Antidote Against Distractions, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Encouragements under the burden of Distractions.Cap. 9. Incouragements under the burden of Distractions.
SECT. I.
§. 1.BUT, lest any honest Christian should by his frequent distractions, be discouraged from his duties, or in his holy duties, I shall in the ninth place, prevent such a temptation, by laying down some Encouragements for those that groan under the burden of distractions. And here I assert two things:
1. That these distractions should not drive you from your duties: You have been thinking, perhaps, it were better my service were undone, than done so confusedly; and our false hearts are secretly prone to accept any occasion to lay down our work, but believe not the Devils rotten Divinity: he takes on him to be tender, lest God's name be taken in vain, but this is to insinuate you the more; but in this sense, obedience is better than sacrifice; thy obedience to his command, is more pleasing to him, than thy torn sacrifice. And then it is a known case, that the omission of a duty will never fit one for a duty better. Luther's saying herein, was, the more I neglect, the more unfit I am. Indeed, some ground will mend my lying still, but that's better ground, than is in faln man's heart. Ours is the ground that must be stirr'd, and manured, and quickned, and then some fruit will come. As one sin fits the heart for another. so one duty fits the soul for another. However, it's better to serve thy Master with a trembling hand, than not at all, and the Father takes well a well-intended work, though it be unwillingly marred in the making.
2. These distractions should not wholly discourage you in the performance of your duties. Despise you they must, discourage you they must not. Our good Master would not have us draw heavily in his service. It's prophesied, Psal. 138.5. They shall sing in the waies of the Lord. This is a sweet hearing. God's work goes best on, when we sing at it. All the infirmities of a Christian laid together, yet should not discourage him in his duty. Si dixeris, doleo, sufficit. And for your support, I lay down these incouragements.
I. Incouragement. Distractions are consistent with grace.I. Distractions are consistent with grace *Et si latratum cani… sustinet, morsum non timet, latrat enim cum suggerit, tunc verò mordet cum ad consensum pertrahit. Bern. lib. de consc.. Grace may live with them, but not be lively long with them: They are like the blew and yellow weeds, that grow with the best corn that is. Grace may live with them, though it can never agree with them: and therefore conclude not against thy self, O I have no grace, I am so pestred with these things: surely no child of God hath such an heart. For this is an epidemick distemper; where-ever the hand of God hath sown good seed, the enemy hath scattered these his tares amongst it. Indeed there is no sin so crimson, that is absolutely inconsistent with grace, abate but that transcendent one, the sin against the Holy Ghost: Let no prophane heart make use hereof to hearten them in their sins: a prophane heart, I say, for a gracious heart is of another temper. Alas! the worst of sins do sometimes peep into the best mens hearts, yea may creep into them, and lodge in them for a season. How much more may a sudden thought break in, which, like lightning, springs into the heart without any warning? Do not therefore cry out, when this or any other corruption steals into your hearts, I am a lost man, this cannot consist with grace, but this should not consist with grace. The former conclusion being made, dejects the spirits; but the latter whe…s the spirit of amendment. It was foolishly done of Dinah, Gen. 34 1. To rove about to see the Daughters of the Land; it was not done like Iacob's Daughter, but this was no argument for her to conclude, O I am not Iacob's Daughter. So thou hast an heart like Dinah, of a gaddy temper, that runs abroad, and comes defiled home; this is not done like a sanctified heart, but it were a simple conclusion to draw hence, certainly I am no child of God, I have no true grace at all For alas, the sweetest Rose hath its prickles, the greatest wits have a spice of madness, and the sincerest heart hath some vanity in it *Si vel hoc dolemus, quod non possumus orare, …am oramus..
SECT. II.
§. 2.II. THE second Incouragement is, That your case is not singular. II. Incouragement. Your case is not singular.Though the commonness of a Plague make it not the better, or less mortal, yet it shews that I am not alone miserable: So, although this consideration make not the sin less heinous, yet it makes the affliction more tolerable. Poor soul! thou art not alone in thy complaints. Go to all the Saints in an Assembly, and they will all conclude, there is none hath a more giddy heart than they, and there's few at the end of an Ordinance would be pleased, that the rest should know the particulars of their stragling. Though charity binds us in particular to hope better of every one than of our selves, yet both God's Word, and *Interdum orantem, lup… ululans & vulpecula ganniens transilivit, psallenti que gladiatorum pugna spectaculum praebuit & unu… quasi interfectus & ante pedes eju… corr…ens, sepulturam rogavit. Hieron, in vit. Hilarion. p. 242.common experience tell us in general, that the imaginations of the thoughts of men are evil continually. And there is none thinks themselves so bad, but there are found others, that would be glad to change hearts with them: some indeed are nearer the cure of this disease, and do watch more narrowly, and so have obtained more freedom than others, but yet all are tainted with this infirmity; and every man being convicted by his own conscience, will go out of the Congregation one by one, and there will not be a sinless man to cast a stone at thee *Non ille qui coelum clausit, oratione, animam clausit à cogitatione..
SECT. III.
THE third Incouragement is,§. 3. That Christ's Intercession for thee is without distraction. III. Incouragement from the uninterrupted Intercession of Christ.There was fire alwaies on the Altar, though the sacrifices were intermitted. His intercession is continual, ours is interrupted. What unspeakable comfort may a poor weak Christian take in this? that Christ Iesus is every moment, I say, every moment presenting to the Father, the unanswerable argument of his passion, for the impetrating and obtaining pardon, and grace, to help him in time of need. See Heb. 6.20. Heb. 3.25. Poor sinner! thou art sometimes so dead, that thou canst not pray to purpose, so guilty thou dost hardly pray, and oft so distracted, thou thinkest thy prayers stand for nothing, yet be not discouraged, thy Mediator is sick of none of these diseases. The holy Psalmist was sometimes, as Psa. 77.4. so troubled, that he could not speak; yet then had he one to speak for him. The sight of that precious glorified Son of of God, doth infinitely please and prevail with his Father for us, when we can hardly speak good sense for our selves.
I, but how can I tell that he intercedes for me?
Answ. 1. Hast thou a good word to speak for him to men? then hath he a good word to speak for thee to God.
And 2. Dost thou sigh, and groan, and speak for thy self as well as thou canst, his intercession is to help our weakness, not to excuse our laziness. If some ignorant poor man, that cannot say his errand, but is often out in his business, have a cordial friend (that hath the grace of speaking, and the favour to be heard) undertake his business, he needs not be discouraged: so, though you have much ado, and be often out in your best resolved duties, yet you have a friend in Court, that hath the Art of it, and the King's ear beside, who ever liveth to make intercession for you, and therefore do your best, and never be discouraged.
SECT. IV.
THE fourth Incouragement is,§. 4. That distracted duties may keep you humble, IV. Incouragement from the consequent.when as your perfect performances might make you proud. It is written of Master Knox, that on his death-bed, after he had received many blows from Satan about his sins, he was at last assaulted by him with this temptation, viz. That sure God owed him a kindness for his upright and industrious labours, until that 1 Cor. 4.7. was strongly imprinted on him, What hast thou which thou hast not received? Perhaps the Lord fore-saw, that thy heart was ready to be fly blown with pride, when thou dost well, and therefore he suffers these distractions, like Vultures to gnaw upon thy heart, to keep thee humble *Si vero debilitatus à peccato sixe nequis orare, quantumcun que potes teipsum cohibeas; & Deus ignoscit, eo quod non ex negligentia, sed ex fragilitate non potes ut oportet assistere coram eo. Basil. in Serm. de Orando Deum.. Far be it from you to draw from hence an occasion to rest more securely in these sins. That Knight was sirnamed Fortunate, because, being on a time in the deck of a ship, a great wave came and took him off into the Sea, and another wave took him and set him on the deck of another ship; yet no man (I trow) would to obtain such a name, be content that a wave should so hazard him: Even so, though God do sometimes make use of our infirmities to do us good, yet let no man venture therefore to sin, that grace may abound, Because the Physician can so temper poison, that it may do thee good, wilt thou therefore venture to drink poison? It is miraculous wisdom in God to do thee good hereby, and it were miraculous folly in thee therefore to venture upon evil. And with this caution, I proceed and observe, that it is a very hard thing to hear, or pray exactly without some tang of spiritual pride after it: And to prevent this, God permits us to wander, and lose our selves, lest we should be lost; he sees that it is easier for a man to fall into a lesser evil, when he can turn it to a greater good, than to attain a lesser good, and hazard to fall into a greater evil. O when a man sees so much dreggs in his very best duties, such constant disapppointments, such foolish impertinencies in his heart, yea such wicked contrivances in the very presence of God, O then what a wretched man am I! surely I am more brutish than any man, I am not worthy to come to thee, nor think I my self worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof, no such sinner on earth as I; my best is very bad, &c*The worst prayers we make (to our sense) speed ever best, and then we pray most happily, when we arise most humbled. Dr. Harris.. Thus the soul is throughly humbled, and brought to sit among the chief of sinners, and spiritual pride rebuked.
SECT. V.
THE fifth Incouragement is,§. 5. V. Incouragement from Gods gracious acceptation. That our God can gather some sense out of a distracted duty, and do us some good by it *Evagatio verò mentis quae sit praeter propositum, orationis fructum non tollit. Aquin. 22 ae. q. 83. a. 13., Rom. 8.27. He that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, 'tis true of our spirit as well as of God's. The great searcher of hearts knows what you came pregnant with, what you meant, though you mist it in the delivery. He can tell what was written in the Letter, though it did miscarry, and will answer your godly meaning, and over-look your unwilling failing, Psal. 103.13. As a Father pitieth his Children, so the Lord — Why, the child comes sometimes full of a suit to the Father, and he is quite out in his tale, has forgotten what he would have; but the Father knoweth what he wants, and what he would have said, and grants the whole. And so, provided thou be a child, and art heartily sensible of thy wants, and comest panting to the Throne of Grace; thy heavenly Father will accept thy meaning, and grant thy petition, though thy heart did unwillingly give thee the slip, while thou mournest for it, and resolvest to mend it the next time *A man that hath the Palsie, his hand shakes, but we cannot say, he shakes his hand: so we may say, it is not they, but sin in them, as it is not he, but the Palsie distemper in him that shakes his hand. Mr. White of vai… Thoughts. p. 68.. The industrious Scholar comes sometimes full and clear in his lesson, but when he is delivering it, he is out: put him in his way; he is out again: Now, if his Master know, he had it perfect ere he came, he pities and helps him, and concludes, that fear or care made him miss it, and that his want is only in utterance, strokes him on the head, and bids him labour to do better next time. So the serious Christian, he is deeply sensible of his spiritual wants, and knows and feels well what he must ask, and down he kneels, but yet when he comes to open his case, alas! he's drawn away utterly against his mind, and his heart runs at random *Non imputantur cùm violenter importantur. Gilb. in suppl. Bern. in Cant. Serm. 1.. Why now your heavenly Master knows your preparation, your intention, your indeavour, your grief, your resolution, he will not turn off such a Scholar. He is a Father, and will make the best of his child's faults, especially seeing him fallen out with himself for them.
SECT… VI.
THE sixth Incouragement under the burden of distractions,§. 6. VI. Incouragement, from the sufficiency of grace in Christ to help against them. is, That there is grace and strength in Iesus Christ to help you against these your distractions. Without him we can do nothing to purpose; but that's a sweet word, and a true, I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me, Phil. 4.13. There is a stock in Christ's hand for such needy souls as you *Potesta… nostra ipse est: Ita que ora brevissime ac persectissimè quant im potes. Aug. Solil. loc. 2.. You find your grace insufficient for you, but then his grace is sufficient. Lay the mouth of faith then to the two breasts of his power and pity, and suck thence divine power, to help your humane weakness. How can that little Cistern be empty, that lyes with a Conduit to the Ocean? How can that Wife be poor, whose Husband is a Prince? How can that body languish, whose head hath plenty of spirits, and power to convey them? why, he was anointed with the Oyl of Grace above his fellows, but it was for his fellows. He was rich for the poors sake; he was strong for the weaks sake. Be thou therefore strong in the grace that is in Christ Iesus, 2 Tim. 2.1. Your wound is not incurable, at this door others have sped, and so may you. Wrestle not therefore against these temptations, only in your own strength. The Devil is too strong for you alone, and the heart too deceitful. Not I, but the Grace of God with me, said Paul himself. If habitual grace be too weak for them, auxiliary grace is too strong. Mony in my friends purse, especially in my Fathers is as good, as in my own, especially when it is there for me. There never was seen a Lazarus lye dying at this Rich mans door for want. If there be any thing in Heaven to pleasure you that fear him, you shall not go without it.
SECT. VII.
THE seventh Incouragement is,§. 7. VII. Incouragement; there will be no distractions in Heaven. That in Heaven you will be perfectly rid of your distractions. There his servants serve him without wandrings *Vita justorum in his terris non …am in justitia cernitur quam in justi…catione, non in sancti…ate, sed in sanctificationo, non in puritate, sed in purificatione, non in perfectione, sed in profectu. J. F… de ver. …r. Justif. p. 162.. Here you would serve him, there you shall se…ve him. Here we have the world to cumber and draw us off, there will be no other world but Heaven. Here the Devils stand at our right hand to resist us, there he shall never come, nor once peep among the Saints above. Here our flesh is continually suggesting evil motions, or crying, Master, spare thy self, but flesh and blood shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, nor trouble us there. Here the crowding of Gallants distracts us in publick, and the crying of children distracts us in private, but supreme Holiness will be all the Gallantry in Heaven, and no cryes were ever heard above. Here one untuneable voice distracts us in the Psalm; but there will be a perpetual Union, and the eternal Hallelujah shall be sung nemine contrasonante. Here this or that business calls us away, invades us in the middle, and curtails us at the end, but there is no other business to go to, no company to fetch you out, nothing that can give you such content, no nor any content, out of that blessed imployment. All the outward senses, and all the inward faculties will be so wholly taken up with the vision and fruition of the Ever-blessed Trinity, that there will not be room for one by thought, or glance from that fair object to all eternity. O run apace, and you will be shortly there, dispatch your work with all the speed you can, fly with an holy hast through all worldly business, cast anchor at no worldly comfort, till you discover Land, till your work be done, and your place in Heaven ready for you, And in the Interim, be not discouraged at your rovings, for you are not yet in Heaven *In Grammar, the Present tense is accompanied with the Imperfect. But the Future with the Plusquam Perfectum.. Perfection is reward as well as duty, and so is our aim here, but our attainment there: And let that happy state be a copy by which you write your present duties. Think sometimes when you are dull and roving, you saw a Casement open into Heaven, and there beheld those coelestial sacrifices, and their divine imployment; and think withall, shortly shall I be among them, and do I pray here, as I would sing yonder? doth this impertinent frame sort with yonder most blessed frame? why art thou cast down, O my soul! I shall yet praise him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God. And this may be for incouragement to poor souls, that are fainting under the burden of their distractions.
And now at last we see the shore, and so shall only lay on some binding sheaves, and drive away; and that will be by noting some Inferences from the subject, which is the Truth, and last point to be handled.