Characters of a Sincere Heart, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Containing the Comforts pertaining to ſincere Chriſtians in their Lives in this World.
HAving laid down thoſe twelve forementioned Characters and Signs of Sincerity, I thence infer this Concluſion, That it's the grand Duty incumbent upon us all, and every one in particular, to propound the Queſtion (as in the preſence of God) to his own Soul, Am I a ſincere-hearted Chriſtian, yea or no? Let us with deliberate thoughts conſider of thoſe twelve above-named Signs and Marks of Sincerity, and examine our ſelves by them accordingly: herein conſiſts the grand Labour and Work, to buſie our ſelves with all frequent and ſerious ſelf-reflections, and heart-examinations; and let us as one man, every one particularly, propound the Queſtion (as in the preſence of God) to his own Soul, ſaving, Is my heart ſincere and upright towards God? There are many needleſs Queſtions propounded, which gender ſtrife, and it were better that they had been buried in ſilence altogether; but here is the Queſtion worthy of our ſtudying and ſtating, viz. Whether our hearts ſtand ſincere towards God? As for all thoſe whoſe hearts are without guile, as Nathanael's was, John 1. 47. who have truth in the inward parts, (as God requires, Pſal. 37. 6.) who are men after God's own heart, (as David was) whoſe hearts are perfect with God, as Hezekiah, Aſa, and Jehoſaphat were, theſe notwithſtanding infirmities incident to human nature, ſhall find the comfort and benefit of their uprightneſs and ſincerity in their lives, and in their deaths, and after death to all eternity.
Sincere-hearted Chriſtians receive Sincere perſons receive comfort in their lives.comfort in their lives: Although God's dear Children meet with variety of ſore and grievous afflictions in this preſent World, and encounter with many tentations, and great troubles and vexations, inſomuch as they are the very Butt and Mark againſt which their implacable Enemies ſhoot their keeneſt and ſharpeſt Arrows, poiſoned and deſtructive: yet notwithſtanding all their ſufferings, a good od, a good Cauſe, and a good Conſcience, will carry them chearfully through all their troubles, and abundantly quiet and ſupport their ſpirits. And the leaſt glimpſe of God's reconciled countenance in Chriſt, will infinitely compenſate for all the frowns and fury of implacable Adverſaries; inward comforts will make amends for outward troubles. A good Conſcience, like Ahimaaz, will bring good tidings; or like a Halcyon, (as is ſaid) appears in a ſtorm, as an emblem of a calm approaching. Or a good Conſcience may reſemble Noah's Dove, which brought an Olive-leaf in her mouth, in token that the waters were abated. As Aaron's Rod ſwallowed up all the Rods of the Magicians; ſo a pacified Conſcience, by the conſolations of God's ſpirit, will ſwallow up all manner of troubles and vexations whatſoever. A ſincere heart, and the anſwer of a good conſcience, and the apprehenſion of God's reconciled countenance in the face of Chriſt, will compoſe and quiet our ſpirits, and becalm and make them ſedate, and ſettle all manner of fluctuating and tumultuating thoughts. To this purpoſe I'le cite an excellent paſſage of St. Auguſtine. *Tumultuoſis varietatibus dilaniantur cogitationes meae, intimae viſcera animae, meae donet in te coajinam purgatus & li…uidus g…e amoris tui. Aug. conf. l. c. 29.My thoughts (ſaith he) are torn in pieces with variety of tumults, even my inward bowels are torn in pieces, until I make haſte to be purged, and and melted with the fire of thy love. One only word ſpoken by Chriſt, ſuddenly becalm'd a rough and tempeſtuous Sea; for when the Diſciples were afraid, Matth. 8. 26. Chriſt aroſe, and rebuked the Winds and the Sea, and there was a great calm. And amidſt variety of ſtorms and tempeſts, even ſuch winds which blow fiercer than that called Euroclydon, Acts 27. 17. Chriſt can make all ſtill: and ſo can he amidſt the greateſt inward and ſharpeſt ſtorms of Chriſtians (when they are at their wits end, and know not what to do) Chriſt (I ſay) can ſpeak a word of peace unto their Souls, ſaying, Son, or Daughter, be of good comfort, all thy ſins are forgiven thee. Upon the hearing of ſuch a gracious word, there will follow a marvelous tranquility and ſerenity upon the ſpirit.
Sect. 2 It cannot be denied (though it ought to be bewailed) but the beſt of Saints here on earth have their ſpots and failings; for they are encompaſſed in this World with a body of ſin and corruption, yet they are ſenſible of, and mourn for their ſpots and failings, (for they are their ſorrow, and their heavy burthen.) They do not willingly allow themſelves in any ſin, nor willingly depart from any command. Sin in a Child of God is a torment to him, like a broken leg, or a broken tooth; it's matter of dolour and anguiſh to him. Sin in a Child of God, is like Garbidge thrown into a running ſtream, it is ſtill running and purging away of all manner of filth and impurity. But ſin in an unregenerate man is like Garbidge thrown into a ſtanding pond, there it abides, and ſends forth a loathſome and ſtinking ſavour. However, all thoſe whoſe hearts are upright with God, make it their continual employment to ſearch their hearts, and to waſh and cleanſe them: hereupon after ſearching of their hearts, they learn to know them better; and they know more evil by themſelves than all the World can tell them of; hence follows heart-compunction, ſighing and mourning. And being thus apprehenſive of their own impotency and unworthineſs, and forlorn condition, they make haſte to Chriſt, and implore his gracious aſſiſtance; and beſeech him to cleanſe them, and make them white in his Bloud. Wherefore as often as that inveterate enemy Satan, and all malicious and ungodly men, the Devils inſtruments, prefer large Bills of Accuſations and falſe Indictments againſt the Saints, they make their appeal to the righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth, who alwaies judgeth righteouſly. The Apoſtle makes an expoſtulation, and gives an anſwer thereunto every way ſatisfactory, Rom. 8. 33, 34. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? it is God that juſtifieth. The moſt bitter Accuſations, and moſt violent Perſecutions of them all are altogether inſignificant, and of no effect, force or vertue, againſt any of thoſe whom God juſtifies: for Gods juſtification and diſcharge will fully acquit and exonerate us, and ſave us harmleſs and indemnified againſt all the demands, charges, ſuggeſtions, and libels made againſt us by the worſt of Enemies. For it follows in the next words; Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea rather that is riſen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alſo maketh interceſſion for us. The frequent and ſerious meditation of theſe things, abundantly ſupport and comfort the godly in their Pilgrimage on Earth. Albeit the beſt of Gods children meet with conflicts and antipathies, and are excerciſed in combats againſt the Fleſh, the Devil, and the World, thoſe ſpiritual Enemies of their Salvation, yet through the ſtrength of Chriſt they ſhall return with Trophies of Victory; and by experience they ſhall find the fleſh to be weaker and weaker, and the ſpirit ſtronger: as it was ſaid of the houſes of David and Saul, this grew weaker and weaker, and the other grew ſtronger and ſtronger. But whilſt we are in this World we muſt never caſt down our weapons, but ſtill continue fighting againſt ſin; we muſt not expect to reſt from our labours till we are dead. Let's then with all diligence and fidelity manage our ſpiritual warfare, and in all things labour to approve our hearts ſincere to God, and we ſhall at length conclude with the Apoſtle, Rom. 8, 37. Nay, in all theſe foreign.things we are more then conquerors, through him that loved us.