The Case and Cure of a Deserted Soul, Chapter 36
CHAP. XXXVI. The effects and conſequent of this ſad condition.
IN the next place let us view the effects and conſequents of Gods withdrawing, and leaving the ſoule in this uncomfortable caſe. The effects are various according to the quality of the perſons thus deſerted, which are of two ſorts.
1. Sleeping,
2 Awakened.
Firſt for the ſleeping Chriſtian; Firſt in the ſleeping ſoule.when he falls from a comfortable enjoyment of God, as he is ſenſeleſſe in a great meaſure, ſo he is,
1 Careleſſe, he ſets not himſelfe to regaine his loſt friend, but lyeth bound in chaines of ſloath and ſleepe, as it is ſuppoſed David did, till Nathan came to him, to rouze him out of that ſlumbring ſtate. It is ſtrange to conſider how farre a living man may be overtaken with fits of deadneſſe, and how hee may bee ſo infatuated that he may bee robbed of his comfort, as Sampſon was of his ſtrength, when hee was aſleepe.
2 Declining in affection and vigour of an holy walking with God: he now is hardly drawne to him, and ſoone drawne from him; hee comes unwillingly, and abides with him unchearefully; he comes ſlowly, and goeth quickly; having loſt his firſt love, he hangs the wing, and flags in duties.
3 Aptneſſe to be drawne to evill: having loſt his comfort and his ancient vigour, hee is eaſily perſwaded to ſtart from God. God lyeth lower in his affection, which is the bond of the ſoule, and being cooled in love hee is more eaſily overcome; while the ſoule is delighted in God, it eaſily contemneth all vaine delights, but now it becomes a prey to Satan in his tentations. Solomon fell ſtrangely, when hee fell from God. The heart will pitch upon ſomething; and if it have not its contentment in God, it will hunt for it in the world; hence it is that many deſcend from heaven to earth, and fall from a glorious height of comfort in and from God, to a worldly and ſenſuall condition, feeding upon vanities, and filling themſelves with the creature; ſo that their life is but a diverſion to preſent contentments.
Now from theſe dull and ſleeping perſons, In the awakened.wee come next to ſuch as are awakened, to view what operation this mournfull ſtate hath in them; Among theſe, there are different workings,
Evill,
Good.
Firſt of the evill effects, or conſequents.Evill effects.
1 Heartleſſe complaint; this is found in ſome, Heartleſſe complaint.who though they are in a degree ſenſible of their loſſe, yet are not ſenſible enough, ſo that though they complaine and grieve, yet their ſorrowes are not deepe enough, they feele a burthen upon their ſpirits, but they can beare it, the heart is affected, but not afflicted.
2 A fruitleſſe complaint; Fruitleſſe.ſome are of a whining temper, apt to fill the eares of all their familiars, with ſad relations of their mournefull caſe, but there is little elſe to be found beſides complaints; the ſoule humbleth not himſelfe before God, nor contends in prayer, nor ſtriveth by the ordinances, and holy walking to finde what it hath loſt. Theſe men are like the ſicke man who lyeth grieving himſelfe, but no way ſeeking in earneſt to help himſelfe; or like Iſſachar crouching under his burthens. Such ſpirits as theſe are of a ſtubborne temper, and they have cauſe to expect ſuch multiplyed uncomfortableneſſe as ſhall enforce them to ſeeke after God with more ſeriouſneſſe and ſtrength. David ſtucke and came not off to a full endeavour of reconcilement with God; till night and day the hand of God was heavie upon him ſo that his moy ſture was turned into the drought of Summer, Pſal. 32.4.
3 Great unquietneſſe gAfflictu… vitam in tenebris luctuque trahebam. virg Aenead. 2., Great unquietneſſe.in ſome the apprehenſion of loſſe of communion with God, and ſight of his diſpleaſure workes to the height indeed, yea ſo farre that it workes a Fever or rather a frenzy in the ſoule.
1 Hard thoughts of God; as if God were implacably incenſed, and ſo departed, Hard thoughts of God.that he would never more returne; that he hath forgotten to bee gracious, and hath ſhut up his mercy for ever, ſo that there is no hope; hee will not heare my prayer, he hath paſſed a doome upon me and it muſt ſtand. He is in one minde, and who can turne him? and what his ſoule deſireth, even that he doth: & he performeth the thing that is appointed for me, therefore am I troubled at his preſence; when I conſider, I am affraid of him, for God maketh my heart ſoft, and the Almighty troubleth me, Job 23.13. Sadneſſe and feare cloud the underſtanding, and cauſe monſtrous apprehenſionshforeign. Chryſ. hom. 2. ad Antioch..
2 Hard thoughts of themſelves; reflecting upon the time paſt as on a courſe of hypocriſie; Of themſelves.upon the time preſent, as a ſtate of death, and looking upon the future, as without hope: my ſinnes are ſo mighty, that they wil not be ſubdued; and ſo many that they will not be pardoned: God cannot ſhew mercy to me, I ſhall ſurely dye; I am counted with them that goe downe into the pit, free among the dead, like the ſlaine that lye in the grave, whom thou remembreſt no more, and they are cut off by thine hand, Pſal. 88.4, 5. Thou haſt removed my ſoule farre from peace, and I forgot proſperity. And I ſaid, My ſtrength and my hope is periſhed from the Lord, Dreadfull paſſions.Lamentat. 3.17, 18.
3 Dreadfull paſsions; as tremblings and ſhakings; Feare came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to ſhake, Job 4.14. The haire of my head ſtood up iId propterea fit quod in…rorſum refugiunt ſpiritus, cutemque deſtituunt, Becm. de orig. ling. l…t. obſtu…ui ſte …erantque come. Virg.verſ. 15. Marke me, and be aſtoniſhed: when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold of my fleſh, Job 21.5, 6. ſometimes alſo roarings are heard from theſe men; My bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long, Pſal. 32.3. My ſighing commeth before I eate, and my roarings are poured out like the waters, Job 3.24. Yea, ſo great is the anguiſh, that oftentimes the body is waſted. I am as a man that hath no ſtrength, Pſal. 88.4.kAnimi aegri…udo morbus potentiſsimus, animi dolor corporis languorem parit. Comicus. Vid Aquin. 1.2 q. 3…. a. 4. Yea ſometimes they are tyred, and weary of themſelves, and of life. My ſoule is weary of my life, Job 10.1. Wherefore is life given to him that is in miſery, and light unto the bitter in ſoule? which long for death, but it commeth not, and digge for it more than for hid treaſures; which rejoyce exceedingly, and are glad when they can finde the grave. Why is life given to a man whoſe way is bid, and whom God hath hedged up? Job 3.20, 21, 22, 23. In a word, they thinke they can never complaine enough, they account their miſery beyond all words. Oh that my griefe were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the ballance together, for now it would be heavier than the ſand of the Sea, therefore my words are ſwallowed up, (or I want words to expreſſe my griefe) for the arrowes of the Almighty are with me, the poyſon whereof drinketh up my ſpirit, the terrours of God doe ſet themſelves in array againſt me, Job 6.2, 3, 4. And when the ſoule hath exceeded all eloquence, and paſt almoſt all humane bounds of language and expreſſion; it is not ſatiſfied, but thinkes it falls exceeding ſhort of uttering her miſery: My ſtroak is heavier than my groaning, Job 23.2.
But all this is not a right carriage of the ſpirit, ſuch paſsions would befit ſuch as have a God without mercy, and diſtreſſe without a promiſe, and without a redeemer. Faith is ſuſpended when theſe clamours are heard, and the ſoule forgets the freeneſſe and fulneſſe of grace, when it is thus tranſported out of it ſelf, and from its hopes.
Secondly,Good effects. The good effects of ſuch uncomfortable eclipſes of Gods favour and preſence follow, which are,
1 Sorrow, great ſorrow; thou hidſt thy face and I was troubled, Sorrow.Pſal. 30.6. the heart ſhould not, yea (if it be in due temper) cannot reſt without God; his abſence is worthy to bee lamented, whoſe preſence is moſt worthy to bee prized.
2 Longing deſires of Gods gracious returne, Deſire after God.the ſoule thinkes delaies grievousmEtiam celeritas in deſiderio eſt mora. P. Syri. Deſideranti inviſa eſt quaevis mora, deſiderium acuit abſentis vicinitas, poſt ſpem omne deſiderium impatientiſsimum eſt. Quamdiu differtur ſpes aeternorum, affligitur anima fidelium. i.e. vel pro dilatione bonorum quae amat, velpro illulion malorum quae tolerat. Beda.; hope deferred maketh the heart ſicke, Prov. 13.12. The Church ſaith ſhe was ſicke of love, Cant. 5.8. The heart that hath had a ſenſe of Gods ſweet preſence, cannot bee ſatisfied without him, but counts all things nothing till it regaine him, who is to her as the Sunne to the world, and the ſoule to the body.
3 Repentance, and humbling of ſoule, Repentance.it ſeekes what unhappy and accurſed thing hath raiſed this cloud betwixt God and her, and falls downe at his feet, confeſſing, weeping, and begging his favour in Jeſus Chriſt, willingly grieved and aſhamed; it counts not this ſorrow bitterneſſe, but hath ſome ſweetneſſe in itnforeign. Ariſt. Rhet. Lachryma animae amarae, & dulces ſunt; amarae, propter abſentiam boni, dulces propter certitudinem inveniendi, &c. Savanarol. med. in Pſal. Qui Regis Iſrael..
4 Subjection to all conditions of agreement: It ſaith, SubjectionLord, impoſe, demand what thou wilt, I count nothing too deare for thee, I count the gaine of the whole world loſſe for thee, and will deny my ſelfe for thee; If my heart draw backe, draw it on to thee; as farre as I am able to ſacrifice my ſelfe to thee, I doe it. Thus the ſoul ſets on towards God, inquires for him in all meanes, will not be put off; it falls not by deſpaire, or ſleepes in ſloth, but faith holds up hope, and hope keepes up indeavours, and it cannot be quiet without God.
There are two maine Cauſes of the reſtleſſeneſſe of the ſoule without God.Cauſes why the ſoul cannot bee quiet in this caſe.
Firſt, The condition of the ſubject.
1 Tender; the ſoule, but eſpecially in a beleever,From the ſubject. when hee is in a living ſtate, is very ſenſible of any evill, eſpecially of the greateſt evill;Tender. a mans ſorrow, is as his ſight is; therefore where hee ſeeth God, and hath a knowledge of him in his excellencie, the loſſe of him is grievousoSummi deloris cauſa ſummum gaudium eſt. Sen.: all evils on the body are but as the rending of the garment; but griefe in the ſoule, is as the tearing of the fleſh: A wounded ſpirit who can beare? Prov. 18.14. outward evils are but as the breaking of the out-works; All ſenſe in the body is from the ſoule, therefore the ſoule muſt needs be moſt ſenſible.
2. It is ſpirituall: 2. Spiritualif the body bee in miſerie, externall things may helpe: in ſickneſſe, phyſickpOmnes humanos ſanat medicina dolores Propert. Eleg. l. 2.; in want, reliefe; in famine, bread; &c. but when the ſoule is in diſtreſſe, all the world is but like a great cipher, it amounts to nothing: Heaven and earth is but as a ſhadow, nothing but God can quietqTranquillus Deus tranquillat omnia, & quietum aſpicere, quieſcere eſt. Bern. in Cant. 23.. As the body is not ſatisfied with things ſpirituall, ſo the ſoule is not contented with things corporall: there muſt bee a fitneſſe in the object, elſe it moves not; as the eare is not pleaſed with light and colours, nor the eye with ſounds. The ſoule therefore being ſpirituall muſt meet with that which is ſpirituall and proper for it, elſe it is not contented; every living creature hath an appetite and ſenſe carried to ſome things, and out of that compaſſe it hath no quiet: as take a beaſt, and you ſhall never ſatisfie him, but with paſtures and ſuch things as he affects; and take a man, and he muſt have other things, things of higher worth, ſutable to his nature; and take a ſpirituall man, whoſe ſoule is illuminated and drawne out to higher and more ſpirituall things, and him you cannot quiet with a thouſand worlds, without intereſt in Chriſt, and the favour of God; the ſpirituall man is carried to things ſpirituall, as the naturall man to things naturall. And as a naturall man cannot be quieted without naturall accommodations, and enjoyment of ſuch things as ſute with him; ſo the ſpirituall man cannot have reſt without his ſpirituall treaſure.
3. It hath pitched upon God by faith and hope;It hath pitched upon God. it hath devolved it ſelfe upon him, and that for eternity, and in the buſineſſe of life and death. Now if a man were paſſing over a deepe and ſwift torrent, and when hee is upon theſe deepes, ſhall feele the bridge cracking and ſinking, it muſt needs let in a ſea of feares and amazement upon him. And how can it bee that when a man ſeeth the vaſtneſſe of eternity, the greatneſſe of ſinne, the terrors of the wrath that burnes like fire, and hath in his agonie throwne himſelfe upon God in Chriſt, and now is doubtfull whether Chriſt will owne him, or take any care of him, I ſay how can it bee but hee ſhould bee in great diſtreſſe? at ſuch a time when God withdrawes his comforts, every thing that may afflict ſtands forth in greateſt ſtrength, now death is death, and ſin is ſin, and the ſoule feeles the weight of every load; comfort lightens all burthens, and when Chriſt is preſent, all evils vaniſh, and diſcouragements ſcatter as a miſt, but when that is gone, then thoſe evils gather like clouds of fire and blood over the ſoule, and thoſe miſeries which did lie as conquered men, doe riſe up with renewed ſtrength; and what a ſad time is this, when the ſoule ſeeth her danger, and not her refuge; her wounds, but not her cure? nay to ſee him that is her only truſt, not onelyonly not to be with her, but againſt him? it hath choſen him as her chiefe treaſure, therefore can no more be without him, than without her ſelfe.
4. It hath had hopes of Gods favour: time hath beene,It hath had hopes. when it ſaw it ſelfe in the armes of Chriſt, and walked with ſome aſſurance that it had a friend in Heaven; and therefore ſeeing now her hopes to wither, and thoſe golden daies to paſſe as a pleaſant dreame, it cannot but be much afflicted. This ſhall be the bitterneſſe of the anguiſh of unſound hearts at laſt, who after they have fed their ſoules with hope, and have run out their daies in a paradiſe of imaginary happineſſe, finde when they come to die, all thoſe joyes, and all that confidence to ſpend themſelves like a vapour, and the leane kine to eate up the fat; ſorrow and everlaſting perdition comming inſtead of joy and ſalvation which they looked for: oh who can utter this miſery! a man hurled from a pinacle of high and glorious hopes, into a depth of eternall woe! By this wee may gueſſe what it is for a deſerted ſoule that hath reckoned long upon high things, and now ſeeth ſuch a change, that it is forced to count it ſelfe deceived, and to exchange her living hopes, for killing feares; and whereas ſhe thought her ſelfe a child, to bee caſt forth as a ſtranger, yea as an enemy.
5. It hath had much in communion with God and Chriſt: 5. It did enjoy Godtime was when the man was kindly uſed, when God converſed with him, as a man with his friend, when he invited him often, and entertained him in love, and powred in much of heaven upon him: therefore now to ſee God eſtranging himſelfe, yea frowning, chiding, arming againſt him, cannot but bee a cutting to his ſoule. David having loſt the liberties of the ordinances, which were better than his kingdome to him, ſits downe in heavineſſe, as one taught by the experience of his former happineſſe, the deeper to lament his preſent miſery; When I remember theſe things, I powre out my ſoule in me, for I had gone with the multitude, I had gone with them to the houſe of God, with the voice of joy and praiſe, with a multitude that kept holy day. Pſ. 42.4. And this was the affliction of the Church that ſhe loſt him, in whoſe preſence ſhe had received ſuch abundant comfort, Cant. 5. the more the ſoule hath had of God, the more bitter is her loſſe of him.
Secondly,2. From the object, in reſpect of 1. Quality of it. the object is ſuch as if you weigh it, you will ſee that a man cannot be at reſt when God holds back and leaves him in this dolefull caſe.
Conſider, firſt, the quality of the object: there are three things in God which cauſe the wound of an afflicted ſpirit to bleed much:
1.1. Goodneſſe. Goodneſſe, becauſe God is good, therefore his disfavour is a great affliction, this ſweet balme the heart in ſuch a day will turne into a ſharpe corroſive, and out of this ſea of comfort will draw bitter waters, this golden mine which is a rich treaſure unto others, yeelds that which the heart turnes into iron rods, and ſharpe ſwords to wound it ſelfe For firſt if it apprehend his goodneſſe to bee his kindneſſe and gracious diſpoſition to pitty and mercy, then it reaſon heavily; oh unhappy wretch, that there ſhould bee ſo ſweet a fountaine, and I ſhould not drinke of it; that ſtreames ſhould flow forth towards thouſands, & none to me; I envie not others happineſſe, but I lament mine owne miſery; that I ſhould die in the midſt of life, and periſh in the midſt of ſalvation: God is ſo good, ſo ready to ſhew mercy, that ſure he is highly incenſed againſt mee, who ſeeke, and call, and cry, yet am not relieved; if my wickedneſſe were not very great, yea if I were in his heart at all, ſurely he that is ſo good in himſelfe and unto thouſands, would not thus reject me; I am toſſed night and day, and carry an hell in my ſoule continually; and if I were not as an enemie in his eye, if I were a child, his bowels would not hold, I ſhould ſurely be received: who can reckon the heavy concluſions which the heart will draw againſt it ſelfe? it is ſo diſpoſed to its owne hurt, that not onelyonly againſt faith, but againſt reaſon it will afflict it ſelfe; turning the Sun into darkneſſe and the Moone into blood, ſetching miſery out of mercy, and hell out of heaven. Or, if ſecondly, the goodneſſe of God be taken for his holineſſe, and perfection, then they reaſon thus, ſurely I am very evill whom goodneſſe rejects; if I had any ſparke of good in me, God would not caſt me off; but certainely he ſeeth my abundant naughtines, therfore he ſetteth himſelfe againſt me. Thus ſundry waies the goodneſſe of God makes the hiding of his face, and the manifeſtation of his diſpleaſure to be very grievous.
2. Greatneſſe: When a man apprehends the Majeſty of God, the feare of his disfavour, fals heavy upon him; Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy feare, ſo is thy wrath, Pſ. 99.11. The favour of a man of power, is of much worth, and there is power in his wrath; The wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lion, but his favour is as dew upon the graſſe, Prov. 19.12. The wrath of the God of power is terrible as thunderaFulmen eſt ubi cum potentia habitat iracundia. Sen.; and asbLeonis voci tontus naturaliter ineſt terror, ut multa animantium quae per celeritatem poſſent impetum ejus evadere, rugientis ej us ſonitu velut quadam vi attonita atqu…icta deficiant. Ambr. hexam. lib. 6. cap. 3. the beaſts fall downe aſtoniſhed at the roaring of a Lion; ſo the ſoule is overwhelmed, when ſo glorious Majeſtie is incenſed.
In God there is a twofold power.
A power, firſt of Authority, which is that power by which, 1. He deſpenſeth all things, as having all in his hand, as abſolute Lord and Soveraigne; And what a miſery is this, that he that hath eternall life and death, heaven and hell in his power, ſhould ſeeme to be againſt a man? this is the fulneſſe of all evill, when hee upon whoſe will all things depend, becomes ones enemie: the loſſe of a particular comfort and contentment is great, but how much worſe is the loſſe of all? 2. By which hee judgeth all; God being the Supreme Lord, holds this royalty, that all men and Angels are accountable to him in all things: now to apprehend that the Judge of all the world will not ſhew mercy, but will proceed in ſtrictneſſe of juſtice, eſpecially when a man knoweth that he is guilty many waies, and that God is privie to all his ſins, muſt needs bee a ſore ſhaking to the ſoule. Though all friends, and miniſters, yea though all Angels come in to comfort, yet it will not ſatisfie, becauſe they are but ſubjects; God is ſupreme, and his word ſhall ſtand; As if you tell a poore trembling priſoner going to the barre for his life, hee need not feare, he ſhall ſure eſcape, hee will bee apt to anſwer you; alas, except the Judge ſay ſo, all that you ſay, will not profit me; So will a poore afflicted ſoule thinke, when others come and tell him, ſurely your caſe is good, and doubtleſſe you will finde mercy, and heaven will bee your portion; Oh that God would ſay this to mee; except this bee my ſentence at his barre, your comforts are but as ſoūding braſs, or as a tinckling cymbal.
Secondly, there is a power of ability, by which God is able to worke what he wils, and to execute his owne purpoſes; if hee pronounce ſentence from the throne of Judgement, there is no way to ſhun it; if in the word of a King is power, Eccleſ. 8.4. how much more in the word of the Almighty? what makes any thing dreadfull but its power? and all that power in the creature, is but derived from him, and limited by him; but his power hath no bounds but his Will; therefore when the ſoule is not onelyonly in doubt of his good will, but in feare of his ill will, how can it have any reſt?
3. Eternity: God abides for ever:3. Eternity this makes his favour and diſpleaſure more conſiderable, the loſſe of a perpetuity wee reckon a great loſſe in our eſtates; but what is it to loſe God for ever? and not onelyonly to loſe him, but to beare his diſpleaſure who is eternall? eternity, oh eternity, how doth this ſwallow up the ſoule in a day of feares? this ſets on all other terrible things with a redoubled ſtrength, and cauſeth them to fall with weight more heavy than of mountaines upon the ſpirit: ſuch a thought as this, he that hath all power, and lives for ever, hath forſaken me, batters the ſoule, as a wall of paper before a Canon.
2. Conſider the relation in which God ſtands to a beleever;2. In reſpect of relation. he is to them in the neareſt and deareſt relation, a Friend, Father, Husband.
God is all theſe perfectly; the cloſeſt and moſt active friend, the kindeſt and moſt tender father, the ſweeteſt and moſt loving husband; the loſſe therefore of ſuch a one is grievous; yea the loſſe of any one is great; as if a childe loſe a tender hearted father, or a friend a free-hearted friend, or a wife a kinde-hearted husband; but if one loſe a Friend, a Father, an Huſband at once, this is very grievous; But when the ſoule is deſcrted, it apprehends it ſelfe to loſe all theſe, yea the beſt Friend, Father, and Husband, yea, her onelyonly friend, father, and huſband; no wonder if it take up Ieremiah his ſad complaint; When I would comfort my ſelfe againſt ſorrow, my heart is faint in me, Jer. 8.18. nothing can heale but that which did woundtƲnde datum eſt vulnus, contigit inde ſalus..
3 Conſider the operation of God: Gods operation.he hath not onelyonly put into the heart, which he reneweth, a longing and reſtleſſeuFeciſti nos ad te, & inquietum eſt cor noſtrum, don…c requieſcatin te. Aug. Conf l. 1. c. 1. deſire after him; but he quickens this deſire by ſenſe of miſery, and by manifeſtation of his greatneſſe and goodneſſe, that ſo the ſoule may be carryed with unceſſant reachings after him; he is then drawing the ſoule towards him, when he ſeemes to be departing; and how can that man reſt whom heaven draweth? Gods end in afflicting the ſoule is not its paine, that it may waſt it ſelfe in ſighs and groanes, but that it may with more eagerneſſe purſue him; ſo that he is ſecretly and ſtrongly working in the darkeſt night of ſpirituall ſadneſſe, to a more full and comfortable conjunction and communion with his people: therefore it is that they ſeeke, and run to and fro to finde him, becauſe God draweth them by his power; when David was in the deſart, he followed hard after God; but what ſet his ſoule in that conſtant motion? Thy right hand upholdeth me, Pſal. 63.8.
Let this ſuffice for the effects and conſequents of Gods hiding his face, and cutting off the comforts which the ſoule was wont to enjoy in him.