Comfort and Counsel for Dejected Souls, Section 2 · Chapter 15
CHAP. 15.
Cure for Soules cast downe by remainder of corruption.
HAving paſt through the particular caſes of dejected ſoules, I thought it not amiſſe to adde by way of ſupplement unto them ſome other; I remember I touched upon eight grounds of Spirituall dejection, and leaſt upon the mention of them any ſoule ſhould be troubled, I ſhall offer ſomethings to ſatisfie ſuch who is, or may be caſt downe about them; ſo that as in the former Section I indeavoured to ſatisfie the particular feares of dejected ſoules; I ſhall in this, endeavour to cure the generall cauſes of all dejection.
Divines know there is a difference between a Cauſe, and a Caſe, the one is the bitter ſeed, the other the ſower fruit of dejection: Now as I have ſaid ſomething to the one, ſo ſhall I likewiſe ſpeake a little to the other.
To begin then in that order in which I prepared them.
The firſt cauſe of Spirituall dejection was the remainders of corruption, Cauſe.this indeed is the root, and ground of all dejections. And in order to the Cure of a ſoule caſt downe, in the ſight and ſence of remaining corruption, I ſhall lay downe theſe conſiderations.
Firſt,Cure. Conſider that the worke of Chriſt upon the ſoule doth not in this Life altogether deſtroy Place theſe 2 Sheets [k] [l] next after Fol. 132.ſinne; As long as the ſoule is in the body, there will be ſinne in the ſoule; even Paul had a body of ſinne and death in him, and till death deſtroy the body, thou muſt not looke to have ſinne altogether dead in thee. This is granted by all, and why ſhould it be queſtioned by thee, O dejected ſoule!
Secondly, Conſider remaining corruption will worke one time or other; A Dogge though in a chaine will barke, and ſometimes bite too; a man cannot carry fire in his boſome, but ſometime or other it wil heat him, if it doe not burne him. Thou cryeſt out (O dejected ſoul) that they remaining corruption doth oft diſturbe thee; but why ſhouldeſt, or how canſt thou expect the contrary? While thou dwelleſt in this houſe of Clay, that Dunghill wil annoy thee. But,
Thirdly, Remember corruptions groaned under as a burden, are rather a ground of rejoycing then of dejection; for, Firſt, it argues a life of bolineſſe, to feele a weight in ſinne; Dead men feele no weight be it never ſo heavie: and, Secondly, it argues an activity of life to groane; Many ſoules rather glory in, then groane under a weight of ſinne, but it is a ſpeciall mercy thou art not as they are.
Fourthly, Beleeve it (O ſoule) Jeſus Christ doth ſimpathize with thee under this thy burthen: While thou groaneſt under, and art caſt down at the ſight of remaining corruption, thou art the object of Chriſts compaſſion. It is a good plaiſter for any ſore, to conſider the pitty of our Saviour: Chriſt pitties thee (O poore dejected ſoule) to ſee thee labouring, and groaning under the remainder of ſinne, Heb. 4.2.
Fifthly, Conſider remaining corruption ſhall never ruine thee: As the remaining Canaanites did not, could not ruine Iſrael in the promiſed Land; ſo neither ſhall remaining corruption ever ruine thy ſoule. Could corruption ruine thy holineſſe, joy, ſalvation glory &c. thou mighteſt be much dejected indeed; but that it cannot, ſhall not doe. Thy holineſſe, thy joy, thy ſalvation, thy glory, &c. are all ſafe in the impregnable bulwark Chriſts hand, (which is the infinite power of God) and though corruption remaine in thee, it ſhall never ruine theſe.
Sixthly, Conſider Jeſus Chriſt dyed to redeeme thee from the remainders of corruption: And doe thou act thy faith on thy Saviours death, for thy ſinnes death; the vertue of his death remaines, to keep under corruption from having dominion. It is thy duty, and let it be thy care and endeavour, to goe to Jeſus Chriſt for ſtrength againſt, and victory over thy remaining corruption; therefore up and be doing, that is, beleeving. Doe not ſit ſolitary (as one caſt downe) to ſee ſome remainders of ſin. Suppoſe (O ſoule) you had ſeene ſome gallant Captaine reſcuing a perſon, or place from the power of ſome potent enemy, by breaking the ſtrength and power of the Enemy, and by taking up his abode in ſome Caſtle neare the place. Suppoſe after this, there ſhould appeare ſome ſcattered Parties, ſhould the perſon or place be dejected at the remainder of a routed adverſary, ſhould not they rather goe to their Conquerour and Captaine, and intreat him to ſuppreſſe thoſe remaining forces? Beare up (O caſt-downe ſoule) the caſe is thine, Chriſt the Captaine of thy ſalvation hath routed the maine body of ſinne upon his croſſe, and ſpoiled corruption of his chiefeſt ſtrength; he hath ſet up a garriſon in thy ſoule, and put in a party ſtrong enough to repell, and keep under the remaining forces; O goe to him, ſtirre up his Spirit to come forth, and to bring thy Conquerours ſword to check and ſuppreſſe thy tumultuous enemies; I meane, to lift up thy Saviours croſſe againſt thy corruptions. And beleeve it (ſoule) there is a vertue ſtill in that Croſſe, to keep the remainders of corruption under. Be not therefore caſt downe, but beleeve; and if thou by the Spirit (whom Chriſt hath put into the garriſon of thy ſoule) doe goe forth, and mortifie ſinne, thou ſhalt live, and it ſhall dye at laſt.