Counsels and Comforts for Troubled Consciences, Title page – Preface
COUNSELS AND COMFORTS FOR Troubled Conſciences. Contain'd in a LETTER, lately written to a FRIEND.
By HENRY WILKINSON, D. D. late Principal of Magdalen-Hall in OXFORD.
Prov. 18. 14. The ſpirit of a man will ſuſtain his infirmity: but a wounded ſpirit who can bear?
Aug: de interiore Domo, C. 1. Nunquam ille dimittit, niſi prius illum dimiſerit
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapſide, near Mercers-Chappel, 1679.
A PREFACE TO THE READER.
I Am neither ignorant, nor forgetful, that there are ſeveral choice Treatiſes which at large inſiſt upon ſome of thoſe Proofs and Arguments which I endeavour to proſecute in my enſuing Diſcourſe, intitled, Counſels and Comforts for troubled Conſciences. One of thoſe Treatiſes bears this Title, The Souls Conflict. The *Dr. Sibs Maſter of Katharine-Hall in Cambridg. Iſa. 50. 4.Author was a profound and experienced Divine, and had (as the Prophet Iſaiah makes mention) the Tongue of the Learned; for he well knew how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary. And as his heart was frequently and ſeriouſly buſied in inditing a good matter. Pſal. 45. 10.ſo his tongue was the pen of a ready writer. That whole Book may well be compared to a ſtring of pearls, and precious ſtones, whoſe price is far above rubies. That learned and experimental Writer plainly ſhews himſelf as another Barnabas, a Son of Conſolation.
Another Treatiſe reſembles the former, being good old gold of the ſame piece, as to the choice matter therein handled (though in a loftier ſtile) the Title of this Book is Inſtructions for a right comforting of afflicted Conſciences. Mr. Bolton.The learned Author (whoſe excellent works praiſe him in the gate) was for a long time together exerciſed with the violent aſſaults and buffettings of Satan, and was under great horrour of ſpirit; but at laſt (through the riches of divine mercy) he return'd with a glorious victory over Satan. Wherefore he, as a valiant conquerour, having won the field, and as an experienced Soldier, he incourageth his fellow Soldiers to fight Chriſts battels. He communicated his experiences to others, and himſelf being converted he makes it his grand deſign and buſineſs to convert, ſtrengthen, and comfort his brethren. It was our Saviours counſel toLuk. 22. 32. Peter, When thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy brethren.
A third Treatiſe (to mention no more) is call'd, The deſerted ſouls caſe and Mr. Symonds of Ironmonger-Lane.cure. The experienced Author, and faithful and diligent Preacher of the Goſpel, hath took elaborate diligence in what he wrote. His good name is like precious ointment poured forth. And though that learned Writer be dead, yet he ſpeaks and lives in that choice Book.
Although thoſe worthy Authors have gone before me not only in time, but much more (as I judg) in eſtimation and value; and though I account my ſelf (as the common ſaying is) unworthy to carry their Books after them, yet I know that there may be room left for additions to, and for farther clearing up former attempts and labours of thoſe who went before me. And ſometimes it comes to paſs (however I think meanlieſt of my ſelf) that a Pigmy ſtanding upon a Giants ſhoulder, may have a farther proſpect. Wherefore I am not at all diſcouraged from offering my mite (though ſmall) to their rich Treaſury, hoping and deſiring that my willing mind and cordial deſign of endeavouring all the good I can (whilſt I yet remain in the Land of the living), may obtain acceptance with God and Man; For (ſaith the Apoſtle) if there be firſt a willing mind, it is accepted 2 Cor. 8. 12according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
I uſe to make honourable mention of Dr. Sybbs, Mr. Bolton, and Mr. Symonds forenamed, and I acknowledg my ſelf very much their debtor for what I have read in their Excellent Labours; yet I am ſo far from being a Plagiarius, or a Filcher (which Reproaches I utterly abhor) that I have not at all (to uſe the words of that Hebrew Proverb) Ploughed with their Heifer. As for the ſubject treated on, a correſpondence and harmony I acknowledg between them and my ſelf, for I vary not from their Principles; but as to the manner and method of handling of them, a variation eaſily may appear to any unprejudiced Reader. *Ʋtile eſt plures libros a pluribus fieri diverſo ſtylo, non diverſa fide etiam de queſtionibus eiſdem ut ad plurimos res ipſa perveniat. Aug. lib. 1. c. 3. De Trini…ate.I am not aſhamed to confeſs, that what I here make publick, is the ſame for ſubſtance, which I have formerly inlarged in a publick Congregation, and what I have preach't and wrote of (To God alone be the praiſe aſcribed): which I have found to be experimentally true to my exceeding great and abundant conſolation. Both in preaching and writing it is, and hath been the deſire of my ſoul, to ſpeak and write firſt to my own heart, and then to others, that ſo I may comfort others with thoſe comforts wherewith I my ſelf have been comforted in particular.
Not willing to ſtay long in the entrance, Two things I ſhall only praemiſe, viz. The particular occaſion of this Publication, and the matter therein contained.
1. For the Occaſion. An ancient1. The Occaſion. and worthy Friend of mine, of more than thirty years acquaintance, deſired me to have conference with one (a good Chriſtian as I am perſwaded) who was much aſſaulted with the ſufferings and temptations of Satan, who was much perplexed with variety of doubts and fears, who was too apt to believe Satans Objections, as imagining the preſent condition much worſe than it was, and more ready to urge many Scriptures againſt that particular condition, than any one that might ſeem for relief and comfort. Wherefore to what I ſaid in private diſcourſe, I wrote a Letter to that perſon, and have now much inlarged it, hoping that what was ſpoken or written, either one or other, may leave ſuch a deep impreſſion upon the heart of this Chriſtian Friend, as to adminiſter ſome grounds of ſettlement and conſolation amidſt many doubts and perplexities.
And becauſe upon mature and deliberate thoughts, I preſent the following Letter (now form'd into a ſmall Treatiſe) unto publick view. My aim and end is (if my heart deceive me not) not only to conſult the good of that particular perſon (whom I much reſpect) to whom my Letter was directed; but alſo to impart ſomething by way of advice and comfort for the good of many others, who either are or may be in the ſame condition. For the ſelf-ſame ſpiritual Remedies applied to the like ſores, may (through Gods bleſſing) be inſtrumental for a ſpiritual cure.
2. I ſhall make ſome mention of the2. The ſubject treated on. ſubject, or matter treated on in the enſuing diſcourſe. The ſum whereof partly preſcribes Counſels, and partly inſiſts on Comforts. The Order propounde…, is firſt to diſcover and remove ſome impediments and obſtructions, which as a Remora to a Ship ſtops the ſailing, or as a ſtumbling-block laid in the way of ſuch who run a race, hinders their paſſage: After the removal of thoſe hinderances, ſome Duties are commended to point of practice, and for a concluſion ſome Grounds of Comfort are as ſeaſonably mentioned, and as neceſſarily to be applied to humble, penitent, and broken-hearted ſinners.
It's abundantly known to ſuch who are no ſtrangers to the new birth, and to all ſuch who have been train'd up in the School of affliction, and have experienced the Conflicts and Antipathies between the fleſh and the ſpirit, and (as Job had) have the Arrows of the Almighty Job 6. 4.ſticking in them, that many black clouds, ſtorms and tempeſts, even Euroclydons, deſertions, ſuſpenſions, and withdrawings of Gods gracious countenance, have for a time been the lot and portion of the dear children of God, whom God hath took into Covenant with himſelf. Job, David, Heman, St. Paul, and many other precious Servants of God have met with various diſpenſations, and variety of tryals and perplexities of ſpirit. Their condition may be reſembled to high-water and low-water, ebbing and flowing, and yet the water runs ſtill, and is not dryed up. Chriſtians ſometimes may be in a proſperous condition, other-times in an adverſe condition, and yet in both may have fixed and ſetled hearts. So David had, as may appear upon reading of Pſal. 57. 8. and Pſal. 108. 1. Then he was in great adverſity, for that 57th Pſalm was pen'd when he fled from Saul in the cave: The Title of that Pſalm was Altaſchith Michtam of David, or deſtroy not; and then he confeſt, that his ſoul was among Lyons, even Pſal 57. 4.among them that are ſet on fire, even the Sons of men, whoſe teeth are ſpears and arrows, and their tongue a ſharp ſword. Afterwards he was in great proſperity, when he pen'd Pſal. 108. and yet in both Pſalms David profeſſeth, O God my heart is fixed, I will ſing and give praiſe even with my glory: His tongue he accounted his glory, and ſo he imployed it in celebrating the praiſes of the Lord: ſuch a condition may befall the Children of God, as they cannot tell how to underſtand it, nor what to make of it at the firſt, as we read Zach. 14. 6, 7. And it ſhall come to paſs in that day, that the light ſhall not be clear, nor dark; but it ſhall be one day, which ſhall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it ſhall come to paſs, that at evening-time it ſhall be light. We know that there is a conſiderable diſtance of time betwhen ſowing and reaping; and though the ſeed may be under clods, and not viſible to our eyes for the preſent, yet afterwards it may fructify abundantly, and yield many handfuls for the reaper. Light is ſown (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) for the Pſ. 97. 11.righteous, and gladneſs for the upright in heart. Let us ſeriouſly conſider, that ſuch as are inwardly afflicted, and have wounded ſpirits (however they may argue againſt themſelves) are not alone, and without company, though it ſo falls out, that they complain amidſt their heavy preſſures, that never was any ones caſe like theirs. The Apoſtle rectifies all ſuch miſtakes; For (ſaith1 Cor: 10. 13. he) there hath no temptation taken you, but ſuch as is common to man: but God is faithful, who 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. Many Eminent Servants of God have been encountred by Satan, and through mercy have return'd with Trophies of victory. It's one of Satans maſter-pieces of policy to take advantages of ſick beds, and corporal infirmities. and ſo to act his inveterate malice with the greateſt violence. Many inſtances might be produced, as of Luther, who was aſſaulted with ſuch violent temptations, that neither ſpeech. ſenſe, blood or heat appeared in him. Mr. Bolton (as it's reported in his life) much reſembles Luther, who when the ſenſe of ſin and the guilt thereof were ſet home upon his heart, he roared for grief of heart, and roſe out of his bed by reaſon of the anguiſh of his ſpirit.
I may add the Examples of Mrs. Katharine Brettergh, and Mrs. Margaret Corbet, who were much aſſaulted by the Temptations of Satan upon their ſick-beds, and yet after thoſe ſtorms and tempeſts, they enjoyed a marvellous calm and ſerenity of ſpirit before their diſſolution.
But haſtning to a Concluſion, I ſhall inſiſt only on three more Examples of men eminent for Parts and Graces: One is of Mr. Peacock a Batchelor of Mr. Peacock▪Divinity, and then Fellow of Brazennoſe Colledg in Oxford. He was a great Scholar, and a laborious Tutor in that Society, and Divinity-Reader of Magdalen▪ Hall. His life and converſation was unblameable; and notwithſtanding in the ſickneſs whereon he died, he complained against himſelf, That he had no Grace at all. Dr. Ayry, Mr. Dod, and many others viſited him in his ſickneſs, and imparted ſpiritual counſels and comforts to him; and he told Mr. Dod, That he had no love for Gods children; and a little after he ſaid ſo, he manifested his love to Mr. Dod, by the great care he took for him; for he gave charge that ſomething ſhould be provided for the refreſhment of Mr. Dod, and that his Clothes ſhould be dried becauſe they were wet with the rain. After a dark night, light appeared, and God graciouſly ſetled the heart of this good man in a holy tranquillity and peace (as it's publiſhed in Print.) For (ſaid he a little before hisSee Mr. Peacock's Viſitation. death) you all expect that I ſhould declare what I think of my own Salvation: God is ſo indulgent to thoſe whom he hath ever loved, that he never forſakes them, and therefore I am aſſured that I ſhall go to Heaven. Moſt happy are thoſe fetters into which I was caſt by a moſt merciful God.
I ſhall add another inſtance of Mr.Mr. Pemble of Magdalen▪ Hall, Oxon. Pemble, a man of great learning, and of a holy life and converſation. He was Divinity-Reader, and a Tutor in Magdalen▪ Hall, and the Ornament of that flouriſhing Society, where he lived many years. He went to viſit his learned and religious Tutor Mr. Capel, at his houſe in Eſtington in Gloceſterſhire (where he ended his days.) In his laſt ſickneſs Satan aſſaulted him with vehement diſputations; and as a Reverend Divine (whoſe memory I honour) informed me, that the Devil urgedDr. Robert Harris, late Paſtor of Hanwell in Oxfordſhire. many perplexing arguments, and managed his diſputations like an old crafty ſophiſter, and ſhot his fiery darts againſt the ſaid Mr. Pemble; Satan knew his fitteſt ſeaſon to catch advantages, and that now or never he muſt act his part (for the time of ſickneſs and extremity was the fitteſt ſeaſon for Satan to play his laſt game.) But Mr. Pemble entered the liſts, and fought againſt that inveterate and ſubtel adverſary, and in the ſtrength of Chriſt overcame him. And the ſaid Mr. Pemble, as a valiant chamption, won the field, and died in peace with God and his Conſcience. His rare works declare him to be an eminent Saint on earth, and give us great hopes to believe that he is now a glorified Saint in Heaven.
A third inſtance (and ſo to conclude) I ſhall produce, is of Mr. Dyer, for aMr. Dyer. long time a Schoolmaſter in Aldermanbury in London. He, when he was in the Ʋniverſity, was for ſome years addicted to vain Company, with whom he miſpent many precious hours in drinking and in gaming, not only on other days, but on the Lords day. But his Conſcience was awakened and flew in his face, and he felt the flaſhings of Hell-fire in his conſcience. He went for advice to a Phyſician, who gave him wicked counſel, to go to his companions, and bid them make him merry. He did ſo, and found that remedy far worſe than his diſeaſe. For though on the day-time he drank largely, and gamed with his companions, yet at night he could not ſleep, for horrour of ſpirit renewed on him. Ʋpon advice he went to old Mr. Dod, that eminent Saint of God, and he gave him ſpiritual counſels, which he followed, and (through the Grace of God) became a very gracious Chriſtian; and after he was converted, he laboured to convert others, and obtain'd good ſucceſs in his labours. This ſtory he himſelf long ſince told me, and I had intimate acquaintance with an old Diſciple, of whoſe converſion the ſaid Mr. Dyer was eminently inſtrumental, who confirm'd the truth of this ſtory.
I am now at length come to a cloſe, and I will not detain the Reader from peruſing the following Treatiſe. If any one ſhall be a gainer for the ſettlement and eſtabliſhment of his ſpirit by what I have written, I ſhall rejoice, and aſcribe the praiſe of all to God, who is able to do great things by weak and deſpiſed inſtruments. My deſign is to do what good I can, whilſt I have day before me, for there's a night coming Joh. 9. 4.when no man can work. I am ſenſible that my glaſs is near run out, and gray and hoary hairs are upon me. My hearts deſire is to improve that one talent which God hath given me for his glory, and the good of my own and others ſouls. One requeſt I earneſtly beg of thee (Reader) is, that thou wouldſt remember me in thy Prayers, that I may grow in Grace, and in the knowledg of my Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
I commend theſe lines (Reader) to thy ſerious peruſal and acceptance, and I commend thee to Gods gracious Providence, and remain
From my Study in Great Cornherth in Suffolk near Sudbury, June 17. 1679. Thy Souls Servant, Henry Wilkinſon.