beware of grieving the Spirit, and of ſlighting his motions; for all theſe are the ſhadows of this doleful night. Your day is comfortable, and your journey pleaſant, while the Sun ſhines; Oh! make haſt to your Eternal home, leſt your feet ſtumble on the dark Mountains: If you linger, wrath will overtake you, terrible and amazing wrath, ſuch as you cannot now believe, and ſuch as you then cannot bear. Credit the Report that we bring you from the Land of darkneſs, and go not in the way that will lead you thither; We have fallen among Thieves and Robbers, among Temptations, and Dangers, and Tryals, that deprived us of all our Comforts; do not you tread a path where you will ſurely be ſet upon, and greatly wounded, if you do eſcape; though it may be you ſay, as Job 29.18. I ſhall dye in my neſt, and multiply my days as the ſand.
2. Do not ſeverely judge or cenſure perſons under ſpiritual trouble; It is night with them indeed, but they may live to ſee the morning come. God has overthrown them, but he will build them up again; they are in darkneſs, but rejoice not over them, for he will be a light unto them. Speak not to the hurt of thoſe that he has wounded; look not on with unconcernedneſs, or a ſecret pleaſure, in the time of your Brother's trouble; Job 30.11. Becauſe he hath looſed my cord and afflicted me, they have alſo let looſe the bridle before me. Do not cenſure theſe Myſterious Diſpenſations of God and of his Providence; ſtay till you ſee the beautiful ſtructure that he will cauſe to riſe from theſe Ruins; When they are tempted by the Devil, do not you with Job's Friends play the Devils to, and inſult over them, or encreaſe their miſery: It was a very great ſin in thoſe good men, to aggravate his trouble by their raſh diſcourſes, and their ſiniſter interpretations of it. God himſelf decided the caſe for his Servant, and told them, that they had not ſpoken of him the things that were right. Be not haſty to judge of perſons who are weeping, nay, even deſpairing for their ſins; They are in bitterneſs, but ſuch as God may ſpeedily remove; He may change their Wilderneſs into a Paradiſe; He will perfect his Power in their Weakneſs, turn their Evils into Good, and their Darkneſs into a marvellous Light; and ſtay till you ſee the end of the Lord. He has taken their Comforts from them to improve them, and to reſtore them to them upon better terms; He has removed their Pots of Water, but will, it may be, ſend them back full of Wine: For (as one obſerves) God is wont to bring moſt of his greateſt ends about, by ſeeming to look quite another way from what he hath a ſpecial purpoſe to bring to paſs; He ſeldom proceeds in a direct way to his Ends; or in ſuch a way as the Creature would think ſtood moſt with Reaſon to take; but when his buſineſs lies in the Eaſt, he takes his Journey, as it were, full Weſt; and when he has a mind to build, he batters down; when his deſign is for Light, his method and his way is through the greateſt darkneſs. Let the Great Inſtance of Job, for ever repreſs our bold Cenſures of afflicted and miſerable people; Who would have thought that a Man ſo diſtreſſed, ſhould ever have been delivered! That one that had ſo many pains, ſhould be cured! one ſo poor, ſo derided, ſo ſcorned by Drunkards, and Boys, and the meaneſt of the people, ſhould be honoured and eſteemed again! And yet all this happened to him, his latter end was better than his beginning; he lived to ſee the Funeral of his Griefs, and the Reſurrection of his Comforts; the Lord that had afflicted him, took off his heavy hand, and turned again his Captivity; He re-eſtabliſhed him in all his former ſplendor, and made him, for his ſhort darkneſs, to ſhine with a double glory, and gave him twice as much as he had before; and for a year or two of trouble, gave him many pleaſant long years of Joy, till he was old and full of days; till he was ſatisfied with living, and calmly deſired to dye. And the ſcope of the Book of Job is (as Dr. Patrick quotes it from Maimonides) to eſtabliſh the great Article of Providence, and thereby to preſerve us from Error, in thinking that God's Knowledg is like our Knowledg; or his Intention, Providence and Government, like our Intention, Providence and Government; which foundation being laid, nothing will ſeem hard to a Man, whatſoever happens; nor will he fall into dubious thoughts concerning God, whether he knows what is befallen us or no, and whether he takes any care of us; but rather he will be inflamed the more vehemently in the Love of God, as is ſaid in the end of this Prophecy, Wherefore I abhor my ſelf, and repent in duſt and aſhes. So ſay our Wiſe men, They that act out of Love, will rejoyce in Chaſtiſements; ſee James 5.11.
As to you with whom it is yet night, I ſhall only add this, Though I am my ſelf come as to the quiet ſhore, yet I ſympathize with you that are yet labouring in the deep: You are afflicted and toſt with tempeſts; but as in Iſa. 54. from 9. to 11. The mountains ſhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the covenant of my peace be romoved, ſaith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Oh thou afflicted, toſſed with tempeſts and not comforted; behold, I will lay thy ſtones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with Saphirs. I know you think it is a long night, and ſo it is, but it is not Eternal, the day will break, and the ſhadows flee away; your wiſe Phyſician is preparing Cordials for your Hearts, and Balſom for your Wounds. Let him have your deſires, to him addreſs your Prayers, with your weaker Arms be ſtill reaching after him; you are ſcorched with wrath, but he will be a refreſhment to your heat; you are in darkneſs, but he is the Sun of Righteouſneſs, that will chaſe all the Clouds away: Fly to this City of Refuge, part for this Fountain of Living Waters; and while you are condemned in your own thoughts, look to this Advocate and Mediator, and he will plead your Cauſe; the wrath that burns you, may be hot as Hell, but his Blood will extinguiſh the tormenting flame; the Devil may be too ſtrong for you, beg therefore help of this Jeſus who has overcome him, and who will teach you to get the victory. He takes pleaſure in helping ſuch as have no helper; and when there is none to deliver you, his own Arm will bring Salvation: He hath horn our grief, and with his ſtripes we are healed. And truſting in his ſatisfaction, you may freely implore the Mercy of his Father, nay, even appeal to his Juſtice; for he will not have two payments for the ſame debt. You may ſay, Thou haſt promiſed to pardon ſin for the ſake of thy well-beloved Son; Let it be unto me according to thy word. You may in vain complain of your troubles to thoſe that have never felt the like; they may grieve you more by their harſh expreſſions; but remember, that when you go to Chriſt for help, you go to one that is experienced, to one that has taſted of the ſame bitter Cup; to one that was himſelf forſaken of God for a ſeaſon, and knows how ſad it is with you in the like Caſe: And thoſe that come to him, he will in no wiſe caſt out.