The Cases and Cure of Sad Disconsolate Thoughts in Christians, Book

The Cases and Cure of Sad Disconsolate Thoughts in Christians · Book

p. 1THE CAUSES & CURE OF SAD Diſconſolate Thoughts, &c.

Text: Pſal. 94.19.

In the Multitude of my Thoughts within me, thy Comforts delight my Soul.

SOme Intérpreters underſtand this Text of that Heavenly Delight, which David found in Holy Meditation; a Work wherein he was much exerciſed, and whereof Spiritual Joy and p. 2Delight is a Natural and Moral Effect.

But, if we look more narrowly into the Context, we ſhall ſee that the Prophet ſpeaks not of Holy Thoughts and Meditation; but of Sad diſquieting and perplexing Thoughts, which did ariſe in his Heart; againſt which, he found the Conſolations of God to be the moſt effectual Remedy.

Obſerv. That Saints ſhould watch againſt ſad, melancholly unbeleiving diſconſolate Thoughts and Cogitations.

Hence it is, (even from their Unbeleif) that they are ſo apt to make ſad and diſmal Concluſions touching their Spiritual Eſtate: My Soul refuſed to be Comforted (ſaith David, Pſal. 77.2, 3, 7, 8, 9.) I remembred God, and was troubled: I complained, p. 3and my Spirit was over-whelmed: Will the Lord caſt off for ever, &c? So Heman, that Godly wiſe Man, ſaith, Pſal. 88.4, 5. I am counted with them that go down into the Pit: I am as a Man that hath no Strength, free among the Dead, like the: Slain that lye in the Grave, whom Thou remembreſt no more, &c.

I will here deſcribe,

1. What theſe ſad diſconſolate Thoughts are.

2. The Cauſes of them.

3. The Remedies of them.

4. Give you ſome Helps and Directions againſt them.

Quaery, What do you mean by ſad diſconſolate Thoughts?

Anſw. Such Thoughts I mean, as the Saints themſelves are exerciſed with, in reference to their Spiritual Condition; oft-times they have ſad uncomfortable Reflexions, heavy Burthens on their Souls, great Preſſures of Spirit: Why haft thou p. 4ſet me as a mark againſt thee (ſaith Job, cap. 7. v. 20.) ſo that I am a Burthen to my ſelf.

Quae. What are the Cauſes of theſe ſad thoughts?

Anſw. They are cauſed both by natural diſtempers of Body, and by ſpiritual distempers, or Soul preſſures.

Firſt: Partly by bodily diſtempers, eſpecially by Melancholly, which is a black, cloudy, muddy diſtemper that darkens the Intellectuals, depraves the Fancy, ſaddens the Spirit of a Chriſtian, and renders his Condition and Life uncomfortable to him; 'tis Satan's Chariot wherein he Tryumphantly rides; his Anvil, on which he continually beats; the Element or Bath, in which he Bathes himſelf. Though a Man have Grace and Spiritual experience and acquaintance with God, yet if he be of a melancholly temper and conſtitution, he cannot act chearfully as a p. 5Chriſtian ſhould do, bu… is like a VVaggon, or Coach, whoſe wheels are out of order, ſo that the Paſſenger cannot comfortably perform his Journey.

Secondly: There are ſpiritual Cauſes of theſe ſad, dark, uncomfortable thoughts, and they are ſix.

Firſt: Thoſe remaining Principles of darkneſs, carnal Reaſon, Slaviſh fear and unbelief which are in the hearts of God's own People, who are but in part Regenerated here in this Life; Satan (who is a Spirit of darkneſs, and delights moſt in ſpiritual wickedneſs, Eph. 6.12.) works upon, and correſponds with theſe remainders of unbelief and carnal Reaſon in the Saints, as being moſt ſuitable to him, who improves his long experience, skill, and power to draw out and heighten theſe Principles by the Engine of his Temptations.

p. 6Secondly: Theſe ſad thoughts are Cauſed by a deep ſenſe of ſin, and the deſert of it; this worketh terror, dejection, and deſpondency of ſpirit, when God repreſents and ſets before a Man the greatneſs of his ſins: Thus David himſelf ſadly complains, Mine Iniquities are gone over mine head, as a heavy burthen they are too heavy for me, Pſal. 38.4.

Thirdly: They are cauſed by ſpiritual deſertion, or God's hiding his Face from the Soul: Thou did'ſt hide thy Face (ſaith David) and I was troubled, Pſal. 30.7. And Sion ſaid, The Lord hath forſaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me, Iſa. 49.14. Wherefore hideſt thou thy Face (ſaith Job) and holdeſt me for thine Enemy? Wilt thou break a Leaf driven to and fro, and wilt thou purſue the dry Stubble? For thou writeſt bitter things againſt me, and makeſt me to poſſeſs the Iniquities p. 7of my Youth, Job 13.24, 25.

Fourthly: From the apprehenſion of Divine wrath and diſpleaſure: Though God be Reconciled to Believers in Chriſt, yet they often apprehend God's Frowns rather than his Smiles; his Chidings rather than his Kiſſes, and theſe make ſad impreſſions upon them: Thus Job complains, The Arrowes of the Almighty are within me, the Poyſon whereof drinketh up my Spirit; the Terrors of God do ſett themſelves in array againſt me, Job 6.4. and verſe 8, 9. He wanted words to expreſs the greatneſs of his miſery and ſorrow, wherewith his ſpirit was even over-whelmed: Such ſad apprehenſions Heman alſo had, Whilſt I ſuffer thy terrors (ſaith he) I am diſtracted; thy fierce wrath goeth over me, thy terrors have cut me off, Pſal. 88.15, 16.

Fifthly: Theſe ſad thoughts and cogitations are ſometimes cauſed by p. 8violent temptations and ſuggeſtions to the moſt horrid evils; as to Selfmurther, final Deſpair, Blaſphemy, curſed Atheiſme; the Soul is ſo terrified therewith, that it is ready to chuſe a ſudden violent death rather than life. Thou ſcareſt me with Dreams (ſaith Job, cap. 7. v. 14, 15.) and terrifieſt me through Viſions, ſo that my ſoul chuſeth ſtrangling and death rather than my life: Such horrid Blaſphemous ſuggeſtions and injections from Satan, ſome poor Chriſtians have ſad experience of, which fill their ſouls with terror and amazement, and make them even weary of their lives.

Sixthly, Sad Thoughts are cauſed by looking at Death in the Chaſtly Glaſs of the Law of God, and not in the Comfortable Glaſs of the Goſpel; and ſo, Death appears to be the King of Terrors; and of all Terrible things, the moſt Terrible. Oh! p. 9What will become of me (thinks the poor Trembling Soul) when I dye! How ſhall I be able to ſhoot that great and vaſt Gulph of Eternity, and to endure the Bitterneſs and Terrors of Death! I that cannot bear with Patience, a little Pain of the Tooth-ake, Stone, Strangury, How ſhall I look upon that Pale-Horſe, and his Rider, whoſe Name is Death, Rev 6.8! Saints themſelves, have many times ſad Thoughts and Apprehenſions touching Death, when the Soul ſhall be ſtript naked of the Body, and all worldly Comforts, and brought into the Immediate Preſence of God: The Conſcience here in this Life, being not perfectly and wholly purged and pacifyed, there remaines ſtill ſome Defilement, ſome Guilt, which cauſeth ſome Doubts and Fears even in true Believers.

p. 10You have heard the Cauſes, now let us come to the Remedies of theſe ſad Thoughts.

First then, If Melancholy be the Cauſe, uſe the means which God has appointed for the Cure of it: Three Things I commend to you.

(1.) Ye ſhould (with Dependence on God, the Supreme Cauſe and Being) uſe the moſt proper Phyſick, moderate Exerciſe, good Diet.

As for Bodily Diſtempers, they are ordinarily cured by Corporal Medicines, and not by Spiritual Means: I ſay, with Dependance on God for Succeſs, ye muſt uſe Phyſick; for, except the Lord build the Houſe, they Labour but in vain that build it, Pſal. 127.1. And, King Aſa is blamed, becauſe in his Diſeaſe he ſought not to the Lord, but to the Phyſitians, 2 Chron. 16.12.

p. 11(2.) Converſe frequently with wiſe, compaſſionate, experienced Chriſtians, ſuch as have been exerciſed with Melancholy Diſtempers themſelves, and are not ignorant of Sathan's Methods; otherwiſe ye ſpeak to them, and they to you, in an unknown Tongue.

(3.) Conſider, That though the Cure of Melancholy, be a torture to the moſt Learned Phyſitians in the World; yet God, the Soveraign Phyſitian, can eaſily rebuke it: If He ſpeak the word, Be thou healed, then thou ſhalt be ſound and whole: The Lord knows our frame, how frail and weak we are, what advantage Satan takes againſt us from theſe melancholy Diſtempers; and how they diſable and diſ-ſpirit us for Religious Services, and render our Lives burthenſome and uncomfortable to us; and therefore, he will pitty us, as an indulgent Father pittieth his Children: And, though the Diſtemper p. 12ſhould not wholly be removed; yet we may well hope, that he will ſo abate it for his own Names ſake) that it ſhall not over-whelm us, no, nor hinder our Spiritual Good; but be a means to humble us, and keep us low in our own Eyes.

Secondly, If your ſad diſconſolate Thoughts be cauſed by Spiritual Diſtempers; as Unbelief, carnal Reaſon, Doubts and Fears, ſomething is to be done in the general; and then more particularly.

(1.) In general: Endeavour in the Strength of God, to comfort theſe ſad Thoughts, by applying Spiritual Conſolations ſu…table to your Diſtemper; ſo you find in the Text, In the multitude of my Thoughts (i. e. ſad Thoughts) within me, Thy Comforts delight my soul, Pſal. 94.9. Let not the Conſolations of God …em ſmall to thee, neither do thou indulge any ſecret Sin, Job 15.11.

p. 13(2.) You ſhould often chide your ſelves keenly and rationally for theſe ſad unbelieving thoughts: Why art thou caſt down (O my Soul)! and why art thou diſquieted within me! Hope thou in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him, who is the health of my Countenance, and my God, Pſal. 42.5, 11. This ſadneſs and dejectedneſs in Saints is very unreaſonable, and of ill conſequence, for it drinks up their ſpirits, diſables and diſpirits them for the Service of God and Men: But I will ſpeak more particularly to this matter.

Firſt: Does Satan work upon, and by thoſe Innate Principles of Darkneſs, Unbelief, carnal Reaſon, which are in thy heart and nature; and likewiſe on thy Bodily diſtempers, eſpecially Melancholy: O then take to thee the whole Armour of God, eſpecially the Shield of Faith, that ye may be able to ſtand againſt p. 14the wiles of the Devil, and to quench all his fiery Darts, Epheſ. 6.11, 16. Pray earneſtly that God would rebuke Satan, and remember that Chriſt prays for you: And the Lord ſaid unto Satan, The Lord Rebuke thee, O Satan: Is not this a Brand pluckt out of the fire? Zach. 3.2. Greater is Chriſt that is in you and for you, than Satan that is againſt you.

Secondly: Do thy ſins make thee ſad and diſconſolate? Do they preſs thee down with a great weight? and doeſt thou groan under the body of Sin as an intollerable burthen, Rom. 7.24. O then remember that ſweet Invitation of thy Saviour, Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt, Matth. 11.28. Apply to thy ſoul the Soveraign Blood of Chriſt, which cleanſeth from all Sin, p. 151 Joh. 1.7. which pacifieth the Conſcience, and purgeth it from dead works, Heb. 9.14. which ſpeaks better things than the Blood of Abel, Heb. 12.24. Caſt the burthen of thy ſins, thy guilt, thy puniſhment on Chriſt, on whom, God made to meet the Iniquities of us all, and by whoſe Stripes we are healed, Iſa. 53.5, 6. His ſoul was ſad and ſorrowful to the death, that thy ſoul might rejoyce; the Spirit of the Lord God was upon him, and he was ſent by God to bind up the broaken-hearted, to give them that mourn in Sion, Beauty for Aſhes, the oyle of Joy for Mourning, and the garment of Praiſe for the ſpirit of heavineſs, Iſa. 61.1, 2, 3.

Thirdly: Doth the Lord hide his Face from thee, ſo that thou beholdeſt not the light of His Countenance as formerly? Think with thyſelf, notwithſtanding that God's Love is p. 16Unchangable and Everlaſting, He changeth not as Man doth, Mal. 3.6. Though he ſeem to hide his Face, and forſake thee for a ſmall moment, yet with Everlaſting kindneſs will I embrace thee, ſaith the Lord, thy Redeemer, Iſa. 54.7, 8. He retaineth not his Anger for ever; He will turn again, He will have Compaſſion upon us, Micah 7.18, 19. If thou prayeſt to God in Faith, He will be favourable to thee, and thou ſhalt ſee his Face with joy, Job 33.26. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that walketh in darkneſs, and hath no light, let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God, Iſa. 50.10. Though the tender Mother go ſometimes where the Child doth not ſee her, yet ſtill her Bowels are towards the Child: God, when he ſeems to with-draw from his people, yet ſtill his Love and Compaſſion are towards them. Chriſt p. 17upon the Croſs, cryed out, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? that we might not be forſaken of God.

Fourthly: Doeſt thou yet apprehend ſome tokens of God's wrath and diſpleaſure, which fills thy heart with fear and amazement? Remember that Chriſt our Sponſor and Surety, hath born the whole VVrath of God, the whole Curſe of the Law for all thoſe that come to him, and believe on him: He hath Redeemed us from the Curſe of the Law, being made a Curſe for us, Gal. 3.13. He it was that trode the Wine-preſs of the fierceneſs of the Wrath of God, and there was none to help him, Iſa. 63.5, 6. Rev. 19.15. By this Jeſus we are delivered from the wrath to come. 1 Theſ. 1.10. The Lord is merciful and gracious, He will not always Chide, neither will he keep his Anger for ever: As a Father p. 18pittyeth his Children, ſo the Lord pittyeth them that fear Him; for he knoweth our frame, He remembreth that we are but duſt, Pſal. 103.8, 9, 13, 14. He will not contend for ever, neither will He be always Wrath, leſt the Spirit ſhould fail before him: He will reſtore Comforts to him that Mourns, and will Create the fruit of the lips, Peace, Peace, Iſaiah 57.16, 19.

Fifthly: Doth Satanical Injections, and violent Temptations to the moſt horrid Evils and Blaſphemies haunt and hurry thee day and night. Conſider (poor ſoul) that they are thy Tryals, not thy Sins; (if thou doſt not yield thereunto, but abhor and reſiſt them) thou art like the modeſt Virgin that's forcibly Raviſhed by a wicked Man without her conſent: 'Tis his Sin, not hers, though a great Affliction to her. Oh flye to the Throne of p. 19Grace and Mercy for help and ſuccor in this time of Need; reſt thy ſelf on God's free promiſe and word of Grace: He is Faithful, and will not ſuffer you to be Tempted above that you are able, but will with the Temptation alſo, make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to bear it, 1 Cor. 10.13. The Lord is Faithful, who ſhall ſtabliſh you and keep you from Evil, 2 Theſ. 3.3. The Lord ſhall preſerve thee from all Evil, He ſhall preſerve thy ſoul, Pſal. 121.7. Thou ſhalt be kept by the power of God, through Faith to Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. Let thy ſoul take Sanctuary in the free Promiſe of Grace.

Sixthly: Doth the fear of Death and Eternity cauſe ſad thoughts of heart in thee? O learn to look at Death in the comfortable Glaſs of the Goſpel of Chriſt, and not in the dreadful glaſs of the Law: Death p. 20to a Believer is ſwallowed up in Victory; the Sting of this Serpent is taken away by Chriſt: O Death (ſaith he) I will be thy Death; O Grave, I will be thy Victory. Chriſt hath conquer'd Death, perfum'd the Grave, and opened a way for poor Sinners to Everlaſting Glory: The Sting of Death is Sin, and the Strength of Sin is the Law: But, Thanks be to God, which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15.56, 57. Foraſmuch, as the Children are Partakers of Fleſh and Blood, Chriſt Himſelf took part of the ſame, that through Death, he might deſtroy him that had the Power of Death; that is, the Devil; and deliver them, who through fear of Death, were all their Life-time ſubject to Bondage, Heb. 2.14, 15.

p. 21Here five or ſix ſpecial Helps and Directions, when ye are troubled and perplexed with ſad Thoughts and much Darkneſs upon your Spirits.

DIRECTION, I.

Call to Remembrance what hath formerly paſs'd betwixt God and your Soul; what Love-tokens ye have received from him, (though you be now under a Cloud): As, when the Title of your Land is queſtioned, you ſearch old Records and Evidences; ſo ye ſhould do in this Caſe: Thus David, when his Soul had before refuſed to be Comforted, and his Spirit was in a manner overwhelmed; yet now he would conſider the Dayes of Old, the Years of Antient Times, and call to Remembrance his Songs in the Night, &c. Pſal. 77.2, 3, 5, 6. And Job, when the Wrath of God ſeemed to be p. 22kindled againſt him, and God counted him as one of his Enemies, and his Reines were conſumed within him; yet ſtill ſaith he (Job 19.11, 27, 28.) The Root of the Matter is found in me: He acknowledged, that he had the Root of true Faith in him; and knew, that his Redeemer liveth: Though the Exerciſe of his Faith was at preſent ſuſpended, as to the comfortable Effects of it; yet, he had an evidence of his good Eſtate, from his former Experience: As in the Winter-Seaſon, though the Plant ſeems to wither, yet the root of it ſtill remaines in the Earth; and when the Spring comes, and the Sun ſhines upon it with a powerful Influence, it will appear.

DIRECTION, II.

Plead and expoſtulate Humbly with thy God, when he ſeems to hide his Face from thee; make uſe p. 23of Arguments in thy Prayers taken from the Infinitneſs of God's Mercy, and the Greatneſs of thy Miſery: Thy Saviour, in His great Soul-Agony and Diſtreſs, prayed often and earneſtly, Luk. 22.44. Is any among you Afflicted (ſaith the Apoſtle, Jam. 5.13.) let him Pray.

This Direction may be drawn out and improved in five Particulars.

(1.) Suppoſe thy Caſe be as ſad as Jobs was (Cap. 10. v. 15, 16, 17.) thou art full of Diſtraction and Confuſion; the Lord hunts thee as a fierce Lyon, and increaſeth his Indignation upon thee; contending ſtill with thee, as if he were thy greateſt Enemy; Yet now, fall down and Proſtrate thy ſelf humbly at his Feet, as a poor, ſilly, helpleſs Lamb; and, if thou muſt needs dye and periſh, yet dye at His Feet, mourning and bleeding out thy-Heart p. 24in Sighs and Tears. Take heed of a fretting murmuring Spirit, which is exceeding offenſive to God: Be ſtill and quiet; not a word; put thy Mouth in the Duſt: It is good that a Man ſhould hope, and quietly wait on God, Lam. 3.26, 29. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned againſt Him, (ſaith the Church, Mic. 7.9.) Kiſs the Rod as a ſubmiſſive Child, and acknowledge that it is of the Lord's Mercy, that thou art not conſumed.

(2.) When God ſeems to purſue thee hard, and to bend his Bow, and ſhoot his Arrows againſt thee; deſire him humbly to Remember the Thoughts of Love and Peace, which he had to poor Sinners from Eternity: Theſe Thoughts he delights in; they are more than can be numbered, Pſal. 40.5. and what, Are they reſtrained in Him! Hath p. 25God forgotten to be Gratious! Hath He for ever ſhut up his tender Mercies! Surely, He hath not, Pſal. 77.9. Put him in mind of that infinite All-ſufficient Righteouſneſs and Merit, which is in Chriſt, whereof Himſelf hath no need; no, nor the Bleſſed Angels that never ſinned; But, it is reſerved for poor ſinful Men and Women, ſuch as thou art: If thou ſayeſt, Thou art unworthy; yea, but He loves freely, Hoſ. 14.4. If the greatneſs of thy Sins be objected againſt thee, tell him, That there is plenteous Redemption for thee in (and with) Chriſt, Pſal. 130.7. Art thou ungodly and wicked in thy ſelf? the Scripture ſaith, That he Juſtifies the ungodly, Rom. 4.5. and that Chriſt received Gifts for Sinners, yea, for the Rebellious; that the Lord God might dwell with them, Pſal. 68.18. Art thou no better p. 26than a Dogg? Yea, but the Doggs they eat the Crumbs that fall from their Maſter's Table; Chriſt hath reſerved ſome Crumbs of Mercy and Comfort for thee, Math. 15.27.

(3.) If he ſtill purſue thee in his Anger, and ſet thee as a Mark to ſhoot at, ſo that thou art a Burthen to thy ſelf, Job 7.20. Ask him humbly with Tears in thy Eyes, What he aimes at? Is it to have the Victory over thee, that he might be juſtifyed in his Sayings, and might over-come when he is Judged, Rom. 3.4? Tell him freely, Thou wilt yeild to him as a poor Captive, and ſtand out with him in nothing; and, that he ſhall need no other Judge or Jury to condemn thee, but thy ſelf: Thou art very willing to juſtifie him in all things, and to ſentence and condemn thy ſelf; only beſeech him to conſider, what Victory, p. 27what Honour it will be to ſo Great and Infinite a God as He is, to purſue a little dry Stubble, to break a poor Leaf that is bruis'd already, and crumbles under his Fingers if he do but touch it, Job 13.25. Say to Him, Thou art Impar Congreſſus; Thou art far from being an equal Match to Him; and, He is ſo Noble, ſo Generous, as not to ſet Himſelf againſt a Worm, againſt a poor weak Leaf, that yeilds and falls under His hand; having ſaid, That He will not contend for ever, leſt the Spirit ſhould utterly fail before him, Iſa. 57.19.

(4.) If it ſhould be hinted to thee, as if God would glorify Himſelf in thy Eternal Deſtruction and Condemnation; tell him, 'Tis true, he may; But yet, before he thruſt his Sword in thee, deſire Him (with Reverence and Submiſſion) to conſider, p. 28That he firſt ſheathed it in the Blood of His Son; and what profit will there be in thy Blood and Deſtruction: If Satisfaction to Divine Juſtice be his end and deſigne, He may have that in and from the Propitiatory-Sacrifice, and Death of Chriſt; and ſo, be no loſer: And, as for thy Salvation, it will be more for his Glory, than thy Condemnation. If he require more Ojbedience of thee, Alas, this is not the way to perform it; when thy poor Soul is distracted with his Terrors, and thou art as a Man that hath no Strength, numbred amongſt the Dead, (as Heman ſpeaks, Pſal. 88.4, 5, 15.) The more Spiritual Peace and Joy and Soul hath, the more Service and Obedience it will be able to perform to God, who loves a chearful Giver: The Joy of the Lord, is the Strength of the Soul, Nehem. 8.10. If it be p. 29ſuggeſted to thee; That if thou hadſt more Aſſurance, Joy, and Inlargement, thou wouldſt abuſe it, and grow wanton; Tell God humbly, That he may alſo prevent that, if He pleaſe, by the Power of His Grace; and by writing the Law of Love in thy Heart by his Spirit, which will conſtraine thee to love Him, and to live to Him, 2 Cor. 5.14. And, Love is as ſtrong as Death; Many Waters cannot quench it, neither can the Floods drown it, Cant. 8.6, 7. And, though thou haſt a froward and ſtubborn Heart, which thou canſt not chuſe but ſadly complain of; yet, ſo had he whom the Prophet ſpeaks of, Iſa. 57.17, 18. God hid his Face from him; was wrath, and ſmote him; and he went on frowardly in the way of his Heart: Yet, for all this (ſaith the Lord) I have ſeen his wayes, and will heal him, and reſtore Comforts to him.

p. 30(5.) If thy Temptation be ſo great, and thy Condition ſo ſad, as if there were no other Remedy, but God and thou muſt part; yet labour notwithſtanding to have good thoughts of God, and to bleſs Him for thoſe glorious Attributes and excellencies of Mercy, Truth, Wiſdom, Holineſs, that are in him: Bleſs Him for his mercy and goodneſs to others, and for enabling them to ſerve him with chearfulneſs and ſucceſs. Bleſs him for the good things which thou haſt formerly received from Him; and if thou haſt done, or ſuffered any thing for God in thy time, wiſh with all thy ſoul it had been a thouſand times more: And confeſs thy ſelf unworthy, leſſer than the leaſt of thoſe Mercies he hath beſtowed on thee; and that thou art infinitly ingaged to Him for what is paſt, if He ſhould caſt thee off for time to come, and never p. 31ſmile upon thee again: Deſire Him only that He would preſerve and maintain in thee good and honourable thoughts of His Majeſty, that thou maiſt not in the leaſt derogate from His Honour, or Blaſpheme his Holy Name, however he is pleaſed to deal with thee as to Spiritual Peace and Comfort: And who knows, but whilſt thou art thus bemoaning thy ſelf (as Ephraim did) though the Lord at preſent ſeem to look Stern, and to ſpeak Angerly to thee, yet he will quickly come and ſpeak Peace to thy ſoul, and liſt up the light of his Countenance on thee. I have ſurely heard Ephraim bemoaning himſelf (ſaith the Lord). Is Ephraim my dear Son, Is he a pleaſant Child? For ſince I ſpake againſt him, I do earneſtly remember him ſtill; therefore my Bowels are troubled for him; I will ſurely have p. 32mercy on him, Jer. 31.18, 19, 20.

DIRECTION III.

Call to mind and improve the Soul ſorrows and Agonies of thy Saviour and Surety, who bore the Wrath of God in his ſoul for thee, that thy poor Penſive ſoul might be comforted and delivered from the Terrors of God: His Soul was heavy and ſorrowful to the Death; yea, he was ſurrounded and environ'd with ſorrow and amazement of Spirit, and cryed out bitterly on the Croſs, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Matth. 27.46. And in the days of his Fleſh, He offered up Prayers and Supplications, with ſtrong crying and tears unto him that was able to ſave him from Death, and was heard in that he feared, Heb. 5.7. Now tell God humbly and believingly, that he p. 33hath laid thy Sin, Guilt, Curſe, upon his Son, and in the fierceneſs of his Wrath fell upon him, ſtanding in thy ſtead and room, that he might ſet thee free (who is not in the leaſt able to wreſtle with the Terrors of God); ſay to him that his own bleſſed Son hath drank off the Cup of Divine Wrath to the bottom, even the very dreggs of it; and therefore why ſhould thy poor ſoul (which is redeemed by the precious Blood of thy Saviour) taſt any part of this bitter Cup? Did God withdraw the comforts of his Spirit from the humane Nature of Chriſt, and fill it with ſadneſs and ſorrow for thy ſake, that thou mighteſt obtain Spiritual peace and comfort? O then why ſhould'ſt not thou earneſtly pray for, and expect the fruits of Chriſt's Agony and Death in having thy ſoul revived and filled with ſpiritual peace and joy?

p. 34DIRECTION IV.

Renew thy Faith and Repentance in good earneſt, as if thou had'ſt never done it before. Suppoſe it be ſuggeſted to thee by Satan, that thou did'ſt never as yet truly believe and repent of thy ſins? Thou maiſt Anſwer thus, Well, I will not queſtion that now, but reſolve by the Grace of God forth-with to Repent heartily of my Sins, and believe on the Lord Jeſus. Some Chriſtians are apt to look back altogether on what they have done, and if that do not afford them comfort, then they are ready to give up all for losk, and to ſink under diſcouragement. But though a Chriſtian may ſometimes look back, and reflect on his former evidences and experiences; yet certainly, to caſt thy ſelf at preſent by a direct act of Faith, upon the free Grace of God in the p. 35Goſpel-promiſe, is the ſhorteſt cut, and the readieſt way to ſilence thy doubts, and Satans ſuggeſtions; as ſometimes it falls out, that a Man may with as little charge and trouble, obtain a new Leaſe, as prove the old one good and Authentical. Be peremptory and reſolute therefore in believing and caſting thy ſelf on a Crucified Jeſus, and ſay with Eſther, I will go to the King, and if I Periſh, I Periſh, Eſther 4.16. and with Job, Though he Kill me, yet will I truſt in him, Job 13.15. Venture thy Soul upon him, as one that's ready to ſink when the Bladders are taken from him, will yet venture to ſwim without Bladders. And as the four Lepers ſaid one to another, Why ſit we here until we dye? If we enter into the City, the famine is there, and we ſhall dye; and if we ſit ſtill here, we ſhall dye alſo: Therefore, let p. 36us fall into the Hoſt of the Syrians; if they ſave us alive, we ſhall live; and if they Kill us, we ſhall but dye, 2 King. 7.3, 4. So reſolve to throw your ſelf upon Chriſt, and if ye muſt dye, then dye at his feet: But this is ſo far from being the way to Periſh, that it is the direct way to true Peace, Comfort, and Happineſs.

DIRECTION V.

Truſt in the Name of God Jehovah for Comfort and Salvation. He that walks in darkneſs, and ſees no light, let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay himſelf upon his God, Iſa. 50.10.**Vid. Mr. Goodwins Child of light walking in darkneſs. the conſideration of the Sweet, Gratious, Merciful Nature and Name of God, will ſupport and keep the ſoul from ſinking: The Name of the Lord is p. 37a ſtrong Tower, the Righteous runeth to it, and is ſafe, Prov. 18.10. There is enough in the Name of God to Anſwer all our Objections, and reſolve all our doubts; as this name was proclaimed to Moſes, The Lord, the God, merciful and gratious, long-ſuffering, and abundant in Goodneſs and Truth, keeping mercy for thouſands, forgiving Iniquity, Tranſgreſſion, and Sin, Exod. 34.6, 7. This Name of God is to be found, and is revealed in and by Chriſt to poor Sinners. Hearken to him, and obey his Voyce (ſaith the Lord) for my Name is in him, Exod. 23.21. God was in Chriſt, Reconciling the World unto himſelf, not imputing their Treſpaſſes unto them, 2 Cor. 5.19. This is the Name where-with he ſhall be called the Lord our Righteouſneſs, Jer. 23.6. And his Name ſhall be Jeſus, for he ſhall ſave his People p. 38from their ſins, Matth. 1.21. When we ſee nothing in our ſelves to reſt upon, (as in the caſe of deſertion) no ſight of Graces, no light of comfort there-from, as in Pauls Voyage by Sea for many days together, neither the light of the Sun, nor Stars appeared, Act. 27.20. Yet then the Name of God will ſtay and bear up the drooping ſpirit of a Chriſtian. My fleſh and my heart faileth (ſaith David) but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for ever, Pſal. 73.26. And though my Houſe be not ſo with God, i. e. as the tender Graſs ſpringing out of the Earth by the clear ſhining of the Sun after Rain, yet he hath made, with me, an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and ſure; for this is all my Salvation, and all my deſire, although he make it not to grow, 2 Sam. 23.5.

p. 39DIRECTION VI.

[On which I ſhall a little inlarge.]

Furniſh thy ſelf with fit matter out of the holy Scriptures, for Heavenly thoughts and meditations, that thy heart may endite and meditate a good matter, and thy Tongue may be as the Pen of a ready Writer, Pſal. 45.1. The Lord help thee (poor Soul) not only to read theſe Divine writings, but to meditate therein day and night, to hide them and lay them up in thy heart as a divine Cordial to revive and comfort thee; as a divine Lamp to guide and direct thee, Pſal. 119.92, 105. and as part of the ſpiritual Armour, to enable thee to vanquiſh thy ſpiritual Enemies in the Hour of Temptation, Eph. 6.13.

David, even in thoſe dark times, before the Incarnation of Chriſt, p. 40profeſſeth of himſelf, that the Word of God was in the mid'ſt of his Bowels, Pſal. 40.8. And that he had hid the word in his heart, that he might not Sin againſt God, Pſal. 119.11. And Hierom tells us of one Nepotian, who by long and aſſiduous Meditation of the holy Scriptures, had made his breaſt the Library of Jeſus Chriſt, in reſpect of Divine thoughts and cogitations. Holy Job eſteem'd the Word of God more than his neceſſary food, Job 23.12. And the Pſalmist preferr'd it before the Honey and the Honeycomb; before great ſpoyles, and thouſands of Gold and Silver, Pſal. 19.9. Pſal. 119.103, 162. And the bleſſed Apostle commands us not only to have the word of Chriſt with us, but in us; and not only to have it in us, but to have it dwelling and abiding in us richly, in all Wiſdom and ſpiritual underſtanding, Col. 3.16.

p. 41As for Mens writings, they are mingled with Vanity, Miſtakes, Imperfections, Corruptions, ſavouring too much of a carnal Spirit; but God's Word**In Sacra Scriptura quicquid docet veritas, quicquid praecipitur bonitas, quicquid promittitur felicitas: Nam Deus veritas eſt ſine fallacia, bonitas ſine malitia, fellcitas ſine miſeria. is ſatisfactorily full, without all Vaninity, moſt Wiſe, Faithful and True, without Falſhood or Folly; compleatly perfect, without the leaſt Imperfection; moſt pure and refined, without Corruption or Carnal mixtures; wholly Spiritual, ſweetly reſembling that moſt Divine Spirit which endited the Scriptures.

Here are unfolded the myſteries of the Covenant of Grace made up of Heavenly Cordials for Sin-ſick ſouls: Here are the promiſes of this p. 42life, and of that which is to come, exceeding great and precious: Here are the comforts of God able to counterpoiſe and overcome the greateſt ſadneſs and ſorrow.

Art thou poor? Here's a Treaſury of Riches: Art thou ſick? here's a Shop of Soul-medicines: Art thou fainting? here's a Cabinet of precious Cordials: Art thou Afflicted? here's thy Solace: Art thou Perſecuted? here's thy Protection: Art thou deſerted? here's thy ſupport: Art thou Tempted? here's thy Victory: Whilſt thou liveſt, here's the Rule of thy Converſation; and when thou dyeſt, here's the hope of thy Glorification; and therefore, well might one of the Antients profeſs that he adored the fulneſs of the Scriptures: And Luther himſelf uſed to ſay, he would rather eat up his own Writings (which yet were inſtrumental to give much Heavenly p. 43light and knowledge) than that People, by reading them, ſhould neglect the reading and ſtudying of the Holy Scriptures.

This is the Book of Books (as David ſaid of Goliah's Sword) there's none like that.

Ex allis paleae viles, hinc grana leguntur

Aurea: Tu paleas linquito, grana lege.

Mens Books with worthleſs Chaff are ſtor'd;

God's Scriptures golden grains afford.

Reject the Chaff, and ſpend thy pains,

In Gleaning up theſe golden Grains.

The Holy Scripture is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inſtruction in the paths p. 44of Righteouſneſs, and for Support and Conſolation; that drooping dejected Spirits, may not be overwhelmed with Satan's Temptations.

This ſweet Conſolatory Vertue, and Soul-ſupporting Property of the Scriptures, is demonſtrated by the happy Experience and Senſe of Spiritual Comfort and Refreſhing, which Saints find therein; even ſuch of them as are exerciſed with great Dolors and Troubles of Spirit.

Thus David did comfort and ſupport himſelf with the word of God in his ſaddeſt Affliction: This is my Comfort in my Affliction (ſaith he) for thy Word hath quickned me: And, unleſs thy word had been my delight, I had periſhed in my Affliction, Pſal. 119.50, 51, 92.

Paul writes unto the Saints at Theſſalonica, that they ſhould comfort p. 45one another with theſe Words, 1 Theſ. 4.13. And the Love-ſick Spouſe (being ready to fall into a Spiritual Swound through the Senſe of Chriſt's Estrangements from Her) cryes out to the Miniſters of the Word, the Friends of the Bridegroom; O ſtay me with Flaggons, and comfort me with Apples, for I am ſick of Love, Cant. 2.5. Wine and Apples are pleaſant refreſhing Cordials to fainting Spirits; And, ſo are the pretious Promiſes, and ſweet Doctrines of Chriſt, to ſad and penſive Souls.

Auguſtine, and his dear Companion Alipius, How were they in their great Soul-Afflictions, raiſed up and comforted, with two Sentences of Scripture? Auguſtine (as he tells us in his Confeſſions, lib. 8. Cap. 12. Tom. 1.) deeply laying to heart his Sin and Miſery, ſuch a mighty Storm aroſe in his Soul, p. 46as brought a ſhower of Tears; whereupon, he with-drew from Alipius a good diſtance, that he might more freely and fully pour out himſelf in Tears. I laid me down (ſaith he) under a certain Fig-Tree, I know not how; and I opened Sluce to Tears, and the Floods of mine Eyes burſt out, thy acceptable Sacrifice: And, not in theſe Words, but to this Senſe, I ſpake many things to Thee; But thou, O Lord, how long! How long wilt thou be angry for ever! O Remember not former Iniquities! For, I felt my ſelf held by them, and I caſt forth miſerable Expreſſions: How long! How long! To-Morrow, and To-Morrow! Why not now? Why not this Hour, an end of my Filthineſs? Theſe things I ſpake, and wept in the bitter Contrition of my Heart. And behold! I heard a Voyce (as of a Boy or p. 47Girle, I know not whether) from a neighbouring Houſe, ſaying, (with Singing, and oft repeating)**Tolle lege, Tolle lege. Take up and Read, Take up and Read. And preſently, with changed countenance, I intentively began to think, whether Boyes in Playing were wont to ſing any ſuch thing; Nor, could I remember, that ever I heard it. The violence of my Tears being repreſſed, I roſe up; Interpreting nothing elſe to be divinely commanded me, than that I ſhould open the Book, and read what Chapter I firſt found; For, I had heard of Antonius, that by Reading of the Goſpel (which he happily light upon) he was admoniſhed, as if what he had read, had been ſpoken to him; Go, and ſell all that thou haſt, and give to the Poor, and thou ſhalt have Treaſure in Heaven, and come follow p. 48me; and that, by this Oracle he was preſently converted to thee. Therefore, being thus incited, I returned to the ſame place where Alipius ſate; for, there I had laid the Apoſtle's Book, when I thence roſe: I ſnatch'd it up, opened, and ſilently read that Chapter on which mine Eyes were firſt cast: Not in Rioting and Drunkenneſs, not in Chambering and Wantonneſs, not in Strife and Envying; But, put ye on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and make no Proviſion for the Fleſh, to fulfill the Luſts thereof, Rom. 13.13, 14. Nor would I read further; nor was there need: For preſently, with the cloſe of this Sentence, as it were with the light of Security infuſed into mine Heart, all my darkſom Doubtings fled away. Then, either putting my Finger in the place, or what other ſigne I know not, I ſhut the Book; and, with a chearful Countenance, p. 49I told it to Alipius. But, what was done in himſelf, which I knew not, he thus declared: He asks to ſee what I read, I ſhewed it; and, he attended further than I read, I not knowing what followed; But it followed, Him that is weak in the Faith receive ye, Rom. 14.1. which he applyed to himſelf, and opened unto me: But, by this Admonition he was Confirmed; and, without all turbulent delay, was conjoyned in a good Pleaſure and purpoſe, moſt congruous to his Manners, wherein he long ago excelled me. Thereupon, we go in to my Mother; tell her: She rejoyceth; We declare how it was done; She exults and Tryumphs, and bleſſeth Thee who art able to do, above All that we are to ask or think; Becauſe ſhe ſaw, that thou hadſt granted her far more concerning me, than ſhe was wont with her miſerable p. 50and lamentable Groans, to ask of Thee. Thus far Auguſtine.

Who would not now delight to read and underſtand the Divine Scriptures, whereby Auguſtine and Alipius were thus Converted and Comforted?

Mr. Fox, in his Acts and Monuments tells us, That Mr. Bilney, the bleſſed Martyr, having been long under great Doubts and Fears in his Soul, (whil'ſt he adhered to the Popiſh Doctrines); at length, opening the New-Teſtament, he light on that Text, 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all acceptation, That Chriſt Jeſus came into the World, to ſave Sinners, of whom I am chief; which God ſo bleſſed to him, that thereby his doubts and Fears were diſpell'd, and he received much ſpiritual Peace and Comfort in the Aſſurance p. 51of the love of God from this free promiſe of Grace.

Biſhop Latimer (that Godly Martyr) ſtanding at the Stake, ready to ſhed his blood for the Truth, lifting up his Eyes to Heaven with an amiable and chearful Countenance, comforted himſelf with that Scripture, Faithful is God who will not ſuffer us to be tempted above what we are able, 1 Cor. 10.13.

Alice Benden, Martyr, being kept in Priſon nine weeks with Bread and Water, and Sequeſtered from her Companions, was in great heavineſs and Soul diſtreſs, till on a Night, as ſhe was in her ſorrowful Supplications, rehearſing thoſe words, Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul, &c. And again, The Right Hand of the moſt High can change all this; ſhe received much comfort.

Mr. Midgeley, Miniſter at Ratchdale in Yorkſhire, oppreſſed with p. 52melancholly thoughts and temptations to Self-murther; and going down to the Water-ſide to Drown himſelf, having the New-Teſtament in his Pocket, it came into his thoughts, before he flung himſelf in, to read a little in his Teſtament; and opening the ſame, he happily caſt his Eye upon that precious word of Grace, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Reſt, Matth. 11.28, 29. Whereupon this poor tempted Soul was much revived, and broke forth into theſe words, Say'ſt thou ſo? then I will not down my ſelf. 'Tis well obſerved by a Godly Writer, that we had better want Meat, Drink, the light of the Sun, Aire, Earth, and all the Elements, yea, Life it ſelf, than that one ſweet Sentence of our Saviour, Come unto me, &c.

Mrs. Katherine Brettergh (who was wont to task her ſelf to the reading p. 53at leaſt eight Chapters of Scripture every day) in her Sickneſs, before her Death**Vid. Mr. Will. Leigh's Souls-Solace against ſorrow. ſhe fell into great diſtreſs and anguiſh of Spirit; ſometimes ſhe would caſt her Bible from her, and ſay, it was indeed the Book of Life, but ſhe had read the ſame unprofitably, and therefore feared it was become to her the Book of Death: Sometimes ſhe would ſay her ſins had made her a prey to Satan, a ſpectacle to the World, a diſgrace to Religion, and a ſhame to her Husband, Kindred, and all true Chriſtians: And here ſhe would weep moſt bitterly; ſhe wiſhed ſhe had never been Born, or that ſhe had been any other Creature rather than a Woman: She would often cry out Woe, Woe, Woe, &c. a weak, a woful, a wretched, a forſaken Woman! and utter ſuch like pittiful Complaints p. 54againſt her ſelf, with Tears continually trickling down her Cheeks. But at laſt, before her death, ſhe was raiſed up to unſpeakable joys and comforts by applying Scripture-promiſes: Oh ſaid ſhe, my ſoul hath been compaſſed about with terrors of Death, fear within, and fear without; the ſorrows of Hell were upon me, and a roaring Wilderneſs of Woe was within me (which ſhe repeated again and again): But Bleſſed, Bleſſed, Bleſſed be the Lord my God, who hath not left me Comfortleſs. One time ſhe took her Bible in her hand, and looking up towards Heaven, ſhe ſaid, O Lord, it is good for me that I have been Afflicted, that I might learn thy Statutes; the Word of the Lord is better to me than thouſands of Gold and Silver. She deſired her Husband to read ſome part of Scripture to her; he read that excellent p. 55Chapter, John 17. and as he read v. 9. ſhe interrupted him, ſaying, O Lord Jeſus, doſt thou indeed pray for me? O Bleſſed and Sweet Saviour, how wonderful, how wonderful, how wonderful are thy Mercies! When he came to v. 24. Father, I will that they whom thou haſt given me, &c. Stay, ſaid ſhe, and let me meditate on the goodneſs of the Lord, for now I perceive and feel the Countenance of Chriſt, my Redeemer, is turned towards me, and the bright ſhining Beams of his Mercy are ſpread over me: Oh happy am I that ever I was Born, to ſee this Bleſſed day: Praiſe, praiſe, Oh praiſe the Lord for his Mercies, for He hath brought me out of darkneſs, and the ſhadow of death! O my ſweet Saviour! ſhall I be one with thee, as thou art one with thy Father? and wilt thou Glorifie me with that Glory p. 56which thou had'ſt with the Father before the World was? And doſt thou ſo love me that am but Duſt and Aſhes, as to make me partaker of Glory with Chriſt? What am I, poor Wretch, that thou art ſo mindful of me? Oh how wonderful, how wonderful, how wonderful is thy Love? To a Chriſtian Friend that came to ſee her, wondering at her joys; ſhe ſaid, O the joys, the joys, the joys that I feel in my ſoul! they be wonderful, they be wonderful, they be wonderful! Thus ſhe was raviſhed in Spirit, and tryumphed in the praiſes of God. At last, with a ſweet Countenance and ſtill Voyce, ſhe ſaid, My Warfare is accompliſhed, and mine Iniquities are pardoned: Lord, whom have I in Heaven but thee? And I have none on Earth but thee: My Fleſh faileth, and my Heart alſo, but God is the ſtrength of mine Heart, p. 57and my Portion for ever. He that preſerveth Jacob, and defendeth his Iſrael, he is my God, and will guide me unto Death. Guide me O Lord, my God, and ſuffer me not to faint, but keep my ſoul in ſafety, and with that ſhe preſently fell aſleep in the Lord.

Mr. John Holland, an eminent Saint and Preacher of the Goſpel, did wonderfully raiſe and comfort himſelf with the holy Scriptures; even in the Valley of the Shaddow of Death, his Heart was repleniſhed with Heavenly Thoughts and Delights. The Day before he dyed, he called for the holy Bible with theſe very words, Come, O come! Death approacheth, let us gather ſome Flowers to comfort in this Hour: And, turning with his own Hands to the Eight Chapter of the Epiſtle to the Romans, he gave me the Book (ſaith Mr. Leigh, who p. 58relates theſe Paſſages in a printed Book) and bade me Read: At the end of every Verſe, he made a Selah or Pauſe, and gave the Senſe in ſuch ſort and feeling, as (we perceived) was much to his own Comfort, but more to our Joy and Wonder. Having thus continued his Meditation and Expoſition for the ſpace of two Hours, or more; on the ſuddain he ſaid, O ſtay your reading; What Brightneſs is this I ſee? Have ye light up any Candles? To which it was Anſwered, No; It is the Sun-Shine: For, it was about five a Clock, in a clear Summer's-Evening. Sun-ſhine (ſaith he?) nay, my Saviour's Shine: Now, farewell World, welcome Heaven; The Day-Starr from on high hath viſited mine Heart. O ſpeak it when I am gone, and Preach it at my Funeral, That God dealeth familiarly with Man! I feel his Mercy, I ſee p. 59his Majeſty, whether in the Body or out of the Body, I cannot tell; God, He knoweth; But, I ſee Things that are unutterable: And, raiſing himſelf, as Jacob did upon his Staff, he ſhut up his bleſſed Life, with theſe bleſſed words; O, What a happy Change ſhall I make! from Night to Day, from Darkneſs to Light; from Death to Life, from Sorrow to Solace; from a factious World, to a Heavenly Being: O my dear Bretheren, Siſters, and Friends, it pittieth me to leave you behind; yet, Remember my Death when I am gone: And, what I now feel, I hope you ſhall find ere you dye, That God doth and will deal familiarly with Men. And now thou fiery Chariot, that came down to fetch up Eliah, carry me to my happy Hold; And all ye bleſſed Angels, who attended the Soul of Lazarus to bring it up to Heaven, p. 60bear me, O bear me into the Boſom of my beſt Beloved; Amen, Amen. Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. And ſo he fell aſleep.

O therefore, Enrich thy Soul with thoſe Hevenly Treaſures, and fill thy Heart with thoſe bleſſed Truths, and Divine Myſteries, that are contained in the Scriptures; as the Saints whom I have mentioned, and many thouſands more have done in their great Straits and Temptations. Acknowledge the Goodneſs of God, and magnifie the Riches of his Grace towards poor Sinners: Many and wonderful, O Lord my God, are Thy Thoughts to us-ward, they are more than can be numbered, Pſal. 40.5. And again, How pretious are thy Thoughts unto me, O God? How great is the Sum of them, Pſal. 139.17.

p. 61Now, that thou may'ſt, have a right and ſpiritual underſtanding of the Holy Scriptures (whilſt thou readeſt them) for the benefit and comfort of thy ſad diſconſolate ſoul:

Firſt, Beg Wiſdom of the only VViſe God, who gives liberally and upbraideth not, Jam. 1.5. that by God's VViſdom thou mayeſt know God's Mind, and diſcern the true ſence and meaning of the Scriptures by the Aſſiſtance of the Divine Spirit which Indited the ſame. What the VVoman ſaid of Jacob's-Well, may be truly affi…med of the Scriptures; Thou haſt nothing to draw with, and the VVell is deep, John 4.11. Scripture myſteries are profound, and our Capacities but ſhallow; deſire the Lord therefore to anoynt thine eyes with Eyeſalve, p. 62that thou mayeſt ſee; and to open thine Underſtanding, that thou may'ſt rightly and ſpiritually underſtand the Scriptures, Rev. 3.18. Pſal. 119.18. Luk. 24.45. Luther profeſſed, that he got more Underſtanding by Prayer than by all his Study beſides.

Secondly: Labour for a truly gracious Spirit, which being once attain'd, thou wilt be able to penetrate into the inward Marrow and myſtery of the Holy Scriptures. He will beſt comprehend the true ſence of Scripture in his head, that hath it written and impreſs'd upon his heart. Thou wilt never (as one truly obſerves) underſtand Paul's meaning, unleſs thou art endued with Paul's ſpirit. The Secret of God is with them that fear him, and he will ſhew them his Covenant, Pſal. p. 6325.12, 14. And Chriſt in the Goſpel, will manifeſt himſelf to them that Love him; and ſuch ſhall know the mind of the Lord, Joh. 14.21, 22, 23.

Thirdly: Come to the reading and peruſing of the Scriptures with an humble ſelf-denying frame of heart, and be not puffed up with a vain Conceit of thine own knowledge and attainments. He that thinks he knowes any thing, knowes nothing yet as he ought to know, 1 Cor. 8.2. Empty Veſſels are moſt receptive, and ſo are ſelf-emptied Chriſtians. It's a great help to Knowledg, not to be ignorant of our Ignorance.**Deo meo gratias ago quod Ignorantiam meam non ignoro. The fruitful ſhowers quickly glide away from the lofty Hills; But they ſtay and ſmoke in the Low-Valleys. God, who reſists the Proud, gives p. 64Grace and Spiritual Knowledge to the humble: With the Lowly is true Wiſdom, Prov. 11.2. And the Meek and Humble he will teach his Way, Pſal. 25.9. Math. 11.25.

Fourthly: Obſerve and eye Chriſt, and Salvation by him, as the very Scope, Marrow, and Subſtance of the whole Scriptures: What are the Scriptures, but as it were the Spiritual ſwadling-Cloaths of the Holy Child Jeſus? He is the Truth and Subſtance of all the Types and Shaddows: He is the Matter and Quinteſcence of the Covenant of Grace, under all the Adminiſtrations thereof. The Center of all the Promiſes, In whom they are, yea, and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. The Thing ſignifyed, ſealed, and exhibited in all the Sacraments of the Old and New-Teſtament. The holy Scripture, What is it elſe but Chriſt's p. 65Light, whereby we come to know him? Chriſt's Voyce, whereby we hear and follow Him? and Chriſt's Cords of Love, whereby we are drawn into ſweet Union and Fellowſhip with Him?

But to Conclude; Suppoſe thou ſhould'ſt have Breach upon Breach, and ſtill remain a ſad penſive Soul, all thy Dayes here in this Life, without any Spiritual Comfort or Inlargment (after all thy Wreſtlings and Endeavours), it may be for twenty, thirty, or forty Years; yet, What is this to Eternity? What if it were for a hundred Years, ſo thou com'ſt to Heaven at laſt, and eſcap'ſt thoſe Everlaſting Torments, which are prepared for the Wicked? Ye ſhall weep and lament (ſaith Chriſt to his Diſciples, Joh. 16.20.), but the World ſhall rejoyce; Yea, but your Sorrow ſhall be turn'd into p. 66Joy, and the World's Rejoycing into Sorrow and Lamentation. Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be Comforted, Math. 5.4.

The Lord ſupports his People by the ſecret powerful Influence of his Grace, whil'ſt they walk in darkneſs, and want the Light of Spiritual Conſolation. And here let us conſider theſe four things:

(1.) God doth never totally deſert his Saints: The Lord will not forſake his People for his great Name's ſake, 1 Sam. 12.22. He hath ſaid, I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee, Heb. 13.5. The Words are Emphatical: Here is a Duplication of the Subject of the Promiſe, I will not leave, I will not forſake: And a Multiplication of Negatives; no fewer than five Negatives, by which God intimates, That he will p. 67not, yea, he will not, ſurely he will not forſake his Servants; He will never wholly reject them, nor utterly leave them: If he leave them, 'tis but for a Seaſon; If he go from them, 'tis but as one that goes from home, to return ſpeedily again: I will not (ſaith Chriſt) leave you Comfortleſs, or as Orphans at Sixes and Sevens; but I will come to you, Joh. 14.18. He may ſometimes frown, but he will ſmile again: If at any time his Compaſſions towards his People ſeem to be reſtrained, yet they cannot be extinquiſhed.

(2.) Though God may vary in the Operations of his Love; yet his Love in it ſelf, is ſtill the ſame, and ſhall be the ſame for-ever, Jer. 31.3. Pſal. 89.30, 44. Joh. 13.1. In the Summer, there's Light inherent in the Sun, and Light fluent p. 68from the Sun; That's ever perfect and permanent; but this may ſuffer Changes, and be obſcured, as in the Night it happens. The Root doth not alwayes give ſo much Sapp to the Branches, as to make them Budd and Bloſſom; yet ſhe doth alwayes stick cloſe to them, and influence and maintain them. A Father may have a dear Love to his Child, and yet ſhew but little of it in his Carriage, as David towards his Son Abſolon; and ſo it may be in this Caſe.

(3.) When God hides his Face from his People, he with-holds thoſe Acts of Love only, that are for their well-being; not thoſe that are for their being. Though a true Chriſtian may want that, without which he cannot have Comfort; yet he ſhall never want that, without which he cannot live: In this p. 69reſpect, God never with-holds any good Thing from them that walk uprightly, Pſal. 84.11.

(4.) A Christian may miſs much of the External Preſence of God, and yet enjoy inward Communion with him; He may want the Comforting Preſence of God, (in reſpect of Soul-raviſhing Joyes and Inlargements) and yet at the ſame time, partake of the powerful gracious Influence of the Spirit of God, for his Suſtentation and Support: This doth never utterly forſake him: And this is oft-times moſt in Power, when it is leaſt in out-ward ſhew and Appearance; and Saints have moſt of God, when they ſee him leaſt; whoſe gracious Power may, and doth operate effectually, where there is but little Senſe and Feeling of it. Mettals that lye deep under Ground, p. 70and ſee not the Heavens; yet partake of their Powerful Influence. When God cover'd Moyſes his Face in the Cleft of the Rock, Exod. 33.22. then did he paſs by, and gave Moyſes to ſee his Glory: So, the Clouds and Vailes, which now cover the Eyes of many Penſive diſconſolate Chriſtians, are often Forerunners of the Cleareſt Light, and moſt Soul-raviſhing Sight of God.

How-ever (poor Soul) be content to remain for a while in this World, without theſe Soul-raviſhing Joyes, and Taſts of Heaven, (if God will have it ſo): Doubtleſs, there's a great Difference betwixt the Condition of Saints in the Church-Militant, and the Church-Tryumphant. Heaven, at laſt, will make amends for All; and that glorious Communion with God, which p. 71is Reſerved for the Saints in the Church-Tryumphant, will Countervail all the Sad and Sorrowful Thoughts, Preſſures, and Temptations, which now they are expos'd unto, in their Militant Eſtate and Condition.

FINIS.