Trouble of the Mind and the Disease of Melancholy, Discourse · Part 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Shewing by what means we may know, whether we have God's Favour, or not. And firſt, by the graces of his Spirit, though the acting of them is neither ſo ſtrong, nor ſo comfortable at one time as at another. And ſecondly, by our hatred of Sin; and our being ſatisfied with all his Providences.
THE next thing is to Examine, and to try, whether you have indeed this Favour of God, in which is Life. There are a great many people that think God to be their Friend, when he is their Enemy; and a great many troubled diſtreſſed Chriſtians think that he is their Enemy, when he is their Friend. Let us, I beſeech you, be very careful in a thing that ſo nearly concerns both our preſent, and our future peace: Let us take heed, that neither the Devil, nor our own hearts cheat us in a matter that is of ſo vaſt a conſequence; and we have need of the greater care, becauſe, if we ſhould flatter our ſelves with a fooliſh hope, that we are God's Favourites, when we are not truly ſo; as our vain Expectations would leave us at the laſt, ſo the Ruine that it would bring forth, would come with a double weight upon us; for to fall from great hopes, is worſe than never to have hoped at all: to be miſerable after we have thought our ſelves happy, gives a more acute and bitter ſting to that miſery. There is many an one in Hell now groaning under the Eternal Wrath of God, that thought he ſhould have ſeen the Smiles of his Face, and not have been terrified with his Frowns; that thought he ſhould have walkt in the Streets of the New Jeruſalem, in liberty, and light, and peace; whereas he is now in Chains of darkneſs, and in anguiſh inexpreſſible. With what tenderneſs, with what caution, and with what holy fear ſhould we manage ſuch an Affair as this! with what ſolemnity ought I to proceed, when I am enquiring whether I am a Favourite of God, or not; whether I belong to the Living, or yet remain among the Dead; whether I am an Heir of Heaven, or an utter ſtranger to the bleſſed place, and the God that makes it to be ſo bleſſed as it is? And there is not one perſon that reads this, but has cauſe to make ſuch an Enquiry; and to ſay with himſelf, I feel by the warmth and vigorous motion of my ſpirits, that I have a natural Life: I eat, and drink, and ſleep, and take abundance of care, and uſe a thouſand projects to maintain this ſame dear and pleaſant Life; but whilſt my Body is indulged, and thrives, is not my poor ſlighted Soul in a ſtate of death? and whilſt men ſhew me favour, and are friendly to me, have I the favour of that God that is to be my Judge, and who is either the beſt Friend, or the worſt Enemy? Now in this matter we may proceed by ſuch Rules as theſe.
1. Have you thoſe graces of the Spirit wrought in you, which are the certain pledges and tokens of his Favour? Are you rich in faith, and yet poor in ſpirit? Are you hungring and thirſting after Righteouſneſs? And when you find your own beſt Actions fall vaſtly ſhort of the ſtrict and pure demands of the Divine Law, do you prize and ſeek the Righteouſneſs that is in Chriſt? Is that Sin now bitter to your taſte, and grievous to your thoughts, which was once highly eſteemed and prized? Do you hate and bewail that with a relenting ſpirit, that was once your dearly beloved, and your joy? Are you mortified to this World, and do you walk humbly, as wiſely conſidering how weak you are, and how liable to be ſurprized, and to fall, always conſidering that you are very ſinful, and very frail? Theſe Graces of Faith, Mortification, Humility, and the like, are certain tokens of the Love of God; and in a Soul thus qualified, he delights to fix his Habitation; Iſa. 57.15. in ſuch a Soul there is a Heaven begun: and it not only lives, but will attain new ſtrength, and proceed to further degrees of life: though it now flouriſh in the Courts of the Lord, yet his Light ſhining upon it, will cauſe it to take the deeper root, and to look with a more amiable freſhneſs: the Self-conceited ſhall miſs abundance of refreſhments that a Soul ſo lowly will meet withall; as thoſe ſhowers of Rain that ſlide away from the tops of Mountains, deſcend into the Valleys, and make them more fruitful; Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. He does not give this to remain for a ſmall ſpace only, but to remain with his Servants till their work be done; it is called the earneſt of our Inheritance; Epheſ. 1.14. An Earneſt, you know, is part of the Payment not to be returned again; and we are ſaid to be ſealed with this Spirit unto the day of Redemption: Eph. 4.30. i. e. that is, as one explains it, God does by that diſtinguiſh Believers from other men, as Seals are employed to make a difference from other things that are not ſo much to be regarded; and as we ſeal our own Goods, or Papers, or ſome particular thing that is moſt precious; which Expreſſion calls us to meditate on the infinite tenderneſs of God's Love to men. For a man does not love any thing ſo much as that which is his own; he looks upon other things, in which he has no propriety, with an indifferent and unconcerned eye, even the ſtately Glories of a Palace do not affect him with ſo great a joy, as the Little Conveniences of his own unobſerved Cottage, becauſe it is his own: And further, a Seal often carries the Arms of him whoſe Seal it is; or the Image of ſome great Perſon: ſo the work of the Spirit is to engrave in our hearts, Faith, Hope and Love; theſe are the Enſigns of the New Covenant; and form in us the Image of God, which conſiſts in Righteouſneſs, and Peace, and Holineſs. God does not ſet this mark but upon thoſe that are indeed his Favourites; that by the tenderneſs and ſoftneſs of their hearts, are prepared to receive Impreſſions.*Claude ſur Eph. 4.30. p. 20. But in this matter we are in a great meaſure paſſive; as the Wax receives the ſame marks that the Seal ſtamps upon it: theſe are ſaving-works of the Spirit which I have mentioned; whereas a great many common Gifts are beſtowed upon thoſe whom God abhors: many a man may have Light enough to ſhew others the way to Heaven, and yet never walk therein himſelf; and he that was a Star in the Firmament of the Church on Earth, may ſit in darkneſs; 1 Cor. 13.1, 2, Thongh I ſpeak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as ſounding braſs, or a tinkling cymbal: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and underſtand all myſteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, ſo that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. You muſt under this Head obſerve theſe two things.
1. Not to expect to be alike ſtrong in every Grace.
2. Not to have at all times the ſame Comforts.
1. You muſt not expect to be a like ſtrong in every Grace: We ought to ſtrive to be compleat, to have all the pieces of our Chriſtian Armour poliſh'd, and fit for action, and well fitted and put upon us; but thoſe parts where is the moſt danger of a Wound, thoſe parts where is the ſeat of Life, we are principally to ſecure and guard: So thoſe Graces we are firſt of all to look after, and to cheriſh, which produce and keep the reſt in vigour; ſuch as Faith, and Repentance, and Humility. Tho' moſt certain it is, that all Men, even of thoſe that are God's Favourites, are not of the ſame ſtature, nor the ſame ſtrength, nor have they as much skill in every Duty, as it may be they have in one or two; it is ſo ordered by the Holy Providence of God, that all in Chriſt ſhall have Tribulations, but very different many times from one another; that ſo the different Grace that they are to exerciſe under their ſeveral Tryals, may ſhine with a brighter Glory. Thus of old, Abraham was peculiarly eminent for his Faith, Moſes for his Meekneſs; Job for his Patience. All Believers, by the Privileges with which they are inveſted, are Stars; but yet even here one Star differs from another Star in Glory. As there are ſeveral gifts of the ſame Spirit, that are all uſeful to the whole; ſo the Graces that are wrought by him, do, according to his Soveraign pleaſure, produce ſeveral effects, according to the ſubjects in which they are; and many times are very much advanced, or obſtructed, by a good or ill temper of the body. Hence thoſe that have a cholerick temper, the fierineſs of their natural ſpirits, that upon every ſmall occaſion are apt to be enflamed, does very much hinder that meekneſs and calmneſs which is one of the Graces of the holy Spirit; and ſo others that are naturally tenacious, and cloſe, and narrow-ſoul'd, do many times ſmell too much even of theſe ill qualities, when they are converted; but it ought not to be ſo; for if there be any particular ſin to which we are more enclined by our conſtitution than to another, we ought more induſtriouſly to ſet our ſelves againſt that ſin.
2. You muſt not expect a continuance of the ſame comforts at all times; for the Spirit blows where he liſteth, and when he will, Joh 3.8. Tho' the new Creature be formed in you by the Grace of God; yet you cannot perceive its motions with ſo diſtinct a ſenſe at one time as at another; tho' by the interceſſion of Chriſt, his Favourites are ſecured from a total and final Apoſtacy, yet they may fall now and then, and their Life ſeem to decline, and a ſpiritual faintneſs come upon it, and a very deep ſorrow may cover, and, as it were, bury your hopes and your joys; but yet there is that vital Principle that ſhall not ſee corruption; that ſeed of Grace that will now and then flouriſh with acceptable fruit. Your Faith may, in violent temptations, be like the weak and undiſcernable ſtirring of the ſoul; when the body is in a Swoon, the ſoul does ſeem for a while to be departed; but after the ſpirits are refreſhed, it animates the whole body, and exerciſes all the functions and offices of Life as it uſed to do. When the Ship was moſt violently toſt with a Tempeſt, yet our Lord was there; tho' the poor trembling Diſciples thought he did not care whether they were loſt or ſaved. Thus Mary was drowned with Tears after his Reſurrection; and not finding him where ſhe expected, nor as ſoon, ſhe gave way to ſorrow: They have taken away the Lord, ſays ſhe, Joh. 20.13. and I know not where they have laid him; when the very perſon that ſhe had then in view, was the ſame dear Saviour and Friend that ſhe long'd to ſee: And when with great tenderneſs and familiarity he diſcovered himſelf, and called her Mary, then ſhe full well knew that it was her Maſter, and her poor drooping heart was filled with joy and tranſport, She fell at his feet, and kiſſed them. God does not equally manifeſt his favour, no, not even to the ſame perſon, who ſometimes triumphs, and ſometimes is very deſolate; as the ſame veſſel that is ſometimes lifted up even as to Heaven it ſelf, by the riſing and the ſwelling Waves, is the next minute ſinking to the bottom of the Sea, and ready to be ſwallowed in the formidable depths; tho' if we were duly prepared, the face of our God would appear with as amiable an aſpect at one time as at another; for if any frowns be there, our ſins are the cauſe; and becauſe we are ſinful, 'tis neceſſary for us now and then to weep, as well as always to rejoice. The Clouds, and the Showers are as needful to the Earth, as is the conſtant ſhine, and the fairer weather. Our Graces yield no delight to us, till the Spirit actuate and enliven them: till he blow upon the garden, Cant. 4.16. the ſpices do not flow forth; nor do the ſweeteſt of the flowers ſmell with ſuch a perfume, and ſuch a fragrant ſcent as they then do. If we would have a warm ſenſe of the Love of Chriſt ſhed abroad in our hearts, it muſt be done by the efficacy and influence of the Holy-Ghoſt; he brings the moſt ſuitable Truths to remembrance, and he ſeaſonably applies thoſe Promiſes that are moſt comfortable and reviving; he raiſes in us holy courage and hope, and he fills our Sails with his favourable blaſts; he baniſhes that fear, and thoſe perplexing doubts that enſlave us, and ſets before us the Mercy and the Loving-kindneſs of God; and pours into our ſmarting and bleeding Wounds, the Conſolations of the Goſpel. There are, indeed, ſome particular times when God is pleaſed to give to the ſoul the clear manifeſtations of his favour; and they are uſually by Divines ſaid, to be in ſuch particular circumſtances as theſe:
1. He is pleaſed to condeſcend to New Converts, that are ſuddenly cheared with mighty Joys, and filled with an admiration of his Grace; He conſiders the weakneſs of theſe tender Pilgrims, and his joy becomes their ſtrength; he feeds them as with Angels food; for he knows they have a great way to go, and therefore he carries them in his Arms, and leads them gently along, and they meet not with thoſe ſharp and heavy Tryals that more experienced Chriſtians meet withal. The ſudden change that ſuch perceive, when they go from groſs darkneſs into a marvellous light, when their Chains are ſtruck off, and their Priſon-doors ſet open, makes them to wonder and adore. Hence it is that they have vigorous affections, and are very active for the Glory of their Saviour; hence it is that their Zeal is ſo fervent, and the flame of their Love burns ſo clear and bright.
2. Another ſeaſon when God Communicates to his Servants peculiar manifeſtations of his favour, is at the Lord's Supper; when they ſee their Redeemer Crucified before their eyes; when they ſee the torments of his Body, and the Agonies of his Soul, how pained, how amazed he was, and that all this pain was for them, and for their Salvation; and that as ſurely as they receive the Bread and the Wine, ſo ſurely do they receive this Jeſus, and all his benefits: Direction for the preſent, and a title to everlaſting Glory; this carries them up to the top of the Mount, this makes them to taſt of the Tree of Life. This ſight of a dying Saviour, and of the Heaven that he purchaſed, makes them to worſhip him with praiſe, and to think themſelves even as already there where he is. To this Table of the Lord, the believing ſoul goes hungry and a thirſt; and from the ſame Table returns greatly pleaſed with ſo Divine a Banquet, tho' not without the moſt earneſt deſires of that entertainment that is reſerved for it above.
3. God is pleaſed to give his Servants a clearer manifeſtation of his Love, when he intends to employ them in ſome remarkable or extraordinary ſervice; and as he encouraged Joſhua that met with great difficulties, by ſaying. Fear not, but be of good courage, I am with thee, Joſh. 1.9. When he ſets before them the Labours and Dangers of the Combat, he diſplays at the ſame time, the greatneſs of the Reward, and the glory of the Victory: Thus docs he animate his Soldiers to fight his Battels; thus he prepares his Martyrs to witneſs to his Truth, and with ſuch a ſenſe of his favour, no Cup ſeems too bitter for them to drink, no danger too great for them to Conquer. Hence Moſes ſaid, If thy preſence go not with me, carry us not up hence, Exod. 33.15. But with that, he was content to go to what place of difficulty ſoever he was called; he would rather (as one ſays*Culverwell's White Stone, p. 125.) be in a deſolate and howling Wilderneſs, than in a pleaſant and a fruitful Land without the preſence of his God; he knew there was no ſweetneſs in Canaan without him; there is more Sting than Honey in the Land of Promiſe, unleſs he be there; and Canaan it ſelf will prove a Wilderneſs, if he withdraw himſelf. Thus God, as the ſame perſon ſays, when he called Abraham to that great expreſſion of obedience, in the ſacrificing of his Iſaac, he firſt warms his heart with his Love, and ſeals up the Covenant of Grace to him; he ſpreads before him ample and comprehenſive Promiſes, I am thy God alſufficient, I am thy buckler, and thine exceeding great reward; and this will bear up and ſupport Abraham, though the ſtaff of his old Age be taken away, and by his own hands caſt into the Fire.
Or, 4. In Prayer; God is many times pleaſed to ſhew his favour to the Soul, giving it a ſecret aſſurance of his Mercy, ſaying, I am thy God and portion; and ſo ſends it away filled with good things.
Or, 5. In great ſtraits, and pinching wants; when there is leaſt of the creature, there is uſually moſt of the Alſufficient Creator; when all the Ciſterns of Earthly Comforts are broken, then this Fountain overflows, and ſends out his comfortable ſtreams. He carries his people into a Wilderneſs, and there he ſpeaks comfortably to them, Hoſ. 2.14. And is then moſt kind, when the World will ſhew them no kindneſs.
Or, 6. after they have got the victory over ſome Luſts and Corruptions that were both diſhonourable to him, and uneaſie to them; ſuch a Conqueſt is attended with his approbation, and that gives them a mighty joy, like the joy that the poor Iſraelites had, when they ſaw their Enemies drowned in the Red Sea.
Or, 7. in the day of death; When all the ſhine of Earthly delights is clouded, and their Sun is juſt upon his ſetting, they lift up their feeble and their longing eyes toward Heaven, and he draws away the Vail, and they ſee the Son of God ſtanding at his Right hand, as their Advocate and Mediator; and then it is that a poor weary Soul ſays with Paul, I deſire to depart, and to be with Chriſt. As Mr. Flavel ſays of old Mr. Lyford, that being deſired, a little before his death, to let his Friends know in what condition his Soul was, and what his thoughts were about that Eternity to which he ſeemed very near; he anſwered, with a cheerfulneſs ſuitable to a Believer and a Miniſter, I will let you know how it is with me; and then ſtretching out an hand that was withered and conſumed with Age and Sickneſs, Here is, ſays he, the Grave, the Wrath of God, and devouring Flames, the juſt puniſhment of Sin on the one ſide, and here am I a poor ſinful ſoul on the other ſide; but this is my comfort, the Covenant of Grace which is eſtabliſhed on ſo many ſure Promiſes, hath ſalved all. There is an Act of Oblivion paſſed in Heaven, I will forgive their iniquities, and their ſins will I remember no more, This is the bleſſed Privilege of all within the Covenant, among whom I am one. What a quiet and a bleſſed ſoul was this! How full of joy in a time of uſual amazement and terror! With what ſtrength was he furniſh'd to fight with his laſt Enemy! God grant that you and I may have ſuch ſtrength, and ſuch comfort when it ſhall be our time to dye.
2. That you may know whether you have the Favour of God, in which is life, you muſt examine, whether you eſteem him more than the world. There are two Qualifications of this Eſteem: 1. That it be ſerious and deliberate. 2. That it be prevalent. 1. That it be ſerious: It muſt be the product of many ſolemn repeated thoughts; a viewing of him as inveſted with many glorious Perfections, as he is repreſented in his Word, and as he ſhines in the face of Jeſus Chriſt: a due conſidering both what he is in himſelf, and what he will be to you. This Eſteem is not wrought by a haſty glance, or a paſſant view, but by deep thoughtfulneſs, attended with calm and ſedate reflections on our own guiltineſs, and his mercy; on our own emptineſs and miſeries, and his Alſufficiency; and then a ballancing of all things that pretend to a ſhare in our Affections, and ſubmitting at length to the juſter claim of God: Saying after this, or the like manner: Lord, I yield up my ſelf to Thee as Thine own. I was a little while dazled with the gay Pleaſures of a vain World, but now I bid them all farewell, that I may come and taſte thy Joys. I have ſerved Sin and Satan, but they have cheated and deceived me; they have given me Vexation inſtead of Reſt, and Husks inſtead of Bread; therefore now, O my Father in Heaven, poor Prodigal as I am, I return to Thee to live in Thy Family, to do Thy Work, and never to wander, or to be extravagant any more. Oh! give me not all my portion in this World, but let me have an Inherittance in that which is to come. Let others purſue their ſeveral projects, and obtain what they purſue; let them ſucceed in their Affairs, and bathe themſelves in the ſofteſt pleaſures; It is God that I ſeek, it is he that I will moſt value: 'Tis a ſign that a beam of heavenly light hath ſhined upon your ſouls, if this be your frame. 2. Your eſteem muſt be prevalent; the worſt of Men have ſome eſteem of God, as of a Glorious, a Powerful, a good and happy Being; and they think thoſe the ſafeſt, and the moſt Honourable perſons that enjoy his favour: but then there are a thouſand trifles that they more eſteem and labour after, as Riches, or Eaſe, or Gain, or Applauſe. But can you truly ſay, I would not, if I might, have all the World, without God himſelf? I had rather have him, tho in Poverty, and Diſgrace, and trouble, than to be compaſs'd with throngs of flowing joys without his Love? If you have this Favour of God, you will eaſily look through all the painted Varniſh of the World, and ſee its real vanity. God, and things Divine, will not only gain your hearts, but gain them in a Soveraign and a Powerful degree; and till we thus prize and value him, he is not our God, nor is his favour our portion: If you have this, you will ſay with David, Pſal. 4.6. Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me. It is not outward proſperity or grandeur, or the favour of Men, or the eaſe of the fleſh, that I ſeek, but thy ſelf: Thou art my Exaltation, my Joy, my every Good; all that I wiſh for, and all that I deſrire.
3. If you have this favour of God, you will know it by the hatred that you have of ſin. Whereever this comes it will baniſh that, it will weaken and expel it; and tho it do not altogether deſtroy it, yet it will take away from it all its former amiableneſs and beauty; you will not ſin with ſuch boldneſs as you uſed to do; nay, you will be ſo far from that, that you will not dare to commit the leaſt iniquity; and if there be fixed in your ſouls a real and abiding hatred of Sin, and if you uſe all good endeavours againſt it, it's a moſt certain mark that you are paſt from death to life; you cannot but remember what bitterneſs the remembrance of your former iniquities filled your ſouls withal; what conſternation did then ſeize upon your poor ſpirits, when you thought God your Enemy, and Hell your Portion! What would you then have given for the leaſt beam of that Sun that now ſhines with his gentle beams upon your heads! How welcome was the voice of that Meſſenger that brought you glad tidings, and that aſſured you there was Mercy and Hope even for you! Era you obtained this favour of God, you have had many a reſtleſs night, and many a weary day in a ſollicitous enquiry, what would become of your immortal ſouls for ever.
4. If you have this favour of God, in which is Life, you will be ſatisfied with all his diſpenſations that will bring you nearer to himſelf. It is an obſervation not without its Truth, That whereever God gives Grace, he will ſend afflictions to exerciſe that Grace; and thoſe that have the ſtrongeſt Grace, muſt look for ſuch conflicts, ſuch temptations, and ſuch aſſaults from the Devil in their way to Heaven, as will put all their Grace to the utmoſt and the largeſt ſtretch. None ſhall come to Heaven without ſuffering; none can tell how many Millions of ſufferings he may endure before the day of Salvation dawns upon him; but he is a very happy perſon that is not overwhelmed with theſe innumerable calamities, That whileſt he ſwims as in a Sea of grief, can lift up his head, and exerciſe his Faith, and ſay, Lord, let thy will be done. It thou wilt be with me in the fiery Furnace, and in the deep Waters, I ſhall not fear, tho thoſe Flames be very hot, and theſe Waves roul faſt one upon another. Tho it is our Duty to deprecate long, and ſevere, and heavy Tryals; it is a common thing in our Prayers, to ſay, Lord, if thou wilt ſave me at laſt, bring any ſort of affliction on me, I will refuſe nothing. But alas! alas! we generally do not know what we ſay; there are thoſe Arrows in God's Quiver, which if they ſhould be ſhot againſt us, would cut us to the very ſoul, and make us quickly to change our language. There is that unſpeakable weight in his hand, when he lays it much upon us, that we cannot bear; There are thoſe Pains at his diſpoſal, and which our ſins deſerve, that are in all things, ſetting aſide their duration, as the very pains of Hell. He is the good Man that does not deſire affliction; for he will be ſure to have it whether he do or not: but that can ſubmit to it when it comes upon him; that does not make to himſelf a Croſs, but takes it up when he finds it lying in the way; that can ſay, Lord, if I muſt be poor, in order to Eternal Riches, I am very well ſatisfied; if I muſt be very low, and contemptible, and deſpiſed, before I come to thee, that lowneſs, and that contempt, ſhall be my real glory. If, during all the days of my Pilgrimage, I muſt ſow in Tears, I will go on however, for I know that I ſhall reap in joy. If my corruptible Body muſt languiſh away in pain, and my ſinful Soul have its troubles too, I will wait in hope, and not repine or fret at thy Decree; If I muſt be friendleſs here, I will ſtill prize thee, as my beſt and Eternal Friend; even when I am ſorely oppreſt, I will keep cloſe to thee, I will lay hold on thy Perfections, on thy Covenant, and on thy Promiſes, and I will not let thee go till I be bleſſed. This Favour of God cauſes a perſon to rejoice in him, tho the Fig-tree do not bloſſom; and when any dear Comfort, any Relation is taken away by Death, will make him ſay, My God is better to me than Ten of theſe Comforts, nay, than many Thouſands of them put together: And tho he ſnatch from my Embraces what I moſt valued in this World, yet he ſhall have my beſt affections, my deſire, my love, my delight as much as ever. A Soul thus prepared to be quiet under the ſevereſt diſpenſations, has Life in the Favour of God; he has that Life that ſhall never expire, but end in Eter… Life.