Comfort and Counsel for Dejected Souls, Section 2 · Chapter 11
CHAP. 11.
Satisfaction to the ſoule caſt downe, and troubled with feare about the Promiſes.
THe Promiſes are appointed (and indeed were intended) for our comfort, but many ſouls who are dejected, are ſo far from being comforted by them, that they are troubled about them.
O ſay they, had we aſſurance that we were intereſted in the Promiſes, we could rejoyce, Caſe.but we queſtion our right to them, and we feare wee have no part or lot in them, &c.
Now to raiſe up the ſoule caſt down, and labouring under this fear, I ſhall preſent theſe particulars, to be ſeriouſly conſidered.
Firſt, You have no juſt ground to ſay, you have no right to the Promiſes. God doth no where ſay, that thou ſhalt have nothing to do with his Promiſes. Sith God doth not exclude thee, why ſhouldeſt thou exclude thy ſelfe? Its not enough to ſay thou art a ſinner, for the Promiſes are tendred unto ſinners. Its obſervable, there is one Promiſe or other made and tendred unto all ſorts of ſinners. But.
Secondly, Its your duty to beleeve the Promiſes are yours, and this is the way to come to know it. Its a ſtrange, and ungoſpell-like expreſſion to ſay, I would beleeve the Promiſes did belong to me, if I knew it. Why, if you knew it, what roome were there for faith? You muſt beleeve ſo ſhall you know…. Suppoſe a pardon (thrown to a company of condemned ones in a priſon) ſhould any ſay, is my name in particular there? when it ſhould be ſaid, there is a pardon for any that will take it. Oh how would all catch, and ſnatch at it. Certainly, (O ſoule) you ſhould beleeve the Promiſes to be yours, and not ſtand queſtioning whether they are or no? After you beleeved (not before, pray mark it) you were ſeded with the ſpirit of promiſe, Epheſ. 1.13.
Thirdly, It may be the Promiſe is yours, and your ſoule hath cloſed with it, although at preſent you doubt. The Promiſes comming to us, art as ſealed letters: and we many times have them in our hand, and read them not. No wonder therefore, you ſay you find not the comfort of them. Many ſoules have the Promiſes, as children have the nipple of the breaſt, in their mouthes, but doe not ſuck: and no wonder if they cry out, they taſte not the ſweetneſſe of them.
Object. Nay, but I fear, and tremble; I am full of doubts, and vexation: And had I cloſed with the promiſe this would not be.
Anſw. Say not ſo (O ſoule) the wom… that came behind Chriſt touched him, though ſhe trembled. Its poſſible for a ſoule to touch a Promiſe, even ſo far as to draw vertue out of it (a… it were indirectly) and by the hinder parts when happily it durſt not (as the woman in th… caſe) come before the Promiſe, and cloſe directly with it in the face thereof. But
Fourthly, thou muſt know (O ſoule) that ſome promiſes have their times of fulfilling, and peradventure the time is not yet come; the promiſe of hidden manna is to a time of conqueſt, Apoc. 2.17. It may be thy combate is not yet over; why then doſt thou expect the Manna? ſome promiſes are ſealed up (as Commiſſions, not to be opened, till the Commander come to ſuch a place) ſure I am, God keeps ſome promiſes till the life to come; and we doe but in vaine trouble our ſelves to looke for the fulfilling of them here.
Laſtly, Suppoſe as yet thou haſt never (as thou ſayeſt) cloſed with any promiſe, what hinders O ſoule but that thou doe it now? The promiſes of God lye open before you, why doe you not come and take? Surely you ſhould not caſt downe your ſoules, with feare that you have not cloſed with them yet, but you ſhould thus ariſe, and lay hold of them now.
Obj. So I would, if I were but thus, or had but this; I want the condition of the promiſe, and till I have that, I dare not meddle with it.
Anſw. Beware of this rock (O ſoule!) it hath ſplit many, let it not ſplit thee. To this end you are to know (and pray minde it.)
Firſt, You are to fetch all from the Promiſes, not to bring any thing to the Promiſes. The Promiſes are not as Pumps, that will give no water, except ſome be poured in: But they are as Wells: and there is nothing for us to doe but to come and draw. Such as ſtand off from acting faith upon the Promiſes nakedly, becauſe they ſee not this, or that in themſelves: Are guilty of making their own qualifications, their faiths bottome.
Secondly, The greateſt promiſes, as of pardon of ſins, &c. are FREE: Its ſaid come and take freely, Iſa. 43. ult.buy wine, and milke without money, or monyes worth: God blots out ſins for his names ſake, its only for us to declare it, and put him in remembrance, that we may bee juſtified, And
Thirdly, The Promiſes are to give the condition. Its conſiderable that whatever condition may be urged as pre-requiſite to any one promiſe: is freely promiſed in another. A new heart: a new and right ſpirit: repentance of ſin, victory over corruptions, &c. Theſe things are called out for as conditions: and theſe things are held forth as promiſed. See to this purpoſe, theſe places, Jer. 25.7. Eze. 36.25. Act. 5.31. Ro. 7. ult. &c. Wherefore then (O dejected ſoul) art thou caſt down? as if the Promiſes were not thine, or did not belong to thee. Surely, thou haſt no ground juſtly ſo to ſay. Remember nothing is freer then the grace of Chriſt, and that is held forth to thee: And in him all the Promiſes ſhall be yea, and amen: Ariſe (O ſoul) and lay hold on him, and all the Promiſes in him. So ſhalt thou be able to ſay, of a truth, now I ſee God is no reſpecter of perſons, in the tender of his promiſes.