The Voice of One Crying in a Wilderness, Title page – Errata
THE Voice of one Crying IN A WILDERNESS.
OR The buſineſs of a Chriſtian, both Antecedaneous to, Concomitant of, and Conſequent upon, a ſore and heavy Viſitation; Repreſented in ſeveral Sermons.
Firſt, Preacht to his own Family, lying under ſuch Viſitation; And now made Publike as a Thank-offering to the Lord his healer.
By S. S. A Servant of God in the Goſpel of his Son.
All the Paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto ſuch as keep his covenant and his teſtimonies,
Pſal. 25. 10.
Mala poenalia non ſunt veré mala, quia fluunt à ſummo Bono, nimirum Deo; ducunt ad ſummum Bonum, nimirum fruitionem Dei; & erant in ſummo bono, nimirum Chriſto. Biel.
The evils of Puniſhment are not truly evils; for they flow from the chiefeſt good, even God; they lead to the chiefeſt good, the enjoyment of God; and are found in the chiefeſt good, even Chriſt Jeſus.
LONDON, Printed, Anno Dom. 1666.
TO THE READER.
Chriſtian Readers,
IT is now more than ſeaven months, ſince it pleaſed the holy and wiſe God, (together with ſome dear and Chriſtian friends from London,) to viſit my houſe with the Plague; whereby he gently toucht and gave warning to my ſelf and whole family, (conſiſting then of eight ſouls) but called away b…nce only three members of it, viz. two t…nder babes, and one ſervant; beſides my beloved ſiſter, and a child of my precious friend, that man of God, Mr. G. C. (ſince alſo tranſlated) who were of thoſe Citizens that viſited me; You will eaſily believe that I can have no pleaſure to rake into the aſhes of the dead, nor to revive the taſt of that wormwood and gall, which was then given me to drink; and yet I ſee no reaſon, but that I ought to take pleaſure in the pure and holy will of God, (which alwayes proceeds by the eternal rules of Almighty love and goodneſs;) though the ſame be executed upon my deareſt creature-comforts, and grate never ſo much upon my ſweeteſt earthly-intereſt: yea and I ſee all reaſon in the world Why I ſhould give God the glory of his Attributes and works before all the world, and endeavour that ſome inſtruction may accompany that aſtoniſhment, which from me and my houſe hath gone out and ſpread it ſelf far and near. I will not undertake to make any Phyſical obſervations upon this unaccountable diſeaſe; nor to vindicate my ſelf either from that great guilt that is charged upon me, as if I were a ſinner above all that dwell in this countrey; or from thoſe many falſe and ſenſeleſs aſperſions, that have been caſt upon my behaviour (during this viſitation) much like that we read of Mat. 28. 13. but do freely commit my ſelf to him that judgeth righteouſly, and pray with the Pſalmiſt (Pſal. 69. ….) Let not them that wait on thee O Lord God of Hoſts be aſhamed for my ſake; let not thoſe that ſeek thee be confounded for my ſake, O God of Iſrael! Neither do I purpoſely undertake in this Preface to reconcile the providences of the moſt wiſe God to his promiſes, or to ſalve that ſeeming difference between the words of his mouth, and the language of his hands; between which I have only ſuspected ſome kind of jarr, but have experienc't an excellent harmony—In very faithfulneſs haſt thou afflicted me. Whence ariſe all thoſe uncharitable cenſures, with which the afflicted ſoul is apt to charge both himſelf and his God too? Spring they not certainly from theſe two grand cauſes, viz. A miſapprehenſion of the nature of God, and of the nature of Good and Evil? let the ſtudious and pious Reader, ſearch and judge. If ever therefore you would be eſtabliſht in your minds in a day of affliction; (1.) Labour to be rightly informed concerning the nature of God. Away with thoſe low and groſs apprehenſions of God, whereby your carnal fancies do aſcribe unto God ſuch a kind of indulgence towards his children as you bear towards yours; which indeed no way agrees to his nature. His good will towards his children is a ſolia, wiſe, and holy dispoſition, infinitely unlike to our humane affections▪ Soli Deo competit, Amare & Sapere. (….) Labour to be rightly informed concerning the nature of good and evil. Judge not the goodneſs or evilneſs of things by their agreeableneſs or diſagretableneſs to your fleſh, palate, or carnal intereſt; but by the relation that they have to the ſupream good. The greateſt proſperity in the world is no further good, than as it tends to make us partakers of God; and the greateſt affliction may thus be really good alſo. But that by the By. My deſign is to juſtifie and glorifie Infinite Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Goodneſs and Holineſs before all men. Oh bleſſed God! who maketh a ſeeming Dungeon to be indeed a Wine-celler; who bringeth his poor people into a Wilderneſs on ſet purpoſe there to ſpeak comfortably to them!…ſ. 2. 14. Be of good cheer, O my ſoul! He hath taken away nothing but what he gave; and, in…b. 1 21. lieu of it, hath given thee that which ſhall never be taken away; the firſt fruits of li…e, …k. 10. …2.inſtead of thoſe whom the firſt born of death hath devoured. But why do I ſay devoured. Doth not that truly live at this day, which was truly lovely in thoſe darlings? Didſt thou, O my fond heart love Beauty, Sweetneſs, Ingenuity incarnate? And canſt thou not love it ſtill in the fountain, and enjoy it in a more immediate and compendious way? Thy body indeed cannot taſte ſweetneſs in the abſtract, nor ſee beauty except it be ſubjected in matter: but canſt not thou (O my ſoul) taſte the Ʋncreated goodneſs and ſweetneſs, except it be embodyed, and have ſome material thing to commend it to thy palat? Be ſh…med, that thou being a spirit as to thy conſtitution art no more spiritual in thy affections and operations. Doſt thou with ſadneſs reflect upon thoſe ſweet Smiles, and that broken Rhetorick with which thoſe Babes were went to entertain thee? (1) Conſider duly what of real contentment thou haſt loſt in loſing thoſe. For what were thoſe things to thy real happineſs? Thou haſt loſt nothing▪ but what it was no ſolid pleaſure nor true felicity to enjoy; nothing but what the moſt ſenſual and brutiſh ſouls do enjoy as much as thou. (2.) Be aſhamed rather that thou didſt enjoy them in ſuch a groſs and unſpiritual manner. Art thou troubled becauſe any earthly intereſt is violated? Rather be aſhamed that thou hadſt and cheriſhedſt any ſuch intereſt.
But pardon me (Courteous Readers) this digreſſive Soliloquy; and now ſuffer me patiently, whileſt I ſpeak ſomething by way of Admiration, ſomething by way of Obſervation, and ſomething by way of Exhortation.
1. Let me call upon Men and Angels to help me in celebrating the Infinite and almighty grace and goodneſs of the Eternal and bleſſed God,
Who enabled me to abide the day of …l. 3. 2.his coming, to ſtand when he appeared: and made me willing to ſuffer him to ſit as a Refiner of ſilver in my houſe!
Who carryed me above all murmurings againſt, I had almoſt ſaid, all remembrance of thoſe inſtruments that conveyed the infection to me!
Who reconciled my heart to this Diſeaſe, ſo that it ſeemed no more grievous, noyſome, or ſcandalous than any other!
Who ſubdued me to, I had almoſt ſaid, brought me in love with this paſſage of the Divine Will! I can remember, (alaſs, that I can ſay little more, but that I do remember!) how my ſoul was overpowred, yea and almoſt raviſht with the goodneſs, holineſs and perfection of the will of God: and verily judged it my happineſs and perfection (as well as my duty) to comply cheerfully with it, and be molded into it.
Who gave me a moſt powerful and quick ſenſe of the Plague of a carnal heart, ſelfwill, and inordinate creature-loves, convincing me that thoſe were infinitely worſe than the Plague in the fleſh: ſo that I did more pitty, than I could be pittied by my ordinary viſiters!
Who wonderfully preſerved me from the aſſaults of the Devil, never le…t him looſe ſo much as to try his ſtrength upon my integrity, to drive me to a despondency, or to any uncharitable concluſions concerning my ſtate!
Who enabled me to converſe with his love and mercy in the midſt of his chaſtenings, to ſee his ſhining and ſmiling face through this dark cloud: yea, kept up clear and ſteady perſwaſions in my ſoul that I was beloved of him, though afflicted by him!
Who knew my ſoul in adverſity, viſitedPſal. 3 me when I was ſick and in priſon, refreſhed, ſtrengthned, comforted my inner man in a marvelous manner and meaſure, and made me appear to my ſelf, never leſs Nunqu… minus lus, q… cum ſ… Scip.ſhut up, then when ſhut up! Oh would to God, I might be never worſe than when I was ſhut up of the Plague! The not removing of that affliction-frame, I ſhall count a greater bleſſing, and a more proper mercy, than the removing of that afflicted ſtate.
Who cleared up my intereſt in his ſon, ſtrengthened my evidences of his love, ſatisfied and aſſured my ſoul of its happy ſtate, more than at any time, more then at all times, formerly! I had clearer and ſurer evidences of Divine gracè in that patient, ſelf denying, ſelf ſubmitting frame of spirit, than in all the duties that ever I performed: The valley of tears brought me more ſight of my God, more inſight into my ſelf, then ever the valley of viſions, all duties and ordinances had done. When the Sun of righteouſneſs aroſe upon my ſoul, and chaſed away all the miſts and foggs of ſelf-will, and creature loves, then alſo did all black and diſmal fears, all gloomy doubtings moſt ſenſibly flee before him.
Who ſupplyed my Family from compaſſionate friends, with all things needful for Food, Phyſick, &c. The Lord return it ſevenfold into their boſoms!
Who maintained my health in the midſt of ſickneſs, in the midſt of ſo great a death! I do not remember that either ſorrow of mind, or ſickneſs of body ever prevailed ſo much upon me, during three months ſecluſion▪ as to hinder me of my ordinary ſtudy, repaſt, devotions, or my neceſſary attendance upon my ſeveral infected rooms, and adminiſtring to the neceſſities of my ſick. Theſe enſuing Diſcourſes were then compoſed; which doth (at leaſt) argue, that (through grace) this mind was not altogether diſcompoſed, nor body neither.
Who preſerved me and gave me not up to death! For I judge that I was perſonally viſited with the Plague, though not with the Sickneſs.
Who hath given me a ſincere and ſetled reſolution, and vehement deſire to live entirely on and to Himſelf; which I account to be the only life of a ſoul, and only worthy to be called a living! Grant me this prayer, O moſt bleſſed and gracious God, for the ſake of my only and dear Redeemer!
Thou O Lord God, who art witneſs to all my thoughts, and words, and works, knoweſt that in truth and ſoberneſs I publiſh theſe things to the world, not to advance the reputation of my own ſilly name, or to be admired of my fellow creatures, but for the glory of thy holy name, to beget a good liking of ſo gracious a Creator in all thy poor creatures, who are prejudiced againſt thee and thy holy Service; and to ſtrengthen the hearts of thy ſervants to a moſt firm and laſting adherence to thee even in the great…ſt extremities: that thou mayeſt be admired in thy Saints, and glorified for g…ving ſuch power▪ and grace, and comfort…. 9. 8. unto men. And, oh tha… men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſs, and for his wonderful …l. 107. 8.works in and to the children of men▪
2. Suffer me to make a ſhort Obſervation of ſome few memorable Paſſages, out of m… ny▪ poſſibly they may be for the future, though they ſhould not be for your preſent advantage; The Lord direct you to make a right application of them, according to the …mergencies of life!
Firſt, I do thankfully record the gracious deſign of the holy, and wiſe God, in that he had ſecretly prepared my heart, though at that time I knew not particularly for what. I remember that for ſome few weeks before, I had found a more than ordinary largeneſs and readineſs of ſoul; particularly, that I had been ſtudying the exce…lent myſterie, and ſ…king out the ſtreng thning marrow of that famous Text (1 Joh. 4. 8.) God is love; from whence I had im…ortunately prist upon my ſelf the reaſonableneſs of … complying ſweetly▪ cheerfully, univerſally with the will of God; little dreaming then of the Plague, which was almoſt an hundred miles off me. Oh bleſſed and merciful God, who of old didſt make Abraham, and yet makeſt his and thy childrenHeb. 1… to follow thee, though they know not well whither!
In the next place, I count it moſt worthy of my obſervation, (not unworthy of your conſideration) that it pleaſed God to ſeize upon my Family in the beginning of harveſt; a harvest which I had too earneſtly expected, too carefully provided for, and promiſed my ſelf too liberally from which folly and vanity of mind, this Viſitation thus tim'd, did as clearly convince me of (me thought) as if I had ſeen an hand-writing upon the wall. I am aſhamed, yet I will not ſtick to confeſs before all the world (God grant it may be for the ſeaſonable and effectual warning of any!) that my vainer mind was over-pleaſantly (not to ſay eagerly) drawn out towards ſecular and worlaly (however neceſſary) employments and concernments: And thus I was rebuked.
Ʋpon examination, I find that verily I have been guilty concerning my Children. I do not remember that ever any man reproved me for immoderate loving of them, or could for any indulgence that could be by humane eyes diſcerned; But oh I ſee and feel it as a ſword at my heart, that I loved them not ſo purely spiritually, and properly in God, as I ought to have done. Philoſophy will eaſily prove it to be a more tolerable vanity to …te upon a Child, than upon a Kingdom: But Chriſtian Divinity doth abundantly demonſtrate all creaturefondneſs unreaſonable and intolerable.
The next thing that I will record ſhall be, the d…fficult ta…k that I found, to maintain a right humble, and a right cheerful frame at the ſame time: oh how oft, and how long did I labour under this difficulty! That ſenſe of ſin which was called in to promote tenderneſs of heart, being overmuch indulged, was ready at length …o deſtroy that largeneſs and cheerfulneſs of ſoul which was ſo much my duty and intereſt to maint…in: and on the other hand, the ſenſe of Divine Wiſdom, Grace, and Love in Chriſt Jeſus being called in to keep up the ſoul from ſinking, was ready to bear it up ſo high, as that it almoſt forgot that it was in th… waters. Beware, Chriſtians, and watch diligently, that Godly ſorrow do not ſettle into an ungodly deſpondency and inconſolable heavineſs; the ſoul not being able to bear up under its own burden; and that a holy chearfulneſs and ſeren…ty do not evaporate into an unholy frot…neſs and fargetfulneſs of your infi…mities, the ſoul not being able to manage its own metal and motions.
I know, you would willingly underſtand ſomething of the frame of my heart at that day, reſpective to my departure out of this world: you will beſt read my heart in the enſu…ng diſcourſe (upon 2 Cor. 5. 6.) which I think was fetcht from thence. I ſhall therefore ſay no more as to this matter▪ only acquaint you with one eminent Experience, relating hereunto. My mind, or fancy, or appetite (I know not w…ll what to call it) was ſom…times en…ting in me ſome deſires to live yet longer, I …ntred the liſts with this temptation, and when I had fairly and calmly debated the ground and reaſon of ſuch inclination, after many ſhifts and pretences it came to this I would fain perſwade my ſelf, I was not yet holy enough this I did immediately conſent to knewing it to be … certain truth: But that therefore I ſhould deſire to prolong my dayes upon earth, this was a fallacious Inferenc… ▪ Me thought I pleaſed my ſelf a while, whilſt I could ſay, I deſired only to live to be better: But after a time I apprehended a fallacy in this pretence; for the way to be perfected in holineſs, is, not living, but indeed dying. Chriſtians, if indeed your ſouls be ſincerely and powerfully affected towards perfect holineſs, then ſing not ſo much with David, Spare me that I may recover, Pſa. 39. 13.&c. as with good old Simeon, who having ſeen God in the fleſh, deſired to go out of the fleſh, that he might ſee him more fully and beatifically—Now Luk. 2. 29.le…teſt thou thy ſervant depart, &c. I cannot inlarge upon this Obſervation; I ſuppoſe I have hinted enough to ſhew thoſe pretences of many men, viz. that they would fain live to be more fit to dye, to be, for the moſt part, but a kind of mockery, and ſelf dec…it.
Laſtly, (that I be not over-tedious) I do ſolemnly and ſincerely profeſs before God, and Angels, and Men, that I was never ſo much as inclined to think hardly of God or his good and holy wayes, becauſe of this diſpenſation; but did then conſtantly and freely proclaim to all that came to viſit me, that ſin, particularly ſelf will, and ſenſual loves, are the worſt of plagues, and holineſs the only happineſs of man; yea …ff…cted holineſs infinitely to be preferred before proſperous wi…kedneſs.
3. Suffer me, as a concluſion of this Preface, and as a reſult from all that I have ſeen and ſuffered, to commend unto you a few excellent and neceſſary duties. I have much ad… to forbear being large here; but I have already tranſgreſt therefore I will wave thoſe common Themes, of remembring your Creator b…times, of hear kening to the voice of his Word before his Rod ſpeak, of living in continual preparation for death, of repenting and renewing repe… tance, &c. and only commend two or three things, which ſeem to me of moſt excellent and neceſſary impor…ance,—petimu… que da…u… que vic…ſſim.
1. Love and e…joy all things in God. Admire Divine Goodne…s in every created excellency, and taſte a Divine Sweetneſs in every created comfort. O how is the noble ſoul of man debaſed, pin…hed, confined by low and ſenſual loves, whilſt many men love the creature in oppoſition to the Creator; moſt men in competition with him, and almoſt all men in a way of ſeparation from him! Oh baſe and degenerate aff…ctions! Let God be All things in your eye, ſo that you ſhall ſee, nor know, nor love, nor taſte nothing but him in the world. D…liver your ſelves (oh immortal ſouls, to whom I write) from all thoſe and ſtraitning, and ſt…rving creatureloves, and long and labour to be filled with pure, and holy, and ſpiritual delights, ſuch as the …ngel… of God have, ſuch as the Son of God had, wh…n he made it his meat and drink to do theJoh. 4. 34. will of his Father. But this you will find more largely proſecuted and preſt in the laſt of theſe following Diſcourſes. Therefore,
2. Live purely at the pleaſure of God, and maintain an univerſal and hearty compliance with his holy and perfect will. Believe it, you will never enjoy a firm and ſteady peace, till you have committed all your w…lls and wayes to him, and wrapt up all your intereſts and ends in him, till your hearts be conformed to the heart of God, and your wills molded into his will. It is a difference of wills and ends, and a diſtinction of intereſts that beget all thoſe ragings and ſtormings in the hearts of men againſt God: Mine and Thine do not only divide the world amongſt men, but divide men againſt God, Earth againſt Heaven. Take this for a certain and undoubted Aphoriſm, that the grand inter…ſt of a ſoul is to comply with, and be one with God: Communion of hearts, and wills, and intereſts, and ends, is that glorious fellowſhip which a creature hath with its Creator; it is indeed the intereſt and bonour, the duty and dignity, yea the Heaven and h…p ineſs of the reaſonable creature: But ſomething to this purpoſe you will find in the firſt Diſcourſe.
3. I beſeech you Chriſtians, be not content to ſay, you have choſen God for your chiefeſt good, but puriue after him as luch, without grudging, and without ceaſing, longing to be as much one with h…m in a participation of divine perfections, as our created natures are capable. Maintain a holy and ſecret ſtriving of ſoul towards this bleſſed object continually, as a thing moves towards its center, as a ſoul ought to endeavour to accompliſh its own perfections: ſtand not gazing upon a Heaven to come, but labour to draw d…wn all that peace, joy, love, purity, which Heaven is, into your own ſouls, by growing up into the life of God daily. R…kon that you are never in a right temper, except you be in Davids temper, when he waited for God more than they that watch for the morning, Pſa. 130. 6 Pſ. 119. 20.when his ſoul broke for the longing that it had unto him at all times. I ſay not▪ that you ſhould prepare for death▪ that ſeems too low, both word and thing; look and live beyond death and the grave, be lifting up your heads to diſcover the dawnings of the day of your Redemption be laying hold upon immortality and eternal life. Something to this purpoſe you will find in the ſecond Diſcourſe, with…r I refer you.
And now accept, I pray you, theſe poor labours, which for the glory of my God, I mak… publick, that ſince, with Hezek…h, I may not go up …o the Houſe of the 2 King 20. 8.Lord, to declare the goodneſs of the Lord; …et I may leave ſome monument of it in w…i…ng, as he did, when he had been ſick, Iſa. 3…. 9.and was recovered of his ſickneſs. I will add no more, but entreat all ſerious and devout Readors to magnifie the holy name of God on my behalf, adding thereunto their earneſt prayers to God for me, viz. that the ſame fire that burnt up the ſtanding Corn of my creature-comforts, may alſo happily conſume all the ſtubble of my creature▪ delights and loves, that my God would give me a name better than of Sons and of Daughters, the bleſſedIſa 56▪ 5. fruits of his Spirit inſtead of the Beloved fruits of the womb, that I may for ever live under the moſt powerful influences of this diſpenſation, and that the glory of the Lord may never depart out of the Temple of my ſoul, as it departed out of the Temple made with hands. Now to the God of all grace and peace, be all praiſe and glory! To him I commit you all, and reſt
Your friend and ſervant in Chriſt Jeſus, S. S. Feb. 27. 1665.
Quod ſani quaeſivimus▪ hoc invenimus aegri:
Quae nequiit vallis viſûs, tulit haec lachrymarum.
Courteous Reader,
THere being through ſome ill circumſtances, ſuch a miſtake happened in the Printing of theſe Papers, which cauſed a confuſion not to be afterward helpt by the placing of them: thou art deſired to take notice, that after thoſe words, Curſe God and Die, page 31. ſhould have followed the ſecond Reaſon, which is now to be found in the midſt of pag. 43. and ſo the ſenſe is continued to pag. 102. after which comes in the Application, pag. 31. to pag. 43. where the firſt Diſcourſe is concluded with thoſe words, Whoſoever ſinneth, hath not ſeen him, nor known him. I ſhall ſuppoſe thy candour ſuch as to excuſe this trouble thou art unhappily put to, which I have done what I could to leſſen by this Notice and Direction; and ſhould but increaſe it by any farther Apology for a fault, which now admits not of a remedy.
Other ſlighter Errata's correct thus:
… Page 13 line 19 for the, read a: l. 20 for a, r. the: p▪ 15 l. 4. for ſo, r▪ to: p. 46 l. 8. put in hold of: and l. 9. blot out here: p. 68. l. 7. for had, r. hath: p. 81. l. 2 for act, read art; and l. ult. for promiſes, r. premiſes: p. 85. l. 4. for on, r. up: p. 125. l. 4 for more, r. meer: p. 136. l. 9. blot our it: p 157. l. 22. for it, r. Chriſt: p. 193. l. 15. for the, r. your: p. 214. l. 12. for them, r. him.
Place this after the Epiſtle to the Reader.