Lord hear my Cry— LONDON. Printed for Ben: Harris I.D. sc OF THE Causes and Cure OF SAD Disconsolate Thoughts IN CHRISTIANS. BY One of their Sympathising Fellow-Members, W. Traughton. LONDON, Printed for Benjamin Harris, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the Stationers-Armes in Sweetings-Rents in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, 1677. EPISTLE. To a Pensive Disconsolate SOUL. My dear Friend, HAving taken these Notes on a subject of great concern (which may be much more enlarged) I did consider with myself that they might be very seasonable and suitable to your case and condition; for you have been an afflicted soul for a long time, often complaining to God and Man of the darkness of your spirit, and the sad and dismal thoughts wherewith you have been haunted and exceedingly disquieted, as if no Man's condition were so sad and dark and disconsolate as yours: But yet there is no Temptation (as you may assure yourself) which hath seized on you, but other Christians have had experience thereof; and God, who is Faithful, will with the Temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it, 1 Cor. 10.13. Blessed be God, you have a tender and gracious High Priest that undertakes for you; in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to secure them that are tempted, Heb. 2.18. We have not (saith the Apostle) a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin; let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need, Heb. 4.15, 16. He it is that gathers the weak Lambs with his Arm, and carries them in his Bosom, and gently leads those that are with Young, Isa. 40.11. He will not break the bruised Reed, nor quench the smoking Flax, but will send forth Judgement unto Victory, Math 12.20. This Merciful and Compassionate Jesus never rejected any that came to him; and will he cast you off if you come to Him with the burden of your Sins, Sorrows, Temptations, Melancholic distempers? No, he will not; he hath promised he will not, Joh. 6.37. There's an Emphasis in the Original, two Negatives, He will not in any wise, by any means cast ye out: The doubled Negatives serve to make the Assertion so much the stronger, and to raise our Faith above all doubts and fears. O then poor Soul, be not discouraged, draw not back from ●he living God, through an evil heart of unbelief: Give not way to groundless Jealousies and carnal Reasonings; but believe, and you shall see the Glory of God in giving you speedily a gracious Issue out of all your Temptations, and a comfortable deliverance from the sad disconsolate perplexing thoughts of your own heart, which indeed is your greatest Enemy; for the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? Jer. 17.9. Read over these Notes seriously, and beg of God earnestly to give you Grace to improve the seasonable directions therein mentioned, and to teach you effectually by his Spirit; for who Teacheth like him? Job 36.22. When he giveth Quietness, who then can cause Trouble? And when he hideth his Face, who then can behold Him? Whether it be done against a Nation, or against a Man only, Job 34.29. If ye think the publishing of these Notes may tend to the Edification and comfort of some other tempted afflicted souls, who are in the like condition with yourself, it is left to your Freedom to get them published, otherwise you may make a private use of them for yourself and near Relations, as God shall direct and enable you; to whose Gracious Protection I commend you and yours. THE CAUSES & CURE OF SAD Disconsolate Thoughts, etc. Text: Psal. 94.19. In the Multitude of my Thoughts within me, thy Comforts delight my Soul. SOme Intérpreters understand this Text of that Heavenly Delight, which David found in Holy Meditation; a Work wherein he was much exercised, and whereof Spiritual Joy and Delight is a Natural and Moral Effect. But, if we look more narrowly into the Context, we shall see that the Prophet speaks not of Holy Thoughts and Meditation; but of Sad disquieting and perplexing Thoughts, which did arise in his Heart; against which, he found the Consolations of God to be the most effectual Remedy. Observe. That Saints should watch against sad, melancholy unbeleiving disconsolate Thoughts and Cogitations. Hence it is, (even from their Unbeleif) that they are so apt to make sad and dismal Conclusions touching their Spiritual Estate: My Soul refused to be Comforted (saith David, Psal. 77.2, 3, 7, 8, 9) I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my Spirit was overwhelmed: Will the Lord cast off for ever, & c? So Heman, that Godly wise Man, saith, Psal. 88.4, 5. I am counted with them that go down into the Pit: I am as a Man that hath no Strength, free among the Dead, like the: Slain that lie in the Grave, whom Thou remember'st no more, etc. I will here describe, 1. What these sad disconsolate Thoughts are. 2. The Causes of them. 3. The Remedies of them. 4. Give you some Helps and Directions against them. Quaery, What do you mean by sad disconsolate Thoughts? Answ. Such Thoughts I mean, as the Saints themselves are exercised with, in reference to their Spiritual Condition; ofttimes they have sad uncomfortable Reflections, heavy Burdens on their Souls, great Pressures of Spirit: Why haft thou set me as a mark against thee (saith Job, cap. 7. v. 20.) so that I am a Burden to myself. Quae. What are the Causes of these sad thoughts? Answ. They are caused both by natural distempers of Body, and by spiritual distempers, or Soul pressures. First: Partly by bodily distempers, especially by Melancholy, which is a black, cloudy, muddy distemper that darkens the Intellectuals, depraves the Fancy, saddens the Spirit of a Christian, and renders his Condition and Life uncomfortable to him; 'tis Satan's Chariot wherein he Triumphantly rides; his Anvil, on which he continually beats; the Element or Bath, in which he Baths himself. Though a Man have Grace and Spiritual experience and acquaintance with God, yet if he be of a melancholy temper and constitution, he cannot act cheerfully as a Christian should do, bu● is like a Wagon, or Coach, whose wheels are out of order, so that the Passenger cannot comfortably perform his Journey. Secondly: There are spiritual Causes of these sad, dark, uncomfortable thoughts, and they are six. First: Those remaining Principles of darkness, carnal Reason, Slavish fear and unbelief which are in the hearts of God's own People, who are but in part Regenerated here in this Life; Satan (who is a Spirit of darkness, and delights most in spiritual wickedness, Eph. 6.12.) works upon, and corresponds with these remainders of unbelief and carnal Reason in the Saints, as being most suitable to him, who improves his long experience, skill, and power to draw out and heighten these Principles by the Engine of his Temptations. Secondly: These sad thoughts are Caused by a deep sense of sin, and the desert of it; this worketh terror, dejection, and despondency of spirit, when God represents and sets before a Man the greatness of his sins: Thus David himself sadly complains, Mine Iniquities are gone over mine head, as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me, Psal. 38.4. Thirdly: They are caused by spiritual desertion, or God's hiding his Face from the Soul: Thou didst hid thy Face (saith David) and I was troubled, Psal. 30.7. And Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me, Isa. 49.14. Wherefore hidest thou thy Face (saith Job) and holdest me for thine Enemy? Wilt thou break a Leaf driven to and fro, and wilt thou pursue the dry Stubble? For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth, Job 13.24, 25. Fourthly: From the apprehension of Divine wrath and displeasure: Though God be Reconciled to Believers in Christ, yet they often apprehend God's Frowns rather than his Smiles; his Chide rather than his Kisses, and these make sad impressions upon them: Thus Job complains, The Arrows of the Almighty are within me, the Poison whereof drinketh up my Spirit; the Terrors of God do set themselves in array against me, Job 6.4. and verse 8, 9 He wanted words to express the greatness of his misery and sorrow, wherewith his spirit was even overwhelmed: Such sad apprehensions Heman also had, Whilst I suffer thy terrors (saith he) I am distracted; thy fierce wrath goeth over me, thy terrors have cut me off, Psal. 88.15, 16. Fifthly: These sad thoughts and cogitations are sometimes caused by violent temptations and suggestions to the most horrid evils; as to Self-murder, final Despair, Blasphemy, cursed Atheism; the Soul is so terrified therewith, that it is ready to choose a sudden violent death rather than life. Thou scarest me with Dreams (saith Job, cap. 7. v. 14, 15.) and terrifiest me through Visions, so that my soul chooseth strangling and death rather than my life: Such horrid Blasphemous suggestions and injections from Satan, some poor Christians have sad experience of, which fill their souls with terror and amazement, and make them even weary of their lives. Sixthly, Sad Thoughts are caused by looking at Death in the Chastely Glass of the Law of God, and not in the Comfortable Glass of the Gospel; and so, Death appears to be the King of Terrors; and of all Terrible things, the most Terrible. Oh! What will become of me (thinks the poor Trembling Soul) when I die! How shall I be able to shoot that great and vast Gulf of Eternity, and to endure the Bitterness and Terrors of Death! I that cannot bear with Patience, a little Pain of the Toothache, Stone, Strangury, How shall I look upon that Pale-Horse, and his Rider, whose Name is Death, Rev 6.8! Saints themselves, have many times sad Thoughts and Apprehensions touching Death, when the Soul shall be stripped naked of the Body, and all worldly Comforts, and brought into the Immediate Presence of God: The Conscience here in this Life, being not perfectly and wholly purged and pacified, there remains still some Defilement, some Gild, which causeth some Doubts and Fears even in true Believers. You have heard the Causes, now let us come to the Remedies of these sad Thoughts. First then, If Melancholy be the Cause, use the means which God has appointed for the Cure of it: Three Things I commend to you. (1.) Ye should (with Dependence on God, the Supreme Cause and Being) use the most proper Physic, moderate Exercise, good Diet. As for Bodily Distempers, they are ordinarily cured by Corporal Medicines, and not by Spiritual Means: I say, with Dependence on God for Success, ye must use Physic; for, except the Lord build the House, they Labour but in vain that build it, Psal. 127.1. And, King Asa is blamed, because in his Disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the Physicians, 2 Chron. 16.12. (2.) Converse frequently with wise, compassionate, experienced Christians, such as have been exercised with Melancholy Distempers themselves, and are not ignorant of Satan's Methods; otherwise ye speak to them, and they to you, in an unknown Tongue. (3.) Consider, That though the Cure of Melancholy, be a torture to the most Learned Physicians in the World; yet God, the Sovereign Physician, can easily rebuke it: If He speak the word, Be thou healed, than thou shalt be sound and whole: The Lord knows our frame, how frail and weak we are, what advantage Satan takes against us from these melancholy Distempers; and how they disable and dis-spirit us for Religious Services, and render our Lives burdensome and uncomfortable to us; and therefore, he will pity us, as an indulgent Father pitieth his Children: And, though the Distemper should not wholly be removed; yet we may well hope, that he will so abate it for his own Names sake) that it shall not over-whelm us, no, nor hinder our Spiritual Good; but be a means to humble us, and keep us low in our own Eyes. Secondly, If your sad disconsolate Thoughts be caused by Spiritual Distempers; as Unbelief, carnal Reason, Doubts and Fears, something is to be done in the general; and then more particularly. (1.) In general: Endeavour in the Strength of God, to comfort these sad Thoughts, by applying Spiritual Consolations suitable to your Distemper; so you find in the Text, In the multitude of my Thoughts (i. e. sad Thoughts) within me, Thy Comforts delight my soul, Psal. 94.9. Let not the Consolations of God ●●em small to thee, neither do thou indulge any secret Sin, Job 15.11. (2.) You should often chide yourselves keenly and rationally for these sad unbelieving thoughts: Why art thou cast down (O my Soul)! and why art thou disquieted within me! Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my Countenance, and my God, Psal. 42.5, 11. This sadness and dejectedness in Saints is very unreasonable, and of ill consequence, for it drinks up their spirits, disables and dispirits them for the Service of God and Men: But I will speak more particularly to this matter. First: Does Satan work upon, and by those Innate Principles of Darkness, Unbelief, carnal Reason, which are in thy heart and nature; and likewise on thy Bodily distempers, especially Melancholy: O then take to thee the whole Armour of God, especially the Shield of Faith, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil, and to quench all his fiery Darts, Ephes. 6.11, 16. Pray earnestly that God would rebuke Satan, and remember that Christ prays for you: And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord Rebuke thee, O Satan: Is not this a Brand plucked out of the fire? Zach. 3.2. Greater is Christ that is in you and for you, than Satan that is against you. Secondly: Do thy sins make thee sad and disconsolate? Do they press thee down with a great weight? and dost thou groan under the body of Sin as an intolerable burden, Rom. 7.24. O then remember that sweet Invitation of thy Saviour, Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Matth. 11.28. Apply to thy soul the Sovereign Blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all Sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. which pacifieth the Conscience, and purgeth it from dead works, Heb. 9.14. which speaks better things than the Blood of Abel, Heb. 12.24. Cast the burden of thy sins, thy guilt, thy punishment on Christ, on whom, God made to meet the Iniquities of us all, and by whose Stripes we are healed, Isa. 53.5, 6. His soul was sad and sorrowful to the death, that thy soul might rejoice; the Spirit of the Lord God was upon him, and he was sent by God to bind up the broaken-hearted, to give them that mourn in Zion, Beauty for Ashes, the oil of Joy for Mourning, and the garment of Praise for the spirit of heaviness, Isa. 61.1, 2, 3. Thirdly: Doth the Lord hid his Face from thee, so that thou beholdest not the light of His Countenance as formerly? Think with thyself, notwithstanding that God's Love is Unchangeable and Everlasting, He changeth not as Man doth, Mal. 3.6. Though he seem to hid his Face, and forsake thee for a small moment, yet with Everlasting kindness will I embrace thee, saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, Isa. 54.7, 8. He retaineth not his Anger for ever; He will turn again, He will have Compassion upon us, Micah 7.18, 19 If thou prayest to God in Faith, He will be favourable to thee, and thou shalt see his Face with joy, Job 33.26. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God, Isa. 50.10. Though the tender Mother go sometimes where the Child doth not see her, yet still her Bowels are towards the Child: God, when he seems to withdraw from his people, yet still his Love and Compassion are towards them. Christ upon the Cross, cried out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? that we might not be forsaken of God. Fourthly: Dost thou yet apprehend some tokens of God's wrath and displeasure, which fills thy heart with fear and amazement? Remember that Christ our Sponsor and Surety, hath born the whole Wrath of God, the whole Curse of the Law for all those that come to him, and believe on him: He hath Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, being made a Curse for us, Gal. 3.13. He it was that trod the Wine-press of the fierceness of the Wrath of God, and there was none to help him, Isa. 63.5, 6. Rev. 19.15. By this Jesus we are delivered from the wrath to come. 1 Thes. 1.10. The Lord is merciful and gracious, He will not always Chide, neither will he keep his Anger for ever: As a Father pittyeth his Children, so the Lord pittyeth them that fear Him; for he knoweth our frame, He remembreth that we are but dust, Psal. 103.8, 9, 13, 14. He will not contend for ever, neither will He be always Wrath, lest the Spirit should fail before him: He will restore Comforts to him that Mourns, and will Create the fruit of the lips, Peace, Peace, Isaiah 57.16, 19 Fifthly: Doth Satanical Injections, and violent Temptations to the most horrid Evils and Blasphemies haunt and hurry thee day and night. Consider (poor soul) that they are thy Trials, not thy Sins; (if thou dost not yield thereunto, but abhor and resist them) thou art like the modest Virgin that's forcibly Ravished by a wicked Man without her consent: 'Tis his Sin, not hers, though a great Affliction to her. Oh fly to the Throne of Grace and Mercy for help and succour in this time of Need; rest thyself on God's free promise and word of Grace: He is Faithful, and will not suffer you to be Tempted above that you are able, but will with the Temptation also, make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it, 1 Cor. 10.13. The Lord is Faithful, who shall establish you and keep you from Evil, 2 Thes. 3.3. The Lord shall preserve thee from all Evil, He shall preserve thy soul, Psal. 121.7. Thou shalt be kept by the power of God, through Faith to Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. Let thy soul take Sanctuary in the free Promise of Grace. Sixthly: Doth the fear of Death and Eternity cause sad thoughts of heart in thee? O learn to look at Death in the comfortable Glass of the Gospel of Christ, and not in the dreadful glass of the Law: Death to a Believer is swallowed up in Victory; the Sting of this Serpent is taken away by Christ: O Death (saith he) I will be thy Death; O Grave, I will be thy Victory. Christ hath conquered Death, perfumed the Grave, and opened a way for poor Sinners to Everlasting Glory: The Sting of Death is Sin, and the Strength of Sin is the Law: But, Thanks be to God, which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15.56, 57 Forasmuch, as the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood, Christ Himself took part of the same, that through Death, he might destroy him that had the Power of Death; that is, the Devil; and deliver them, who through fear of Death, were all their Life-time subject to Bondage, Heb. 2.14, 15. Here five or six special Helps and Directions, when ye are troubled and perplexed with sad Thoughts and much Darkness upon your Spirits. DIRECTION, I. Call to Remembrance what hath formerly passed betwixt God and your Soul; what Love-tokens ye have received from him, (though you be now under a Cloud): As, when the Title of your Land is questioned, you search old Records and Evidences; so ye should do in this Case: Thus David, when his Soul had before refused to be Comforted, and his Spirit was in a manner overwhelmed; yet now he would consider the Days of Old, the Years of Ancient Times, and call to Remembrance his Songs in the Night, etc. Psal. 77.2, 3, 5, 6. And Job, when the Wrath of God seemed to be kindled against him, and God counted him as one of his Enemies, and his Reins were consumed within him; yet still saith he (Job 19.11, 27, 28.) The Root of the Matter is found in me: He acknowledged, that he had the Root of true Faith in him; and knew, that his Redeemer liveth: Though the Exercise of his Faith was at present suspended, as to the comfortable Effects of it; yet, he had an evidence of his good Estate, from his former Experience: As in the Winter-Season, though the Plant seems to whither, yet the root of it still remains in the Earth; and when the Spring comes, and the Sun shines upon it with a powerful Influence, it will appear. DIRECTION, II. Plead and expostulate Humbly with thy God, when he seems to hid his Face from thee; make use of Arguments in thy Prayers taken from the Infinitness of God's Mercy, and the Greatness of thy Misery: Thy Saviour, in His great Soul-Agony and Distress, prayed often and earnestly, Luk. 22.44. Is any among you Afflicted (saith the Apostle, Jam. 5.13.) let him Pray. This Direction may be drawn out and improved in five Particulars. (1.) Suppose thy Case be as sad as Jobs was (Cap. 10. v. 15, 16, 17.) thou art full of Distraction and Confusion; the Lord hunts thee as a fierce Lion, and increaseth his Indignation upon thee; contending still with thee, as if he were thy greatest Enemy; Yet now, fall down and Prostrate thyself humbly at his Feet, as a poor, silly, helpless Lamb; and, if thou must needs die and perish, yet die at His Feet, mourning and bleeding out thy-Heart in Sighs and Tears. Take heed of a fretting murmuring Spirit, which is exceeding offensive to God: Be still and quiet; not a word; put thy Mouth in the Dust: It is good that a Man should hope, and quietly wait on God, Lam. 3.26, 29. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him, (saith the Church, Mic. 7.9.) Kiss the Rod as a submissive Child, and acknowledge that it is of the Lord's Mercy, that thou art not consumed. (2.) When God seems to pursue thee hard, and to bend his Bow, and shoot his Arrows against thee; desire him humbly to Remember the Thoughts of Love and Peace, which he had to poor Sinners from Eternity: These Thoughts he delights in; they are more than can be numbered, Psal. 40.5. and what, Are they restrained in Him! Hath God forgotten to be Gracious! Hath He for ever shut up his tender Mercies! Surely, He hath not, Psal. 77.9. Put him in mind of that infinite All-sufficient Righteousness and Merit, which is in Christ, whereof Himself hath no need; no, nor the Blessed Angels that never sinned; But, it is reserved for poor sinful Men and Women, such as thou art: If thou sayest, Thou art unworthy; yea, but He loves freely, Hos. 14.4. If the greatness of thy Sins be objected against thee, tell him, That there is plenteous Redemption for thee in (and with) Christ, Psal. 130.7. Art thou ungodly and wicked in thyself? the Scripture saith, That he Justifies the ungodly, Rom. 4.5. and that Christ received Gifts for Sinners, yea, for the Rebellious; that the Lord God might dwell with them, Psal. 68.18. Art thou no better than a Dog? Yea, but the Dogs they eat the Crumbs that fall from their Master's Table; Christ hath reserved some Crumbs of Mercy and Comfort for thee, Math. 15.27. (3.) If he still pursue thee in his Anger, and set thee as a Mark to shoot at, so that thou art a Burden to thyself, Job 7.20. Ask him humbly with Tears in thy Eyes, What he aims at? Is it to have the Victory over thee, that he might be justified in his Say, and might overcome when he is Judged, Rom. 3.4? Tell him freely, Thou wilt yield to him as a poor Captive, and stand out with him in nothing; and, that he shall need no other Judge or Jury to condemn thee, but thyself: Thou art very willing to justify him in all things, and to sentence and condemn thyself; only beseech him to consider, what Victory, what Honour it will be to so Great and Infinite a God as He is, to pursue a little dry Stubble, to break a poor Leaf that is bruised already, and crumbles under his Fingers if he do but touch it, Job 13.25. Say to Him, Thou art Impar Congressus; Thou art far from being an equal Match to Him; and, He is so Noble, so Generous, as not to set Himself against a Worm, against a poor weak Leaf, that yields and falls under His hand; having said, That He will not contend for ever, lest the Spirit should utterly fail before him, Isa. 57.19. (4.) If it should be hinted to thee, as if God would glorify Himself in thy Eternal Destruction and Condemnation; tell him, 'Tis true, he may; But yet, before he thrust his Sword in thee, desire Him (with Reverence and Submission) to consider, That he first sheathed it in the Blood of His Son; and what profit will there be in thy Blood and Destruction: If Satisfaction to Divine Justice be his end and design, He may have that in and from the Propitiatory-Sacrifice, and Death of Christ; and so, be no loser: And, as for thy Salvation, it will be more for his Glory, than thy Condemnation. If he require more Ojbedience of thee, Alas, this is not the way to perform it; when thy poor Soul is distracted with his Terrors, and thou art as a Man that hath no Strength, numbered amongst the Dead, (as Heman speaks, Psal. 88.4, 5, 15.) The more Spiritual Peace and Joy and Soul hath, the more Service and Obedience it will be able to perform to God, who loves a cheerful Giver: The Joy of the Lord, is the Strength of the Soul, Nehem. 8.10. If it be suggested to thee; That if thou hadst more Assurance, Joy, and Enlargement, thou wouldst abuse it, and grow wanton; Tell God humbly, That he may also prevent that, if He please, by the Power of His Grace; and by writing the Law of Love in thy Heart by his Spirit, which will constrain thee to love Him, and to live to Him, 2 Cor. 5.14. And, Love is as strong as Death; Many Waters cannot quench it, neither can the Floods drown it, Cant. 8.6, 7. And, though thou hast a froward and stubborn Heart, which thou canst not choose but sadly complain of; yet, so had he whom the Prophet speaks of, Isa. 57.17, 18. God hide his Face from him; was wrath, and smote him; and he went on frowardly in the way of his Heart: Yet, for all this (saith the Lord) I have seen his ways, and will heal him, and restore Comforts to him. (5.) If thy Temptation be so great, and thy Condition so sad, as if there were no other Remedy, but God and thou must part; yet labour notwithstanding to have good thoughts of God, and to bless Him for those glorious Attributes and excellencies of Mercy, Truth, Wisdom, Holiness, that are in him: Bless Him for his mercy and goodness to others, and for enabling them to serve him with cheerfulness and success. Bless him for the good things which thou hast formerly received from Him; and if thou hast done, or suffered any thing for God in thy time, wish with all thy soul it had been a thousand times more: And confess thyself unworthy, lesser than the least of those Mercies he hath bestowed on thee; and that thou art infinitely engaged to Him for what is past, if He should cast thee off for time to come, and never smile upon thee again: Desire Him only that He would preserve and maintain in thee good and honourable thoughts of His Majesty, that thou mayst not in the least derogate from His Honour, or Blaspheme his Holy Name, however he is pleased to deal with thee as to Spiritual Peace and Comfort: And who knows, but whilst thou art thus bemoaning thyself (as Ephraim did) though the Lord at present seem to look Stern, and to speak Angrily to thee, yet he will quickly come and speak Peace to thy soul, and list up the light of his Countenance on thee. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself (saith the Lord). Is Ephraim my dear Son, Is he a pleasant Child? For since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still; therefore my Bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy on him, Jer. 31.18, 19, 20. DIRECTION III. Call to mind and improve the Soul sorrows and Agonies of thy Saviour and Surety, who bore the Wrath of God in his soul for thee, that thy poor Pensive soul might be comforted and delivered from the Terrors of God: His Soul was heavy and sorrowful to the Death; yea, he was surrounded and environed with sorrow and amazement of Spirit, and cried out bitterly on the Cross, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matth. 27.46. And in the days of his Flesh, He offered up Prayers and Supplications, with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from Death, and was heard in that he feared, Heb. 5.7. Now tell God humbly and believingly, that he hath laid thy Sin, Gild, Curse, upon his Son, and in the fierceness of his Wrath fell upon him, standing in thy stead and room, that he might set thee free (who is not in the least able to wrestle with the Terrors of God); say to him that his own blessed Son hath drank off the Cup of Divine Wrath to the bottom, even the very dregs of it; and therefore why should thy poor soul (which is redeemed by the precious Blood of thy Saviour) taste any part of this bitter Cup? Did God withdraw the comforts of his Spirit from the humane Nature of Christ, and fill it with sadness and sorrow for thy sake, that thou mightest obtain Spiritual peace and comfort? O then why shouldst not thou earnestly pray for, and expect the fruits of Christ's Agony and Death in having thy soul revived and filled with spiritual peace and joy? DIRECTION IU. Renew thy Faith and Repentance in good earnest, as if thou hadst never done it before. Suppose it be suggested to thee by Satan, that thou didst never as yet truly believe and repent of thy sins? Thou mayst Answer thus, Well, I will not question that now, but resolve by the Grace of God forthwith to Repent hearty of my Sins, and believe on the Lord Jesus. Some Christians are apt to look back altogether on what they have done, and if that do not afford them comfort, than they are ready to give up all for losk, and to sink under discouragement. But though a Christian may sometimes look back, and reflect on his former evidences and experiences; yet certainly, to cast thyself at present by a direct act of Faith, upon the free Grace of God in the Gospel-promise, is the shortest cut, and the readiest way to silence thy doubts, and Satan's suggestions; as sometimes it falls out, that a Man may with as little charge and trouble, obtain a new Lease, as prove the old one good and Authentical. Be peremptory and resolute therefore in believing and casting thyself on a Crucified Jesus, and say with Esther, I will go to the King, and if I Perish, I Perish, Esther 4.16. and with Job, Though he Kill me, yet will I trust in him, Job 13.15. Venture thy Soul upon him, as one that's ready to sink when the Bladders are taken from him, will yet venture to swim without Bladders. And as the four Lepers said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we enter into the City, the famine is there, and we shall die; and if we sit still here, we shall die also: Therefore, let us fall into the Host of the Syrians; if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they Kill us, we shall but die, 2 King. 7.3, 4. So resolve to throw yourself upon Christ, and if ye must die, then die at his feet: But this is so far from being the way to Perish, that it is the direct way to true Peace, Comfort, and Happiness. DIRECTION V. Trust in the Name of God Jehovah for Comfort and Salvation. He that walks in darkness, and sees no light, let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay himself upon his God, Isa. 50.10. * Vid. Mr. goodwin's Child of light walking in darkness. the consideration of the Sweet, Gracious, Merciful Nature and Name of God, will support and keep the soul from sinking: The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower, the Righteous runeth to it, and is safe, Prov. 18.10. There is enough in the Name of God to Answer all our Objections, and resolve all our doubts; as this name was proclaimed to Moses, The Lord, the God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in Goodness and Truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving Iniquity, Transgression, and Sin, Exod. 34.6, 7. This Name of God is to be found, and is revealed in and by Christ to poor Sinners. Harken to him, and obey his Voice (saith the Lord) for my Name is in him, Exod. 23.21. God was in Christ, Reconciling the World unto himself, not imputing their Trespasses unto them, 2 Cor. 5.19. This is the Name wherewith he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness, Jer. 23.6. And his Name shall be Jesus, for he shall save his People from their sins, Matth. 1.21. When we see nothing in ourselves to rest upon, (as in the case of desertion) no sight of Graces, no light of comfort therefrom, as in Paul's Voyage by Sea for many days together, neither the light of the Sun, nor Stars appeared, Act. 27.20. Yet than the Name of God will stay and bear up the drooping spirit of a Christian. My flesh and my heart faileth (saith David) but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever, Psal. 73.26. And though my House be not so with God, i. e. as the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by the clear shining of the Sun after Rain, yet he hath made, with me, an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my Salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow, 2 Sam. 23.5. DIRECTION VI. [On which I shall a little enlarge.] Furnish thyself with fit matter out of the holy Scriptures, for Heavenly thoughts and meditations, that thy heart may indite and meditate a good matter, and thy Tongue may be as the Pen of a ready Writer, Psal. 45.1. The Lord help thee (poor Soul) not only to read these Divine writings, but to meditate therein day and night, to hid them and lay them up in thy heart as a divine Cordial to revive and comfort thee; as a divine Lamp to guide and direct thee, Psal. 119.92, 105. and as part of the spiritual Armour, to enable thee to vanquish thy spiritual Enemies in the Hour of Temptation, Eph. 6.13. David, even in those dark times, before the Incarnation of Christ, professeth of himself, that the Word of God was in the midst of his Bowels, Psal. 40.8. And that he had hid the word in his heart, that he might not Sin against God, Psal. 119.11. And Hierom tells us of one Nepotian, who by long and assiduous Meditation of the holy Scriptures, had made his breast the Library of Jesus Christ, in respect of Divine thoughts and cogitations. Holy Job esteemed the Word of God more than his necessary food, Job 23.12. And the Psalmist preferred it before the Honey and the Honeycomb; before great spoils, and thousands of Gold and Silver, Psal. 19.9. Psal. 119.103, 162. And the blessed Apostle commands us not only to have the word of Christ with us, but in us; and not only to have it in us, but to have it dwelling and abiding in us richly, in all Wisdom and spiritual understanding, Col. 3.16. As for men's writings, they are mingled with Vanity, Mistakes, Imperfections, Corruptions, savouring too much of a carnal Spirit; but God's Word * In Sacra Scriptura quicquid docet veritas, quicquid praecipitur bonitas, quicquid promittitur felicitas: Nam Deus veritas est sine fallacia, bonitas sine malitia, fellcitas sine miseria. is satisfactorily full, without all Vaninity, most Wise, Faithful and True, without Falsehood or Folly; completely perfect, without the least Imperfection; most pure and refined, without Corruption or Carnal mixtures; wholly Spiritual, sweetly resembling that most Divine Spirit which indicted the Scriptures. Here are unfolded the mysteries of the Covenant of Grace made up of Heavenly Cordials for Sinsick souls: Here are the promises of this life, and of that which is to come, exceeding great and precious: Here are the comforts of God able to counterpoise and overcome the greatest sadness and sorrow. Art thou poor? Here's a Treasury of Riches: Art thou sick? here's a Shop of Soul-medicines: Art thou fainting? here's a Cabinet of precious Cordials: Art thou Afflicted? here's thy Solace: Art thou Persecuted? here's thy Protection: Art thou deserted? here's thy support: Art thou Tempted? here's thy Victory: Whilst thou livest, here's the Rule of thy Conversation; and when thou diest, here's the hope of thy Glorification; and therefore, well might one of the Ancients profess that he adored the fullness of the Scriptures: And Luther himself used to say, he would rather eat up his own Writings (which yet were instrumental to give much Heavenly light and knowledge) than that People, by reading them, should neglect the reading and studying of the Holy Scriptures. This is the Book of Books (as David said of Goliah's Sword) there's none like that. Ex allis paleae viles, hinc grana leguntur Aurea: Tu paleas linquito, grana lege. men's Books with worthless Chaff are stored; God's Scriptures golden grains afford. Reject the Chaff, and spend thy pains, In Gleaning up these golden Grains. The Holy Scripture is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in the paths of Righteousness, and for Support and Consolation; that drooping dejected Spirits, may not be overwhelmed with Satan's Temptations. This sweet Consolatory Virtue, and Soul-supporting Property of the Scriptures, is demonstrated by the happy Experience and Sense of Spiritual Comfort and Refreshing, which Saints find therein; even such of them as are exercised with great Dolours and Troubles of Spirit. Thus David did comfort and support himself with the word of God in his saddest Affliction: This is my Comfort in my Affliction (saith he) for thy Word hath quickened me: And, unless thy word had been my delight, I had perished in my Affliction, Psal. 119.50, 51, 92. Paul writes unto the Saints at Thessalonica, that they should comfort one another with these Words, 1 Thes. 4.13. And the Lovesick Spouse (being ready to fall into a Spiritual Swoon through the Sense of Christ's Estrangements from Her) cries out to the Ministers of the Word, the Friends of the Bridegroom; O stay me with Flagons, and comfort me with Apples, for I am sick of Love, Cant. 2.5. Wine and Apples are pleasant refreshing Cordials to fainting Spirits; And, so are the precious Promises, and sweet Doctrines of Christ, to sad and pensive Souls. Augustine, and his dear Companion Alipius, How were they in their great Soul-Afflictions, raised up and comforted, with two Sentences of Scripture? Augustine (as he tells us in his Confessions, lib. 8. Cap. 12. Tom. 1.) deeply laying to heart his Sin and Misery, such a mighty Storm arose in his Soul, as brought a shower of Tears; whereupon, he withdrew from Alipius a good distance, that he might more freely and fully pour out himself in Tears. I laid me down (saith he) under a certain Figtree, I know not how; and I opened Sluice to Tears, and the Floods of mine Eyes burst out, thy acceptable Sacrifice: And, not in these Words, but to this Sense, I spoke many things to Thee; But thou, O Lord, how long! How long wilt thou be angry for ever! O Remember not former Iniquities! For, I felt myself held by them, and I cast forth miserable Expressions: How long! How long! To- Morrow, and Tomorrow! Why not now? Why not this Hour, an end of my Filthiness? These things I spoke, and wept in the bitter Contrition of my Heart. And behold! I heard a Voice (as of a Boy or Girl, I know not whether) from a neighbouring House, saying, (with Singing, and oft repeating) * Tolle league, Tolle lege. Take up and Read, Take up and Read. And presently, with changed countenance, I intentively began to think, whether Boys in Playing were wont to sing any such thing; Nor, could I remember, that ever I heard it. The violence of my Tears being repressed, I risen up; Interpreting nothing else to be divinely commanded me, than that I should open the Book, and read what Chapter I first found; For, I had heard of Antonius, that by Reading of the Gospel (which he happily light upon) he was admonished, as if what he had read, had been spoken to him; Go, and sell all that thou hast, and give to the Poor, and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven, and come follow me; and that, by this Oracle he was presently converted to thee. Therefore, being thus incited, I returned to the same place where Alipius sat; for, there I had laid the Apostle's Book, when I thence risen: I snatched it up, opened, and silently read that Chapter on which mine Eyes were first cast: Not in Rioting and Drunkenness, not in Chambering and Wantonness, not in Strife and Envying; But, put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no Provision for the Flesh, to fulfil the Lusts thereof, Rom. 13.13, 14. Nor would I read further; nor was there need: For presently, with the close of this Sentence, as it were with the light of Security infused into mine Heart, all my darksome Doubtings fled away. Then, either putting my Finger in the place, or what other sign I know not, I shut the Book; and, with a cheerful Countenance, I told it to Alipius. But, what was done in himself, which I knew not, he thus declared: He asks to see what I read, I shown it; and, he attended further than I read, I not knowing what followed; But it followed, Him that is weak in the Faith receive ye, Rom. 14.1. which he applied to himself, and opened unto me: But, by this Admonition he was Confirmed; and, without all turbulent delay, was conjoined in a good Pleasure and purpose, most congruous to his Manners, wherein he long ago excelled me. Thereupon, we go in to my Mother; tell her: She rejoiceth; We declare how it was done; She exults and Triumphs, and blesseth Thee who art able to do, above All that we are to ask or think; Because she saw, that thou hadst granted her far more concerning me, than she was wont with her miserable and lamentable Groans, to ask of Thee. Thus far Augustine. Who would not now delight to read and understand the Divine Scriptures, whereby Augustine and Alipius were thus Converted and Comforted? Mr. Fox, in his Acts and Monuments tells us, That Mr. Bilney, the blessed Martyr, having been long under great Doubts and Fears in his Soul, (whilst he adhered to the Popish Doctrines); at length, opening the New-Testament, he light on that Text, 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all acceptation, That Christ Jesus came into the World, to save Sinners, of whom I am chief; which God so blessed to him, that thereby his doubts and Fears were dispelled, and he received much spiritual Peace and Comfort in the Assurance of the love of God from this free promise of Grace. Bishop Latimer (that Godly Martyr) standing at the Stake, ready to shed his blood for the Truth, lifting up his Eyes to Heaven with an amiable and cheerful Countenance, comforted himself with that Scripture, Faithful is God who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able, 1 Cor. 10.13. Alice Benden, Martyr, being kept in Prison nine weeks with Bread and Water, and Sequestered from her Companions, was in great heaviness and Soul distress, till on a Night, as she was in her sorrowful Supplications, rehearsing those words, Why art thou cast down, O my Soul, etc. And again, The Right Hand of the most High can change all this; she received much comfort. Mr. Midgeley, Minister at Ratchdale in Yorkshire, oppressed with melancholy thoughts and temptations to Self-murder; and going down to the Waterside to Drown himself, having the New-Testament in his Pocket, it came into his thoughts, before he fling himself in, to read a little in his Testament; and opening the same, he happily cast his Eye upon that precious word of Grace, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest, Matth. 11.28, 29. Whereupon this poor tempted Soul was much revived, and broke forth into these words, Sayest thou so? then I will not down myself. 'Tis well observed by a Godly Writer, that we had better want Meat, Drink, the light of the Sun, Aire, Earth, and all the Elements, yea, Life itself, than that one sweet Sentence of our Saviour, Come unto me, etc. Mrs. Katherine Brettergh (who was wont to task herself to the reading at least eight Chapters of Scripture every day) in her Sickness, before her Death * Vid. Mr. Will. Leigh's Souls-Solace against sorrow. she fell into great distress and anguish of Spirit; sometimes she would cast her Bible from her, and say, it was indeed the Book of Life, but she had read the same unprofitably, and therefore feared it was become to her the Book of Death: Sometimes she would say her sins had made her a prey to Satan, a spectacle to the World, a disgrace to Religion, and a shame to her Husband, Kindred, and all true Christians: And here she would weep most bitterly; she wished she had never been Born, or that she had been any other Creature rather than a Woman: She would often cry out Woe, Woe, Woe, etc. a weak, a woeful, a wretched, a forsaken Woman! and utter such like pitiful Complaints against herself, with Tears continually trickling down her Cheeks. But at last, before her death, she was raised up to unspeakable joys and comforts by applying Scripture-promises: Oh said she, my soul hath been compassed about with terrors of Death, fear within, and fear without; the sorrows of Hell were upon me, and a roaring Wilderness of Woe was within me (which she repeated again and again): But Blessed, Blessed, Blessed be the Lord my God, who hath not left me Comfortless. One time she took her Bible in her hand, and looking up towards Heaven, she said, O Lord, it is good for me that I have been Afflicted, that I might learn thy Statutes; the Word of the Lord is better to me than thousands of Gold and Silver. She desired her Husband to read some part of Scripture to her; he read that excellent Chapter, John 17. and as he read v. 9 she interrupted him, saying, O Lord Jesus, dost thou indeed pray for me? O Blessed and Sweet Saviour, how wonderful, how wonderful, how wonderful are thy Mercies! When he came to v. 24. Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me, etc. Stay, said she, and let me meditate on the goodness of the Lord, for now I perceive and feel the Countenance of Christ, my Redeemer, is turned towards me, and the bright shining Beams of his Mercy are spread over me: Oh happy am I that ever I was Born, to see this Blessed day: Praise, praise, Oh praise the Lord for his Mercies, for He hath brought me out of darkness, and the shadow of death! O my sweet Saviour! shall I be one with thee, as thou art one with thy Father? and wilt thou Glorify me with that Glory which thou hadst with the Father before the World was? And dost thou so love me that am but Dust and Ashes, as to make me partaker of Glory with Christ? What am I, poor Wretch, that thou art so mindful of me? Oh how wonderful, how wonderful, how wonderful is thy Love? To a Christian Friend that came to see her, wondering at her joys; she said, O the joys, the joys, the joys that I feel in my soul! they be wonderful, they be wonderful, they be wonderful! Thus she was ravished in Spirit, and triumphed in the praises of God. At last, with a sweet Countenance and still Voice, she said, My Warfare is accomplished, and mine Iniquities are pardoned: Lord, whom have I in Heaven but thee? And I have none on Earth but thee: My Flesh faileth, and my Heart also, but God is the strength of mine Heart, and my Portion for ever. He that preserveth Jacob, and defendeth his Israel, he is my God, and will guide me unto Death. Guide me O Lord, my God, and suffer me not to faint, but keep my soul in safety, and with that she presently fell asleep in the Lord. Mr. John Holland, an eminent Saint and Preacher of the Gospel, did wonderfully raise and comfort himself with the holy Scriptures; even in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, his Heart was replenished with Heavenly Thoughts and Delights. The Day before he died, he called for the holy Bible with these very words, Come, O come! Death approacheth, let us gather some Flowers to comfort in this Hour: And, turning with his own Hands to the Eight Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, he gave me the Book (saith Mr. Leigh, who relates these Passages in a printed Book) and bade me Read: At the end of every Verse, he made a Selah or Pause, and gave the Sense in such sort and feeling, as (we perceived) was much to his own Comfort, but more to our Joy and Wonder. Having thus continued his Meditation and Exposition for the space of two Hours, or more; on the sudden he said, O stay your reading; What Brightness is this I see? Have ye light up any Candles? To which it was Answered, No; It is the Sunshine: For, it was about five a Clock, in a clear Summer's-Evening. Sunshine (saith he?) nay, my Saviour's Shine: Now, farewell World, welcome Heaven; The Day- Star from on high hath visited mine Heart. O speak it when I am gone, and Preach it at my Funeral, That God dealeth familiarly with Man! I feel his Mercy, I see his Majesty, whether in the Body or out of the Body, I cannot tell; God, He knoweth; But, I see Things that are unutterable: And, raising himself, as Jacob did upon his Staff, he shut up his blessed Life, with these blessed words; O, What a happy Change shall I make! from Night to Day, from Darkness to Light; from Death to Life, from Sorrow to Solace; from a factious World, to a Heavenly Being: O my dear Brothers, Sisters, and Friends, it pitieth me to leave you behind; yet, Remember my Death when I am gone: And, what I now feel, I hope you shall find ere you die, That God doth and will deal familiarly with Men. And now thou fiery Chariot, that came down to fetch up Eliah, carry me to my happy Hold; And all ye blessed Angels, who attended the Soul of Lazarus to bring it up to Heaven, bear me, O bear me into the Bosom of my best Beloved; Amen, Amen. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. And so he fell asleep. O therefore, every thy Soul with those Heavenly Treasures, and fill thy Heart with those blessed Truths, and Divine Mysteries, that are contained in the Scriptures; as the Saints whom I have mentioned, and many thousands more have done in their great Straits and Temptations. Acknowledge the Goodness of God, and magnify the Riches of his Grace towards poor Sinners: Many and wonderful, O Lord my God, are Thy Thoughts to us-ward, they are more than can be numbered, Psal. 40.5. And again, How precious are thy Thoughts unto me, O God? How great is the Sum of them, Psal. 139.17. Now, that thou may'st, have a right and spiritual understanding of the Holy Scriptures (whilst thou readest them) for the benefit and comfort of thy sad disconsolate soul: First, Beg Wisdom of the only Wise God, who gives liberally and upbraideth not, Jam. 1.5. that by God's Wisdom thou mayest know God's Mind, and discern the true sense and meaning of the Scriptures by the Assistance of the Divine Spirit which Indicted the same. What the Woman said of Jacob's-Well, may be truly affirmed of the Scriptures; Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the Well is deep, John 4.11. Scripture mysteries are profound, and our Capacities but shallow; desire the Lord therefore to anoint thine eyes with Eyesalve, that thou mayest see; and to open thine Understanding, that thou may'st rightly and spiritually understand the Scriptures, Rev. 3.18. Psal. 119.18. Luk. 24.45. Luther professed, that he got more Understanding by Prayer than by all his Study besides. Secondly: Labour for a truly gracious Spirit, which being once attained, thou wilt be able to penetrate into the inward Marrow and mystery of the Holy Scriptures. He will best comprehend the true sense of Scripture in his head, that hath it written and impressed upon his heart. Thou wilt never (as one truly observes) understand Paul's meaning, unless thou art endued with Paul's spirit. The Secret of God is with them that fear him, and he will show them his Covenant, Psal. 25.12, 14. And Christ in the Gospel, will manifest himself to them that Love him; and such shall know the mind of the Lord, Joh. 14.21, 22, 23. Thirdly: Come to the reading and perusing of the Scriptures with an humble selfdenying frame of heart, and be not puffed up with a vain Conceit of thine own knowledge and attainments. He that thinks he knows any thing, knows nothing yet as he ought to know, 1 Cor. 8.2. Empty Vessels are most receptive, and so are self-emptied Christians. It's a great help to Knowledge, not to be ignorant of our Ignorance. * Deo meo gratias ago quod Ignorantiam meam non ignoro. The fruitful showers quickly glide away from the lofty Hills; But they stay and smoke in the Low-Valleys. God, who resists the Proud, gives Grace and Spiritual Knowledge to the humble: With the Lowly is true Wisdom, Prov. 11.2. And the Meek and Humble he will teach his Way, Psal. 25.9. Math. 11.25. Fourthly: Observe and eye Christ, and Salvation by him, as the very Scope, Marrow, and Substance of the whole Scriptures: What are the Scriptures, but as it were the Spiritual swadling-Cloaths of the Holy Child Jesus? He is the Truth and Substance of all the Types and Shadows: He is the Matter and Quintessence of the Covenant of Grace, under all the Administrations thereof. The Centre of all the Promises, In whom they are, yea, and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. The Thing signified, sealed, and exhibited in all the Sacraments of the Old and New-Testament. The holy Scripture, What is it else but Christ's Light, whereby we come to know him? Christ's Voice, whereby we hear and follow Him? and Christ's Cords of Love, whereby we are drawn into sweet Union and Fellowship with Him? But to Conclude; Suppose thou shouldst have Breach upon Breach, and still remain a sad pensive Soul, all thy Days here in this Life, without any Spiritual Comfort or Inlargment (after all thy Wrestle and Endeavours), it may be for twenty, thirty, or forty Years; yet, What is this to Eternity? What if it were for a hundred Years, so thou comest to Heaven at last, and escap'st those Everlasting Torments, which are prepared for the Wicked? Ye shall weep and lament (saith Christ to his Disciples, Joh. 16.20.), but the World shall rejoice; Yea, but your Sorrow shall be turned into Joy, and the World's Rejoicing into Sorrow and Lamentation. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be Comforted, Math. 5.4. The Lord supports his People by the secret powerful Influence of his Grace, whilst they walk in darkness, and want the Light of Spiritual Consolation. And here let us consider these four things: (1.) God doth never totally desert his Saints: The Lord will not forsake his People for his great Name's sake, 1 Sam. 12.22. He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, Heb. 13.5. The Words are Emphatical: Here is a Duplication of the Subject of the Promise, I will not leave, I will not forsake: And a Multiplication of Negatives; no fewer than five Negatives, by which God intimates, That he will not, yea, he will not, surely he will not forsake his Servants; He will never wholly reject them, nor utterly leave them: If he leave them, 'tis but for a Season; If he go from them, 'tis but as one that goes from home, to return speedily again: I will not (saith Christ) leave you Comfortless, or as Orphans at Six and Seven; but I will come to you, Joh. 14.18. He may sometimes frown, but he will smile again: If at any time his Compassions towards his People seem to be restrained, yet they cannot be extinguished. (2.) Though God may vary in the Operations of his Love; yet his Love in itself, is still the same, and shall be the same forever, Jer. 31.3. Psal. 89.30, 44. Joh. 13.1. In the Summer, there's Light inherent in the Sun, and Light fluent from the Sun; That's ever perfect and permanent; but this may suffer Changes, and be obscured, as in the Night it happens. The Root doth not always give so much Sapp to the Branches, as to make them Budd and Blossom; yet she doth always stick close to them, and influence and maintain them. A Father may have a dear Love to his Child, and yet show but little of it in his Carriage, as David towards his Son Absalon; and so it may be in this Case. (3.) When God hides his Face from his People, he withholds those Acts of Love only, that are for their well-being; not those that are for their being. Though a true Christian may want that, without which he cannot have Comfort; yet he shall never want that, without which he cannot live: In this respect, God never withholds any good Thing from them that walk uprightly, Psal. 84.11. (4.) A Christian may miss much of the External Presence of God, and yet enjoy inward Communion with him; He may want the Comforting Presence of God, (in respect of Soul-ravishing Joys and Inlargements) and yet at the same time, partake of the powerful gracious Influence of the Spirit of God, for his Sustentation and Support: This doth never utterly forsake him: And this is ofttimes most in Power, when it is least in outward show and Appearance; and Saints have most of God, when they see him least; whose gracious Power may, and doth operate effectually, where there is but little Sense and Feeling of it. Metals that lie deep under Ground, and see not the Heavens; yet partake of their Powerful Influence. When God covered Moses his Face in the Cleft of the Rock, Exod. 33.22. then did he pass by, and gave Moses to see his Glory: So, the Clouds and Veils, which now cover the Eyes of many Pensive disconsolate Christians, are often Forerunners of the Clearest Light, and most Soul-ravishing Sight of God. However (poor Soul) be content to remain for a while in this World, without these Soul-ravishing Joys, and Tastes of Heaven, (if God will have it so): Doubtless, there's a great Difference betwixt the Condition of Saints in the Church- Militant, and the Church- Triumphant. Heaven, at last, will make amends for All; and that glorious Communion with God, which is Reserved for the Saints in the Church- Triumphant, will Countervail all the Sad and Sorrowful Thoughts, Pressures, and Temptations, which now they are exposed unto, in their Militant Estate and Condition. FINIS. The CONTENTS of this small Tract, touching Sad Disconsolate Thoughts. Text. Psal. 94.19. Opened and Explained. Observation. Saints should Watch against Sad, Melancholy, Unbelieving Thoughts. I. Such Sad Disconsolate Thoughts, are here described. II. The Causes of them are set down. First: Bodily distempers, especially Melancholy, do partly cause them. Secondly: There are spiritual Causes of these Sad Thoughts. As 1. Those remaining Principles of Carnal Reason and Unbelief that are in the Saints. 2. They are Caused by a deep sense of Sin, and the desert of it. 3. By Spiritual Desertion, or Gods hiding His Face from the Soul. 4. From the Sad apprehension of Divine wrath and displeasure. 5. From the Violent Temptations and Injections of Satan, the Prince of Darkness. 6. By looking at Death in the Terrible Glass of the violated Law of God. The CURE of these Sad Thoughts. I. IF Melancholy be the Cause, then use the means which God has appointed for the Cure of it. As 1. Use Physic, moderate Exercise, good Diet. 2. Let your Converse be with Wise, Compassionate Christians, that have had experience of this sad Distemper, and of Remedies against it. 3. Consider, though the cure of Melancholy be a torture to Physicians, yet God can easily Rebuke it. II. If your Sad Thoughts be caused by Spiritual Distempers, Then, 1. In General, endeavour to Comfort these Sad Thoughts by applying spiritual Remedies. 2. Often chide yourselves for these Sad Unbelieving Thoughts. More particularly, First: Does Satan, that Spirit of Darkness, work upon thy Melancholy distemper, Unbelief, Carnal Reason? Then take to thee the Shield of Faith, that thou mayest quench his fiery Darts. Secondly: If thy Sins make thee Sad, and press thee down, go to Christ, who freely Invites the Soul that's burdened and heavy laden. Thirdly: If at present thou dost not behold the Face of God with joy, yet consider His Love is Unchangeable, and whom He Loves once, He loves for ever. Fourthly: If thou hast Sad Apprehensions of Divine Wrath and Displeasure, remember that Christ thy Surety, has borne the Wrath of God for Sinners. Fifthly: If thou art Tempted by Satanical Injections to Blasphemy, etc. and dost abhor and resist the Temptation? Consider it is thy Trial, not thy Sin. Sixthly: If the fear of Death cause Sad Thoughts, learn to look at Death in the comfortable Glass of the Gospel of Christ. Some further Directions for a poor Soul that's perplexed with Sad and dark Thoughts. I. Direction. Call to Remembrance, and improve former evidences of God's Love and Kindness to you. II. Plead and expostulate humbly with God when He seems to hid His Face from thee. This Direction is drawn out and enlarged in five particulars. III. Improve the Soul sorrows and sufferings of Christ, who bore the wrath of God in His Soul, that thy soul might rejoice in God. iv Renew thy Faith and Repentance in good earnest, as if hitherto thou hadst never done it to purpose. V Trust in the Name of God Jehovah for Comfort and Salvation: There's enough in this Name to support thee under all thy sad pressures. VI Furnish thyself with fit matter out of the Holy Scriptures for Heavenly Thoughts and Meditations. This was the practice of the Prophet David. Of Job who esteemed the Word of God more than his necessary Food. Of Nepotianus, whom Hierom speaks of. Of Augustin, and his dear Friend Alipius. Of Mr. Bilney, Martyr. Of Bishop Latimer, Martyr. Of Alice Benden, Martyr. Of Mrs. Katherine Brettergh. Of Mr. John Holland, an Eminent Saint, and Preacher of the Gospel. Rules to be observed in reading the Sacred Scriptures for the Comfort of a Sad Disconsolate Soul. 1. Rule. Beg Heavenly Wisdom of God, that thou mayst discern the true sense of Scripture. 2. Labour for a truly gracious spirit. 3. Come to the Reading of Scripture, for thy Comfort, with a Humble, Teachable, Selfdenying frame of heart. 4. Eye Christ for thy Comfort and Salvation, as the chief scope, marrow, and substance of the Scriptures. Here are four Considerations subjoined. 1. Consid. God never totally deserts his Saints. 2. Though God may vary in the Operations and Manifestations of His Love, yet His Love in itself, is still the same, Constant and Everlasting, 3. That those acts of Divine Love, which tend to the Essence and being of a true Christian, God never withholds from him. 4. A Christian may want the sensible Presence of God, as to Spiritual joys and inlargements, and yet at the same time partake of the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost for his Support. Books Printed, and are to be Sold by Benjamin Harris, at the Stationers-Arms, at the East-end of the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill. Quarto. THE Mathematical Jewel. price 3 s. Newton's Help to Calculation, price 2 s. Octavo, and Twelves. Lord Hale's Contemplations, Moral and Divine; the First and Second Part. price, 10 s. 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