The Cases and Cure of Sad Disconsolate Thoughts in Christians, Table of contents
The CONTENTS of this ſmall Tract, touching Sad Diſconſolate Thoughts.
Text. Pſal. 94.19.
Opened and Explained.
Obſervation. Saints ſhould Watch againſt Sad, Melancholy, Unbelieving Thoughts.
I. Such Sad Diſconſolate Thoughts, are here deſcribed.
II. The Cauſes of them are ſet down.
Firſt: Bodily diſtempers, eſpecially Melancholy, do partly cauſe them.
Secondly: There are ſpiritual Cauſes of theſe Sad Thoughts.
As 1. Thoſe remaining Principles of Carnal Reaſon and Unbelief that are in the Saints.
2. They are Cauſed by a deep ſenſe of Sin, and the deſert of it.
3. By Spiritual Deſertion, or Gods hiding His Face from the Soul.
4. From the Sad apprehenſion of Divine wrath and diſpleaſure.
5. From the Violent Temptations and Injections of Satan, the Prince of Darkneſs.
6. By looking at Death in the Terrible Glaſs of the violated Law of God.
The CƲRE of theſe Sad Thoughts.
I. IF Melancholy be the Cauſe, then uſe the means which God has appointed for the Cure of it.
As 1. Uſe Phyſick, moderate Exerciſe, good Diet.
2. Let your Converſe be with Wiſe, Compaſſionate Chriſtians, that have had experience of this ſad Diſtemper, and of Remedies againſt it.
3. Conſider, though the cure of Melancholy be a torture to Phyſitians, yet God can eaſily Rebuke it.
II. If your Sad Thoughts be cauſed by Spiritual Diſtempers, Then,
1. In General, endeavour to Comfort theſe Sad Thoughts by applying spiritual Remedies.
2. Often chide your ſelves for theſe Sad Unbelieving Thoughts.
More particularly,
Firſt: Does Satan, that Spirit of Darkneſs, work upon thy Melancholy distemper, Unbelief, Carnal Reaſon? Then take to thee the Shield of Faith, that thou mayeſt quench his fiery Darts.
Secondly: If thy Sins make thee Sad, and preſs thee down, go to Chriſt, who freely Invites the Soul that's burthened and heavy laden.
Thirdly: If at preſent thou doeſt not behold the Face of God with joy, yet conſider His Love is Unchangable, and whom He Loves once, He loves for ever.
Fourthly: If thou haſt Sad Apprehenſions of Divine Wrath and Diſpleaſure, remember that Chriſt thy Surety, has borne the Wrath of God for Sinners.
Fifthly: If thou art Tempted by Satanical Injections to Blaſphemy, &c. and doest abhor and reſiſt the Temptation? Conſider it is thy Tryal, not thy Sin.
Sixthly: If the fear of Death cauſe Sad Thoughts, learn to look at Death in the comfortable Glaſs of the Goſpel of Chriſt.
Some further Directions for a poor Soul that's perplexed with Sad and dark Thoughts.
I. Direction. Call to Remembrance, and improve former evidences of God's Love and Kindneſs to you.
II. Plead and expoſtulate humbly with God when He ſeems to hide His Face from thee. This Direction is drawn out and inlarged in five particulars.
III. Improve the Soul ſorrows and ſufferings of Chriſt, who bore the wrath of God in His Soul, that thy ſoul might rejoyce in God.
IV. Renew thy Faith and Repentance in good earneſt, as if hitherto thou had'ſt never done it to purpoſe.
V. Truſt in the Name of God Jehovah for Comfort and Salvation: There's enough in this Name to ſupport thee under all thy ſad preſſures.
VI. Furniſh thy ſelf with fit matter out of the Holy Scriptures for Heavenly Thoughts and Meditations.
This was the practiſe of the Prophet David.
Of Job who eſteemed the Word of God more than his neceſſary Food.
Of Nepotianus, whom Hierom ſpeaks of.
Of Auguſtin, and his dear Friend Alipius.
Of Mr. Bilney, Martyr.
Of Biſhop Latimer, Martyr.
Of Alice Benden, Martyr.
Of Mrs. Katherine Brettergh.
Of Mr. John Holland, an Eminent Saint, and Preacher of the Goſpel.
Rules to be obſerved in reading the Sacred Scriptures for the Comfort of a Sad Diſconſolate Soul.
1. Rule. Beg Heavenly Wiſdom of God, that thou maist diſcern the true ſenſe of Scripture.
2. Labour for a truly gracious ſpirit.
3. Come to the Reading of Scripture, for thy Comfort, with a Humble, Teachable, Self-denying frame of heart.
4. Eye Chriſt for thy Comfort and Salvation, as the chief ſcope, marrow, and ſubſtance of the Scriptures.
Here are four Conſiderations ſubjoyned.
1. Conſid. God never totally deſerts his Saints.
2. Though God may vary in the Operations and Manifeſtations of His Love, yet His Love in it ſelf, is ſtill the ſame, Constant and Everlaſting,
3. That thoſe acts of Divine Love, which tend to the Eſſence and being of a true Chriſtian, God never withholds from him.
4. A Chriſtian may want the ſenſible Preſence of God, as to Spiritual joys and inlargements, and yet at the ſame time partake of the powerful influence of the Holy Ghoſt for his Support.