A Wilderness of Trouble Leading to a Canaan of Comfort, Preface
A Conſolatory Preface to poor Chriſtians, dejected under the ſenſe of their Sins.
GOd's Miniſters are commanded by the Voice of that Evangelical Prophet Iſaiah, to comfort, to ſpeak to the Lord's People, to comfort Jeruſalem, and cry unto her, that her Warfare is accompliſhed, and that her Iniquity is pardoned. In obedience to this Command, I have preſumed to publiſh this Word in ſeaſon, for your Benefit, in the following plain Diſcourſe; and the plainer, becauſe ſuch a dreſs doth beſt become Divinity. Affected terms may pleaſe the Fancy, but will never feed the Ʋnderſtanding; they Court, but not Comfort. In theſe Points, Experience is more than Reading. Both ways (all praiſe be to the Author of Grace!) you have learn'd how the Lord by degrees, allureth and draws Men and Women, out of the pleaſing Fields of Prodigality, into the Wilderneſs of Spiritual Trouble, that he might there ſpeak unto their Hearts, and work them to a gracicious Temper; wherein afterwards he keeps them, partly by preſenting Sin to the Eye and Conſcience, as he did to David: Which you muſt know is not to ſink, nor drive them to Diſpair, but to nouriſh and increaſe in them, an hatred of Sin, and a longing love after Chriſt; ſeeing the one daily, to loath it; and feeling the want of the other, more to deſire him. It was an excellent Speech of that eminent Martyr, Mr. Lambert, who lifting up his Hands flaming with Fire (as his Heart did with Love and Zeal) cried aloud to the People out of the Fire, Chriſt, and none but Chriſt.
Which I deſignedly put you in mind of, and commend to you, whereby to encourage you in your dejected Condition, and to propound as a pattern for your Practice: For an adequate object of Faith, to accept and reſt upon as the only Mediator of Juſtification and Salvation, Chriſt, and none but Chriſt: In the exerciſe of Repentance for a term to which we muſt truſt, and by whom we have acceſs to the Father, Chriſt, and none but Chriſt: In the duty of Prayer, for an Interceſſor to give weight and worth unto them, Chriſt, and none but Chriſt: For a compleat Saviour, both to redeem by Purchaſe …nd Conqueſt, in regard of Man's two…old Bondage, and to adorn the Soul with Righteouſneſs, Chriſt, and none but Chriſt. As Sin is, ſo let Chriſt be ever …efore you; in his Incarnation, Death, Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, and Interceſſi…n: In his Natures and Offices; in the excellency of his Merit and Efficacy of …is Spirit; in his Beauty and Innocen…y, in his Power and Pity; in his hidden Treaſure and Riches unſearch…ble; believe it, there is no ſuch Image …o look upon, no ſuch Picture to pray …efore, as the Promiſes preſent in him …o every believing Eye; in your Chamber, …nd at Church, Alone and in Company, …n Health and Sickneſs, in Life and Death, look upon him, love him and ſay, Chriſt, and none but Chriſt.
Then may you be aſſured, that God hath brought you the beſt way out of Egypt into Canaan, that he hath ſpoken unto your Heart indeed, and that Chriſt's Blood is, and ſhall be effectually applied, to put Sin both out of Affection and Memory; and in due time, to cleanſe your Nature from the power and being of Sin. In a word, be of good Courage, keep on in your way, your Labour will not be in vain in the Lord. Heaven, or rather Chriſt, will pay for all. If then you would have Sin pardon'd, Hardneſs and Dulneſs removed, Grace beſtowed, in the Habit, Acts, or Degrees, Doubts anſwered, Weakneſs ſtrengthened; Prayers and Tears with Chriſt will do it: Children of many Tears cannot periſh.
Farewel.