Comfort and Counsel for Dejected Souls, Section 2 · Chapter 2
CHAP. 2.
Satisfaction to dejected ſoules, labouring under the feare of the truth of grace.
BUt alas! ſay ſome, who are caſt downe, our doubts are not ſo much about a worke of grace; As about the truth of grace. I doubt (ſaith a ſoul) whether my grace be true;Caſe. ſome worke I have had, and ſomething is brought forth, but I queſtion whether it be not counterfeit.
Albeit this fear bee almoſt the ſame with the former,Satisfaction. yet becauſe I find ſome dejected ſoules making it a diſtinct doubt. I ſhal therefore ſpeak diſtinctly to it. And in order to the ſatisfaction of a ſoule caſt down, and diſcovering its ſelfe in this feare, I ſhall offer two things, viz.
Something
1 More generally,
2 More particularly.
Firſt, More generally, I deſire ſuch dejected ſoules, as are troubled about this fear, to conſider 3 things.
Firſt, Conſider, counterfeit grace doth not uſe to ſuſpect it ſelfe, neither is it willing to be tryed. He that doth evill commeth not to the light; nay, he hateth the light, as tis John 3.20. But he that doth truth, commeth to the light, &c. Surely it may ſecretly hint that thy grace is currant, ſith thou deſireſt its tryall: were thy grace counterfeit (as thou ſuſpecteſt) it would deſire concealement, at leſt, it would not put thee on to ſuſpect it.
Secondly, Conſider, its a mercy to have a ſuſpecting ſpirit. Many ſoules are deceived, and damned for want of this. Satan lyes ſecure under an imperfect, and pretended worke of grace. You read of a ſpirit of ſlumber in the Scripture. God hath given ſome up to the ſpirit of ſlumber, Rom. 11.8. There are fooliſh Virgins, who preſume, and ſleep, and ſleeping periſh. Chriſts ſpirit where it is, is a ſpirit of fire and burning: Now fire that tryes, Chriſts ſpirit is like a refiners fire: Its a mercy to have the ſpirit of refining, and trying; whereas its a judgement to be ſelfe-confident, not at all ſuſpicious, It argues the ſpirit of ſlumber. But▪
Thirdly, Conſider, tis poſſible for one truly gracious to conceit that his grace is but counterfeit. As children conceive braſſe is gold, ſo ſometimes they conceit gold to be braſſe, Its ſtrange to obſerve the ſtrength of conceit, eſpecially in depth of Melancholly. Peradventure oh ſoule thy fear is but conceit! Surely we ſee ſometimes Hypocrites, conceiting in their joyallity, that their counterfeit grace, is true. And why may wee not thinke? (nay, by experience we find) ſometimes, truely gracious hearts conceiting their grace is counterfeit. But theſe conſiderations are onelyonly general▪ Therefore,
More particularly, that I may ſatifie ſuch dejected fouls, as doubt the truth of their grace, I ſhall lay down theſe concluſions.
Firſt, Many ſouls doubt the truth of their grace becauſe of their wrong way of tryall. There are falſe Touch-ſtones, which may make pure gold ſuſpitious, as well as make braſſe appeare as gold. To inſtance, its a falſe and deceiving way of tryall, to try the truth of grace by conqueſt. My meaning is, to conclude that my grace is not true, becauſe I am ſometimes conquered by corruption; its a wrong way of concluſion, and a falſe touch-ſtone of tryall. Paul had truth of grace, and yet ſometimes he was conquered, and carryed captive, and ſold (ſlave-like) by ſinne, Rom: 7.14. So likewiſe a conſtant equall undauntedneſſe, in owning of Chriſt,foreign, and ver. 23. foreign. i. e. captivated or lead into captivity, as by a C…nquerour; and ſold in a market. and cleaving to truth, is a falſe touch-ſtone, or fallible way of tryall. Tis true the righteous is bold as a Lyon; but this is not at all times alike. Peter had truth of love to Chriſt; and yet he was not ſo undaunted alwayes: His deriall is knowne well enough. So that now (to apply this to our purpoſe) it may be (Oh dejected ſoule) thou tryeſt thy grace the wrong way. Thou ſayeſt thou art conquered oft; and led captive many times; Bee it ſo, thy grace may be ſound for all this. Thoſe that ſcome the Turkiſh power, may ſometimes bee (ſlave-like) in his Gallies: And a loyall ſubject of Jeſus Chriſt, may be ſometimes overtaken, and taken, and ſold Paul-like under ſin. But
2 In judging the truth of our grace, we ſhould rather eye its quality, then its quantity. As now faith, the truth of that is ſeen, rather in its quality, then in its quantity. There may be a faith big enough to remove mountaines, and yet FALSE (as is deducible from, 1 Gor. 13.2.) And there may be a faith no bigger then a graine of muſtard ſeed, and yet TRƲE. Little faith, and true faith, may go together. Peradventure O ſoule thou art grieved to ſee thy grace ſo little, and that makes thee feare tis falſe: but know this thy feare is fooliſh. The leaſt duſt of gold, is gold; and the leaſt grain of grace, is grace. In judging thy grace (O dejected ſoule) know thou ſhouldeſt eye its quality, not its quantity. And in order to this,
Thirdly, know, That grace is true which is diffuſive. I would aske thee O ſoule! (that doubteſt thy grace is counterfeit) whether it be diffuſive yea, or no: though it be little, doth it ſpread it ſelfe? Is thy little in head, and heart too? Hypocrites have much in the head, little in the heart. But ſee O ſoule, doth not thy little ſpread; Is it not leaven? doth it not leaven thee all over? Is it not in thy will? thou wouldeſt: and doth it not ſpread to thy deſire? thou deſireſt: And becauſe thou canſt not, doth it not leaven thy ſorrow? Is not that ſower (or rather ſweet) doſt not grieve becauſe thou carſt not doe, as thou wouldeſt and deſireſt? Do not O ſoule murder thy ſelfe: I meane kill thy comfort by not witneſſing to the truth. Cannot you ſee, and ſay, your little grace is diffuſive. Surely if it be, you need not doubt its truth, and you ſhould not ſay tis counterfeit.