The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 12 · Section 4
SECT. IV.
3. Ʋſe I Now proceed unto a third Uſe which ſhall be of relief to tender and Reliefe to weak Chriſtians.weak Chriſtians, who are full of tears, and ſadneſs, becauſe they can find no diſcoveries of the preſence of Gods Spirit within them, or at moſt very weak and feeble pulſes and appearances thereof: That which I would ſay for the ſupport of thoſe weak perſons, I ſhall ſet down in five Concluſions.
Firſt, One may have the real preſence of the Spirit, and yet ſometimes The ſpirit may be really preſent, and yet not diſcovered, Its in deſertions.have no ſenſible diſcoveries of his preſence, as to his own apprehenſion: As
1. In the time of deſertions when the Lord hides himſelf from the ſoul, and draws off, and leaves it a while to ſit in darkneſs and in ſilence; in ſuch a caſe though there be actings of the Spirit, and puttings forth tears and groans, and complaints (Will the Lord caſt off for ever? will he be favourable no more? Pſal. 77. 7.) yet the deſerted ſoul diſcerns them not in a Relative way, as working teſtimonies of the preſence of the Spirit.
2. In time of great tranſgreſſions: Then the Spirit as is it were in a ſwoon, and the light appears not, and confuſion and darkneſs riſe upon our graces; David In great tranſgreſſions.in his great tranſgreſſions looks upon all as loſt, and therefore prayes that the Lord would not take his holy Spirit from him, Pſal. 51. 11.
Secondly, One may have the Spirit of God within him, and yet ſometimes (as to his own thinking) the diſcoveries may be rather that he hath not the ſpirit, than that he hath; Job ſaith of God, he holds me for his enemy, Job. 13. 24. And David ſaith, caſt me not off, Pſal. 43. 2. And the Church ſaith, my God hath forſaken me, Iſa. 49. 14.
This is our condition in the times of vile temptation, and in the time of ſad melancholy, and there is no grace in me, no faith, no love, ſoftneſs of heart, no ability to pray,; all was but hypocriſie, there was never any thing in truth wrought within my ſoul.
Thirdly, There are comforting diſcoveries of the preſence of the Spirit; and Other effects of the Spirit.there are proper and reſpective diſcoveries of this preſence as to our preſent ways, and works, and needs: Perhaps you have not the manifeſtations of the ſpirit in the effect of peace, and joy, and aſſurance, and yet you may have the manifeſtations of the Spirit in the effects of mourning for ſin, and conflicting with it, and prayer againſt it, and to walk uprightly: Perhaps you find not the preſence of the Spirit diſcovering himſelf in ſtrong and powerful actings in your ſouls, and yet you may find the Spirit diſcovering himſelf in making you to hunger after Chriſt: Perhaps you find not the Spirits preſence in raiſing your hearts with his teſtimony, and yet you find his preſence in humbling your hearts for the ſins into which you are fallen. Perhaps you do not find the preſence of the Spirit in delivering you from temptations, but yet you find his preſence in up…olding of you againſt temptations.
Fourthly, There are many things which may befall us in our Chriſtian race When we may conclude our having of the Spirit not withſtanding afflictions.and courſe, which yet are not ſufficient grounds to conclude that God hath not given unto us his Spirit. e. g.
1. Afflictions, loſſes, and croſſes in outward things, you may not from theſe conclude that God hath not given you his Spirit; Becauſe
1. The Lord doth correct every ſon whom he loveth.
2. The moſt holy perſons have been afflicted; Job was ſo, ſo was Jacob, ſo was David.
3. Theſe are ſent for the tryal of our faith and repentance, &c. and for the improvement of them.
2. Oppoſitions from wicked men, by reproaches, and ſlanders, and threatnings, and injuriouſneſs, theſe are ſo far from aproving that we have not the And oppoſition and reproaches.Spirit, that they rather do demonſtrate his preſence and work in us: Gal. 4. 28. We brethren, as Iſaac was, are the children of promiſe. Ver. 29. But as then he that was born after the fleſh, perſecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even ſo it is now. 1 Joh. 3. 12. As Cain who was of that wicked one, and ſlew his brother; and wherefore ſlew he him? becauſe his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous. 1 Pet. 4. 4. They think it ſtrange that you run not with them to the ſame exceſſe of riot, ſpeaking evil of you.
3, Inward motions of ſin, and outward temptations from Satan: They have Inward motions of ſin, and outward temptations. Different temptations in our own heartsand do befall the beſt of Saints; Paul found the one in Rom. 7. and the other in 2 Cor. 12. and who of the people of God is free from them?
4. Several diverſities upon our own ſpirits; ſometimes a lowlineſs, a dulneſs; ſometimes great confidence, and ſometies many doubtings; ſometimes rejoycings, ſometimes mournings; ſometimes an enlargedneſs of heart, and ſometimes a narrowneſs and reſtrainedneſs; ſometimes an high elevation of heart, and ſometimes why art thou cast down O my ſoul? ſometimes I do believe, and yet ſometimes O that I could believe! ſometimes I will not fear what man can do unto me? and ſometimes I am affraid, and that I ſhall one day periſh by the hand of Saul.
5. Particular wandrings and ſinnings, when yet the courſe of a Chriſtian is Particular wandrings.holy and upright; in this caſe we may neither condemn another, nor yet our ſelves as utterly deſtitute of the Spirit of grace, becauſe as a courſe of ſinning ariſeth from the want of grace; ſo the particular acts of ſinning may ariſe only from the weakneſs of grace.
Fifthly there may be but a very weak meaſure of grace in a perſon, who yet A weak meaſure of grace where yet is the Spirit of grace.hath the Spirit of grace in truth: A Child that is newly born is a living child, and yet he is very weak: Some Chriſtians are but new born babes, as the Apoſtle calls them, 1 Pet. 2. 2. The graces of the Spirit are ſometimes in ſo weak and ſo low a ebb, that they are compared to a bruiſed reed, and to ſmoaking flax, and to the dawning of of light in the morning, and to a grain of muſtardſeed, and to a little leaven in the lump.
Now here I would ſhew you three things.
1. How one may know that he hath as yet but a very weak meaſure of the Spirit of grace?
2. How one may know that the weak meaſure of grace is not falſe but true grace?
3. That no Chriſtian ſhould diſcourage himſelf becauſe his grace is weak, but rather encourage himſelf becauſe grace is ſound, although it be weak.
How to know our grace to be weak.1. Queſt. How one may know that he hath as yet but a very weak meaſure of the Spirit of grace?
Sol. This may be known
In our firſt converſion.Firſt, By the time of the implantation of it; this is a truth, that grace begins in weakneſs; if a man be but newly converted, his grace cannot be but weak: Simile. The Chriſtian at firſt is but as a plant newly ſet, and but as a ſick man newly recovered, or as the Sun newly riſen; although it may ſeem much unto him, and he may find many ſtirrings in his ſpirit, and in his affections; yet this grace is but weak, it hath but little ſtrength in it: Simile. As a priſoner who hath been long in captivity and bondage, when he is delivered, his rejoycing may be great, and yet his body may be very weak; ſo when the Lord converts a man, and ſo delivers him from the bondage of ſin, his heart may exceedingly rejoyce in his mercy, that he is tranſlated from death to life, and yet his Spiritual ſtrength of grace is very weak in him.
Secondly, By the ſtrength of corruptions: The ſtronger that any mans corruptions By the ſtrength of our corruptions.are, this is a ſign that his graces are but weak: I call thoſe ſinful corruptions ſtrong, which do often prevail upon us, and lead us captive, which are able to hinder us from doing what is good, and to drive and force us to do that which is evil; nor are we able to withſtand this; why this, ariſeth from weakneſs of grace: Simile. When it is with us as with a little Child who is ready to ſtumble and fall at every ſtraw (as we ſpeak) at every ſtone, at every chip, is not this the weakneſs of the Child! So when every temptation, every occaſion, every ſtrong motion of ſin is apt to ſhake us, and ſtagger us, and to ſurprize us, is not grace very weak within us! If this be a truth that ſin grows weak, as grace grows ſtronger Simile. (that the darkneſs is leſs when the light is clear) then this alſo holds true, that grace is weak when ſin is ſtrong, Simile. when grace is like a little light in the mid'ſt of much darkneſs.
By the proportions of actings.Thirdly, by the proportion of actings: Every true grace of the Spirit is of an active nature, it is apt to put forth itſelf; Simile. in this reſpect it is like all true fire and light which in the leaſt degrees are apt, and do put forth themſelves; but they have their different proportions in acting; a little fire acts but little, and a great fire acts much; ſo weak grace hath but a weak operation, and ſtrong grace ſtronger operations; weak grace acts moſt in deſires, and moſt in the will, and moſt in tears, and moſt in ſighs, and groans; O that I could believe! Lord help my unbelief, anſwered the father of child with tears. O that I could mourn, that I could obey! To will is preſent with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not, Rom. 7. 18.
Fourthly, By the mixture of contrary workings; a little of grace, and much of corruption; a little of faith, and much of doubtings; a little of hope, and By the mixture of contrary workingsmuch of fear; a little of ſorrow, and much of hardneſs; a little of prayer, and much of diſtraction; a little of zeal, and much of flatneſs; a little that is done, and much that is undone; a little of knowledge, and much of ignorance; a little heavenly-mindedneſs, and much of earthlineſs; a little fire, and much ſmoak; a little going, and much halting, &c.
Fifthly, By the aptneſs to live not by faith, but by ſenſe; when God draws up all our helps and hopes into his promiſes, and puts us now to fetch all our ſupplies By aptneſs to live by ſence.and comforts from his good and faithful Word, Here is my Word that I will pardon your ſins; and here is my Word that I will ſubdue your iniquities; and here is my Word that I will anſwer your prayers; and here is my Word that I will ſupply your wants; and I will never leave you nor forſake you; O but becauſe we feel not the aſſurance of pardon, and becauſe we find not victory over our ſins, and becauſe we do not ſee the anſwet of our prayers, and becauſe we cannot diſcern the means and wayes how our wants may be ſupplyed, therefore our hearts fail us, and we are troubled and perplexed, and ſad thoughts do ariſe in our hearts, and they are much caſt down within us; If it be thus with us, certainly our graces are weak, very weak; the leſſe able are ye to truſt an All ſufficient and faithful God in his promiſes, but you muſt have the portion in your own hands, you muſt ſee or elſe you will not believe, you cannot ſo ſtedfaſtly believe that Gods Bond is ſufficient, &c. Simile. The child is but weak which muſt ſtill be held by the hand, &c.
Sixthly, By the prevailing of diſcouragements: If we be apt to be offended By the prevailing of diſcouragements.and diſcouraged, this ſhews weakneſs of grace; there are diſcouragements taken from Gods dealing with us, as when he delayes our ſuits, and denies ſome of the requeſts, and tries, and exerciſes us with ſmart afflictions, and ſuffers temptations to abide on us: From the wayes of Chriſtianity, the ſtrictneſs of them, and the danger by them, and the greatneſs of them: From men, that wicked men do ſo vex and trouble us; that good men are ſo ſtrange and unkind unto us: From ou… ſelves, that we go on ſo ſlowly, and exactly, and uncomfortably, and others get ſo far before us, and attain ſo much: Diſcouragements from any of theſe ſhew that there is in us but ſmall knowledge, little faith, much fear, and weak grace.
Seventhly, By the preſence of cenſoriouſneſs, of ſtrife, and contentions, and envyings: 1 Cor. 3. 3. For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among By the preſence of cenſoriouſneſs.you envying, and strife, and diviſion, are you not carnal, and walk as men?
2. Queſt. How may one know that the weak meaſure of grace is not falſe, but true grace, and the very effect of the Spirit of God?
Sol. One may know that there is a true work of grace, although very How a true work of grace may be known though weak. By loving Gods image.weak:
Firſt, By his apprehenſion and love of the image of God, of this work of the Spirit in whomſoever he finds it: His very ſoul values ſuch a perſon, and doth cloſe with him, and is knit unto him: 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know that we have paſſed from death to life, becauſe we love the brethren. Every one that hath truth of grace, doth highly prize all that have grace, counts them the excellent of the earth, and is moſt delighted, Pſal. 16. 3. and ſatisfied in the ſociety of ſuch.
Secondly, By the choice of his heart; he chuſeth God to be his God, and the By our chooſing God to be our God.wayes of God to be his wayes; I have choſen the wayes of truth, Pſal. 119. 30. I have choſen thy precepts. Ver. 173. Although he doth not ſerve his God in fulneſs, yet he doth in ſincerity; although he cannot walk in his wayes exactly, yet in theſe wayes he will walk; he is a ſervant to none but his God, and traveller in no wayes but his.
Thirdly, By the deſires of his ſoul: They are holy and heavenly, and ſpirituall; though his work is little, yet his deſires are great; though his enjoyment ares By the deſires of his ſoul.ſmall, yet his deſires are high; and amongſt others, there are theſe five deſires where there is truth of grace, viz.
1. An earneſt deſire of Gods love and favour: Pſal. 106. 4. Remember me Five deſires in the t…uth of Grace.O Lord with the favour which thou beareſt unto thy people, O viſit me with thy ſalvation.
2. An earneſt deſire of Chriſt, a hungring and thirſting after him. I will ſeek him whom my ſoul loveth, Cant. 3. 3. O that God would give me Chriſt! O that I could believe! Lord help my unbelief! Mark 9. 24.
3. An earneſt deſire to walk in all well-pleaſing before God; O that my wayes were directed to keep thy ſtatutes! Pſal. 119. 5. they do not keep them, but they deſire to keep them; Lord, increaſe our faith.
4. An earneſt deſire for more grace; as Paul, Phil. 3. 12. I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Chriſt Jeſus. Ver 14. I preſſe toward the mark: A deſire of the Word that we may grow thereby, is a ſign of the new birth, 1 Pet. 2. 2.
5. An earneſt deſire that he might not ſin againſt his God: Pſal. 119. 10. With my whole heart have I ſought thee, O let me not wander from thy Commandements.
Fourthly, By the conflicts in himſelf: Though there be not a preſent victory, By the conflicts in himſelf.yet there is a preſent war in every one who hath truth of grace: Truth of grace will make a man
1. To love the Law of the Spirit of Chriſt, and to joyn and take part with his good motions, and directions and commands: The good that I would do, ſaith Paul; and I delight in the law after the inward man, Rom. 7. 19, 22.
2. To hate and oppoſe the Law of ſin: Though he doth evil, yet he hates it, (what I hate, that I do) and though he cannot ſubdue his ſins, yet he will oppoſe them: He opp…ſeth and reſiſteth the pride, the filthineſs, the paſſions, the frowardneſs, the hardneſs, the unbelief of his heart.
Fifthly, By the griefs and complaints of his ſoul: He is grieved that yet ſin By the griefs and complaints o… his ſoul.hath ſo much power in him, and cries out, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death! and he is grieved that he is ſo low, and weak, and ſhort in obedience unto his loving Chriſt! that he can love him no better, fear him no more, truſt on him no ſtronger, and magnifie him no more: And he is grieved that he cannot grieve, that he cannot believe, that he cannot walk up to the Rule of Chriſt, and unto the deſires of his ſoule!
By the endeavours and actings of his ſoulSixthly, By the endeavours and actings of his ſoul: He that is weakeſt in grace, is acting according to the proportion which he hath received: Simile. As old father Latymer ſaid to his fellow-ſufferer, I am coming as faſt as I can brother! So the weakeſt in grace, he is ſtirring, and he is doing as well as he can, he is doing his Maſters will, and if he could do more, and better ſervice, aſſuredly God ſhould have it from him; and glad he is if he can mend one.
3. Queſt. Why no Chriſtian ſhould be diſcouraged, becauſe of the weak meaſure Why we ſhould not be diſcouraged, becauſe of our weakneſs in grace. All grace is weak at firſt.of grace wrought in him by the Spirit of God.
Sol. You ſhould not be diſcouraged for theſe Reaſons.
Firſt All the graces of the Spirit do begin in weakneſs; we are at the firſt but babes in Chriſt, and then young men, and ſtrong, and then Fathers, 1 Joh. 2. 12. 13 Falſe grace is too ſuddain and too ripe; it begins where it ſhould end, and therefore it ends uſually as ſoon as it begins: But true grace is firſt but weak, nevertheleſs it ſhall encreaſe.
Secondly, It will not reſt ſo, but gets from weakneſs to ſtrength, and from Yet its growing.ſtrength to ſtrength, as the Sun in the firmament: Prov. 4. 18. The path of the juſt is as the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and more to the perfect day.
Thirdly, The weakeſt grace doth bring God ſome honour, it will make a It brings God ſome honour.man to honor God inwardly, and outwardly: Rev. 3. 8. Thou haſt a little ſtrength, and haſt kept my Word, and haſt not denyed my Name.
1. Inwardly, by ſetting up his will and authority in the heart, by loving of him, fearing of him, and truſting on him, though but weakly.
2. Outwardly, by abandoning every evil way, by exerciſ…ng our ſelves in godlineſs, by countenancing the rules and wayes of Chriſt, and walking before God in truth: Even the Children in the Temple cryed out Hoſanna to the Son of David, Matth. 12. 15. whereupon Chriſt applyed that of David, Out of the mouths of babes and ſucklings thou haſt perfected praiſe, ver. 16.
Fourthly, The weakeſt grace is the workmanſhip of the Spirit of God: Not Its the workmanſhip of the ſpirit of God.only our rejoycing, but our tears; not only our aſſurances, but our very groans are from him: Rom. 8. 26. The Spirit itſelf maketh interceſſion for us with groans which cannot be uttered. So Phil. 2. 13. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleaſure. To will any good, this comes from the Spirit of God, as well as to do any good.
Fifthly, The weakeſt grace is able to unthrone ſin, and diſpoſſeſs Satan, and to ſet up a throne in the heart for Chriſt, to hold forth his image, and to conform us to …hriſt, 2 Cor. 3. 18.
Its accepted with God.Sixthly, The weakeſt graces, and breathings, and actings of it are accepted with God; he owns it, Simile. as a Father doth his weak babe, and he regards the offering and ſervices of it; he will not only not deſpiſe the day of ſmall things, Zech. 4. 10. and he will not only not only break the bruiſed reed, and not only not quench the ſmoaking flax, Matth. 12. 20. but he will lovingly and graciouſly accept of the weakeſt fruits of weakeſt graces: Pſal. 38. 9. All my deſire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee. 2 King. 20. 5. Tell Hezekiah, thus ſaith the Lord God of David thy Father, I have heard thy prayer, I have ſeen thy tears. 2 Cor. 8. 12. If there be firſt a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Seventhly, The Lord hath a very tender reſpect unto perſons who are weak in grace: Iſa. 40▪ …1. He ſhall feed his flock like a Shepherd, he ſhall gather the God hath a tender reſpect to ſuch.lambs with his arm, and carry them in his boſome, and ſhall gently lead thoſe that are with young: You may look up to Jeſus Chriſt your High Prieſt, who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and by him you may come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy to help in time of need, Heb. 4. 15, 16. Mal. 3. 17. I will ſpare them as a man ſpareth his own Son that ſerveth him. Iſa. 66. 13. As one whom his Mother comforteth, ſo will I comfort you. 1 Theſ. 5. 14. Comfort the feeble-minded, ſupport the weak. Iſa. 61. 1. The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek, he hath ſent me to bind up the broken-hearted. ver. 2. to comfort all that mourn.
Sixthly, The weakeſt grace of the Spirit is a ſure evidence that you are in Chriſt, and it is the earneſt penny of your future glory: Matth. 5. 8. Bleſſed are Its an evidence that we are in Chriſt.the poore in heart, for they ſhall ſee God. Ver. 6. Bleſſed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteouſneſs, for they ſhall be ſatisfied.