Trouble of the Mind and the Disease of Melancholy, Discourse · Part 1 · Introduction
The INTRODUCTION.
THE Miſeries under which the whole race of Men have now for a long time groaned, and under which they ſtill groan, are owing to the Fall of Man. The day on which our firſt Parents complied with the temptation of the Devil, was a mournful day to them, and in its effects no leſs ſad to us. It filled their once pure and quiet hearts with trouble and diſorder, and made them unable to think of their great Creator with delight. It intercepted thoſe chearful and comfortable beams of his Love, which were more ſatisfying to them than all the glories of the lower Paradiſe: For tho' it did, after the Fall, abound with all the ſame natural refreſhments, with the ſame Rivers, Herbs, Trees and Flowers; yet it was to them no more a Paradiſe. No Muſick could delight their ſenſe, when they heard a terrible voice from God, ſummoning them to anſwer for their Crime; no objects could pleaſe their eyes, when they ſaw the Clouds thickning over their heads, and dreadful frowns in the face of their mighty-Judge: All the Creatures could miniſter nothing to their eaſe or ſafety, when the great Creator was againſt them. From their Apoſtacy we may derive all our miſeries; both the pains and ſickneſſes that afflict our Bodies, and the fears and terrors that overwhelm our Souls. Our Bodies are liable to a Thouſand calamities that may be both long and ſharp; but how long and how ſharp ſoever they be, they do not altogether give us ſuch a ſenſible and ſuch lively grief, as we have when we are under diſtreſſes of Conſcience, and when we are under a ſenſe of the Wrath of God, that is due to us for Sin. There are many perſons who endeavour by all the Rules of Art, to give relief and help againſt the miſchiefs that attend our Bodies, but which after all their Art will go into the Grave; and there are as many, that by the Duty of their Office, and the Character they bear, are obliged to imitate their Saviour, To preach good tidings to the meek, and to bind up the broken hearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the priſon to them that are bound, Iſa. 61.1. But they are many times at a loſs, to know what Remedies to apply to theſe inward and ſpiritual Diſeaſes; and always unable to make their applications ſucceſsful, unleſs God himſelf, by his Almighty Power, Create Peace, and turn that Chaos, and thoſe Confuſions under which a poor troubled Soul is buried, into the joy and light of day. It pleaſes the Wife God, that may make us ſerve to what uſes he thinks moſt convenient for the good of the Univerſe, and the welfare of the Church, to ſuffer ſome of his Servants to feel the bitterneſs of Sin, and the terrors of his amazing-wrath; to be overwhelm'd with the fear of Hell, and to be for a long ſeaſon even as in Hell it ſelf; that ſo when they are delivered, they may warn thoſe that are at eaſe, that they beware of Sin, leſt it bring them alſo into a ſtate ſo dreadful and ſo terrible; and that from their own experience, they may with tenderneſs and compaſſion ſtrive more earneſtly to aſſiſt and help thoſe whoſe Conſciences are in a flame, and who are full of anguiſh and tribulation: That when they are eſcaped out of the ſnare of the Fowler, they may ſtrive to diſintangle thoſe who are yet in trouble; and being themſelves cured of their horror and amazement, they may lead their yet wounded brethren to that kind Phyſician, to that laving Jeſus, with whoſe Blood their Wounds were cleanſed and healed.
As to my ſelf, having been in Long affliction, and great diſtreſs of Conſcience for many Months, and under a continued fear and apprehenſion of God's diſpleaſure; and being now, through his inexpreſſible Grace, not without ſome hope of his acceptance, being delivered from violent and overwhelming ſorrows, I would moſt readily give all the advice and help I can to thoſe that are yet mourning under deſertions, and complaining that God is departed from them, and that he remembers them no more. After the many waves and billows that went over me, through the great goodneſs of God I now enjoy a calm; and I pity, and would fain help thoſe who are yet labouring in the deep; and for them peculiarly I write this Treatiſe; in which, tho' there be many things leſs exact than a Critical Reader may expect; yet there are ſome in which, I hope, a diſtreſſed Soul may find relief. The Method I intend to follow, is this:
In this Firſt Part,
1. To ſhew what is meant by the Anger of God; and whence it is that he is angry with his own Servants.
2. What obligations we are under to Patience and Humility, and ſeveral other Graces, when we are under a ſenſe of his diſpleaſure.
3. Whence it is that his Anger towards his own People is but for a ſhort ſpace.