Trouble of the Mind and the Disease of Melancholy, Discourse · Part 2 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
Of the ſeveral ſorts of Life that we enjoy by God's favour; and in what conditions of our preſent Pilgrimage it doth more eſpecially revive us.
1. IN God's favour is our Natural life: We are the work of his hands, and his kindneſs and bounty does continually maintain what he at firſt created; his Providence ſecures us from innumerable dangers; he gives us meat and drink, and health and ſtrength; but his diſpleaſure does quickly deprive us of all theſe. 'Tis ſaid of all the creatures, Pſal. 104.28, 29. What thou giveſt them, they gather; thou openeſt thy hand, they are filled with good. Thou hideſt thy face, they are troubled; thou takeſt away their breath, they dye and return to the duſt. 'Tis this great God to whom we owe our peace and plenty, our liberties, and all the comforts we enjoy; he ſaves our Bodies from Plague and long ſickneſs, and pining, waſting ſorrows; all the delight we have in our Friends, in our Families, or in our Relations, flows from his goodneſs, and his meer mercy; and 'tis he that ſaves our Houſes from Fire, our Eſtates from Robbers; and our Country from deſolating Wars. Pſ. 30.7. Lord, by thy favour, thou haſt made my mountain to ſtand ſtrong. Man being the nobleſt creature, and the moſt dignified in all this lower World, God has appointed the lower creatures to Miniſter to his uſe, and his delight. The Air, as one obſerves, is his Aviary; the Sea and Rivers his Fiſhponds; the Vallies his Granary, the Mountains his Magazine: The firſt affords Man creatures for nouriſhment, the other Metals for perfection. The Animals were created for the ſupport of the Life of Man; the Herbs, the Dews and Rains, for the ſame purpoſe; there is not the moſt deſpicable thing in the whole creation, but is endowed with a nature to contribute ſomething for our welfare, either as food to nouriſh us when we are healthful, or as Medicine to cure us when we are diſtempered; or as a Garment to cloath us when we are naked, and arm us againſt the cold of the ſeaſon; or as a refreſhment when we are weary; or as a delight when we are ſad; all ſerve for neceſſity or ornament, either to ſpread our Table, beautify our Dwellings, furniſh our Cloſets, or ſtore our VVardrobes. The whole earth is full of his Riches, Pſal. 104.24.
2. Spiritual Life is in his favour; 'Tis he that draws the firſt lineaments of the new creature, and his hand that brings it to perfection; he firſt infuſes a vital principle into the ſoul that is dead in ſin, and that maintains it afterwards againſt all the powerful motions of ſin, and againſt all the ſtratagems and tentations of the Devil; from his own Grace he did elect his people to Salvation, and gives them in time his word and his ſpirit to quicken them, together with all thoſe other bleſſings of Adoption, and Juſtification, and Sanctification, which are the product and the fruit of his Electing Love: The firſt quickning, and thoſe exerciſes of Life afterwards which his choſen do perform; the firſt motion, and the renewed ſtrength which they receive, to enable them to walk in his ways, is his own gift; 'tis his pardon that beſtows upon his Servants a new Life, when they were dead in Law, and could ſee nothing to enſue but a terrible execution. 'Tis his favour that contrived the way of our eſcape from death through the Blood of Chriſt, and that was pleaſed to accept of the ſufferings of that Holy perſon in our ſtead: That Faith is of his own operation, which unites us to his Son, the fountain of Life, and conveys quickening influences to us. Joh. 5.24. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that ſent me, hath everlaſting life, and ſhall not enter into condemnation; but is paſſed from death to life. This Faith is of his beſtowing, which enables us to be moderate in our proſperity, and to bear the Croſs when we are afflicted. All thoſe acts that are the fruit of the New Birth, as well as the New birth it ſelf, are the work of his own hands; for he gives both to will and to do, he teaches us to fight againſt our ſpiritual enemies, and his power being employed for us, cauſes us to get the Victory. When we are bewildred, his Word is our guide to direct us; and when we are fainting, we have many great and precious Promiſes to revive our ſpirits; when we are in darkneſs, and when we are in danger, he is both our Sun and Shield; his Wind blows upon our Gardens, and cauſes the Spices to flow forth; he excites and quickens our Graces, when they begin to languiſh; and when we are lukewarm and cold, he makes us to be lively and fervent in the performance of our holy Duties; for (as one ſays) what the Soul is to the Body, to move it to natural things, to breathe, to eat, to walk, and the like, the ſame is the Spirit of God in our Souls, to move us to ſpiritual actions, as the fear of God, love to him, and truſt in him, and all the works of Righteouſneſs, Charity, Humility, Patience and Sobriety, that are the motions of the new creature; ſo that we may ſay of this Spirit, that he is the Soul of our Souls; and take away this Spirit, and the Soul reſembles a dead Body, it has no zeal for God, no compunction, no tenderneſs. When we are diſconſolate, one kind look from God makes us to be of good chear. When our hearts are benumb'd, and our Eyes are dry, he melts them into tears with his Love: When we are unfruitful, he ſends his Dew upon our branches, that makes us to flouriſh in his Courts, and to look freſh and green; and when we are under Spiritual decays, he cauſes us to thrive; when we backſlide, he heals our backſlidings; he brings us, through the great Mediator, into a nearneſs to, and acquaintance with himſelf: For as far as we are diſtant from him, ſo far are we removed from true and real Life. When we wander, he recals us; he ſends us freſh influences, and eſtabliſhes our goings, when our motions are like thoſe of a wounded body, very faint and tottering.
3. Eternal Life is in his favour. Hence it is ſaid, That Eternal life is the gift of God, Rom. 6.23. Pſal. 16.11. Thou wilt ſhew me the path of life: in thy preſence it fulneſs of joy, at thy right hand are pleaſures for evermore. It is there that they are ſaid to ſee God; for the ſight of his face, is that which makes it to be ſuch a glorious and delightful place. His Wrath is that which kindles Hell; the withholding of his Favour makes it to be ſuch a dark and gloomy Dungeon; and the clear manifeſtation of it does make all the Glories of the Coeleſtial Paradiſe. And therefore Jacob when he had a Viſion of God's Favour to him, ſaid, This place is no other than the gate of Heaven. Gen. 29.17.Frame not to your ſelves a groſs and a material Happineſs; 'tis all in the Love and Favour of God. To ſee him, fills all the Souls above with ineffable delight; to be deprived of this bleſſed privilege, fills all the Souls in miſery, with Mourning and Lamentation. To his Saints, God will be all in all: his Communications will be entire and full there.Lettres de Monſieur Claude p. 10. † As the Creatures are of divers orders, every one receives its portion of Divine Favour, different from that of others. He communicates himſelf otherwiſe to the Heavens, than to the Earth; otherwiſe to an Angel than to a Man. The Earth hath an Image of his firmneſs; the Sun hath an image of his beauty; the Heaven an image of his immenſity; and ſo in others; but there is no Creature that has aſſembled in it ſelf, all the beams of the Communications of God. It ſhall be otherwiſe in Paradiſe; God ſhall be all things in the Saints, and they ſhall be filled with his Favour. And as he further ſays, God is not ſo all in all, in the Faithful here; the troubles of our Conſcience, the weakneſs of our Faith, the languors of our Devotion, the ſhadows of our Knowledge; our Sins, our Miſeries, our Sickneſs, and our Death, are the fruits of the Fall; and of the Malice of the Devil: But in that Felicity there ſhall be nothing of US in us; nothing of the Impreſſion of the Devil: All ſhall be of God; our Shadows ſhall be ſwallowed up by his Light, and our Weakneſs by his power: It is a ſtate of Glory, and Glory is a mixture of all the Bleſſings of God, in a degree Sovereignly perfect. That Country that is above, is indeed the Land of the Living, they Live, and ſhall never Dye. But this Earth is a Region and a place of Death. For beſide that which is Natural, the moſt part of men are dead in Sin; and truly even thoſe that are alive, have but a weak and a fainting Life. There it is that that the Saints ſhall be admirers of the Grace and Favour of God: That after various difficulties, and innumerable temptations, and overwhelming fears, did at laſt bring them to that happy Place. For the poor trembling Saint, that thought himſelf caſt off, and forſaken of God, to find himſelf in his Arms, in his Preſence, in his Heaven, how great will his joy and praiſe be! How will he aſcribe all his life there, to the meer Favour and Grace of God, that ſhall ſet him at liberty, when by his many Sins he had deſerved to be bound in Eternal Chains! That ſhall cauſe him to ſing Hallelujahs, when others weep and wail for ever! How will he admire that Grace that has placed him in Heaven, when ſo many others are in Hell! And the more admire, when he ſhall conſider, that this diſtinction of States was freely made; That that Crown which will adorn his Head, was freely given! How will every look on God, fill his Soul with a wondring Joy, becauſe he freely gave his Son! How will every view of Chriſt encreaſe his wonder! When he ſhall conſider, that he freely undertook the kind work of his Redemption; that he freely ſhed his Blood, and paid the debt which the Sinner himſelf could never pay; and that he freely gave the Spirit, and offered that Salvation upon eaſy terms, without money and without price, which coſt him very dear! All the Saints above will continually adore the Riches of his Grace, that admitted them to Glory, when they deſerved to be ſhut out as well as others! That they were deformed, till he put his comelineſs upon them! That they were liable to Death, till he juſtified them; and polluted in their Natures till he renewed them; and dying till he made them to live! That they learned nothing, but what he taught them, had nothing, but what he gave them; did nothing, but what he enabled them to do. So that all muſt be wonderful in their Eyes, from the beginning of God's deſign for their Salvation, to the concluſion of it. And when it is all finiſhed, they muſt with loud Praiſes ſing, Grace, Grace. By Grace ye are ſaved, through faith; and that not of your ſelves, it is the Gift of God, Eph. 2.8.
Firſt, No common Mercy yields any Comfort, without the Favour and Love of God. His loving-kindneſs is better than life, Pſal. 63.3. If a man have all that he can wiſh, every thing that is ſplendid and delightful, every thing that may pleaſe his Eye, or gratify his Appetite, if he have not this with the Love of God, he is a Miſerable man: For this will mingle Wormwood and Gall with all his Entertainments; to think the God is his Enemy; that theſe common Bleſſings may conclude in Hell; and that by all that he Eats, and all that he Drinks, he may be but Fatting for the day of Slaughter: Whilſt he is allowing himſelf in all the Carnal gratifications, by a little conſideration, he may diſcern a Two-edged Sword that hangs over his head, and ſee a Gulph below that is ready to ſwallow him, and devour all his hopes and joys; and that all his comforts depend upon the ſlender thread of Life; and that here is but a ſhall partition between him and Everlaſting Burnings: How does this fill him with Amazement and Conſternation! With Fear and Horror! And whilſt he is moſt Jovial, he may ſee a dreadful Hand writing on the Wall, that may make his Knees of ſmite one againſt another, and overthrow all his mirth and pleaſure. Alas! What does it ſignify to a man, if all the World ſmile upon him, if he be under the Wrath and the Frowns of God? They cannot ſhelter him from the coming ſtorm, nor ſcreen him from the Conſuming Fire. What a ſmall ſatisfaction is it to a Condemned Malefactor, that the partakers of his Wickedneſs applaud and careſs him, when his Execution draws near, and the day of his Death will put an end to all his Hopes? What Peace can a Sinner have, who has the Lord of Hoſts againſt him? How can he lye down with Comfort, when he knows not but he may awake in Flames? With what eaſe can he look upon any thing he enjoys, when he knows not but the next moment he himſelf may be deſtroyed and loſt for evermore? And that his next remove, may be to the Grave, and to a place full of Torment? What Comfort can he find from loud laughters, from cheerful Company, from vain Sports, when it may be the next moment he may be in a place where there is weeping and wailling, and gnaſhing of teeth? Without the Favour of God, and that is in the World, all its Promiſes, all its Pleaſures, all its Friendſhips, all its Entertainments, are meer Vanity and Vexation of Spirit: If a man fare deliciouſly every day, if he drink of the moſt ſparkling VVine, if he procure all the Spices of the Eaſt, and all the Riches of the VVeſt; thoſe will not keep his heart from Sorrows nor theſe ſecure him from the Wrath to come. Theſe things are very grateful whilſt he is embodied, whilſt he can Hear, and Smell, and Taſt. But what ſhall a man that is a ſtranger to God do, when he is turned into a Spirit? VVhat ſhall an Immortal Soul do, when all theſe Corporal goods are paſt away? VVhere will be his proviſion? VVhat will be his entertainment, when he is lodged in the Eternal world? VVhen he ſhall no more hear the Muſick, that once charmd and gratified his Senſe; when he ſhall no more ſee thoſe Beauties that he once admired and doted on? How muſt his Soul that purſued nothing but a Temporal and a Carnal Happineſs, in that State of Separation, be filled with Uneaſineſs and Regret, with Anguiſh and Deſpair, to ſee it ſelf ſtript of all its ancient Comforts; and to have nothing remaining that is Comfortable! To be full of flaming deſires, and to have nothing wherewith to quench the raging Flame! All that is preſent, without the Favour of God, is but like Graſs upon the Houſe tops; it flatters us with a falſe opinion of its high ſtation, it looks fair and green, but the mower has not wherewith to fill his hand, it quickly fades and withers away; but with God is the Fountain of Life, Pſal. 36.9. a Fountain that ſupplies us with vital ſtreams, and ceaſes not to refreſh, till it mingle with the River of delight, that makes glad the City of God, Pſal. 46.4. The glories of this World are ſoon covered with night and darkneſs; but he is a Sun that ever ſhines, and from whence iſſues nothing but cheering and reviving Light. Hence, a little that a righteous man hath, it better than the Revenue of many Wicked, Prov. 15.16. Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treaſure, and trouble therewith. His little is given him with a Bleſſing, and their multitude of things attended with a Curſe: His Temporal Mercies are the forerunners of Eternal; he taſts a ſweetneſs in what he has, becauſe he is ſure that it flows from the Love of God. He can eat his bread with joy, and drink his wine with a chearful heart; becauſe his works are accepted, Eccleſ. 9.7.
2. The Favour of God is Life in all temporal Wants and Afflictions: No Affliction can be born, if a man do not ſee his Fatherly Goodneſs orders and directs the moſt ſharp and bitter Cup. How can a man hold out in trouble, when he knows not but it may be to him the beginning of Sorrows? With what grief muſt he weep, that knows not that his tears ſhall ever be wiped away? How deeply muſt he ſigh, that looks upon his ſtroke to be the ſtroke of an Enemy, and the chaſtiſement of a Cruel one? Jer. 30.14, 15. But now the Favour of God reconciles the Soul to his moſt ſevere and myſterious Diſpenſations; and teaches it to be ſilent under his hand; and to believe, that though he is angry now, yet he will not be ſo for ever. When a poor Soul looks round about, and ſees vexation and trouble over all the World; this Favour of God encourages him to look above, where he finds a calm, and reſt. When the men in whom he moſt confided, prove deceitful, and when from thoſe from whom he expected the greateſt kindneſs, he meets with the greateſt diſappointments, then he can have recourſe to that God that will never change: when he is left alone, and forſaken, the Divine Preſence gives him Honey in the Wilderneſs, and turns his Dungeon into a Paradiſe; what he wants in the Creatures, is plentifully ſupplied in his bleſſed and glorious Creator: And though he be poor in the World, yet he is rich in faith; Jam. 2.5. Though he have nothing on Earth that he can call his own, yet what a ſweet ſupport is it to think, that God is his: what need he care, though he be caſt off by all the World, when God receives him? What need he care if they condemn him, when th… Sovereign Judge of all does acquit him and bids him be of good chear, for his ſins are forgiven? He need not fear all their daring Threats, their Inſolence and Pride, when he can look up with Stephen, and ſee Jeſus at the right hand of God to plead his Cauſe. Though he loſe his Friends, and his Earthly Comforts, yet he has an Almighty Friend that he can never loſe. Every Correction is grateful to a Soul thus priviledg'd; for how unpleaſant ſoever it be for the preſent, he knows it ſhall promote his final good; Rom. 8.28. He knows that his heavenly Father tutors him by ſo ſharp a diſcipline for his own glorious Kingdom; and relies upon his faithful Promiſe to bring him thither: he knows, when he is moſt pained, he is under the Conduct of a tender, and a skilful Phyſician; that though he ſearch his Sore, will not fail to advance and compleat his Cure; and therefore does encourage himſelf to truſt in him, whom he ſhall praiſe as the health of his countenance, and his God: He knows, that when he is thrown down by Sickneſs, the Everlaſting Arms will be underneath; and that he ſhall be ſtrengthned with ſtrength in his Soul, when his Body begins to decay: but now without the favour of God, every little Croſs proves a burthen too heavy for us to bear. When a man thinks with himſelf thus; Theſe pains that I feel, are the wounds of an Enemy; when a man ſees nothing but what is diſmal, dark and troubleſome, and has do proſpect of a dawning or approaching Light, how ſad and how overwhelmed muſt he needs be? how ſmall a thing will ſink us, when the Comforter that ſhould relieve our Souls, is departed? Lam. 1.16.
3. This F… of God is Life to us in the Troubles of our Conſcience; and there are no Troubles in the World like to theſe; Pſal. 88.3, 4. In all other Troubles, our Friends by their kind Diſcourſes, and their pitiful Expreſſions, may mitigate our Sorrow; but how can they ſpeak peace, when God has declared a War againſt us! Job 34.29. When he giveth quietneſs, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? When he in his juſt diſpleaſure raiſes a Storm, who can make the Warers ſmooth again? When the Sun is once ſet, can all the power of Nature make it to riſe again. Other Troubles make the Body droop, but theſe make the Soul it ſelf to languiſh, and to pine away: What but the Favour of God can revive us, when our Hearts, under the ſenſe of Sin and Guilt, begin to dye within us! When our Sins are ſet in order before us, who can free us from the formidable ſight? Who but he can teach our hands to fight, and to get the Victory? When we are awakened with the ſenſe of Wrath, with the fear of Hell, and of Deſtruction, who can cloſe our eyes again? When we are under theſe inward Wounds, who can pour in Oyl, who can bind them up, or heal them, but he alone? When our Conſciences accuſe us for our former and our later Sins, who then can plead our Cauſe? who can be on our ſide, when God himſelf has overthrown us? When the ſpiritual and holy Law ſlays us, who can give us Life? When the Word pronounces a dreadful Sentence againſt us, who is able to reverſe it? Who in Heaven or Earth can be our Helper, if we find not help he God? Who will give us any comfort, when through the terrors of our Souls we are looking for the Wrath to come? Who will give us reſt, when we lie down, and riſe again, with a ſenſe of the Fury, and the Diſpleaſure of the Lord? Deut. 28.66, 67. VVhen a Soul is continually venting its preſaging Fears, and ſaying. Now I am troubled, but I ſhall ſhortly be in much greater trouble: now I am with my Friends, but it may be ſhortly I ſhall be with Devils: now I am on Earth, but it may be ſhortly I ſhall be in Hell: now the Favour of God brings life to the dying Soul: one beam of his favour cauſes the diſconſolate Mourner to lay aſide his mourning Garments, and to rejoice. After long Terrors, how ſweet is the Voice of God that brings the news of a pardon? how welcome are the Tidings of a Pardon to a Malefactor at the very place of Execution; and when God has brought us out of the deep VVaters, and the miry Pit, our very Bones begin to rejoice: it ſpreads a chearfulneſs over every part, to think that one whom we had ſo highly offended, will yet be reconciled again; it raiſes us even to tranſport and wonder; what, will he be gracious and merciful to ſuch as we are! Is it not pleaſant after a long war, to be at peace; after hard labour, to reſt; after a long Journey, to arrive at our home? ſo it will be to ſee the Face of God after a long darkneſs to ſhine upon us again. As a devout Lady once ſaid; I have found him whom I ſought; the Love of my Soul, and the Joy of mine Heart; My Lord, and my God: Now my Joys return, I now behold the Face of God, and feel his Comforts in the ſervice and worſhip of him; and therefore every hour ſeems five till the hour of Prayer comes; till by Contemplations and Meditations I bring my God to my Soul. I could wiſh every one of the days for the ſolemn worſhip of God, to be a Joſhua's day, the longeſt is too ſhort for me; and my wonted hours of Devotion and Meditation are too narrow a confinement for them: and when I am refreſht with the Comforts of God, my heart dilates it ſelf further by looking on the Joys of Heaven; for if there be ſuch joy, during the Seed time,See Life of the Counteſs of Falkland, p: 22. now infinite is the ſoy Harveſt. VVhat can be more great, more delicious, and more comfortable, than to find that the Sun of Righteouſneſs will ſhine upon us with his healing beams; aſſuring us of his Grace here, and of his Glory in the VVorld to come? To ſee that Hell, and that Curſe of the Law in which we thought our ſelves involved, to be under our feet! to ſee the Yoke of Sin broken, and the power of Death aboliſht! to ſee the Heavenly Sanctuary open, and Chriſt our Salvation on the Throne, reaching out to us his hand, and guarding us to that happineſs which he hath purchaſed with his Blood! Oh! how cold, and how miſerable are all the Delights of the VVorld to ſuch a delightful ſight as this? and how happy are the People whoſe God is the Lord! No Pleaſures, no Creature-comforts, no merry Songs can give quiet to a troubled Soul without the Favour, and the Love of God: till he come, all other methods do but make the Clouds more black, and encreaſe our Sorrows.
4. His Favour is Life in the vehement Aſſaults and Temptations of the Devil. VVhen the ſtrong man armed comes againſt us, when he darts his fiery darts, what can hurt us, if he compaſs us about with his loving-kindneſs as with a ſhield? Pſal. 5.12. He can diſarm the Tempter, and reſtrain his Malice, and tread him under our feet. If God be not with us, if he do not give us ſufficient Grace; ſo ſubtle, ſo powerful, ſo politick an Enemy will be too hard for us: how ſurely are we foild, and get the worſe, when we pretend, to grapple with him in our own ſtrength. How many falls, and how many bruiſes by thoſe falls have we got, by relying too much on our own skill? How often have we had the help of God, when we have humbly ask'd it! And how ſure are we to get the Victory, if Chriſt pray for us that our faith do not fail! Luk. 22.31. VVhere can we go for ſhelter, but unto God our Maker! when this Lyon of the Foreſt does begin to roar, how will he terrify and vex us, till he that permits him for a while to trouble us, be pleaſed to chain him up again!
5. Gods Favour is Life, even in Death it ſelf. He cures all the diſorders of the Soul: He weans it from the Body, and makes the paſſage to another World ſweet and eaſie: He can take away the frightful, ghaſtly aſpect of Death, and beſtow upon it a pleaſant and amiable look: and hence it is, that ſick People are often heard to ſay; Oh! If I had but the Favour, and the Love of God, I could he freely willing to dye even in this moment! If I had but his Love, I could bear all theſe pains, and quietly ſubmit, though I have reſtleſs nights, and weary days; for then I ſhould be ſure of Eternal Reſt. It is our eſtrangedneſs from God that makes us live in bondage all our days; and when our time to dye is come, makes us ſo very loth to depart. This ſenſe of God's diſpleaſure makes a Death-bed to be a Bed of ſorrow; and makes Death to be indeed the King of Terrors: and who can but tremble, when he finds himſelf leaving this World, and knows not what will be his portion in the next? That finds himſelf going to the Judgment-feat, but knows not whether he ſhall be acquitted or condemned there! how many times do the very thoughts of Death cut us in our Sickneſs to the very Soul, becauſe our ſpirits are clouded, and our evidence for Salvation is departed even before we depart, ſo that we ſtand trembling on the borders of Eternity, and would fain ſtay on Earth, though we cannot? VVhat but the favour of God will help us? When our heart, and our fleſh fails, He will be the ſtrength of our heart, and our portion for ever, Pſ. 73.26. VVhat but this will attend us through the ſhady Vale? How can we part with our Friends, if God be not our Friend? How can we leave this Earthly Tabernacle, if we have not an Houſe not made with Hands? How ſhall we look upon ſo vaſt a Change, as that of Time into Eternity, if we are not to change this Mortal for a better Life? But one ſmile of the Face of God in that great and concluding-work, will keep us that we ſhall not be afraid to dye: one fore-taſte of Heaven will make us with undaunted hearts to bid this ſinful VVorld adieu; we ſhall then like Moſes, undreſs our ſelves, and dye: we ſhall with the ſame chearfulneſs go down to the Grave, which Jacob went with into Egypt; becauſe our Mediator and our elder Brother lives, and has made good proviſion for us. VVe ſhall not be amazed to lie down in the duſt, when once we have the hope of a bleſſed and a glorious Reſurrection; and the day of our death will be a comfortable day, if our bleſſed Lord be then pleaſed to tell us, that on the ſame day we ſhall be with him in Paradiſe.