A Sovereign Salve, Section 4 – Example 8
SECT. IV.
The place of Scripture.
1 JOH. 3. 20. If our heart condemne …redge… God is greater then our heart, and kn…redge… eth all things.
The Concluſion which tender Conſciences draw from this place of Scripture againſt themſelves, is this:
THat ſeeing their owne Conſciences doe (as they finde) condemne them; therefore they can be no other, then damned Wretches, in the ſight of God; for he is greater then their conſciences, and knoweth much more of them, then they know of themſelves, and accordingly will one day judge them.
The place of Scripture vindicated and cleared.
FOr the better underſtanding of this place of Scripture, we muſt know, that …ledge…here is a two-fold judgement, which the …ledge…eart and conſcience of a man paſſeth upon …ledge…im in this life. The one is of his eſtate and …ledge…erſon, as whether he be in the eſtate of …ledge…race, or no: The other is of his particular …ledge…tions, whether they be good, or no.
This place of Saint John cannot be un…ledge…erſtood of judging, or condemning the …ledge…ſon; for God in his finall judgement, …ledge…oth not judge according to what a mans …ledge…eake and erroneous Conſcience judgeth of him here: For many a man, in his preſumption and ſelfe-confidence, may juſtifie himſelfe here, whom God may condemne hereafter: And many a poore diſtreſſed Soule may, with the Prodigall, and humble Publican, condemne himſelfe here, whom yet God will abſolve hereafter.
But this place is rather to be underſtood of judging of particular actions; namely, whether a man love his Brother, not in word and tongue onelyonly, but in deed, and in truth, according to the Apoſtles exhortation, v. 18. which if his conſcience could teſtifie for him, then it might aſſure his heart before God, and give it boldneſſe to pray unto him, in confidence to receive whatſoever he did aske, according to his will: But if his owne Conſcience did, or could condemne…redge… him of not loving his Brother in deed, and i…redge… truth, then God (who is greater then h…redge… heart, viz. in knowing the truth of his love) knowing all things, muſt needs condemn…redge… him therein much more. And this I take to be the †See BB. Lakes Sermon in loc. Lactant. de vero cultu, l. 6. c. 24.full ſcope, and meaning of th…redge… place.
The Concluſion drawne from this fore-alleaged place, confuted.
LEt no diſtreſſed Soule then thinke, and conclude from hence, that becauſe his owne conſcience judgeth and condemneth him for a Reprobate, for a Caſt-away, and one that is not in the eſtate of grace, therefore he muſt needs be ſo in the judgement and condemnation alſo of the Lord. For firſt, you ſee this place proveth it not. Next, we know, and by experience do often find, that even Gods owne children, in the time of their ſpirituall diſtreſſe, are moſt unfit to judge of their preſent gracious eſtate here, or of their finall eſtate hereafter: Witneſſe, David, Job, Jonah, and other of Gods children. Yea, they that have thus judged of themſelves, have in concluſion found, that they have (by ſo doing) both miſjudged God, and themſelves, for which they have asked Gods pardon, and upon their true repentance have found it.
THE END.
THE SICK SOVLES PRESIDENTS.
OR, Comfortable Examples of Diſtreſſed Conſciences, which after long and deepe Diſtreſſes, have found eaſe and comfort, through Gods great mercy towards them.
ECCLES. 2. 11.
Looke to the Generations of old, and ſee: Did ever any truſt in the Lord, and was confounded? Or did any abide in his fear, and was forſaken? Or whom did he ever deſpiſe, that called upon him?
LONDON, Printed for RICHARD ROYSTON.
M. DC. L.
An Advertiſement to the READER.
AS there is no one thing that doth more diſhearten Diſtreſſed Conſciences, then to thinke that their caſe is ſingular, and that never any in their caſe were ever reſtored to comfort: So no one thing doth more comfort them, then to heare, that others have beene in as bad, or worſe a caſe, then they, and yet have found comfort in the end.
And therefore for the better furthering of their aſſurance of the one, and confirmation of the other, I have hereafter ſet downe theſe few examples, which I have met with in both kindes; wiſhing the Sick Soule to peruſe them, and if he finde comfort by any of them, to give God the praiſe, who is the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, and conſolation: And if not, yet to reſolve with Job, That though the Lord ſhould kill Job 13. 15.him, yet he will put his truſt in him.
PSAL. 22. 4, 5.
Our Fathers truſted in thee, they truſted in thee, and thou didſt deliver them.
They called upon thee, and were delivered; they truſted in thee, and were not confounded.
HEB. 13. 8. Jeſus Chriſt, yeſterday, and to day, and the ſame for ever.
THE Sick Soules Preſidents.
OR, Comfortable Examples of Diſtreſſed Conſciences, which after long, and deepe Diſtreſſes, have found eaſe and comfort, through Gods great mercy towards them.
A moſt comfortable Example of one Mr. Robert Glover, Martyr; which ſheweth, that one may be for a time without any ſenſe, or feeling of Comfort from God, and yet finde it in the end. Taken out of the Booke of Martyrs, Edit. Anno 1597. pag. 1555. col. 2. lin. 60.
AFter Mr. Robert Glover was condemned by the Biſhop, and was now at the point to be delivered out of this world; it ſo happened, that two or three daies before, his heart being lumpiſh, and deſolate of all ſpirituall conſolation, he felt in himſelfe no aptneſſe, or willingneſſe, but rather an heavyneſſe and dulneſſe of ſpirit, full of much diſ-comfort, to beare the bitter croſſe of Martyrdome, ready now to be laid upon him.
Whereupon he fearing in himſelfe leſt the Lord had utterly withdrawne his wonted favour from him, made his moane to one Auſten his Friend; ſignifying unto him, how earneſtly he had prayed day and night unto the Lord, and yet could receive no motion or ſenſe of any comfort from him. Unto whom the ſaid Auſten anſwering againe, willed and deſired him patiently to waite the Lords pleaſure: And however his preſent feeling was, yet ſeeing his cauſe was juſt, and true, he exhorted him conſtantly to ſticke to the ſame, and to play the man; nothing at all miſ-doubting, but the Lord in his good time, would viſit him, and ſatisfie his deſire with plenty of conſolation, whereof (he ſaid) he was right certaine and ſure; and therefore deſired him, whenſoever any ſuch feeling of Gods heavenly mercies ſhould begin to touch his heart, that then he would ſhew ſome ſignification thereof, whereby he might witneſſe with him the ſame, and ſo departed from him.
The next day, when the time came of his Martyrdome, as he was going to the place, and was now come to the ſight of the Stake; although all the night before, praying for ſtrength and courage, he could feele none; ſuddenly he was ſo mightily repleniſhed with Gods holy comfort, and heavenly joies, that he cried out, clapping his hands to Auſten, and ſaying in theſe words, Auſten, he is come, he is come, &c. and that with ſuch joy and alacrity, as one ſeeming to be riſen rather from ſome deadly danger, to libertie of life, then as one paſſing out of the world by any paines of death. Such was the change of the marvailous working of the Lords hand upon that good man.
Another moſt comfortable Example of one Mr. John Glover, who for a long time could not be perſwaded, but that he had committed the ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt; who yet afterwards lived and died in a comfortable eſtate. Taken out of the Booke of Martyrs alſo: pag. 1551. lin. 80. col. 2.
THis Gentleman, Mr. John Glover, being called by the light of the Holy Spirit, to the knowledge of the Goſpell; and having received a wondrous ſweet feeling of Chriſts heavenly Kingdome; his minde after that, falling to ſome cogitations of his former affaires, belonging to his vocation, began by and by to miſ doubt himſelfe upon occaſion of thoſe words, Heb. 6. 4. For it is impoſſible, &c.
Upon conſideration of which words, he was ſo farre deſerted, as to be perſwaded, that he had ſinned againſt the Holy Ghoſt, even ſo much, that if he had beene in the deepeſt pit of Hell, he could almoſt have deſpaired no more of his ſalvation.
Being young (ſaith Mr. Fox) I remember I was once or twice with him, whom partly by his talke I perceived, and partly by mine owne eies, ſaw to be ſo worne and conſumed by the ſpace of five yeares, that neither almoſt any brooking of meate, quietneſſe of ſleepe, pleaſure of life; yea, and almoſt no kind of ſenſes was left in him.
Who in ſuch intolerable griefes of mind, although he neither had, nor could have any joy of his meate, yet was he compelled to eate againſt his appetite, to the end to deferre the time of his damnation, ſo long as he might: thinking with himſelfe no leſſe, but that he muſt needs be throwne into Hell, the breath being once out of the body: Albeit Chriſt (he thought) did pity his caſe, and was ſorry for him; yet he could not (as he imagined) helpe, becauſe of the verity of the Word, which ſaid, It is impoſſible that they which were once inlightened, &c.
But what was the happy iſſue, and effect of theſe extraordinary ſpirituall terrours, and terrible deſertion? The ſame Mr. Fox, who writes the Story, and was himſelfe with the Party, tels, That albeit he ſuffered many yeares ſo ſharpe temptations, and ſtrong buffetings of Satan; yet the Lord, who graciouſly preſerved him all the while, not onelyonly at laſt did rid him out of all diſcomfort, but alſo framed him thereby to ſuch mortification of life, as there likely hath not beene ſeene, in ſuch ſort as he, being like one placed in Heaven already, and dead in this world, both in word, and meditation, led a life altogether celeſtiall, abhorring in his minde all prophane doings.
Another moſt comfortable Example, of one, who had given himſelfe, body and ſoule, to the Devill, and ſealed him a Bond with his owne bloud, for the performance of it; and yet by prayer was freed. Mr. Fox, ibid. pag. 78. col. 1. lin. 82, &c.
AS touching the marvailous workes of the Lord, wrought here by men; if it be true which is credibly reported by the learned: What Miracle can be more miraculous, then that which is declared of a young man about Wittenberge, who being kept bare and needy by his Father, was tempted, by way of Sorcery, to bargaine with the Devill, or a Familiar (as they call him) to yeild himſelfe, body and ſoule, into the Devils power, upon condition, to have his wiſh ſatisfied with money: So that upon the ſame, an Obligation was made by the young man, written with his owne bloud, and given to the Devill.
This caſe you ſee how horrible it was, and how damnable. Now heare what followed. Upon the ſudden wealth and alteration of this young man, the matter firſt being noted, began afterwards more and more to be ſuſpected, and at length, after long and great admiration, was brought to Martin Luther to be examined.
The young man, whether for ſhame, or feare, long denied to confeſſe, and would be knowne of nothing: yet God ſo wrought, being ſtronger then the Devill, that he uttered unto Luther the whole ſubſtance of the caſe, as well touching the money, as the Obligation. Luther underſtanding the matter, and pitying the lamentable eſtate of the man, willed the whole Congregation to pray, and he himſelfe ceaſed not with his prayers to labour: So that the Devill was compelled at the laſt to throw in his †Quidam negavit Chriſtum per Chyrographum, poſt reſtitutus. See Mr. Burtons Melan. cholly, p. 544.Obligation at the Window, and bad him take it againe unto him. Which Narration, if it be ſo true, as certainly it is of him reported, I ſee not the contrary, but that this may well ſeeme comparable with the greateſt miracle in Chriſts Church, that was ſince the Apoſtles time.
Another moſt comfortable Example of one Mr. Peacock, who felt a dreadfull deſertion upon his death-bed, and yet was refreſht and raviſht with the light of Gods countenance before his death.
THis Mr. Peacock in that his dreadfull viſitation, and deſertion, recounting ſome ſmaller ſinnes, burſt out into theſe words:
And for theſe (ſaith he) I feele now an Hell in my Conſcience. And upon other occaſions he cryed, groaning moſt pitifully, Oh me Wretch! Oh mine heart is miſerable! Oh, Oh, miſerable and woefull! The burthen of my ſinne lyeth ſo heavy upon me, I doubt it will breake my heart: Oh how woefull and miſerable is my eſtate, that thus muſt converſe with Hell-hounds!
And when the by-ſtanders asked, If he would pray? he anſwered, I cannot. Suffer us then (ſaid they) to pray for you. Take not (replyed he) the name of God in vaine, by praying for a Reprobate.
And yet he lived to ſee this ſtorme overblowne, and then thus he ſpake, Truly my heart and ſoule have beene farre led into, and deeply troubled with temptations, and stings of Conſcience; but, I thanke God, they are eaſed in good meaſure: Wherefore I deſire, that I be not branded with the note of a Reprobate, and Caſt-away. Such queſtions, oppoſitions, and all tending thereto, I renounce: And concerning my inconſiderate ſpeeches in my temptation, I humbly and heartily aske mercy of God for them all.
Afterwards, more light, by little and little, did ariſe in his heart, and he brake out into ſuch ſpeeches as theſe:
I doe (God be praiſed) feele ſuch comfort from that (what ſhall I call it?) Agony, (ſaid one that ſtood by, that is too little) that had I five hundred worlds, I could not make ſatiſfaction for ſuch an iſſue. Oh the Sea is not more full of water, nor the Sunne of light, then the Lord of mercy! Yea, his mercies are ten thouſand times more. What great cauſe have I to magnifie the great goodneſſe of God, that hath humbled, nay rather exalted ſuch a Miſcreant, and of ſo baſe condition, to an eſtate ſo glorious, and ſtately? The Lord hath honoured me with his goodneſſe, I am ſure he hath provided a glorious Kingdome for me: The joy that I feele in my heart is incredible, &c. See more in the Narration of Mr. Peacocks deſertion upon his bed of death.
Another moſt comfortable Example of a Woman, that through deſpaire of Gods mercy, attempted the deſtruction of her ſelfe; which yet (through the great mercy of God towards her) was preſerved; and after had the joy of her ſalvation reſtored unto her.
THere was, beyond the Seas, a Chriſtian Matron, of excellent parts and piety, who languiſhing long under the horrible preſſure of moſt furious and fiery temptations, woefully at length yeilded to deſpaire, and attempted the deſtruction of her ſelfe: And after often and curious ſeeking of occaſion for that bloudy fact, at laſt (having firſt put off her Apparell) threw her ſelfe headlong from an high Promontory into the Sea; but having received no hurt by her fall, ſhe was there by a miracle, and extraordinary mercy, ſtrangely preſerved for the ſpace of two houres at leaſt, though all that while ſhe laboured induſtriouſly to deſtroy her ſelfe: Afterwards, drawne out with much adoe, and recovered, ſhe yet ſtill did conflict with that extreameſt deſperate horrour almoſt a whole yeare. But by Gods good providence, which ſwectly and wiſely ordereth all things, liſtning on a time, though very unwillingly at the firſt, to her Husband, reading, amongſt other places, that in Eſay 57. 15. Thus ſaith the High and Holy One, that inhabiteth Eternity, whoſe name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place; with him alſo that is of a contrite, and humble ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite one: For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be alwaies wroth; for the ſpirit ſhould faile before me, and the ſoules which I have made.
I ſay, liſtning to theſe words, the Holy Ghoſt inclining her heart, ſhe began to reaſon thus with her ſelfe; God doth here promiſe to revive and comfort the heart of the contrite, and ſpirit of the humble; and that he will not contend for ever, neither be alwaies wroth: But I have a very contrite heart, and a ſpirit humbled even to the duſt, out of the acknowledgement and ſenſe of my ſinnes, and divine vengeance againſt them: Therefore peradventure God will vouchſafe to revive, and comfort my heart, and ſpirit, and not contend with me for ever, nor be wroth againſt me ſtill.
Hereupon by little and little, there flowed by Gods bleſſing into her darke, and heavy heart, aboundance of life, lightſomeneſſe, ſpirituall ſtrength, and aſſurance; in which ſhe continued with conſtancy, and comfort, many a yeare after; crowned thoſe happy daies, and a bleſſed old age, with a glorious & a triumphant death. Vide Alexipharm. adverſus deſperationem, Authore Mro. Nicholao Laurentio, pag. 63. & ſeq.
Another comfortable Example of one that was growne extreamly melancholly, and by meanes of that, deſperate; which yet by bodily phyſick alone, was through Gods bleſſing thereon, cured and recovered of both, by Petrus Foreſtus, as he himſelfe relates it: Obſervat. lib. 10. cap. 12. De morbis cerebri.
THere was (ſaith he) a certaine Miniſter, which through preciſe faſting in Lent, became extreamly melancholly, and in the end deſperate: He thought he ſaw Devils in his Chamber, and that he could not be ſaved; He ſmelled nothing (as he ſaid) but Fire and Brimſtone, and that he was already in Hell; and would aske them ſtill that were about him, if they did not ſmell as much? I told him (ſaith he) that he was melancholly; but he laughed me to ſcorne, and replyed, that he ſaw Devils, talked with them in good earneſt; and would now, and then, ſpit in my face, and aske me, if I did not ſmell Brimſtone? And yet through Gods bleſſing on the meanes uſed, I in the end cured him *Felix Plater hath ſtore of ſuch like inſtances, lib. 1. Obſervat. de mentis alienat..
Remember and make uſe of this, all you that are in this diſtreſſed eſtate, and yet cannot endure; or be perſwaded to make uſe of the advice and helpe of the learned Phyſician for the rectifying of your bodily diſtempers, which moſt times increaſe, if not cauſe your ſoules diſtreſſes.
Another comfortable Example of one Mris. Katharine Brettergh; Taken out of the Diſcourſe of her holy life, and Chriſtian death.
THis good Woman upon her deathbed was horribly hemmed in with the ſorrowes of death, and the very griefe of Hell laid hold on her ſoule; inſomuch that ſhe ſaid, That her ſinnes had made her a prey to Satan; and wiſhed that ſhe had never beene borne, or that ſhe had beene made any other Creature rather then a Woman: Yea, ſhe cryed out often, Woe, woe, woe, &c. a weake, a woefull, a wretched, a forſaken Woman, with teares continually trickling from her eies. And yet at laſt was that Helliſh storme ſo overblowne, by the returne of the glorious beames of the Sunne of righteouſneſſe into her ſoule, that before her death ſhe turned her tune, and brake forth into theſe triumphant ſongs, and raviſhments of ſpirit.
O Lord Jeſu, doeſt thou pray for me? O bleſſed, and ſweet Saviour: How wonderfull! How wonderfull! How wonderfull are thy mercies! Oh thy love is unſpeakable, that haſt dealt ſo graciouſly with me! O my Lord! O my God! Bleſſed be thy name for evermore, which haſt ſhewed me the path of life. Thou didſt, O Lord, hide thy face from me for a little ſeaſon, but with everlaſting mercy thou haſt had compaſſion on me. And now, bleſſed Lord, thy comfortable preſence is come; yea, Lord, thou haſt had reſpect unto thine Handmaide, and art come with fulneſſe of joy, and aboundance of conſolation. O bleſſed be thy name, my Lord, and my God! Oh the joyes! The joyes! The joyes that I feele in my ſoule! O they be wonderfull! They be wonderfull! O Father, how mercifull, and marvailouſly gracious art thou unto me! Yea, Lord, I feele thy mercy, and I am aſſured of thy love, and ſo certaine am I thereof: As thou art the God of Truth, ſo ſure doe I know my ſelfe to be thine, O Lord, my God. And this my ſoule knoweth right well; and this my ſoule knoweth right well: Oh bleſſed be the Lord! Oh bleſſed be the Lord, that hath thus comforted me; and hath now brought me to a place more ſweet unto me, then the Garden of Eden. Oh the joy, the joy, the delightſome joy that I feele!—
Oh happy am I that ever I was borne to ſee this bleſſed day! I confeſſe before the Lord his loving kindneſſe, and his wonderfull workes before the ſonnes of men; for he hath ſatisfied my ſoule, and filled my hungry ſoule with goodneſſe.
—Oh praiſe the Lord for his mercies, and for this joy which my ſoule feeleth full well: Praiſe his name for evermore.
Another comfortable Example of one that had long laboured under the temptation of Blaſphemy, which yet at laſt found freedome from it, and comfort. Related by Mr. Bolton in his Inſtructions for the comforting of Afflicted Conſciences, pag. 550.
I Have knowne one (ſaith he) who did bite in, and keep cloſe in his boſome, the temptation of Blaſphemy the ſpace of about twenty yeares; all which while the Devill did tyrannize extreamly, and kept him almoſt in continuall terrour.
He thought there was never man had ſuch vile and prodigious thoughts, as he; and if the world knew what they were, he ſhould be abhorred as a Monſter of men, and the loathſomeſt Creature upon earth; moſt worthy to be utterly exterminated, and utterly rooted out of the ſociety, and confines of mankinde. And hereupon many, and many a time, when he apprehended any opportunity, or had any meanes offered to make himſelfe away, he was tempted thereunto principally upon this ground, that it was pity ſuch an horrible Blaſphemer (for ſo he ſuppoſed) ſhould any longer breathe: But at laſt hearing the nature, manner and remedy of theſe hideous injections diſcovered by the Miniſtery; and afterwards privately informing himſelfe further, and more fully from Gods Meſſenger, was happily taken out of the Racke for the time to come, and moſt wonderfully refreſhed: And therefore (ſaid he) take heed of keeping the Devils counſell.