The Case and Cure of a Deserted Soul, Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI. The falſe Rules of mens judging themſelves, cauſing miſtake in this caſe.
IUdging by falſe Rules, The firſt falſe rule, Leſſe vivacity.is a third cauſe of miſtakes, as for inſtance; 1. Men judge that they are deſerted, and feare they are in a ſtate of declenſion, becauſe they have leſſe quickneſſe, and vivacity as they conceive, then they have had. I confeſſe this is an ill ſigne,Here 4. conſiderations about vivacity of ſpirit. yet this may be where there is no juſt cauſe of ſuch ſad concluſions; and to ſatisfie ſuch, let me propound foure things.
1 Diſtinguiſh betwixt Gods working in gifts, and his working in graces; Diſtinguiſh betwixt Gods working in gifts & graces.God is ſometimes pleaſed to carry up the gifts of men very high, when their ſpirituall life hath not a proportionable elevation; we ſee he is much this way, ſometimes in men that are not good; gifts are given to the members for the body, and for others ſakes oftentimes he poureth out great meaſures, and beareth them on with a full gale of aſſiſtance, and when the work is done to which thoſe gifts ſerve, then God may withdraw; I doubt not but many ſaithfull preachers may finde a weakneſſe and dulneſſe in their gifts in Judgement, upon the people; for the deafneſſe of the hearers, he ſmites the meſſengers dumb, and ſo in ſundry caſes it may fall out; it is ſaid, Chriſt could doe there (in his owne countrey) no mighty worke, &c. Mark 6.5. his hands were as it were tyed and bound, his power was ſuſpended becauſe of their unbeliefe, and where God had ſome great work to doe, he opened the hearts of the Apoſtles, and much enlarged their ſpirits; wiſely therefore diſtinguiſh betwixt gifts and graces, though you be not able to doe as you have done, yet ſee into the frame and diſpoſition of your hearts towards God, for that may continue when the other fadeth; It may be you have not occaſion for the uſe of gifts, as heretofore, and except they be uſed, they grow dull inevitably; as the moſt expert Muſitian by diſuſe may loſe his ſkill. But note here, that where there is occaſion and uſe of gifts, and they are not ſtirred up, but ſuffered by idleneſſe and careleſneſſe to be quenched, this is a ſin againſt the Spirit, and breeds a damp not only upon gifts, but upon grace.
2 God may and doth give ſometimes more full aſſiſtance to the graces of his people then he will perpetually continue, God in ſome caſes gives more then hee will continue.and the abatement of this is no juſt cauſe of concluding that God hath forſaken them.
1 In times of ſeeking to him, In times of actuall converſe with him.and of mediate converſe in prayer and meditation and the like, there is a fuller taſte of him than at other times; a godly man enjoyeth God in all things, but eſpecially in duties of piety; there is an evident reaſon why a man hath more of God then, becauſe grace is now acting, and feeding upon God: duties are the meales of a Chriſtian, and other actions are his work; he comes in duties to receive ſtrength, in other things be uſeth it; as the body gets ſtrength and refreſhment by eating, and draweth it out in working, and then comes to repaire it againe by eating; times of immediate approach to God are meeting times; there is a mutuall viſit betwixt God and the ſoule, and this is the proper end of theſe things, that God and the ſoule may meet together; it were an happy thing if thoſe impreſsions which the foul receiveth at ſuch times were abiding: but ſuch is our condition here, that wee muſt hunger and eate, and when wee are filled we ſhall hunger again: Heaven is the place of conſtant life, there is a continuall feaſt, but here we cannot have it ſo; the minde is but finite, and being of neceſſity to converſe with other things beſides God, it cannot be expected that it ſhould be ſo conſtantly filled with him; ſo much a man enjoyeth him, as he ſeriouſly mindes him; therefore they that neglect duties, or ſlightly perform them, muſt needs loſe much of God; but it is not to be expected to carry ſuch a ſpirit in other employments, and in other actions, as in converſing with God, though the more a man hath in duties, the better he will be in all things, In times of great neceſſity.and the fitter to meete God in his ſeaſons.
2 In times of great neceſsity. God is wont to afford more of himſelfe then at other times, when tentations, afflictions and dangers are many and great: then, as a father when his childe comes to a ditch or deepe way which hee cannot paſſe, takes up the child into his armes, but when hee is got over ſetteth him down againe; ſo God in ſuch hard caſes miniſtreth more abundant ayde, which he doth not continue alwayes. Hence we ſee that even the weakeſt of the flock become Lions, and thoſe that ſeemed to be but little, prove like mighty Champions, victoriouſly conquering all difficulties, and treading under feete the glory and terror of the world, yea the feares of death it ſelfe. Theſe by the tranſcendent nobleneſſe and high courage of ſpirit (ſo far above their ordinary pitch) doe declare that there is another power with them than their owne, which makes them ſo gloriouſly to exceed not others only, but themſelves alſo. As the Spirit came upon Sampſon when the Philiſtins came upon him, ſo it is in this caſe; but God is not alwayes at ſo much coſt; when the neceſſities of his people are leſſe, then he gives them their accuſtomed penſion; when Iſrael was in the deſart, a place barren of comforts, but full of troubles and exigences, God by his mighty power did worke greater things for them then ever after, yet was hee ſtill their God. At the firſt comming of the Goſpel, the way being new, and ſo ſubject to cavils and perſecutions, which Chriſt knew the world would raiſe againſt it, he poured out more of his Spirit, and wrought with more glorious power then in ſucceeding ages, yet the promiſe of Chriſt ſtands firme, Loe I am with you qChriſtus nobiſcum. 1. Politice, ut Rex in regno; Dux inexercitu. 2. Oeconomice, ut Pater in domo. 3. Ethice, ut ratio in homine. 4. Phyſice, ut anima in corpore. Cornel. à lapide.to the end of the world.
3 At and about the time of converſion there may be more quickneſſe and vivacity of ſpirit then afterwards: At the firſt converſionand hence many conclude that they are ſinfully abated, and that they are fallen from their firſt love. But although I doubt not but that it is indeed a juſt complaint in many, yet I beleeve that ſome doe charge themſelves without cauſe. Note therefore that by two things there may bee a greater fluſh of affection, at that time then in after time.
1 The newneſſe of the condition, naturally new things affect much, the ſuddenneſſe of the change to be tranſlated from blackneſſe of darkneſſe into marvellous light doth greatly affect them: in this caſe diſtinguiſh betwixt ſolid affection, and fleeting paſsion; the ſoule of a new convert is put into a kinde of aſtoniſhment, to ſee ſo ſtrange and ſudden a metamorphoſis, as if he were become another man, and the whole world turned upſide downe, ſo that heaven ſtands where the earth did, and the earth in the heavens place, high things are made low, and low things are ſet on high; theſe things put the ſoule into a maze, but much of this will weare off; ſuppoſe a man going to execution, in great heavineſſe, and feares, and in the way, his pardon, with promiſe of the Princes favour is brought to him; me thinkes I ſee his heart leaping, his ſpirit dancing, and the man filled with abundant joy: But marke him, and in proceſſe of time you will ſee much of this vaniſhing, yet his life is ſtill as deare as ever: or ſuppoſe two perſons marryed, ſweeth conjoyned in deare affections, and after many dangers and difficulties happly enjoying each others deſired company, what a fluſh of joy, what a violence … affection is mutually expreſſed? but … time much of this ceaſeth, but true lo…e ſtill remaineth. Count not all that gr… which is working at the time of the … conjunction of Chriſt and the ſoule… there is much paſsion in it, yet ſuch at is holy and good; but as it was ſtirred upon a ſpeciall occaſion, ſo the occaſion ceaſing, it may ceaſe, and yet the ca… may be good; the Iews were as the… that dreamed when they were firſt delivered, but that dreame did not alwayes laſt; the lame man when he was fir… healed, was ſeen walking and leaping, and praiſing God. Acts 3.8. but though… he was alwayes glad of his recovery, yet he did not ever leap and dance.
2 God doth more at the firſt converſion for his people.
1 He gives more aſsiſtance; for now … man is entring upon a new way, a way of difficulties, and all the power of hell comes out as Pharaoh to reduce their eſcaped captives, therefore God covers them with his hand, and fils them with ſtrength to grapple with this legion, and …o break through theſe difficulties.
2 God often poures in much comfort it that time. When the Prodigall was returned, his Father made him very welcome, and calleth to his ſervant, Bring forth the beſt robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and ſhooes on his feete, and bring hither the fatted calfe, and kill it, and let us eate and be merry, for this my Son was dead, and is alive, he was loſt and is found. Luke 15.22, 23, 24. Here was more then of neceſsity, not only ſhooes, but a ring; not onelyonly clothes, but the beſt robes; here is feaſting, and joy, and cheare: This Son was as welcome afterwards, yet had not this entertainment every day; it may bee ſome of that comfortable preſence of God which hee then affords, ſome of that abundant joy may ceaſe; becauſe it was given upon a ſpeciall occaſion, an… yet no juſt cauſe given to raiſe ſuch ſa… thoughts, that God hath for ſaken you.
4 There may be leſſe activity; Activity of ſpirit varieth much, as the body changeth.no from change of the ſpirit, but of nature; the body may be more feeble, ſickneſſe or age may clip the wings of activity, & take off much of a mans former vigor; the body is the inſtrument of the ſoult, and as he that rides upon a weak and tyred horſe, cannot ride poſt, ſo when the oyle of naturall life and vigour begins t… wafte, it cannot burn ſo cleare as it was wont; wee ſee in ſickneſſe, when the naturall ſtrength is decayed, how the loſſe of ſpirits degrades them from that high luſtre wherein they were admired in the time of health; by the way it may be a Caveat and warning to careleſſe and dilatory ſpirits to be better husbands in opportunity, and while their blood is full in their veines, and their arteries are rich in ſpirits to take hold of time by this golden forelock, and to make their voyage while they have full tyde and winde, leſt when death creeps on, and by diſeaſes hath diſmounted them from their vigour, they finde darkneſſe and ſleepineſſe to binde them in chaines; But for thoſe whoſe feete did run in the wayes of God, and who were as the winged bird, when youthfulneſſe and vigour was in them, and their breaſts did flow with milke, and their bones were full of marrow, though now nature being decayed they ſeem leſſe, yet their caſe is ſafe, and good; Alas, when the keepers of the houſe tremble, and the ſtrong men bow themſelves, and thoſe that looke out of the windowes are darkened, and when the Almond tree ſhall flouriſh, and the graſhopper is a burthen, and deſire falleth, when the ſilver cord is looſing, and the golden how breaking, when nature is brought to this low ſtate, how can it be that there ſhould bee that livelineſſe of ſoule which was before. Second falſe Rule: they think they are deſerted, becauſe they doe leſſe. It is dangerous to abate in doing.Eccleſ. 12.3, 4, 5, 6.
Second falſe rule; Men think they are in this ſad condition, becauſe they doe leſſe then they have done; And I ſay, that this is an ill ſigne ſimply conſidered, becauſe all things worke as they are, and I deſire not to be miſtaken here, for I would not be ſo injurious to God, or cruell to men, as to nouriſh a ſlothfull and backſliding perſon in his Apoſtacy and careleſneſſe, but I ſay this, that it is poſſible leſſe may be done, then hath been, yet without all loſſe of life; for beſides that which hath been ſaid before,But not alwayes a ſigne of a declined heart. For 1. it may be more was done then ſhould. I adde in way of ſatisfaction theſe conſiderations.
1 It may be that which was done before was more then ſhould have beene; another men are apt to fall ſhort, ſo a godly man is apt to exceed, eſpecially when his neceſſities pinch him, and when the feares of God lye heavy upon his ſoule, then he neither mindeth buſineſſe, nor friends, nor himſelfe, but is ſo intent upon this one thing, as if it were the only thing which he had to minde; I have ſpoken largely before, how a man may know when he doth ſo much, as that he may with comfort walk in his way.
2 The abundance of doing, Meaſure of doing varieth with occaſions.is to riſe and fall according to occaſions; when a man is in ſtraits, hee may and muſt doe much, yea more then is required at other times.
3 God may give leſſe opportunity for the ſame abundance of holy duties at all times, God may give leſſe opportunity.hee may put them upon ſuch conditions and employments as may take them up more, as a woman when ſhe is marryed, by the variety of occaſions that attend that ſtate, may bee deprived of ſome opportunities which ſhee had when ſhe was free. There is difference betweene a wife and a virgin, ſhee that is unmaried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how ſhe may pleaſe the Lord: but ſhee that is married careth for the things of the world, how ſhe may pleaſe her husband. 1 Cor. 7.14. The Apoſtle meaneth not, that the married care not for the things of God, but that that condition will bring diſtractions, yea, and by Gods appointment doth put them upon ſuch things, that they cannot have that fulneſſe of time, for exerciſes of godlineſſe, which they had in a ſingle ſtate: in all abatements of ſpirituall action, a ſpeciall eye muſt bee had to the cauſe; for if either we thruſt our ſelves into a thicket of buſineſſes unneceſſarily, or have loſt that edge of holy deſires and diſpoſitions which wee had, wee have here cauſe to lament our elongation from God.