BV 4831. B69 T7 1831
Bolton, Robert, 1572-1631
A treatise on comforting
afflicted consciences
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ADDRESS.
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ADDRESS.
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ADDRESS.
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LONDON :
O.WOOD AND SON, POPPIN'S COURT, FLEET STREET.
A TREATISE
ON COMFORTING
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES:
WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1G20,
BY
ROBERTBOLTON, B. D.
MINISTER OF BROUGHTON IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ;
AVITK
AN INTRODUCTION AND MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR,
BY
THE REV. J. F. DENHAM.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THOMAS TEGG AND SON,
73, CHEAPSIDE;
R. GRIFFIN AND CO. GLASGOW; AND TEGG, WISE, AND CO.
DUBLIN.
INTRODUCTION.
The following definition of Conscience seems to be
sanctioned by an eminent writer* : — A native tendency
in the mind of man to contemplate the actions of him-
self and others, united to a susceptibility of deriving
pleasure or dissatisfaction from the perception of them
as moral or immoral.
This definition, although so framed as to include
every thing which seems to be known with certainty
on the subject, is nevertheless considered by many as
liable to controversy. Some would object to conscience
being called a native tendency of the mind, and main-
tain that it should be considered as an acquired capa-
bility. Others allow, that man really possesses such
an original capability, but contend that it approves or
condemns actions, not according as they are right or
wrong in themselves, but according as mankind are
taught by education so to consider them. It is evident
that each of these several opinions cannot be correct,
and no less so, that it is highly desirable to ascertain
which of them is so ; not only upon the general prin-
ciple that correct ideas on all topics are to be preferred,
* Dr. Thomas Browa.
iv INTRODUCTION.
but also because of the difference in the jiractical con-
sequences which attend each of these theories.
If the theory stated in the definition be admitted,
our \'iews of the moral nature of man will be greatly
elevated. We must thenceforward regard him as
showing from his construction, that he was intended
by his Creator for the highest species of moral
agency ; that he was designed to act not merely ac-
cording to the supposed effect of his conduct upon so-
ciety, but agreeably to the intrinsic and immutable
nature of truth. His responsibility would at the same
time seem to be greatly enhanced by the possession of
a susceptibility, which enables him to discern whether
an action be right or wrong with as much precision
as the palate of his mouth enables him to distinguish
sweetness from bitterness. It would also follow, that
moral instruction should be greatly conducted with a
view to it ; and that instead of the modern mode of
estimating the qualities of an action by forming an
estimate of its expediency, we should with ancient
moralists make our appeal to the preference or dislike
of our inward emotions.
They who adopt the opinion that conscience is an
acquired capabihty, must admit the conclusion, that
the moral part of our constitution is comparatively
destitute of guidance.
The reception of the third theory, that the suscepti-
bility is original, but depends for its application on
accidental circumstances, will conduct to consequences
nearly similar, since the difference is but little between
not possessing an instinct and possessing an instinct
not determined to its object.
It may be allowed to examine and reply to the oh-
INTRODUCTION. v
jections brought to show that the principle called con-
science is an acquired property of the mind, to offer
some considerations which would render the opposite
opinion the most probable, and then to urge the direct
arguments by which it seems to be supported. This
endeavour may the more readily be admitted, since the
ensuing treatise contains no information upon the na-
ture of conscience, but simply describes its emotions
when distressed, and the method of assuaging them by
applying the truths of the gospel.
1. The objections urged to show that conscience is not
an original faculty of the human mind communicated
to it by the Creator, but acquired by our circumstances,
are of the following nature : —
That if it were so, its effects would be uniform ; that
we should consequently observe all mankind entertain-
ing the same feelings towards the same actions, and
therefore pursuing the same conduct. Instead how-
ever of this similarity, we may learn from histories
and travels that there is not a single crime, which has
not been publicly countenanced in some age or coun-
try. Theft, which is considered as dishonourable and
worthy of punishment by most nations, was not only,
tolerated but even encouraged at Sparta. In this
country it is deemed meritorious to maintain aged and
indigent parents, and no less so in North America to
kill them out of the way. Suicide itself, which is
usually thought in Christian countries to be so hope-
less and atrocious a crime, has had its advocates among
the ancient philosophers. Humane treatment of cap-
tives is regarded as honourable and virtuous in this
quarter of the globe, and not less so by a wild Ame-
vi INTRODUCTION.
rican to destroy them by the slowest and most in-
human tortures.
That even among ourselves we m.ay hear the same
act applauded or censured, tolerated or disallowed, ac-
cording to the circle of the society in which we may
move.
That this variety and even opposition observable in
the sentiments of mankind, seem little to favour the
supposition that we possess a native perception of the
difference of actions *.
The validity of these instances is acknowledged, and
also that they might be indefinitely multiplied. Upon
a more minute investigation, however, they will be
found less applicable to the purpose for which they are
adduced than might at first be expected. It is replied,
that these contrarieties are to be ascribed not to the
absence of a moral instinct in the mind of man, but
to some peculiar advantage supposed to attend them,
which attracts the mind aside from its natural action.
Thus when a Spartan considered theft in the abstract,
as the possession of another's property against his
will, and as attended with no other consequence than
the production of so much evil, it might suggest ex-
actly the same emotions in his mind as it would do in
the mind of a respectable Englishman. Let the Spar-
tans, however, be induced to believe, that, owing to
the character and power of their oppressors, to se-
crete and carry off property with agility would be a
useful qualification, and we can understand how theft
itself for the sake of this supposed advantage might
* Paley's IMoral Philosophy, chapter v.
INTRODUCTION. vii
seem allowable, and even become a branch of education
among the Lacedemonians. The same distinction will
reconcile the conduct of the American savages con-
sistently with the existence of a moral sense. The
general accounts given of this custom represent it as
a religious ceremony. The power of superstition is well
known to be in proportion to the ignorance of the hu-
man mind. In the mind of these savages adherence to
ancient customs or the imitation of their deities might
possibly operate so strongly as to overcome the sugges-
tion of natural conscience. Suicide also may falla-
ciously seem to be palliated or even rendered allowable
by the peculiarity of circumstances. The impulse of
revenge may overcome the suggestions of conscience
so far as to permit the horrible treatment of their ene-
mies by the New Zealanders, who nevertheless would
feel as we should in reference to killing and devouring
a friend or fellow-countryman. In these, and perhaps
all similar instances, it is easy to discover some ad-
vantage which is supposed to attend the action, and
for the sake of which the mind becomes (improperly)
reconciled to it, whereas it would have ins^^^antly re-
jected it if contemplated without it. If instances could
be adduced in which mankind have acted in opposition
to the obvious dictates of morality uninfluenced by
some such consideration, then the existence of con-
science as an original sense would be opposed by an
unanswerable objection. But where was it ever known
that nations or individuals allowed or abetted theft as
an act unconnected with the supposed advantage of
themselves or others ? Where is the tribe who destroy
their aged parents as an action indiflFerent in its con-
sequence upon their own happiness.' Where is the
viii INTRODUCTION.
writer that ever advocated suicide as allowable, when
considered in itself ?
These, then, and similar cases fail, when urged as
objections against the doctrine, that conscience is an
original principle, because they do not result from the
simple action of our emotions, but from them when
perturbed and biassed by adequate causes.
The consideration of these perturbing causes has
given rise however to another objection, urged by no
less an authority than Mr. Locke. The substance of it
is, that it is highly unreasonable to suppose that any
law of nature, for such this representation of con-
science would render it, should thus become liable to
interruption.
It is replied, that this objection does not include
sufficient regard to the nature of man as a moral agent.
The laws which relate to the moral part of man's
nature are different from those by which the material
world is governed. The latter are probably no less
efficient now than at the creation, but the character
of man as a free agent renders it likely that his powers
both of body and of mind should be liable to be affected
by his own voluntary conduct. It is further urged,
that the objection overlooks the fact, that other unques-
tionable instincts of our nature may be similarly af-
fected. Self-preservation will surely be ranked among
them ; and yet it is evident that it is liable to become
altogether counteracted, " Whatever cheapens life
abates the fear of death*." Unhappy persons under
the consciousness of sin, and ignorant of the character
of God as a Father, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, evi-
* Dr. Youug'.
INTRODUCTION. ix
dently balance between the agonies of remorse, the
dread of punishment, the pains of death, and the pos-
sibility of future anguish ; and as the least of evils,
desperately lift their hands against theniselves, and
violate the tabernacle of their own life. If one sus-
ceptibility so powerful as that of self-love may thus
become obviated, why may not another ?
The just idea of conscience admits this possibility.
It has regard to the acknowledged law of the human
mind, that the suggestions of one set of feelings may
be affected and even overcome by the greater force of
those of another. Thus the murderer, who has long
cherished his revenge, and ultimately sees his victim
within his grasp, may probably destroy him without
repugnance. He may draw the poignard from his
quivering breast with no other feelings than the satis-
faction arising from the achievement of a long-intended
project. It is afterwards, when this revenge has been
gratified, and the natural action of his feelings is
restored, that he awakens to the witherings of re-
morse. He was at the time of the deed insusceptible
of them, for the same reason that he was also incapa-
ble of telling at that moment the cube of nine or the
square of sixteen. The return of the degree of quies-
cence necessary for the performance of an arithmetical
process, would witness the returning action of the
moral sense.
It has been beautifully said, that " the heart of man
may be allegorically represented by an island level with
the water which bathes it. On the pure white marble
of the island are engraved the precepts of the law of
nature. Near them is one who bends his eyes upon
the inscription, and reads it aloud. This is the genius
b
X INTRODUCTION.
of the island, the lover of virtue. The water is in
perpetual agitation. The slightest zeph}'T wafts it
into billows. It then covers the inscription : we no
longer see the characters : we no longer hear con-
science read them. But the calm soon rises from the
bosom of the ocean. The island reappears as before,
and conscience resumes its employment*." It seems
therefore no valid objection against the existence of the
moral instinct to urge that it is liable to counter-
action.
A further objection is derived from the fact, that it
scarcely operates at all in infancy, and from its gra-
dually becoming stronger with advancing age, a cir-
cumstance which would seem to favour the idea of its
being an acquired rather than an original principle.
It may however be replied, that this is nothing more
than is true respecting other of our susceptibilities,
which have ever been deemed to be instinctive. The
instinct of self-preservation, for instance, which causes
the eye to close upon the near approach to it of a dan-
gerous object, and the hands to be raised when we are
in danger of falling, scarcely operates at all in infancy.
It begins to operate when it is needed, when the aug-
mented strength of the child renders it less dependent
upon the parents, and when therefore it is more ex-
posed to personal danger. So the moral instinct may
be imagined to remain dormant, without inducing any
doubt as to its existence, till the maturity of our
powers generally may have prepared us to enter upon
the period of our responsibility.
It has been further oljected, that if there had been
INTRODUCTION. xi
such an original power in the mind, there must also
have been implanted within us an idea of the object to
which it was to be directed. The possession of the
instinct supposes the possession of ideas of the actions
to be approved or disapproved by it : but we possess no
sucli ideas, and therefore have no such instinct *.
The same objection, however, would lie against the
existence of every power of the human mind, as
original. It is acknowledged upon all hands that we
possess a capacity of intuitively perceiving the relation
of numbers, as soon as we understand the terms in
which the proposition is stated. There is no nation in
which it could not be true, and perceived to be so by
the inhabitants, that four are to twenty as twenty to a
hundred. Yet though all mankind perceive this truth
intuitively, no one contends as necessary to intuition
that we should also possess an idea of all the possible
propositions in numbers to which it is to be directed.
In this respect the human eye and the natural con-
science are similar. The human eye is adapted to the
perception of objects. It is so equally whether these
objects may or may not have been presented to it : it
would perceive and distinguish them if they were. So
the susceptibility of conscience to derive pleasure or
pain from good or evil actions may exist independently
of being exercised. It is however ready to operate,
true to its office, whenever they may be presented by
experience or observation.
It has also been objected against the doctrine that
conscience is a native and original faculty, that our
perceptions of right and wrong, upon this supposition,
* Locke's Essay on the Human Understanding, book i, ch.iv, 5 19.
xii INTRODUCTION.
are mere impressions : that our minds are adapted to be
affected by them in the same involuntary manner as our
bodily senses ai'e by the qualities of the different objects
presented to them : that in consequence, we are no more
culpable or praiseworthy for our good or evil conduct,
than we are for our ideas of sweet and bitter, pleasure
and pain : that, in a word, the existence of natural
conscience militates against the perfect responsibility
of man.
To this it is replied, that the suggestions of con-
science are neither so powerful as to constrain the volun-
tary powers of man, nor so weak or transient as to allow
of any excuse derived from want of sufficient direction.
2. There are several considerations derived from the
nature of circumstances, which would seem to render
it probable that such an original faculty as conscience
would have been imparted to mankind.
It is conceded, that owing to the limitation of our
powers we should be exceedingly cautious how far we
speculate concerning what might or might not be ex-
pected in the intricate, multiform, immense government
of God, That which might seem likely at one stage of
our attainments, may seem to be much less so at
another. Still it is submitted, that the circumstances
of man as a moral agent admit of one presumption,
which seems as much as any other to be well founded :
it is, that man would be endowed by the Creator with
the faculty of natural conscience. The mind of man
is the source of all his actions, and consequently of all
their immediate and remote effects upon himself and
others, not only throughout the limits of time, but
throughout eternity itself, it would hence seem likely
in the highest degree, that it should be furnished with
INTRODUCTION. xiii
some presiding- principle. This expectation is con-
firmed by observing the universal provision made, in
the laws which regulate material worlds, for the at-
tainment of the purposes they were intended to answer.
This is no less true respecting the intellectual powers
of man ; for though the operations of the laws which
regulate mind are exceedingly complex in their opera-
tion, and traced with much difficulty, yet there is rea-
son to believe that the minutest modifications of our
perceptions are the consequences of the operation of
fixed laws, equally as the form of a crystal. It
would seem therefore most unlikely, that the pre-
cision of purpose provided for in every other portion
of the Creator's works, should be wanting in refer-
ence to the conduct of the highest race of beings in-
habiting the earth.
If we reflect, that God intended the happiness of his
creatures when he formed them, and that he has indis-
solubly connected their happiness with their conduct,
we shall gain an additional probability that some prin-
ciple would have been communicated to his mind, cal-
culated to direct his conduct. The extreme desirable-
ness of such a constitution would seem to render it
very likely that it would obtain in the government of a
being of perfect wisdom and perfect benevolence.
An additional probability that man would be endued
with natural conscience is derived from the fact, that
in its absence he would be thrown for his guidance
upon the resources of his mere reasoning powers. But
the obvious disadvantages of such a state of things
render it unlikely that it should exist. The life of man
is exceedingly brief. Some questions in morals are so
intricate, that even supposing man to be earnestly
b 3
xiv INTRODUCTION.
addicted to the investigation, his whole life would be
nearly consumed in adjusting his principles. As soon
almost as he began to act, he would be summoned out of
the world. These disadvantages would be unavoidable,
supposing that all mankind were devoted to the study
of morals, and anxiously bent upon discovering their
duty. But in the state of things which actually exists,
wherein mankind are compelled from the very nature
of their circumstances to devote so much attention to
the cares of subsistence, and so few even of those who
are exempt from them seem inclined to habits of
serious thought of any kind, it is clear, that, upon
this supposition, acting right would be the privilege
only of the contemplative few.
The doctrine which we are now labouring to esta-
blish is attended with all the advantages which man-
kind so eminently need. It supposes man to be
furnished with a faculty that enables him to discrimi-
nate the nature of actions, attended with a susceptibi-
lity so vivid and acute as to render regard to its dic-
tates essential to his happiness : that to obey it
converts existence into a pleasure and a blessing, and
to have violated it entails upon him the severest
wretchedness he can endure. At the same time the
operation of this faculty is directed to almost every
duty upon which the social happiness of mankind de-
pends. It reaches a multitude of cases which the
wisest human laws cannot include in their enactments.
Human laws may prevent the grosser forms of fraud
and violence, by setting against them penalties so
severe as to render them no longer desirable to the
depraved. But there ai'e ten thousand acts of cruelty,
iinkindness, and dishonesty, which they cannot check.
INTRODUCTION. xv
Much unkindness and neglect and insolence may be
shown to servants, tenants, and to helpless dependents,
and yet the individual remain exempt from the punish-
ment of the laws. The base arts with which the
seducer steals the assent of confiding innocence, as
literally as if he abstracted property from a dwelling
house, cannot be checked by human law. There are
unnumbered devices by which the villain may entangle
and circumvent and withhold the property of the widow
and the orphan, which evade the cognizance of human
laws. Against these and ten thousand other acts of
oppression, the great Father of all has interposed by
transfusing into our nature a few simple feelings. A
horror lowers upon the heart of the unprincipled man,
when he contemplates an act of cruelty or of injury,
which preserves him so far guiltless, and his intended
victim safe. He feels within him a preparation for his
punishment before he becomes guilty : he hears a voice,
heard by none but himself, but which will be heard by
him, telling him that his own soul shall become his
accuser; assuring him also, that there is a voice in
every other human bosom ready to join its reproaches
with his own, and to render his life one continued
scene of agony from within and of execration from
without. The immense utility of such a principle
renders it highly probable that it would be bestowed.
3. It may now be permitted to state the direct proofs
which establish the opinion that conscience is an origi-
nal faculty.
An eminent writer* asserts, that in all languages
there are words which signify duty and interest : that
although these terms coincide in their application,
* Dugald Stewart.
xvi INTRODUCTION.
since whatever is our duty is also our interest, yet that
we never confound them, either in the use we make of
them, or in the feelings which they severally excite
within our minds. By duty we mean something that
ought to be done : by interest something which it
would conduce to our well-being to perform. The per-
ception of duty is prompt and unreasoning, and excites
a degree of mental uneasiness till it be complied with.
Interest, on the other hand, is always discerned by us
as the result of a calculation to some intent or other.
It is however as vain and useless to attempt to distin-
guish between these terms by words, as it would
be by the same method to distinguish between the
odour of a violet and of a rose. The names them-
selves of duty and interest are sufficient to suggest
the distinction. It has been attempted by some phi-
losophers to resolve the one into the other, but our
consciousness rejects the amalgamation. When we act
spontaneously, and therefore naturally, we never even
think of the connection between them. The mind ac-
knowledges it upon reflection, but it requires a train of
reasoning to make it plain. It may indeed be useful
often to trace the connection, because the principle of
virtue thus becomes stronger, and its exercise more
delightful. But the emotions with which we contem-
plate actions do not result from perceiving it. It is not
the suggestions of interest which render us happy in
the unexpected welfare of a neighbour or a friend. It
is not interest which originates the feelings which
thi'ill our hearts when innocence and honesty have
escaped an intended oppression. It is not the principle
of interest which fills us with such satisfaction when
we behold a village through which we may pass, busy
and happy in securing the fruits of harvest. It is not
INTRODUCTION. xvii
interest which ministers the gratification which we
feel upon having fulfilled an engagement, or upon
being enabled to gratify the reasonable expectations
which we had excited. It is not self-interest which fills
the heart of the traveller with such indescribable emo-
tions upon the plain of Marathon or in the pass of
Thermopylae. If we imagine ourselves threading that
avenue to Greece where Leonidas and his three hundred
held at bay for five days the invader of their country
and his five millions, we may form some idea of the
surprise we should experience were some advocate of
the selfish system to disturb our emotions by the ques-
tion, whether we did not think they originated in the
perception, that acts of fortitude and patriotism in
general were connected, though remotely, with our
own well-being ?
The emotion comes first : the possible connection of
the action with our welfare comes afterwards. It
strikes the heart as an object strikes the eye : we ap-
prove it because it is lovely, and we are so constructed
as to approve it. In a similar manner the loathing and
abhorrence with which we contemplate cruelty or
fraud is instantaneous, and is excited by a view of the
object as it is in itself, and not by a perception of what
it may become to us. This quality of our moral emo-
tions, their independence upon our own interest, seems
to intimate that they originate in the action of an ori-
ginal and different faculty of the soul.
Another argument to the same eflfect is, that our
moral emotions are the same, whether the action,
good or evil, be known only to ourselves, or disclosed
to others : they are even independent of the considera-
tion that they are known to the Deity himself
" The first and greatest punishment of guilt," says
xviii INTRODUCTION.
Seneca*, "is to have been guilty. Nor can any crime,
though fortune should adorn it with her most lavish
bounty, as if protecting and consecrating it, pass by
unpunished ; because the punishment of the base and
atrocious deed lies in the baseness or atrocity of the
deed itself."
" Think not," says Cicero f, " that any one needs the
burning torches of the furies to agitate and torment him :
their own hands, their own crimes, their own remem-
brance of the past , and their terrors for the future, these
are the domestic furies which are ever present to the
mind of the impious." It is superfluous to state, yet
useful to remember, that these are quotations from the
works of persons who lived before the Christian era,
and who, from their being uninfluenced by the truths
of revelation, may be justly regarded as describing the
natural emotions of the human mind. The numerous
passages in which they delineate the pangs of a
wounded conscience, and the unmixed satisfactions
attending virtue, are among the most celebrated speci-
mens of their eloquence. So much indeed do the an-
cients refer the character of our actions to our internal
emotions, that their usual definitions of virtue and of
vice make them to consist in deviation from nature or
conformity to it. They also represent the emotions
derived from a good or evil action as arising simply
from the nature of the action in itself, and independently
of any other cause. Our own observation demonstrates
the accuracy of their statements. Instances have been
very numerous, in which crimes would probably for
ever have remained unknown to mankind, but the per-
petrators of them, unable to bear the solitary reproaches
* Epistle 9/.
t Orat. pro Sex, Roscio Araerino, sec. 24.
INTRODUCTION. xix
of their own hearts, have even many years afterwards
sought the melancholy relief to be derived from con-
fession and submission to justice.
" Fortune," says Seneca*, " may free men from ven-
geance, but it cannot free them from fear : it cannot
free them from the knowledge of that general scorn
and disgust which nature has so deeply fixed in all
mankind against the crimes which they have perpe-
trated. Amid the security of a thousand concealments,
they cannot think themselves secure from that hatred
which seems ever ready to burst upon them ; for con-
science is still with them, like a treacherous informer,
pointing them out to themselves."
To these may be added the testimony of a modern
writer f, who was scarcely less under the influence of
Christianity.
*' The wicked man fears and flies himself. He endea-
vours to be gay by wandering out of himself. He turns
around his unquiet eyes in search of some object of
amusement, that may make him forget what he really is.
Even then his pleasure is only a bitter raillery ; with-
out some sneer or contemptuous sarcasm he would for
ever be sad. On the contrary, the serenity of a good
man is internal. His smile is not a smile of malignity
but of joy. He bears the source of it within himself.
He is as gay when in the midst of the gay as when
alone. He does not derive his contentment from those
who approach him, he communicates it to them."
But these emotions, so prompt, so vivid, so inde-
pendent, seem to render it probable that they arise,
not from any acquired, but from an original suscepti-
* Epistle 97. t Hoiisseaii.
XX INTRODUCTION.
bility of the mind ; not from its habits, but from its
construction.
Another argument on the same side is derived from
the circumstance, that the same actions have been
regarded as virtuous or vicious in all ages. The details
of history are but little more than an account of
mutations. Perpetual mutations have taken place
in governments and literature. Similar alterations
are observable in the history of the various systems of
religion that have prevailed at different periods : the
objects of worship, and the modes by which they have
been adored, have all in their turn disappeared, and
given place to new deities and new rites. Amid this
perpetual alteration by which almost every thing has
been attended, it is remarkable that the general prin-
ciples of morality have been permanently acknow-
ledged. The same actions which were deemed vicious
or virtuous thousands of years ago, continue in the
same estimation. Generosity, gratitude, fidelity, in-
tegrity, justice, and kindness, have had a universal and
perpetual empire over the veneration of mankind.
Their opposite vices have never ascended from their
degradation. They have been recommended or con-
demned, not as the result of the adjudicature of their
tendencies on the social happiness of man, but as
exciting emotions of pleasure or disgust. This identity
of the virtues and vices in all ages, can only be
ascribed to the fixed laws, by which they are recog-
nized as such, implanted in the human heart.
" Cast your eyes," says Rousseau, " over all the na-
tions of the world, and all the histories of the nations.
Amid so many inhuman and absurd superstitions, amid
that prodigious diversity of opinions and characters.
INTRODUCTION, xxi
you will find everywhere the same principles and dis-
tinctions of moral good and evil. The paganism of the
ancient world produced indeed abominable gods, who
on earth would have been shunned or punished as
monsters; and who oflfered, as a picture of supreme
happiness, only vices to commit and passions to satiate.
But vice armed with this sacred authority, descended
in vain from the eternal abode : she found in the heart
of man a moral sentiment to repel her. The continence
of Xenocrates was admired by those who celebrated
the amours of Jupiter. The chaste Lucretia adored
the unchaste Venus. The intrepid warrior sacrificed to
Fear. The most contemptible divinities were served by
the gi'eatest men. The holy voice of nature, however,
stronger than that of the gods, made itself heard and
respected and obeyed on earth, and seemed to banish
as it were to the confinement of heaven both guilt and
the guilty."
A final argument may be drawn from the nature of
those emotions which we denominate a gratified or
wounded conscience.
It has been justly said, that the happiness derived from
the contemplation and especially from the conscious-
ness of virtue, is not capable, either in respect of its
nature or permanency, of being compared with any
other of our pleasures. Even the contemplation of
virtuous actions is peculiarly satisfactory' and refresh-
ing : the mind feels conscious that its attention is
worthily bestowed ; that it is gaining additional ability
for the purest enjoyments. Of this nature also are the
feelings with which we contemplate the scenes of great
actions, or the persons of those who are eminent for
excellence. Of the same nature, only raised in some
c
judi INTRODUCTION.
proportion to the incomparable superiority of the
object, are the emotions with which we contemplate
Him, whose being and character comprehend the union
of all possible excellence. The consciousness that we
have been enabled to perform a virtuous action, or to
persevere in the imitation of excellence without an
allowed deviation, administers a feeling of the same
delightful nature. The feelings produced by a long
perseverance in such a course, fill us with a pleasure,
to which the exulting consciousness of perfect health
in early youth perhaps aflfords the nearest, though still
an imperfect similitude. It is, in that expressive lan-
guage of Solomon, health to the bones. While, on the
other hand, the horror of remembered guilt afflicts us
like the recollection of some intolerably loathsome ob-
ject. In the sacred scriptures it is described by every
comparison which can express detestation, faintness,
and horror. The most expressive metaphor of all, per-
haps, is that of a wounded spirit. The hopeless, sick-
ening agony produced by a wound in some vital organ,
approaches in some degree, but can never adequately
represent the pangs of an accusing conscience. The
mind cankers with what it deems an inmedicable
wound. Unlike a bodily infirmity, the anguish of the
spirit does not grow more tolerable the longer it is
endured ; but, like the vitals of the fabled Prometheus,
the mind presents an everlasting material to the lace-
rations of remorse. All other painful topics which are
contemplated by the mind gradually lose their impres-
sion ; but the tale told by an angry conscience is ever
new. The mind becomes day by day even more sensi-
ble to the pangs of its scorpion scourge. Other causes
of mental distress are alleviated by change of scene :
INTRODUCTION. xxiii
but this follows the wretched creature everywhere.
Nature's loveliness appears scathed and tasteless to his
parched and agonizing heart. The wilderness offers no
solitude. Conscience pursues him through wilds never
trod by the camel : its hand is upon him though he
hide him in the lair of the crocodile amid the reeds
of Nilus. Now this incurable anguish, this acute
sense of degradation, this withering consciousness of
ill desert, admitting of no alleviation even from the soft-
ening hand of time, would seem to demonstrate that it
consists in a mischief far greater than the violation of
an acquired principle, however strong, but would seem
to be more like an oifence committed against an ori-
ginal law of human nature.
It is the design of the following treatise to describe
these emotions, and to explain the only method by
which they can be allayed. It will be found upon pe-
rusal to justify the sentiment of Dr. Doddridge * re-
specting it, that " it exhibits the traces of a soul most
intimately acquainted with God." The excellency of
the work consists in the use of language throughout
which most plainly and most accurately conveys the
author's meaning, in the communication of abundant
knowledge and experience, and in the natural employ-
ment of the most vivid and powerful descriptions.
The ensuing volume is a faithful transcript of the
original edition, with the exception of a few words,
which have been altered or omitted in order to render
it more intelligible and suitable to modern taste.
• Lectures on Preaching.
MEMOIR
OF
THE REV. ROBERT BOLTON.
It may be interesting to the reader to be furnished
with a few particulars respecting a man so truly emi-
nent for learning, talent, and godliness. This was the
■wish of the writer upon perusing the treatise, and he
would now endeavour to gratify a similar feeling in the
mind of others.
It seems that the Rev. Robert Bolton was born at
Blackbourne in Lancashire, on Whitsunday, in the year
1572. His parents were far from affluent, but yet upon
perceiving in him the signs of great natural abilities
in early life resolved to afford him a learned educa-
tion. Tills design was materially aided by the resi-
dence at that period of an eminent schoolmaster in
the grammar school. The progress made by him
appears to have been so great, that in the course of
comparatively a short time he rose to be the first boy.
The memoir of him written by a contemporary states
that he had the prerequisites for a scholar demanded
by Isocrates. He had excellent natural abilities ; a
sound constitution of bodyj a quick apprehension;
c 3
xxvi MEMOIR OF THE
great inquisitiveness, which led him to seek clear ap-
prehensions of every thing that was taught him ; a great
attachment to the pursuits of literature ; the capahility
of enduring great exertion with patience ; and was an
attentive and silent auditor to the conversations of
others, observing, and even noting down whatever
new ideas he collected from the observations of his
elders.
He continued at school till he was nearly twenty
years of age, and then removed to Lincoln College,
Oxford. The same success attended his studies at the
University. He acquired the notice of his superiors,
and was rapidly rising in general respect in the xmi-
versity, when his father, who was of course his de-
pendence, died, and his property seems for some un-
assigned reason to have entirely devolved to the
elder brother of our author.
It has been truly remarked, that difficulties which
overwhelm inferior minds serve but to exercise the
courage and to elicit the resources of those of an op-
posite character. There are few situations, perhaps,
in which these qualities would be more needed than in
the case of a young man at the university, whose
finances are either confined or doubtful. To be able
under these circumstances to sustain his mind from
depression, and especially to devote himself steadily to
the studies of the place, shows him to be possessed of
that consciousness of integrity, and of those mental
resources, which will inevitably lead to future emi-
nence.
The conduct of this author exhibits also his singular
conscientiousness in avoiding debt at a period of life
when the mind does not always so fully recognize the
REV. ROBERT BOLTON. xxvii
nature and importance of that obligation. The subject
of this account evinced his accurate sense of it by-
avoiding expenses, which others would have thought
allowable. He borrowed from his tutor and others,
says my authority, the best books on natural and
moral philosophy, and read them over with the utmost
diligence, wrote abridgments of them, and returned
them.
His industry appears at this time to have been very
praiseworthy. In order that he might attain an exact
knowledge of Homer, a book at that time of consider-
able importance at Oxford, he wrote out the whole of
the Iliad. The result of such perseverance and assiduity
was to enable him to converse or discourse in the
Greek language in the public schools with as much
facility as he possessed in his native tongue. Thus his
confined resources, which denied him access to ma7iy
books, conduced to his more perfect acquaintance with
a few, and by compelling him to transcribe them, his
mind became stored with a most comprehensive and
accurate knowledge of their contents.
In the course of a short time, however, he removed
from Lincoln College to Brazen-nose, with a view to a
fellowship ; because, by the statutes of that so-
ciety, Lancashire or Cheshire are entitled to election
in preference to others. He, however, resided there
for some time without the attainment of his object,
and amid the same straitened circumstances. His
merit as a scholar and as a man of integrity became
ultimately known, and through the timely and generous
aid of a resident fellow, he was probably appointed
one of the college lecturers. By the stipends arising
from this source he was upheld till he was about thirty
xxviii MEMOIR OF THE
years old, when he obtained a fellowship. He at the same
time proceeded to the degree of master of arts, and by
the exercises he pei'formed on the occasion obtained
so much celebrity as to be appointed reader of lectures
in logic and moral and natural philosophy in his own
college. He is said to have discharged the duties of
his office with such skill and diligence as to have ob-
tained the admiration of all who approved the con-
scientious fulfilment of engagements, as well as the
dislike of certain contemporary lecturers, who were
compelled, say my authorities, to " a more frequent and
painful reading of their lectures, which were seldom
and slightly performed before." As another proof of
the estimation in which he was held, he was chosen to
be one of the disputants before King James, in natural
philosophy, when that learned monarch first visited the
University of Oxford.
To his other attainments it is said that he added
eminence in metaphysics, mathematics, and the divinity
of the schoolmen.
Yet during this career of literary eminence, he re-
mained unaflFected by the truths of revealed religion.
He exhibited in his disposition and habits a convinc-
ing proof of the utter inadequacy of human attain-
ments to aflfect the corrupt bias of the human heart.
He appears to have even added to the number of in-
stances in which the greatest mental attainments are
associated with the greater inclination to sin ; as
if the Creator would demonstrate by such cases, that
the only source of rectitude is the influence of his
Holy Spirit, and that moral weakness and degrada-
tion may exist in inverse proportion to intellectual
strength.
REV. ROBERT BOLTON. xxix
He was, according to his own confession, at this pe-
riod much addicted to the amusements of the theatre
and of gaming ; practices, which although not con-
demned by any explicit declaration of scripture, are
yet infallibly renounced by the regenerated mind as
inconsistent with its sympathies and desires. He
also discloses, for the purposes no doubt of glorify-
ing the mercy and favour of God in his conver-
sion, that he had been addicted to the sins of pro-
fane swearing and sabbath-breaking; that he hailed
the festivals of the church as occasions on which he
might run into excesses, and derive a miserable ano-
dyne to his conscience from the fact that they were
instituted as seasons of joy. He describes in terms of
genuine humiliation his regret when they ended, and
he could no longer mingle with society, and derive
from the occasion a plea of unrestrained sensual en-
joyments. Along with this absence of goodness in
himself he evinced the utmost disdain and contempt
for those who illustrated in their character the conduct
of the sincere Christian. He expressed his spleen by
the usual method of calling names, and says, that he
considered when he could include a person within the
appellation of Puritan, that he had succeeded in divest-
ing him of all claim to sincerity, talent, or learning.
He describes himself to have peculiarly illustrated this
disposition upon a commencement Sunday at Cam-
bridge. An eminent minister of that day, of the name
of Perkins, was to preach. His remaining works show
that the estimation in which he was held was truly
deserved. He appears to have been regarded with
much veneration by several prelates of the church, and
XXX MEMOIR OF THE
especially by the Bishop of Salisbury of that time.
The plain, scriptural discourse delivered by him ex-
tremely displeased Mr. Bolton. He pronounced him,
he says, a barren, empty fellow, and a passing mean
scholar. He evidently expected to hear a learned dis-
course. His understanding would have been flattered
by those self-same truths which were uttered as the
oracles of God, being propounded to him in the shape
of argument. The conscious pride of intellectual
ability would have reconciled him to the sentiments,
if they had been thus offered to him ; but a simple state-
ment of truth as it is in itself had no charms for him,
because he neither recognized the supreme authority
of its great author, nor felt its suitableness to his own
necessities. It is, however, interesting to remark, that
after his conversion Mr. Bolton himself altered his
opinion respecting him, and considered him one of the
most godly and learned men the church of England
had ever enjoyed. He could then perceive another and
far superior excellence in his sermons, as consisting
in their being an exact impress of the truth of scrip-
ture, and as affording accurate descriptions of the
agency of spiritual truth upon the human mind.
While he remained at Brazen -nose college he con-
tracted an intimate acquaintance with a gentlemein of
the name of Anderton, who had been his schoolfellow.
He is represented as having been a Roman Catholic at
this period, and as having subsequently become an
eminent priest. This person seems to have earnestly
persuaded Mr. Bolton to enter the Roman Catholic
church, promising that his temporal interests also
should be greatly advanced by his conversion.
REV. ROBERT BOLTON. xxxi
He made a proposal that they should repair to an
English seminary on the Continent ; and Mr. Bolton so
far acceded as to appoint a place and day in Lancashire
in which they were to meet, embark, and be gone.
Mr. Bolton himself was faithful to his engagement,
but some unforeseen accident delayed the arrival of
Mr. Anderton : he therefore escaped from his under-
taking, and returned to Oxford. He soon after became
introduced to an eminent clergyman at Oxford of the
name of Peacock ; and through conversation with him
God was pleased to afford to him the knowledge of the
value and method of obtaining eternal life. The pro-
cess, however, was in his case different from that in
most others : it perhaps corresponded to his qualities
and habits of mind, and to the purposes which God had
intended him to answer in after-life. Instead of the
affections yielding under the attractive influence of the
love of Christ to mankind, and of his being thus gra-
dually brought to acknowledge the error and danger of
his ways, he appears to have been reclaimed with the
most appalling terrors. Often did he rise from his bed
in the night and pace his chamber under the deepest
agitation, upon beholding himself obnoxious to the
wrath of a just and holy God. The sins of his past
life, which he had either forgotten or not estimated as
such, appeared to his distracted conscience in all their
multitude and odiousness. He experienced also the
greatest augmentation of his misery from the assaults
of Satan, his mind being harassed with the most blas-
phemous and revolting ideas respecting the blessed
God. His biographer compares the strength of his
convictions of sin to those felt by Luther, who in his
epistle to Melancthon describes himself as being ren-
xxxii MEMOIR OF THE
dered by them destitute of speech or sight. This, how-
ever, seems in the case of the Reformer to have conti-
nued but one day, while the anguisli endm-ed by the sub-
ject of this sketch lasted for many months. He ultimately
however found p^ace with God, tlirough faith in the effi-
cacy of the atonement, and sufficiency of the righteous-
ness of the Mediator ; and then the wisdom of God in
this dispensation appeared by the fervent love of his de-
livered spirit, by his invincible resolution in the work
of God, and by an unequalled ability to comprehend and
to comfort the distresses of afflicted consciences.
The spontaneous wish of his mind seems to have
been, as in many similar instances, to devote himself
to the service and honour of that Redeemer, who had
thus enabled him to understand and love his character.
About the thirty-fifth year of his age, therefore, he
was ordained, and applied himself wholly to the en-
gagements of the ministry, devoting all the varied and
great resources of his understanding to that most ardu-
ous and yet most delightful of all occupations.
Soon after his entrance upon the ministry, he became
known to Mr. Justice Nicholls, at that time sergeant at
law, who within about two years afterwards presented
him to the living of Broughton in Northamptonshire.
When his patron announced to him his intention,
Dr. King, the bishop of London, happened to be pre-
sent ; and while he thanked him for Mr. Bolton, he
assured him that he had by his gift deprived the uni-
versity of one of its greatest ornaments.
He improved his retirement to a country village by
writing his first work, " A Discourse on True Happi-
ness." This he dedicated to his patron. It was soon
entirely bought up ; and many who were attracted to
REV. ROBERT BOLTON. xxxiii
the perusal of it by the eloquence of its style, were
led again to peruse it out of admiration of the instruc-
tion which it contained.
About the fortieth year of his age he married a lady
of the name of Royse, and-thenceforward devoted him-
self to the duties of his office with unremitting atten-
tion. He preached twice every Sunday during upwards
of twenty years, and catechized the children of the
parish every Sunday afternoon. Upon every holyday,
and on every Friday before the sacrament, he expounded
some chapter to his assembled parishioners ; and thus
in the course of his ministry he went over nearly every
chapter of the Old and New Testament. In these
exercises, as well as in his sermons, it was remarked
by the clergyman who preached his funeral sermon,
that he uttered nothing which might not have been
delivered before a learned auditory ; for though plain
enough to be understood by a husbandman, all he said
was so truly accurate and scriptural, as that the most
enlightened hearer might have listened with satisfac-
tion. His entire aim in his preaching seemed to be to
convert the souls of his auditors. This simplicity of
intention was peculiarly approved and honoured of God,
who by his ministry convinced many hundreds of their
spiritual need, and of the ability and willingness of the
Saviour to sanctify and to redeem.
He was especially eminent in his addresses to the
consciences of his hearers, whether his object was to
awaken or to console. He was consequently applied to
for his advice by great numbers. Many persons on the
Continent proposed cases for his solution. After having
been rendered eminently useful in this mode, he pub-
lished the following invaluable treatise, which may be
d
xxxiv MEMOIR OF THE
considered as the summary of his long experience and
profound observations upon one of the most interesting^
branches in theology.
His mode of preaching seems to have been a combi-
nation of earnestness and aflPection. Thus those who
were wounded by his appeals became healed by his
consolations. He appears to have been remarkable for
his bold and uncompromising exposure of sin in all ita
destructive and polluting influence upon the sinner;
and not less so in his fervent exhortations to all that
have believed in God, that for the sake of the gospel,
for their present comfort and future reward, they should
be careful to maintain good works. Like Luther, he
seems to have been prepared to sustain the hatred and
violence of the whole world. This led to his consum-
mate impartiality. Totally forgetful of every other
distinction among mankind than sin or holiness, he
delivered the will of God with an entire disregard of the
accidental or acquired distinctions of those present.
Still his zeal seems to have been tempered with dis-
cretion. He studiously avoids as highly dangerous the
minute description of his hearers, which might have
excited the mere displeasure of the sinner, not against
himself, but against the preacher. He appears to have
been anxious, at every step of his discourse, to adduce
the authority of the scriptures for his assertions ; and
to this very ready and appropriate usage of the word of
God, much of the success of his ministry, as a means
subordinate to the influences of the Spirit, may be
ascribed. May not one great reason why the discourses
of many able and excellent clergymen have not been
attended with similar advantage, be sought for in the
absence of that marked and even formal appeal to the
REV. ROBERT BOLTON. xxxv
word of God, which arms their discourses throughout
with a divine authority, while the utmost clearness of
statement without it, insensibly aflfects the hearer as
the mere excellent advice of a human being? The
practice may possibly be objected to, as producing a
roughness of style inconsistent with the finished charac-
ter of an elaborate sermon ; but experience has demon-
strated, that the absence of these comparatively trifling
qualities has been compensated by the achievement of
the great end of the ministry, the conversion of souls.
Another excellence of his ministry appears to have
consisted in his free and full offers of salvation to man-
kind through Christ, and in his thorough and perpetual
explanation of the nature and oflSces of the Mediator.
Often would he declare to his people, that it grieved
him to preach against their sins, to trouble and annoy
their consciences ; that he would be happy indeed to
preach the riches of the love and power of Christ all
bis days ; but that he knew no other mode of disen-
gaging them from the dominion of Satan, than by
urging upon them the consciousness of their unwor-
thiness and liability to perdition.
His piety towards God appears to have been so ge-
nuine and full of love, that his entire character, from
his conversion to his death, was unmarred by any de-
viation from the spirit of devotion.
His other excellent volume, " Directions for comfort-
ably walking with God," is said to have been composed
by him as a guide for himself, and was not originally
intended for publication.
His eminent attainments seem to have originated in
his extraordinary habits of devotion. His constant
habit was to pray six times in the day. He also kept
xxxvi MEMOIR OF THE
days for humiliation, especially before the communion,
which he performed with such ardour of spirit, that
one of his biographers says, " he used such humility,
and such fervency and faith with God, as if he had
been a child talking with his parent." So indefatigable
were the pains he took, both in preaching and in pri-
vate devotion, that when his physician advised him to
remit his diligence, he rejected his counsel, asserting,
that he chose rather to enjoy a sense of communion
with Christ, than the utmost strength and serenity of
health. As a proof of the simplicity and integrity of
his motive, it is said, that he refused to accept of
worldly advancement, though frequently offered him
from various quarters, simply because he would not be
separated from that scene in which his labours had
been so useful ; estimating, after the correct manner,
his respectability as a minister, not by the possession
of lucrative offices, but by the extent of his usefulness.
Amid all these singular qualifications, his wisdom
shone pre-eminent, insomuch that although he preached
twenty-two years with the greatest success and cele-
brity, no man even in those captious times could im-
pugn his doctrines, — another result of his habit of in-
cessantly proving the ti'uth of his assertions by the
declarations of scripture.
His singular charity must also be enumerated. From
the time he first possessed his living till his death, he
spent its entire revenues in the decent maintenance of
his family and in charity : he forbore to accumulate.
The poor of the village found in him a wise and ready
friend. Real distress made known its necessities with
the confidence of obtaining relief; while fictitious
wants, or those induced by dissipation, were seldom
REV. ROBERT BOLTON. xxxvii
obtruded upon his attention, owing to the penetration
with which he ascertained the real nature of an appli-
cation. Upon occasion of a very destructive fire, he
so interested the neighbouring gentry in the necessities
of his poor parishioners who had suffered, that without
aid from the government he caused their habitations to
be rebuilt, and their present wants to be supplied.
The time, however, of his departure drew nigh soon
after this event. A quartan ague attacked him in the
month of September before his death. The violence
of the paroxysms, and the weakness which it occa-
sioned, rendered it evident that it was attended with
the greatest danger. At a very early period of his ill-
ness he finally adjusted his worldly concerns, and then
gave himself up to preparation for death. He
had announced to his people his intention of preach-
ing to them upon the four last things, Death, Judg-
ment, Hell, and Heaven; a favourite division in his
days of the most solemn truths of the scriptures. He
proceeded through his course as far as the last ; but on
the preceding Saturday he became more seriously in-
disposed, and never again ascended his pulpit. His
illness however was greatly protracted, and often very
painful.
It is said, that during the intermissions of his dis-
order he was often heard to exclaim, " Oh, when will
this good hour come .'* when shall I be dissolved ?
when shall I be with Christ ? " Being told that it
would be better for him to depart and to be with
Christ ; but that it would be more profitable to his
people that he should remain, he i-eplied in the lan-
guage of David, " If I shall find favour in the eyes of
the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it
d 3
xxxviii MEMOIR OF THE
and his habitation : but if otherwise ; lo, here I am,
let him do what seemeth him good unto me" (2 Sam.
XV, 25, 26). He was asked by some one else, if he
would not be content to live, if God should grant hira
life : he replied in language which demonstrates the
strength and sincerity of his religious principles, " I
grant that this life is a blessing from God ; neither will I
neglect any means that may preserve it, and do greatly
desire to submit to the will of God ; but of the two, I
infinitely desire to depart and to be with Christ."
Great numbers of persons came to see him during
his last illness. He admitted but few however, urging
as his reason, that he might have the more time for
preparation to meet his God. To those who were ad-
mitted, he gave earnest and affectionate advice, agree -
ably to their respective occupations in life. In these
conversations with them the powers of his mind seemed
to exhibit their former vigour. He exhorted the minis-
ters who came with the greatest love, that they would
bear courageously the afflictions that might come upon
them. He admonished others that they should with-
out delay seek the Saviour, and devote themselves
to his service. About a week before his death he en-
treated his wife to bear his dissolution, which he per-
ceived to be at hand, with Christian fortitude. He
then addressed his children, and admonished them that
he had instructed them during their whole life, and
" was persuaded that none of them durst think to
meet him at the great tribunal in an unregenerate
state."
About two days before his death some of his pa-
rishioners coming to watch with him, one of them re-
quested, that as he had discovered to them by doctrine
REV. ROBERT BOLTON. xxxix
the excellency of Christ, he would now describe to
them for their encouragement what comforts he found
in trusting to the Redeemer. " Alas ! " said he, " do
you look for that of me now, that want breath and
power to speak. I have told you enough in my life-
time : but to give you satisfaction, I am by the won-
derful mercies of God as full of comfort as my heart
can hold, and feel nothing in my soul but Christ, with
■whom I heartily desire to be."
The night before he died, he was informed that some
of his dearest friends were around him to take their last
farewell : he rose up in his bed, and shaking them all by
the hand, prayed heartily for them, and desired them to
make sure of heaven ; to bear in mind what he had told
them in his ministry, and assured them that the doctrine
which he had preached to them by the space of twenty
years was the truth of God. Desiring to be laid down
again he spoke no more till the next morning, when he
took the last leave of his wife and children, and blessed
them all ; and that day in the afternoon about five
o'clock, the 17th day of December 1631, in the sixtieth
year of his age, he entered into his heavenly rest.
Thus terminated the career of this truly valuable
man. It seems to have been his happiness to pass his
time in rest and quietness, although England generally
was the scene of religious contention. This exemption
from annoyance and reproach he owed not to a neu-
trality which complies with, or to a timidity which
evades commotions. He sustained a prominent and
decided part in the contentions of his times, but passed
through them invulnerable to the attacks of calumny,
owing to the eminent pureness of his motives, and the
direction of all his conduct by a sanctified and enligh-
xl MEMOIR OF THE REV. ROBERT BOLTON.
tened conscience. He was a man in whom his friends
had nothing to regret, except that his exertions in the
cause of God probably shortened his days ; and whom
his greatest enemies could accuse with nothing but that
he preached too often and lived too precisely. His
works contain accurate and extraordinarily compre-
hensive views of the truths of revelation, and his de-
scription of their influence upon the affections of the
human heart are profound and correct. They possess also
an additional excellency, which did not always attend
the religious writings of his age, or even of our own,
they are expressed in language devoid of technical or
peculiar phrases. He has written in the same style
that an enlightened contemporary would have done
upon a subject of English literature. He has thus
evinced among many other valuable writers since his
time, that every truth and every doctrine mat/ be ex-
pressed in the ordinary language of mankind : his writ-
ings are consequently free from those peculiarities of
style which are sometimes so used as to render ob-
scure what is plain, and to darken still more what is
really mysterious.
Salisbury Square, Fleet Street,
September, 1831.
CONTENTS.
SECT. I, PART I.
Page
Chap. I. The Introduction. The contents of the Text.
The first doctrine raised and proved by two reasons 1
Chap. II. Three other reasons proving the former doclrijie 4
Chap. III. Three pair of instances confirming the former
doctrine : David and Saul, Job and Ahithophel, Luther
and Spira » 9
Chap. IV. A first use of the former Doctrine, for exhor-
tation to store up heavenly comforts in our hearts. Two
considerations which press this exhortation upon us ... . 14
Chap. V. A third consideration, pressing the former ex-
hortation, defended against MachiaveV s position 17
Chap. VI. A second use of the former doctrine, for reproof
to several sorts of people. The first whereof are the
careless, with a first consideration to admonish them. ... 22
Chap. VII. A second and third consideration for the
admonition of those who are careless 26
Chap. VIII. The second sort of people to be reproved, which
are sensualists. The first consideration to reform them. . 30
Chap. IX. The second and third consideration for the
reformation of the sensualist 32
Chap. X. The third sort of people to be reproved, which
are the opposers of a powerful ministry. Three reasons
dissuading men from that si7i 38
Chap. XI. Four other reasons dissuading from the former sin 41
Chap. XII. Six other reasons dissuading from the former sin 43
Chap. Xill. J. Who are meant by persecutors. II. What
is meant by persecution. III. An objection against the
doctrine answered 46
Chap. XIV. Five false grounds of confident enduring misery 48
Chap. XV. A sixth false ground of confident enduring
miseries. A conclusion of the first doctrine 51
SECT. I, PART II.
Chap. I. The doctrine of the intolerableness of a wounded
conscience proved 55
Chap. II. Use of the former doctrine for the unconverted
to take out the sting of sin by repentance. One reason
why every sinner doth r}ot always feel that sting ...... 62
xlii CONTENTS.
Page
Chap. III. Five other reasons why a sinner doth not al-
ways feel the sting of sin 69
Chap. IV. The second use of the former doctrine for the
converted, that they sin no more ; and to keep them from
sin, seven cojisiderations are given them 75
Chap. V. Thirteen other coiisiderations to keep men from sin 83
SECT. II, PART I.
Chap. I. The first error in curing consciences is the unsea-
sonable applying of comfort to them that sorrow not at all 92
Chap. II. Daubers reprehended. Faithfulness in preach-
ing and daubing compared 103
Chap. III. A general direction for avoiding the former error 112
Chap. IV. Four particular directions for the avoiding
this error. I. How the Law is to be pressed. II. How
the Gospel to he preached. III. How Christ to be pro-
posed. IV. How pardon to be asstired. And ways to
be used for the putting of these directions in practice. . 119
Chap. V. The second error is the indiscreet applying of
comfort to them that are not grieved aright. Two cases
wherein men grieved are not to be presently comforted. . 133
Chap. VI. Two other cases wherein spiritual physicians
must take heed of the second error 143
Chap. VII. A fifth case wherein spiritual physicians mtist
take heed of that second error. The divers kinds of death
in godly men 152
Chap. VIII. The divers kinds of death in wicked men .. . 159
Chap. IX. The remedy in this fifth case. 1. Admonition
to the juinisters, to be careful in comforting at that time.
2. To the people, not to defer repentance till that time. . 165
Chap. X. The third error of applying comfort, which is
indiscreet application. The first case wherein it hap-
pens, which is too sudden application ; and the demon-
stration of that error 170
Chap. XI. Objection against the former doctrine. Dif-
ferences between legal terrors in the elect and others. . . . 178
Chap. XII. Instructions for the avoiding this fault of
applyhig comfort too soon 183
Chap. XIII. The second case wherein the former error is
committed, which is in applying too much. Two things
concerning which the afflicted is to be advised for avoid-
ing this error 187
Chap. XIV. Two things more concerning which the af-
flicted is to be advised, and two things which the minister
is to heed for avoiding that error , , 196
CONTENTS. xliii
Page
Chap. XV. The fifth advice to the afflicted. Two direc-
tions to the minister, to be observed towards his patient . . 202
Chap. XVI, Two cases wherein pangs of conscience are
not healed, whatever they seem 207
Chap. XVII. A third case, wherein panes of conscience
may seem to be healed, and are not ; with the discovery
of men's errors in that kind 212
Chap. XVIII. Three cases more, wherein the pangs of
conscience are not healed 218
SECT. II, PART 11.
Chap. I. Theright method of curing an afflicted conscience.
Four things required in the right metliod of curing. . . . 222
Chap. II. Three thijigs more required in those who are
rightly cured 226
SECT. Ill, PART I.
Chap. I. Three principles of comfort from without us, to
be applied to afflicted consciences 230
Chap. II. Two principles of comfort more 236
Chap. III. Five other principles of comfort 240
Chap. IV. Four conclusions of comfort, drawn from those
places of Scripture which set forth the Lord's dealing
with us as a father with his children 247
Chap. V. Eight conclusions more drawn from the afore-
mentioned places 253
Chap. VI. A principle of comfort from something within
us, confirmed from several testimonies and instances of
Scripture, and by one reason 258
Chap. VII. One reason more, confirming the truth of the
former principle 264
Chap. VIII. The former principle confirmed by two more
reasons, and by authority 268
Chap. IX. By what marks true desires of grace in us may
he known 271
Chap. X. Two especial times wherein the former principle
is to be applied 273
Chap. XI. Two other especial times wherein use is to be
made of the former principle 276
SECT. Ill, PART II.
Chap. I. '1 he first particular malady set down, with a
general principle for the cure of it 281
Chap. II. The first particular argument to be applied for
the cure of the formev malady 285
xliv CONTENTS.
Page
Chap. III. The second particular argument to be used for
the cure of the former malady. Five parts of that ar-
gument laid open. The first branch of the fifth part. . 290
Chap. IV. Tivo branches more of the fifth part of the
former argument, and the several particles which belong
to the second of them 295
Chap. V. The second malady of conscience. Three con-
siderations against inisoundyiess, proposed for the cure
of this malady ; arid three more against unadvisedness.» 299
Chap. VI. Tivo considerations more against unadvised-
ness, for the cure of the former malady 304
Chap. VII. The third malady of conscience, The danger
of it. The causes of it. Two things proposed for its cure . 307
Chap. VIII. The third loay of curi^ig the former malady.
One thing to be considered to that purpose 314
Chap. IX. A second and third thing to be considered for
the cure of the former malady 321
Chap. X. The fourth and fifth considerations which be-
long to the third way of curing the former malady.
Also the fifth help for it by advice 325
Chap. XI. The fourth malady . Two causes of this malady 328
Chap. XII. Four causes more of the foi-mer malady .... 334
Chap. XIII. Two more causes of the former malady .... 341
Chap. XIV. The ninth and tenth causes of this malady . . 348
Chap. XV. Two helps for the curing of a man troubled
with the former malady 352
Chap. XVI. Two other helps 357
Chap. XVII. Two more helps 362
Chap. XVIII. Thelasthelp 367
Chap. XIX. The fifth malady of an afflicted conscience.
The first way of curing it, which is speculative, and the
first part of that way, which is by consideration 371
Chap. XX. The second part of the speculative way of
curing the former malady, which is by counsel. Two
things lohich men must he counselled to practise 378
Chap. XXI. Three other things which men must he coun-
selled to practise for the cure of the former malady . . . 382
Chap. XXII. The experimental way of curing the for-
mer malady 387
INSTRUCTIONS
FOR
COMFORTING AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES.
" The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity ; but a wounded
spirit who can hear ? " — Prov. xviii, 14.
SECT. I, PART I.
CHAP. I.
The Introduction. The Contents of the Text. The First Doctrine
raised and proved by Two Reasons.
My text lies, as you see, in a sacred cabinet of richest
jewels; I mean the most select and wisest aphorisms, or
proverbs, that ever issused out of a mortal brain. Every-
one of them for the most part, especially from the tenth
chapter, independent, entire, and absolute in themselves;
clear and manifest by their own native brightness ; not
needing such reciprocal light and lustre for each other's
mutual discovery and interpretation ; and therefore they
are naturally not capable of any coherent logical analysis,
and other circumstantial expositions, ordinarily incident to
other parts of scripture. Whence it is that this book of
Proverbs is compared to a great heap of gold rings, rich and
orient severally, and every one shining with a distinct
lustre by itself ; but other texts of Holy Writ to gold chains,
so interwoven and enlinked together, that they must upon
necessity, for the rendering unto us aright and fully their
several senses, be enlightened and receive mutual illustra-
tion one from another.
This present proverb doth represent unto us the ex-
tremest hell upon earth, the greatest misery and most in-
15
^2 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
supportable that can possibly befal a man in this life ; I
mean the horror of a guilty and enraged conscience : which
is set out.
First, by the excellency of its opposite : the invincible
ability and mighty strength of that truly stout and heroical
heart, which is happily upholden with the heavenly re-
freshing influence of grace, God's favour, and a good con-
science : " The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity."
Secondly, by the heaviness of its attribute, the intoler-
ableness of it : " But a wounded spirit who can bear 1 "
From the former, the courage of a heart upholden with
grace, take this first note : —
Doctr. The spirit of a man, furnished with grace and for-
tified with the sense of God's favour, is able to pass through
the pikes and conquer all comers.
I. For what, and why should that man fear or faint, on
whose side the mighty Lord of heaven and earth doth stand ?
" If God be for us, who can be ac;ainst us?" Rom. viii,3i.
Whose mercy to his is without all stint and limit, like him-
self, infinite ; so immeasurable, that itreacheth " from ever-
lasting to everlasting" (Psalm ciii, 17 ) ; so tender, that it
surpasseth incomprehensibly the compassionate m.eltings of
the most loving mother (Isa. xlix, 15 ) ; and spared not the
dearest blood of his only Son (Rom. viii, 32) ; who hath
ever in readiness for the recovery of his children out of the
most desperate danger, and to rescue them out of the hands
of the deadliest enemy (besides his own omnipotent arm,
the least finger whereof can beat the greatest mountain to
powder and rend the hardest rock in pieces), innumerable
hosts of angels, one of which killed an hundred fourscore
and five thousand in one night (2 Kings xix, 35) ; chariots
of fire, even a thousand chariots in the whirlwind ; that
fair glorious giant which with incredible swiftness runs post-
as it were through the sky. to stand still, or retire ; the im-
petuous current of the raging sea to recoil ; the merciless
flames of the hungry fire to become a soft and refieshing air ;
the implacable fury of the most enraged lions to couch at
the first word for his servant's sake and safety. — Nay, if
need be, he hath caterpillars and frogs, worms and lice,
even the most impotent and vilest vermin to fetch blood
and take down the heart of the proudest tyrant upon earth,
carry he his head never so high ; to eat out the bov.'els of the
bloodiest Nimrod or mightiest monarch ;.hat wears a crown
upon his head, if he oppose his people. He hath the very
hearts and consciences (Matt, xxvii, 5 ; 2 Sam. xvii, 23) of
all that rise up against them, to bring their own blood upon
their own heads, and even hell and extremest horror upon
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 3
their hearts iu this life. What then so dreadful a face of
present confusions or fore-imagined forms of future troubles
are able or ought slavislily to deject and terrify that holy
heart, which with a sweet and safe repose is happily and
everlastingly hid under the wings of that mighty God
(Ruth ii, 12; Psalm xci, 4), who for the deliverance of
his can work,
1. By weak means ; see Jud^. vii ; 1 Sam. xiv ; Gen. xiv ;
1 Sam. xvii ; Judg. IV, 21, and ix, 53.
2. Without means ; see 2 Chron. xx ; Exod. xiv ; Josh, vi ;
2 Kings xix ; 2 Chron. xiv.
3. Contrary to means; see Dan, vi, 22; Josh, iii, 16;
Dan. iii, 25, 26; Jonah ii,6; Joih. x, 12, 13, 14.
II. U hen the heavenly beams of God's pleased counte-
nance begin to break out upon a man through the dark and
hellish mist of his manifold and heinous sins, the unquench-
able heat of his everlasting love through Christ dissolving
them into nothing, and fairly shine with a comfortable as-
spect upon his humbled soul, fpso facto, heaven and earth,
and all the hosts of both, are everlastingly reconciled unto
him and become his friends : the storms and tempests raised
by all the powers of hell are presently calmed for ever doing
him any deadly hurt. All the creatures then pull in their
horns, withdraw iheir stings, bite in their poison, checked
and awed by those divine impressions of their Creator's
blessed image stamped upon them by the Spirit of grace ;
and dare no more offer any violence or vexation to him (ex-
cept upon particular dispensation for his spiritual good and.
quickening) than to the apple ot God's own eye. Hear the
promise from God's own mouth: " And in that day will I
make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and
with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of
the ground : and 1 will break the bow and the sword and
the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down
safely" (Hos. ii, 18). Nay, they are so far from charging
their several stings upon the saints, that they will change
their very natures to do them service. They will rather be-
come an astonishment and horror to the whole creation than
they be hurt. How often have they suspended and put off
their native power and properties for the protection and
good of God's people 1 The very sea, that most raging and
roaring creature, must stay his course and current to give
passage and preservation to a true Israelite ; the stars must
fight and the sun stand still for the aid and advantage of God's
armies; the lions must leave their savage rage and trade of
blood, and become lambs and loving unto a Daniel ; the
lavens will feed an Elijah ; the flames of fire must hold in
iheir heat from burning a Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-
4 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
nego ; the devouring belly of a dreadful fish must be turned
into a sanctuary of safety to a Jonah ; a popish furnace
heated with the very malice of hell shall become a bed of
down and roses to a martyr of Jesus * ; the very dead lines of
an ordinary letter, must represent to a royal mind a mean-
ing quite contrary to the natural sense and all grammatical
construction, before a b'essed parliament be blown up with
popish gunpowder t ; a brittle glass must rebound unbroken
from the hardest stone, to help to bind up a broken heart
bleeding with grief for absence of her spouse and want of
the assurance of his love t. Nay, the devil himself, though he
walks about like a roaring lion, seeking with restless rage
and desiring infinitely to devour the Lord's inheritance, yet
cannot possibly add one link to the chain in which by the
merciful and mighty hand of God he is hampered, nor go an
hair's breadth beyond his commission : and though it be
utterly irnpossible that that damned angel should so far
change his devilish nature as to do any of God's chosen
directly any true good, yet he is everlastingly muzzled by
an Almighty arm from ever doing them any deadly hurt.
He may be suffered sometimes to shake his chain at them,
and roar upon them hideously, to drive them nearer unto
God and fright them from sin ; but he shall never, either
in this world or the world to come, have his full swing
at them, or fasten his hellish fangs upon their redeemed
souls.
CHAP. II.
Three other Reasons prorUig the former Doctrine.
HI. Besides all that other excellent, complete, impene-
trable armour of proof, mentioned Eiphes. vi, which is able to
beat back victoriously all earthly oppositions, and the very
ordnance of hell, every one of God's favourites is also
blessedly furnished with a mighty spiritual engine, which is
able to batter down all the bulwarks of the devil, to shake
the whole kingdom of darkness and all hellish powers ; nay,
to offer an holy violence to the very throne of God himself;
witness his most mercifully entreating Moses to let him
alone (Exod. xxxii, 10), as though the mediation of a man
could bind as it were (I speak it with lowliest reverence to
that Highest Majesty) the hands of his omnipotency from
doing his people any hurt, and were able to extinguish that
• The declaration of Baiuham. while burning.
+ Kinji^ James's interpretation of the anonymons letter by which the
("iunpowder Plot was discovered.
X See Yates's God's arraignment of Hypocrites, p. 357.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 5
unquenchable wrath in the conception, which once on foot
would " burn unto the lowest hell, and set on fire the foun-
dations of the mountains,''— I mean that most precious, and
almost, if not altogether, omnipotent grace of Prayer. This
great master of miracles hath wrought from time to time
many and very remarkable wonders, both in heaven and
earth. It made the sun, that mighty creatuie. the prince
of all the lights in heaven, to stay and stand still upun the
sudden in the heat of his swiftest course (Josh, x, 12, 13) ;
it landed Jonah safely upon the shore out of the belly of the
whale and bowels of the sea (Jonah ii, 1, 10); it drew
refreshing streams out of a dry bone ibr the saving of
Samson's life (Judges xv, 18, 19) ; it turned the heaven into
brass for three years and a half, and afterward turned the
self-same brass into fruitful clouds and fountains of rain
(James v, 17, 18) ; it killed a hundred fourscore and five
thousand of the enemies of God's people in one night
(2 Kings xix, 15—35) ; for the freeing of Elisha from a
strait and dangerous siege it filled a mountain in a moment,
as it were, "full of horses and chariots of fire" (2 Kings
vi, 17) ; it turned the swords of a mighty army into the
bowels of one another, when Jehoshaphat knew not which
way to turn himself, but was so helpless and hopeless that
he cried unto the Lord, " We know not what to do, only
our eyes are upon tliee (2 Chron. xx, 5 — 23); it loosed
Peter out of prison, shook his chains off from his hands,
and made an iron gate to open of its own accord (Acts xii,
5, 7, 10) ; it enraged and enlarged the P^nglish seas to
swallow up the Spanish invincible armada ; and, which is
none of the least wonders, it brought prince Charles out of
Spain.
But you instance, may some say, in extraordinary exam-
ples of extraordinary men, endowed with an extraordinary
spirit.
Yet sure I am they are registered by the Holy Ghost to
represent unto us and to all generations of the church to
the world's end the almighty and wonder-working power of
prayer ; and I am as sure that the petitioners were men
" subject to like passions as we are " (James v. 17). Per-
haps if thou be a true hearted Nathanael, since thy new
birth ihou wast never so extraordinarily passionate as Jonah
was, when out of a pang of strange distemper he thus
answered the mighty Lord of heaven and earth, " I do well
to be angry, even unto death " (Jonah iv, 9).
IV. God's favourite is further furnished with another
spiritual weapon of impregnable temper and incredible
might : I mean faith, the very power and arm of God for
J3 3
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
all true joy, sound comfort, and lightsonieness at the heart-
root in this life. This crowned empress of all those heavenly
graces that dwell in the soul of a sanctified man, and which
in a right sense may be said virtually to comprehend all the
beauty, strength, excellency, and power of Christ himself,
is truly victorious and triumphant over all the world (1 John
V, 4) ; over the very gates of hell and all the powers of
darkness (Malt, xvi, 18); over the devil's most fiery darts
(Eph. vi, 16) ; over the devouring flames of the raging fire ;
over the roaring fury of the most hungry lions •, over the
variety and extremity of the most exquisite tortures, temp-
tations, persecutions ; all outward miseries, even over cruel
mockings : it irresistibly beats down or blows up the
strongest bulwarks and thickest walls, puts to flight the
migfitiest armies, and conquers the most invincible king-
doms (Heb. xi, 30, 33—37); and when all is done, O
blessed faith, at the very last and deadliest lift, she trium-
phantly sets her foot upon the neck of the prince of terrors,
1 mean death, the last and worst, the end and sum of all
feared evils (Psalm xxiii, 4) ; and even in the midst of those
dying and dreadful pangs bears a glorious part with Jesus
Christ the conqueror in that sweetest song of victory, "O
death, where is thy sting 1" In a word, it can do all
things : "All things are possible to him that belie veth "
(Mark ix, 23).
V. In a word, grace in its own nature being the most
glorious creature of the Father of lights, and flowing as it
were more immediately and sweetly from his blessed face,
is of such a divine, invincible, and lightsome temper, and
hath such an antipathy, such vigour and ability against all
spiritual darkness and damps, whether of afHiction, temp-
tation, troublesome confusions of the times, " the valley of
the shadow of death," the grave, hell itself; that it is ever
able either to dispel it or dissolve it, or support itself strongly
and triumphantly even in the midst of it. Suppose a soul
beautified with grace to be seated, if it were possible, in
the very centre of that hellish kingdom, yet would it by its
heavenly strength and glory, in despite of all infernal
powers, keep off at some distance all the darkness, torments,
and horror of that damned place. Whence it is that it is so
often in the holy scriptures compared to light. Now what
power and prevalent antipathy our ordinary light doth exer-
cise against his most abhorred opposite, darkness, you well
know; and it is elegantly and punctually for my purpose
expressed by one in this manner : *' We see and prove,"
saith he, " by daily experience how powerful and dreadful
a thing the darkness of the night is. For when it falleth it
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 7
covereth and muffleth up the face of the whole world. It
obscureth and hidelh the hue and the fashion of all crea-
tures ; It bindeth up all hands and breaketh off all employ-
ments. The night cometh, saith our Saviour, wherein we
cannot work. It arresteth and keepeth captive all living
creatures, men and beasts, that they must be still and rest
where it arresteth them ; yea it maketh them fearful and
faint-hearted, full of fancies, and much subject to frights.
It is of all others such a powerful and unconquerable tyrant
as no man is able to witlistand ; and yet nevertheless it is
not of that might that it is able to overwhelm or to quench
the least light in the world. For we see the darker the
night is, the clearer the stars shine ; yea the least candle's
light that is lighted withstandeth the whole night, and not
only suffereth not the darkness to cover, or to smother and
oppress it, but it giveih light also, even in the midst of the
darkness, and beateth it back for some space and distance
on every side of it ; so that which way soever it is borne, or
wheresoever it cometh, there must darkness depart and give
place unto the light ; all the power and dreadfulness of it
cannot help or prevail aught against it. And though the
light be so weak that it cannot cast light far about, or drive
the darkness far from it, as in the spark of a hot coal, yet
cannot the darkness cover or conceal, and much less quench
It, but it giveth light to itself alone at least, so that it may
be seen afar off in the dark, and it remaineth unconquered
ot the dark, though it cannot help other things nor give light
unto them. Yea, that which is yet more wonderful, a
rotten shining piece of wood, which hath the faintest light
that can be found, yet remaineth invincible of all the power
of darkness, and the more it is compassed about with
darkness the clearer light it giveth. So little is darkness
able to overcome or keep down any light, but that it ruleth
and vanquisheth and expelleth the darkness, which else
overwhelmeth and snareth, and fettereth, and putteth all
things in fear. Now if this natural light be so powerful
and so able to prevail against the darkness of the night,
why should not that spiritual light that God's Spirit doth
kindle and set up in the hearts of God's children be able to
afford them light in darkness, and to minister sound joy and
sweet comfort unto them in the very midst of their heaviest
and most hideous afflictions." Assuredly it must needs be
unconquerably able, with far greater power and in an
higher proportion. For our visible light doth spring but
from a finite and material fountain, the sun, itself a crea-
ture ; but the spiritual light I speak of, flows immediately
from the glorious face of the only true, incomprehensible
8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and eternal Light (1 John i, 5), the sun's creator, "who
dwelleth in the light that no man can approach unto," and
is an everlasting well- spring of all life and light, which it
doth so far represent and resemble in Divine excellency and
mightiness, that it thence receives by a secret and sacred
influence fresh successions still of an infinite triumphant
power, and prevaileth against all spiritual darkness for
ever. Suppose all the men that dwell within the compass of
our hemisphere should address themselves with all their wit
and v.'eapons, with all their power and policy, to keep back
that universal darkness which is wont to seize upon the face
of the earth at the setting of the sun, yet by all this strong
and combined opposition they should but beat the air. But
now upon the very Mist approach of that ];rincely light but
peeping up in the east, it would all fly away in a moment
and vanish into nothing. In a similar manner, if all the
understandings upon earth, and all the angels in heaven,
should contribute all their abilities and excellences to en-
lighten with cheerfulness and joy a guilty conscience, sur-
prised sometimes with hellish darkness and clouds of horror
upon sight of sin and sense of Divine wrath, yet all would
not do ; they should all the while but wash a Blackmoor.
But now let but the least glimpse of the light of grace
shine into that sad and heavy soul, and it would far more
easily and irresistibly chase away the very darkest mid-
nights of any spiritual misery, than the strongest summer's
sun would dispel the thinnest morning's mist. Give me, if
you will, Judas's heart, or Spira's horror, or a vexed spirit
torn and rent in pieces with the raging guilt of both those
woful men, and let that supposed rueful soul, weary of its
hellish burthen, and thirsting sincerely for the " water of
life," but cast itself upon the mercy, truth, and power of
the Lord Jesus, so sweetly offering himself in that precious
promise (jNIatt. xi, 28), resolving to take him for an ever-
lasting husband ; and, ipso facto, it might be put into a very
heaven upon earth. For this glorious grace of faith, the
prince of all spiritual light and lightsomeness in the truly
humbled soul, thus shed into such a dark and grieved spirit,
doth enkindle and set on shining all those gracious heavenly
stars that are wont to beautify the hearts of holy men;
hope, love, zeal, son-like fear, humility, patience, self-
denial, universal obedience, fruitfulness in all good works,
&:c., which make them light itself to walk in the light
towards the infinite and unapproachable Light ; and there-
fore they never need to want lightsomeness, but have per-
petual matter of spiritual mirth and mightiness of spirit.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES.
CHAP III.
Three pair of instances confirming the former doctrine ; David and
Saul, Job and Aliithophel, Luther and .Spira.
The point appears and is further proved by manifest and
manifold experience. David having been formerly wo-
fully wasted with great variety and extremity of dangers
and distresses, was at last plunged into a most desperate
perplexity (1 Sam. xxx, 6), which had been able to have
swallowed up into despair the manliest vigour of the
greatest spirit upon earth not supported with grace (the
like, or a less, caused king Saul to fall upon his own sword,
1 Sam. xxxi, 4); yet he, blessed man, by the power of
his spiritual peace, and the beams of God's pleased face
shining upon his soul, did patiently and sweetly comfort
himself in the Lord his God, and stood like an impregnable
rock, unshaken with the raging assaults of any tempestuous
surges. He was at this time hunted by Saul like a partridge
in the mountains ; cashiered by the princes of the Philistines
as a fellow of suspected fidelity ; robbed by the Amalekites
of his wives, his sons, and his daughters ; the town to which
he returned for safety was burnt with fire ; and, to make
his calamity complete and most cutting, even his own men
were ready to stone him. Now in this great distress, upon
the first apprehension whereof he wept, as the stoiy saith,
" until he had no more power to weep," yet coming to
himself, and recollecting his spiritual forces, his heavy
heart, ready to sink and fall asunder in his bosom, did fetch,
by the hand of faith, comfortably fortified by sense and
experience of former favours, such heavenly strength from
Jehovah, whom he had made his portion, that thereupon
his courage was revived and raised to that height, that he
presently pursued his enemies with extraordinary valour
and resolution, cut them off and recovered all. " And
David," saith the text, " was greatly distressed ; for the
people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the
people was grieved, eveiy man for his sons and for his
daughters : but David encouraged himself in the Lord his
God," &c.
What a bitter sea of unmatched miseries did break out
upon blessed Job, which with a sudden unexpected violence
bearing down that hedge of protection which God had set
about him (the rains purposely let loose by Divine dispen-
sation to Satan's malice in the mean time), did fearfully
overflow him to that height and horror, that he stands re-
10 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
gistered in God's book as an unparalleled instance of ex-
tiaordinarj^ sufferings and sorrows, calamities and conflicts,
to all succeeding ages, no story being able to afford the like.
The natural death of one dear child strikes sometimes so
heavy to a man's heart, that for grief he falls into a con-
sumption ; but all Job's were suddenly taken away at once
by a violent stroke. Some petty cross upon his outward
state, and cutting off but part of his goods, causes some-
times a covetous worldling to cut his own throat ; but Job
was robbed of all, so that it is a proverb to this day, " as
poor as Job." Many wives are passionate and peevish in
time of prosperity, whose hearts notwithstanding will melt
in compassion and kindness over their husbands in any
kind of misery ; but Job's wife, though dearly entreated by
her most distressed husband even for their children's sake,
the mutual common pledges of sweetest love, yet would i ot
come near him. " My breath," saith he, " is strange to my
wife, though 1 entreated for the children's sake of mine own
body" f chap, xix, 17). Satan, 1 confess, is wont to roar
and rage fiercely enough about God's blessed ones, to do
them ail the mischief he can possibly ; but rarely hath he
so large a reach and his chain so lengthened as he had
aga.nst Job. 'J he painful anguish of some one part would
not only deprive a man of the pleasure of the world's mo-
narchy if he had it in possession, but also make him weary
of his life. In what a taking then was Job, who from the
sole of his foot unto his crown had no part free from sore
biles and horribly inflauied ulcers, exasperated and enraged
with the stinging smart of Satan's extremest malice, who
had power given him to inflict them. God himself frowns
many times, and withdraws the beams of his pleased face
from the souls of his servants to their great grief, though for
their spiritual good ; but seldom doth he set them up for
his mark, hunt them as a fierce lion, set his tenors in array
against them, and command the poison of his arrows to
drink up their spirit, as Job complains, chap, xix, 13 ; x,
16; vi, 4.
It is no strange thing, neither should it much move, but
only make us walk more watchfully, to hear men of the
world and drunken Belials to belch out from their rotten
hearts upon the ale-bench such base slanders as these :
" These professors, for all their fair shows, are certainly all
of them notorious hypocrites. Though they look never so
demurely, they are not the men they are taken for," &c.
But to have a man's nearest, familiar, understanding
Christian friends to charge him with hypocrisy, is a most
cruel cut to a troubled conscience : and this was Job's case.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 11
Thus as Job was singular in the universality of his afflic-
tions, so there was a singularity of bitterness above ordi-
nary in every particular affliction. And what of all this?
And yet for all this, this holy man, by the help of that pre-
cious hoard of grace which his heavenly heart had treasured
up in the time of prosperity, out of that spiritual strength
which he had gotten into his soul by his former humble ac-
quaintance and conversation with his God, and knowing
full well that though all was gone, yet he still possessed
Jesus Christ as fully, if not more feelingly, as ever before,
he becomes hereupon as rare and admirable a pattern of
patience to all posterity, as he was an extraordinary, as-
tonishing spectacle of adversity and woe. Consciousness
of his forespent righteous life, which he peruseth chap.xxxi ;
the clearness of a good conscience, chap, xvi, 19 ; " Behold
my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high ; " and
his invincible faith, chap, xix, 23, 24, 25, "Oh that my words
were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
that they were graven with an iron pen, and lead in the
rock for ever! For I know that my Redeemer liveth,"
&c. ; chap, xiii, 15; " Though he slay me, yet will I trust
in him ;" — did so strengthen and stay his spirit with a di-
vine might, that he bore valiantly and stood upright under
the heaviest weight and greatest variety of extreme afflic-
tions that ever were laid upon any mere man. But now,
on the other side, the tithe, nay the ten hundredth part of
Job's troubles, caused graceless Ahithophel to saddle his
ass, get himself home, put his household in order, and hang
himself. So true is that which the blessed prophet tells us,
Jer. xvii, 5—8, " Cursed be the man that trusteth in man,
and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from
the Lord. Por he shall be like the heath in the desert, and
shall not see when good comeih, but shall inhabit the
parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not in-
habited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and
whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted
by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the
river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf
shall be green ; and shall not be careful in the year of
drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."
This impregnable comfort springing from grace and a
good conscience, even in evil times, did steel the spirit of
blessed Luther with such spiritual stoutness, and so hard-
ened his forehead against a world, nay a horrible hell of
most reproachful and raging oppositions, that he became a
spectacle, a miracle of rarest Christian fortitude and in-
vincible courage to the whole world and to all posterity. I
12 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
am persuaded, that holy truth of God which he so gloriously
professed, and that power of godliness which he so faith-
fully practised, did infuse into the heart of that man as
much unconquerableness of resolution and fearlessness of
the face of man, as ever dwelt in any mortal breast since
the time of the apostles. Witness among the rest that one
extraordinary expression of his incomparable magnanimity,
when his friends were earnest and eager upon him not to
venture himself among a number of perfidious papists and
bloodthirsty tigers, he replied thus: "As touching me,'*
saith he, " since I am sent for, I am resolved, and certainly
determined to enter Worms in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ ; yea, though 1 knew there were as many devils to
resist me as there are tiles to cover the houses in W^orms."
This man of God did upon the two pillars of his heroical
heart, courage and patience, most nobly sustain the malice
and hatred almost of the whole world. The devil and the
pope did concurrently countermine with all their cruelty
and cunning against this victorious champion of heaven and
mighty underminer of their dark and damned kingdoms.
Almost all the princes, priests, and people of Christendom
did breed and breathe out nothing but thoughts of indigna-
tion and threats of death against him. Millions of lazy and
lustful monks, having like so many pestilent locusts of the
infernal pit, seized upon the face of Europe with their en-
venomed swarms, and lying at ease, encloistered in the
vilest crimes, gnashed their teeth at him with hellish fury,
and like true fiends spat fire in his face ; and yet for all
this, this holy saint Twhich I admire more and prize higher
than the victories of a thousaiid Cesars, or the most re-
nowned valour of the greatest Alexander) having so many
incarnate devils continually roaring about him with open
mouth, ready every hour, and enraged with implacable
thirst to drink up his blood, and swallow him up quick, yet,
I say, enjoyed such a triumphant tranquillity of mind and
unshaken presence of spirit, that like a mighty son of
thunder, by his constant and powerful preaching for the
space of nine and twenty yearsso shook the pillars of popery,
that I am persuaded the beast will never stand upon his
four legs any more ; and wrote eloquently and excellently
almost if not as many volumes as Austin did, that great
glory of the Christian world in former times. A petty cross
will frequently so emasculate and weaken the elevation of
the greatest wit, that his conceit, invention, and style will
fall to a far lower strain than ordinary, which contentment
and calmness would raise to their highest pitch and possi-
bility. But the terrible earthquake as it were of all Europe,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 13
and contrary commotions of Christendom, did never a whit
disanimate or shake the heart of this heavenly man, fitly
honoured by the name of a third Elias.
But now Francis Spira on the other side, having out of
his inordinate love to the things of this life wofully wounded
his conscience by that infamous abjuration of the blessed
truth which he formerly professed, became a spectacle of
such spiritual misery and woe to the whole world, that
there is not any thing left unto the memory of man more
remarkable.
Upon the very first revisal of his recantation, and serious
consideration in cold blood what he had done, he acknow-
ledged himself utterly undone and for ever. His spirit
suddenly smitten with the dreadful sense of Divine wrath for
his apostacy, and split in pieces as it were with so grievous a
bruise, fainted fearfully, failed him quite, and fell asunder
in his breast like drops of water. Hear some rueful expres-
sions of his desperate state from his own mouth : " Oh that
I were gone from hence, that somebody would let out this
weary soul ! I tell you there was never such a monster as
I am ; never was man alive a spectacle of such exceeding
misery. I now feel God's heavy wrath, that burns like the
torments of hell within me, and afflicts my soul with pangs
unutterable. Verily desperation is hell itself. The gnaw-
ing worm of unquenchable fire, horror, confusion, and,
which is worst of all, desperation itself, continually tortures
me. And now I count my present estate worse than if my
soul separated from my body were with Judas, and there-
fore I desire rather to be there than thus to live in my body.
The truth is, never had mortal man such experience of
God's anger and hatred against him as I have. If I could
conceive but the least spark of hope in my heart of a better
state hereafter, I would not refuse to endure the most heavy
wrath of the great God, yea for two thousand years, so that
at length I might emerge out of misery." He professed that
his pangs were such as that the damned souls in hell endure
not the like misery ; that his state was worse than that of
Cain or Judas, and therefore desired to die. " Oh that
God would let loose his hand from me, and that it were
with me now as in times past : I would scorn the threats of
the most cruel tyrants, bear torments with invincible reso-
lution, and glory in the outward profession of Christ, till I
were choked in the flame and my body turned into ashes."
14 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
CHAP. IV.
A first use of the former doctrine, for exhortation to store up heavenly
comforts in our hearts. Two considerations which press this exhor-
tation upon us.
If it be so, then, that a heavenly hoard of grace, good
coiiscience, God's favour, &c., happily treasured up while
it is called to-day, hatli the sole and sacred property and
privilege to hold up our hearts in times of horror, enabling
us in the mean time patiently and profitably to master all
miseries, pass through all persecutions, conquer all comers,
and at length, by the help of God, to pull the very heart,
as it were, out of hell ; with confidence and triumph to
look even death and the devil in the face, and to stand with
boldness before the terror of the last day like an immova-
ble rock, when the sons and daughters of confusion, who
have slept in harvest and mispent the gracious day of their
visitation, shall entreat the mountains and rocks to fall upon
them ; — 1 say, it being thus, let every one of us, like sons
and daughters of wisdom, in this short summer's day of our
abode upon earth, and in this glorious sun-shine of the
gospel and precious seasons of grace, employ all means,
improve all opportunities to gather in with all holy greedi-
ness and treasure up abundantly much spiritual strength
and lasting comfort against the evil day. To which let us
be quickened by such considerations as these : —
1. This wise and happy treasuring up of heavenly hoards
and comforts of holiness beforehand, will sweetly mollily
and allay the bitterness and smart of that heavine s ai.d
sorrow, of those fearful amazements and oppressions of
spirit, naturally incident to times of trouble and fear, which
ordinarily do very grievously sting and strike through the
heart of carnal and secure worldlings with full rage and
the very flashes and foretastes of hell. Of all other passions
of the soul, sadness and grief grates most upon tlie vital
spirits, dries up soonest the freshest marrow in the bones,
and most sensibly sucks out the purest and most refined blood
in the heart. All the objects of lightsomeness and joy are
drowned in a heavy heart, even as the beauty of a pearl is
dissolved in vinegar. Now the only cordial and counter-
poison against this damp of light-heartedness and destroyer
of life, is the secret sweetness and shining pleasure of that
"one pearl of great price" (Matt, xiii, 46), three orient
rays whereof are " righteousness, and peace, and joy in the
Holy Ghost " (Rom. xiv, 17), treasured up in the cabinet of
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 15
a good conscience. The glory, preciousness, and power of
which hidden treasure, purchased with the sale of all sin,
doth many times shine most fairly upon the soul in the
saddest times, inspires for the most part into the hearts of
the owners the greatest courage and constancy of spiiit, even
ill the days of adversity and vexation, and enables them to
digest and bear without any great wound or passion those
crosses and cruelties which would break the back, and crush
the heart of the stoutest temporizer. Was there not a great
deal of difference think you betwixt the heart of Hezekiah,
who had walked before God " in truth and with a perfect
heart" (Isa. xxxviii, 3) when he heard the news of death
from the mouth of the prophet, and the heart of Belshazzar
when he saw the handwriting upon the wall t (Dan.v, 5,6.)
Give me a great man who carries away the credit and
current of the times, with all bravery and triumph wallows
and tumbles himself in the glory and pleasures of the pre-
sent ; throw him from the transitory top of his heaven upon
earth upon his last bed, present unto his eye at once the
terrible pangs of approaching death, the rageful rnalice of
the powers of hell, the crying wounds of his bleeding con-
science, the hideous forms of his innumerable sins, his final
farewell with all worldly delights, the pit of fire and brim-
stone into which he is ready to fall, and I tell you true, I
would not endure an hour's horror of his woful heart, for his
present paradise to the world's end. But on the other side,
let me be the man whom the corruptions of the time confine
to obscurity, who mourns in secret for the horrible abomi-
nations and ci-ying sins that reign among us, who thinks
tliat day best spent wherein he hath gathered most spiritual
strength against that last and sorest combat; and by the
mercies of God and humble dependence upon his omnipo-
tent arm, I will look in the face the cruellest concurrence of
all those former terrors with confidence and peace.
2. By this spiritual hoarding of comfortable provision
against the evil day, we may prevent a great deal of inipa-
tience, dependence upon the arm of flesh, base fears, sink-
ings of heart, unmanly dejections of spirit, desperate reso-
lutions, and many passionate distempers of such raging and
distracted nature, which are wont to seize upon and sur-
prise unholy and unprepared hearts when the hand of God
is heavy upon them. How bravely and heroically did patient
.Tob bear and break through a matchless variety and extre-
mity of calamities and conflicts, the softest of whose suffer*
ings would have struck full cold to the heart of many a
carnalist, and made it to die vvithin him like a stone, as
Nabal's did ! One of the least, the loss of his goods, I am
16 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
persuaded would have caused many covetous v?orldlings to
have laid violent hands upon themselves ; for instance,
Ahithophel, only because the glory of his state wisdom was
obscured and overtopped at the council board, saddled his
ass, gat him home, put his household in order, and hanged
himself. The only cause of his fainting in the day of dis-
grace and non-acceptation was his false and rotten heart in
matters of religion. While the crown sat with security and
safety upon David's head, he walked with him as a com-
panion unto the house of God. But when the wind began to
blow a little another way, and upon Absalom's side, like a
true timeserver, he follows the blast, and turns his sails
according to the weather ; and therefore his hollow heart,
having made the arm of flesh his anchor, and a vanishing
blaze of honour his chiefest blessedness, shrinks at the very
first sight and suspicion of a tempest, and sinks this misera-
ble man into a sea of horror. Now, on the contrary, what
was the cause that Job's heart was not crushed in pieces
under the bitter concurrence of such a world of crosses, of
which any one severally was sufiicient to have made a man
extremely miserable 1 The true reason of his patient reso-
lution amid so many pressures v/as the spiritual riches he
had hoarded up in the time of his happiness ; amongst
which the divinest and dearest jewel lay nearest unto hie
heart, as a counterpoison to the venom and sting of the
devil's deadliest malice ; 1 mean a sound and strong faith
in Jesus Christ, " the Lamb slain from the beginning of the
world," which now began to shine the fairest in the darkest
midnight of his miseries, and sweetly to dart out many
heavenly sparks of comfort, and such glorious ejaculations
as these : "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him"
(chap, xiii, 15) ; and that, chap, xix, 23, et seq., ** Oh that
my words were now written ! oh that they were printed in
a book ! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead
in the rock for ever. For I know that my Redeemer liveth,"
&c. There were two cutting and cruel circumstances
largely insinuated, chap, xxix and xxx, which did keenly
sharpen the edge and mightily aggravate the weight of Job's
miseries. The one was this, he had been happy. Now, as
that man's happiness is holden the greatest who hath been
in a m.iserable condition, for he tasteth the double sweet, of
remembering his forepast misery and enjoying his present
felicity ; so, on the contrary, it is accounted the greatest
misery to have been happy. The other was that which
most nettles a generous nature, he being a man of so great
honour and worth, whose rare and incomparable wisdom
even the princes and nobles adored, with a secret and silent
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 17
admiration, as appears chap, xxix, 9, 10, was now con-
temned of the most contemptible. " 'J he children of fools
and the children of base men," that were " viler than the
earth," make him their song and their bye-word (chap.
XXX, 8, 9). For when true nobleness and worth is down,
and any one of the Lord's champions dejected, it is ordi-
nary with all those cowardly dispositions, to whom his
sincerity was an eye-sore, his power and authority a re-
straint to their lewdness, the glory of his virtues fuel to their
envy, to run as a raven to the fallen sheep to pick out his
eyes ; I mean (which yet tastes of a truly cowardly and
merciless constitution), to wound his very wounds, and to
vex his vexations. This was J ob's case.
But what now ministers comfort to Job's heart against
these corrosives ? Even consciousness of his graces and
integrities, treasured up and exercised in the days of his
peace. He reckons up fourteen of them, chap. xxxi. From
consideration hereof he gathers towards the end this trium-
phant resolution against the sorest of his sufferings, " I
would even crown mine head with the bitterest invective of
my greatest adversary." Whence it is clear, that the two
potent pillars of Job's strong and strange patience, which
generations will admire to the world's end, were a sound
faith and the sanctified fruits thereof, prepared and prac-
tised in the time of his prosperity.
CHAP. V.
A third consideration, pressine the former exhortation, defended
against Machiavel's position.
3. By previous provision of God's favour, grace, good con-
science, and such spiritual store, we shall be able worthily
to adorn and honour our profession, truly to ennoble and
win a great deal of glory and reputation to the state of
Christianity, when the ambitious rufflers and boisterous
Nirarods of the world shall see and observe that there is a
gracious invisible vigour and strength of heaven, which
mightily supports the heart of the true Christian in those
times of confusion and fear, when theirs shall be like the
heart of a woman in her pangs, and fall asunder in their
breast>, even like drops of water. That he is as bold as a
lion, and immovable like Mount Zion in the day of distress
and visitations of God, when they shall tremble at the shak-
ing of a leaf, and call upon the mountains to cover them ;
C 3
18 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
that he shall be able then to say with David, Psalm xlvi, 1,
2, " Ihe Lord is my refuge and ray strength, &c. Therefore
will i not fear though the earth be removed, and though
the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." But
they shall cry out of the bitterness of their spirits with the
hypocrites, Isa. xxxiii, 14, "Who among us shall dwell
with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with
everlasting burnings 1" God is nmch honoured, and his
truth glorified, when it appears in the face of men that a
poor neglected Christian (or, in the world's language, a
precise fool) is able by the power of grace and influence of
his favour to affront and outface all the frowns and malig-
nant aspects of the proud giants of the world : and he is
the Lord's noblest champion, and a professor of the truest
and heavenliest dye, that holds out in the wetting, and
shrinks not in the day of adversity. Chrysostom speaks to
the people of Antioch like himself, a man of an invincible
spirit, against the tyrannies of his times : " In this," he
says, " should a gracious differ from a graceless man, that
he should bear his cross courageously, and as it were with
the wings of faith outsoar the height of all human miseries.
He should be like a rock, being incorporated into Jesus
Christ, impregnable and unshaken with the most furious in-
cursions of the waves and storms of worldly troubles, pres-
sures, and persecutions ; " and, blessed be God, that even
here upon earth, in this vale of tears, there is such a visible
and vast difference between a wicked and godly man. The
one is like the raging sea that cannot rest : the other stands
fast like a rock which shall never be removed. An unre-
generate heart is ever restless ; commonly in these three
regards at the least: 1. By reason of an endless and insa-
tiable appetite after pleasures, riches, honours, revenge, or
what other darling delight it hath singled out and made
special choice of, to follow and feed upon with greatest
contentment and sensual sweetness. God hath justly put
that property, or rather poison, into all earthly things doated
upon and desired immoderately, that they shall plague the
heart which so pursues them, by filling it still with a furious
and fresh supply of more greediness, jealousies, and many
miserable discontentments, so that they become unto it as
drink unto a man in a dropsy or burning fever, serve only
to inflame it with new heat and fiery additions of insatiable
thirst and inordinate longings. 2. Because of the many
secret grumblings and stinging reclamations of a galled
conscience against its present guilty courses and forbidden
pleasures. 3. In respect of a continual ebullition, as it
were, of confused and contrary lusts out of the poisoned
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 19
fountain of original corruption, which fill it with many dis-
tractions and tumultuations of hell. But now, if besides
this inward boiling it be also tossed with outward troubles,
what a miserable creature is a carnal man 1 Even as the
sea, if besides its internal agitations by the restless motions
of estualion, dissension, revolution, and reflection, it be
also outwardly troubled with storms and tempestuous winds,
how rageful and roaring will it be 1 But the other is like a
strong immovable mountain that stands impregnable against
the rage of wind and weather ; and all the cruel incursions
and ungodly oppositions made against it, either by men or
devils, are but like so many proud and swelling waves which
dash themselves against a mighty rock, — the more bois-
terously they beat against it, the more are they broken and
turned into a vain foam and froth. Come what will, his
heart is still in his breast, and his resolution as high as
heaven.
Pestilent then is that principle of Machiavei (one not
to be named but by way of detestation), and savours
rankly of cursed atheism, whereby he leaches in sense and
sum ; that " heathenish religion did inspire her worthies of
old with invincible and victorious spirits ; but Christian re-
ligion begets effeminacy, dejections, and fears." He speaks
to this purpose, which to me seems strange, that such a
profound professor of the depths, or rather devilishness of
policy, should doat so sottishly : — and yet it is no such
strange thing, for many times we may observe, that deepest
policy, by the curse of God upon it for opposition to goodness,
turns into extremest folly : and all counsels and politic con-
stitutions against Christ are but the brainless infatuations
of Ahithophel.
For that which he holds is strongly contradictory both to
common sense and a thousand experiences to the contrary.
For the first, and in a word, let that great master of mischief
and of most abhorred atheistical principles of state tell me,
whether a real assurance of a crown of life and endless joys
in another world be not more powerful to raise a n,an's
spirit to the highest pitch of undaunted nobleness of spirit
and unconquerable resolution, than a vain breath of immor-
tal fame among miserable men after this life 1 and in this
lies the sinew of his proof. For the second, let the acts of
the ancient Jews be impartially v/eighed, from whose mag-
nanimity in causes of most extreme hazard those strange
and unwonted resolutions have grown, which for all circum-
stances, says a great divine, no people under the roof of
heaven did ever hitherto match : and that which did always
animate them was their mere religion. Let the chronicles
20 INSTRUCTIONS FOll COMFORTING
also of later times be searched, and we shall find from time
to time many renowned worthies to have for ever ennobled
the matchless and incomparabiCjCourage of Christianity with
inimitable impressions oi valour and visible transcendency,
above all human boldness and alTected audacities of the
most valiant pagans. To begin with great Constantine,
the first mighty commander of a Christian army, with what
victorious glory did he confound and cut off many potent
heads of Paganism ! Thrice was the whole world most fa-
mously fougbt for ; between Alexander and Xerxes ; Cesar
and Pompey ; Constantine and Licinius. This last was
most illustrious, wherein Constantine the Great did mightily
conquer and triumphantly carry all before him ; the hero-
ical and royal spirit of Christianity trampling victoriously
upon the desperate rage of the most furious fool-hardy
pagan tyrants.
1 might here pass on to Theodosius and his miraculous
conque^.ts, and so on ; but the digression would be unsea-
sonable ; therefore 1 leave you for the prosecution of this
point to Anti-Machiavel. Even in later times, wofully
plagued under the reign of Antichrist with a vast degene-
ration from primitive purity and power, the Christian re-
ligion, though poisoned with popish superstition, yet did
so far inspire its warlike professors with extraordinary
spirits, that in point of manhood they did wonders, to the
astonishment of the whole world and all succeeding ages,
Godfrey of Bulloigne, that famous warrior, with his followers,
conquered in less than four years all the goodliest provinces
of Asia, and drove out the Turks. In that dreadful and
cruel conflict in Solomon's temple, as himself reports, in a
letter to Bohemund king of Antioch, their men, "by the
great slaughter of the enemy, stood in blood above the
ancles." At that terrible and bloody battle at Ascalon, it
is credibly reported, they slew a hundred thousand infidels,
&c.
The valour and victories of Huniades, whose mighty spirit
and incredible courage have no parallel in any preceding
story, were so great, and did like a violent tempest and im-
petuous torrent so batter and beat down the enemies of
Christ, that he was rightly reputed *' the bulwark of Europe
and thundering terror of the Turks," amongst whom his
name became so dreadful, it is said they used the same to
frighten their crying children withal. He fought five times
with the Turks upon one day, and five times foiled and put
them to flight with the loss of three thousand. He killed
that valiant viceroy of Asia, Mesites Bassa, with his son
and twenty thousand Turks ; at that famous battle of Vas-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 21
cape, wherein he got the greatest victory that ever any
Christian prince betore that time obtained against the Turk-
ish kings, with fifteen thousand soldiers he overthrew
Abedin Bassa, sent against him most lagingly by reason of
a late shameful loss, according to Amurath's instructions,
by " the slaughter of the flungarians to sacrifice unto the
manes of their dead friends and companions," with an army
of fourscore thousand fighting men.
^canderbeg also was such a mirror of manhood, and so
terrible to the lurks, that nine years after his death, pass-
ing througli Lyssa where his body lay buried, *' they dug up
his bones with great devotion, reckoning it some part of
their happiness if they might but see or touch the same ;
and such as could get any part thereof, were it never so
little, caused the same to be set, some in silver, some in
gold, to hang about their necks or wear upon their bodies,"
thinking the very dead bones of that late invincible cham-
pion would animate their spirits with strange and extraor-
dinary elevation and vigour. Besides an admirable variety
of other rare exploits, at one time with the loss of sixty
Christians he slew Arnesa, with thirty, as some say, but at
least twenty thousand Turks : he killed with his own hand
above two thousand enemies. When he entered into fight,
the spirit of valour did so work within him, and the fierce-
ness of his courage so boiled in his breast, that it was wont
to make blood burst out at his lips, and did so steel his arm
that he cut many of his enemies asunder in the midst.
But take notice, by the way, as the profession of the
Christian religion inspired these renowned worthies with a
matchless height of courage and might of spirit, so the
mixture with popish idolatry did then, and dotn to this day
unhappily hinder all thorough success and constant pre-
vailing against that most mighty blood-thirsty Turkish ty-
rant, the terror of Christendom ; who, drunk with the wine
of perpetual felicity, holds all the rest of the world in scorn,
and is the greatest and most cruel scourge of it that ever
the earth bore. And besides that the idolatry of the Romish
church most principally and with special curse blasts and
brings to nought all undertakings of the Christian world
against that wicked empire, the practice also of some pes-
tilent principles, proper to that man of sin, hath plagued
the most hopeful enterprises in this kind. For instance, the
king of Hungary, by the help of Huniades was in a fair
course and forwardness to have tamed and taken down,
nay to have for ever crushed and confounded the insolency
and usurpation of that raging JNimrod ; but then comes in
the pope with a vile trick, and utterly dashes and undoes
22 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
all. For he out of his Luciferian pride, by the power, or
rather poison of that antichristian cut-throat position, " Of
keeping no oath nor faith with infidels and heretics," un-
happily undertook to absolve Uladislaus the king, and the
rest whom it did concern, from that solemn oath for confir-
mation of a concluded peace taken of him upon the holy
evangelists, and of Amurath by his ambassadors upon their
Turkish Koran. Whereupon they resolutely break the
league, raise a great army presently, and against their oath
and promise set upon the Turk with perjury and perfidious-
ness, accompanied with God's curse, exposed the Christian
party to a most horrible overthrow in the bloody battle of
Varna, and cast upon the profession of Christ such an as-
persion and shame, that not all the blood of that succession
of popes which constitute antichrist could ever be able to
expiate.
Look upon the story, and consider what a reproach and inex-
piable stain doth rest upon the face of the Christian religion
by this wicked stratagem of popish treachery, and that even
upon record to all posterity ; for Amurath, the Turkish
emperor, in the heat of the fight plucked the writing out of
his bosom wherein the late league was comprised, and hold-
ing it up in his hand with his eyes cast up to heaven, said
thus, " Behold, thou crucified Christ, this is the league thy
Christians in tliy name made with me, which they have
without cause violated. Now, it thou be a god, as they say
thou art, and as we dream, revenge the wrong now done
unto thy name and me, and show thy power upon thy
perjured people, who in their deeds deny thee, their God."
CHAP. VI.
A second use of the former doctrine, for reproof to several sorts of peo-
ple. The first whereof are the careless, vdth a first consideration to
admonish them.
Since a stock of grace and the comforts of a sound con-
science are only able to crush all crosses, outface all adver-
saries, take the sting out of all sorrows and sufferings, and
serve in the evil day as a sovereign antidote to save the
soul from sinking into the mouth of despair and extremest
horror ; then three sorts of people here offer themselves to
be censured, and are to be frighted out of tiieir security and
cruel ease.
I. Those fools, sons and daughters of confusion and sloth,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 23
who having a price in their hands to get wisdom, yet want
hearts to lay it out for spiritual provision beforehand.
They enjoy by God's rare and extraordinary indulgence and
favour, life, strength, wit, health, and many other outward
blessings, nay the most glorious day of a gracious visitation
that did ever shine upon earth, many solden and goodly
opportunities, many blessed seasons and sermons to enrich
their souls abundantly with ail heavenly treasures ; and
yet they are so far from spending their abilities, entertain-
ing those merciful offers, and apprehending such happy
advantages for their true and eternal go^d, that they most
unworthily and unthankfully abuse, mispend, and misemploy
all their means, time, and manifold mercies to serve their
own turns, attain their sensual ends, and possess the pre-
sent with all the carnal contentment they can possibly de-
vise. These vassals of self-love, and slaves of lust, are so
lulled upon the lap of pleasure by the syren songs of Satan's
solicitors, and so drunk with worldly prosperity by swim-
ming down the current of these corrupt times with full sail
of sensuality and ease, that they fall asleep all the time of
the happy harvest in this life for bringing grace into the
soul under the sunshine of the gospel, wasting their precious
time of gathering spiritual manna in grasping gold, clasping
about the arm of flesh, screwing themselves by all ways
and means into high rooms, " crowning themselves with
rosebuds," and tumbling voluptuously in the pleasures and
glory of this false and flattering world. But alas ! poor
souls, what will they do in the evil day? When after the
hot gleam of earthly glory, and a short calm and cut over
the sea of this world, they are come into the port of death,
to which all winds drive them ; and having there let fall
that last anchor which can never be weighed again, shall
be set in the land of darkness, the dust whereof is brim-
stone, and the rivers burning pitch , where they shall meet
with whole armies of tempestuous and fiery plagues ; and
the envenomed arrows of God's unquenchable anger shall
stick fast for ever in their soul and flesh ; wheie they shall
never more see the light nor the land of the living, but be
drowned in everlasting perdition in the lake, even a boiling
sea of fire and brimstone, where they can see no bank, nor
feel no bottom. What will these " sleepers in harvest"
say when they shall be awakened at that dreadful hour out
of their golden dreams, and in their hands shall find nothing
but the judgment of God growing upon their thoughts as
an impetuous storm, death standing befoie them irresistible
like an armed man, sin lying nt the door like a bloodhound,
and a guilty conscience gnav.'i-\g at the heart like a vulture 'i
24 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
when they shall lie upon their last beds like " wild bulls in
a net," as the prophet speaks, " full of the wrath of God ;
saying in the morning, Would God it were even ; and at
even, Would God it were morning, for the fear of their
heart wherewith they shall fear, and for the sight of their
eyes which they shall seel" I say, in what case will they
be then ? Then but my words do fail me here, and
so doth my imagination. For as none knows the sweet-
ness of the spouse's kiss but the soul that receives it, so
neither can any one conceive this honor, but he that suffers
it. The Lord of heaven in mercy awaken them in the mean
time with the piercing thunder of his sacred and saving word,
that they may be happily frighted out of their amazed soul-
murdering sloth, before they feel in hell those fearful things
we so faithfully forewarn them of !
To rouse them out of this cruel carnal security, let them
entertain in their most serious thoughts such considerations
as these : Consider,
1. Why thou camest into this world. There is not so
much as one age past since thou layest hid in the loathed
state of being nothing. Above five thousand years were
gone after the creation before there was any news of thee at
all ; and thou mightest never have been. God hath no
need of thee : he gave thee a being only out of his own
mere bounty. Infinite millions shall never be, which might
have been as well as thou. God's omnipotency is equally
able and active to have produced them as thee ; and no
parts of that vast abyss of nothing can possibly make any
resistance to al mightiness. And besides being so, that thou
must needs have a being, there is not any creature that ever
issued out of the hands of God, but thou mightest have
been that, either for the kind or for the particular. All is
one to him, to make an angel or an ant ; to create the
brightest cherub or the most contemptible fly ; for in every
creation no less than omnipotency must needs be the efficient,
and no more than nothius: is ever the object. Now what a
miraculous mercy was this, that passing by such an unnum-
bered variety of incomparably inferior creatures, he should
make thee an everlasting soul like an angel of God, capable
of grace and immortality, of incorporation into Christ, and
fruition of Jehovah himself, blessed for ever !
Nay, and yet further, though thou wast to have the
being of a reasonable creature, yet there was not an hour
from the first moment of time unto the world's end, hut God
might have allotted that to thee for thy coming into this
world ; and therefore thy time might have been within the
compass of all those four thousand years, or thereabouts.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 25
from the creation until the coming of Christ in the flesh,
when all without the pale and partition wall were with-
out the oracles and ordinances of God, and all ordinary
means of salvation : or, since the gospel revealed under the
reign of Antichrist, and then a thousand to one thou hadst
been choked and for ever perished in the mists of his devil-
ish doctrines. What a high honour was this, to have thy
birth and abode here upon earth appointed from all eternity
in the very best and most blessed time, upon the fairest day
of peace, and, which is infinitely more, in the most glorious
light of grace that ever shone from heaven upon the children
of men !
And so of the place : be it so, that thou must needs be in
this golden age of the gospel and gracious day ; yet thy lot of
living in the world at this time might have lighted ( for any part
of the earth might have received thee where thou couldst
have set but thy two feet) amongst Turks, Pagans, Infidels;
a whole world to Christendom. Or if thine appearing upon
earth must necessarily be within the confines of Christen-
dom, yet thou mightest have sprung up in the popish parts
of it, or in the schismatical or persecuted places of the true
church in it. It was a very singular favour that thou
shouldst be born and bred and brought up in this little
neglected nook of the world, yet very illustrious by the pre-
sence of Christ in a mighty ministry, where thou hast or
mightest have enjoyed in many parts thereof the glorious
gospel of our blessed God, and all saving truth, with much
purity and power.
Now put all these together and tell me coolly, and after a
sensible and serious pondering thereon, dost thou think that
all this ado was about thee, all this honour done unto thee ;
and, when all is done, thou art to do nothing but seek thy-
self, serve thine own turn, and live sensually ? Camest
thou out of nothing into this world to do just nothing but
eat and drink and sleep ; to game, walk in the fashion,
and play the good-fellow ; to laugh and be merry ; to grow
rich and leave tokens of thy pleasure in every place ? If
any, after so much enlightening, be so prodigiously mad as
to continue in such a conceit, I have nothing to say to him,
but leave him as an everlasting madman abandoned to that
folly which wants a name to express it. Turn then thy
course for shame ; nay, as thou hast any care to be saved
and to see the glory of the New Jerusalem, as thou desirest
to look the Lord Jesus in the face with comfort at that great
day, as thou fearest to receive thy portion in hell fire with
the devil and his angels, even most intolerable and bitter
torments for ever and ever, — at least in this thv dav, in this
D
26 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
heat and height of thy spiritual harvest, awalce out of thy
sensual sleep, come to thyself with the prodigal, strike upon
thy thigh, and for the poor remainder of a few and evil
days address thyself with resolution and constancy to pur-
sue the one necessary thing, and to treasure up much hea-
venly strength and store against thine ending hour. Get
thee under the most likely means and a quickening ministry,
and there gather grace as greedily as the most griping
usurer graspeih gold ; contend with a holy ambition as ear-
nestly for the keeping of (iod's favour, and a humble fa-
miliarity with his heavenly highness by keeping faith and a
good conscience, as the proudest Haman for a high place
and pleased face of an earthly prince. And why not in-
finitely more"? This was the end for which thou wast sent
into this world, this only is the way to endless bliss, and
this alone will help us and hold out in the evil day.
CHAP. Vll.
A second and third consideration for the admonition of those
who are careless.
2. That upon the little inch of time in this life depends
the length and breadth of all eternity in the world to come.
As we behave ourselves here, we shall lare everlastingly
hereafter. And therefore how ought we to ply this moment
and prize that eternity 1 To decline all entanglement in
those inordinate affections to the possessions and pleasures
of the present, which hinder a fruitful improvement of it to
the best advantage for the spiritual good of our souls, let us
be moved with such reasons as these, which may be col-
lected from the words of a worthy writer, which run thus
with very little variation ; — 1. If we could afford ourselves
but so much leisure as to consider that he which hath most
in the world, hath in respect of the world nothing in it,
and that he which hath the longest time lent him to live in
it, hath yet no proportion at all therein ; setting it either by
that which is past when we were not, or by that time in
which we shall abide for ever ; I say. if both our propor-
tion in the world, and our time in the world, differ not
much from that which is nothing, it is not out of any ex-
cellency of understanding, saith he, but out of depth of
folly, say I, that we so much prize the one, which hath
in effect no being, and so much neglect the other, which
hath no ending ; coveting the mortal tilings of the world as
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 27
if our souls were therein immortal, and neglecting those
things which are immortal, as if ourselves after the world
were but mortal. 2. Let adversity seem what it will ; to
happy men ridiculous, who make themselves merry with
other men's miseries, and to those under the cross, grievous;
yet this is true, that for all that is past to the very instant
the portions remaining are equal to either. For be it that
we have lived many years, and, according to Solomon, in
them all we have rejoiced ; or be it that we have measured
the same length of time, and therein have evermore sor-
rowed ; yet looking back from our present being, we find
both the one and the other, to wit, the joy and the wo,
sailed out of sight, and death, which doth pursue us and
hold us in chase from our infancy, hath gathered it. What-
soever of our age is past, death holds it : so as whosoever he
be to whom prosperity hath been a servant, and the time a
friend, let him but take the account of his memory (for we
have no other keeper of our pleasures past), and truly ex-
amine what it hath reserved either of beauty arid youth or
foregone delights, what it hath saved that it might last of
his dearest affections, or of whatever else the jovial spring-
time gave his thoughts contentment, then invaluable ; and
he shall find that all the art, which his elder years have,
can draw no other vapour out of these dissolutioris than
heavy, secret, and sad sighs. He shall find nothing re-
maining but those sorrows which grow up after our fast-
springing youth, overtake it when it is at a stand, and
utterly overtop it when it begins to wither ; insomuch as
looking back from the present time and from our now being,
the poor diseased and captive creature hath as little sense
of all his former miseries and pains, as he that is most
blessed in common opinion hath of his fore-past pleasiires
and delights ; for whatsoever is cast behind us is just
nothing. 3. To ponder also profitably upon eternity, that
we " may apply our hearts unto wisdom," and so improve
this short moment upon earth that it may go well with us
for ever, let us take notice of and lay to heart this one
quickening passage, confidently averred by a great writer.
" If God," saith he, " should speak thus to a damned soul,
' Let the whole world be filled with sand from the earth to
the empyrean heaven, and then let an angel come every
thousandth year, and fetch only one grain from that mighty
sandy mountain ; when that immeasurable heap is so spent,
and so many thousand years expired, I will deliver thee out
of hell and those extremest horrors;' that most miserable
forlorn wretch, notwithstandin,^- that he were to lie through
that inconceivable length of time in those intolerable tor-
28 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
ments, yet upon such a promise would infinitely lejoice, and
deem himself not to be damned. But, alas ! when all those
years are gone, there are thousands upon thousands more to
be endured, even through all eternity and beyond." How
heavy and horrible is the weight of everlastingness in that
burning lake, and those tormenting flames, when a damned
man would think himself in heaven in the mean time if he
might have but hope of coming out of them after so many
infinite millions of years in them !
3. That it would not profit a man though he should gain
the whole world, if he lose his own soul ; and that a man
can give nothing in exchange for his soul. Christ himself
said so. Suppose thyself crowned with the confluence of
all worldly felicity, to have purchased a monopoly of all
pleasures, honours, and riches upon the whole earth, to be
attended with all the pomp and state thy heart could desire :
yet what were this momentary golden dream unto a real
glorious eternity 1 Kow stinging would be the most exqui-
site delight, curiously extracted out of them all, accom-
panied with this one thought — the soul is lost everlastingly 1
All these painted vanities might seem perhaps a gaudy
paradise to a spiritual fool, who hath his portion in this
life ; but what true pleasure can a man in his right wits,
but morally enlightened no further than with philosophy,
take in them, since, setting other respects aside, they are so
fading and he so frain For the first, God hath purposely
put a transitory and mortal nature into all things here be-
low ; they spring, and flourish, and die. Even the greatest
kingdoms and strongest monarchies that ever were, have
had their infancy, youthful strength, man's state, old
age, and at last the grave. See the end of the mightiest
states that ever the sun saw shadowed by Nebuchadnezzar's
great image (Dan. ii, 35). There was never empire upon
earth, were it never so flourishing or great, was ever yet so
assured, but that in revolution of time, after the manner of
other vvorldly things, it hatli as a sick body been subject to
many innovations and changes, and at length come to
nothing. Much more, then, the pride and pomp of all
other inferior earthly glory hath fallen at last into the dust,
and lies now buried in the grave of endless forgetful ness.
For the second ; imagine there were constancy and eternity
in the forenamed earthly Babels, yet what man of sense
would in the least prize them, since his life is but a bubble,
and the very next hour or day to come he may utterly be
cut off from them all for ever? " To-day he is set up, and
to-morrow he shall not be found ; for he is turned into dust
and his purpose perisheth." Take them both together thus.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 29
Set upon ihe head of the worthiest man that the earth bears,
yet wanting grace in his soul, all the brightest imperial
crowns that ever highest ambition aimed at or attained
unto ; put upon him all the royal robes that ever enclosed
the body of the proudest Lucifer, fill him with all the
•wisdom and largest comprehensions which fall within the
wide compass and capacity of any depths of policy or mys-
teries of state ; furnish him to the full with the exactness
and excellency of ail natural, moral, and metaphysical
learning ; put him into the sole possession and command of
this and the other golden world ; in a word, crown him
with the concurrence of all created earthly excellencies to
the utmost and highest strain ; and lay this man thus quali-
fied and endowed upon the one scale of the balance, and
vanity upon the other, and vanity will outweigh him quite.
*' Men of high degree are a lie : to be laid in the balance
they are altogether lighter than vanity " (Psalm Ixii, 9).
The rich fool in the gospel teacheth us that there is no man
so assured of his honour, of hi>s riches, health, or life, but
that he may be deprived of either or all the very next
night. Besides, by a thousand other causes, means, and
ways, he may always be snatched away from the face of the
earth in anger, for setting his heart and rest upon such rotten
staves of reed, transitory shadows, and indeed that which
is nothing. " Wilt thou cast thine eyes upon that which is
not ] for riches (conceive the same of all other wofdly com-
forts) certainly make themselves wings: they flyaway as
an eagle toward heaven " (Prov. xxiii, 5). How truly then
is that mad and miserable man a son of confusion, who
spends the short span of his mortal life in wooing the world,
who was never true to those that trusted in her, ever false-
hearted to ail her favourites, and at length most certainly
undoes spiritually and everlastingly every wretch that is
wedded unto her, who passeth through a few and evil days
in this vale of tears, in following feathers, pursuing shadows,
raising bubbles and balls like those blown up by boys in
their pastimes, which ere they be tossed three times burst of
themselves ; 1 mean worldly vanities ; but in the mean
time suffers his immortal soul, more worth than many mate-
rial worlds, and for which he can give nothing in exchange,
to abide all naked, destitute, and empty, utterly unfurnished
of that comfortable provision and gracious strength, which
should support it in the day of sorrow, and leaves it at last
to the tempestuous winter night of death, and all those des-
perate terrors that attend it like a scorched heath, without
so much as any drop of comfort either from heaven or
earth !
1) 3
30 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
CHAP. VIII.
The second sort of people to be reproved, which are sensualists. The
first consideration to reform tliem.
II. A second sort, worse than the former, are such as are so
far from treasuring up in this time of light and merciful
visitation, soundness of knowledge, strength of faith, purity
of heart, clearness of conscience, holiness of life, assurance
of God's favour, contempt of the world, many sanctified
sabbaths, fervent prayers, holy conferences, heavenly medi-
tations, days of humiliation, righteous dealings with their
brethren, compassionate contributions to the necessities of
the saints, works of justice, mercy, and truth, a sincere re-
spect to all God's commandments, a careful performance
of all spiritual duties, a conscientious partaking of all
God's ordinances, a seasonable exercise of every grace,
hatred of all false ways, a hearty and invincible love unto
God and all things that he loves, or that belong unto him,
his word, sacraments, sabbaths, ministers, services, child-
ren, presence, corrections, comings, &c. which are the or-
dinary provisions of God's people against the evil day ; —
I say, they are so far from prizing and preparing such spiri-
tual store, that they hoard up stings, scourges, and scor-
pions for their naked souls and guilty consciences against
the day of the Lord's visitation ; 1 mean lies, oaths, blas-
plemies, adulteries, whoredoms, self-pollutions, variety of
strange fashions, gamings, revellings, drunken matches,
good -i'ellow meetings, wanton dancings, usuries, falsehoods,
hypocrisies ; plurality of ill-gotten goods, benefices, offices,
honours ; filthy jests, much idle talk, slanderous tales,
scoffs, railings, oppositions to the holy way, &c. and that
with greediness and delight. For they cry one unto another
out of a boisterous combination of good-fellowship, with
much eagerness and roaring, '* Come on, therefore, let us
fill ourselves with costly wine and ointments, and let no
flower of the spring pass by us. Let us crown ourselves
with rose-buds before they be withered. Let none of us go
without his part of our voluptuousness. Let us leave
tokens of our pleasure in every place , for this is our por-
tion, and our lot is this. Let us lie in wait for the righteous,
because he is not for our turn, and he is clean contrary to
our doings, &c." But alas ! what will be the conclusion
of all this, or rather the horrible confusion 1 Even all their
jovial revellings, roarings, outrages, and sinful pleasures,
which are so sweet in their mouths, and they swallow
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 31
down so insatiably, shall turn to gravel and the " gall of
asps in their bowels," to fiery enraged scorpions in their
consciences; where, lurking in the mean time in the mud
of sensuality and lust, breed such a never-dying worm,
which if God think fit to awake upon their last bed, is able
to put them into hell upon earth, to damn them above
ground, to gnaw upon their soul and flesh with that unheard-
of horror which seized upon Spira's woful heart, who pro-
tested, being fully in his right mind, that he would rather
be in Cain or Jiidas's place in hell than endure the present
unspeakable torment of his afflicted spirit.
To beat them from this desperate course of greedy hoard-
ing up such horrible things unto themselves against their
ending hour, let them consider : —
1. Besides the eternity of joys for the one, and of torments
to the other, hereafter, the vast and invaluable difference
in the mean time, in respect of true sweetness and sound
contentment, between the life of a saint and a sensualist :
a puritan, as the world calls him, and a good-fellow, as he
terms himself; — let us for the purpose peruse the different
passages of one day, as Chrysystom excellently delineates
them and represents to the life. " Let us produce two men,"
saith he, "the one drowned in carnal looseness, sensualities,
and riotous excess; the other crucified and dead to such
sinful courses and worldly delights. Let us go to their
houses and behold their behaviour. We shall find the one
reading the scriptures and other good books, taking time
for holy duties and the service of God ; sober, temperate,
abstemious, diligent also in the necessary duties of his call-
ing, having holy conference with God, discoursing of heavenly
things, bearing himself more like an angel than a man.
The other, jovial, a vassal of luxury and ease, swaggering
up and down ale-houses, taverns, or other such conventicles
of good-fellowship, hunting after all the ways, means, and
men to pass the time merrily, plying his pleasures with
what variety he possibly can all the day long, railing and
roaring as though he were enraged with a devil, though he
be really dead while he is alive : which is accompanied
with murmurings of the family, discontent of the wife,
chiding of friends, laughing to scorn of enemies," &c.
Whether of these courses now do you think were the more
comfortable! I know full well the former would be cried
down by the greatest part as too precise, and the latter
would carry it by a world of men. But hear the puritan
father's impartial holy censure, quite cross to the common
conceit and humour of flesh and blood. It is excellent and
emphatical, arguing his resolute abomination of the ways of
32 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
good-fellowship, and infinite love and admiration of the
holy path. Having given to the good-feilovv his heart's
desire all the day long in all kinds of voluptuousness and
delight, yet for all this, " Who is he," saith he, " that is in
h s right mind, that would not choose rather to die a thou-
sand deaths, than spend one day sol" This peremptory
passage would be held a strange paradox from the mouth
of any modern minister, and so appears to the carnal ap-
prehension of all those miserable men who are blindfolded
aad baffled by the devil to the eternal loss of their souls.
But besides that it might be made good many other ways,
it is more than manifest by comparing that three-fold sting
that follows at the heels of every sinful delight, &c. (see
my Book of Walking with God), with the com.ortable con-
tentment and secret sweetness which might and should
attend all weil-doing and every holy duty done with up-
rightness of heart. The very philosophers do tell us of a
congratulation, a pleased contentedness and satisfaction in
doing virtuously according to their moral rules. W^hat
true, solid, and singular comfort then, do you think, may
be lound in those godly actions v\hich spring from faith,
are guided by God's word, directed to his glory, and whose
bewailed defects and failings are most certainly pardoned
by the blood of his Son? Now what an extreme madness
is this, for a man to sell his salvation for a life of pleasures j
abhorring the ways of God's children as too piecise and
painful ; whereas, besides hell for the one, and heaven for
the ether hereafter, in the mean time every day spent so
sensually is a true purgatory, and every day passed in the
contrary Christian course is an earthly paradise !
C^AP. IX.
The second and third cousiieration for the reformation of the
sensualist.
2. Let them mark well the different ends of these men.
Though the one now carries away the credit and current of
the times, and with all bravery and triumph rolls himself in
the pleasures, riches, and glory of the world, and the other
is kept under hatches, neglected and contemptible to carnal
eyes, trampled upon with the feet of pride and malice by
the prouder Pharisees, and hunted with much cruelty and
hate by men of this world : yet watch but a while, and you
shall see the end of this upright man, whatsoever his sorrows
and sutierings, troubles and temptations have been in this
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 33
life, to be most certainly peace at the last. " Mark the
perfect man, and behold the upright ; for the end of that
man is peace." (Psalm xxxvii, 37). He either passeth
fairly and calmly through the port of death to the land ot
everlasting rest and rejoicing; or else, if a tempest of ex-
traordinary temptation seize upon him in the haven, whea
he is ready to set foot into heaven, which is the lot of many
of God's dearest ones, for ends seeming best to the ever-
blessed r\Iajesty, as perhaps to harden those about him that
hate to be reformed ; yet all the hurt he hath thereby is,
besides serving God's secret holy pleasure, an addition to
his happiness ; for an immediate translation from the depth
of temporary horror, as in the case of Mr. Peacock and Mrs.
Brettergh, to the height of endless joy, makes even the joys
of heaven something more joyful. He feels those neveij
ending pleasures at the first entrance more delicious and
ravi:,hing, by reason of the sudden change from that bitter-
ness of spirit in the last combat to the excellency and
eternity of heavenly bliss. His soul, in this case, after a
short eclipse of spiritual darkness upon his bed of death,
enters more lightsomely into the full sun of immortal glory.
But what do you think shall be the end of the other man ?
He is in the mean time, it may be, " in great power, and
spreading himself like a green bay tree," revelling in the
abundance of all worldly jollity and wealth; wallowing
dissolutely in the ciioicest delights and vainest pleasures;
yet wait but a while, and you shall see him quickly "cut
down like grass, and wither as the gieen herb." For God
shall suddenly shoot at hiro with a swift arrow. It is
already in the bow, even a bow of steel shall send forth an
arrow that shall strike him through, and shall shine on his
gall. His power aod his pride shall be overthrown in the
turn of a hand. All his imperious boisterousness shall melt
away as a vain foam. "The eye which saw him shall see
him no more ; neither shall his place any more behold him."
He must descend into the grave, naked and stripped of all
power and pomp, all beauty and strength ; a weaker and
poorer worm than when he first came out of the womb.
Hear further for this purpose, and fuller expression of my
meaning in this point, how a worthy friend of mine, in-
stanciag in the exemplary and dreadful downfalsof Haman,
Shebna, and others, labours to fright graceless great ones
out of their luxury and pride, security and smful pleasures,
by consideration of their ends. " Oh then," saith he, " ye
rich and great, ye proud and cruel, ambitious and honour-
able, take from their woful examples the true estimate of
your riches and your power, your pleasure and your honour.
34 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
wherein ye trust, and whereof ye boast, but as Israel in
Egypt, of a broken reed. Consider that like sins will have
like ends ; that God is to-day, and yesterday, and the same
for ever ; that the pride and cruelty, oppression and luxury
of these times, have no greater privilege than those of the
former. But when for a while you have domineered far and
near, had wha.t you would, and done what you pleased ;
dispeOi,led parishes and plains for your orchards and walks ;
pulled down many houses to set one up, from between
whose battlements and turrets at the top you can see no end of
your meadows, your fields, and your lands, the measuring
whereof, as the poet speaks, would weary the very wings of
the kite ; when the train of your dependents hath been too
long for the street, and your bare respect hath shook the hat
from the head, and bent the knee afar off; when you have
clapped whole manors on your backs, or turned them down
your throats ; when you have scoured the plains with your
horses, the fields and woods with your hounds, and the hea-
ven with your hawks; when with pheasants' tongues you
have furnished whole feasts, and with the queen of Egypt
drunk dissolved pearls, even fifty thousand pounds at a
draught, and then laid your head in Dalilah's lap ; when, if
it were possible, you have spent your whole lives in all that
royal pomp and pleasure which that most magnificent king
and queen did (Esther i) for a hundred and fourscore days ;
in a word, when you wallowed in all delights and stood in
pleasures up to the chin; — then, even then, the pit is
digged, and death, of whom you dream not, stands at the
door. Where are you now, or what is to be done? Come
down, saith Death, from your pleasant prospects; alight
from your jades ; hoed your kites ; couple up your curs ; bid
adieu to pleasure ; out of your beds of lust ; come naked
forth, and descend with me to the chambers of death.
Make your beds in the dust, and lay down your cold car-
casses among the stones of the pit at the roots of the rocks.
And you, great and delicate dames, who are so wearied
with pleasure that you cannot rise time enough to dress
your heads and do all your tricks against dinner ; to wash
your bodies with musk, and daub your faces with vermilion
and chalk ; to make ready your pleasant baits to poison
men's eyes and their souls; you painted Jezebels, think you
now you are fit company for men? Nay, come headlong
down to the dogs. If not suddenly so, yet dispatch, and
put off your cauls, ear-rings, and round tires ; your chains,
bra^-^elets, and mufflers ; your rings, wimples, and crisping
pins ; your hoods, veils, and changeable suits ; your glasses,
fine linen, with all your mundits muliebris (Isa, iii, 16) ; and
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 35
put on stench instead of sweet smell ; baldness instead of
well-set hair ; burning instead of beauty. Worms shall
make their nests ia your breasts, and shall eat out those
wanton windovvs and messengers of lust; yea, rottenness
and stench, slime and filth shall ascend and sit down in the
very throne of beauty, and shall dwell between your eye-
brows."
All this is very woful ; and yet there is a thousand times
worse. Besides all this, thou that now layest about thee for
the world and wealth ; for transitory pelf and rotten plea-
sures, that liest soaking in luxury and pride, and vanity,
and all kind of voluptuousness, shall most certainly very
shortly lie upon thy bed of death, like " a wild bull in a net,
tuU of the fury of the Lord ;" either sealing thee up finally in
the desperate senselessness of thine own dead heart, with the
spirit of slumber for everlasting vengeance even at the door,
or else exemplarily enragiag the guilty conscience upon that
thy last bed with hellish horror even beforehand. For ordi-
narily the more notorious servants of Satan and slaves of
lust depart this life either like Nabal or Judas ; though more
by many thousands die like hard-hearted sots in security,
than in despair of conscience. If it be so with thee, then,
that thine heart when th .u shalt have received the sentence
of death against thyself die within thee, as Nabal's ; " and
most commonly," saith a worthy divine, " conscience in
many is secure at the time of death, God in his justice so
plaguing an affected security in life with an inflicted se-
curity at death ; — 1 say, then, thou wilt become as a stone,
most prodigiously blockish ; as though there were no immor-
tality of the soui ; no loss of eternal bliss ; no tribunal in
heaven ; no account to be made after this life ; no bsming in
hell for ever. Which will make the never dying fire more
scorching, and the ever-living worm more stinging, by how
much thou wast more senseless and fearless of that fiery
lake into which thou wast ready to fall. " Death itself,"
saith the same man, " cannot awake some consciences ; but
no sooner come they into hell but conscience is avvakened to
the full, never to sleep more ; and then she teareth with, im-
placable fury, and teacheth forlorn wretches to know that
forbearance was no payment." But if it please God to take
the other course v/ith thee, and to let loose the cord of thy
conscience upon thy dying bed ; thou wilt be strangled even
with hellish horror upon earth, and damned above ground.
That worm of hell which is a continual remorse and furious
reflection of the soul upon its own wilful folly, whereby it
hath lost everlasting joys, and must now lie in endless,
easeless, and remediless torments, is set on work whilst
36 INSTRUCTIOT^fS FOR COMFORTING
thou art yet alive, and with desperate rage and unspeakable
auguish will feed upon thy soul and flesh ; the least twitch
•whereof, not all the pleasures often thousand worlds would
ever be able to countervail. For as the peace of a good, so
the pangs of a guilty conscience are unspeakable. So that
at that time thou mayest justly take unto thyself Pashur's
terrible name, Magor Missubih, Fear round about. Thou
■wilt be a terror to thyself and to all thy friends. And that
which in this woful case will sting extremely, no friends,
nor physic ; no gold, nor silver ; no height of place, nor fa-
vour of prince ; not the glory and pleasures of the whole
world ; not the crowns and command of all earthly king-
doms, can possibly give any comfort, deliverance, or ease !
For when that time and terror hath overtaken thee, which
is threatened Prov. i, 24—31 ; " Because I have called and
ye refused ; I have stretched out my hand, and no man re-
garded ; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would
none of my reproof : I also will laugh at your calamity ; I will
mock when your fear cometh ; when your feai' cometh as deso-
lation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind ; when dis-
tress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon
me, but 1 will not answer, they shall seek me early, but they
shall not find me : for that they hated knowledge, and did not
choose the fear of the Lord : they would none of my counsel :
they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of
the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own de-
vices :" — I say, when this terrible time is come upon thee,
then will the mighty Lord of heaven and earth come against
thee " as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will
rend the caul of thy heart, and will devour thee like a lion"
(Hos. xiii, 8). " lie will come with fire and with his
chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and
his rebuke with flames of fire" (Isa. ixvi, 15). All his
terrors at that hour will fight against thee, and that un-
quenchable anger that burns to the very bottom of hell,
and " sets on fire the foundations of the mountains " (Deut.
xxxii, 22). The empoisoned arrows of his fiercest indigna-
tion shall be " drunk with the blood " of thy soul, and stick
fast in it for ever. In a word, the fearful armies of all the
plagues and curses, sorrows and insuflFerable pains de-
nounced in God's book against final impenitents, shall with
irresistible violence take hold upon thee at once, and pursue
thee with that fury, which thou shalt never be able either
to avoid or abide ; and " Who is able to stand before this
holy Lord God ? who can abide in his sight when he is
angry? who can deliver out of his hand?" What man or
angel, what arm of flesh, or force of arms, what creature, or
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 37
created power, what cherub, or which of the seraphim is
able to free a guilty conscience from the ever-gnawing
worm, and an impenitent wretch from eternal flames 1 Oh !
methinks a sensible forethought of these horrible things
even at hand should make the hardest heart of the most
aborninable Belial to tremble at the root, and fall asunder
in his breast like drops of water! To have his end in his
eye, and seriously to remember the tribulation and anguish
that shall shortly come upon his soul, the aiflict'on, the
wormwood, and the gall, sb.ould instantly frighten him out
of his filthy, graceless, good-fellow courses.
3. Let thein consider what horror it will be in evil times :
I mean not only at death and the last day, which are the
most terrible of all ; but also in times of disgrace and con-
tempt ; of common fear and confusions of the state, of sick-
ness, crosses, restraint, banishment, temptations, or any
other days of sorrow. At such times to find, instead of
peace, fiery scorpions in their consciences, innumerable sins
graven there with an iron pen unrepented of! Hear how
excellently Austin foretels and forewarns them, into what a
forlorn and fearful state they shall most certainly fall, when,
after a short gleam of worldly glory, they fall into tempes-
tuous and troublesome times : " Ot all afflictions incident to
the soul of man, there is none more grievous and transcend-
ent than to have the conscience enraged with the guilt of
sin. If there be no wound there, if all be safe and sound
within, if that bird of the bosom sing sweetly in a man's
breast, it is no matter what miseries be abroad in the world,
what storms or stirs be raised against him, what arm of
flesh or rage of foes beset him round ; for he in this case
hath presently recourse unto his conscience, the safest
sanctuary and paradise of sweetest repose ; and finding that
sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb, filled with abundance
of peace, and God himself there reconciled unto him in the
face of Christ, he is courageously fearless of all, both mortal
and immortal, adversaries and oppositions. ' Though the
earth be removed and the mountains carried into the midst
of the sea ;' though all the creatures in the world should be
turned into bears or devils about him, yet his conscience
being comfortable he is undaunted and confident, and more
than conqueror over the whole world and ten thousand
hells. But on the other side, if by reason of tlie reign of
sin, there be no rest there ; if God be not there because of
the abounding of iniquity, what shall a man do then]
Whither shall he fly when the hand of God hath found him
out, and the swift -arrow of the Almighty sticks fast in his
side? He will fly," saith that ancient father, " out of the
E
38 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
country into the city, out of the streets into his house, out
of his house into his chamber, horror still following him
closely. From his chamber whither will he go but into the
inmost cabinet of his bosom, where his conscience dwelleth'?
and if he find there nothing but tumult and terror, but guilti-
ness, confusion, and ciies of despair, which way will he
then turn himself, or whither will he fly then ? He must
then either fly from himself, which is utterly impossible,
or else abide that torment, which is beyond all compass of
thought or expression of tongue." For "all the racks,"
saith another, " wheels, wild horses, hot pincers, scalding
lead poured into the most tender and sensible parts of the
body ; yea, all the merciless, barbarous, and inhuman
cruelties of the holy house, are but mere toys and May
games, compared with the torments that an evil conscience
will put a man to when it is awakened."
CHAP. X.
The third sort of people to be reproved, which are the Opposers of a
powerful Ministry. Three reasons dissuading men from that sin.
3. A THIRD sort, the worst of all and the most pestilent, are
those who do not only not labour in the time of harvest to
treasure up comfortable provision against days ot dread,
and mispend the day of their visitation wickedly, but also,
out of a transcendent strain of impiety, labour might and
main to put out and utterly extinguish the heavenly sun
that creates this blessed day, and makes the season of our
spiritual harvest most glorious and incomparable ; I mean
to suppress and quench the saving light of a powerful mi-
nistry wheresoever planted and prevailing ; under the sa-
cred influence and sovereign heat whereof all God's hidden
ones are wont to gather that heavenly stock of grace, com-
fort of godliness and good conscience, which is able to hold
up their heads invincibly in heavy times. These are the
vilest of men and of the most forlorn hope ; for they are un-
happily transported with extremest malice, and storm
against the very means which should sanctify them, and
men which should save them. They do not only make
their own souls sure for damnation, but also hinder the
power of the word all they can, lest others should be saved.
Whatsoever thou dost, do not become one of this reprobate
crew, who heartily desire that the sun of sincere preaching
were quenched and put out, though it were with the blood of
God's most faithful messengers, as did the men of Anathotli
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 39
m Jeremiah's time; Herodias in John Baptist's time ; and
that other Herodias, improperly called Eudoxia, in .lolm
Chrysostom's time ; and many thousands even within the
pale of the church at all times. Above all, I say, beware
of that crying sin of persecuting the power of godliness,
without which never any heart knew what true comfort
meant ; profession of the truth, without which Christ will
not own us at the last day ; conscientious ministers, under
whose unceasing labours we gather our spiritual and hea-
venly store against evil times in this harvest of grace ; and
that either with thine heart, by hatred, malice, heart-burn-
ing ; with thy tongue, by slanders, scoffs, rash censures ;
with thine hand, by supplanting, oppression, wrong ; with
thy purse, policy, power, misinforming, or any other way
of vexing or violence. If thou wilt needs be wicked, be so
more moderately. If there be no help, but thou will go to
hell, post not so furiously. If nothing will work, but thou
art wilfully bent on destruction, seek at least a iriore tole-
rable doom ; for persecutors are transcendents in sin, and
shall hereafter be paid home proportionably. Be none of
them, for such reasons as these : —
(1.) All their malice and rancour, all their bitter words
and scornful jests, all their bloody, merciless mischiefs and
machinations against the power of preaching and God's
people, strike immediately at the face of Jesus Christ.
"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou meV (Actsix, 4.)
and at the precious ball and apple of God's own eye.
" For he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye "
(Zech. ii, 8). God is our shield (Psalm Ixxxiv, 11). Now
the shield takes all the blows.
(2.) They are hunted many times with furies of con-
science and extreme horror even in this life. J^ashur put
blessed Jeremiah in the slocks, but thereupon he had a new
name given him, Magor-missabib, Fear round about, lie be-
came a terror to himself and to all his friends (Jer.
XX, 2, 3, 4). Zedekiah smote faithful Micaiah upon the
face ; but afterwards, according to that prophetical commu-
nication, he was fain to run from chamber to chamber to
hide himself (1 Kings xxii, 24, 25). John Baptist's head,
which Herod cut off, sate in the eye of the tyrant's con-
science with such grisly forms of guilt and blood, that
when he heard of the great things done by (Jhrist, he was
perplexed, and no doubt afraid that John Baptist was risen
from the dead to be revenged upon him. 1 have heard of a
man, who for a time did furiously and desperately set him-
self against a minister of God ; laboured by all means to
disgrace and vex him, both by power and policy ; by slan-
40 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
ders, oppressions, malice, contempt. But at length the
word so got within him and hampered him, and the terrors
of the Almighty took hold upon him with such irresistible
rage, that he came trembling and quaking unto that man of
God whom he had so wickedly wronged, and dared not stir
a foot from him, for fear the devil should take him away
alive, or the earth open her mouth and swallow him up
quick, or some other strange remarkable judgment seize
upon him suddenly, and brand him for a notorious beast
and cursed castaway. So, or to such sense he spoke.
(3.) Many of them come to very horrible, exemplary, and
woful ends. Pharaoh long since, by a dreadful confusion at
the Red Sea, was, as it were, hanged up in chains, a spec-
tacle of terror for persecutors to all posterity, Antiochus
swelling with anger, and breathing out fire in his rage
against the people of God, did proudly protest, that " he
would come to Jerusalen, and make it a common burying
place of the Jews. But the Lord Almighty, the God of
Israel, smote him with an incuiable and invisible plague.
For as soon as he had spoken these words, a pain of the
bowels that was remediless came upon him, and sore tor-
ments of the inner parts. So that the worms rose up out of
the body of this wicked man, and while he lived in sorrow
and pain, his flesh fell avvay, and the filthiness of his smell
was noisome to all his army " (2 M<*ccab. ix, 4). Herod in
the height of his haired against the gospel, and pride in
imprisoning and persecuting the apostles, was eaten up of
worms in a mo^t fearful and prodigious manner (Acts xii,
23)- Gardiner gaping for news of the dispatch of those
two blessed martyrs of Jesus, Latimer and Ridley, at Ox-
ford, deferred his dinner until three or four o'clock in the
afternoon, delighting more in drinking the blood of the
saints than in his ordinary food ; but upon the return of
his post, he fell merrily to his meat, and mark what
followed : " The bloody tyrant," saith the story, " had not
eaten a few bits, but the sudden stroke of God's terrible
hand fell upon him in such a sort, as immediately he was
taken from the table, and so brought to his bed, where he
continued the space of fifteen days in such intolerable an-
guish and torments, that during the whole of those fifteen
days he could not void in any manner the food that he
received : whereby his body being miserably inflamed
within (who had inflamed so many good martyrs before)
was brou.ht to a wretched end." For further enlargement
of this point, see the Stories of the Primitive Church, Acts
and Monuments, Theatre of God's Judgments,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 41
CHAP. XI.
Four other Reasons dissaading ftoni the former Sin.
(4.) A cry far louder than the noise of many waters or
voice of greatest thunder, knocks continually with strong
importunity at God's just tribunal for a shower of " fire and
brimstone and a horrible tempest" to be rained down upon
their heads ; I mean, a cry of blood, wrongs, disgraces, and
slanders, wherewith they have loaded the saints of God.
" And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O
Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our
blood on them that dwell on the earth T' (Rev. vi, 10.)
(5.) They are the principal provokers of God's wrath
against a nation. Their hateful heat, overflowing gall, and
scornful carriage against God's people doth ripen apace his
fiercest indignation, fill up full the vials of his vengeance,
and draw down upon a kingdom a desperate and final ruin
without all remedy. " But they mocked the messengers of
God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets,
until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till
there was no remedy " (2 Chron. xxxvi, 16).
(6.) Their spiteful spirits being once thoroughly set on
heat with this fire of hell, and infernal rage against the
grace of God and his people, commonly continue in flame
and fury until their fearful and flnal confusion. And they
being once fleshed, as it were, with the blood of the saints,
at least by scoft's and slanders (for even lewd and lying
tongues are keen razors and sharp swords, scourges and
scorpions that fietch blood), they feed insatiably upon the
sweetness of such supposed cursed revenge, until they be
seized upon with their irrecoverable ruin, and fall amongst
the inflamers of their malice, and arch persecutors of all
professors, the fiends of hell. I'his is my meaning : this
pestilent and crying sin of persecution is like the gulf of
drunkenness, which Augustine compares to the pit of hell,
into which when a man is once fallen there is no redemption
or return. A persecutor is rarely or never reclaimed, either by
miracle or ministry, mercy or misery. Fire from heaven fall-
ing upon the first captain and his fifty did not frighten the
second captain and his fifty from pressing upon Elijah to ap-
prehend him (2 Kings i, 10, 11). The soldiers who came
to take Jesus, as soon as he said " I am he," were strangely
upon the sudden struck down to the ground (John xviii, 6) ;
and yet this miracle did never a whit mollify and abate the
malice of the priests and pharisees against him. Not even
E 3
42 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
the ministry of Christ himself, though he spoke as never
man spake ; not that of Stephen, whose face appeared to his
hearers as it had been the face of an angel ; not that of the
apostles freshly filled with the Holy Ghost from heaven, did
at all tame or abate the rage of those who were possessed
with this toul spirit of scornful contradiction ; see Luke
iv, 28, 29 ; and xyi, 14 ; Acts vii, 64 ; and ii, 13. Not all
those horrible miraculous plagues of Egypt were able to
quench Pharaoh's fury against the people of God, until he
was choked in the Red Sea. No kindness from David,
though extraordinary and matchless (I Sam. xxiv, 11 ; and
xxvi, 9), could turn Saul's heart from hunting him, "as
when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains." And
no marvel though they be not moved by all or any of these
means; for they scorn, persecute, and contemn the very
means which should amend them, and the only men who
should convert them. Whether of the two think you is
likelier to recover 1 That man who being dangerously sick,
yet entertains the physician kindly and takes patiently
Avhat is prescribed ; or he, who having a potion presented
unto him very efficacious for his recovery, throws the glass
against, the wall, spills that precious receipt, and drives the
physician out at doors ? Conceive proportionably between
the persecutor and the less pestilent sinner, who meddles
not maliciously against the ministry.
(7.) They are already in the pestilent path and very high-
way that leads to sin against the Holy Ghost ; the horrible-
ness and height of which dreadful villany may bring upon
them even in this life impossibility of pardon (Matt, xii,
31, 32), and liability to that flaming judgment and fiery in-
dignation, threatened Heb. x, 26, 6cc. And that they are
growing towards this sin, if they be not quite gone that way,
appeals because they despitefuUy traduce, with much
malice and mischief persecute the very works of grace and
graces of God's spirit, shed into the hearts and shining in
the lives of the children of light (1 John iii, 12; Psalm
xxxviii, 20; 1 Pet. iv,4). If a man would drink, swear,
swagger, revel, and roar with them ; if he durst be ignorant,
a usurer, a sabbath-breaker, a worldling, a doater upon
and defender of heathenish superstitious customs, a prac-
tiser or patron of old anniversary fooleries and rotten vani-
ties ; an encloser, gamester, good-fellow, &c., oh ! then he
should be the only man with them ; entertained into their
hearts and houses with all affectionate welcome of kindness
and acceptation. But if the same man, by the liiercies of
God, once begin to break from them and out of the snares
of the devil, to disrelish and detest his former ways of na-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 43
lure and naughtiness ; to love and reverence the most
searching ministry ; to read the scriptures ;ind best books ;
to sanctify the Lord's day ; to pray in his family •, to renounce
resolutely his running with them to the same excess of riot ;
to abandon and abominate their lewd and licentious courses ;
in a word, to turn Christian; oh! then he is an arrant puri-
tan, a precisian, a humourist, a hypocrite, and all that is
naught ; even as bad as the false tongues of the devil's
limbs can make a blessed man. He was a good-fellow,
■will they say, but he is now quite gone ; a proper man, and
of good parts, but his puritanism hath marred all. WhUe
Paul humoured the Piiarisees in persecuting and plaguing
the disciples of the Lord, he was a principal and much-
honoured man amongst them ; but when he turned on
Christ's side, he was accounted a pestilent fellow, the very
plague. So that it is plain and palpable, whatsoever
may be pretended to the contrary, that those cursed Cains,
implacable Doegs, and scoffing Ishmaels, that set them-
selves and spend their malice against the ministers and
people of God, hate, slander, and persecute the very works
of grace and graces ot God's spirit in them. Even their
zeal, holiness, hatred of sin, reformation, &c. are an eye-
sore and heart-sore to such hateful wretches and owls of the
kingdom of darkness, who cannot endure any heavenly
light.
CHAP. XII.
Six other Reasons dissuading from the former Sin.
(8). As stigmatical rogues burnt in the hand, curtailed of
their ears, branded in the forehead, are in the common-
wealth ; so are persecutors in the church. By mutual in-
telligence and information of God's people, or some more
public lasting record and monument of the church, they
have many times such a mark set upon them, that they
carry it to their graves, yea to the judgment seat of God ;
that it may be known beforehand to that glorious tribunal
and all the triumphant church, what beastly men, stinging
scorpions, and pricking thorns they have been among God's
children, and in the sides of the saints. Such a brand had
Alexander the coppersmith set upon him by Paul (2 Tim.
iv, 14, 15; ; and such a bro.nd was set upon Uiotrephes,
that malicious prating companion, by St. John (3 John 9,
10). So are those blood-thirsty tigers, Gardiner, Bonner, and
the rest of that cruel litter and persecuting pack branded,
44 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
that th.eir names shall rot and their memories be hateful to'
the world's end. So too, many in these times, though they
be vejy jolly fellows in their own conceit, adored as idols
by their flattering dependents, applauded generally as the
principal patrons of revelling and good fellowship, yet in
the censure of the saints and by the doom of Divine wisdom,
they are clearly known and justly reputed "enemies of all
righteousness," and Satan's special agents to do mischief
against the ministry.
(9.) It is to be feared they will find no mercy upon their
beds of death, and in their last extremity, cry they never
so loud, or promise they never so fair. God in his just in-
dignation is wont to deal so witli those who drink up ini-
quity like water, without all sense or fear of a glorious
dreadful majesty above (Ezek. viii, 18) ; with those who
refuse to stoop to God's ordinance and submit to the sceptre
of Christ, when they are fairly invited by the ministry
(Prov. i, 24, 28; Jer. vii, 13, 16; and xi, 11) ; with great
ones who grind the faces of tl>e poor (Micah iii, 4) ; with
abusers of the riches of his goodness and long suffering
(Rom. ii, 4,5). How much more do you think shall im-
penitent persecutors be paid home in this kindl That great
and cruel persecutor Antiochus (2 Maccab. ix, 13, 17),
being seized upon by a horrible sickness, promiseth very
gloriously upon that his last bed, besides many other strange
reformations, even that he also would become a. lew him-
self, and go through all the world that was inhabited, and
declare the power of God. But for all this, hear what the
writer of that story saith of his spiritual state and of God's
resolution towards him, verse 13: "This wicked person
prayed also unto the Lord, who would now have no mercy
on him."
(10.) All their spiteful speeches, scurrilous scoffs, pesti-
lent lies, insolent insuUlngs, &c. are as so many crowns of
glory and joy unto the heads and hearts of all persecuted
patient professors (1 Pet. iv, 14 ; Acts v, 41 ; Job xxxi, 36).
So that they entirely rniss tlie malicious mark their revenge-
ful humours would gladly hit, the hurt ami heart-breaking
of those they so cruelly and cunningly hurt with mucii
rancour and hate. And not only so, but most certainly
hereafter, if they die not like drunken Nabal, and their
hearts become as stunes in their breasts, upon their beds of
death they will all, though now passing from them with
much bitterness of spirit and without all remorse, turn into
so many envenomed stings and biting scorpions unto their
own consciences, and gnaw upon their hearts with ex-
tremest horror.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 45
(11.) The whole body of the militant church, join all as
one man with strong concurrent importunity at the throne
of grace, and with one heart and spirit constantly continue
there such piercing prayers against all stubborn impenitent
scorners, all incurable, implacable persecutors, as the
people of God have been wont to pour out in such cases ;
as Lament, iii, 59, ice. " O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong :
judge thou my cause. Thou hast seen all their vengeance
and all their imaginations against me. Thou hast heard
their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against
me ; the lips of those that rose up against me, and their
device against me all the day. Behold their sitting down,
and their rising up : I am their music. Render unto them
a recompence, U Lord, according to the work of their
hands. Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the
heavens of the Lord." ]Sow I would not be in that man's
case, against whom God's people complain upon good
ground at that just and nighest tribunal one half hour, for
the imperial crown and command of all the kingdoms of the
earth ; for who knows whether just at that time the righteous
Lord for his children's sake and safety may rain upon such
a man's head "snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible
tempest 1"
(12.) And the prayers of the saints poured out in the
bitterness of their souls, vexed continually with their mali-
cious cruelties and cruel mockings, are means many times to
bring persecutors to an untimely end, to knock them down
before their time. Do not you think that the faithful Jews
at Jerusalem, hearing of Antiochus marching towards them
like an evening wolf to drink up their blood, had presently
recourse unto God's righteous throne with strong cries to
stay his rage'? And do you not think that those very prayers
drew down upon him that hoirible and incurable plague,
whereupon " he died a miserable death in a strange country
in the mountains? " Herod, for any thing we know, might
have lived many a fair day longer if he had dealt fairly with
the apostles of Christ ; but putting one to the sword, and
another in prison, he put the church to their prayers (Acts
xii, 2 — 5), vvhich prayers (for " there is a certain oranipo-
tency of prayer," as Luther was wont to say) did soon
create those vermin that ate him up horribly in the height
of his pride (ver. 23). The ecclesiastical story reports,
that the loathsome and dreadful end of Arrius, that execra-
ble enemy to Jesus Christ, v/as hastened by the prayers of
the good and orthodox r>ishop, Alexander, who wrestled
with God in earnest deprecations against him all the night
46 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
before. Do you not think tliat Gardiner went sooner into
his grave for dis cruelty towards professors of the truth by
their groans against him, and by the cry of the blood of
that glorious pair of martyrs at Oxford which he so insa-
tiably tiiirsted after? Let all those, then, that tread in
these men's paths, tremble at their ends; and if no better
motive will soften their malicious hearts, yet at least let
their love unto the world, themselves, and sensual ways,
take them off and restrain them from this persecuting rage,
lest it set on woik the prayers of God's people, and so they
be taken away before their time, and cut off from a tempo-
rary supposed heaven of earthly pleasures, to a true ever-
lasting hell of unspeakable torments, sooner than otherwise
they should.
(13.) The hearts and tongues of all good men and friends
to the gospel are filled with much glorious joy and heartiest
songs of thanksgiving at the downfal of every raging incu-
rable opposer, when the revenging hand of God hath at
length to the singular advancement of the glory of his
justice singled out and paid home remarkably any impeni-
tent persecutor and implacable enemy. See for this pur-
pose the song of Mo>es, Exod. xv ; of Deborah, Judges v ;
the Jews feasting after the hanging of Haman, Esther ix, 17 ;
Psalm lii, 6, 9; Iviii, 10; and Ixxix, 13; 1 Maccab. xiii,
51. Only let the heart of God's child be Avatchful over
itself with a godly jealousy in this point ; that his rejoicing
be, because God's justice is glorified, his church delivered,
Satan's kingdom weakened, &c. ; not only for his own ease
and end, for any personal or particular bye-resj ect. Now it
is a heavy case, a man in his short abode upon earth to
behave himself so like a surly cur and incarnate devil, that
all good men are and ought to be truly glad when he is
gone.
CHAP. XIII.
I. Wlio are iiieaiit by Persecutors. II. What is meant by Perseculioii.
III. An Objection against tlie l>octrine answered.
1. In this point I comprise and include all sorts of persecutors,
of which some are professed and open, as Bonner and Gar-
diner, and many such morning wolves ; some politic and re-
served, who many times are the more pernicious. For of
all manner of malice and ill-will, that is most execrable,
deadly, and doth the most hurt, which like a serpent in the
fair green grass lies lurking in the flatterings and fawnings
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 47
of a hypocritical countenance ; which kisses with Judas
and kills with Joab ; entertains a man witli outward forms
A)f (•ompliment and courtesy, but would, if it dare or might,
stab him in at the fifth rib that he should never rise again :
when a man's words to thy face are as soft as oil or butter,.
but his thoughts toward thee are composed all of blood
and bitterness, of gall and gunpowder. Some are notorious
villains, as many times in many places the most desperate
blasphemers, stigmatic.il drunkairds, unclean sensualists,
cruel usurers, and fellows of such intairious rank, are as so
many goads in the sides of God's servants, and the only
men to pursue all advantages against the inost faithful
ministers. Some are of more sober carriage, fair conditions,
and seeming devotion (Acts, xiii, 50). Some are the basest
fellows, the most abject and contemptible vagabonds, and
the very refuse of all the rogues in a country. This we
may see by Job's complaint, chap, xxx, "But now," saith
he, " they that are younger tlian I, have me in derision,
v,'hose fathers 1 would have disdained to have set with the
dogs of myf]ock. — They were children of fools, yea, children
of base men : they were viler than the earth. And now
am I their song, yea, 1 am their byeword." And in David's
Psalm XXXV, 15, " Yea, the abjects gathered themselves
together against me," ice, " and I was the song of the
drunkards" (Psalm Ixix. 12). And in the persecutors of
Paul (Acts xvii, 5) : " But the Jews which believed not,
moved witii envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of
the baser sort," !kc. Some again are men of place and
parts, as the same David complains in the same place:
*' They that sit in the gate speak against me ; " that is, men
in high rooms and of great authority.
11. And as all sorts of persecutors, so I comprehend all
kinds of persecution. 1. By hand, as did Herod (Acts xii),
Julian, Bonner, &c. 2, With tongue, by mocking (Galat.
iv, 24, compared with Gen. xxi, 9 ; see also Psalm Ixix, 20 ;
lleb. xi, 36). By slandering, even in reporting true things
maliciously to the prejudice of God's children (Psalm Hi).
By reproaching and reviling (Zeph. ii, 8). By insulting
with insolent speeches (Ezek. xxvi, 2, and xxxvi, 2). 3. In
heart ; by hatred (Ezek. xxxv, 5) ; by rejoicing in the
downfal or disgrace of the saints (Ezek. xxxv, 6). 4. In
gesture (Ezek. xxv, 6, 7), "Because thou hast clapped
thy hands, and stamped with the feet," 6ic. " Behold,
therefore, I will stretch cut mine hand upon thee," 6er.
Take heed of so much as looking sour upon or brow-beating
a servant of Christ, lest thou smart for it. Look upon the
quoted places, and you shall see offenders in any of these
48 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
kinds, plagued and justly rewarded as, persecutors of God's
people, and thus let such extremely wicked men be fright-
ened from persecuting in any way those men or means
^yhich are appointed and sanctified to furnish us with spi-
ritual store and strength against the days of evil.
111. Obj. But against that which hath been said on this
point for the singularity and sovereignty of grace and good
conscience to support the spirit of a man in evil times, to
keep it calm in the most tempestuous assaults, and con-
quering over all comers, it may be objected, and some may
thus cavil : —
Men who never were or ever did desire to be acquainted
with God's grace or good men, express sometimes and re-
present to by-standers an invincible stoutness, much bold-
ness and braveness of mind in times of greatest extremity,
and under most exquisite tortures ; and therefore it seems
not to be peculiar to the saints, and the privilege of God's
favourites alone to stand unshaken in stormy times, un-
daunted in distress, and comfortable amidst the most de>-
perate confusions.
Ans. I answer: such confidence is only in the face, not
in the heart; enforced, not kindly; affected, not eflectual ;
not springing from the sole fountain of all sound and lasting
comfort in human souls, sense of our reconciliation to God
in Christ ; l)ut from some other odd accidental motives ;
from weak and unworthy grounds.
CHAP. XIV,
Five false Grounds of confident enduring Mi?ery.
1. In some, from an ambitious desire of admiration and
applause for extraordinary undauntedness of spirit and
high resolution. It is reported of an Irish traitor, that lying
in horrible anguish upon the wheel, an engine of cruellest
torture, with his body bruised and his bones broken, he asked
his friend standing by, whether he changed countenance at
all, or no. Affecting more, as it seems, an opinion of pro-
digious manliness and unconquerableness in torment, than
affected with the raging pains of a most terrible execution.
2. In others, from a strong stirring persuasion and con-
sciousness of the honesty and honour of some civil cause
for which they suffer. But fortitude in this case doth not
arise from any inspired religious vigour or heavenly infu-
sions, but from the severer instigations of natural conscience
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 49
and acquired manhood of a mere moral puritan. Many
such moral martyrs have been found amongst the more ge-
nerous and well-bred heathen. It is related of a brave and
valiant captain, who had long manfully and with incre-
dible courage withstood Dionysius the l.lder, in defence of
a city, that he sustained with strange patience and height
of spirit the merciless fury of the tyrant and all his barba-
rous cruelties, most unworthy of him that suffered them,
but most worthy him that inflicted the same. " First, the
tyrant told him that the day before he had caused his son
and all his kinsfolks to be drowned. To whom the captain
stoutly facing him answered nothing, but that they were
more happy than himself by the space of one day. After-
ward he caused him to be stripped, and by his executioners
to be taken and dragged through the city most ignorai-
niously, cruelly whipping him, and charging him besides
with outrageous and contumelious speeches. Notwith-
standing all which, as one no whit dismayed, he ever showed
a constant and resolute heart: and with a cheerful and
bold countenance went on, still loudly recounting the ho-
nourable and glorious cause of his death, which was, that
he would never consent to yield his country into the hands
of a cruel tyrant." U ith such stoutness did even mere
moral virtue steel the ancient Roman spirits, that in worthy
defence of their liberty, for preservation of their country,
or other such noble ends, they indifferently contemned gold,
silver, death, torture, and whatsoever else miserable world-
lings hold either dear or dismal.
3. In some, from an extreme hardness of heart, which
makes thern senseless and fearless of shame, misery, or any
terrible thing. This we may sometimes observe in noto-
rious malefactors. A long, rebellious, and remorseless con-
tinuance and custom in sin, raging infections from their
roaring companions, a furious pursuit of outrages and
blood ; Satan's hot iron searing their consciences, and God's
just curse upon their fearful and forlorn courses ; so fill
them with fool-hardiness, and with such a deadly dispo-
sition, that they are desperately hardened against all
affronts and disasters : so that though such savage-minded
and marble-hearted men be to pass through the streets as
spectacles of abhorredness and scorn, as hateful monsters
and the reproach of mankind ; to be thrown into a dungeon
of darkness and discomfort, and there to be laden with cold
irons, coldness, and want ; from thence to be hurried to that
loathed place of execution, and there to die a dog's death ;
and finally to fall imn-'.ediately and irrecoveiably into a
lake of fire ; yet, I say, for all this, out of a desperate hard
F
50 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
heartedness they seem still to be in heart, and to represent
to the beholders a great deal of undauntedness and neglect
of danger in their carriage and countenances. Oh the pro-
digious rock into whicli the stone in a graceless heart may
grow, both in respect of desperateness in sinning and sense-
lessness in ?.uft'ering !
4. In others, from an enraged thirst after human praise
and immortal fame, as it is called ; which may be so preva-
lent in them, and transport them vvith such a vain-glorious
ambition this way, that it may carry them with much seem-
ing insensibility, affected patience, and artificial courage,
through the terrors and tortures of a very violent and mar-
tyr-like death. Hear what Austin saith to this point;
" Think ye there never were any catholics, or that now
there may not be some, that would suffer only for the praise
of men 1 If there were not such kind of men, the apostle
would not have said, ' Though 1 give my body to be burned
and have not charity, I am nothing.' He did know right
well that there might be some which would do it out of
vain-glory and self-love, not for Divine love and the glory
of God." Oh the bottomless depths of hellish hypocrisy,
which lie hid in our corrupt hearts ! Oh the blind and per-
verse thoughts of foolish men ! Oh the murderous malice of
that. old red dragon, which exerciseth such horrible cruelty
both upon our bodies and souls !
5. In some, from false grounds of a supposed good estate
to God-ward, from an unsound persuasion of their present
spiritual well-being and future welfare. Such Pharisees,
foolish virgins, and forma! professois are to be found in a!i
ages of the church, especially in the fairest and most
flourishing days thereof, and when the gospel hath the freest
passage, who thus many times in the greatest of all earthly
extremities, even upon their beds of death, represent to all
about them, from a groundless presumption of being re-
conciled unto God, a great deal of confidence, resolution,
and many glorious expectations. Upon a partial survey
and perusal of their time past, not stained perhaps with any
great enormities, notoriousness, or infamous sin ; out of a
vain-glorious consciousness to themselves of their many good
parts, general graces, good deeds and plausibleuess with the
most, by reason of a former obstinate distaste and prejudice
against sincerity and the power of godliness, as though it
v/ere unnecessary singularity and peevishness ; and it may
be confirmed also unhappily in their spiritual self-cozenage,
by the unskilful and unseasonable palliations, I mean mis-
applications of some abused promises unto their unhumbled
souls from some daubing ministers, a generation of vilest
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 51
men, plausible idiots in the mystery of Christ, and merciful
assassins of many miserable deluded souls, to whom they
promise life and peace when there is no peace, but terrible
things even at hand (Ezek. iii, 10), tumbling of "garments
in blood" (Isa. ix, 5), noise of damned souls and tormenting
in hell for ever ;— I say from such false and failing grounds
as these they many times in that last extremity (the Lord
not revealing unto them the unsoundness of their spiritual
estate and rottenness of their hopes) demean themselves
cheerfully and comfortably, as though they were presently
to set foot into heaven, and to lay hold upon eternal life ;
but God knows without any just cause or true ground.
For immediately upon the departure of the soul from the
body shall they hear that woful doom from Christ's own
mouth, as himself hath told us beforehand, " Depart from
me, 1 never knew you" (Matt, vii, 23). Such men as these,
having been formerly acquainted with and exercised in the
outward forms and ceremonies of religion, are wont at such
times to entertain their visitants and bystanders with many
goodly speeches and scripture phrases, representing their
contempt of the world, willingness to die, readiness to for-
give all the world, hope to be saved, desire to be dissolved
and be in heaven, ^:c. 'J hey may cry aloud with much for-
mal confidence, " Lord, Lord, open to us ; mercy, mercy, in
the name of Christ ; Lord Jesus, receive our spirits," ^c. ;
which last ejaculations, did they spring from a truly broken,
penitent, and heavenly heart, and were they the periods and
conclusions of a well-spent life, might blessedly break open
with irresistible power the gates of heaven, unlock the rich
treasures of immortality, and fill the departing soul with the
shining beams of God's glorious presence : but unto them
such goodly and glorious speeches are but as so many catch-
ings and scrabblings of a man overhead in water : he
struggles and strives for hold to save himself, but he grasps
nothing but water ; it is still water which he catches, and
therefore sinks and drowns.
CHAP. XV.
A sixth false Ground of confident enduring- Miseries. A conclusion of
the first Doctrine.
6. In others from a misguided Jieadstrong zeal in will-
worship, an impotent peremptory conceit that they suffer in
the cause of God, and for the glory of religion. This un-
52 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
hallowed fury possessed many heretics of old. Upon this
false ground the Don utists in the fourth century after Christ
offered themselves willingly, and suffered death most cou-
rageously. And so did the JEuphemites, who for the multi-
tude of their supposed martyrs, would needs be called Mar-
tyrians. We also learn from history that Turks, Tartars,
and Moors both fight and die most bravely for the blasphe-
mous opinions of Mahomet; and that the Assassins*, a
company of blood-thirsty villains and desperate cut-throats,
who would without all scruple or fear undertake to dispatch
any man whom their general commanded them to murder,
died oftentimes with great constancy and undismayedness ;
and this they accounted a special point of religion. But
especially at this day the Popish pseudo-martyrs (indeed
true traitors) are stark mad with this superstitious rage.
First, they drink full deep of the golden cup of abominable
" fornication in the hand of the great whore ;" immediately
whereupon they grow into an insatiable and outrageous
thirst alter the blood of souls, poisoning them with the doc-
trine of devils, and also after the blood of whomsoever
withstands their accursed superstitions, even though they
wear imperial crowns upon their heads ; by plotting and
practising treasons, patricides, assassinations, poisonings,
ruins of whole nations, barbarous massacres, blowing up of
parliaments, and a world of mischiefs, which cast an inex-
piable stain and obloquy upon the innocency of the Chris-
tian religion^ At last they come to Tyburn, or some other
pkce of just execution, and then they will needs persuade
the world that they are going towards heaven to receive a
crown of martyrdom. They seem there already to triumph
extraordinarily, and to contemn tortures. With an affected
bravery they trample upon the tribunals of justice ; kiss the
instruments of death in sign of happiness at hand ; and
throw many resolute and rejoicing speeches amongst the
people, as though they liad one foot in heaven already :
when, alas! poor blind, misguided souls, while they thus
wilfully and desperately abandon their lives upon a ground-
less and graceless conceit that they shall become crowned
martyrs, they are like a man, who lying asleep upon a high
arid steep rock, dreams that he is created a king, guarded
with a goodly train of ancient nobles, furnished with many
princely houses and stately palaces, enriched with the re-
venues, majesty, and magnificence of a mighty kingdom,
attended with all the pleasures his heart could desire ; but
starting up suddenly and leaping for joy, falls headlong and
• A sect of Mahometan enthusiasts.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 53
irrecoverably into the raging sea ; and so in lieu ot" that
imaginary happiness he vainly grasped in a dream, he de-
stroys himself and loses that little real comfort he had in
this miserable life. That pair of incarnate devils, the Eng-
lish Fawkes and French Ravaillac ; the one, after that in
the pope's cause he had embrued his hands in the royal
blood of a mighty king and the greatest warrior upon earth ;
the other having done his utmost to blow up at once the
glory, power, wisdom, the religion, peace, and prosperity of
the most renowned state under the heavens, were both pro-
digiously bold, confident, peremptory. But was this courage
think you inspired into t!iem by the " lion of the tribe of
Judah," already triumphant in the heavens, or by that
roaring dragon of the bottomless pit 1 A man of an under-
standing, impartial, discerning spirit would scarcely wish a
clearer demonstration of the truth and orthodoxy of our
religion than to mark the different ends of our blessed mar-
tyrs in Queen Mary's time, and those popish traitors Vr-hich
are sometimes executed among us. They both ordinarily
at their end express a great deal of confidence. But in the
pseudo-catholic antichristian martyrs, it is so enforced, arti-
iicial, ambitious, affected ; their speeches so cunning, and
composed on purpose to seduce the simple ; their last be-
haviour so plotted beforehand and formally acted ; their
prayers so unhearty, plodding, and slight ; their whole car-
riage so unspiritual and unlike the saints of God ; discover-
ing neither former acquaintances with the mysteries of true
sanctification, Dor those present feeling elevations of spirit
which are wont to fill the souls which are ready to enter
into the joys of heaven, that to a spiritual eye, to a man
versed in the purity and power of godliness, it is most clear
that their comfort in such cases is of no higher strain nor
stronger temper than the moral resolution of a heathen,
and headstrong conceit of heresy can represent or reach
unto. It is otherwise with the true martyrs of Jesus, slain
most cruelly by that " great whore, the mother of harlots,"
drunken with a world of innocent blood as with sweet
wine; as we may see and feel in that glorious martyrology
of our saints, in tlie merciless times of Queen Mary. The
constant profession .:nd power of our most true and ever-
blessed religion did create such a holy and humble majesty
in their carriages, so much of heaven and sober undaunted-
ness in their countenances, such joyful springings and
spiritual ravishments in their hearts ; such grace and power-
ful piercings in their speeches ; such zeal and hearty melt-
ings in their jMayers ; such triumpiiant and heavenly exul-
tations amid the flames, that it was more than manifest
F 3
54 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
both to heaven and earth, to men and angels, that their
cause was the cause of God ; their murderer, that man of
sin; their blood, the seed of the church; their souls, the
jewels of heaven ; and their present passage, the right and
ready way to that unfading and most glorious crown of mar-
tyrdom. That which in fiction was fathered upon Father
Campion was most true of every one of our true martyrs :
That everyone iiii;^lit say, with heavy heart that slood :
Here speaks a saint, here dies a lamb, here flows the guiltless blood.
Thus you have heard upon what weak props and sandy
foundations that confidence stands and is built which carnal
men seem to lay hold upon with great bravery in times of
trouble and distress. But the comfort which sweetly springs
from that spirit 1 speak of, supported out of special favour
and interest by the hand of God all-sufficient, and the un-
conquerable calmness of a good conscience, is grounded
upon a reck, upon which though the rain descends, the
floods come, the winds blow, the tempests beat, yet it stands
like Mount Zion, sure, sober, strong, lasting, impregnable.
Nay, it is of that heavenly metal and divine temper, that it
ordinarily gathers vigiur and power from the world's rage ;
and grows in strength and resolution together with the in-
crease of all unjust oppositions. Persecutions and resist-
ance serve as a provocation and seasoning to its sweetness.
It is not enforced, formal, artificial, affected, furious, despe-
rate, misgrounded, ambitious, upon a humour in the face
only ; only in hot blood, out of a vain-glorious pang, 6lc.
Such may be found in aliens and resolute reprobates. It
were nothing worthy if strangers might meddle with it; if
men or devils, or the whole world could take it from us ; if
it were sustained only by any created power or arm of flesh.
This pearl that I praise, and persuade unto, is of a higher
price and more transcendent power than any unregenerate
man can possibly compass or comprehend. It hath for its
seat, a sanctified soul ; for the fountain of its refreshing, the
Spirit of all comfort ; for its foundation, the favour of God ;
for its warrant, the promises of the "Amen, the faithful and
true witness ;" for its object, an immortal crown ; lor its
continuance, the prayers of all the saints ; for its com-
paniens, inward peace, invincible courage, a holy security
of mind; for its end and perfection, " fulness of joy and
pleasures at God's right hand for evermore ;" in a word,
this courageous comfort and true nobleness of spirit, which
dwells in the heart of the true-liearted Christian, doth differ
as much from, and as far surpasses all the groundless con-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 55
fidences of every carnal man or religious counterfeit, as the
real possession of gold surpasses an imaginary dream of
gold ; as the true natural lively grape which glads the heart,
excels a painted juiceless grape, which only feeds the eye ;
or as a strong and mighty oak rooted deeply in the earth,
which no storm or tempest can displant or overthrow, is su-
perior to ^ stake in a dead hedge, or staff stuck lightly into
the ground, which every hand may snatch away, or blast of
wind supplant and overthrow.
SECT. I. PART 11.
CHAP. I.
Tlie doctrine of the Intolerableness of a Wounded Conscience proved.
Secondly, the trouble of a wounded conscience is farther
amplifiefl by its attribute, intolerableness. " But a wounded
spirit who can bear 1 " Whence note,
Doctr. That the torture of a troubled conseience is in-
tolerable.
Keas. 1. In all other afflictions, only the arm of flesh is
our adversary : we contend but with creatures at most ; we
have to do but with man, or at worst with devils ; but in
this transcendent misery, we conflict immediately with God
himself. Frail man with Almighty God : sinful man with
that most holy God, whose eyes are purer than to behold
evil, and who cannot look upon iniquity (Habak. i, 13).
" Who, then, can stand before his indignation'? who can
ibide in the fierceness of his anger, when his fury is poured
o<it like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him?"
( Nahum i, 6.) V\ hen he comes against a man " as a bear
that is bereaved of her whelps, to rend the very caul of his
heart, and to devour him like a lion" (Hos. xiii, 8). J\'o
more than the driest stubble can resist the most fiery flame ;
the ripe corn, the mower's sharpest scythe ; or a garment,
the moth : no more, nay infinitely less, can any power of
man or angel withstand the mighty Lord of heaven and
earth when he is angry for sin. " When thou" (saith David,
Psalm xxxix, 11) "with rebukes dost correct man for ini-
quity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a
moth." Alas ! when a poor, polluted wretch, upon some
special illumination by the word, or extraordinary stroke
from the rod, doth once begin to behold God's frowning face
against him in the pui^ glass of his most holy law, and to
feel Divine justice, by an invisible hand, taking secret ven-
56 INSTRUCTIONS TO 11 COMFORTING
geance upon his conscience, his heavy heart immediately
melts away in his breast and becomes as water. He faints
and fails, both in the strength of his body and stoutness of
his mind. His bones, the pillars and master-timbers of his
earthly tabernacle, are presently broken in pieces and
turned into rottenness. His spirit, the eye and excellency
of his soul, which should enlighten and make lightsome the
whole man, is quite put out and utterly overwhelmed with
excess of horror and flashes of despair. Oh ! this is it
which would not only crush the courage of the stoutest son
of Adam that ever breathed upon eaith, but even break the
back of the most glorious angel that ever shone in heaven,
should he lift up but one rebellious thought against his
Creator ! This alone is able to make the tallest cedar in
Lebanon, the strongest oak in Bashan (I mean the highest
look and the proudest heart), the most boisterous Nimrod,
or swaggering Belshazzar, to bow and bend, to stoop and
tremble, as the leaves of the forest that are shaken with the
wind.
2. In all other adversities a man is still a friend unto
himself, favours himself, and reaches out his best conside-
rations to bring in comfort to his heavy heart. But in this
he is a scourge to himself; at war with himself ; an enemy to
himself. He doth greedily and industriously fetch in as
much matter as he can possibly, both imaginary and true,
to enlarge the rent and aggravate his horror. He gazes
willingly in that false glass which Seitan is wont in such
cases to set before him, wherein by his hellish malice he
makes an infinite addition both to the already unnumbered
multitude and to the too true heinousness of his sins, and
would fain, if he will be led by his lying cruelty, misrepre-
sent to his affrighted imagination every gnat as a camel,
every moat as a mole hill, every mole hill as a mountain ;
every lustful thought as the most unclean act, every idle
word as a desperate blasphemy, every angry look as an
actual murder, every intemperate passion as an inex}>iable
provocation, every distraction in holy duties as an absolute
rebellion, every transgression against light of conscience as
a sin against the Holy Ghost. Nay, in this amazedness of
spirit and disposition to despair he is apt, even of his own
accord, and with great eagerness, to arm every several sin
as it comes into his mind with a particular sting, that it
may strike deep enough and stick fast enough in his already
grieved soul. He employs and improves the excellency and
utmost of his learning, understanding, wit, memory, to argue
with all subtlety, with mucli sophistry, against the pardon-
ableness of his sins and possibility of salvation. He wounds
even his wounds with a conceit that they they are incurable,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 57
and vexes his very vexations with refusing to be comforted.
Not only crosses, afflictions, temptations, and all matter of
discontentment ; but even the most desirable things also in
this life, and those which minister most outward comfort ;
wife, children, friends; gold, goods, great men's favours j
preferments, honours, otiices, even pleasures themselves,
every thing: whatsoever is within him, or without him, or
about him ; whatsoever he thinks upon, remembers, hears,
sees, turn all to his torment. No marvel, then, though the
terror of a wounded conscience be so intolerable.
3. As the exultations of the soul and spiritual refreshments
do incomparably surpass both in excellency of object and
sweetness of apprehension all pleasures of sense and bodily
delighis, so atHictions of the soul and spiritual pangs do infi-
nitely exceed both in bitterness of sense and intenseness of sor-
row the most exquisite tortures that can possibly be inflicted
upon the body. Fur the soul is a spirit, very subtle, quick,
active, stirring ; all life, motion, sense, feeling, and therefore
far more capable and apprehensive of all kinds of impressions,
whether passions of pleasure or inflictions of pain.
4. This extremest of miseries, " a wounded spirit," is
tempered with such strong and strange ingredients of ex-
traordinary fears, that it makes a man a terror to himself
and to all his friends ( Jer. xx, 4) ; to flee when none pur-
sues, at the sound of a shaken leaf (Prov. xxviii, 1 ; Levit.
xxvi, 37); to tremble at his own shadow ; to be in great
fear where no fear is (Psalm liii, 5) : Besides the insup-
portable burthen of too many true and causeful terrors, it
fills his dark and dreadful fancy with a world of feigned
horrois, ghastly apparitions, and imaginary hells, which
notwithstanding have real stings, and impress tme tortures
upon his trembling and woful heart. It is poisoned with
such restless anguish and desperate pain, that though life
be most sweet and hell most horrible, yet it makes a man
wilfully to abandon the one and willingly to embrace the
other that he may be rid of its rage. Hence it was that
Judas preferred a halter and hell before his present horror —
that Spira said often (what heart quakes not to hear it ?)
that he envied Cain, Saul, and Judas ; wishing rather any
of their rooms in the dungeon of the damned than to have
his poor heart so rent in pieces with such raging terrors and
fiery desperations upon his bed of death. Whereupon at
another time, being asked whether he feared more fearful
torments after this life ! -'Yes," said he ; "but 1 desire
nothing more than to be in that place, where I shall expect
no more." Expectation as it seems of future did infinitely
aggravate and enrage his already intolerable torture.
5. The heathens, who had no fuller sight of the foulness of
58 Ix^JSTRUCJ'IONS FOR COMFORTING
sin, or more smarting sense of Divine vengeance for it than
the light of natural conscience was able to afford and repre-
sent unto them ; yet were wont in fiction to shadow out in
some sort, and intimate unto us the insufferable extremities
ot a mind troubled in this kind, by hellish furies following
malefactors with burning hie- brands and flames of torture.
What understanding then is able to conceive, or tongue to
report, in what case that sinful conscience must needs be,
when it is once awakened, which besides the notions of
natural light, hath also the full sun of God's sacred word,
and that pure eye which is ten thousand times brighter than
the sun, and cannot look upon iniquity, to irradiate and
enrage it to the height of guiltiness and depth of horror 1
Both heart and tongue, man and angel, must let that alone
for ever. For none can take the true estimate of this im-
measurable spiritual misery, but he that can comprehend
the length and breadth of that infinite irresistible wrath,
which once implacably enkindled in the bosom of God,
burns to the very bottom of hell, and there creates the ex-
tremity and endlessness of all those inexpressible torments
and fiery plagues, which afflict the devils and damned souls
in that horrible pit.
6. JNot only the desperate cries of Cain, Judas, and many
other such miserable men of forlorn hope, but also the
woful complaints even of God's own dear children, discover
the truth of this point, to wit, the terrors and intolerable-
ness of a wounded conscience. Hear how ruefully three
ancient worthies in their times wrestled with the wrath of
God in this kind. " i reckoned till morning," saith Heze-
kiah, " that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones,"
(Isa. xxxviii, 13). Even as the weak and trembling limbs
of some lesser neglected beast are crushed and torn in
pieces by the irresistible paw of an unconquerable lion ; so
was his troubled soul terrified and broken with the anger of
the Almighty. He could not speak for bitterness of grief
and anguish of heart, " but chattered like a crane or
a swallow, and mourned like a dove." " Thou writest
bitter things against me," saith Job, " and makest me to
possess the iniquities of my youth. The arrows of the
Almighty are within rne, the poison whereof drinketh up
my spirit : the terrors of God do set themselves in array
against me. Oh that I might have my request ; and that
God would grant me the thing that I long for ! Even that
it would please God to destroy me, that he would let loose
his hand and cut me off." Nay, yet worse : " Thou scarest
me with dreams and terrifiest me through visions. So that
my soul chooseth strangling and death rather than mv life "
(Job xiii, 26 ; vi, 4, 8, 9 ; vii, 14, 15). Though God in
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 59
mercy preserves his servants from the monstrous and most
abhorred act of self-murder, yet in some melancholy mood,
horror of mind, and bitterness of spirit, they are not quite
freed from all impatient wishes that way, and sudden sug-
gestions thereunto. " My bones waxed old," saith David,
" through my roaring all the day long. Day and night thy
hand was heavy upon me ; my moisture is turned into the
drought of summer. Thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy
hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh,
because of thine anger: neither is there any rest in my
bones, because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone
over my head : as an heavy burthen they are too heavy for
me. I am troubled, I am bowed down gi eatly ; I go mourn-
ing all the day long. I am feeble and sore broken, 1 have
roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart " (Psalm.
xxxii,3, 4; xxxviii, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8). Hear also into what a depih
of spiritual distress three worthy servants of God in these
later times were plunged and pressed down under the sense
of God's anger for sin. Blessed Mrs. Brettergh upon her last
bed was horribly hemmed in with the sorrows of death ;
the very grief of hell laid hold upon her soul ; " a roaring
wilderness of woe was within her," as she confessed of
herself. She said, her sins had made her a prey to Satan,
and wished that she had never been born, or that she had
been made any other creature rather than a Avoman. She
cried out many times, " Woe, woe, woe, &c. A weak, a
woful, a wretched, a forsaken woman ;" with tears con-
tinually trickling from her eyes. Mr. Peacock, that man
of God, in that his dreadful visitation and desertion, re-
counting some smaller sins, burst out into these words.
" And for these," saith he, " 1 feel now a hell in my
conscience." Upon other occasions he cried out, groaning
most pitifully. " Oh me, wretch ! Oh mine heart is mise-
rable ! Oh, "oh, miserable and woful ! The burthen of my
sin lieth so heavy upon me, I doubt< it will break my heart.
Oh how woful and miserable is my state, that thus must
converse with hell-hounds ! " When by-stanuers asked if
he would pray, he answered, I cannot. Suffer us, say they,
to pray for you. "'Jake not," replied he, "the name of
God in vain, by praying for a reprobate."
" What grievous pangs, what sorrowful torments, what
boiling heats of the tire of hell that blessed saint of God,
John Glover, felt inwardly in his spirit," saith Fox, in his
Acts and Monuments, " no speech outwardly is able to ex-
press. Being young," saith he, " 1 remember i was once
or twice with him, v/hen partly by his talk I perceived, and
partly by mine own eyes saw to be so worn and consumed
60 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
by the space of five years, that neither almost any brookinc:
of meat, quietness of sleep, pleasure of life ; yea, antl
almost no kind of senses, was left in him. Upon appre-
hension of some backsliding he was so perplexed, that if he
had been in the deepest pit of hell, he could almost have
despaired no more of his salvation,'' saith the same author.
" In which intolerable griefs of mind," saith he, " although
he neither had, nor could have any joy of his meat ; yet
was he compelled to eat against his appetite, to the end to
defer the time of his damnation so long as he might, thinking
with himself no less, but that he must needs be thrown into
hell, the breath being once out of his body."
I dare not pass out of this point, lest some child of God
should be here discouraged, before I tell you that every one
of these three last named was at length blessedly recovered,
and did rise most gloriously out of their several depths of
extremest spiritual misery, before their end. Hear, there-
fore, also ]NIrs. Brettergh's triumphant songs and raptures of
spirit after the return of her weli-beloved: " O l-ord Jesu,
dost thou pray for mel O blessed and sweet Saviour, how
wonderful, how wonderful, how wonderful are thy mercies !
Oh, thy love is unspeakable, that hast dealt so graciously
with me. Oh my Lord and my God. blessed be thy name
for evermore, which hast showed 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 thy handmaid, and
art come with fulness of joy and abundance of consolations.
Oh blessed be thy name, my Lord and my God. Oh, the
joys, the joys, the joys that I feel in my soul ! Oh, they be
wonderful, they be wonderful, they be wonderful ! O
Father, how merciful and marvellous gracious art thou unto
me ! Yea, Lord, I ieel thy mercy and I am assured of thy
love ; and so certain am I thereof, as thou art the God of
truth, even so sure do I know myself to be thine, () Lord
my God : and this my soul knoweth right well. Oh blessed
be the Lord : oh blessed be the Lord that hath thus com-
forted me, and hath brought me now to a place, more sweet
unto me than the garden of Eden. Oh the joy, the joy, the
delightsome joy that 1 feel! — Oh praise the Lord for his
mercies, and for this joy which my soul feeleth full well ;
praise his name for evermore."
Hear with v.hat heavenly calmness and sweet comforts
Mr, Peacock's heart was refreshed and ravished when the
storm was over. "Truly, my heart and soul (saith he,
when the tempest was something allayed) have been far led
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 61
and deeply troubled with temptations arid stings of con-
science ; but I thank God they are eased in good measure.
Wherefore I desire that 1 be not branded with the note of a
castaway or reprobate. Such questions, oppositions, and all
tending thereto, I renounce. Concerning my inconsiderate
speeches in my temptation, I humbly and heartily ask
mercy of God for them all." Afterward by little and little
more light did arise in his heart, and he brake out into such
speeches as these : " 1 do, God be praised, feel such com-
fort from that — what shall I call it? Agony, said one
that stood by. May, quoth he, that is too little ; that had 1
five hundred worlds, i could not make satisfaction for such
an issue, Oh the sea is not more full of water, nor the sun
of light, than the Lord of mercy ; yea, his mercies are ten
thousand times more. What great cause have I to magnify
the great goodness of God that hath humbled, nay rather
exalted such a wretched miscreant, and of so base condi-
tion, to an estate so glorious and stately ! The Lord hath
honoured me with his goodness : 1 am sure he hath pro-
vided a glorious kingdom for me. The joy that I feel in my
heart is incredible."
For the third, hear Mr. Fox : " Though that good servant
of God suffered many years so sharp temptations and strong
buffetings of Satan, yet the Lord, who graciously preserved
him all the while, not only at last did rid him out of all
discomfort, but also framed him thereby to sucu mortifica-
tion of life, as the like hath not been seen ; 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 altoge-
ther celestial, abhorring in his mind all profane things."
7. No arm of flesh, or art of man ; no earthly comfort or
created power, can possibly heal or help in this heaviest case
and extremest horror. Heaven and earth, men and angels,
friends and physic, gold and silver, pleasures and prefer-
ments, favour of princes, nay, the utmost possibility of the
whole creation must let this alone for ever. An Almighty
hand and infinite skill must take this in hand, oi else never
any cure or recovery in this world or the world to come.
Bodily diseases may be eased and mollified by medicines.
Surgery, as they say, hath a salve for every sore ; poverty
may be repaired and relieved by friends ; there is no im-
prisonment without some hope of enlargement ; suit and
favour may help home out of banishment ; innocency and
neglect may wear out disgrace ; grief for loss of a wife, a
child, or other dearest friend, if not by arguments from
reason, that death is unavoidable, necessary, an end of all
earthly miseries, the common way of all mankind, &c. yet
G
62 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
at last is lessened and utterly lost by length of time ; cor-
dials of pearl, sapphires, and rubies, with such like, may
recomfort the heart possessed with melancholy and drowned
in the darkness of that sad and irksome humour. But now
not the most exquisite concurrence of all these, nor ail the
united abilities which lie within the strength and sinews of
the arm of flesh, can help any whit at all in this case. Not
the exactest quintessence extracted from all the joys, glory,
and pleasures that ever the world enjoyed, can procure or
minister one jot of ease to a soul afflicted in this kind, and
tiius trembling under the terrors of God. In such an agony
and extremity, hadst thou the utmost aid, and an universal
attendance from angels and men ; couldst thou reach the
top of the most aspiring human ambition, alter the ex-
cellency <and variety of all worldly felicity ; were thy pos-
sessions as large as East and West ; were thy meat con-
tinually manna from heaven ; every day like the day of
Christ's resurrection; were thy apparel as costly and
glittering as Aaron's ephod ; nay, thy body clothed with the
beauty of the sun, and crowned with stars ; yet for all this,
and a thousand times more, thy heart within thee would be
as cold as a stone, and tremble inhnitely above the " heart
of a woman, entering into travail of her first child." For,
alas! who can stand before the mighty Lord God ? Who
dare plead with him when he is angry ? What spirit of man
hath might to wrestle with his Maker 1. W' ho is able to
make agreement with the hell of conscience, or to put to
silence the voice of desperation ? Oh ! in this conflict alone,
and woful wound of conscience, no electuary of pearl or
precious balm; no Bezoar's stone or unicorn's horn, Para-
celsian quintessence or potable gold ; no new device of the
" knights of the rosy cross," nor the most exquisite extrac-
tion which alchemy or art itself can create, is able any
whit, or at all, to revive, ease, or assuage. It is only the
hand of the Holy Ghost by the blood of that blessed lamb,
" Jesus Christ, the holy and the righteous," which can bind
up such a bruise.
CHAP. II.
Use of the former Doctrine for the Unconverted, to take out the sting
of sin by Repentance. One Reason why every Sinner doth not al-
ways feel that sting.
The first use of the former doctrine is for counsel to the un-
converted, that they would take the sting out of their sins,
and prevent the desperateness and incurableness of this
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 63
horrible wound by a humble, sincere, ' universal turning
unto the Lord " while it is called to-day." For assuredly
in the mean time, all the sins they have heretofore com-
mitted in thought, word, or deed ; at any time, in any
place, with any company ; or to which they have been any
ways accessary, are already upon record before the pure
eye of that high and everlasting Judge, written exactly by
the hand of Divine justice in the book, of their consciences
with a pen of iron, with a claw of adamant, with the point
of a diamond ; or, if you can name any thing which makes
a stronger, deeper, and more lasting impression : and there
they lie like so many lions asleep, and giants refreshing
with wine, gathering much desperate poison and stinging
points, that whensoever hereafter they shall be effectually
and finally awakened by God's angry hand, they may torment
most ragingly, and tear their woful souls in pieces everlast-
ingly when there is none to help.
JN'ow we may see and observe many times one little sin
(at least in the world's account, and conceit of carnal men)
to plunge a guilty conscience into the depth of extremest
horror, and a very hell upon earth ; as I have heard of and
known in many. One, for a sudden unadvised imprecation
against her own soul, in case she did so or so ; another, for
a thought conceived of God, unworthy so great a majesty;
another, for covetously keeping a thing found, and not
restoring it, or not inquiring after the owner ; another, for
an adulterous project without any actual pollution ; another,
by concurring with a company of scoffing Ishmaels only
once, and ere he was aware, by lifting up the hands and
casting up the eyes in scorn of God's people. Yet after-
wards, they sadly revising these miscarriages in cool blood,
some of them, some five or six years after, God being
then pleased to represent them with terror, and their native
slings, were cast into that affliction of conscience and cori-
fusion of spirit that their very bones were broken, their
faces filled with ghastliness and fear, their bodies possessed
with strange tremblings and languishing distempers, their
very vital moisture turned into the drought of summer. In
which dreadful perplexity they were in great danger of des-
troying themselves and of being swallowed up of despair.
If the guilty sense then of one sin, when God sets it on
and says unto it " Torment," draws so many fiery points of
stinging scorpions after it, charges upon the excellency of
the understanding with sucli hideous darkness, rends the
heart in pieces with such desperate rage, grinds into powder
the arm and sinews of ail earthly succour, melts, like dew
before the sun, all those delights and pleasures which the
64 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
whole world offers or affords to comfort in such a case ; iti
a word, makes a man so extremely miserable, that he would
make away with himself, wishes with unspeakable grief
that he had never been, that he might return into the
abhorred state of annihilation, that he were any other crea-
ture, that he might lie hid world without end under some
everlasting rock from the face of God ; nay, that he were
ratlier in hell than in his present horror ; — 1 say, it being
thus, what unquencliable wrath, what streams of brimstone,
what restless anguish, what gnashing of teeth, what gnaw-
ing of conscience, what despairful roarings, what horrible
torments, what fiery hells feeding upon his soul and flesh
for ever, may every impenitent wretch expect, when tlie
whole black and bloody catalogue oi' all his sins shall be
marshalled and mustered up together at once against him l
every one being sharpened with as much torturing fury as
the infinite anger of Almighty God can put into it, after
that he hath accursedly with much incorrigible stubborn-
ness outstood the day of his gracious visitation under this
glorious sunshine of the gospel, wherein he either hath, or
if he had been as provident for his immortal soul as anxious
in caring for his rotten carcass might have enjoyed very
powerful means all his life long: and yet all the while
neglected so great salvation, foisook his own mercy, and so
.iudged himself unworthy of everlasting life !
If a lesser sin many times press so heavy when the con-
science is enlightened, how will thy poor soul tremble under
the terrible and intolerable weight" of all thy sins together?
When all thy lies, all thy oaths, all thy filthy speeches and
railings, all thy mad passions and impure thoughts, all thy
good-fellow meetings, ale-house hauntings, and scoffings of
God's people, all the wrongs thou hast done, all the goods
thou hast got ill, all the time thou hast mispent; thy pro-
fanation of every sabbath, thy killing of Christ at every sa-
crament, thy non-proficiency at every sermon, thy igno-
rance, thy unbelief, thy worldliness, thy covetousness, thy
pride, thy malice, thy lust, thy lukewarmness, impatience,
discontentment, vain-glory, self-love, the innumerable
swarms of vain, idle, wandering, and wicked imaginations ;
in a word, all the pollutions, distempers, and estrangedness
froiri God in thine heart; all the villanies, vanities, and re-
bellions of thy whole life ; — I say, when all these shall be
charged upon thy graceless soul by the implacable indig-
nation of that highest Majesty, whose mercy, ministry, and
long-suffering thou hast shamefully abused ; whose anger,
patience, and pure eye thou hast villanously provoked all
thy life long, alas ! what wilt thou do then l What " wings
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 65
of the morning" will then carry thee out of the reach of
God's revenging hand? What cave shall receive thee?
What mountain canst thou get by entreaty to fall upon
thee? What darkest midnight or hellish dungeon shall
hide thee from that wrath which thou shalt be neither able
to abide nor to avoid 1 In this case I would not have thy
heart in my breast one hour, for the riches, glory, and plea-
sures of ten thousand worlds.
Neither bless thyself in the mean time because thou hast
neither fear, foretaste, nor feeling of the wrath which is to
come, tlie vengeance which hangs over thine head, and the
horror which follows thee at the heels, for that is the very
complement of thy misery and perfection of thy madness.
To be sick, and senseless of it, is the sorest sickness. To
have Satan pierce thy soul with so many sins one after
another and to I'eel no smart, is a most desperate security.
To have all this misery hanging over thee, and to be con-
fident and fearless, is the " misery of miseries."
The reasons why thou art at rest from their guilty rage
in the mean time, and that so many sleeping lions, I mean
ail thine unpardoned sins, do not yet awake and stir, terrify
and tear in pieces, are such as these :
1. Satan is subtle, so that he will not meddle much or
molest thee extremely, until he be able to do thee an irre-
coverable mischief. He is wont not to appear in his true
likeness, and so terribly ; not so much to disquiet and
trouble any of his own, before he have them at some dead
lift and desperate advantage, as under some extraordinary
cross, great disgrace, grievous sickness ; in time of some
deep melancholy, unavoidable danger, universal confusion,
when he conceives in all probability that they have outstood
the day of their visitation, hardened their hearts that they
cannot repent, received the sentence of death against them-
selves ; and at such other like times, when he hopes he
shall be able to crush and confound them suddenly, utterly,
and for ever. And then he appears the devil indeed, and
shows himself in his own colours. For he then infinitely
endeavours with all cunning and cruel industry, after he
hath wafted them awhile down the current of the times
with as much carnal peace and pleasure as he could pos-
sibly, to cast them upon the rock of a most dreadful ruin,
and swallow them up quick in the gulph of calamity and
woe, of despair, self-destruction, everlasting perdition of
body and soul. But you must know that in the mean time,
until he can espy such an opportunity, he labours might
and main to keep them in as merry a mood as may be.
He lays about him by all ways and means he can, devise to
G 3
66 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
plot and provide for them, and that with great variety and
curiosity, fresh successions and supplies continually of plea-
sures, contentments, the countenance and favours of the
times, serisual satisfactions, all earthly prosperities. If he
can help it, and have h.'s will, they shall wallow still in all
worldly felicity, and be attended upon with all the delights
their hearts can desire. And all this to continue them
with more easiness and irresistance in the broad way ; and
lest otherwise they should grow weary of his slavery, sen-
sible of their gilded fetters, and so labour after liberty and
enlargement from his hellish bondage ; for he knows full
well, that if they endured much hardship in his service,
they might perhaps think of seeking after a new master ;
that want of comfort in the world, might draw their hearts
to delight in the word ; not finding happiness upon earth,
might make them inquire after that which is in heaven ;
that crosses and crossing their courses being sanctified for
that purpose, may haply help to break their heaits and
bring them to remorse for sin, which he mainly fears, and
opposeth with all the craft and power he can possibly, lest
thereupon they break out of his fool's paradise into the
garden of grace ; out of the warm sun into God's blessing.
In managing this main policy for the more secure detain-
ment of his vassals in the invisible chains of darkness and
damnation, and in an everlasting distaste and disaffection
to the good way ; by holding up their hearts in his sinful
service, and wooing them to go on quietly towards hell with-
out any grumbling, he works many ways : —
(1.) He plots all he can to procure them success in their
wicked enterprises and unlawful attempts, especially against
the faithful ministers and people of God ; for that doth in-
finitely confirm, harden, and encourage them in their pro-
fane courses and opposition to grace. Herein he doth many
times mightily prevail by improving the opportunities and
pressing the advantages which he gains by the executions
of God's justice and rebellions of his children. The sins
even of his own people do many times provoke God's just
indignation against them, and enforce him to raise up their
adversaries as scourges, and to give them success for the
humiliation and chastisement of his chosen. See Psalm
Ixxxi, 12 — 15; Isa. x, 5, 6 ; Ezek. xxii, 19, 20. Whereupon
Satan fills the hearts of the wicked so prevailing and con-
quering with a great deal of pride, self-applause, insolence,
contempt of godliness, self-conceitedness of their own right-
eousness and worth, and so hardens them extraordinarily,
and holds them with much obstinate resolution in the ways
of death, and prejudice against the holy path. He helps
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 67
all he can to have them thrive and prosper by oppression,
usury, simony, sacrilege, bribery, covetousness, cozening,
Machiavelian tricks, 6cc., that so his service may seern
more sweet and gainful unto them. To the effecting whereof
he receives notable assistance and special advantage from
the corruptions of the times and conscientious simplicity of
the saints. For the first, these worst and ulcerous times,
.wherein so many vines, olive trees, and fig trees wither
away in obscurity, and so many brambles brave it abroad
in the world, tumbling themselves in the pleasures, splen-
dour, and glory of the present; wherein so many brave
''princes are walking as servants upon the earth;" and
too many servants of luxury and pride are mounted on
horseback ; 1 say, they are the only season for Satan to
gratify all his graceless ones, and to hoist them up by the
common but accursed stairs and stirrups of bribing, base-
ness, temporizing, ill offices to humour greatness, and other
such vile means and accommodations, into eminency in
the world, and high rooms, where he keeps them in a
golden captivity with great contentment, and locks them
full fast in the scorner's chair, with much security to their
own sensual hearts, and notorious service to himself.
Whereas, in deed and truth, to men that have eyes in their
heads, the ascent is slippery, the top shaking, the downfal
desperate. For the second, it is incredible to consider what
a deal of advantage in worldly dealings the covetous devil,
in a cruel and crafty worldling, doth suck out of the single-
heartedness, plain dealing, and unsuspiciousness of con-
scientious men, for their rising and enriching, if God cross
it not.
(2.) He draws them, by all the baits he can devise, to
all the incentives and preservatives of carnal contentment,
as to taverns, ale-houses, play-houses, brothels, gaming
houses, to May- games, morrice dances, to cards, to dice,
to dancing, to feasts, wakes, misrules, drinking matches,
revellings, and a world of such sinful haunts, bedlam fool-
eries, and good-fellow meetings, wherein he is mightily
furthered by wicked men's impatience of solitariness, and
their enraged eagerness of carrying with them to hell as
many as may be. For the first, " Though a good man,"
as Solomon saith, " be satisfied from himself," dare full
well, and desires full often to be alone, because the bird of
the bosom sings sweetly to his soul in solitariness, yet all
the sons and daughters of pleasure have no pleasure at all,
nay ordinarily are most loth to be by themselves. Soli
tariness puts them in gloomy fear, makes them extremely
melancholy and weary of themselves. They would rather
be anywhere, in any company,^ any ways employed
68 INSTRUCTIONS FOLl COMFORTING
than aione. Mistake me rot, they can walk by them-
selves ta feed upon contemplative filth, speculative wan-
tonness, and adulteries of the heart ; to plot revenge,
preferment, enlargement of their estate ; to renew upon
their sensual hearts their youthful pleasures ; but to be
alone purposely to deal with God and their own consciences
about their spiritual state they abhor, they cannot endure ;
it is to them a torture, a rack, the very beginning of hell j
and that is the reason, to decline the stings of guiltiness
and torment before their tim.e, why they have so often re-
course unto the arm cf flesh for refreshing, to the mirth and
madness of wine, pleasures, and many other fugitive follies ;
that they cast themselves into such knots of c ood-fellowship,
appoint so many set matches of jovial meetings, and hunt
after such variety of the times' entertainment (as they call
it), which they account the very life of their life, and with-
out which they would rather be underground than above
it. For the second, hear how swaggeringly they cry unto
their companions in iniquity, to make haste with them
towards hell. "Come with us, let us lay wait for blood,
let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause ; let us
swallow them up alive, as the grave, and whole, as those
that go down into the pit ; we shall find all precious sub-
stance, ue shall fill our houses with spoil. Cast in thy lot
among us, let us all have one purse." (Prov. i, 11 — 14.)
*' Come on, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are
present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth.
Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and ointments, and
let no flower of the spring pass by us. Let us crown our-
selves with rose-buds belore they be withered. Let none
of us go without his part of our voluptuousness. Let us
leave tokens of our joyfulness in every place ; for this is
our portion, and our lot is this." And in all these cursed
conventicles of good-fellowship, and furious combinations
for profaneness and against piety, the devil himself is ever
present amongst them as their chief director ; and there
disposeth, inclines, manageth and accommodates all oppor-
tunities, circumstances, occurrents, men's several corrup-
tions, and pregnancy of tlieir wicked wits, to make their
n actings as merry as may be, and to put all possible sensual
sweetness into their carnal delights.
(3.) Lastly, that which is principally for my purpose,
besides that like acrafty juggler he casts a mist before the eyes
of his slaves, and like a false merchant puts a counterfeit gloss
upon the face of sin, he also hides away the sting from them,
and withholds the horror until afterward. Every sin in its
own nature ever looks fouler than the devil himself. Oh
that the ugly, fearful, and filthy shape of it could be seen
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 69
with bodily eyes, that thereby it might provoke all men to
a mortal and immortal hate and detestation of it ! The
sting is pointed with the keen unquenchable wrath of God ;
the horror is heated with the very fire of hell ; and yet
ordinarily Satan takes care by his craft and industry that
these never appear, until he thinks that in all probability
the sight of them will sink their souls into irrecoverable
woe.
The not feeling then of their spiritual misery is so far
from making thern not miserable, that it ministers occasion
to the devil's malice, mightily to aggravate their misery
both present and future.
CHAP. III.
Five other Reasons why a Sinner doth not always feel the Sting of Siu.
2. ANOTnEK reason why many are not troubled in a course
of sin, though there be infinite cause, and a world of woe to
come, is because their consciences, by reason of surfeit in
sin, and being drunk with worldly delights as with sweet
wine, are cast into a dead sleep, and there lulled still, and
locked fast in an imaginary paradise of golden dreams and
transitory fancies, by the charms and enchantments of
earthly pleasures. And if at any time any noise of terror
sound in tlieir ears from the Lord's trumpeters in the
ministry of the word, so that they begin to stir, then the
devil begins to bestir himself, and to rock them fast again
with his syren- songs in the cradle of security. Here, there-
fore, we may take notice of a fourfold conscience: (L)
That which is both good and quiet, when it hath peace with
God and with itself; so that the happy soul may sweetly
sing in its own bosom, " My beloved is mine and I am his."
(2.) That which is neither good nor quiet, when it lies for-
lorn under the sense of God's wrath and full of horror in
itself, as that of Judas, 6cc. (3.) That which is good but
not quiet, when the pleased face of God doth shine upon it
through the blood of Christ, and yet it feels not the comfort
of that blessed reconciliation, as in many new converts,
who being truly humbled for all sin, cast themselves upon
the Lord Jesus and his sure promises for spiritual and
eternal life, and yet are not as yet sensible of any assurance.
(4.) That which is quiet but not good, when it is as full of
sin as a toad of venom, as hell of darkness ; and all those
innumerable sins unrepented of, unpardoned, like so many
mad ban-dogs and fell mastiffs, though asleep for the
present, will in the evil day, especially of sickness, death.
70 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
judgment, fly in the face of the proudest Nimrod, ready to
pluck out his very heait, and to torment him with unspeak-
able horror ; and yet for all this it is untroubled, senseless,
and secure, i his kind ot conscience is to be found, I fear,
in the most that hear me this day, and so generally over
the kingdom. It doth not yet trouble and terrify,—
[l.J A great number, by reason of their ignorance in the
book of God, and by consequent unacquaintedness with
the sinfulness and cursedness of the spiritual state revealed
thereby, ihis is the very case of a world of poor ignorant,
besotted souls amongst us, more is the pity, especially nowr
when the glorious sun of Christ's gospel shines so fair and
fully in many places. For want of light in God's law they
look upon their sins as we do upon the stars in a cloudy
night, see only the great ones of the hrst magnitude, and
here one -and there one. But if they were further en-
lightened and intornied aright, they might behold them as
those infinite orbs in the fairest frosty winter's midnight.
A worthy divine sets out excellently the quietness of this ig-
norant conscience by a very fit resemblance, thus: " Men
judge of their ignorant consciences," saith he, '* as they do
of their blind, dumb, and ignorant ministers. Such neither
do nor can preach, can neither tell men of their sins nor of
their duties. Ask such a blind-guide's people what their
opinion is of him, and what kind of man their minister is,
and you shall have him magnified for a passing honest, harm-
less man ; wondrous quiet among his neighbours. They
may do what they will for him, he is none of those trouble-
some I'ellows that will he reproving their faults or complain-
ing of their disorders in the pulpit. Oh, such an one is a
quiet good man indeed! Thus judge many of their con-
sciences. 1( their consciences be quiet and lie not grating
upon them, and telling them that their courses are sinful
and damnable, and that their persons are in a dangerous
condition: but rather by their silence, ignorance, and vain
pretences do justify them, and tell them all will be well
enough ; oh, then what excellent consciences have these
men ! They make no conscience of family duties ; once in
the year to come to the sacrament serves their turn ; they
are common swearers in their ordinary communication ;
make no conscience of sanctifying sabbaths ; and their
consciences let them alone in all these, do not give them
one syllable of ill language. Oh, what gentle and good-
natured consciences think these men they have ! But, alas I
what evil consciences have they ! "
[2.] Nor others, by reason of a covenant with death and
an agreement with hell. Such as those, Isa. xxviii, 15, who
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 71
negotiate by their plausible agents, ease, pleasures, prospe-
rity ; and conclude some kind of concord and composition
for a time with Satan, sin, and their own consciences. But
to tell you the truth, it is no true peace, but a politic truce.
For these implacable, desperate spiritual enemies of theirs
are ever in tiie mean time preparing arms, ordnance, and
many fiery darts • still levying of fresh force^;, whole armies
of fiery scorpions and flaming terrors, with which as soon as
the truce is ended they will set upon them with more vio-
lence, fury, and fierceness than ever before.
[3.J Nor others, by reason of an insensible hardness grown
over, and a desperate searedness impressed upon their con-
sciences by extraordinary villany and variety in sin. Such
as those, Isa. v, 18, by " drawing iniquity a long time with
cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope ; " by
waving the glorious light of the word under which they sit
and which shines in their faces, as a " foolish thing ; " by
villanousiy trampling under foot the power of it v.ith des-
pite and scorn many times against that light, which stands
in their consciences like an armed man ; nay, and by tread-
ing out through custom in sin the very notions that nature
hath engraven in their hearts, as men do the engravings of
tomb-stones which they walk upon with foul shoes : 1 say
thus, at length, their con^,ciences become so utterly re-
morseless and past all feeling ; so hardened, so seared, so
sealed up with a reprobate sense, that with an audacious
and giantlike insoleacy they challenge even God Almighty
himself to draw his swoid of vengeance against them.
" Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity,
and sin as it were with a cart rope : that say, Let him make
speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it : and let
the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come,
that we may know it ! " These roarers and swaggering
Belials in this respect have consciences worse than the devil
himself j for he "believes and trembles." Eve i those
already desperate and damned spirits, tremble at the fore-
thought of that fuller wrath which is to come, and yet
further deserved damnation.
[4.] Noi- others, who, when it begins ever and anon to
grumble, mutter, and make a noise, lull it asleep again with
songs of pleasure, and still the cries of it with outward
mirth, as Saul was wont to lay the evil spirit with music.
These men's consciences are quiet, not because they are
savingly appeased ; but because they are sensually pleased :
not because they want matter to trouble and terrify ; but
because they will give them no leisure to set their sins in
order before them. For this purpose, and to keep these
72 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
furious mastiffs muzzled for the present, they have recourse
unto and improve both variety of delights and multiplicity
of employments. For the first: "This is the reason," as
one saith wittily, " that many are so eager in the pursuit
of their pleasures, because they would make God's sergeant,
their own conscience, that pursues thera, drunk with these
pleasures ; just as many men use to do, getting the sergeant
that comes to arrest them into the tavern, and there making
him drunk that so they may escape." For the second. How
was it possible that Ahithophel should hold out so long from
hanging himself and horrible confusion of spirit, especially
since he harboured in his bosom such a false, rotten, abomi-
nable heart, as appeared by that villanous counsel he gave
Absalom, to lie with his father's concubines " in the sight of
all Israel ; " except he had been a counsellor of state, and
so necessarily taken up continually with extraordinary
variety, vicissitude, and succession of most weighty and
important affairs, which would wholly possess his mind
with an uninterrupted attention, agitation, and exercise,
and not give it any leave to reflect upon itself with those
severer cogitations in cold blood which are wont to correct
and condemn the enormity of exorbitant courses 1 And
thus in all ages, many great men of great wisdom, bemg
great offenders, purposely put and plunge themselves into
multitude of business, that they may have no leisure to
listen unto that which their consciences would secretly tel)
them in their ear of their JNIachiavelian plots, prodigious
lusts, and plausible cruelties. The noise of attendants, vi-
sitants, dependents, and great employments, drown the voice
of conscience in such cases, as the drums in the sacrifices
to Moloch drowned the cry of the infants. But while the
men of the world are thus wholly detained, and do so
greedily and purposely pass away the time with cares of tliis
life and dealings in the v/orld, their consciences deal with
them as creditors with their debtors ; while they have any
doings, and are in trading, in policy they let them alone
and say nothing ; but if once down the wind, in sickness,
poverty, disgrace, then conies sergeant after sergeant, arrest
upon arrest, action upon action. All their sins are set in
order before them and fall full foul upon the now di>tressed
soul, as ravens upon the fallen sheep to pick out the very
eyes and heart of il, and to keep it down in the dungeon of
despair for ever.
[5.J Nor others, because they cozen themselves with a
formal false conceit of a comfortable spiritual state, as did
the pharisee, Luke xv, 11 ; with a groundless presumption
that they are in God's favour, as did those, Matt, vii, 22 ;
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 73
and the five foolish virgins, Matt, xxv ; when, as God knows,
they are mere strangers to the mystery of Christ, and far
enough from any sound humiliation.
Thus the blindness, security, searedness, slumber, self-
deceit, or some other such distemper of the conscience,
conceals and keeps in the stings of those sins in sensual
men, which, witiiout turning unto the Lord in truth, "while
it is called to-day," will hereafter torment with intolerable
and restless terror through all eternity.
3. A third reason why thy unlamented and unpardoned
sins, though every one of them be armed with a separate
fiery sting, and of their own nature so heavy with horror
that they are able to sink thee into the bottom of hell, do
not as yet stir nor press upon thy soul with the insupport-
able weight of Divine vengeance, is this: they are in their
native soil, where tliey were born, bred, and brought up in
their own element ; i mean in a carnal heart, soaking iu
sensuality and not resolved to be reformed. We say in
philosophy, an element is not heavy in its own place. One
bucket full of water upon the earth would be burthensome
to the back of that man, who, weie he in the bottom of the
sea, would feel no weight at all from all the water there,
though it weie three miles high over his head. A sensual
heart, settled upon its lees, can bear without sense or com-
plaint a world of wickedness, which out of its element and
humour would be crushed into powder, and tiemble with
horror upon the sad apprehension of the least sin, especially
set out by God's just indisnation. While Belshazzar was
in_ his element, revelling and rioting amongst his lords, his
wives, and his concubines, drinking wine swaggeringly and
contemptuously in the golden and silver vessels of the
temple, he felt no touch in point of conscience, or terror at
all : but, put out of his humour by " the hand writing
upon the plaister of the wall, his countenance was presently
changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints
of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against
another."
4. The never-dying worm that naturally breeds and grows
big in every unregenerale conscience, which beats back
still the searching power of the word and secret warnings of
the Spirit, is like a wolf in the foot; feed it continually
with fresh supply of raw flesh, and it will let the body
alone; but withdraw that, and it devours upward. While
the sons and daughters of pleasure, and ail those who have
their portion and paradise in this lite, stop the mouth of
this hellish worm with variety of carnal delights, they do
well enough, and find somewhat of ease and exemption for
H
74 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
a time from the rage and bitings thereof: but they may
assure themselves, in evil times, when the days are come
upon them wherein there is no pleasure, when the play is
done, when all worldly comforts and comforteis, like run-
away servants and drunken serving men, are to seek when
they have most use and need of them, — I say, that then the
time and turn is come that the worm of conscience, desti-
tute now for ever of any further satisfaction from sensual
sweetness, will ragingly turn upon the soul, devour like a
lion, gnaw like a vulture, vex eternally.
5. If the weight of the whole world were now laid upon
any of these bodies here lately buried, it would not stir or
groan. And why ! Because it is naturally dead. Propor-
tionably, though the burthen of sin, far heavier than a moun-
tain of lead, than this mighty and massive earth under our
feet, lies upon every impenitent soul, ready every hour to
press and plunge it into the lowest pit; yet, wretched and
bewitched thing, it neither feels any smart, nor fears any
hurt ; it is neither sensible of the present weight, nor
troubled for future wrath. And what is the reason ? It is
spiritually dead : it is stark " dead in trespasses and sins."
The strong man is gone away with all ; and there is no
stirring nor sense of this cursed burthen, until either a
"stronger than he" lay harids upon this hellish tyrant,
disarm him and throw down his holds ; and a mightier voice
of the Son of God than that which made Lazarus come out
of the grave, put lil'e into it ; or else that the dreadful
thunder of God's fierce and final wrath, the day of visita-
tion being expired, awake it to everlasting woe.
6. Though in the mean time thou be extremely misera-
ble, and if thou diest in thine impenitent state this day,
thou must most certainly lodge this night in the lake of fire
and brimstone among the damned ; yet thy sins for the pre-
sent do not represent to the eye of thy conscience those
forms of foulness and terror, of which they are naturally
full, and which without timely repentance thou wilt here-
after find and feel in them to thine endless grief; because
thou lookest upon them in the false glass of vain-glory,
ignorance, self-love, self-conceitedness, painted over by
the devil's daubing, with lewd enticing colours of pleasure,
profit, preferment, worldly applause, and other such goodly
and golden outsides. Whereas a true and efli'ectual beholding
them in the clear crystal of God's pure law, hunted con-
tinually at the heels with Divine vengeance, all the curses
in this book, and plagues innumerable, internal, external,
eternal, and in the bitter passion of Jesus Christ, without
whose heart's blood not the least sin that ever was com-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 75
mitted could ever have been remitted, were able to fright a
very blackmoor out of his black skin, and a leopard from
his spots (Jer. xiii, 23). And thou something easest thine
heart also against the terror of the Lord for thy sins, by
looking upon God's mercy with false spectacles, and so en-
larging it beyond the limits of his truth. But hear what
an excellent discoverer of the depths of our self-cozening
hearts tells thee in such a case : "Asa man passing over a
bridge, which his false spectacles make to seem broader
than indeed it is, being thereby deceived, goes beside the
bridge and so is drowned ; so is it with those whose de-
ceitful hearts make the bridge of God's mercy larger than
it is ; they are in danger of falling beside it into the waters
of eternal destruction. For though God's mercy be of the
largest extent, yet it is bounded with his truth ; and there-
fore usually in the scriptures we find these two coupled to-
gether, God's mercy and his truth." Now his truth tells
us, that the good tidings of the gospel belong only to the
poor, to the broken-hearted, to the captives, to the blind,
to the bruised (Luke iv, 18) ; that he only, who " confesseth
and forsaketh his sins, shall have mercy " (Prov. xxviii, 13) ;
that " except we repent we shall all perish" (Luke xiii, 3) ;
that " except we be born again we cannot see the king-
dom of God" (John iii, 3) ; that "God will wound
the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such
a one as goeth on still in his trespasses" (Psalm Ixviii,
21); that "if we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord
will not hear us" (Psalm Ixvi, 18) : that " no fornicator,
nor idolater, nor adulterer, nor effeminate, nor abuser
of himself with mankind, nor thief, nor covetous man, nor
drunkard, nor reviler, nor extortioner, shall inherit the
kingdom of God" (1 Cor. vi, 9, 10) ; that "without holi-
ness no man shall see the Lord" (Heb.xii, 14) ; that "every
one that calleth on the name of Christ savingly must depart
from iniquity" (2 Tim. ii, 19). Compare now these and the
like places with thine heart, life, and present impenitent
state, and tell me in cool blood and impartially, whether
any mercy at all as yet belongs unto thee upon good ground,
yet lying in thy sins.
CHAP. IV.
The second use of the former Doctrine for the Converted, that they sin
no more; and to keep them from sin, Seven Considerations are given
Ihem.
ly theT second place, the point may serve for warning to
those who are already washed from their sins, that they
defile their souls no more, who having been cured by cast-
78 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
Yet those few enlightened souls whose eyes have been hap-
pily opened by spiritual eye-salve to " turn from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan unto God," behold a
double deformity and ugliness in so foul a monster, deceii-
fully dressed in the devil's counterfeit colours, and gilded
over garishly in his personated angelical glory.
3. it is most filihy : far filthier than the most offensive
collection of all the most filthy, fulsome, and loathsome
things in the world. And it must needs be so ; for what-
ever a man can conceive to be most contrary, distant, and
opposite to the infinite clearness, purity, sweetness, beauty,
and goodness of God ; all that and much more is sin in the
highest degree. Hence it is, that in the scriptures it is
compared to the filthiest mire, in which a sow will lie down
to cool and cover herself ; to the loathsome vomit, not of a
man, but of a dog (2 Pet. ii, 22) ; to the unsavoury poison-
ous damp which rotten carcasses exhale out of opened
graves ( Horn, iii, 13); to menstruous filth (Ezek. xxxvi, 17) ;
to the dirt under the nails, or the offensive exudations of the
body, or the putrified matter of some pestilent ulcer ; to the
very refuse which nature having severed from the purer
part of the meat, thrusts out of the stomach and casts into
the draught ; to the filthiness, pollutions, and impurities of
I he world, so called by a singularity, for sin is the tran-
scendent filth of the woild (2 Pet. ii,20); to all the un-
cleannesses for which the purifications, cleansings, washings,
and sprinklings were appointed in the Levitical law ; to
abomination itself ( Ezek. xxii, 2). Nay, and yet further,
which makes for the further detestation of sin, whereas all
outward filth defiles only the body, this of sin, by the
strength and contagion of its insinuating poison, soaks
through the flesh and the bone, and enters and eats into
the very "mind and conscience" (Tit. i, 16), defiles the
pure and immortal soul of man. IIov/ long might we cast
dirt into the air before we were able to infect the bright
shining beams of the sun ! Yet so filthy is sin, that at
once with a touch it infects the soul, a clearer and purer
essence than it, and that with such a crimson and double-
dyed stain, that the flood of Noah, when all the world was
water, could not wash it off. Neither at that last and dread-
ful day, when this great universe shall be turned into a ball
of fire for the purifying and renewing of the heaven and the
earth, yet shall it have no power to purge or cleanse the
lea^t sin out of the impenitent soul ; nay, the fire of hell,
which burns night and day even through all eternity, shall
never be able to raze it out.
4. It is most infectious, spits venom on all sides far and
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 79
wide ; corrupts every thing it comes near. By reason
whereof it is fitly resembled to leaven (Matt, xvi, 12;
1 Cor. V, G); to a canker (2 Tim, ii, 17); tothe leprosy, which
filthy disease quickly overspreads the whole body (Numb,
xii, 10), infects the clothes, the very walls of the house
(Levit. xiv, 37), and their posterity (2 Kings v, 27). The
first sin that ever the sun saw was so pregnant with soul-
killing poison, that It hath polluted all the sons and daughters
of Adam that were ever since, and will still by the irre-
sistible strength of the same contagion poison all their na-
tures to the world's end. Nay, at the very first breaking
out it suddenly blasted, as it were, both heaven and earth,
and so stained the beauty of the one, the brightness of the
other, and the original orient newly burnished glory of the
whole creation, that from that hour it hath groaned under
the burtheij of that vanity and deformity to which this first
sin hath made it subject ; and will travail in pain under
the bondage of the same corruption (Rom. viii, 19 — 22),
until it be purged bv fire in the great day of the Lord
(2 Pet. iii, 10, 11). if but one sin be doated upon delight-
fully and impenitently, like a lump of leaven it sours all
the soul ; defiles the whole man, and every thing that pro-
ceeds from him ; his thoughts, desires, afliections, words,
actions, and that of all sorts, natural, civil, recreative,
religious. It doth not only unhallow his meat, drink,
carriage ; his buying, selling, giving, lending, and all
his other dealings in the world, even his ploughing, "the
ploughing of the wicked is sin" (Prov. xxi, 4) ; but also
turns all his spiritual services and holiest duties, his
prayer, hearing, reading, receiving the sacrament, i^c. into
abomination. If but one raging corruption in a minister,
magistrate, master of a family (as lying, swearing, filthy
talking, scoffing at religion, opposition to godliness, sabbath-
breaking, a humour of good-fellowship, or the like) repre-
sent itself to the eye of the world in his ordinary carriage,
and hang out as a rotten fiuit in the sight of the sun, it is
wont fearfully to infect or offend by a contagious insinua-
tion and ill example all about hira ; to difl^use its venom to
his family, amongst his sons and servants, over the parish
where he lives, all companies where he comes, yea, the
whole country round about, especially if he be a man of
eminence and place.
5. It is extremely evil*. A far greater evil than the eternal
damnation of a man ; for when he hath laid maiiy millions
of years in the lake of fire and under the dominion of the
* I luiderstaiid evil in a general sense, and not as restrained unto,
or resident in any species.
78 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
Yet those few enlightened souls whose eyes have been hap-
pily opened by spiritual eye-salve to " turn from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan unto God," behold a
double deformity and ugliness in so foul a monster, deceit-
fully dressed in the devil's counterfeit colours, and gilded
over garishly in his personated angelical glory.
3. It is most filthy : far filthier than the most offensive
collection of all the most filthy, fulsome, and loathsome
things in the world. And it must needs be so ; for what-
ever a man can conceive to be most contrary, distant, and
opposite to the infinite clearness, purity, sweetness, beauty,
and goodness of God ; all that and much more is sin in the
highest degree. Hence it is, that in the scriptures it is
compared to the filthiest mire, in which a sow will lie down
to cool and cover herself ; to the loathsome vomit, not of a
man, but of a dog (2 Pet. ii, 22) ; to the unsavoury poison-
ous damp which rotten carcasses exhale out of opened
graves ( Kom. iii, 13) ; tomenstruousfilth (Ezek. xxxvi, 17) ;
to the dirt under the nails, or the offensive exudations of the
body, or the putrified matter of some pestilent ulcer ; to the
very refuse which nature having severed from the purer
part of the meat, thrusts out of the stomach and casts into
the draught ; to the filthiness, ptdlutions, and impurities of
the world, so called by a singularity, for sin is the tran-
scendent filth of the woild (2 Pet. ii, 20); to all the un-
cleannesses for which the purifications, cleansings, washings,
and sprinklings were appointed in the Levitical law ; to
abomination itself ( Ezek. xxii, 2). Nay, and yet further,
which makes for the further detestation of sin, whereas all
outward filth defiles only the body, this of sin, by the
strength and contagion of its insinuating poison, soaks
through the flesh and the bone, and enters and eats into
the very "mind and conscience" (Tit. i, 16), defiles the
pure and immortal soul of man. Hov/ long might we cast
dirt into the air before we were able to infect the bright
shining beams of the sun ! Yet so filthy is sin, that at
once with a touch it infects the soul, a clearer and purer
essence than it, and that with such a crimson and double-
dyed stain, that the flood of Noah, when all the world was
water, could not wash it oft'. Neither at that last and dread-
ful day, when this great universe shall be turned into a ball
of fire for the purifying and lenewing of the heaven and the
earth, yet shall it have no power to purge or cleanse the
iea'^t sin out of the impenitent soul ; nay, the fire of hell,
which burns night and day even through all eternity, shall
never be able to raze it out.
4. It is most infectious, spits venom on all sides far and
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 79
wide ; corrupts every thing it comes near. By reason
wliereof it is fitly resembled to leaven (Matt, xvi, 12;
1 Cor. v, G); to a canker (2 Tim, ii, 17); to the leprosy, v/hich
filthy disease quickly overspreads the whole body (jSumb.
xii, 10), infects the clothes, the very walls of the house
(Levit. xiv, 37), and their posterity (2 Kings v, 27). The
first sin that ever the sun saw was so pregnant with soul-
kiliing poison, that it hath polluted all the sons and daughters
of Adam that were ever since, and will still by the irre-
sistible strength of the same contagion poison all their na-
tures to the world's end. Nay, at the very first breaking
out it suddenly blasted, as it were, both heaven and earth,
and so stained the beauty of the one, the brightness of the
other, and the original orient newly burnished glory of the
whole creation, that from that hour it hath groaned under
the burtheij of that vanity and deformity to vvhich this first
sin hath made it subject ; and will travail in pain under
the bondage of the same corruption (Kom. viii, 19 — 22),
until it be purged by fire in the great day of the Lord
(2 Pet. iii, 10, 11). if but one sin be doated upon delight-
fully and impenitently, like a lump of leaven it sours all
the soul ; defiles the whole man, and every thing that pro-
ceeds from him ; his thoughts, desires, affections, words,
actions, and that of all sorts, natural, civil, recreative,
religious. It doth not only unhallow his meat, drink,
carriage ; his buying, selling, giving, lending, and all
his other dealings in the world, even his ploughing, "the
ploughing of the wicked is sin" (Prov. xxi, 4) ; but also
turns all his spiritual services and holiest duties, his
prayer, hearing, reading, receiving the sacrament, &c. into
abomination. If but one raging corruption in a minister,
magistrate, master of a family (as lying, swearing, filthy
talking, scofHng at religion, opposition to godliness, sabbath-
breaking, a humour of good-fellowship, or the like) repre-
sent itself to the eye of the world in his ordinary carriage,
and hang out as a rotten fiuit in the sight of the sun, it is
wont fearfully to infect or offend by a contagious insinua-
tion and ill example all about him ; to difl^use its venom to
his family, amongst his sons and servants, over the parish
where he lives, all companies where he comes, yea, the
whole country round about, especially if he be a man of
eminence and place.
5. It is extremely evil*. A far greater evil than the eternal
danmation of a man ; for when he hath laid many millions
of years in the lake of fire and under the dominion of the
* I miderstaiid evil in a geiieial sen^e, and not as restrained unto,
or resident ia any species.
80 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
second death, he is never the nearer to satisfaction for sin.
Not all those hellish flames through all eternity can possibly
expiate the stain or extinguish the sting of the least sin :
nay, the very destruction of all the creatures in the world,
of men and angels, heaven and earth, is a great deal less ill
than to offend (Jod with the least transgression of his laws.
For all the creatures of ten thousand worlds, were they all
extant, come infinitely short in excellency of worth of the
heart's blood of Jesus Christ ; and yet without the effusion
of it, no sin could ever have been pardoned, nor any soul
saved. A man would think it a lesser evil to tell a lie than
to lie in hell ; but hear Chrysostom : "Although many think
hell to be the supreme and sorest of all evils, yet I think
thus, and thus will I daily preach, that it is far more bitter
and more grievous to offend Christ than to be tormented
with the pains of hell.
6. It is full of most fearful effects.
First; it deprives every impenitent (1.) Of the favour
and love of God, the only fountain of all comfort, peace,
and happiness, which is incomparably the most invaluable
loss that can be imagined. (2.) Of his portion in Christ's
blood, of which though the drops, weight, and quantity be
numbered, finite, and measurable, yet the person that shed
it hatb stamped upon it such height of price, excellency of
merit, invaluableness of worth, that he hnd infinitely better
have his portion in that sweetest well-spring of life and im-
mortality, than enjoy the riches, pleasures, and glory of
the whole world everlastingly ; for a bitter-sweet taste of
which for an inch of time, he villanously trampleth under
foot, as it were, that blessed blood, by wilfully cleaving to
his own ways, and furiously following the swing of his own
sensual heart, even against the check and contradiction of
his grumbling conscience. (3.) Of the most blissful pre-
sence, freedom, and communication of the Holy Ghost, and
all those divine illuminations, spiritual feastings, sudden
and secret glimpses and glances of heavenly light, sweeter
than sweetness itself, wherewith that good Spirit is wont to
visit and refresh the humbled hearts of holy men. (4.)
Of the fatherly providence and protection of the blessed
Trinity, the glorious guards of angels, the comfortable com-
munion with the people of God, and all the happy con-
sequents of safety, deliverance, and delight that flov/eth
thence. (5.) Of the unknown pleasures of an appeased
conscience, a jewel of dearest price, to which all human
glory is but dust in the balance. Not the most exquisite
extraction of all manner of music, vocal or instrumental,
can possibly convey so delicious a touch and taste to the
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. ' 81
outward ear of a man as the sound and sense of acertiiicate
brought from the throne of mercy by the blessed Spirit,
sealed with Christ's blood, to the ear of the soul, even amidst
the most desperate confusions in the evil day, when comfort
will be worth a world, and a good conscience more valuable
than ten thousand earthly crowns. (6.) Of all true con-
tentment in this life ; of all Christian right and religious
interest to any of the creatures. For never was any sound
joy or sanct hed enjoynieni of any thing in the world found
in that man's heart which gives allowance to any lust, or
lies delightfully in any sin. (7.) Of an immortal crown,
the unsp^^akable joys of heaven, that immeasurable and
endless comfort wliich there shall be fully and for ever en-
joyed with all the children of God, patriarchs, prophets,
apostles, martyrs. Christian friends, yea, with the Lord him-
self, and all his angels ; with Christ our Saviour, that Lamb
slain for us, the Piince of glory, the glory of heaven and
earth, the brightness of the everlasting light ; in a word, of
all those inexplicable, nay, inconceivable excellences, plea-
sures, perfections, felicities, sweetnesses, beauties, glories,
eternities above.
Secondly. It doth every hour expose him to all those evils
which a man destitute of divine grace may commit, and,
unprotected from above, endure. It brings all plagues,
(1.) Internal . blindness of mind, hardness of heart, deadness
of affection, searedness of conscience, a reprobate sense,
strong delusions, the spirit of slumber, slavery to lust, es-
trangedness from God, bondage under the devil, desperate
thoughts, horror of heart, confusion of spirit, <i«:c. and spiritual
mischiefs in this kind more and more dreadful than either
tongue can tell or heart can think ; the least of which is
far worse than the plagues of Egypt. (2.) External. See
Deut. xxviii, 15. (3.) Eternal. See my sermon on the Four
Last Things.
Thirdly. By its pestilent damning property and poison, it
turns heaven into hell, angels into devils, life into death,
light into darkness, sight into blindness, faith into distrust,
hope into despair, love into hate, humility into pride, mercy
into cruelty, security into fear, liberty into bondage, health
into sickness, plenty into scarceness, a garden ot Eden into
a desolate wilderness, a fruitful land into barrenness, peace
into war, quietness into contention, obedience into rebellion,
order into confusion, virtues into vices, blessings into curses ;
in a word, all kind of temporal and eternal felicities and
bliss, into all kinds of miseiies and woe.
7; What heart, except it be all adamant and turned into a
rock of flint, but possessing itself with feeling thoughts, and
82 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
a sensible apprehension of the incomprehensible greatness,
excellency, and dreadfulness of the mighty Lord of heaven
and earth, would not tremble and be strangely confounded
to transgress and break any one branch of his blessed laws,
especially purposely and with pleasure, or to sin against
him willingly but in the least ungodly thought ? For, alas !
who art thou that liftest up thy proud heart, or whettest thy
profane tongue, or bendest thy rebellious course against such
a majesty ? Thou art the vilest wretch that ever God made,
next to the devil and his damned angels ; a base and an un-
worthy worm of the earth, not worthy to lick the dust that
lieth under his feet : a most weak and frail creature, earth,
ashes, or any thing that is nought, the dream of a shadow,
the very picture of change, worse than vanity, less than
nothing : who, when thy breath is gone, which may fall out
many times in a moment, thou turnest into dust, nay, rotten-
ness and filth much more loathsome than the dung of the
earth, and all thy thoughts perish. But now, on the other
side, if thou cast thine eyes seriously and with intention
upon that thrice glorious and highest Majesty, the eyes of
whose glory thou so provokest with thy filth and folly, thou
mayest most justly upon the commission of every sin cry out
with the prophet, "O heavens be astonished at this, be
afraid and utterly confounded ! " Nay, thou niightest
marvel, and it is God's unspeakable mercy, that the whole
frame of heaven and earth is not for one sin fearfully and
finally dissolved and brought to nought! For he against
vyhomthou sinnesf inhabiteth eternity, and unapproachable
light. The heaven is his throne and the earth his footstool ;
he is the everlasting God, mighty and terrible, the Creator
of the ends of the earth," &c. The infinite splendor of his
glory and majesty so dazzles the eyes of the most glorious
serapliim, that they are glad to adore him with covered faces
(Isaiah vi). The devil and all the damned spirits, those
stubborn fiends, tremble at the terror of his countenance.
" All the nations before him are but as the drop of a bucket,
but as the small dust of the balance;" nay "they are no-
thing to him," saith the prophet, "yea less than nothing."
" He sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants
thereof are as grasshoppers : the judges, and princes, when
he blows upon them are but as stubble before the whirlwind :
and he taketh up the isles as a very little thing" (Isa. xl).
At his rebuke the pillars of heaven do shake ; the earth
trembleth, and the foundations of the hills are moved
(Psalm xviii, 7); his presence melts the mountains
(Nahum i, 5) ; his voice tears the rocks in pieces •, the blast
of the breath of his nostrils discovers the channels of waters,
AFFLICTED CONSCIEMCES. 83
and foundations of the world (Psalm xviii, 15) ; when lie is
angry, his arrows drink blood, his sword devours ilesh, and
the fire of his wrath burns unto the lowest hell (Deut. xxxii,
22, 42) ; the heaven is but his span ; the sea his handful
(Isa. xl, 12) ; the wings of the wind his walk ; his garments
are light (Psalm civ, 3, 2) ; his pavilion darkness (Psalm
xviii, 11) ; his way is in the whirlwind and in the storm,
and the clouds are the dust t)f his feet (Nahum i, 3). The
Lord of Hosts is his name (Jar. li, 19), whose power and
punishments are so infinitely irresistible, that he is able with
one word to turn all the creatures in the world into hell ;
nay, even with the breath of his mouth to turn heaven, and
hell, and earth, and all things into nothing. How darest thou
then, so base and vile a wretch, provoke so great a God 1
CHAP. V.
Thirteen other Cou'^iderations to keep Men from Sin.
8. Let the consideration and compassion upon the immor-
tality and dearness of that precious soul that lies in thy
bosom, curb thy corruptions at the very first sight of sin, and
make thee step back as though thou wert ready to tread
upon a serpent. Not all the wicked men upon earth, nor all
the devils in hell, can possibly kill and extinguish the soul
of any man : it must needs live as long as God himself, and
run parallel with the longest line of eternity. Only sin
wounds mortally that immortal spirit, and brings it into that
cursed case, that it had infinitely better never have been,
than be for ever. For by this means, going on impenitently
to that last tribunal, it becomes "immortally mortal, and
mortally immortal," as one of the ancients speaks. "]t
lives to death, and dies to life ; " never in state of life or
death, yet ever in the pains of death and the perpetuity of
life ; its death is ever living and its end is ever in beginning ;
death without death ; end without end." Ever in the pangs
of death, and never dead ; not able to die, nor endure the
pain ; pain exceeding not only all patience, but all resist-
ance. No strength to sustain, nor ability to bear that,
which hereafter, whilst God is God, for ever must be borne.
What a prodigiously mad cruelty is it then for a man, by
listening to the syren songs of this false world, the lewd
motions of his own treacherous heart, or the devil's desperate
counsels, to embrue his hands in the blood of his own ever-
lasting soul, and to make it to die eternally ! For a little
paltry pleasure of some base and rotten lust, and fleeting
84 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
vanity, which passeth away in the act, as tlie taste of pleasant
drink dieth in the drauijht, to bring upon it in the other
world torments without end and beyond all ct)mpass of
thought ! And his madness is the more ; because, besides its
im.moitality, his soul is incomparably more worth than the
whole world, i'he very sensitive soul of a little fly, saith
Austin traly, "is more excellent than the sun." How
ought we then to prize and preserve from sin our under-
standing, reasonable souls, which make us in that respect
like unto the angels of God !
9. What a horrible thing is sin, whose weight an omni-
potent strength, which doth sustain the whole frame of the
world, is not able to bear ! Almighty God complains even
of the sacrifices and other services of his own people, when
they were performed with polluted hearts ; and professes
that "he was weary to bear them" (Isa. i, 14). And how
vile is it, that stirs up in the dearest and most compassionate
bowels of the all-merciful God such implacable anger ; that
threw down so many glorious angelical spirits, who might
have done him so high honour for ever in the highest hea-
vens, into the bottom of hell, there most justly to continue
devils, and in extremest torment everlastingly ! (Jast all
rnankind out uf his favour, and from all felicity, for Adam's
sin ! Caused him who delighteth in mercy (Micah vii, 18)
to create all the afflicting miseries in hell ; eternal flames,
streams of brimstone, chains of darkness, gnashing of teeth,
a lake of fire, the bottomless pit, and all those horr.ble tor-
ments there ! And that which doth argue, and yet further
amplify the impbcableness and depth ot J3ivine indignation,
the infiniteness of sin's provocation and desert, " Tophet is
said to be ordained of old " (Isa. xxx, 33), "everlasting fire
to be prepared for the devil and his angels " ( Matt, xxv, 41 ) ;
as if the all-powerful Wisdom did deliberate, and as it
were sit down and devise all stinging terrible ingredients,
a temper of greatest torture, to make that dreadful fire,
hellish pains, most fierce and raging, and a fit instrument
for the justice of so great and niighty a God to torment
eternally all impenitent reprobate rebels. God is the
" Father of spirits ; " our souls are the immediate creation of
his almighty hand ; and yet to every one that goeth on im-
penitently in his trespasses, he hath appointed, as it were,
a threefold hell. There are three things considerable in
sin. (1.) Aversion from an infinite, sovereign, unchangeable
good. (2.) Conversion to a finite, mutable, momentary
good. (3.) Continuance in the same. To these three
several things in sin, there are answering three singular
stings of extremest punishment. To aversion from the chiefest
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 85
good, which is objectively infinite, there answeieth pain of
loss, privation of God's glorious presence, and separation
from those endless joys above, which is an infinite loss,
'J'o the inordinate conversion to transitory things, there an-
swereth pain of sens.', which is intensively finite, as is the
pleasure of sin ; and yet so extreme, that none can conceive
the bitterness tlieveof but the soul that suffers it ; nor that
neither, except it could comprehend the almighty wisdom
of him that did create it. To the eternity of sin, remaining
for ever in stain and guilt, answereth the eternity of pu-
nishment. 7oT we must know, that " every impenitent
sinner would sin ever, if he might live ever, and casteth
himself by sinning into an impossibility of ever ceasing to
sin of himself; as a man that casteth himself into a deep
pit can never of himself rise out of it again : and therefore
naturally eternity of punishment is due to sin." fiow pro-
digious a thing then is sin, and how infinitely to be ab-
horied and avoided, that by a malignant meritorious poison
and provocation doth violently wrest out of the iiands of
the '' Father of mercies and God of all comfort " the full
vials of that unquenchable wrath, which brings easeless,
endless, and remediless torments upon his own creatures,
and those originally most excellent !
10. The height and inestimableuess of the price that was
paid for the expiation of it, doth clearly manifest, nay in-
finitely aggravate the execrable misery of sin, and extreme
madness of all that meddle with it. 1 mean the heart's
blood of Jesus Christ, blessed for ever, which was of such
preciousness and power, that being let out by a spear, it
convulsed the whole frame of nature, darkened the sun
miraculously (for at that time it stood in direct opposition
to the moon), shook the earth, which shrunk and trembled
under it, opened the graves, clave the stones, rent the vail
of the temple from the bottom to the top, &c. Now it was
this alone, and nothing but this could possibly cleanse the
filth of sin. Had all the dust of the earth been turned into
silver, and the stones into pearls : should the main and
boundless ocean have streamed nothing but purest gold ;
would the whole uorld and all the creatures in heaven and
earth have offered themselves to be annihilated before his
angry face ; had all the blessed angels prostrated them-
selves at the foot of their Creator : yet in the point of re-
demption of mankind and purgation of sin, not any, nor
all of these could have done any good at all. iXoy, if the
Son of God himself, which lay in his bosom, should have
supplicated and solicited (1 mean without suffering and
shedding his blood) the Father of all mercies, he could not
1
as INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
have been heard in this case. Either the Son of God must
die, or all mankind be eternally lost. Then, -wjien^thou
art provoked to sin, think seriously and sensibly of the price
that upon necessity must be paid for it before it be par-
doned.
11. Sinful pleasures are attended with a threefold bitter
sting (whereof see my Directions for Walking with God),
which though the devil hides from them in the heat of tempt-
ation ; yet in his seasons, to serve his own turn, he sets them
on with a vengeance.
12. Compare the vast and invaluable difference between
yielding to the enticement, and conquering the temptation
to sin. For which purpose look upon Joseph and David,
two of God's dearest servants, and consider the results.
What a deal of honour and comfort did afterward crown
the head and the heart of the one, and what horrible mis-
chiefs and miseries fell upon the family, and grisly horrors
upon the conscience of the other. Survey also the distinct
stories of Galeacius Caracciolus and Francis Spira, than
which in their several kinds there is nothing left to the me-
mory of the latter times more remarkable ; and you shall
find in them as great a difference as between a heaven and
hell upon earth. The one withstanding unconquerably va-
riety of mighty enticements to renounce the gospel of Jesus
Christ and return to popery ; besides the sweet peace of his
soul, attained that honour in the church of God that he is
in some measure paralleled even with Moses, and recom-
mended to the admiration of posterity by the pen of that
great and incomparable glory of the Christian world,
blessed Calvin*. The other, conquered by an unhappy
temptation to turn from the truth of God and our true re-
ligion to the synagogue of Satan and abominations of the
** scarlet whore," besides the raging and desperate confu-
sion he brought upon his ov.n spirit, became such a spec-
tacle to the eye of Christendom as hath been hardly heard
of.
13. Compare the poor, short, vanishing delight of the
choicest sensual, worldly contentment, if thou wilt, of thy
sweetest sin, with the exquisiteness and eternity of hellish
torments. Out of which might an impenitent reprobate
wretch be assured of enlargement after he had endured
them so many thousand, thousand years as there are sands
on the sea-shore, hairs upon his head, stars in the firma-
ment, grass piles upon the ground, creatures both in heaven
and earth, he would think himself happy, and as it were
* See Crashaw's Life of Caracciolus.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 87
in heaven already. But when all that time is past, and
infinite millions of years besides, they are no nearer the
end than when they began, nor he nearer out than when he
came in. The torments of hell are most horrible ; yet I
know not whether this incessant, desperate cry in the con-
science of a damned soul, " I must never come out," doth
not outgo them all in horror. What an height of madness
is it then to purchase a moment of fugitive follies and fad-
ing pleasures with extremity of never-ending pains.
14. VVhen thou art stepping over the threshold towards
any vile act, lewd house, dissolute company, or to do the
devil service in any kind (which God forbid) ; suppose thou
seest Jesus Christ coming towards thee as he lay in the
arms of Joseph of Arirnathea, newly taken down from the
cross, wofully wounded, wan and pale; his body all gore,
the beauty of his blessed and heavenly face darkened and
disfigured by the stroke of death, speaking thus unto thee,
" Oh ! go not forward upon any terms; commit not this siix
by any means. It was this and the like that drew me down
out of the arms of my Father, from the fulness of joy and
fountain of all bliss, to put on this corruptible and misera-
ble flesh ; to hunger and thirst, to watch and pray, ta
groan and sigh, to offer up strong cries and tears to the Fa-
ther in the days of my flesh, to drink off the dregs of the
bitter cup of his fierce wrath, to wrestle with all the forces
of infernal powers, to lay down my life in the gates of hell
with intolerable, and, save by myself, unconquerable pain ;
and thus now to lie in the arms of this mortal man all torn
arid rent in pieces with cruelty and spite, as thou seest."
What a heart hast thou, that darest go on against this dear
entreaty of Jesus Christ !
15. When thou art unhappily moved to break any branch
of Cod's blessed law, let the excellency and variety of his
incomparable mercies come presently into thy mind ; a
most ingenuous, sweet, and mighty motive to hinder and
hold off all gracious hearts from sin. How is it possible but
a serious survey of the "riches of God's goodness, for-
bearance, and long-suffering, leading thee to repentance,"
to more forwardness and fruitfulness in the good way ; the
public miracles of mercy which God hath done in our days
for the preservation of the gospel, this kingdom, ourselves
and our posterity, especially drowning the Spanish invin-
cible armada, discovering and defeating the powder-plot,
shielding Queen Elizabeth, the most glorious princess of
the world, from a world of antichristian cruelties, saving us
from the papists' bloody expectations at her death, &c. ; the
particular and private catalogue of thine own personal fa-
88 INSTRLCTIOiNS FOR COMFORTING
vours from God's bountiful hand, which thine own con-
science can easily lead thee unto, and readily run over, from
thine infancy to the present, wonderful protections in thine
unregenerate time ; that miracle of mercies, thy conversion,
if thou be already in that happy state ; all the motions of
God's holy Spirit in thine heart ; many checks of conscience,
fatherly corrections ; excellent means of sanctification, as
worthy a ministry in many places as ever the world en-
joyed ; sermon upon sermon, sabbath after sabbath ; bear
ing with thee after so many times breaking thy covenants ;
opportunities to attain the highest degree of godliness that
ever was; — Isay, how can it be, but that the review of
these and innumerable mercies more should so soften thy
heart, that thou shouldst have no heart at all ; nay, infinitely
abhor to displease or any way dishonour that high and dread-
ful Majesty, whose free- grace was the well-head and first
lountain of them all.
Let this meditation of God's mercies to keep from sin be
■ quickened by considering : (1.) That thou art far worthier
to be now burning with the most abominable wretch in the
bottom of hell, than to be crowned with any of these loving
kindnesses ; that if thou wert able to do him all the honour,
service, and worship, which all the saints both militant and
triumphant do, it would come infinitely short of the merit of
the least of all his mercies unto thee in Jesus Christ.
(2.) How unkindly God takes the neglect of his extraordi-
nary kindnesses unto us. 2 Sam. xii, 7 — 9; 1 Sam. ii,
27 — 30; i.zekxvi.
16. Mark well, and be amazed at thine own fearful and
desperate folly. When thou fallest deliberately into any sin,
thou layest as it were in the one scale of the balance the
glory of Almighty God, the endless joys of heaven, the loss
of thine immortal soul, the precious blood of Christ, &c.;
and in the other, some rotten pleasure, earthly pelf, worldly
preferment, fleshly lust, sensual vanity ; and sufferest this
(prodigious mad i;es5! " Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this,
and be horribly afraid ! " j to outweigh all those.
17. Upon the first assault of every sin, say thus unto thy-
self. If I now yield and commit this sin, 1 shall either re-
pe.it or not repent. If I do not repent, 1 am undone : if I do
repent, it will cost me incomparably more heart's grief than
the pleasure of the sin is worth.
l^. Consider, that for that very sin to which thou art now
tempted (suppose lying, lust, over- reaching thy brother,
tec), many millions are already damned, and even now-
burning in hell. And when thy foot is upon the brink, stay
and think upon the wages, and know for a truth, that if
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 89
thou fallest into that sin, thou art fallen into hell, if God
lielp not out.
19. Never be the bolder to give way unto any wickedness,
to exercise thy heart with covetousness, cruelty, ambition,
revenge, adulteries, speculative wantonness, undeanness,
or any other solitary sinfulness, because thou art alone,
and no mortal eye looks upon thee. For " if thine heart
condemn thee, God is greater than thy heart, and knoweth
all things;" and will condemn thee much more. If thy
conscience be as a thousand witnesses ; God, who is the
Lord of thy conscience, will be more than a million of wit-
nesses; and thou mayest be assured, howsoever thou
blessest thyself in thy secrecy, that what sin soever is now
acted in the very retiredst corner of thine heart, or any
ways most solitarily by thyself ; though in the meantime
it be concealed and lie hid in as great darkness as it was
committed, until that last and great day, yet then it must
most certainly appear, and be as legible on thy forehead as
if it were written with the brightest sun-beam upon a wall
of crystal. Thou shalt then in the face of heaven and earth
be laid out in thy true colours, and without confessing and
forsaking while it is called to-day, be before angels, men,
and devils, utterly, universally, and everlastingly shamed
and confounded.
20. Consider the resolute resistance and mortified reso-
lutions against sin and all enticements thereunto of many,
upon whom the sun of the gospel did not shine with such
beauty and fulness as it doth upon us; neither were so
many heavenly discoveries in the kingdom of Christ made
known unto them as our days have seen. For upon our
times (which makes our sins a great deal more sinful) hath
happily fallen an admirable confluence of the saving light
and learning, experience and excellency of all former ages,
besides the extraordinary additions of the present, which
with a glorious noontide of united illuminations doth abun-
dantly serve our turn for a continued further and fuller
illustration of the great mystery of godliness and secrets of
sanctification. Hear Chrysostom : " But I think thus, and
this will I ever preach, that it is much more bitter to offend
Christ than to be tormented in the pains of hell." He that
writes the life of Anselm, saith thus of him ; "He feared
nothing in the world more than to sin. My conscience
bearing me witnes 1 lie not ; for we have often heard him
profess, that if on the one hand he should see corporally
the horror of sin, on the other the pains of hell, and must
necessarily be plunged into the one, he would choose hell
rather than sin. And another thing also no less perhaps
I 3
90 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
woudevtul to some, he was wont to say, that he ** would rather
have hell, beiiifc innocent and free i'rom sin, than polluted
with the filth thereof, possess the kingdom of heaven." It
is reported of another ancient holy man, that he was wont
to say, " he would rather be torn in pieces with Avild horses,
than wittiigly and willingly commit any sin." Jerome,
also, in one of his epistles tells a story of a young man of
most invincible courage and constancy in the profession of
Christ uuder some of the bloody persecuting emperors, to
this pu pos!'. 1 hey had little hope, it seems, to conquer
him by torture, and therefore they take this course with
hiui. Th-y brought him into most fragrant gardens flowing
with all pleasure and delight ; there they laid him upon
a bed of down, softly enwrapped in a net of silk, amongst
the lilies and the roses, the delicious murmur of the streams,
and the sweet whistling of the leaves. They all depart,
and a beautiful strumpet enters, and useth all the abomi-
nable tricks of her impure art to ensnare him. Whereupon
the young man, fearing that he should now be conquered
by tolly, who was conqueror over fury, out of an infinite
(let( station of sin, bites ofl:' a piece of his tongue with his
own teeth, and spits it in her face, and so hinders the hurt
of sin by the smart of his wound. J might have began with
Joseph, who did so bravely and blessedly beat back and
trample under his feet the sensual solicitations of his wanton
and wicked mistress. He had pleasure and preferment in
his eye, which were strongly oflTered in the temptation ; but
he well knew that not all the offices and honours in Egypt
could take off the guilt of that filth ; and therefore he re-
solved rather to lie in the dust, than rise by sin. " How
can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" I
might pass along to the mother and seven brethren (2 Mac.
vii), who chose rather to pciss through horrible tortures and
a most cruel death, than to eat swine's flesh against the
law ; and so i might come down to that noble army of
martyrs in Queen Mary's time, who were contented with
much patience and resolution to part with all, wife, chil-
dren, liberty, livelihood, life itself ; even to lay it down in
the flames, rather than to submit to that man of sin, or to
subscribe to any one point of his devilish doctrine.
Thus, as you have heard, 1 have tendered many reasons
to restrain from sin, which by the help of God may serve
to take off the edge of the most eager temptation, to cool
the heat of the most furious enticement, to embitter the
sweetest bait that draws to any sensual delight. N*ow, my
most thirsty desire and earnest entreaty is, that every one
into whose hands, by God's providence, this book of mine
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 91
shall fall, aflei the perusal of them would pause awhile,
that he may more solemnly vow and resolve that ever here-
after, when he shall be set upon and assaulted by allure-
ment to any sin, he will first have recourse unto these
twenty considerations, which I have here recommended
unto him to help in such cases ; and with a punctual se-
riousness let them sink into his heart before he pioceed and
pollute himself. I could be content, if it were pleasing unto
God, that these lines which thou now readest were writ
with the warmest blood in mine heart, to represent unto
thine eye the dear aflectionateness of my soul for thy spi-
ritual and eternal good, so that thou wouldst be thoroughly
persuaded, and now, before thou pass any further, sincerely
promised so to do.
Thirdly. The point inay serve to set out the excellency of
that high and heavenly art of comfoiting afflicted con-
sciences. The more dangerous and desperate the wound
is, the more doth it magnify and make admirable the mys-
tery and method of the cure and recovery ; which, were it
well known and wisely practised, what a world of unne-
cessary slavish torture in troubled minds would it prevent '?
So many thousands of poor, abused, deluded souls should
not perish by the damning flatteries and cruel mercies of
unskilful daubers. \\ hat a heaven of spiritual lightsome-
ness and joy might shine in the hearts and show itself in
the faces of God's people ! Until it please the Lord to
move the hearts of my learned and holy brethren in popu-
lous cities and great congregations, who must needs have
much employment and variety of experience this way ; or
some special men extraordinarily endov/ed and exercised
herein, to put to their helping hands and furnish the church
with more large and exact discourses in this kind 3 — lake in
good part this essay of mine.
SECT. IL PART I.
CHAP. I.
Tlie first Error iu curing Consciences is the nnseasonable applying of
Comfort to tlieni tliat sorrow not at all.
Wherein I first desire to discover and rectify some ordinary
aberrations about spiritual cures, which fall out when the
physician of the soul,—
First, Applies unseasonably the cordials of the gospel and
comforts of mercy, when the corrosives of the law and com-
minations of judgment are convenient and suitable. Were
it uol absurd in surgery to pour a most sovereign balsam of
exquisite composition and inestimable price upon a sound
part ? It is far more unseemly and senseless, and of an in-
finitely more pestilent consequence, in any ministerial
labours, to proffer the blood of Christ and promises of life to
an unwounded conscience, as belonging unto it at present.
It is the only right everlasting method " to turn men from
darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God ; " and
all the men of God and master-builders, who have ever set
themselves sincerely to serve God in their ministry and to
save souls, have followed the same course ; to wit, first to
wound by the law and then to heal by the gospel. We must
be humbled in the sight of the Lord, before he lift us up
(James iv, 10). We must be sensible of our spiritual blind-
ness and captivity, before we can heartily seek to be savingly
enlightened and enlarged from the devil's slavery, and en-
riched with grace. There must be sense of misery, before
showing of mercy ; crying, I am unclean, I am unclean,
before opening the fountain for uncleanness ; stinging, before
curing by the brazen serpent ; smart for sin, before a plaister
of Christ's blood ; brokenness of heart, before binding up.
God himself opened the eyes of our first parents to make
them see and be sensible of their sin and misery, nakedness
and shame (Gen.iii, 7), before he promised Christ (ver. 15).
Christ Jesus tells us that he was anointed by the Lord, " to
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 95
preach good tidings-, " but to whom 1 to the poor ; to the
broken liearted ; to the captives ; to the blind ; to the
bruised (isa. Ixi, 1 ; Luke iv, 18) : that " the whole need
not the physician, but they that are sick ; and he came not
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance " (Matt, ix,
12, 13) ; that is, poor souls, sinners indeed, even in their
own estimation; and not self-conceited pharisees, wha
though they be mere strangers to any wound of conscience
for sin, yet they will not be persuaded that they shall be
damned ; but in the mean time contemn and condemn all
others in respect of themselves ; sinful publicans as too
gross, sincere professors as too godly ; whereas notwith-
standing, in true judgment, harlots are in a far happier case
than they (Matt, xxi", 31) : that " he will give rest ; " but
to whom! to those "that labour and are heavy laden"
(Matt, xi, 28) : that the spirit which he would send, should
convince the world, first of sin and then of righteousness ;
to wit, of Christ. It is ordinary with the prophets, first to
discover the sins of the people, and to denounce judgments ;
and then to promise Christ upon their coming in, to en-
lighten and make them lightsome, with raising their thoughts
to a fruitful contemplation of the glory, excellency, and
sweetness of his blessed kingdom. Isaiah in his first chapter,
from the mouth of God, doth in the first place behave him-
self like a " son of thunder,"' pressing upon the conscierices
of those to whom he was sent many heinous sins ; horrible
ingratitude, fearful falling away, ibrmality in God's wor-
ship, cruelty, and the like. Afterward (ver. 16, 17), he
invites to repentance, and tlien follows (verse 18), "Come
now, and let us reason together, salth the Lord : though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow ; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Nathan,
to recover even a regenerate man, convinceth him first
soundly of his sin, with much aggravation and terror, and
then upon remorse assures hin, of pardon (2 Sam. xii, 13).
Consider further for this purpose the sermons of our blessed
Saviour himself, who " taught as one having authority, and
not as the Scribes." With what power and piercing did our
Lord and Master labour to open the eyes, search the hearts,
and wound the consciences of his hearers, to fit them for the
gospel and his own dear heart's blood ? See Matt, v, &c.
and xxiii and xxv, &:c. — Of John Baptist, who by the
mightiness of his ministerial spirit, accompanied with ex-
traordinary strength from heaven, did strike through the
hearts of those that heard him with such astonishment
about their spiritual state, with such horror for their former
ways, and fear of future vengeance, that they came unto
94 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
him in crowds : " And the people asked him, saying, What
shall we do then 1 Then came also publicans to be baptized,
and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And the
soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall
we do 1 " (Luke iii, 10, 12, 14.) — Of Peter, who being now
freshly inspired and illuminated from above with large and
extraordinary effusions of the Holy Ghost, shadowed by
" cloven fiery tongues " (Acts ii), in the very prime and
flower of his ministerial wisdom, bends himself to break the
hearts of his hearers. Amongst other piercing passages of
his searching sermon, he tells them to their faces (they
standing before him stained with the horrible guilt of the
dearest blood that ever was shed upon earth, most worthy
to have been gathered up by the most glorious angels in
vessels of gold), that they had crucified and slain that just
and holy One, the Lord of life, Jesus of Nazareth (ver.23).
And again at the conclusion (ver. 36) leaves the same tor-
menting sting in their consciences, vi'hich restlessly wrought
and boiled within them until it begot a great deal of com-
punction, terror, and tearing of their hearts with extreme
amazement and anguish. " Now when they heard this,
they were pricked in their hearts " (ver. 37). Whereupon
they came crying " unto Peter, and the rest of the apostles.
Men and brethren, what shall v\e do? " And so, being sea-
sonably led by the counsel of the apostles to believe on the
name of Jesus Christ, to lay hold upon the promise, to
repent evangelically, they had the reniission of sins sealed
unto them by baptism, and were happily received into the
number of the saints of God, whose Son they had so lately
slaughtered. — Of Paul, who though he stood as a prisoner
at the bar, and might perhaps by a general plausible dis-
course, without piercing or paTticularizing,'have insinuated
into the affections and won the favour of his hearers, who
were to be his judges, and so made way for his enlargement
and particular welfare ; yet he, for all this, very resolutely
and unreservedly crosseth and opposeth their greedy, lustful,
and careless humours with a right searching, terrifying ser-
mon of " righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come "
(Acts xxiv, 24, 25). That unhappy Felix was a fellow
polluted with abominable adultery, and very infamous for
his cruel and covetous oppressions, and consequently un-
apprehensive and fearless of that dreadful tribunal, and the
terrors to come. Whereupon Paul, having learned in the
school of Christ not to fear any mortal man in the discharge
of his ministry, draws the sword of the Spirit with un-
dauntedness of spirit, and strikes presently at the very face
of those fearful sins, which reigned in his principal and
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 95
most eminent hearers ; though he stood now before them in
bonds at their mercy. He shrewdly galls the conscience of
that great man, by opposing righteousness to his bribing
cruelties, temperance to his adulterous impurities, the dread-
fulness of judgment to come to his insolent lawless outrages
and desperate security. Had Paul endeavoured to have
satisfied their curiosities, as many a tempoiizing preacher
would have done very industriously, and to entertain the
time with a general discourse of the wonderful birth, life,
and death of Jesus Christ, now so much talked of abroad
in the world, with a pleasing discovery only of the many
mercies, pardons, and glorious things purchased to the sons
of men by his bloodshed : not meddling at all with their
beloved delights of filthy lust and other sins ; oh, then they
had listened unto him with much acceptation and delight ;
all things had been carried fair and favourably ; Paul had
not been interrupted and so suddenly silent ; nor Felix so
frighted and distempered. But this man of God knew full
well that that was not the way ; neither best for them, nor
for his Master's honour, nor for the comfort of his own con-
science ; and therefore he takes a course to cause the tyrant
to tremble, that thereby he might either be fitted for Christ,
which was best of all, or at least made inexcusable ; but
howsoever, that in so doing his duty might be discharged
and his soul delivered ; holding it far better that his body
should be in bonds than his soul guilty of blood.
Orthodox antiquity was of the same mind, and for the
same method.
Austin, that famous disputer in his time, counselleth to
this purpose in this point* ^I express the sense and sum,
and no more than may be collected and concluded from the
place. 1 will never confine myself grammatically and pedan-
tically to the words precisely, and render verbatim, save
only in some cases, as of controversy, or some other such-
like necessity of more punctual quotation). " The conscience
is not to be healed if it be not wounded. Thou preachest
and pressest the law, comminations, the judgment to come,
and that with much earnestness and importunity. He who
hears, if he be not terrified, if he be not troubled, is not to
be comforted. Another hears, is stirred, is stung, grieves
extremely: cure his contritions; because he is cast down
and confounded in himself."
"After that John Baptist," saith Chrysostomt, "had
thoroughly frighted the minds of his hearers with the terror
of judgment and expectation of torment ; and with the name
* On Psalm lix. ' t On Malt, iii, Honi. 11.
96 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COxMFORTING
of an axe, and their rejection, and entertainment of other
children, and by doubling the punishment, to wit, of being
hewed down and cast into the fire: when he had thus
every way tamed and taken down their stubbornness, and
from fear of so many evils had stirred them up to a desire
of deliverance, then at length he makes mention of Christ."
" God pours not the oil of his mercy," saith Bernard,
" save into a broken vessel."
So also all our modern divines, who are iiiStmcted unto
the kingdom of heaven.
Peter Martyr* magnifies Nathan's method of preaching,
and commends it to all the ministers of God. He first pro-
poseth a parable, as we do doctrines, for the illumination
and conviction of the understanding. 1 hen he applies it
more particularly, and to the present case, where he doth
notably expose and aggravate the sin by recounting and
opposing God's extraordinary bounty and most merciful
dealing with David, by the cause of it, contempt of the
Lord's commandment, and dreadful things ensuing thence.
Afterward, that he might strike the heart through with
a.'^tonishmeat and dread, he threatens terribly. At last,
upon compunction, and crying " I have sinned," he sweetly
comforteth and raiseth to the assurance of God's favour
again.
If this course must be taken with relapsed Christians ;
why not much more with those who are " dead in trespasses
and sinsi "
" Christ is promised to them alone," saith Calvin t, " who
are humbled and confounded with a sense of their own
sins."
"Then is Christ seasonably revealed," saith Musculust,
•' when the hearts of men being soundly pierced by preach-
ing repentance, are possessed with a desire of his gracious
righteousness."
" The way to faith," saith Beza§, "is penitence (legal
compunction) ; because sickness enforceth men, however
unwilling, to fly unto the physician."
" Men are ever to be prepared for the gospel by the
preaching of the law 1|."
" A sermon of the law," said Tilenus, while he was yet
orthodox^, " must go before the doctrine of the gospel, that
the oil of mercy may be poured into a coritrite vessel."
" In our exhortations to follow Christ," saith Kolloc**,
" the minds of men are ever to be prepared with a sense of
* On 2 Sam. xii. 1 On Isa. Ixi. t On Matt. iii.
§ On Matt, xxi, 32. || Ibid, on 2 Cor. iii, 11.
<f[ Svntag. Tlieol. p. 2, c. xlv. ** On John viii.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 97
misery and their dark estate : and afterward with a desire of
enlargement and light."
" It is the care of those ministers which divide God's
word aright," say our great divines of Great Britain *, first
fitly and wisely to wound the consciences of their hearers
with the terrors of the law, and after to raise them by the
promise of the gospel, <Sc'-."— "The Spirit first terrifies
those who are to be justified with the law; breaking and
humbling them with threats, scourges, and lashes of con-
science, that thereby despairing of themselves they may
fly unto Christ t."
" AVe cannot learn out of the gospel," saith Chemnitiust,
that V e are to be blessed in Christ, except by an antithesis,
as Luther speaks, we also acknowledge that we are accursed
by the law."
" I'he doctrine of the law," saith Davenant§, " is to be
propounded to the impious and impenitent, to strike terror
into their hearts, and to demonstrate their just damnation,
except they repent and fly to Jesus Christ."
Perkins, that great light of our church, both for soundness
of learning, sincerity of judgment, and insight into the mys-
tery of Christ, teaching how repentance is wrought, tells
usjl, that •' first of all a man must have knowledge of four
things. Of the law of God ; of sin against the law ; of the
guilt of sin ; and of the judgment of God against sin, which
is his eternal wrath. In the second place must follow an
application of the former knowledge to a man's self, by the
work of the conscience assisted by the Holy Ghost (which
for that cause is called the spirit of bondage, Rom. viii, 15),
in this manner : —
" The breaker of the law is guilty of eternal wrath, saith
the mind ; but I am a breaker of the law of God, saith the
conscience, as a witness and an accuser : therefore I am
guilty of eternal death, saith the same conscience as a
judge.
" Every liar shall have his part in the lake, which burneth
with fire and brimstone (Rev. xxi, 8) ; but 1 am a liar ;
therefore I shall have my part in that everlasting fiery
lake."
And so of other sins : Covetousness, cruelty, drunken-
ness, lewdness, swearing, defrauding, temporizing, usury,
filthiness, foolish talking, jesting ( Kphes. v, 4), revelling
(Gal. V, 21), profaning the Lord's day, stran!;e apparel,
(Zeph. i, 8), and innumerable sins more, which being all
* Theologoruni .Ma^. Britan., &c. t Paraphrase on Honi. viii.
t Harmo. Evang. cap. IxxiJi. 5 On Col. i.
!i Of the Nature and Practice of Repentance, cluip. iii.
K
98 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
severally pressed upon the heart by a discourse of the guilty
conscience, as I have said, must needs full sorely crush it
with many cutting conclusions ; from which, set on by the
" spirit of bondage," is wont to arise much trouble of mind,
which, saith he, is commonly called '' the sting of the con-
science, or penitence, and the compunction of heart"
(Acts ii, 37); and then succeeds seasonably and comfort-
ably the v/ork of the gospel. The soul being thus sensible
of, and groaning under the burthen of all sin, is happily
fitted for all the glorious revelations of the abundant riches
of God's dearest mercies (See Isa. Ivii, 15 ; Matt, xi, 28;
and ix, 13); for all the comforts, graces, and favours which
shine from the face of Christ ; for all the expiations, re-
freshings, and exultations, which spring out of that blessed
"fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness " (Zech.
xiii, 1).
" Never any of God's children," saith Greenham*.
" were comforted thoroughly, but they were first humbled
for their sins."
'* The course warranted unto us by the Scriptures," saith
Hieront," is this: First, to endeavour the softening of our
hearers' hearts, by bringing them to the sight and sense of
their own wretchedness, before we adventure to apply the
riches of God's mercy in Christ Jesus. The preaching of
the gospel is compared by our Saviour himself unto the sow-
ing of seed (Matt, xiii) : as therefore the ground is first
torn up with the plough before the seed be committed unto
it ; so the fallow ground of our hearts must first be broken
up with the sharpness of the law (Jerem. iv, 3), and the
very terror of the Lord, before we can be fit to entertain the
sweet seed of the gospel. I would have a preacher to
preach peace, and to aim at nothing more than the com-
fort of the souls of God's people (2 Cor. v, 11); yet I
would have him withal frame his course to the manner of
God's appearing to Elijah. The text saith, that first a
mighty strong wind rent the mountains and brake the rocks,
then after that came an earthquake, and after the earth-
quake came fire ; and, after all these, then came a still
and a soft voice (2 Kings xix, 11, 12). After the same
manner 1 would not have the still and mild voice of the
gospel come, till the strong tempest of the law hath rent
the stony hearts of men and made them to tremble, and
rottenness to enter into their bones (Habak. iii, 16), or at
least, because our auditories are mixed, consisting of men
of divers humours, it will be good for him to deliver his
* Of Repentance, Sermon 7. t Tlic Preixlier's Plea.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 99
doctrine with such caution, that neither the humble souls
may be affrighted with the severity of God's judgments,
nor the profane and unrepentant grow presumptuous by the
abundance of God's mercy. The person that is full de-
spiseth the honeycomb, saith Solomon (Prov. xxvii, 7). And
what doth a proud Pharisee, or a churlish Nabal, or a po-
litic Gallio, or a scoffing Ishmael, care to hear of ihe
breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of
God in his son Jesus 1 (Ephes. iii, 1 8) except it be to set-
tle them faster upon their lees. Doctrine of that nature is
as unfiting such uncircumcised ears (Actsvii, 51) as the
snow the summer, and the rain the harvest. Unto the horse
belongs a whip, to the ass a bridle, and a rod to the fool's
back, &CC (Prov. xxvi, I, 3). He that intendeth to do any
good in this frozen generation, had need rather to be Boa-
nerges, one of the sons of thunder (Mark iii, 17), than Bar-
Jonah, the son of a dove."
" The word of God," saith Forbes*, " hath three degrees
of operation in the hearts of men. For, first, it falleth to men's
ears as the sound of many waters, a mighty, great, and
confused sound, and which commonly bringeth neither ter-
ror nor joy, but yet a wondering and acknowledgment, of
a strange force, and more than human power. This is that
effect which many felt on hearing Christ, when they were
astonished at his doctrine, as teaching with authority.
" What manner of doctrine is this ? " " Never man spake
like this man" (Mark i, 22, 27 ; Luke iv, 32 ; John vii, 46).
This effect falleth even to the reprobate (Habak. i, 5 ; Acts
xiii, 41). The next effect is the voice of thunder ; which
bringeth not only wonder but fear also ; not only filleth the
ears with sound and the heart with astonishment, but more-
over shaketh and terrifieth the conscience. And this se-
cond eff'ect may also befal a reprobate, as Felix (Acts
xxiv, 25). The third effect is proper to the elect, the sound
of harping, while the word not only ravisheth with admira-
tion and striketh the conscience with terror, but also, lastly,
filleth it with sweet peace and joy, &c. Now albeit the
first two degrees may be without the last ; yet none feel
the last, who have not in some degree felt both the first
two."
" God healeth none," saith Gouget, " but such as are
first wounded. The whole need not a physician, but they
that are sick ( Matt, ix, 12)- Christ was anointed to preach
the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, &c.
(Luke iv, 18)."
^ In his Commentary upon Rev. xiv. t The whole Armour of God.
100 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
Obj. Many have believed vi'ho never grieved for their
misery, as Lydia, &c (Acts xvi, 14).
Answ. Who can tell that these grieved not? It fol-
low^eth not that they had no grief, because none is recorded.
All particular actions and circumstances of actions are
not recorded. It is enough that the grief of some, as of the
.lews, of the jailor, of the woman that washed Christ's feet
witir her tears, and of others, is recorded (.Acts ii, 37;
xvi, 29; Luke vii, .38). Lydia might be prepared before
she heard Paul ; for she accompanied them which went out
to pray, and she worshipped God (Acts xvi, 13, 14); or
else her heart might be touched when she heard Paul
preach, i he like may be said of those who heard Peter
when he preached to Cornelius; and of others (Acts x,
44.45). Certain it is that a man must both see and feel
his wretchedness, and be wounded in soul for it, before
faiih can be wrought in him. Yet I deny not but there may
be great difference in the manner and measure of griev-
ing," &c.
" The heart is prepared for faith, and not by faith. Jus-
tification being the work of God is perfect in itself, but our
hearts are not fit to apply it until God have humbled us,
and brought us to despair in ourselves. The whole prepa-
ration being legal, wrought by the Spirit of bondage to
bring us to the spirit of adoption (Rom. viii, 15), leaves us
in despair of all help, either of ourselves or the whole world,
that so being in this woful plight we might now submit our-
selves to God, wlio, infusing a lively faith into our hearts,
gives us his Son, and our justification with him *."
" None ever had conscience truly pacified, that first felt
not conscience wounded t."
"The preparations to repentance" (evangelical) "are
those legal fits of fear and terror, which are, both in nature
and time too, before faith J." "As there can be no birth
without the pains of travail going before, so neither no true
repentance without some terrors of the law, and straits of
conscience. The reason is plain. None can have repent-
ance, but such as Christ calls to repentance. Now he
calls only sinners to repentance (INlat. ix, 13), even sinners
heavy laden with the sense of God's wrath against sin
(Mat. xi, 28). He comes only to save the lost sheep, that
is, such sheep as feel themselves lost in themselves, and
knovv not how to find the v,ay to the fold. It is said,
Rom. viii, 15, ' Ye have not received the spirit of bondage
* Yates. Of Mr. Montague's eiTor against the Simplicity of God's
Will, chap, i. sec. 5.
t Sclater, The sicli Soul's salve, t Dike on Repentance, chap. i.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. lOl
again to fear,' whicli shows that once they did receive it,
namely, in the very lirst preparation unto conversion ; that
then the Spirit of God in the law did so bear witness unto
theni of their bondage and miserable slavery, that it made
them to tremble. ISow there, under the person of the Ro-
mans, the apostle speaks to all believers, and so shows that
it is eveiy Christian's common case*."
" The law hath its use to work neraiseXeiav, peniteidiam ;
the gospel its force to work /jLeravo'iav, resipiscentiam ; and
both are needful for Christians even at this present, as for-
merly they have ever beent."
" God's mercy may not be such whereby his truth in any
sort should be impeached, as it should if it be prostituted
indifferently and promiscuously to all, as well the insolent
and impenitent, as the poor, humble, and broken-hearted
sinner. For unto these latter only is the promise of mercy
made. And if to others the gate of mercy should be set
open, God's mercies (as Solomon saith of the wicked's, that
they are cruel mercies) should be false and unjust mercies.
But God never yet learned so to be merciful as to make
himself false and unfaithful. The first thing that draws
unto Christ is to consider our miserable estate without him.
Therefore we see that the law drives men to Christ ; and
the law doth it by showing a man his sin, and the curse
due unto the same. We must know, that nothing per-
formed of us can give satisfaction in this matter of humi-
liation. Yet it is a thing without which we cannot come
to Christ : it is as much as if a man should say, the physi-
cian is ready to heal thee, but then it is required that thou
must have a sense of the disease, &c. No man will come
to Christ except he be hungry. Only those that are troubled
receive the Gospel.
" No man will take Christ for his husband, till he come
to know and feel the weight of Satan's yoke. Till that time
he will never come to take upon him the yoke of Christ.
"To all you 1 speak that are humbled. Others, that
mind not this doctrine, regard not the things of this nature ;
but you that mourn in Zion, that are broken-hearted ; you
that know the bitterness of sin, to you is this salvation
sent J."
" Under the causes I comprehend all that work of God
whereby he worketh faith in any, which standeth especially
in these three things :—
* Ibid, chap, ii.
i Hinde, of the Office and Use of the Moral Law of God in tiie Days
of the Tjospel.
X Dike, of the Deceitfulnesi of Man's Heart, chap. xv.
K 3
102 INSTKUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
" 1. That God by his word and Spirit first enlighteneth
the understanding, truly to conceive the doctrine of man's
misery, and of his full recovery by Christ.
"2. By the same means he worketh in his heart both such
sound sorrow for his misery, and fervent desire after Christ
the remedy, that he can never be at quiet till he enjoy
Christ.
" 3. (iod so manifesteth his love in freely offering Christ
with all his benefits to him, a poor sinner, that thereby he
draws him so to give credit to God therein, that he gladly
accepts Christ offered unto him.
" These three works of God, whosoever findeth to have
been wrought in himself, he may thereby know certainly
he hath faith ; but without these, what change of life soever
may be conceived, there can be no certainty of faith*."
" The law first breaks us and kills us with the sight and
guilt of sin, before Christ cures us and binds us up.
" The Holy Ghost worketh and maketh faith effectual by
these three acts : —
" First, it puts an efficacy into the law, and makes that
powerful to work on the heart ; to make a man poor in
spirit, so that he may be fit to receive the gospel. The
spirit of bondage must make the law effectual, as the spirit
of adoption doth the gospel, Sec.
" The second work is to reveal Christ when the heart is
prepared by the Spirit in the first work ; then in the next
place he shows the unsearchable riches of Christ, what is
the hope of his calling and the glorious inheritance pre-
pared for the saints, what is the exceeding greatness of his
power in them that believe. I say we need the Spirit to
show these things, Ike.
" The third act of the Spirit is the testimony which he
gives to our spirit, in telling us that these things are ours.
When the heart is prepared by the law, and when these
things are so showed unto us that we prize them and long
after them, yet there must be a third thing : to take them
to ourselves, to believe they are ours : and there needs a
work of the Spirit for this. For though the promises be
never so clear, yet having nothing but the promises, you
will never be able to apply them to yourselves. But when
the Holy Ghost shall say, Christ is thine ; all these things
belong to thee, and God is thy Father ; when that shall
witness to our spirit by a work of his own, then shall we
believe, &c.+ "
"This is the order observed in our justification: First,
* Calverwell, in his Treatise of Faith.
t Throgmorton, in his Treatise of Faith.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 103
Iheie is a sight of our misery, to which we are brought by
the law. Secondly, there is by the gospel a holding forth
of Christ, as our redemption from sin and death. Thirdly,
there is a working of faith in the heart to rest on Christ as
the ransom from sin and death. Now when a man is come
hither, he is truly and really just*."
" We teach, that in true conversion a man must be
wounded in his conscience by the sense of Lis sins. His
contrition must be pungent and vehement, bruising, break-
ing, rending the heart, and feeling the pains (as a woman
labouring of child) before the new creature be brought
forth, or Christ truly formed in him. It is not done without
bitterness of the soul, without care, indignation, revenge
(2 Cor. vii, 11). But as some infants are born with less
pain to the mother, and some with more ; so may the new
man be regenerated in some with more, in some wiih less
anxiety of travail. But surely grace is not infused into the
heart of any sinner, except there be at least so great afflic-
tion of spirit for sin foregoing that he cannot but feel it,"
&c.t
"This bruising is required before conversion. 1. That
so the Spirit may make way for itself into the heart by
levelling all proud high thoughts, &c. 2. To make us set
a high price upon Christ's death. — This is the cause of re-
lapses and apostasies, because men never smarted for sin
at the first. They were not long enough under the lash of
the law. Hence this inferior work of the Spirit in bringing
down high thoughts is necessary before conversion^."
CHAP. II.
Danbers reprehended. Faithfulness in preaching and Daubing com-
pared.
By this time it doth most clearly and plentifully appear
what a foul and fearful fault it is, for men, either in the
managing of their public ministry, or in their more private
conferences, visitations of the sick, consultations about a
good estate to God-ward, and other occasions of like nature,
to apply Jesus Christ and the promises, to promise life and
safety in the evil day, to souls as yet not soundly enlight-
ened and afflicted with sight of sin and sense of God's
wrath ; to consciences never truly wounded and awakened.
* Baiue, in his Sermon upon John iii. 16.
t Cade, in his Justification of the Church of England, lib. i, cap. v
sec. 1.
t Sibbs, in his Bruised Reed.
104 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
I insisted the longer upon this point, because I know it full
well to be a most universal and prevailing policy of the
devil, whereby he keeps many thousands in his cursed sla-
very, and from salvation, to confirm as many pastors as he
can possibly, willing enough to drive their flocks before
them to perdition iii an ignorant or affected prejudice, and
forbearance of that saving method of bringing souls out of
hell, mentioned before, and made good with much variety
of evidence ; and to nourish also in the hearts of natural
men a strong and sturdy dislike, opposition, and raging
against downright dealing and those men of God (sufficient,
as they say, but falsely and against their own souls, by
their terrible teaching to drive their hearers to distraction,
self-destruction, or despair) who take the only right course
to convert them and to bring them to Jesus Christ as he
himself invites them, to wit, " labouring and heavy laden"
with their sins (Matt, xi, 28).
Daubers, then, who serve Satan's craft in this kind, and
all those who dispense their ministry without all spiritual
discretion and good conscience, of whom there are too
many, as great strangers to the right way of working
grace in others as to the woik of grace in themselves ;
i say, they are a generation of dangerous men ; adepts
in an accursed art of conducting poor blinded souls
merrily towards everlasting misery, and setting them down
in the very midst of bell, before they be sensible of
any danger, or discovery of their perilous state. Great men
they are with the men of this world, with all those wise
fools and sensual great ones, who are not willing to be tor-
mented befoie their time, or rather who desire impossibly
to live the life of pleasures now, and yet at last to " die the
death of the righteous." They have still ready at hand
mercy and pardon, heaven and salvation for all comers,
and all that come near, without so much as a desire to put
any difference, or to divide the precious from the vile, wliich
is a prodigiously arrogant folly, pernicious in the highest
degree both to their own souls and those they delude.
Hear how they are branded in the Book of God, calling
them, "pillow-sewers" under men's elbows (Ezek.xiii, 18);
that being laid soft and locked fast in the cradle of security,
they may sink suddenly into the pit of destruction before
they be aware. "Criers of Peace, peace, when there is
no peace" (Jer.vi, 14), but horrible stirs ; tumbling of gar-
ments in blood ; burning and devouring of fire ; " men-
pleaseis" (Gal. i, 10), who choose rather to tickle the
itching ears of their carnal hearers with some frothy, friar-
like conceits, and so smooth great ones in their humours
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 105
by their cowardly flatteries (especially if they any ways
depend upon them for maintenance, rising, and preferment) ;
rather than conscientiously to discharge that trust laid upon
them by their great Lord and Master in heaven, upon
answerableness for the blood of those souls which shall
perish by their temporizing silence and flattering unfaith-
fulness. Healers of the hurt of their hearers with sweet
words (Jer. vi, 14), while their souls aie bleeding by the
wounds of sin unto eternal death. Preachers of smooth
things (Tsa. xxx, 10); which kind of men, the greatest part,
and all worldlings, wonderfully affect and applaud, though
to their own everlasting undoing. They swell under such
teachers with a pharisaical conceit that they are as safe
for salvation as the precisest of them all. But, alas ! their
hope is but like a hollow wall, which being put to any stress
when the tempest of God's searching wrath begins to shake
it, in the time of a final trial of its truth and soundness, it
shatters into pieces and comes to nought. Hear the pro-
phet : " Now go, write it before them in a table, and note
it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever
and ever : that this is a rebellious people, lying children,
children that will not hear the law of the Lord : which say
to the seers, See not ; and to the prophets. Prophesy not
unto us right things ; speak unto us smooth things ; pro-
phesy deceits : get you out of the way, turn aside out of
the path, cause the. Holy One of Israel to cease from before
us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because
ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverse-
ness, and stay thereon ; therefore this iniquity shall be to
you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall,
whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. And he
shall break it as the breaking of the potter's vessel that is
broken in pieces ; he shall not spare : so that there shall
not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from
the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit" (Is'a.xxx,
8—14). "Daubers with untempered mortar" (Ezek.xiii, 11),
who erect in the conceits of those who are willing to be de-
luded by them (pharisees ai the best) a rotten building of
false hope, like a " mud-wall without straw, or mortar made
only of sand without lime to bind it," which in fair weather
makes a fair show for a while ; but when abundance of rain
falls and winter comes, it moulders away and turns to mire
in the streets. Their vain-confidence in prosperous times,
before it come to the touchstone of the fiery trial by God's
searching truth, may seem current ; but in the tempest of
God's wrath, when the stormy winter's night of death ap-
proacheth, or at furthest at the judgment-seat of the just
106 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and highest God, it proves to be counterfeit ; when at the
last they shall cry " Lord, Lord," like the foolish virgins,
and those JNJat. vii, instead of imaginary comfort they shall
be crushed with horrible and everlasting confusion. Hear
the prophet : " Say unto them which daub it with untem-
pered mortar, that it shall fall : there shall be an overflow-
ing shower, and ye, O great hail-stones, shall fall, and a
stormy wind shall rend it. Lo, when the wall is fallen,
shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing where-
vvith ye have daubed it 1 Therefore thus saith the Lord
Crod, I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury j
and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger,
and great hail-stones in my fury to consume it. So will
I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untera-
pered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the
foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall,
and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall
know that 1 am the Lord. Thus will I accomplish my
wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it
with untempered mortar, and will say unto you, The wall
is no more, neither they that daubed it ; to wit, the pro-
phets of Israel, which prophesy concerning Jerusalem,
and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no
peace, saith the Lord God" (Ezek. xiii, 11 — 16). Such as
"with lies make the heart of the righteous sad, whom God
hath not made sad ; and strengthen the hands of the wicked,
that he should not return from his wicked way, by promis-
ing him life" (ver. 22) ; these fellows hold, and would per-
suade mere civil men, that their estate is sound enough to
God-ward, whatsoever the purer and preciser brethren
prate to the contrary ; and yet the Holy Ghost tells us,
that " without holiness no man shall see the Lord" (Heb.
xii, 14 : — That formal professors are very forward men;
whereas Jesus Christ professeth that he will " spew the
lukewarm out of his mouth :" — Nay, and if there be talk
even of a good fellow, especially of some more commen-
dable natural parts and plausible cariage ; if he be so but
moderately, if 1 may so speak, and not every day drunk ;
Well, well, will they say, we have all our faults, and that
is his. But as concerning the faithful servant of God, they
are wont to entertain the same thought of him which Ahab
did of Elijah, that " he was a troubler of Israel ;" which
one of the captains had of the prophet sent to anoint Jehu,
that he was a mad fellow ; which the false prophets had of
Micaiah, that he was a fellow of a singular and odd hu-
mour by himself, and guided by a private spirit of his own ;
which Tertullus had of Paul, that he was a pestilent fellow ;,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 107
which the Pharisees had of Christ's followers, that they
were a contemptible and cursed generation, a company of
base, rude, illiterate underlings. Nay, sometimes when
the rnad fit is upon them, they will not stick to charge God's
people in some proportion most wickedly and falsely, as
the ancient heathens did the primitive Christians — with
conventicles and meetings of hateful impurities, faction,
disaffection to Cesar, and jnany other horrible things ;
vvhereas, poor souls, they were most innocent, and infi-
nitely abhorred all such villanies ; and they met in the
morning, even before day, not to do, God knows, any such
ill, but for the service of God (even their most ingenious
adversaries being witnesses), to sing praises to Christ.
God, to confirm their discipliae, forbidding all manner of
sin, (Sec; — with all the miscarriages, miseries, and calamities
that fell upon the state, as though they were the causes.
Whereas those few neglected ones which truly serve God
are the only men in all places where they live to make up
the hedge, and to stand in the gap against the threatened
inundations of God's di'eadful wrath ; and all the opposites
to their holy profession are the real enemies of kingdoms,
able by their dissoluteness and disgracing godliness to dis-
solve the sinews of the strongest state upon earth. Look
upon Amos iv, 1, 2, and there you shall find who they are
which cause God to enter a controversy with the inhabit-
ants of a land.
Hear how Austin describes some of these self-seeking and
soul-murdering daubers in his days : " Far be it from us,"
saith he, " that we should say unto you, live as you list, do
not trouble yourselves, God will cast away none, only hold
the Christian faith. He will not destroy that which he
hath redeemed, he will not destroy those for whom he hath
shed his blood; and if you please to recreate yourselves at
plays, you may go ; what hurt is there in it 1 And you
may go to those feasts which are kept in all towns by jovial
companions, making themselves merry, as they suppose, at
these public meetings, but indeed rather making them-
selves most miserable ; I say you may go and be jovial,
God's mercy is great and may pardon all. Crown your-
selves with roses before they wither. You may fill your-
selves with good cheer and wine amongst your good-fellow
companions ; for the creature is given unto us for that pur-
pose, that we may enjoy it. — If we say these things, per-
adventure we shall have greater multitudes applaud and
adhere unto our doctrine. And if there be some, which
think, that speaking these things we are not well advised,
we offend but a few, and those precise ones ; but we win
108 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
thereby a world of people. But if we shall thus do, speak-
ing not the words of God, not the words of Christ, but our
own ; we shall be pastors feeding ourselves, not our flock*.'
The author of the imperfect commentary in Chrysostomj.
sorted by somebody into homilies upon Matthew, seems to
intimate, that the cause of the overflowing and rankness oi
iniquity is the baseness of these self-preaching men-pleasers.
*' Take this fault from the clergy," saith he, " to wit, thai
they be not men-pleasers, and all sins are easily cut down ;'
but if they blunt the edge of the sword of the Spirit with
daubing, flattery, temporizing ; or strike with it in a scabbard
garishly and gaudily embroidered with variety of human
learning, tricks of wit, friar-like conceits, &c., it cannot
possibly cut to any purpose ; it kills the soul, but not the
sin. They are the only men, howsoever worldly wisdom
rave, and unsanctified learning be beside itself, to beat
down sin, batter the bulwarks of the devil, and build up
the kingdom of Christ, who, setting aside all private ends
and bye-respects, all vain- glorious, covetous, and ambitious
aims ; all serving the times, projects for preferment, hope
of rising, fear of the face of man, &c. address themselves
with faithfulness and zeal to the work of the Lord, seeking
sincerely to glorify him in converting men's souls " by the
foolishness of that preaching," which God hath sanctitied
"to save them that believe,'' in a word, who labour to
imitate their Lord and Master Jesus Christ and his blessed
apostles in teaching " as men having authority ;" in "de-
monstration of the Spirit and power, and not as the scribes."
By embroidered scabbard, I mean the very same which
King James not long before his death did most truly out
of his deep and excellent wisdom conceive to be the bane
of this kingdom; to wit, "a light, affected, and unprofit-
able kind of preaching, which hath been of late years taken
up in court, university, city, and country." Hear some-
thing more largely what reason led his royal judgment to
this resolution, and desire of reformation : —
" His Majesty being much troubled and grieved at the
heart to hear every day of so many defections from our
religion, both to popery and anabapiism, or other points of
separation, in some parts of this kingdom ; and considering
with much admiration what might be the cause thereof,
especially in the reign of such a king, who doth so con-
stantly profess himself an open adversary to the superstition
of the one, and madness of the other ; his princely wisdom
could fall upon no one greater probability, than the light-
♦ Lib. de Pastoribus, toin. ix.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 109
ness, affected ness, and unprofitablene.ss of that kind of
preachini;, which hath been of late years too much taken
up in court, university, city, and country. The usual scope
of very many preachers is noted to be a soaring up in
points of divinity, too deep for the capacity of the people ;
or a mustering up of much reading, or a displaying of their
own wits, &c. Now the people bred up with this kind of
teaching, and never instructed in the catechism and funda-
mental grounds of religion, are for all this airy nourishment
no better than abrasa: tahulce, mere table books, ready to be
filled up, either with the manuals and catechisms of the
popish priests, or the papers and pamphlets of anabap-
tists*," &c.
In another place he resembles with admirable fitness the
unprofitable pomp and painting of such self-seeking dis-
courses, patched together, and stuffed with a vain-glorious
variety of human allegations, " to the red and blue floweis
that pester the corn, when it stands in the field ; where they
are more noisome to the growing crop than beautiful to the
beholding eye" — they are King James's own words t;
whereupon a little after he tells the Cardinal, that " it was
no decorum to enter the stage with a Pericles in his mouth,
but with the sacred name of God. Nor should his lordship,"
saith his Majesty, " have marshalled the passage of a royal
prophet and poet, after the example of a heathen orator."
These things being so, how pestilent is the an of spiritual
daubing! What miserable men are men-pleasers, who
being appointed to help men's souls out of hell, carry them
headlong and hoodwinked by their unfaithfulness and
flatteries towards everlasting miseries? Oh, how much
better were it, and comfortable for every man that enters
upon and undertakes that most weighty and dreadful charge
of the ministry, a burthen, as some of the ancients elegantly
amplify it, able to make the shoulders of the most mighty
angel in heaven to shiink under it, to tread in the steps of
blessed Paul, by using " no flattering words, nor u cloak of co-
vetousness, nor seeking glory of men ; but preaching in season
and out of season ; not as the scribes, but in the demonstra-
tion of the Spirit and of power ; keeping nothing back that
is profitable, declaring unto their hearers all the counsel of
God ; " holding the spiritual children which God hath
given them, their " gloiy, joy, and crown of rejoicing ; still
watching for the souls of tlieir flock, as they that must give
* King James. The reasons of the I'ving's directions fur Preacliing
and Preitchers, as I received them from the ha.'id of a public register.
t In tiie Preface to his Remonstrance against an Oration of Car-
dinal Perron.
L
no INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
account" (Heb. xiii, 17) ; the terror of which place, Chry-
sostom professeth, made his heart to tremble ; — I say, by
such holy and heavenly behaviour as this, in their ministry,
to be able at least to say with him in sincerity, not without
unspeakable comfort ; " I take you to record this day that
I am pure from the blood of all men ! " (Acts xx, 26.) Let
us be moved to this course and frighted from the contrary by
consideration of the different effects and consequences of
plain dealing and daubing, in respect of comfort or confu-
sion. Faithfulness this way, —
1. Begets those which belong unto God to grace and new
obedience. See Peter's piercing sermon, Acts ii, 14—36.
2. Recovers those Christians which are fallen, by remorse
and repentance, to their former forwardness and first love.
See Nathan's downright dealing with David, 2 Sam. xii,
7-13.
3. Makes those which will not be reformed inexcusable.
See Paul's Sermon to Felix, Acts xxiv, 25. How strangely
will this man be confounded, and more than utterly without
all excuse, when he shall meet Paul at that great day be-
fore the highest Judge !
4. It is very pleasing and profitable to upright- hearted
men, and all such as happily hold on in a constant and com-
fortable course of Christianity. " Do not my words do
good to him that walketh uprightly!" (Micah ii, 7.) Jt
makes them still more humble, zealous, watchful, heavenly-
minded, &c.
5. Hardens the rebellious and contumacious. See Isa. vi.
In which faithful ministers are also "unto God a sweet
savour of Christ" (2 (^or. ii, 15).
6. And the man of God himself shall hereafter blessedly
" shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars
for ever and ever ; " and all those happy ones which he
hath pulled out of hell by his downright dealing, shall reign
and rejoice with him in unknown and unspeakable bliss
through all eternity.
But now on the other side, the effects of daubing and
men -pleasing are most accursed and pestilent in many
respects.
1. In respect of God's word and messages : First, not
dividing it and dispensing them aright. Secondly, dis-
honouring the majesty and weakening the power of them
many times with the unprofitable mixture of human allega-
tions, ostentations of wit, fine friar-like conceits, &c. Even
as we may see at harvest time a land of j;ood corn quite
choked up with red, blue, and yellow flowers, as Kintj
James doth excellently nllude in the forecited place. Thirdly,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. Ill
iearful profaning ihem by misapplication against Cod's
will, "making the heart of the righteous sad, whom God
would not have made sad : and strengthening the hands of
the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way,
by promising him life " (Ezek. xiii, 22). Fourthly, viilanous
perverting and abusing them to their own advantage, ap-
plause, rising, revenge, and such other private ends.
2. In respect of the flattering and unfaithful ministers
themselves. First, extreme vileness (Isa. ix, 15). Secondly,
guiltiness of spiritual bloodshed (Ezek. iii, 18). Thirdly,
liableness to the fierce wrath of God in the day of visitation
(Jer. xiv, 15 ; 1 Kings xxii, 25).
3. In respect of their hearers, who delight in their lies,
in their smooth and silken sermons; sudden, horrible, and
unavoidable confusion (Isa. xxx, 13, 14).
4. Burning both together in hell for ever without timely
and true repentance, cursing there each other continually,
and crying with mutual hideous yellings, " O thou destroyer
of our souls, hadst thou been faithful in thy ministry, we
had escaped these eternal flames ! " — " O miserable man
that I am ! Wo is me that ever I was minister ; for now,
besides the horror due unto the guiltiness of mine own un-
done soul, I have drawn upon me by my unfaithfsl dealing
the cry of the blood of all those souls who have perished
under my ministry, to the everlasting enraging of my already
intolerable torment,"
Give me leave to conclude this point with that pathetical
and zealous passage of reverend and learned Greenham
against negligent pastors, amongst whom I may justly rank
and reckon all daubers and men-pleasers ; for self-preachers
are for the most part seldom-preachers. Hear his words : —
" Were there any love of God from their hearts in those,
who, instead of feeding to salvation, starve many thousands
to destruction ; I dare say, and say it boldly, that for all
the promotions under heaven they would notofl'er that injury
to one soul, that now they offer to many hundred souls.
But, Lord, how do they think to give up their reckoning to
thee, who in most strict account wilt take the answer of
every soul committed unto them one by one ! Or with what
concern do they often hear that vehement speech of our
Saviour Christ, Feed, feed, feed ! With what eyes do they
so often read that piercing speech of the apostle. Feed the
flock committed unto you ! But if none of these will move
them, then the Lord open their eyes to hear the grievous
groans of many souls lying under the grisly altars of de-
struction, and complaining against them ; * O Lord, the
revenger of blood, behold theso men whom thou hast set
11-2 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
over us to give us the bread of life, but they have not given
it us. Our tongues and the tongues of our children have
stuck to the roof of our mouths for calling and crying, and
they would not take pity on us. We have given tbem the
tenths v^hich thou appointedst us, but they have not given
us thy truth which thou hast commanded them. Reward
them, O Lord, as they have rev/arded us. J>et the bread
between their teeth turn to rottenness in the boweh. Let
them be clothed with shame and confusion of face as with a
garment. Let their wealth, as the dung from the earth, be
swept away by their executors ; and upon their gold and
silver, which they have falsely treasured up, let continually
be written, The price of blood, the price of blood ; for it
is the value of our blood, O Lord. If thou didst hear the
blood of Abel, being but one man, forget not the blood of
many, when thou goest into judgment *.' "
CHAP. III.
A general Direction for avoiding the former Error.
I NOW leturn to rectify and tender a remedy against the first
aberration, which I told you was this : \Vhen mercy, Christ,
the promises, salvation, heaven, and all are applied hand
over head, and falsely appropriated to unhumbled sinners,
whose souls were never rightly enlightened with sight of sin
and weight of God's wrath, nor afflicted to any purpose
with any legal wound or hearty compunction by the spirit
of bondage ; in whose hearts a sense of their spiritual misery
and want hath not yet raised a restless and kindly thirst
after Jesus Christ ; in this case my advice is, that all those
who deal with others about their spiritual states, and under-
take to direct in that high and weighty affair of men's salva-
tion, cither publicly or privately, in their ministry, visita-
tions of the sick, or otherwise ; that they would follow that
course of which I largely discoursed a little before, taken
by God himself, his prophets, his Son, the apostles, and all
those men of God in all ages who have set themselves with
sincerity, faithfulness, and all good conscience to seek God's
glory in the salvation of men's souls, to discharge aright
their dreadful charge, and " to keep themselves pure from
the blood of all men ; " to wit, that they labour with all
earnestness, in the first place, by the knowledge, power,
and application of the law, to enlighten, convince, and
* Godly Observations, concerning divers Arguments and Commcit
Pliices ill Religion, chap. xiii.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. lU
lerrify those that they have to do with, concerning conver-
sion, with a sensible, particular apprehension and acknow-
ledgment of their wretcliedness and miserable estate, by
reason of their sinfulness and cursedness ; to break their
hearts, bruise their spirits, humble their souls, wound and
awake their consciences ; to bring them by all means to that
legal astonishment, trouble of mind, and melting temper,
whicli the ministry of John Baptist, Paul, and Peter
wrought upon the hearts of their hearers (Luke iii, 10, 12,
14; Acts ii, 37; xvi, 30), that they may come crying feel-
ingly and from the heart to those men of God who happily
fastened those keen arrows of compunction and remorse in
the sides of their consciences; and say, "Men and
brethren, what shall we dol Sirs, what must we do to be
saved { '' As if they sliould have said, Alas ! we see now
we have been in hell all this while ; and if we had gone on
a little longer, we had most certainly lain for ever in the
fiery lake. The devil and our own lusts were carrying us
hoodwinked and headlong towards endless perdition. Who
would have thought we had been such abominable beasts
and abhorred creatures as your ministry hath made us, and
in so forlorn and woful estate? Now, you blessed men of
God, help us out of this gulf of spiritual confusion, or we
are lost everlastingly. By your discovery of our present
sinful and cursed estate, we feel our hearts torn in pieces
with extreme and restless anguish, as though many fiery
scorpions' stings stuck fast in them. Either lead us to the
sight of that blessed antitype of the brazen serpent to cool
and allay the boiling rage of our guilty wounds, or we are
utterly undone. Either bring us to the blood of that just
and holy One, which with execrable villany we have spilt
as water upon the ground, that it may bind up our broken
hearts, or they will presently burst with despair and bleed
to eternal death. Give us to drink of that sovereign foun-
tain opened by the hand of mercy for all thirsty souls, or
else we die. There is nothing you can prescribe and appoint,
but we will most willingly do. We will with all our hearts
"pluck out our right eyes, cut off our right hands;" we
mean, part with our beloved lusts and dearest sinful plea-
sures ; abominate and abandon them all for ever, from the
heart root to the pit of hell. If we can be rid of the devil's
fetters, welcome shall be Christ's sweet and easy yoke. In
a word, we will sell all, even all our sins, to the last filthy
rag of our heretofore doted-upon and darling delight, so that
we may enjoy our blessed Jesus, whom you have told us,
and we now believe, "God hath made both Lord and
Christ."
L 3
114 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
Now, when we shall see and find in some measure the
hearts of our hearers and spiritual patients thus prepared,
both by legal dejections and terrors from the spirit of bond-
age, and also possessed with such melting and eager affec-
tions, wrought by the light of the gospel and offer of Christ ;
when their souls once begin to feel ail sins, even their best
beloved one, heavy and burthensome ; to prize Jesus Christ
far before all the world ; to thirst for him infinitely more
than for riches, pleasures, honours, or any earthly thing .;
to resolve to take him as their husband, and to obey him as
their Lord for ever, and all this in truth ; — 1 say, then and
in this case we may have reason to minister comfort ; then
upon good ground we may go about our Master's command,
which man-pleasers many times pitifully abuse, " Comfort
ye, comfort ye my people : " I mean in respect of spiritual
bondage. "Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry
unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity
is pardoned " (Isa. xl, 1, 2). We may tell them with what
a compassionate and tender address God himself labours to
refresh them. " O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and
not comforted, behold, 1 will lay thy stones with fair
colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires" (Isa. liv,
11). We may assure them in the word of life and truth,
that Jesus Christ is theirs, and they are his ; and compel
them, as it were, by a holy violence, not without a great
deal of just indignation against their loathness to believe
and holding off in this case, to take his person, his merit,
his blood, all his spiritual riches, privileges, excellencies,
and with him possession of all things, even of the most
glorious Deity itself, blessed for ever. See 1 Cor. iii, 21, 22,
23; Johnxvii,21.
But now in the mean time, until sense of spiritual misery
and poverty raise an hunger and thirst after Jesus Christ,
before such like preparations and precedent affections as
have been spoken of be wrought in the hearts of men by
pressing the law and proclaiming the gospel, and that in
sinceiity (for the degree and measure we leave it to God,
as a most free agent, in some they may be stronger, in some
weaker), the preaching or promising of mercy, as already
belonging unto them, is far more unseasonable and unseemly
than snow in summer, rain in harvest, or honour for a fool.
It is, in short, the very sealing them up with the spirit of
delusion, that they may never so much as think of taking
the right course to be converted. What sottish and sacri-
legious audaciousness then is it in any dauber to thrust his
profane hand into the treasury of God's mercy, and there
carelessly, without any allowance from his highest ]-,ord, to
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 115
scatter his dearest and most orient pearls amongst swine!
To warrant salvation to any unhumbled sinner! "To
strengthen the hands of the wicked," who never yet took
sin to heart to any purpose ; and thirst far more (such true
Gadarenes are they) after gold, satisfying their own lusts
and perking above their brethren, than for the blood of
Christ, by promising them life ! To assure mere civil men,
and Pharisees, who are so far from the sense of any spiritual
poverty, that they are already swoln as full as the skin will
hold with a self-conceit of their own rotten righteousness,
that they shall be saved as well as the most strict disciple
of Christ I Especially since there is such a cloud of wit-
nesses to the contrary, as you have heard before. Besides
all which, upon this occasion take two or three more. Hear
a most faithful and fruitful workman in the Lord's harvest,
of great skill, experience, and success in the most glorious
art of converting souls, which makes me more willing to
urge his authority, and esteem his judgment in points of
this nature*. "None," saith he, "can prove or show
precedent, that faith was wrought in an instant at first,
without any preparation going before. Nor can it be con-
ceived how a man should believe in Christ for salvation,
that felt not himself before in a miserable estate, and
wearied with it, and desired to get out of it into a better.
As the needle goes before to pierce the cloth, and makes
way for the thread to sew it, so is it in this case." After-
ward he tells us how and in what inanner and order these
predispositions and preparative acts, required for the plan-
tation of faith and so securing us of the right season, and
a comfortable calling to assure men of spiritual safety, are
wrought in such as God is drawing unto Jesus Christ. He
requires from the law, first, illumination ; secondly, convic-
tion ; thirdly, legal terror. From the gospel, by the help of
the Spirit : first, revealing the remedy ; secondly, belief of it
in general ; thirdly, present support from sinking under the
burthen and falling into despair ; fourthly, contrition, which
is attended with some kind of, first, desire ; secondly, re-
quest ; thirdly, care ; fourthly, hope ; fifthly, joy ; sixthly,
hungering and thirsting after mercy and after Christ ;
seventhly, resolution to sell all, to wit, all sins, not to leave
a hoof behind, &c. " And thus," saith he, " God brings
along the man that he purposeth to make his ; and when he
is at this pass, God seals it up to him and enables him to
believe ; and saith. Since thou wilt have no nay, be it unto
thee according to thy desire ; and God seals him up by the
* Uogers of Deilhain, in his Doctrine of Faith.
116 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
Spirit of promise, as surely as any writing is made sure by
sealing of it. Then he believes the word of God, and
rests and casts himself upon it. And thus he finds himself
discharged of all woe, made partaker of all good, at peace
in himself, and fitted and in tune to do God service. This
is to some sooner, to some later, according to the helps
and means they have, and wise handling they meet withal,
aiid as God gives power. It is hard to say at what instant
faith is wrought, whether not till a man feels that he appre-
hends tire promises, or even in his earnest desires, hunger-
ing and diirsting ; for even these are pronounced blessed."
But here (for 1 desire and endeavour as much as I can
possibly in every passage to prevent all matter both of
scruple in the upright-hearted, and of cavil in the contrary
minded) let no truly humbled sinner be discouraged, because
he cannot find in himself these several workings, or other
graces, in that degree and height, which he desires and hath
perhaps seen, heard, or read of in some others. If he have
them in truth, and truly thirsts and labours for their increase,
he may go on with comfort. Neither let any be disheart-
ened, though he did not observe so distinctly the order of
the precedent acts, nor could discern so punctually their
several operations in his soul ; yet, if in substance and ef-
fect they have been wrought in him, and made way for
Jesus Christ, he need not complain.
As this man of God in experimental divinity, so our re-
nowned and invincible champions in their polemical dis-
courses upon other occasions speak to the same purpose,
telling us also of some antecedent acts humbling and pre-
paring the soul for conversion. " There are," say they,
" certain internal effects going before conversion or regene-
ration, which by virtue of the word and Spirit are wrought
in the hearts of tliose which are not yet justified ; such as,
illumination of the mind and conscience with the know-
ledge of the word and will of God for that purpose ; sense of
sin ; fear of punishment, or legal terror ; advising and cast-
ing about for enlargement from such a miserable estate ;
some hope of pardon*," &c. Let me but add one other,
and he also of excellent learning, and then I have done.
" Such is the nature of man," saith het, " that before he
can receive a true justifying faith, he must, as it were, be
broken in pieces by the law (Jer. xxiii, 29). We are to be
led from the fear of slaves through the fear of penitents to
the fear of sons ; and indeed one of these makes way for
* Sutfrag. Colleg. Tlieologoruiii Magna' lUitamiiie.
+ Yates, in his Model of L>iviuity, book ii, chap. xxvi.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 117
another, and the perfect love thrusts out fear; yet must
fear bring in that perfect love, as a needle or bristle draws
in the thread after it; or as the potion brings health. In
the preparation and fitting us for our being in Christ, he
requireth two things : First, the cutting us otl' as it were from
the wild olive-tree: by wfiich he meaneth two things: 1st,
a violent pulling of us out of the corruption of nature, or a
cutting, as it were, by the knife of the law, of an unregene-
rate man from his security, &c. : 2dly, a violent attrac-
tion to Christ for ease ; man at the first plainly refusing it.
The hunted beast flies to his den, the pursued malefactor to
the horns of the altar, or city of refuge. Paul's misery
drives him to God's mercy (Rom. vii, 24). The Israelites
•are driven into their chambers by the destroying angel ;
Balaam is made to lean back by the naked sword ; Agur to
run to Ithiel and Ucal, that is, Christ, when he is con-
founded with his own brutishness (Prov. xxx, 1, 2, 3). God
must let loose his law, sin, conscience, and Satan to bait us,
and kindle hell fire in our souls, before we shall be driven
to seek to Christ. Secondly, a paring and trimming of us
for our putting into Christ by our humiliation for sin, which
is thus wrought. God giveth the sinner to see by the law
his sin and the punishment of it, the detection whereof
drives him to compunction and a pricking of heart, which is
greater or lesser, and carries with it divers symptoms and
sensible passions of grief; and works a sequestration from
his former courses, and makes him loathe himself,'* &cc.
And yet by the way take this caution and forewarning :
If any should think of these precedent acts, these prepara-
tive workings of the law and gospel, which make way for
the infusion of faith, as any meritorious means to draw on
Christ, it were a m.ost false, rotten, foolish, execrable, po-
pish, absurd, Luciferian misconceit, and might justly merit
never to obtain mercy at God's bountiful hands, nor part
in the merits of Christ. I speak thus to fright every one
for ever from any such abhorred thought. God the Father
offers his Son most freely. " God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on
him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John iii,
16). " Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given"
(Isa. ix, 6). " If thou knewest the gift of God," saith
Christ unto the woman of Samaria, " and who it is that
saith to thee, give me to drink." ( Jotin iv, 10). " Much
more they, which receive abundance of grace, and of the
gift of righteousness," &;c. (Rom. v, 17). Christ calleth
himself a " gift," and it is called the "gift of righteous-
ness ; " and nothing so free as gift. And therefore those di-
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vines speak not unfitly who say, "It is given unto us, as
fathers give lands and inheritance to their children; as
kings give pardons to their subjects, having merited death.
They give them, because they will, out of the freeness of
their minds.'' All those who would come unto Christ, and
desire to take him as their wisdom, rigliteousness, sanctifi-
cation, and redemption, must be utterly unbottomed of
themselves, and built only on the rich and free mercy of
God revealed in the gospel. They must be emptied first of
all conceit of any righteousness or worth in themselves at
all. Secondly, of all hope of any ability or possibility to
help themselves. Nay, tilled, thirdly, with sense of their
own unworthiness, naughtiness, nothingness. Fourthly,
and with such a thirst after that water of life, that they are
most willing to sell all for it, and cry heartily. Give me
drink, or else I die. And then when they are thus most no-
thing in themselves, and do so long for the " rivers ot living
water," they are certainly most welcome unto Jesus Christ,
and may take him most freely. Hear how sweetly he calls
them : " Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the
waters ; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat ;
yea come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without
price" (Isa. lv,l). "In the last day, that great day of
the feast, Jesus stood, and cried, saying. If any man thirst,
let him come unto me and drink. lie that believeth on me,
as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers
of living water" (John vii, 37, 38). "It is done: I am
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give
unto him that is atliirst, of the fountain of the water of life
freely " ( Revel, xxi, 6). " And let him that is athirst come,
and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely"
(Rev xxii, 17). We must therefore by no means conceive
of the forenamed preparative humiliations and precedent
works of the law and gospel as of any meritorious qualifi-
cations to draw on Christ (for he is given most freely), but
as of needful predispositions to drive us unto Christ. For
a man must feel himself in misery before he will go about
to find a remedy ; be sick before he will seek the physician ;
be in prison before he will sue for a pardon ; be wounded
before he will prize a plaister and precious balsam. A
sinner must be weary of iiis former wicked ways, and tired
with legal terror, before he will have recourse to Jesus
Christ for refreshing, and lay down his bleeding soul in his
blessed bosom. He must be sensible of his spiritual po-
verty, beggary, and slavery under the devil, before he
thirst for heavenly righteousness, and willingly take up
Christ's sweet and easy yoke. He must be cast down, con-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 119
founded, condemned, a cast-away, and lost in himself, be-
fore lie will look about for a Saviour. He must cry hear-
tily, " 1 am unclean, 1 am unclean," before he will long
and labour to wash in that most sovereign and soul-saving
fountain, opened to the house of David and to the inhabi-
tants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness " (Zech.
xiii, 1). He must sell all, before he will be willing and
eager to buy the treasure hid in the field.
CHAP. IV.
Four particnlar directions for the avoiding this error. I. How the
Law is to be pressed. II. How the Gospel to be preached. III. How
Christ to be proposed. IV. How pardon to be assured. Am! ways
to be used for the putting of these directions in practice.
Now thus to prepare, wound, afflict, and humble the soul
that it may be fitted for Jesus Christ, and so for comfort
upon good ground, let ministers, or whosoever meddle in
matters of this nature, publicly or privately, use all war-
rantable means, let them press the law, promise mercy,
propose Christ, &cc., do what they will seasonably and
wisely. Let them improve all their learning, wisdom, dis-
cretion, mercifulness, experience, wit, eloquence, sanctified
unto them for that purpose, so that the work be done.
I. In pressing the law, besides other dexterities and di-
rections for managing their ministry in this point success-
fully by God's blessing, let them take notice of this parti-
cular, which may prove very available to begin this legal
work. It is a principle attended with much success.
Pressing upon men's consciences with a zealous, discreet
powerfulness their special, principal, fresh bleeding sins,
is a notable means to break their hearts and bring them to
remorse. That most heinous and bloody sin of killing
Jesus Christ, in which they had newly imbrued their hands,
pressed upon the consciences of Peter's hearers, breaks and
tears their hearts in pieces (Acts ii, 23, 36, 37). So adul-
tery, secretly intimated by Christ's words unto the wo-
man of Samaria (John iv, 18), seems to have struck her to
the heart (ver. 19). So the Jews having idolatry pressed
upon their consciences by Samuel (1 Sam. vii, 6) ; the
sin of asking a king (1 Sam. xii, 19) ; usury by Nehemiah
(chap. V, 12) ; strange wives by Ezra (chap, x, 9), were
thereupon mightily moved and much softened in their
hearts, as appears in the cited places. Consider for this
purpose that work upon David's heart by Nathan's minis-
120 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
try, and Felix trembling when Paul struck him on the
right vein.
The reasons why this more particular discovery and de-
nouncing of judgment against a man's principal sin is like
God assisting with the spirit of bondage to put such life into
the work of the law, are such as these : —
1. " The sword of the Spirit," which is the word of God,
being wielded by the hand of the Holy Ghost, and edged,
as it were, with the special power of God's blessing for the
cutting asunder of the iron sinews of a stubborn and stony
heart, doth crush and conquer, strike through and break m
pieces with an irresistible power, proportioned to the inso-
lency or easiness of resistance. My meaning is this, as
philosophers say of the lightning, that by reason of the
easiness of the passage, weakness of resistance, porosity of
the parts, it pierceth through the purse, scabbard, and bark,
without any such scorching and visible hurt ; but melts the
money, the sword, rends and shivers the tree, because their
substance and solidity doth more exercise and improve its
activeness and ability : so this spiritual sword, though it
strike at every sin, and passeth through " even to the di-
viding asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow," yet the hairy pate of the main corruption and
master sin it wounds with a witness ; it there tortures and
teais in pieces with extraordinary anguish and smart,
searching and sense ; for that opposeth with the most
flinty iron sinew, to blunt and deaden its edge if it were
possible.
2. In consciences regularly and rightly wounded and
awakened, sins are wont to bite and sting proportionably
to tlieir heinousness and the exorbitancy of their form.er
sensual impressions. Some like a mastiff, some like a scor-
pion, some like a wolf in the evening. But understand,
that spiritual anguish surpasseth immeasurably any corporal
pain, therefore conceive of them with a vast disproportion.
Now the darling delight or captain sin frighting the heart
with greatest horror, and stinging with extremity propor-
tionable to its former outrages upon conscience, doth by an
accidental power (God blessing the business) give a great
stroke to drive a man to deepest detestation of himself, to
throw him down to the lowest step of penitent dejection, to
render more eager his thirsty greediness after pardon and
grace, and at length to terrify him out of his natural
estate.
3. A man's principal and most prevailing sin is Satan's
strongest hold. When he is in danger to be dislodged and
driven by the power of the word out of the other parts of
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 121
the soul, as it were, and from possession of a man by all
other sins, he retires hither as to his castle and most impreg-
nable fort. And therefore if this be soundly beaten upon
by the hammer and horror of the law, and battered about
his ears, he will be quickly enforced to quit the place alto-
gether.
It may be good counsel then, and often seasonable, to
say unto those men of God who desire to drive the devil
out of others in some sort, as the king of Syria said to his
captains, " Fight neither with small nor great, save only
with the king of Igrael." My meaning is, let them address
the sharpest edge of their spiritual sword, yet as well with
a holy charitable discretion as with resolute downright
dealing, against those sins which bear greatest sway in
them they have to deal with. Be it their covetousness,
ambition, lust, drunkenness, lukewarmness, monstrousness
of the fashion, sacrilege, oppression, usury, backsliding,
murder, luxury, opposition to the good way, hatred of the
saints, or what other sin soever they discover in them to
minister greatest advantage to Satan, to keep them fastest
in his clutches. No sin must be spared, but let the reign-
ing sin be thrust at especially.
II. For opening of the most rich and orient mines of all
those sweetest mercies folded up within the bowels of God's
dearest compassions and of the mystery of his free grace
and love through the Son of his love ; upon purpose to in-
vite and allure those that are without to come in ; and to
stir up our hearers to bring broken hearts, bruised spirits,
bleeding souls unto the throne of grace, upon the same
ground, but infinitely more gracious, that encouraged the
servants of Benhadad to address them.selves towards the
king of Israel ; " And his servants said unto him, Behold
now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel
are merciful kings : let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on
our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king
of Israel : peradventure he will save thy life" (1 Kings xx,
31). The most desperate rebels heretofore, upon present
true remorse for their former rage in sin, resolving sincerely
to stand on God's side for ever hereafter, may safely and upon
good ground thus reason within themselves : Alas ! we liave
done very villanously ; we have served Satan along time ; we
walk up and down as condemned men, ripe fordestruclionlong
ago ; hell itself even groans for us ; we may justly look every
moment for a mittimus to cast us headlong into the dungeon
of brimstone and fire ; and yet we will try ; we will go and
throw down ourselves before the throne of grace in dust
and ashes, and cry as the publican did unto the great God
M
122 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
of heaven ; for he is a " merciful God, gracious, long-sui-
fering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." And
then, not only peradventure, but most certainly, they shall
be received to mercy, and he will save the life of their
souls ; for this point of preaching mercy only to hearten
men to come in, and to nourish in them a hope of pardon in
case of penitency, &c., see my Discourse of True Happi-
ness. And I will only add and advise at this time this one
thing of great importance in the point, that after a plenti-
ful magnifying and amplifying the merqy of God, by its
infiniteness, eternity, freeness, and incomparable excellency
every way, only upon purpose to assure the greatest sinneis
of most certain acceptation and pardon if they will presently
turn with truth of heart from Satan to the living God,
from all sin to his holy service ; I say, that we then take
heed and make sure as much as in us lies, that no impeni-
tent unbelieving wretch, none that goes on in his trespasses
and sins, willingly and delightfully in any one sin, receive
any comfort by any such discourse, as though as yet he had
any part or interest at all in any one drop of all that bound-
less and bottomless sea of mercy ; that were a means to
nail him fast to his natural estate for ever. But only thence
conceive, that if he will presently lay down arms against
the INJajesty of heaven, and come in with a truly penitent,
humbled soul, thirsting heartily for Jesus Clnist, and re-
solve unfeignedly to take his yoke upon him, there is no
number or notoriousness of sins that can possibly hinder his
gracious entertainment at God's mercy seat. For this end,
let us tell all such, that though the mercies of God be in-
finite, yet they are dispensed according to his truth. Now
the oracles of divine truth tell us, that those who shall find
mercy are such as confess and forsake their sins. " Whoso
confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall have mercy" (Prov.
xxviii, 13). Those men who do not confess and forsake
them shall have no mercy. That the parties to whom good
tidings of mercy and comfort are to be preached, are the
"poor, the broken- hearted, them that are bruised, those
that labour and are heavy laden, all that mourn," &c.
(Luke iv, 18 ; Matt, xi, 28 ; Isa. Ixi, 2, 3). J hat the man
to whom the Lord looks graciously, is " even he that is
poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at his word"
(Isa. Ixvi, 2). That whosoever by his free mercy through
Christ "is born of God, doth not commit sin" (1 John iii,
9) ; I mean with allowance, purpose, perseverance. No
sin reigns in such a one, &:c. And yet, alas ! how many
miserable men will needs most falsely persuade themselves
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 123
and others that they have a portion in the mercies of God,
and hug with extraordinary applause and embracement the
formal flatterinu; messages of men-pleasers and time-
servers, to daub over such rotten hopes, who yet notwith-
standing " go on still in their trespasses j who were never
yet sensible of the burthen of their corruptions and spi-
ritual beggary ; never wounded in conscience, or troubled
in mind to any purpose for their sins ; never mourned in
secret and sincerely for the abominations of their youth ;
could never yet find in their hearts to sell all for the buy-
ing of that one pearl of great price ; nor ever yet so prized
Jesus Christ as to leave their darling pleasures, though very
base and abominable, to enjoy the unspeakable and glorious
pleasures of his gracious kingdom 1 Nay, such as heartily
serve some captain and commanding sin in heart, or life,
or calling, as their own consciences, if they consult with
them impartially in cool blood, can easily tell them ; as lust,
the world, ambition, the times, the fashion, their pleasures,
their profits, their passions, their ease, self- love, pride,
revenge, the dunghill delight of good fellowship, or the
like.
And here then let me discover a notable depth of Satan,
whereby he doth batHe and blindfold his slaves most grossly.
You know full well and hear often the common cry of all
carnal men, especially under any conscientious ministry,
against preaching of judti;ment, and for preaching of mercy.
(See the causes why they cannot approve downright deal-
ings and powerful application of the law, in my Discourse
of True Happiness.) But what do you think is the reason
that they gape so greedily after preaching of mercy 1 Not
that they can endure the preaching of it, as I now have
taught, and as it only ought to those that are without ; to
wit, to have first the dearaess, the sweetness, the freeness,
the full glory of God's immeasurable mercy revealed unto
them, only as a motive and encouragement to come in,
but ever at the close and conclusion to be made to under-
stand and know certainly, that not so much as one drop of
all that bottomless depth of mercy and bounty in Jesus
Christ doth as yet belong unto them, lying in any state of
unregenerateness, or in in any kind of hypocrisy, whilst
they "regard any wickedness in their heart," and are not
willing to " pluck out their right eyes and cut off their right
hands ;" I mean, to make an everlasting divorce from their
former dearest sensual delights and sins of their bosom :
for only " they who confess and forsake their sins shall
have mercy" (Prov. xxviii, 13). This way of preaching
mercy would nettle and gall them a? much perhaps as
124 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
pressing of judgment. Nay, why not more? Proportion-
ably to that which divines hold, that the privation and loss
of heavenly joys and the beatific presence of God is far more
bitter than the torments of sense and positive pains of hell.
But to tell you their true meaning and their very hearts :
their aim in so complaining and calling for mercy from our
ministry is to have it so and in such a manner proposed and
preached, that they may thence collect and conceive, that
they are in state good enough to go to heaven as they are,
though in truth they be mere strangers to the life of God
and holy strictness of the saints ; were never truly humbled
with sight of sin and sense of wrath, nor experimentally ac-
quainted at all with the mystery of the new birth ; that they
may conclude and say within themselves, Howsoever some
ministers of the purer and preciser strain fright us continually
with nothing but judgment, terror, damnation, and will not
suffer us to be quiet, no not so much as in one sin, yet it is
our good hap sometimes to meet with some merciful men
who will help us to heaven without so much ado, and upon
easier terms. In a word, they would if possible have just so
much mercy as might assure and warrant them to carry se-
curely their sins in their bosom to heaven with them ; to
live as they list in this life, and to die the death of the
righteous ; which is a conceit most ridiculous, absurd, and
more than utterly impossible. What a hateful trick then
is this, and horrible imposture, which they suffer Satan to
put upon them.
111. In proposing of Christ, let the man of God set out as
much as he can possibly the excellency of his person, the
invaludblepreciousness of his blood, the riches of his heavenly
purchases, the gracious sweetness of his invitations, the
generality and freeness of his offers (INI ark xvi, 16 ; Matt,
xi, 28 ; John vii,37; Revel, xxii, 17) ; the glorious privileges
he brings with him, reconciliation to God, adoption, forgive-
ness of sins, justification, righteousness, wisdom, sanctifica-
tion, redemption, 6cc. Possession of all things, " For all
things are yours ; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas ; or
the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to
come, all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's "
(1 Cor. iii, 22, 23). Let him tell his hearers that the blood
of Christ is called the " blood of God " (Acts xx, 28), and
therefore of infinite merit and invaluable price. It sprang
out of his human nature, and therefore finite in its own na-
ture, and lost upon the ground. But the person that shed
it being the Son of God, did set upon it such an excellency
and eternity of virtue and value, that the infiniteness of its
merit, andinestimablenessofitsworth,lastseverlasting]y. It
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 125
will be as fresh and effectual to wash away the sins of the
last man that shall be called upon earth, as it was those of
the penitent thief, wlio saw it with his bodily eyes gushing
out of his blessed side upon the cross, or the first man who
did first savingly apprehend that first promise, "The seed
of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." Let him as-
sure them it is so sovereign, that in a truly broken, humbled,
and thirsty soul, it turneth the most scarlet and crimson sins
into snov^ and wool; that upon compunction and coming
in, it washed away that horrible and bloody guilt from the
souls of them that spilt it (Acts ii). Let them know also,
in how high a degree and heinously they offend from time
to time, who refuse to take Jesus Christ offered most freely,
and without exception of any person, every sabbath, every
sermon, either in plain and direct terms, or impliedly at the
least. Oh ! little do people think who sit under our ministry
unwrought upon by the word, what a grievous and fear-
ful sin they commit and carry home from the house of God,
day after day, in " neglecting so great salvation, in forsak-
ing their own mercy, and in judging themselves unworthy
of everlasting life ; " I mean, by choosing upon a free offer
of his soul-saving blood, to cleave rather to a lust (horrible
indignity!) than to Jesus Christ blessed for ever ; rather to
wallow in the mire and mud of earthly pelf, in the filth and
froth of swinish pleasures, in idleness, pride, worldliness,
uncleanness, drunkenness, strange fashions, scorning pro-
fessors, conteinpt of the power of godliness, railing against
religion, revelling, Cxc. than abandoning these filthy harlots
to take the Son of God for their dear and everlasting husband.
This not believing, this refusing Christ, this not taking him
in the manner and sense as I have said, is such a sin, though
not so thought upon and taken to heart, that divines speak
of it as of a most transcendent sin, the greatest sin, the sin
of sins, the only sin, as it were, from such places as these : —
"But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth, and he
sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and
burnt up their city'' ( Matt, xxii, 7). He means those who
were invited to the " Son's marriage, and made light of it."
" He that believeth not is condemned already, because he
hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God" (John iii, 18). When the Comforter is come "he
will convince the world of sin ; because they believe not on
me." He means this sin alone, saith Austin. As though not
believing on the Son of God were the only sin. It is indeed
the main and master sin, because, as the same father speaks
truly, " this remaining, the guilt of all other sins abides
upon the soul : this removed, alJ other sins are remitted."
M 3
126 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
Nay, and besides the horribleness and heinousness of the
sin, what height and perlection of madness is it? That
whereas a man but renouncing his base, rotten, transitory,
sinful pleasures, followed continually at the heels with
vengeance and horror, and only taking Jesus Christ, in
whom are hidden and heaped up the fulness of grace and
treasures of all perfection, might have thereupon (to say
nothing of the excellency of his person, purchases of his
passioij, and possession of the most blessed Deity) a full
and free discharge thereby at the hands of so happy a hus-
band, from every moment of the everlastingness of hellish
torments, and a deed presently sealed with his own heart's
blood, for an undoubted right to every minute of the eternity
of heavenly joys -, yet should in cool blood most wickedly
and willingly, after so many entreaties, invitations, impor-
tunity only for the good of his poor immortal soul, refuse
the change! Heaven and earth may be astonished ; angels
and ail creatures may justly stand amazed at this prodigious
sottishness and monstrous madness of such miserable men !
The world is wont to call God's people precise fools, because
they are willing to sell all they have for that one pearl of
great price ; to part with profits, or pleasures, preferments,
their right hand, their right eye, every thing, any thing,
rather than to leave Jesus Christ. But who do you think
now are the true and great fools of the world ; and who are
likeliest one day to groan for anguish of spirit, and say
within themselves, " This was he whom we had sometimes
in derision, and a proverb of reproach 1 We fools accounted
his life madness, and his end to be without honour. Now
is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is
among the saints ; therefore have we erred from the way of
truth, andthelightof righteousness hath not shined unto us;
and the sun of righteousness hath not rose upon us. We
wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness and destruction.
Yea, we have gone through deserts where there lay no way.
But as for the way of the Lord, we have not known it. \\ hat
hath pride profited us, or what good hath riches with our
vaunting brought us 1 All these things are passed away like
a shadow, and as a post that hasteth by."
Nay, and yet further, besides the extraordinariness of the
iniquity and folly in refusing Christ freely offered, it shall
most certainly be hereafter plagued with extremest torment-
ing fury, and most desperate gnashing of teeth. For with
what infinite horror and restless anguish will this thought
rend a man's heart in pieces, and gnaw upon his conscience,
when he considers in hell, that he hath lost heaven for a
lust ; and whereas he might at every sermon had even tlie
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 127
Son of God to be his husband for the very taking ; and have
lived with him for ever in unspeakable bliss, yet neglecting
so great salvation, must now, crying out therefore continually
against himself as the most raging madman that ever
breathed, lie in unquenchal)le flames without remedy, ease,
or end ! It is the highest honour that can be imagined,
and a mystery of greatest amazement that ever was^ that
the Son of God should make suit unto sinful souls to be their
husband.^ And yet so it is; "he stands at the door and
knocks ; " if you will give him entrance, he will bring him-
self and heaven into your hearts. " VVe are Christ's am-
bassadors, as though God did beseech you by us. We pray
you in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God." We are
Christ's spokesmen, if I may so speak, to woo and win you
unto him. Now what can you say for yourselves that you
stand out? Why come you not in? If the devil would
give you leave to speak out and in plain terms, one would
say, I had rather be damned than leave my drunkenness ;
another, I love the world better than Jesus Christ ; a third'
I will not part with my easy and gainful trade of usury for
the " treasure hid in the field ;" and so on : so that in truth
you must needs all confess, that you hereby "judge your-
selves unworthy of everlasting life ; " that you are wilful
murderers of your own souls ; that you commit such a
wickedness, that all the creatures in heaven and earth cry
shame upon you for it. Nay, and if you go on without re-
pentance, you may expect that the gnawings of conscience
for this one sin of refusing Christ may perhaps be equal to
the united horrors of all the rest.
What is the matter, I wonder, that you will not entertain
the match 1 If we stand upon honour and noble family, he
that makes love and suit unto our souls " hath on his ves-
ture and on his thigh a name written, "King of kings, and
Lord of lords" (Rev. xix, 16). If upon beauty, hear
how he is described : " My beloved is white and ruddy, the
chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine
gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes
nre as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed
with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices,
as sweet flowers : his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smell-
ing myrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl :
liis belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs
are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold : his
countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His
mouth is most sweet : yea, he is altogether lovely " (Cant.
V, 10 — 16). Now you must understand, that the Spirit of
God, by these outward beauties and excellencies, labours in
12B INSTRUCTIONS FOR COxMFORTING
some mcasuie to shadow out and represent unto us the m-
comparal)lo excellency of inward graces, the dignity, the
glory, the spiritual fairness of Jesus Christ, that we may
know that he is wholly and altogether lovely, delightful, and
precious. If our hearts are set upon ease and contentment,
he can lead us to " fulness of joy and pleasures at God's
right hand for evermore." If we desire honourable alliance,
he will bring us to " an innumerable company of angels, to
the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are
written in heaven ; and to God the judge of all, and to the
spirits of just men made perfect." If we stand upon wealth,
we shall have all things with him, which is a large pos-
session. If we respect love, "greater love hath no man
than thii, that a man lay down his life for his friends"
(John XV, 13): and he, " being the brightness of his Father's
glory, and the express image of his person," came down
from his bosom, the well-spring of immortality and bliss,
the fulness of joy and unapproachable light, into a house of
flesh upon this base and miserable earth. He passed through
a life lull of all manner of vexations, miseries, persecutions,
indignities, slanders, speaking against of sinners, iS:c. He
was so prodigiously slandered that they said he had a devil
(John viii, 48) ; whereas " tlie fulness of the Godhead
dweltin him bodily " (Col. ii, 9). He was cunningly hunted
long, and at last violently haled by a pack of hell-hounds to
a cruel and bloodly death, which for the extremity and
variety of pains, for the enraged spite of the executioners,
for the innocency and excellency of the person suffering,
the like never was, shall, or can be endured. His passions
were such, so bitter and insupportable, that they would
have made any mere creature to have sunk down under the
burthen of them to the bottom of hell. He was tortured
extremely, and suffered grievous things both in body and
soul, from heaven, earth, and hell. His blessed body was
given up as an anvil to be beaten upon by the violent and
villanous hands of wretched miscreants, without all measure
or mercy, until they had left no one part free from some
particular and special torment. His skin and flesh were
rent with scourges, his hands and feet pierced with nails,
his head with thorns, his very heart with a spear point. All
his senses, all his parts, indeed his whole sacred body, was
made a rueful spectacle to angels and to men, of all the
most base and barbarous usage which malice could devise
and cruelty execute. Yet all this was but a shadow of his
suti'ering ; the substance of his suffering was the agony of
his soul. Give me any affliction save the affliclion of the
mind; "for the spirit of a man," saith Solomon, "will
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 129
sustain all his other infirmities ; but a wounded spirit who
can bearl" Yet his soul, though he was the Prince of
glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, upon the cross was
even as a scorched heath, without so much as any drop of
comfort either from heaven or earth. The grievous weight
of all the sins of all his children, the least of which had been
enough to have pressed them down into the bottom of hell,
lay now heavy upon him. The powers of darkness were let
loose to afflict him. He wrestled even with the fierce wrath
of his Father, and all the forces of the infernal kingdom,
with such anguish of heart, that in the garden it wrung out
of his precious body a sweat " as it were great drops of
blood falling down to the ground, " with such agony of
spirit, that upon the cross he cried, "My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me 1 " And the measure of all
these sufferings and sorrows was so past all measure, that
all the creatures, save sinful men only, both in heaven and
earth, seemed to be amazed and moved with them. The
sun in the heavens drew in his beams, unwilling as it were
to see the spotless blood of the Son of God spilt as water
upon the ground. The earth itself shrunk and trembled
under it. The very rocks rent asunder, as if they had
sense and feeling of his intolerable, and, save by himself,
unconquerable pains. The whole frame of nature seemed
astonished at the mournful complaint of the Lord of the
whole world. These, and far more than these, or than can
be expressed, our blessed Saviour, being Son of the Most
high God, endured for no other end but to ransom us from
the bondage of Satan and of hell, in a thirsting desire of
saving all penitent sinners, and to offer himself freely a
most glorious and everlasting husband to all those who with
broken and believing hearts cast themselves into his bosom.
Such admirable and unutterable perfections, beauties, en-
dowments, sufferings, and inflamed affections as these in
the heavenly suitor unto our sinful souls, doth mightily
aggravate the heinous and horrible sin of refusing him.
Thus, and in this manner, would I have the men of God
to magnify, enlarge, and represent to the hearts of their
hearers all the excellences of Jesus Christ, with the worth,
merit, and efficacy of his blood. To set out to the utmost
they can possibly, the glory of the gospel, with all the
riches of mercy, goodness, and free grace, revealed and
offered therein, &c. So that they tell them withal that
Jesus Christ takes none but such as are willing to take upon
them his yoke ; that he gives himself to none but such as
are ready to sell all, in the sense 1 have said, that they may
enjoy his blessed self. That the glorious grace of the gospel
130 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
f^hines savingly to none but such as " deny uni^odliness and
worldly lusts ; and live soberly, righteously, and godly, in
this present world" Tlit. ii, 11,12). That those, whose
souls are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ from all sin,
are only such as walk in the light, as God is in the light ;
who make conscience of detesting and declining all sins and
works of darkness discovered to them by the light of God's
holy book, and sincerely set their hearts and hands with
love and careful endeavour to every duty enjoined therein.
In a word, that as that fountain opened to the house of
David for sin and for uncleanness (1 mean the blood of that
immaculate lamb, Jesus Christ, the holy and the righteous)
doth turn all the sins, even the very scarlet and crimson,
of a truly broken heart, and every true mourner in Zion,
into snow and wool, so it will never wash away the
least sinful stain from the proud heart of any unhumbled
pharisee.
That hereby no strangers unto the love and life of godli-
ness may be deceived by appropriating unto themselves any
of these glorious things, which are only proper to the sealed
fountain, but only conceive of them as excellent motives to
cause them to come in, I would have the preaching of
Christ fill the soul of every true hearted Nathanael every
time with " unspeakable and glorious joy," with all those
evangelical pleasures, which neither "eye hath seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man."
But I would have it only make every unregenerate man sen-
sible of what infinite blessedness he bereaves himself by
continuing a rebel ; that thereupon he may be moved to
make liaste out of his present hell into this new heaven, so
fairly opened and freely offered unto him.
IV. Besides pressing the law, promising mercy, proposing
Christ, &c. to stir iiien in their natural states, to make them
entertain thoughts of coming in, to humble them in the
sight of the Lord under the heavy burthen of all their sins,
assure them also of pardon, in case they will leave Satan's
service, and so prepare them for Christ ; let God's ministers
lay hold upon all warrantable ways which they shall find
and feel out of their ministerial experience and holy wisdom
to be available and prevail for that purpose : so that the
work be done in truth, and that they do not, like the devil's
daubers, deceive them to the eternal ruin and damnation of
their souls, by telling them that they have Christ already,
and are safe enough for salvation, whereas indeed as yet
there is no such matter.
Such points as these are wont to make attentive natural
men to startle in their seats, to look about them something
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 131
moie than ordinarily, — to wit, to divide the precious from
the vile ; to distinguish that one true happy state of grace
from all states of unregenerateness, and all kinds of hypo-
crisy; to tell them out of the book of (Jod, how far a man
may go in general graces and doing many things, and yet
come short of heaven; to deliver marks of sincere professors,
of a saving faith, of true repentance, of a sound conversion.
But I would have this done with a great deal of spiritual
wisdom and heavenly understanding, with much godly dis-
cretion and caution ; lest thereby, either the formal pro-
fessor may be encouraged, or the weakest Christian dis-
heartened. To discourse of the fewness and scarcity of
those which shall be saved, and that even under tlie light
and within the sound of the gospel ; "many are called, but
few chosen " (Matt, xx, 16). Consider the parable of the
sower. Matt. xiii. There is but one good soil upon which
the word falls prosperously ; but three reprobate grounds,
as it were, upon which it is lost as water upon the ground.
Thus let the men of God acquaint tliemselves with such
points as they conceive the likeliest and most pregnant to
pierce their hearers' hearts, and come closest to their con-
sciences, that so by the help of God they may pull them
out of hell.
And there are some places also in the book of God, whicli
being rightly handled and powerfully applied, seem to have
a special keenness to strike at and cut asunder the iron
sinews of the most obstinate heart, and of more aptness to
serve for the rousing and awaking of mere civil men, formal
professors, pharisees, and foolish virgins out of their des-
perate slumber of spiritual self deceit. Such as these :
" And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this
curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, 1 shall
have peace, though 1 walk in the imagination of mine heart,
to add drunkenness to thirst : the Lord v/ill not spare him,
but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke
against that man, and all tiie curses that are written in this
book shall lie upon him, and tiie Lord shall blot out his
name from under heaven" (Deut. xxix, 19, 20). " God
shall wound the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still
in his trespasses" (Psalm Ixviii, 21). "Because 1 have
called and ye refused, 1 have stretched out my hand, and
no man regarded, ixc. Then shall they call upon me, but
I will not answer : they shall seek me early, but they shall
not find me " (Prov.'i, 24, 28). '-' He that being often
reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed,
and that without remedy " (Prov. xxix, 1). " In thy fil-
thiness is lewdness ; because I have purged thee, and thou
132 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy fil-
thiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon
thee" (Ezek, xxiv, 13). " If the righteous scarcely be saved,
where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear V (1 Pet.
iv, 18.) " Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin"
(1 John iii, 9). " Love the brotherhood" (1 Pet. ii, 17).
" Without holiness no man shall see the Lord" (lleb.
xii, 14). " The devils also believe and tremble " (James
ii, 19). " Strive to enter in at the strait gate ; for many,
I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able "
(I^uke xiii, 24). " And whosoever shall not receive you,
&c. Verily, I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for
the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment
than for that ciiy " (Matt, x, 14, 15). " And from the days
of John the Baptist, until now, the kingdom of heaven suf-
fereth violence, and the violent take it by force " (Matt,
xi, 12). " And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye
more than others 1 " (Matt, v, 47.) " 1 say unto you, that
except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of
the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven" (Matt, v, 20). These fellows repre-
sented to the eye of the world a goodly and glorious show
of freedom from gross sins : " I am not," saith the phari-
see, Luke xviii, 11, "as other men are, extortioners, un-
just, adulterers," 6cc ; of works; first, of righteousness,
" 1 give tithes of all that I possess." Secondly, of piety,
" He went up to pray." Thirdly, of mercy, besides fasting
and prayer, they gave alms (Matt, vi); and yet Christ
speaks thus peremptorily to his hearers: " Except your
righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and
pharisees, &c. ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of
heaven." He saith not simply, ye shall not enter ; but ye
shall " in no case" enter. And yet how many who come
short of these will be very angry, if the ministers tell them
that they shall certainly come short of the kingdom of
heaven.
I have done with daubing and plaistering over rotten
hearts with plausible persuasions, that they shall not be
damned: I mean that most cruel and accursed trade of
" strengthening with lies the hands of the wicked, that he
should not return from his wicked way, by promising him
life" (Ezek. xiii, 22), whereby thousands are sent hood-
winked to hell (more is the pity!) even in this blessed
time of the gospel : and I come now to another error about
comforting afflicted consciences.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 133
CHAP. V.
The Second Error is tlie indiscreet applying of Comfort to thcni that
are not jicrieved aright. Two Cases wherein Men grieved are not to
be presently comforted.
VVhkn the spiritual physician promiseth comfort, applies
the promises, assures of mercy, acceptation, and pardon, —
1. When the ground of grief is not in truth trouble for
sin, but some outward trouble. Some in such a case may
cast out by the way some faint and formal complaints of
their sins, and seem to seek direction and satisfaction about
the state of their souls, while the true root arid principal
spring of their present heaviness and heart's grief, is some
secret earthly discontentment, the biting and bitterness of
some worldly sting. It may be the loss or desperate course
of some overioved child ; decay and going backward in
their estate ; fear of falling into beggary ; some unexpected
discontents and disappointments after marriage ; some great
disgrace and shame fallen upon them in the eye of the
world ; some long and tedious sickness, pinching them ex-
tremely, for want of peace with God, and patience to pass
through it, or the like.
In this case, after the man of God by his best wisdom
and searching, experimental trials and interrogatories fitted
for that purpose, whereby he may give a strong conjecture,
if not a peremptory censure, hath discovered the imposture,
let his desire and endeavour be to turn the torrent of worldly
tears, and grief for transitory things, upon sin. When a
vein is broken and bleeds inward, or a man bleeds exces-
sively at the nose, the physician is wont to open a vein in
the arm, so to divert the current of the blood, that it may
be carried the right way, for the safety and preservation of
the party. Do proportionably in this point.
Let such know :— First, that " sorrow of the world work-
eth death " (2 Cor. vii, 10). It dries the bones, consumes
the marrow, chills the blood, wastes the spirits, eats up the
heart, shorteneth life, and cutteth off too soon from the
day of gracious visitation. It is a base thing for an immor-
tal soul to be put thus out of tune and temper with mortal
things, and most unworthy its heavenly birth, breeding un-
der the ministry, and everlasting abode. Secondly, that
sorrow spent upon the world is like a perfumed precious
water thrown into the channel or sink-hole, which would
make a sweet scent in a humbled soul, and help excellently
against the noisome savour of sin. Fire put into the thatch
M'ould turn all into combustion ; dung placed in your par-
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134 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
lour would poison all. But lay the one upon the hearth,
and it would warm and comfort ; the other upon the land,
and it fatteneth and makes fruitful, bo sorrow misplaced
upon earthly things, fills a man with swarms of gnawing
cares, and brings many devouring harpies into the heart ;
but being turned upon sin and former sinful courses, which
is the only right, proper, profitable use thereof, it may pio-
cure a great deal of ease and enlargement to the heavy
spirit, and help to " bring forth fruits meet for repentance."
Thirdly, that the tithe perhaps of grief, trouble of mind,
vexation ol spirit, sadness and sorrow about worldly things,
in respect of the bulk and quantity, if sincere, and set upon
the right object, might serve to drive us unto Christ, and
afterwards in God's gracious acceptation, for saving repent-
ance. Methinks it should be a very quickening motive to
make a man " be sorry for nothing but sin," and to turn all
his grief and groans, sighs and tears upon his transgressions
only ; to wit, to consider that an impenitent carnal world-
ling doth pass through even in this life (where he kath all
the heaven he is ever like to have) incomparably more com-
fortless heart's grief, slavish torments of mind, and heavi-
ness of spirit towards endless pains than the strictest Chris-
tian and most mortified saint doth endure in his passage to
everlasting pleasures. Fourthly, that besides many otlier
pestilent properties, worldly sorrow doth also double, nny
multiply and mightily enrage tlie venon), bitterness, and
sting of every cross accident, loss, disgrace, iS:c. When
Ahithophel was disgraced by neglect of his counsel, which
" was in those days as if a man had inquired at the oracle
of God," carnal grief so grew upon him, that " he gat him
home to his house, put his household in order, and hanged
himself." What was the disgrace to this desperate end !
Haman being crossed by Ivlordecai's discourtesy and con-
tempt, did so grieve and trouble himself, that having " told
his wife and friends of the glory of his riches, and tue mul-
titude of his children, aud all the things wherein the king
had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above
the princes and servants of the king, &c. ; yet professeth
unto them, that all this availed him nothing so long as he
saAv Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." ( Esther
V, 11, 12, 13). Now whether do you think was the most
grievous thing to bear ; the bare omission of a mere com-
pliment, or an universal distaste, and disenjoyment of all
outward comforts heaped upon him to the height and in
excellency ? The hundredth part of Job's losses, and less,
hath m.any times since made many a covetous worldling to
cut his own throat. I have known some for the loss of an
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 135
overloved child to have languished, fallen into a consump-
tion, and lost their own lives. But now on the other side,
besides many other gracious effects, " sorrow according to
God is more delicious and sweeter than any worldly delight,"
us Chrysostom truly tells us in many places. To whom
modern divines accord. " The very tears that a good con-
science sheds," saith one *, " have more joy and pleasure
in them than the world's greatest joys." " This is certain,
saith another t, " that there is more lightness of heart and
true delight in the sorrow of the saints, than in the loudest
laughter of the world. For unspeakable joy is mingled
with unutterable groans."
2. When it is not any kindly touch of conscience for sin
wrought by the ministry ; but terrors and affrighting dis-
tempers arising from the dark mists of a melancholic hu-
mour in the biain, which cause a man to complain. In this
black and sad humour, Satan, God suffering him (and of
itself also it is pregnant enough this way), hath great ad-
vantage to raise and represent to the fantasy many fearful
things, terrible objects, grisly thoughts, hideous injections,
and temptations to despair, self-destruction, &c. Where-
upon the party so affected and afflicted is wont, out of im-
patience of such uncouth horrors and heavmess, to address
himself and have recourse to some man of God, some noted
physician of the soul ; not from any purpose and resolution
to become a new man and alter his courses ; but only for
hope of ease, enlargement from the tyranny of that passion,
and recovery to wonted quietness of mind ; not expecting
or aiming at all at any other change, but fiom present me-
lancholy to former mirth, from this abhorred, irksome, in-
supportable state of sadness, to his accustomed sensual, or
civil contentment at least.
In this case, let the art and aid of physic be improved to
abate and take off the excess andfantasticaltiess of this hor-
rible humour, and then let the party be advised to employ
and spend tlie native and kindly sadness of that uncomfort-
able constitution in sorrowing for sin, in trembling at the
threats of God's judgments, in fearing to offend, and fly-
ing under the wings of Christ for sanctuary, that so he may
happily bring supernatural and heavenly lightsomeness into
his soul, by pardon from God, peace of conscience, and
evangelical pleasures. It is incredible to consider what
assistance and advantage a gracious man hath by his sweet
communion with Jesus Christ, and those refreshing beams
of comfort which shine from his face, to confine and con-
* Dike, of Conscience, cliap. iii. t Kolloc, on John xi.
136 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
quer those many impertinent, irksome, and vexing vagaries
of this wild humour, which with much folly and fury tyran-
nize in the fearful fantasies of graceless men, and make
their life very disconsolate and abhorred. I am persuaded
the very same measure of melancholic matter, which raises
many times in the heads and hearts of worldlings (having
besides the guilt of their unforgiven sins staring with grisly
representations in the face of their consciences, and ac-
quainted with no comfort but that which coa-es from carnal
joys) continual clouds of many strange horrors and ghastly
fears, nay, and sometimes make them stark mad ; I say, the
very same in a sanctified man may be so mollified and mo-
derated by spiritual delight and sovereignty of grace, that
he is not only preserved irom the sting and venom of them,
but, by God's blessing, from any such desperate extremities,
violent distempers and distractions, which keep the other in
a kind of hell upon earth. If the very darkness of the
hellish dungeon were in the heart, yet reaching out the
hand of faith and receiving Christ, that blessed sun of
righteousness, would dispel and disperse it to nothing.
Much more methinks the light of grace and heavenly wis-
dom may in some good measure dissolve and master the
mists and miseries of this earthly humour. Religion then,
and religious courses and conformities, do not make me-
lancholic men mad, as the true madmen of this world
would persuade us. For you must know, that besides Be-
Jials and debauched companions, there are a generation of
worldly wise men also, right brave and jolly fellows in
their own conceits and in the opinion of some flattering
claw-backs ; but by testimony of the truth itself stark mad
about the service of God and their own salvation, who
cursedly sear their own consciences with the hottest irons
in the devil's forge, by breaking out into such blasphemies
as these, when they hear or see any extraordinary heavy-
heartedness, temptation, distraction, or spiritual distemper
to have seized upon any that desire to be saved : " You
see now what becomes of so much reading the scriptures,
of plying prayer and private duties with so much ado ; of
meddling with mysteries of religion ; of meditating so much
of heavenly things, of taking sin so deeply to heart, and
holding such strict conformity to God's word," &c. Blessed
God ! Is thine holy book become (execrable blasphemy ! )
a perverter. distracter, and poisoner of men's souls ; which
being the glorious issue of thine own infinite understanding
was purposely created as a most precious panacea, an uni-
versal medicinal storehouse for the cure of all spiritual ma-
ladies ; an inexhausted treasury of all sound comfort, true
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 137
joy, peace, and refreshing? Now the Lord rebuke thee,
Satan, and return as dung upon thine own face this villan-
ous, base, and wicked slander, which by thy graceless in-
struments thou labourest to cast upon the glorious face of
Christianity, the incomparable sweetness of the ways of
grace, and that one necessary thing- 1 have known, when
the cnly wise God hath suffered, for ends seen and seeming
good to his heavenly wisdom, the hideous and raging hu-
mour of melancholy to darken the native clearness of the
animal spirits in the brain, requisite to a due discretion of
things apprehended, and to blunder and disorder the ob-
jects and operations of the imagination in ins dearest child,
even to distraction and breaking out into that inordinate
passion against reason; — 1 say, then, the concurrent cry
and clamour of the enemies of the power of godliness to be,
" This it is now to be so bookish, to follow preachers so
much, to be more holy than their neighbours, never to have
done in serving of God." " Her so much reading the
scriptures, and such poring upon precise books (so they call
those which most pierce the conscience, and guide the
clearest in the holy path) hath made her stark mad. The
puritan is now beside herself," 6lC. Now I say again, the
Lord rebuke thee, Satan, who sits vinth such extreme ma-
lice and soul-killing folly in the hearts and heads of such
miserable men, whom thou so sottishly hoodwinks, and
hardens to the height for a most desperate downfal and
horrible confusion at last.
Were now the glorified soul of that blessed saint consulted
with and asked, Didst thou ever receive hurt by reading
God's blessed book ; by searching sweetly into the great
mystery of Christ ciucified ; by meditation upon heavenly
tilings 1 Did th.e sacred sense of those divine oracles un-
settle thy noble faculties, or ever make sad thy heart 1 6cc.
Oh ! with what infinite indignation would it fly in the face
of such cursed cavillers and wranglers against the truth.
Is it possible for the sole and sovereign antidote sent from
heaven by God himself against the sting and venom of all
heart grief and horror, the sacred sun of saving truth, which
is only able to ennoble and glorify our understandings with
wisdom from the breast of the everlasting counsel of Jesus
Christ, should become the cause of discomfort and dissettle-
ment of the soul 1 No, no. There is such a quickening,
healing, and mighty efficacy and vigour shed into it from
the Father of lights, and shining in it from the face of Christ,
that by the heli of the blessed Spirit, it can turn darkness
into light, death into life, hell into heaven, the deepest
horroJ" into height of jov- 1 ell me of any misery upon the
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138 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
body, soul, outward slate, or good name : any calamity felt
or feared in this life, or the life to come ; and if thou wilt be
converted and counselled, 1 can send thee to some, both
promise and precedent in this boolc of God, which may
upon good ground lill thine heart as full with sound comfort,
as the sun is of light, and the sea of waters. Nay, give me
a wounded spirit with all its inexplicable terrois and bitter-
ness, which is the greatest misery and extremest affliction of
which an understanding soul is capable in this life ; and let
first all tlie physiciaiis in the world lay all their heads,
skill, and experience together for the cure : let all the highest
monarchs upon earth shine upon it with their imperial fa-
vours for comfort ; let the depth of all human wisdom and
the height of the most excellent oratory be improved to per-
suade it to peace ; let all the creatures in heaven and earth
contribute their several abilities and utmost to still its rage ;
and when all these have done, and have done just nothing,
I will fetch a cordial out of God's own book which shall
mollify the anguish, expel the venom, and bind it up with
everlasting peace which passeth all understanding ; that
the broken bones may rejoice, and the poor soul groaning
most grievously under the guilty horror of many foul abo-
minations, and ready to sink into the gulph of despair, be
sweetly bathed and refreshed in the fountain opened by the
hand of mercy for sin and foruncleanness, Christ's dearest
blood, the glorious well-spring of all lightsomeness and joy.
Plear how precisely for this purpose, and how punctually
against such pestdent cavillers, some of the ancient fathers
do puritanize : —
" There is no malady," saith Chrysostom *, " either of body
or soul, but may receive a medicine out of God's book. One
comes oppressed with sadness and anxiety of business, over-
whelmed with grief ; but presently hearing the prophet
saying, ' Why art thou cast down, O my soul 1 and why art
thou so disquieted within me 1 hope thou in God : for I shall
yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and
my God' (Psalm xlii, 11); he receives abundance of
comfort, and abandons all heaviness of heart. Another is
pinched with extreme poverty ; takes it heavily, and grieves,
seeing others flowing in riches, swelling with pride, attended
with great pomp and state ; but he also hears the same pro-
phet saying, ' Cast thy burthen upon the Lord, and he shall
sustain thee' (Psalm Iv, 22); and again, * Be not thou
afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is
increased : for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away :
* Clirvsost.on Gcii. Hoin.29.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 139
his glory shall not descend after him' (Psalm xlix, 16, 17).
There is another which, assaulted with insinuations and
calumnies, is much troubled, thinks his life uncomfortable,
findini:^ no help in man. He is also taught by the same pro-
phet, that in such perplexities we must not resort to the arm
of flesh. Hear what lie saith : They slandered, and I prayed.
* The mouth of the wicked, and the mouth of the deceitful
are opened against me : they have spoken against me with
a lying tongue. They compased me about also with words
of hatred ; and fought against me without a cause. For my
love ■ they are my adversaries ; but I give myself unto prayer '
(Psalm cix, 2, 3, 4). Another is slighted and contemned by
some base contemptible underlings and forsaken of his
friends ; and that is it which most troubles his mind and
goes nearest to his heart. But he also, if he will come
hither, doth hear that blessed man saying, ' iMy lovers and
my friends stand aloof from my sore ; and ray kinsmen stand
afar off. They also that seek after my life lay snares for
me : and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things,
and imagine deceits all the day long. But I. as a deaf
man, heard not ; and I was as a dumb man that openeth
not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and
in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O Lord, do I
hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God' (Psalm xxxviii,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15)." He concludes thus : —
" Thou hast seen, how that any misery pressing our mor-
tality, a convenient antidote may be taken out of scripture,
and all the gnawing cares of this life maybe cured ; neither
need we to be grieved for any thing which befals us : there-
fore, I beseech you, that henceforvvard you would come
hither, and listen diligently to the reading of divine writ.
And not only when you come hither, but also take the Bible
into your hands at home, and receive with great affection
the profit to be found in it : for from thence springs much
gain. First, that the tongue may be reformed by it : the
soul also takes wings, soars aloft, and is gloriously en-
lightened with the beams of the sun of righteousness, and
for a time is freed from the enticements of impure thoughts,
enjoying much calmness and contentment. Furthermore,
that which corporal food doth for increasing bodily strength,
the same doth reading perform to the soul."
" All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is pro-
fitable, and writ by the Spirit of God for this purpose,"
saith the great Basil*, "that in it, as a common mart of
soul-medicines, every one of us may choose a medicine pro-
per and fit for his spiritual malady."
* Basil on Psalin i.
140 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFOI.TING
Jerome, writing to many even of her sex whom as I told
you before much reading of scriptures and other good books
made mad, if the extremest malice of the most mortal ene-
mies to the ways of God may be credited, doth stir them
up with extraordinary earnestness to a diligent, industrious,
and fruitful reading of God's book, in many passages of his
epistles.
In that toGaudentius, about bringing up a young maiden,
" he would have her at seven years old, and when she be-
gins to blush, learn the Psalms of David without book ; and
until twelve make the books of Solomon, the gospels, the
apostles, and prophets, the treasure of her heart."
To one he speaks thus : " This one thing above all others
I would foreadvise thee ; and inculcating it I will admonish
again and again, that thou wouldst possess thy mind with
love of reading scriptures."
To another : " Let the book of God be ever in thy hands.
— And after the Holy Scriptures read also the treatises of
learned men."
To another : " Let the sacred scriptures be ever in thine
hands, and revolved continually in thy mind."
" Reading scripture," saith Origen, " daily prayers, the
word of doctrine, nourish the soul, even as the body is
stiengtliened by dainty fare. The spirit is nourished, grows
strong, and is made victorious by such food, which if you
use not, do not complain of the inhrmity of the flesh ; do
not say, we would, but cannot." ^cc.
Those reverend men that made the homilies seem to ap-
prehend themselves, and they commend to us the excellent
sweetness which may be sucked from the breasts of con-
solation in meditating upon the scriptures, by this their
emphatical and effectual expression : " Let us ruminate,"
say they*, "and as it were chew the cud, that we may have
the sweet juice, spiritual effect, marrow, honey, kernel,
taste, comfort, and consolation of them."
I have said all this upon purpose, lest melancholic men
should be misled or disheartened by the cursed counsel of
carnal friends and wicked clamours of the world, from turn-
ing their sadness into sorrow for sin, and from using God's
blessed book and the powerful ministry thereof, the only
well-spring of all true lightsomeness and joy ; and able, as
I said before, if they will be converted and counselled, to
dispel the very darkness of hell out of their hearts. Me-
thinks they, above all others, should be encouraged here-
unto, (1.) Because they have a passive advantage, if I
* Homily for Readina^ of Scriptures.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 141
may so speak, when it pleasethGod to sanctify for that pur •
pose and set on work the spirit of bondage, by reason of
their sad dispositions and fearful spirits, to be sooner af-
frighted and dejected by comminations of judgment
against sin, more feelingly to take to heart the miseries
and dangers of their natural state ; more easily to tremble
and stoop under the mighty hand of God and hammer of
his law. Guiltiness and horror, damnation and hell, beget
in their timorous natures stronger impressions of fear :
whereupon they are wont to taste deeper of legal contrition
and remorse, and so proportionably to feel and acknowledge
a greater necessity of Jesus Christ ; to thirst after him
more greedily ; to prize him more highly, and at length to
throw their trembling souls into his blessed bosom with
more eagerness and importunity. And having once entered
into the holy path, their native fearfulness being rectified,
and turned the right way, they many times walk on after-
ward with more fear to offend (and " happy is the man that
feareth alway"), more watchfulness over their ways, ten-
derness of conscience, impatiency of losing spiritual peace,
sensibleness of infirmities and failings, reverence of God's
word, &c. (2.) And because of all others such men have
most need of lightsomeness and refreshing, which when
carnal counsellors and flattering mountebanks of the mi-
nistry labour to introduce into their dark heads and heavy
hearts by the arm of flesh, outward mirth, and such other
means, they only palliate and daub, and are so far from
doing any true good, that thereby they drown them many
times deeper and more desperately in the dungeon of me-
lancholy afterward. So that a melancholic man, let him
turn him which way he will, is likely, without the light of
grace, to live a very miserable life upon earth, and as it
were in some part of hellish darkness, to which also at
length shall be added the torment, if he die impenitently.
But now let them address themselves to the " book of life,"
and thence only they may " suck and be satisfied with the
breasts of consolation." Let them lean their sorrowful
souls (improving natural sadness to mourn more heartily
for sin) upon the promises there, and every several one will
shine upon them with a particular heavenly and healing
light, with sound and lasting joy. All those then are stark
mad, either with ignorant or learned malice, who would
persuade the world that reading the scriptures, attending a
powerful ministry, taking sin to heart, ixc. will make me-
lancholic men mad.
If you desire to know before 1 pass out of this point, the
differences between the heaviness of a melancholic humour
14-2 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and affliction of conscience for sin, lake notice of such as
these :
[l.J Terror for sin springs out of the conscience, and from
the sn^art of a spiritual wound there. Melancholy dwells
and hath its chief residence in the imagination, and un-
comfortably overcasts and darkens the splendour and light-
someness of the animal spirits in the brain.
[2.] The melancholy man is extremely sad, and knows
nut wliy. He is full of fear, doubts, distrust, and heaviness,
without any true and just ground, arising only from the
darkness and dir^order of the imagination, the grisly fumes
of that black humour in the brain. But a broken heart, in
almost every case, can readily tell you the particular sins,
the crying abemination, the legal hammer, and ministerial
hand that made it bleed- His trouble is ever upon cause
clear and evident, and the greatest that ever brought mi-
sery upon mankind, weight of sin and the wrath of God.
A melancholic man will ride many miles, walk many hours,
and at length be able to give no account of the exercise
' and discourse of his mind, or what his thoughts have been
all the while. But he that is troubled in mind for sin can,
for the most part, tell with certainty, and recount exactly
to his spiritual physician the several temptations, sugges-
tions, and injections; the hideous conflicts with Satan; his
objections, exceptions, replies, methods, devices, and
depths, which have afflicted his heavy spirit, since the
first enlightening, convincing, and affrighting his awaked
and working conscience.
[3.] The soul may be seized upon with terror of con-
science and spiritual distemper, the body being sound and
in good temper; in excellency of health, purity of blood,
symmetry of parts, vivacity of spirit, &c. But the horrors
of melancholy are wont to haunt corrupted constitutions ;
where obstructions hinder the free passage of the humours
and spirits, the blood is overgross and thick, &c.
[4.J Melancholy makes a man almost mad with imagi-
nary fears, and strange chimeras of horror which have no
being, but only in the monstrous compositions of a darkened
and distempered brain. He is many times, by the predo-
minancy of that cowardly humour, afraid of every man, of
every thing, of any thing; of a shadow, of the shaking of
a leaf, of his own hands, of his own heart. He fears where
no fear is, where there is no probability, no possibility,
even in the very midst of security. His fear sometimes is
so extremely foolish, that he can hear of no fearful thing
fallen upon others, but he thinks verily the very same thing
shall befal him ; so prodigious, that some of them, thinkinj.^
AFFLICTED C0NSCIENC1<:S. 113
iheir feet to be of glass, have been afraid to walk ; otiiers,
iraagiuing tliemselves to be noted for lepers, durst not come
into any company, 6ic. But now a troubled conscience is
ordinarily fearless of any tiling but the anger of God.
Bodily tortures, outward trouble, tyrant's threats, even the
prince of terror, death itself, in his apprehension and eye
would be as nothing to the guilty glance of one cursed lust.
He would not care or fear, though all the creatures in
Christendom were turned into bears or devils about him,
so that all were well at home. ]f he could get into his
bosom that sweet peace which passeth all unuerstanding,
oh ! tlien would he be more than conqueror over the whole
world and ten thousand hells.
[5.] Melancholy may be something abated, the Inain
cleared, the heart eased, by the aid and excellency of the
art of physic. But in the case of a wounded conscience,
there is no help under heaven to be had. Ao friends nor
physic ; no mirth nor music ; no princely favour nor dainty
fare, can possibly give any ease at all. Nay, they will al)
far rather enrage the wound than weaken the rage. It is
Christ, Christ, and nothing but Christ, which can comfort
in this confusion of spirit.
CHAP. VI.
Two other cases whereiu Spuitual Physicians niast take heed of tl\e
Second Error.
3. When complaint of sin is confusedly only and in general.
"Many deal with God and his ministers in confession of
their sins," saith a >;;ood divine, " as jNebuchadnezzar with
his enchanters about his dream that he had dreamed ; he
told them and desired an interpretation ; but what his dream
was he could not tell." So many confess themselves sinners,
and cry out that they are grievous offenders, and desire
pardon ; but wherein they have sinned, and what their sins
are, they cannot or will not tell. And how is it possible the
physician should help him who only saith he is not well,
but will not tell him where? I have sometimes visited
those, who being pressed to a sight and sense of their sin-
fulness and cursedness, upon purpose to fit them for Christ,
have acknowledged in general that they were sinners, but
descending to the particulars of the law (which was hor-
rible to hear) justified themselves throughout. Of which
extreme spiritual misery and prodigious madness, ignorance
144 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
(though I know Satan manageth that and all other advan-
tages with all the malice and cunning he can possibly, to
the overthrow of souls) is the principal ground ; the prime,
but pestilent occasion : I say ignorance, which though it
be not perhaps so much talked of, taxed, and taken to heart
as others, yet is a loud crying sin of the kingdom. For it is
a most incredible thing, and of infinite amazement, how
universally it reigns in this glorious noontide of the gospel ;
and therefore must needs provoke God mightily, and hasten
the " removing of our candlestick." And in the mean time,
besides many more, and that dreadful doom at last (2Thes. i,
7, 8) it brings upon most (more is the pity and shame, es-
pecially so glorious beams of a blessed ministry shining
about us) these two special mischiefs ; which at this time 1
only mention, because they serve fitliest for illustration of
the point. First, ignorant people sticking fast in his clutches,
stand all at the devil's mercy and devotion to do with them
what he will ; even as a poor helpless lamb in the paw of
a lion, or a silly wren in the ravenous claw of a kite ; to
slash and mangle their woTul souls at his pleasure, with a
cursed variety of innumerable sins ; they, in the mean time,
which is the perfection of their misery, neither fearing nor
feeling any hurt at all, by reason of the hellish mists and
miserable lethargy of spiiitual blindness, which makes them
sightless and senseless. Secondly, when times of sorrow
come upon them, when melancholy and old age grows on,
and they say unto the world upon which they have doated
all their life long, I have no pleasure in thee ; when losses,
crosses, and heavy accidents befal them ; when hideous
injections, temptations to self-murder, despair, &c. press
them full sore, and they thereupon begin to cast about se-
riously, and to conceive with great terror and anxiety of
spirit %vhat is likely to become of them in the other world ;
then, in such extremity, and forced by necessity, they are
wont to have recourse to ministers for ease and help ; and,
alas ! then we are at our wits' end, and in much perplexity
how to deal, and what to do with them. For upon the first
entrance into a discovery of their spiritual state, we see evi-
dently, with grief of heart, that their ignorance hath be-
trayed them to the devil, and now in the evil day exposed
them to merciless cruelty and cunning ; even as if a man
should commit a ship without sails, rudder, pilot, 6cc. to
the rage and roaring of the tempestuous devouring sea ;
or put a poor weak naked man into the field against an im-
placable mighty adversary, completely armed from top to
toe. We tell them truly, that the true way to comfort is
to repent and believe. But for the first, by reason of the
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 145
sottish disacquaintance with themselves, with their misera-
ble sinful uatural state, and their gross ignorance in the law
and word of God, they only cry out in the general they are
very grievous sinners ; but to descend to any competent
examination of the conscience, search of their souls by the
sight of the law, particular survey of their sins, and so to
special repentance, because of their spiritual blindness they
are utterly unable. Nay, many in this case are so desti-
tute of matter of humiliation for sin, that they can scarcely
tell you what sin is. At the most they have not learned, or
think that there is any other breach of the iei^^xi/i command-
ment, but the gross acts of uncleanness ; that there is any
sin against the nintli, but giving in false witness against
their neighbours in open court. They look no further into
the sixth commandment, but unto actual murder by the
hand ; into the third, but to blasphemy and swearing ; and
so proportionably in the other commandments. For the
other also, although they have heard much of Jesus Christ,
and if he be talked of, pretend a very foolish and false pre-
sumption of having pan in him ; yet to the knowledge of
his person, offices, excellency, sweetness, effectual ministry,
and of his whole mystery, they are mere strangers. And so,
when they should now upon this occasion of trouble -of
mind, be brought by knowledge and application of the law
and gospel, through the pangs of the new birth into the
holy path, they are to begin to learn the very first princi-
ples of religion ; in which they have not so much skill (1
speak a reproachful thing) as I could teach a child of five or
six years old in a few days. Now when the old red dragon
hath drawn them into the lists, armed with all the power
and policy of hell, and furnished with all his fiery darts,
they are so far from ability to put on and manage the whole
spiritual armour with dexterity and wisdom, that they are
stark idiots and infants in the very speculative knowledge
of the nature and. use of every piece thereof. They have
no skill at all at that excellent, invincible weapon, " the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," by which
Jesus Christ foiled that foul fiend in the most hideous and
horrible temptations that were ever suggested to the mind
of man ; and therefore he doth bring them too often thus
bUndfolded and baffled to perish in a most desperate man-
ner, both temporally and eternally.
The Pharisees, papists, and our ordinary ignorants, are
all foully faulty this way. They love and labour to in-
quire and look no further into God's law than to the gross
acts and greatest transgressions only. If they find them-
selves free from these, they, out of a most absurd and sot-
O
146 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
tish self-conceitedness, justify and applaud themselves as
no such enormous and dangerous delinquents. Hence it
■was, that Christ teaches and tells the pharisees, that not
only the gross act of adultery was to be taken notice of, but
also that even a lascivious and lustful look after a w^oman
was a transgression of that law, and to be taken to heart
as adultery before God. That not only killing a man in the
literal sense, but also rash anger in the heart, railing, and
reviling speeches ; nay, even a frowning face, a contemp-
tuous gesture, discovering inward rancour and rage, kill
the soul, and cast into hell, &c. Hence it was that Bellar-
mine, as the grand impostor and poisoner, so the great pha-
risee of Christendom, upon his bed of death " could hardly
find what to confess, or any matter of absolution." Pro-
digious Pharisaism I Of which hear some passages from
the reporter of his death *.
" Suchwasthe innocency ofthisman(to wit, Bellarmine),
that albeit he was in his perfect sense, yet could he hardly
find what to confess ; insomuch as his ghostly father was in
some perplexity, as wanting matter of absolution, till by
recourse to his life past he found some small defects, of
which he absolved him."
" ' Now nothing troubles my conscience. For God (his
goodness be still thanked therefore) hath so preserved me
hitherto, as I do not remember in the whole course of my
life ever to have committed any scandalous action.' How
holy was his life ; not stained witli mortal sin ! How se-
cure a conscience, that had at his death no scruple ; but for
the exchange of one good work for another, &c. This holy
man began his prayers, snid the Paternoster and Ave Maria,
and began again the Paternoster ; which being ended he said
distinctly the psalm Miserere to the end : and being warned
to say also the Creed, &c. said it all through, and with the
end of the Creed ended his speech. His last words were.
* vitam aternam. Amen.' "
Hence it is, that carnal men are well enough content to
hear the commandments read, and perhaps will be angry if
at any time they be omitted. Would you know tlie reason ?
They go along with the minister, and applaud themselves
pharisaically all the while ; saying secretly and securely to
their own souls, We thank God we are no image worship-
pers, no murderers, no adulterers, bcc. ; and so depart home
from time to time as highly conceited of themselves, and yet
more horribly deceived, than that pharisee (Luke xviii,
11, 12), of whose outward religious, charitable, and righ-
* Bellarmine's Death, by C. J. a Jesuit.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 147
teous perfoj-mances they come far short. But they cannot
possibly with any patience endure a particular unfolding
and powerful application of God's law after Christ's man-
ner (Matt, v); a punctual survey of their sinful states and
special search into their lives and hearts. This cutting,
yet reasonable course, stirs up and raises in them the ill-
spirits of murmuring, cavilling, reviling, and perhaps per-
secuting the faithful messengers of God as a generation
of terrible teachers. To expositions, exercises, and con-
siderations of this nature they are drawn with very ill v/ill
and much ado, even as a bankrupt to his accompt book, a
foul face to the looking glass, and a traitor to the rack.
By reason of this affected ignorance in the law of God,
and lothness to descend to particulars, it comes to pass
that many in trouble of mind complain of sin only in gene-
ral and confusedly ; and thereupon, as though they were
competently cast down, expect comfort, and perhaps many
draw it from some daubers ; whereas particuiarizmg of our
sins is a necessary precedent and preparative to a sound
humiliation. And therefore in this case we must deal with
such as surgeons are wont to do with a tumour or swelling
in the body, who first apply to the affected place drawing
and ripening plaisters to bring the sore to a head, that the
corruption may have issue, and then heal. So a general
complaint of sin and confused grief must be reduced to par-
ticulars. It is a principle in the mystery of Christ, resolved
upon by the best divines rightly instructed to the kingdom
of heaven, " that a confused acknowledgment and general
repentance only for known sins is never sound and saving ;
but only common, formal, careless, and that of counterfeit
converts, not truly touched with sense of their sins, nor
heartily resolved to forsake their pleasures." If they can
be first brought to the sight, sense, and acknowledgment of
some one special notorious sin which hath most reigned in
their heart, life, or calling ; and be in some good measure
enlightened, convinced, and terrified about the heinousness
and horrible guilt of it, it may be a good means by God's
blessing to bring in the rest. For ordinarily true repent-
ance is first occasioned by some one special sin laid to
heart. The apostles ( Acts ii) do specially press the murder
of Christ upon the Jews ; Christ himself, adultery upon the
woman of Samaria (John iv) ; Samuel, idolatry upon the
Israelites (1 Sam. vii) ; the sin of asking a king (chap.xii) ;
Ezra, taking strange wives (Ezra x) ; Nehemiah, usury
(Neh. v).
To further the work of a more particular " setting their
sins in order before their eyes," it were much to be wished
148 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and a very happy thing if all the wounded consciences am?
troubled in mind we meet with, were furnished beforehand
Avith a competent speculative knowledge at the least of the
particulars in God's law, exorbitant passages of their life,
and gross corruptions of their hearts. \^ e might so, by
God's help, more easily bring them to particular remorse,
and fit them sooner and more seasonably for comfort. We
find it a most hard and heavy task to encounter the
devil's devices, wiles, and depths in a poor distressed,
tempted ignorant.
4. When the party is dejected for some notorious sin only.
It is sometimes seen in mere civil men, that having a long
time preserved their reputations entire and unstained in the
eye of the world from gross and notable enormities, and yet
after foully shaming themselves in the sight of men by some
infamous fall, seem, to grieve much, as though they were
truly troubled with remorse ; whereas, perhaps the pre-
sent heart's-grief ariseth rather from loss of credit than
wound of conscience, though to favour their credit they
cunningly father it upon conscience. Or let them be in-
deed affrighted very grievously for a time with the horror
of that one sin, yet stay the cry and abate the rage of that
one with some superficial comfort, and they are healed and
put into a happy case in their ov/n conceit, and in the opi-
nion also perhaps of their unskilful physician ; though they
search no further and dive no deeper into the loathsome
dunghill of those many abominable lusts and corruptions
in their heart and life, of which they are as full as the skin
will hold.
Now it is a foul and fearful oversight in a minister, nay,
it may prove an error stained with spiritual bloodshed, to
promise pardon to such partial penitents.
Suppose a man sick of the pleurisy should send to a phy-
sician, and tell him he is sore troubled with a cough, and
entreat his help, concealing other signs and symptoms which
ordinarily accompany that disease ; as his short and difficult
breathing, the stinging stitch in his side, &c. ; the physi-
cian may address himself to cure the cough, and yet the
patient die of an inflammation seized upon the menibrane
girding the ribs and sides. It is proportionably so in the
present point. A. man may complain and cry out, howl and
lament extremely for some one horrible heinous sin, and
that may be well ; but except he proceed to a further dis-
covery, and sorrow proportionably for his other known sins,
they will be the destruction and death of his soul. If a
dozen thieves be entered into thy house, it is not enough for
thee to lay hold on the captain thief only, and thrust him
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 149
out at doors ; if thou suffer but one of them to lurk in any
corner undiscovered and not turned out, he will suffice to
cut thy throat and take away thy treasure. Crying out of
one capital sin only is not sufficient, we must confess and
forsake all, if we look to find mercy (Prov. xxviii, 13).
And yet here I would have no true penitent dejected or
mistake ; the bare omission of some particular sins in this
case is not ever damnable. For we must know, that if a
man deal truly with his own heart in a sincere acknowledg-
ment, confession, and repentance for discovered and known
sins (and he ought to labour by clearing the eye of natural
conscience and industrious inspection into God's pure law,
to know as many as may be), and for all those that come
into his mind, when he sets himself apart solemnly to hum-
ble and afflict h's soul before God ( and he ought to remember
as many as he can possibly) ; 1 say, if so, then for secret
and unknown sins, which are committed in weakness and
ignorance, the Lord accepteth a general confession, as we
see in David's practice, " Who can understand his errors'?
Cleanse thou me from secret faults " (Psalm xix, 12). Sins
there are many, and that in the best men, which are not
only unnoted of others and free from the world's observa-
tion, but even unknown to a man's own self, and invisible
to the watchfullest eye of the most waking conscience ;
which notwithstanding are clearly subject to the search of
God's all-seeing eye, and to the censure of his pure majesty.
" For hell and destruction are before the Lord, how much
more the most secret ways of the sons of men ? " Sins there
are also, which even in the zealous exercise and holy work
of repentance may not come into the consideration and re-
membrance of one truly penitent, which if he could recover
into his memory, he would heartily and with much indigna-
tion acknowledge, bewail, and detest : so unnumbered are
the cursed bye-paths of men's crooked ways. But for both
these sorts of sins I must say thus much for the comfort of
the true convert ; that both those unknown sins which he
commits of ignorance, if he truly repent for all his known
sins, and labour with sincerity and zeal for further illumina-
tion of conscience and fuller revelation of every corrupt
passage both in heart and life, in judgment and practice ;
and those sins of knowledge also, which came not into his
mind, if with diligence and without dissimulation, with
hearty prayer and best intention of spirit, he endeavour to
recover them into his memory, that he might also mouru
for and mortify them with the rest, carrying ever in his
heart this resolution, that as any sin shall be discovered to
his conscience, or return into his mind, he will abominate
O 3
150 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and abandon it ; I say, both these kinds of sins (it is a pearl
for the true penitent ; let no stranget meddle with it) to
such an one, upon such conditions, are most certainly
washed away by Christ's blood, and God's free mercy, upon
his general confession and repentance. David's petition,
" O cleanse thou me from my secret faults," did assuredly
prevail with God for the forgiveness of all his unknown sins,
and shall be powerful for that end to the world's end, to all
those that so pray with David's spirit, and sincerely.
Besides these two cases ; first, want of knowledge ; and
secondly, want of remembrance in the sense I have said ;
there is also a third, and that is want of time, which if
truly so, doth also sometimes excuse the omission of some
particular sins. As we may see in the thief upon the cross.
For want of leisure, he could not possibly punctually revise
bis vile abominable life, nor peruse with remorse all the
particulars of his former wicked and abhorred courses ; but
he had infused into his soul by Jesus Christ an habitual
grace of true repentance, which, if he had lived, would
have carried him faithfully along over all the notorious
passages of his lewd and loathsome life, with a truly con-
trite, broken, and bleeding soul. So that if he had had
space, I doubt not but he would have proved a very emi-
nent, extraordinary, and exemplary penitent ; and therefore
the Lord in mercy did graciously accept the desire and pur-
pose, the inclination and preparation of his heart that way.
But to return to the point, and give my advice in the
case proposed : —
Let the party who so grieves for some notorious sin only,
and there takes up his rest, be told, that though he dwell
with deepest sighs, heaviest heart, and saltest tears upon
some of his greatest and most special sins, yet the rest must
by no means be neglected. That which is most crying and
crimson must serve as a crier, if I may so speak, to summon
the rest into the court of conscience ; and as a remem-
brancer to bring them to mind and remorse ; as David's
murder and adultery brought even his birth sin into his
memory (Psalm li) ; and that sin of strange wives, many
other sins to Ezra's mind (Ezra ix). When a father beats
his child for some one special fault, he is wont to remember
unto him and reckon with him for many former misdemea-
nors also. When a bankrupt is once shut up for one prin-
cipal debt, the rest of his creditors ordinarily come thick
and threefold upon him. When once thou beginnest to
reckon with thy conscience for some one extraordinary re-
bellion, never cease until thou hast searched thoroughly,
and ransacked it to the bottom, that it may smart soundly
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 151
before thou hast done, Avith penitent anguish and true re-
morse for all thy other sinful corruptions also. When horror
for some one heinous sin hath seized upon thy heart, follow
God's blessed hand leading thee to conversion, and through
the pangs of the new birth to unspeakable and glorious joy,
by giving way to all the rest to bring in their several indict-
ments against thy soul. And be not afraid thus to arraign,
cast, and condemn thyself as guilty of innumerable sins,
and -worthy ten thousand hells before God's just tribunal.
For then shalt thou there most certainly find a gracious ad-
vocate at his right hand ; to whom if thou make suit and
seek in truth, he will by the plea and price of his own
precious blood, sue out a pardon for thine everlasting peace.
When the guilty rage of thy reigning corruption begins to
press upon thy conscience, lay on more weight still by a
penitent addition and painful apprehension of all thy other
sins, that growing very sensible of thy spiritual slavery,
weary of the dungeon of lewdness and lust, sensuality and
death, wherein the devil hath kept thee long; and thine
heart being happily broken and bruised to the bottom, and
scorched as it were in some measure with hellish flames of
guilty horror, thou mayest see and feel the greater necessity
of Jesus Christ, set him at a higher price, with more eager-
ness and impatience thirst for his righteousness and blood ;
long for spiritual enlargement more than for worlds of plea-
sures, glory, or wealth ; relish the hidden manna of the
promises more eagerly, and cast thy wounded and bleeding
soul with more delight and sweetness into iiis blessed arms
of mercy and love. For, " O how acceptable is the foun-
tain of living waters," saith a worthy divine, " to the
chased and panting hart! the blood of Christ to the
weary and tired soul ! to the thirsty conscience scorched
with "the sense of God's wrath ! He that presents him with
it, how welcome is he ! Even as a special choice man ; one
of a thousand. The deeper the sense of misery, the sweeter
is the sense of mercy. The traitor laid dov/n upon the block
is more sensible of his sovereign's mercy in pardoning, than
he who is not yet seized. In our dead security before con-
version, God is fain to let the law, sin, conscience, Satan, a
deep sense of our abominable and cursed state, loose upon
us, and to kindle the very tire of hell in our souls, that so
we might be roused, and afterward more sweetly and
soundly raised and refreshed. For after the most toilsome
labour is the swetest sleep ; after the greatest tempests the
stillest calms. Sanctified troubles and terrors establish the
surest peace ; and the shaking of these winds makes the
trees of God's Eden take the deeper rooting."
152 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
I confess, that commonly true converts at the first touch
and turning, and after too, cry out most of, and are extra-
ordinarily troubled with, some one capital sin, and that
which in their days of darkness and vanity wasted their
conscience most, and detained them with strongest entice-
ments and holdfast in the devil's bondage. Hence it was
that Zaccheus was so ready and willing to restore fourfold,
that so he might be rid of the sting and horror of his former
reigning sin (Luke xix, 8) ; that blessed Paul, as it seems,
amongst other dreadful apprehensions of his former unrege-
nerate courses, was so much vexed and wounded in heart
for that he had been a persecutor ( 1 Tim. i, 13 j 1 Cor. xv, 9).
But yet should they lament never so much, howl and roar
for that one sin ; if besides they d^d not by the conduct of
the blessed Spirit, descend also to a m.ore particular acknow-
ledgment, confession, and repentance of all other known
sins (and they ought by clearing the eye of natural con-
science, industrious inspection into the pure crystal of God's
law, discover as many as they can possibly), all were
nothing. " He which is grieved," say divines, " for one sin
truly and unfeignedly from his heart, will proportionably
be grieved for all the sins that he knoweth to be in himself."
If we favour any one sin in our heart, or life, or calling, we
cannot enjoy God's favour. If there be any sensual lust,
or secret corruption, which a man purposely labours to
cover and conceal from God's pure eye, the search of his
word, and mortifying grace, what hope can he have that it
is covered with the blood of Christ from the wrath that is
to come, or warranted by any promise of grace from the
damnation of hell ? In a true penitent there ought to be an
utter cessation from all gross abominable sins ; and at least
disallowance, disaffection, and all possible opposition even
to unavoidable infirmities and inseparahle frailties of the
CHAP. VII.
A Fifth Case wherein spiritual Physicians raust take heed of that second
Error. The divers kinds of Death iu Godly Men.
5. When the physician of the soul promiseth mercy and
pardon at random, without that spiritual discretion which
is convenient for a matter of so great consequence, and
requiring such a deal of dexterity in discerning to a man
upon his bed of death, who hath formerly been notorious,
or only civil, howsoever a mere stranger to the power of
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 153
godliness and the truth of profession, because now in the
evil dav he grieves extremely by reason ot his extremitj',
cries out of his sins, " O, I am an heinous, horrible, and
grievous sinner ! If I were lo live again what would not i
do ! " A world for comfort now, and " to die the death ot the
righteous ; " because he howls upon his bed, as the prophet
speaketh, and breaks out oftentimes into a roaring com-
plaint of sin and cry for pardon, by reason he now begins to
fear and feel the revenging hand of God ready to seize upon
him for his former rebellions, 6cc. i tr when he assures him,
having been a formal professor only and " foolish virgin,
of bliss and glory ; because out of a former habituated
spiritual self-deceit^he cries, " Lord, Lord ; " seems to by-
standers verv confident that he shall presently receive a
crown of life ; thanks God that nothing troubles him, pro-
fesses to every one that comes to visit him that he believes
and repents with all his heart, forgives all the world, makes
no doubt of heaven, &c.
Here, by the way, we must take notice, that many
having outstood the day of their gracious visitation, having
"neglected so great salvation, forsaken their own mercy,
and judged themselves unworthy of everlasting hte all
their life long, by standing out against the ministry ct the
word, in respect of any saving work upon their souls ; and
now at length being overtaken, after the short gleam ot
worldly prosperity, with the boisterous winter-night ot
death and darkness of the evil day, may keep a great stir
upon their dying beds, or in some great extremity, with
grievous complaints of their present intolerable misery and
former sinful courses procuring it, with incessant cues tor
ease and deliverance, being now caught like wild bulls in a
net, full of the wrath of God, with earnest and eager suing
and seeking for pardon and salvation, now when worldly
pleasures are past; and yet be not truly penitent, not
soundly and savingly humbled, not rightly fitted for Christ
and comfort. Consider for this purpose Prov. i, 24, 28. in
the day of visitation God called upon them and stretched
out his hand, but they refused, did not regard ; set at nought
all his counsel, and would none of his reproof ; and there-
fore in the day of vexation, when extremity and anguish
shall come upon them like a thief in the night, a whirlwind,
travail upon a woman, suddenly, extremely, unavoidably,
he professeth beforehand, that then they shall call upon
him, but^he will not answer ; they shall seek him early, but
they shall not find him. When God's hand was upon them,
then they sought him ; and they returned and inquired early
after God, 6cc. " Nevertheless, they did fiatter him with
154 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues ;
for their heart was not right with him," &c. (Psalm Ixxviii,
34, 35, 36, 37). "They howled upon their beds" (Hos.
vii, 14). Will not a dog or a beast, or any irrational
creature, when they are in extremity, will they not cry, will
they not moan for help 1 Their cries in the evil day were
not hearty prayers, but bowlings upon their beds. Their
earnestness in such a case is ordinarily like the tears, prayers,
and cries of a malefactor newly condemned. He is very
earnest with the judge to spare him ; he roars out sometimes,
and grieves extremely, yet not heartily, for his former lewd-
ness ; but horribly, because he must now lose his life. He
seems now, when he sees his misery, to relent, and to be
touched with remorse ; but it is only because he is likely to
be hanged. Again, many there are, who satisfying them-
selves and others with a goodly show of a form only of god-
liness, may upon their last bed discover and represent to by-
standers a great deal of fearlessness about their spiritual
state, much confidence, many ostentations of faith and full
assurance, and behave themselves as though they were most
certainly going to everlasting bliss, when, as God knows,
their answer at his just tribunal must be, "I know you
not ; " and in truth and trial they have no more part in
Christ, nor other portion in heaven, than the foolish virgins,
and those, Luke xiii, 26, 27. They are so confident, not
because they have escaped the danger, but because they
never saw the danger ; and hence it is, that many of them
die with as much confidence as the best Christians ; they
have no more trouble than holy men. To be sure I am free
from danger, and not to know my danger, may beget equal
confidence.
Now concerning the present case, I must tell you, that for
my part, I would not much alter my opinion of a man's
spiritual state whom I have thoroughly known before, for the
manner of his death. The end of God's dearest servant,
after a holy life and unblameable conversation, may not
appear in the eye of man so calm and comfortable as was
expected ; by reason of much tenderness of conscience,
some strong temptation, spiritual desertion, violent distem-
per of body ; or because God would have the manner of his
death serve the glory of his justice in hardening those about
him who were so far from being won by his godly life that
they heartily hated it ; or for some other secret and sacred
end, seen and seem.ing good to Divine wisdom, whoever
disposeth every circumstance even of the least affair most
sweetly and wisely. And yet this, as it doth not prejudice
his salvation, neither should it his Christian reputation.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 155
Hear that great doctor in the art of rightly comforting af-
flicted consciences, Greenhara, in his Grave Counsel and
Godly Observation : " But what if you should die in this
discomfort? For my part (as I myself look for no great things
in my death ) 1 would not think more hardly of you ; neither
would I wish any to judge otherwise of God's child in
that state of death. For we shall not be judged according
to that particular instant of death, but according to our
general course of life ; not according to our deed in that
present, but according to the desireof our hearts ever before.
And therefore we are not to mistrust God's mercy in death,
be we never so uncomfortable, if so be it hath been before
sealed in our vocation and sauctification."
On the other side, a notorious wretch, who hath swam
down the current of the times, and wallowed in worldly
pleasures all his life long, may seem to die penitently, and
resolvedly to be reformed if he recover ; and yet his sorrow
of mind may be such only as the terrors of an awakened
guilty conscience produce ; and his resolution to cast away
his sins, only such as a man hath in a storm to cast away his
goods, not because he doth not love them, but because he
feareth to lose his life ifhe part not with them. Or a mere civil
man, or formal professor, may upon his bed of death be very
confident and seem to be full of comfort, and yet that con-
fidence no other than the strong imaginary joyful conceit of a
covetous man grasping a great deal of gold in a dream, but
when he awaketh, behold his hands are empty.
For a more full and clear apprehension of my meaning
and judgment in the point, let us take a survey of the dif-
ferent and several kinds of death which ordinarily befal the
godly and the wicked.
The deaths of God's children are divers : —
(1.) Some of their holy and zealous lives do determine
and expire sweetly, fairly, and gloriously, even like a clear
sun in a summer's evening, without any storm or cloud of
temptation and discomfort. The darksome and painful
passages and pangs oi death are enlightened and sweetened
with the shining beams of God's glorious presence, and fast
erabracement of Jesus Christ in the arms of their laith. So
that to them the very joys of heaven and exultations of ever-
lasting rest mingle themselves with those last agonies and
expirations of death. Their heads are, as it were, crowned
with immortality and endless peace upon their beds of death.
Luther, that blessed man of God, died sweetly and tri-
umphantly over hell, the pope, and the devil. " My iieavenly
Father," said he at his death, "eternal and merciful God,
thou hast manifested unto me thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus
156 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
Christ. I have taught him, 1 have known him, I love him
as my life, my health, and ray redemption, whom the wicked
have persecuted, maligned, and with injury afflicted.
L»raw my soul to thee." After this he said as ensues thrice.
" I commend my spirit into thine hands ; thou hast redeemed
me, O God of truth. God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son, that all that believe in him should have life
everlasting" (John iii, 16). Hear how another blessed
saint of God * ended his days : " Having the day before he
died continued his meditations and expositionupon Rom. viii,
for the space of two hours more, on the sudden he said,
' O stay your reading. What brightness is this 1 see ? Have
you lighted up any candles 1 ' To which 1 answered, ' No ;
it is the sun-shine ; ' for it was about five o'clock in a clear
summer's evening. 'Sunshine,' saith he, ' nay, my Saviour-
shine. Now, farewell world ; welcome heaven ; the day
star from on high hath visited my heart. O speak it when
I arn gone, and preach it at my funeral, 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.' So
ravished in spirit he roamed towards heaven, with a cheerful
look, and soft sweet voice, but what he said we could not
conceive. With the sun in the morning following, 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 brethren, 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 Elijah, 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." That this
is true, the reporter and by-stander, that ancient, learned,
and reverend minister of God, Mr Leigh, addeth t, " I say
the truth, my brethren, I lie not, my conscience bearing me
witness in the Holy Ghost," &c.
(2.) Others may end their days very uncomfortably, in
ravings, impatiences, and other strange behaviours. Nay,
* Mr. John Holland, a faithful minister of God's word.
t In his Sermon, entitled, The Soul's Solace against Sorrow.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 157
the fiery distempers of their hot disease may sometimes even
in the saints oi' God produce furious carriages, fearful dis-
tractions, an<l some despairful speeches. But these being
the natural effects and issues of melancholic excesses,
frenzies, and burning fevers, are sins of infirmity in sanctified
men. For w^hich, if they come again to themselves, they
actually repent ; if not, they are all undoubtedly by a general
habitual repentance and God's gracious acceptation thereof,
pardoned by the passion of Christ, and buried for ever in his
precious death, ihat last and irreversible doom at the
dreadful tribunal of the ever-living God must pass upon us,
not according to the violent and involuntary distempers at
our last hour, but according to the former passages of our
life, the sinful or sanctified expense of the days of health.
Hear that other great artist in the mystery of dealing with
troubled consciences *, "The common opinion is, that if a
man die quietly and go away like a lamb, which in some
diseases, as consumption and such like, any man may do,
then he goes straight to heaven ; but if the violence of the
disease stir up impatience, and cause frantic behaviours, then
men use to say there is a judgment of God, serving either to
discover a hypocrite, or to plague a wicked man. But the
truth is otherwise ; for indeed a man may die like a lamb,
and yet go to hell ; and one dying in exceeding torments
and strange behaviours of the body may go to heaven."
(3.) The death of some others is mixed ; to wit, of fear-
ful tempestuous storms, and almost if not altogether des-
pairful agonies in the beginning of their last sickness, and
a fair, refreshing, glorious calm and joyful triumph over
temptations and fear towards the conclusion of their life.
For some secret end and holy purpose, seeming good to his
heavenly wisdom, God suffers sometimes even his dearest
servants to taste, as it were, of the fire of hell, and for a
while to feel in their consciences those infernal flames, as a
preparative to drink more sweetly of the well of life and
rivers of endless pleasures. So himself is most honoured
by helping when all hope is past ; the heart of his child
more ravished with the first sight of those unutterable joys,
being suddenly raised to the height of happiness from the
depth of horror ; the enemies to the narrow way dashed
and confounded by observing his deliverance, whom out of
profane blindness they deemed a hypocrite ; godly Chris-
tians graciously revived when they see, that though the Lord
hide his face from his child for a moment, yet at last with
everlasting kindness will he have mercy on him ; and that
* Perkins, in his Salve for a Sick Man.
P
158 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
he will never utterly and finally forsake any of his. Thus
died thoseblessed servants of God, Mrs. Brettergh, Mr. Pea-
cock, &c. Mrs. Brettergh in the heat of temptation
" wished that she had never been born, or that she had
been made any other creature rather than a woman." But
when that hellish storm was overblown by the return of the
glorious beams of the sun of righteousness into her soul, she
turned her tune and triumphed thus : "Oh happy am i , that
ever I was born to see this blessed day ! I confess before
the Lord his loving-kindness, and his wonderful works before
the sons of men. For he hath satisfied my soul, and filled
my hungry soul with goodness."
Mr. Peacock, in the height of his dreadful desertion told
those about him, that he " conversed with hell-hounds ;
that the Lord had cursed him ; that he had no grace ; that
it was against the course of God's proceeding to save him,"
&c. But when that horrible tempest of spiritual terrors
was happily dispersed, and the light of God's comfortable
countenance began to shine again upon his most heavy and
afflicted spirit, he disavowed all " inconsiderate speeches,"
as he called them, in his temptation, and did humbly and
heartily ask mercy of God for them all, and did thus tri-
umph : " What ! should I extol the magnificence of God,
which is unspeakable, and more than any heart can con-
ceive 1 Nay, rather let us with humble reverence acknow-
ledge his great mercy. V/hat great cause have I to mag-
nify the great goodness of God, that hath humbled, nay ra-
ther exalted such a wretched miscreant of so base condi-
tion to an estate so glorious and stately ! The Lord hath
honoured me with his goodness. I am sure he hath pro-
vided a glorious kingdom for me. The joy which I feel in
my heart is incredible."
(4.) Some of God's worthiest champions and most zea-
lous-servants do not answer the irreprovable sanctity of
their life and unspotted current of their former conversation
with those proportionable extraordinary comforts and glo-
rious passages upon their beds of death, which in ordinary
congruity might be expected, as a convenient conclusion to
the rare and remarkable Christian carriages of such blessed
saints. So bottomless and infinitely unfathomable by the
utmost of all created understandings are the depths of
God's most holy ways and his inscrutable counsels ; quite
contrary many times to the probable conclusions of man's
best wisdom. But every one of his, since he certainly
passes through those pangs into pleasures and joys endless
and unspeakable, must be content to glorify God and to be
serviceable to his secret ends with what kind of death he
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 159
please : whether it be glorious and untempted, or discom-
t'ortable because of bodily distempers, and consequently
uninterpretable by undiscerning spirits ; or mingled of temp-
tations and triumphs ; or ordinary, and without any great
show or remarkable speeches, after extraordinary singulari-
ties of a holy life, which promised an end of special note
and admiration.
Wliy may not some worthy heavenly-minded Christians
sometimes, by strong mortifying meditations and many con-
quering fore-conceits of death in their life-time, make it be^
forehand so familiar and easy unto them, and by conti-
nual conversing above, and constant peace of conscience,
taste so deeply of spiritual joys, that that dreadful passage
out of this life, as it may breed no great sense of alteration
in themselves, so no extraordinary matter of special obser-
vation to others 1
CHAP. VIII.
The ciivei-s kiuds of Death in Wicked Men.
Of the wicked, and those who were ever strangers to the
mystery of Christ and triith of godliness, —
(1.) Some die desperately. Though thousands perish by
presumption to one of those who despair, yet some there
are, to whom, upon their beds of death, all their sins are
set in order before ihem, and represented to the eye of their
awaked consciences in such grisly forms and so terribly,
that at the very first and fearful sight they are presently
struck dead in soul and spirit, utterly overv/helmed and
quite swallowed up with guilty aud desperate horror. So
that afterward no counsel nor comfort ; no consideration of
the immeasurableness of God's mercy, of the invaluable-
ness and omnipotency, if I may so speak, of Christ's blood-
shed, of the variety and excellency of gracious promises,
of the loss of their own immortal souls, can possibly drive
and divert from that infinitely false conceit and cursed cry,
" My sins are greater than can bepardoned." Whereupon,
most miserable and forlorn wretches ! they very wickedly
and wilfully throw themselves into hell, as it were, upon
earth, and are damned above ground. Thus the Lord some-
times for the terror of others, glorifying his own justice, and
bringing exemplary confusion upon impenitent obstinacy in
sin, and wilful opposition to grace, doth in greatest indig-
nation by the hand of divine vengeance unclasp unto them
160 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
the book of Iheir own conscience and of his own holy law.
In one of which they find now at length all their innumer-
able iniquities, transgressions, and sins engraven with the
point of a diamond, enraged with God's implacable wrath,
aggravated with the utmost malice of Satan, and never to
be razed out or remitted but by the blood of the Son of
God, in which they peremptorily profess themselves to have
no part. In the other they see the fierceness and fulness of
all the curses, plagues, and torments denounced there, and
due unto all impenitent sinners, ready to be poured upon
their bodies and souls for ever; and no possibility to pre-
vent them, no way to decline them, but by God's infinite
bounty through Jesus Christ, in which they also utterly
disc) am all right and interest ; and therefore they are now
finally and desperately resolved to look for no mercy ; but
in their own judgment and by their own confession stand
reprobates from God's covenant, and void of all hope of
his inheritance, expecting with unspeakable terror and
amazement of spirit the consummation of their misery and
fearful sentence of eternal damnation. They are commonly
such as have been gross hypocrites like Judas, and lie in
some secret abomination against the knowledge of their
hearts all their life long ; that have followed still their own
sensual ways and course oi the world against the light of
the ministry, standing like an armed man in their con-
sciences to the contrary ; who have been scorners and per-
secutors of the power of godliness and the good way ; who
have abjured the gospel of Jesus Christ and forsaken the
truth for honour, wealth, or worldly happiness; to whom
the Lord in their lifetime vouchsafed many mercies, much
prosperity, great means of salvation, long forbearance, &c.
And yet they stood out still, they still hated to be reformed,
" set at nought all his counsel, and would none of his re-
proof." Wherefore the day of gracious visitation being once
expired, a thousand worlds will not purchase it again :
heaven and earth cannot recal it. No mercy, no comfort, no
blessing can then be had, though they seek it with tears and
yelling. They shall never more be heard, though with much
violence they throw their shrieks into the air, they cry with
sighs and groans as piercing as a sword. Not but that the
gates of heaven and arms of mercy may stand wide open
until their last breath. But, alas ! ihey have already so
hardened their hearts that they cannot repent. " After
thine hardness, saith Paul (Rom. ii, 5), and heart that can-
not repent." They now but howl upon their beds, they do
not cry unto God vvith their hearts, as the prophet speaks
(Hos.vii, 14). Tlieir earnest and early crying in this last
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 161
extremity is only because their " fear is come upon them as
desolation, and their destruction as a whirlwind." When
they cast out their considerations for comfort, it is not the
whole creation can possibly help them ; for they must stand
or fall to the tribunal of the " everlasting God, mighty and
terrible, and Creator of the ends of the earth." If they
look up to God the Father, that scripture, Prov. i, 24, 26,
comes presently into their head v\ith much horror, and
quite kills their hearts ; because he hath called all our life
long, and all that goodly time we refused, he will laugh now
at our calamity, and mock when our fear is come. Jesus
Christ, as they strongly conceive, andimmoveably conclude
against themselves, hath now to them for ever closed up his
wounds as it were, and will not afford them one drop of his
blood; because tliey have so often by coming unworthily
spilt it in the sacrament, persecuted him in his members,
and despised him in the ministry. The blessed Spirit, be-
cause in the day of visitation they repelled all his inward
warnings and holy motions, preferring Satan's impure sug-
gestions before his sacred inspirations, doth now in their own
acknowledgment, by the equity of a just proportion, in this
day of vexation leave them to eat the fruit of their former
wilfulness, and reap the reward of their own ways. Thus
these forlorn wretches are disclaimed, forsaken, and aban-
doned of heaven and earth, God and man ; of all the com-
forts in this life and blessings of the world to come. And so
by final despairing of God's mercy, the greatest of sins,
they most unhappily and cursedly follow Judas, the worst
of men, into the darkest and most horrible cavern in hell.
(2.) Others die senselessly and blockishly. They demean
themselves upon their dying beds as though there were no
immortality of the soul, no tribunal above, no strict account
to be given up there for all things done in the flesh, no ever-
lasting estate in tiie v\orld to come, wherein everyone must
either lie in unspeakable pains, or live in unutterable plea-
sures. In their lifetime they were never wont to tremble
at God's judgments, or lejoice in his promises, or much
trouble themselves with the ministry of the word, or about
the state of their souls. All was one to them, what minis-
ter they had, whether a man " taught to the kingdom of
Christ," or a general teacfier, or an ignorant mangier of the
word, or a dissolute fellow, or a dauber with untempered
mortar, or a dumb dog. If they were neither prostitutes
nor thieves, but well accounted of amongst their neigh-
bours, thrived m the world, prospered in their outward
stale, provided for posterity, slept lu a whole skin, were
P 3
162 INSTRUCTIOxNTS FOR COMFORTING
not vexed on the Lord's day with any of these precise
trouble-towns ; they were well enough, and had all they
looked for, either in this world or the world to come.
Wherefore at their death, by reason of their former disac-
quaintance with spiritual things, and God not opening their
eyes, they are neither afflicted with any fear of hell, or af-
fected with any hope of heaven ; they are both unappre-
hensive of their present danger, and fearless of the fiery
lake into which they are ready to fall. In these regards
they are utterly untouched, die most quietly, and without
any trouble at all. And it is their ordinary answer, when
they are questioned about their spiritual state, and how it
stands with them between God and their own consciences,
"I thank God, nothing troubles me ;" which though they
think it makes much for their own credit, yet, alas ! it is a
small comfort to judicious by-standers. and such as wish
V ell to their souls ; but rather a fearful confirmation that
they are finally given over to the spirit of slumber, and
sealed up by divine justice in the sottishness and security
of their own senseless hearts for most deserved condemna-
tion. Thus these men, as one speaks, " live like stocks and
die like blocks." " And yet the ignorant people," saith
Greenham, " will still commend such fearful deaths, say-
ing. He departed as meekly as a lamb ; he went away as a
bird in a shell , when they might as well say (but for their
feather bed and their pillow) he died like a beast, and
perished like an ox in a ditch."
(3.) Others die formally. I mean, they make very goodly
shows and representations of much confidence and comfort.
Having formerly been formal professors, and so furnished
with many forms of godly speeches, and outward Christian
behaviours ; and the spirit of delusion and spiritual self-
cozenage, which in their life-time detained them in con-
stancy of security and self-conceitedness about the spiritual
safety of their souls, without any such doubts, troubles,
feais, temptations, as are wont to haunt those who are true
of heart (for ordinarily such is the peace of unsound pro-
fessors), continuing their imaginary groundless persuasion
and presumption in the height and strength unto the end,
for their very last breath may be spent in saying " Lord,
Lord, open unto us," aa we see in the foolish virgins and
those Mat. vii ; I say such men as these, thus wofully de-
luded and fearfully deceiving others, may cast out upon
their last beds many glorious speeches, intimating much
seeming confidence of a good estate to God-ward, contempt
of the world, willingness to die, readiness to forgive all the
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 163
world, hope lo be saved, desire to be dissolved and go to
heaven, &c. They may cry aloud with a great deal of
iormal confidence, " Lord, Lord ; Mercy, mercy in the
name of Christ ; Lord Jesus receive our spirits," &c. ; and
yet all these goodly hopes, and earnest ejaculations, growing
only from a form, and not from the power of godliness, are
bur, as 1 said somewhere before, as so many catcliings and
scramblings of a man over head in water. He struggles
and strives for hold to save himself, but he grasps nothing
but water, it is still water which he catches, and therefore
sinks and drowns. They are all but as a spider's web,
upon wMch, one falling from the top of a house lays hold
by the way for stay and support. " He shall lean upon his
house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold it fast, but it
shall not endure" (Job viii, 14, 15). "Oh, how many
descend," saith an ancient father, " with this hope to eter-
nal travails and torment?" " How many," saith another
worthy doctor*, "goto hell with a vain hope of heaven,
whose chiefest cause of damnation is their false persuasion
and groundless presumption of salvation ! " Of all the four
kinds of death which ordinarily befal such as are not saved,
this is the fairest in show ; but yet of greatest imposture
to those about them, and of most pestilent consequence to
harden especially all of the same humour that hear of it.
(4.) Some die penitently. But 1 mean seemingly so, not
savingly. Many having served tlieir appetites all their
lives and lived in pleasure ; now, when the sun of their
sensual delights begins to set, and the dark midnight of
misery and horror to seize upon them, would very gladly
be saved. And I blame them not, if they might first live
the life of the wicked, and then die the death of the righ-
teous : if they might have the earthly heaven of the world's
favourites here, and the heaven of Christ's martyrs in the
world to come. Tliese men are wont in this last extremity
to grieve extremely ; but it is but like their "howling upon
their beds," Hos. vii, 14. Because they are pinched with
some sense of present horror and expectation of dreadful
things, they cry out mightily for mercy ; but it is no other
than their early seeking, Prov. i, 28. Because distress and
anguish is come upon then), they inquire eagerly after God,
and would now be gladly acquainted with him ; but just
like them. Psalm Ixxviii, 34, "When he slew them, then
they sought him : and they returned and inquired early
after God. And they remembered that God v/as their rock,
and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did
* Dr. Featlv.
164 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto ' im with
their tongues. For their heart was not right with him."
They promise very fair, and protest gloriously what mended
men they will be if the Lord restore them. But all these
goodly promises are but as a morning cloud, and as the
early dew. i hey are like those of a thief or murderer at
the bar, who being now cast, and seeing there is now no
way but one, O what a reformed man would he be, if he
might be reprieved ! Antiochus, as the apocryphal book of
the Maccabees reports (2 Maccab. ix), when the hand of
God was upon him horribly, vowed excellent things. O
what he would do : so and so extraordinarily for the people
of God ! yea, and that "he himself also would become a
Jew ; and go through all the world that was inhabited and
declare the power of God." But what was it, think you,
that made this raging tyrant to relent and thus seemingly
repent 1 "A pain of the bowels that was remediless came
upon him, and sore torments of the inner parts ; so that no
man could endure to carry hini for his intolerable stench ;
and he liimself could not abide his own smell." Many
may thus behave themselves upon their beds of death with
very strong shows and many boisterous representations of
true turning unto God, whereas in truth and trial they are
.as yet rotten at heart-root; and as yet no more comfort
upon good ground belongs unto them than to those in the
fore-cited places ; and if any spiritual physician in such a
case do press it hand over head, or such a patient presume
to apply it, it is utterly misgrounded, misapplied. Hear
what one of the worthiest divines in Christendom saith * :
" Now put the case, one cometh to his ghostly father with
such sorrow of mind as the terrors of a guilty conscience
usually do produce, and with such a resolution to cast
away his sins as a man hath in a storm to cast away his
goods ; not because he doth not love them, but because he
feareth to lose his life if he part not with them : doth not
he betray this man's soul, who putteth into his head that
such an extorted repentance as this, which hath not one
grain of love to season it witiial, will qualify him suffici-
ently for the receiving of an absolution ?" ike. And another,
excellently instructed unto the kingdom of heaven t: " Re-
pentance at death is seldom sound. For it may seem
rather to arise from fear of judgment, and a horror of hell,
than for any grief for sin. And many seeming to repent
aflectionately in dangerous sickness, when they have re-
* Dr. Usher, in his Answer to a Jesuit's Challenge,
t Dvke, of Kepenfance, chap. xvi.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 165
covered, have been rather worse than before. It is true,
that true repentance is never too Late, but late repentance
is seldom fruf : " for here our sins rather leave us than we
them, as Ambrose says, and as he adds, " Woe be unto
them whose sin and life end together." This received
principle among the ancient fathers, that late repentance
is rarely true, implies that it is often false and unsound,
and so by consequence confirms the present point. Too
manifold experience also makes it good. Amongst many,
for my part I have taken special notice of two. The one
being laboured with in prison, was seemingly so extraor-
dinarily humbled, that a reverend man of God was moved
thereby to be a means of his reprieve, whereupon a pardon
was procured. And yet this so extraordinary a penitent
while death was in his eye, having the terror removed, re-
turned to his vomit, and some two years after to the same
place again, as notorious a Belial as he was before. Another,
having upon his bed of sickness received in his own conceit
the sentence of death against himself ; and being pressed
to humiliation and broken-heartedness, for he had formerly
been a stranger and an enemy to purity and the power of
godliness, answered thus: " My heart is broken ; " and so
broke out into an earnest confession of particular sins ; he
named uncleanness, stubbornness, obstinacy, vain-glory,
hypocrisy, dissimulation, uncharitableness, covetousness,
lukewarmness, iScc. He compared himself to the thief
upon the cross. " And if God," saith he, " restore me to
health again, the world shall see what an altered man I
will be." When he was pressed to sincerity and true
heartedness in what he said ; he protested that he repented
with all his heart and soul, and mind, and bowels, ^:c. ;
and desired a minister that stood by to be a witness of these
things between the world and him. And yet this man
upon his recovery became the very same, if not worse than
he was before.
CHAP. IX.
The Remedy iii this Fifth Case. 1. Admonition to the Ministers, to be
careful in comforting at that time. 2. To the People, not to defer
Repentance till that time.
Now since upon this perusal of the different deaths incident
to the godly and the wicked, it appears that some men never
soundly converted, may in respect of all outward repre-
sentations die as confidently and comfortably in the judg-
166 INSTllUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
ment of the most as God's dearest children ; and that
Christ's best servants sometimes may depart this life uncom-
fortably to the eye and in the opinion of the greater part ;
and we heard before that our last and everlasting doom
must pass upon us, according to the sincerity or sensuality,
the zealous forwardness or formality of our former courses,
and not according to \he seeming of our last carriage upon
the bed of death, and enforced behaviour in that time of ex-
tremity : I say, these things being so, I hold my conclusion
still, and resolution not much to alter my estimation of a
man's spiritual state for the manner of his death (I except
the thieves upon the cross) : my meaning is, that there may
be some (I know not how few, but I am sure there is none,
except he have in him the perfection of the madness of all
the maniacs that ever breathed, would run that hazard),
who formerly out of the way and unreformed, may now at
last, being very extraordinarily and mightily humbled under
God's mighty hand, and cleaving to the Lord Jesus with
truly broken hearts indeed, follow by a miracle, as it were,
the thief upon the cross to an everlasting crovvn. And
here now I require the care, conscience, heavenly wisdom,
experimental skill, and all his ministerial dexterity in the
physician of the soul, to discern aright between these and
seeming penitents ; and then to apply himself proportion-
ably with all holy discretion and seasonableness to their
several different estates.
But to fright and turn every one for ever from that extre-
mest folly of hoping to follow that miraculous penitent thief,
and from going ou in sin and deferring repentance upon such
a deceiving and desperate ground ; let us consider, —
(1.) What a holy and learned man of God (Greenham)
saith to this point. " In great wisdom, that men at the
last gasp should not utterly despair, the L,ord hath left us
but one example of exceeding and extraordinary mercy, by
saving the thief on the cross. Yet the perverseness of all
our nature may be seen by this, in that this one serveth us
to looseness of life, in hope of the like ; whereas we might
better reason, that it is but one, and that extraordinary ;
and that besides this one, there is not one more in all the
Bible ; and that for this one that sped, a thousand thousands
have missed : and what folly is it to put ourselves in a way
where so many have miscarried ! To put ourselves into the
hand of that physician that hath murdered so many ; going
clean against our sense and reason : whereas in other we
always lean to that which is most ordinary, and conclude
not the spring to be come because of one swallow 1 It is as
if a man should spur his ass till he spoke, because Balaam's
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 167
ass did once speak. So grossly hath the devil bewitched
us."
(2.) The singularities about the good thief. First, his
heart was broken with one short sermon as it were ; but
thou hast or mightest have heard many, and art yet hard-
hearted. Secondly, the other thief saw also that sovereign
soul-healing blood gush freshly and abundantly out of his
blessed side, and yet was not struck or stirred at all.
Thirdly, his example is only for true penitents : but thou,
upon this presumption despising in the mean time the riches
of God's goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, lead-
ing thee to repentance, hardenest, thy heart that thou canst
not repent. Fourthly, his case was singular, and such that
the like is not to be found in the whole scripture. A king
sometimes pardons a malefactor at the place of execution ;
wilt thou therefore run desperately into some horrible villany
deserving death, hoping to be that one among many thou-
sands! Fifthly, "It was a miracle," saith an excellent
divine *, "with the glory whereof our Saviour would honour
the ignominy of the cross. We may almost as well expect
a second crucifying of Christ, as such a second thief Christ
then triumphing on the cross, did as princes do in the
triumph of entering into their kingdoms, they pardon gross
offences before committed, such as they pardon not after-
wards." Sixthly, having an eye upon this thief, that thou
mayest more fully and freely follow thy pleasures, thou
makest "a covenant with death, and an agreement with
hell, and puttest the evil day far from thee ; " but the Lord
hath professed, " that thy covenant with death shall be dis-
annulled, and thy agreement with hell shall not stand ; when
the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then shalt thou
be trodden down by it.
(3.) The ordinary impossibilites of following the blessed
thief in his miraculous repentance. First, thou art cried
unto continually by God's messengers to come in now, while
it is called to-day; yet thou standest out still, out of this
thought only, or rather v/ant of thought, to take thy till of
pleasure in the mean time, and to seek God sufficiently
upon thy bed of death, by repenting with the thief at last.
But know, for thy terror and timely turning, that the longer
thou puttest off and deferresl, the more unht thou shalt be
to repent. Thy custom in sinning will exercise more tyranny
over thee : the curse of God for thy going on still in thy
trespasses will be more heavy upon thee : the corruptions
that lurk in thine own bosom will be more strengthened
* Dyke on Repentance, cliap. xvii.
168 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
against thee ; and this threefold cord is hardly broken ;
these three giants will be mastered with very much ado. The
farther thou waikest in the ways of death, the more un-
willing and more unable wilt thou be to return and be re-
formed. Thine understanding will be more darkened with
hellish mists ; tliy judgment more perverted ; thy will more
stubborn ; thy memory more stufted with sensual notions ;
thine affections will become more rebellious ; thy thoughts
more earthly ; thine heart more hardened ; thy conscience
more seared ; thyself more sold to sin ; and every day that
comes over thine head in this state of darkness, much more
the child of the devil than thou wast before. To refuse
Christ upon this point so freely and fairly offered, is to re-
ceive God's curse under seal, and to make sure thy cove-
nant with hell and league with death, until thou be slain
by the one and swallowed up of the other, without all mercy
or recovery. For in this time of delay God grows more
angry, Satan more strong, thyself more unable to repent,
sin more unconquerable, thy conversion more hard, thy sal-
vation more impossible. A ruinous house, the longer thou
lettest it run, the more labour and charge will it require in
repairing. If thou drive a nail with a hammer, the more blows
thou givest to it, the more hard will it be to draw it out again.
It isjust so in the case of continuing in sin; and every new sin
is a new stroke with a hammer that drives the nail in farther.
Secondly, with what possibility art thou likely to pass
through the great work of saving repentance ] or with what
heart canst thou address thyself unto it ^ when upon thy
sick bed thou art set upon at once, if thy conscience be
waking, with the ugly sight of all thy sins charging upon
thee vvith insupportable horror, with the pangs of death,
with Satan's utmost malice and his very powder-plot, and
with the terror of that approaching strict tribunal ;
winch dreadful encounter is able to put to it the spiritual
strength of many years gathering. Thirdly, resolution to
defer repentance, when grace is offered, doth justly merit
to be deprived for ever after of all opporunity and ability to
repent. Fourthly ; it is just vvith God, that tliat man who
doth purposely put off repentance and provision for his soul
until his last sickness, should for that sin alone be snatched
out of the world in great anger, even suddenly, so that there
be scarce a moment betwixt the height of his temporal hap-
piness and the depth of his spiritual misery. That his foolish
hope may be frustrated and his vain purpose come to no-
thing ; he may be cut off as the top of an ear of corn, and
put out like a candle, when he least thinks of death, and
dreams of nothing less than departure from his earthly
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 169
paradise. " They are exalted for a little while," saith Job,
" but are sone and brouu;lit low ; they are taken out of the
way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears ot" corn''
(Job xxiv,24). Fifthly, a long continued custom is not
wont to be shaken off in an instant. Is it likely that a black-
moor should chani^e his skin and a leopard his spots in three
or four days, wliich they have contracted in forty or three-
score years ? Therefore I marvel that any should be so
blindfolded and baffled by the devil as to embolden himself
to drive off' until the last, by that passage of scripture —
"At what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sin
from the bottom of his heart, I will put all his wickedness
out of my remembrance, saith the Lord ; " especially if he
look upon the text from whence it is taken, which methinks
being rightly understood, and the conditions well con-
sidered, is most punctual and precise to fright any from
that desperate folly. The words run thus : " But if the
wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed,
and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and
right, he shallsurely live, he shall not die. All his trnns-
gressions," &cc. ( Ezek. xviii, 21, 22). Hence it appears,
that if any man expect upon good ground any portion in
this precious promise of mercy and grace, he must " leave
all his sins, and keep all God's statutes.'' Now, how per-
formest thou the condition of leaving all thy sins, when, as
in this last extremity, having received the sentence of death
against thyself, thy sins leave thee, and not thou thy sins,
that I may speak in the phrase of an ancient father! And
what space is left to come to comfort by keeping all God's
statutes, when thou art presently to pass to that highest
and dreadful tribunal, to give an exact and strict account for
the continual breach of all God's laws all thy life long?
Sixthly, many seem to be very penitent and promise exceed-
ing fair in the evil day and upon their sick beds, who being
recovered and restored to their former state are the very
same they were before, if not worse. I never knew, nor
heard of any unwrought upon under conscionable means,
who after recovery performed the vows and promises of a
nev/ life, which he made in his sickness and times of ex-
tremity. For if he will not be moved with the ministry,
God will never give that honour unto the cross to do the
deed. " Nay, Father Abraham," saith the rich glutton,
" but if one went unto them from the dead they will re-
pent. And he said unto him, If they hear not iNIoses and
the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one
rose from the dead" (Luke xvi, 30, 31). It would amaze
thee much if one of thy good-fellow companions should now
Q
170 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
rise from the dead and tell thee, that he who was thy bro-
ther in iniquity is now in heli, and if thou follow the same
sensual courses still, thou must shortly most certainly fol-
low him to the place of torment. And yet even this would
not work at all if thou be a despiser of the word. It may
be while the dead man stood by thee thou wouldest be ex-
traordinarily moved and promise much ; but no sooner
should he be in his grave, but thou wouldst be as graceless
as thou wast before. Seventhly, what wise man, seeing a
fellow who never gave his name to religion in his life-time,
now only troubled about sin, when he is sure he must die,
will not suspect it to be wholly slavish and extorted for fear
of hell ? " My sentence is," saith Greenham, " that a man
lying nov/ at the point of death, having the snares of death
upon him, in that strait of fear and pain, may have a sorrow
for his life past ; but because the weakness of flesh, and the
bitterness of death dothmost commonly procure it, we ought
to suspect," &c. Eighthly, painful distempers of body are
wont to weaken much and hinder the activeness and freedom
of the soul's operations ; nay, sometimes to distract and
utterly overthrow them. Many, even of much knowledge,
grace, and good life, by reason of the damp and deadness
which at that time the extremity and anguish of their disease
brings upon their spirits, are able to do no great matter, if
any thing at all, either in meditation or expression. How
then dost thou think to pass through the incomparably
greatest work that ever the soul of man was acquainted with
in this life (I mean the /leuj-/)//'^/;) at the point of death ?
It is a woful thing to have much work to do, when the power
of working is almost done. When we are come to the very
last cast, our strength is gone, our spirits clean spent, our
senses appalled, and the power of our souls as numb as our
senses ; when there is a general prostration of all our powers,
and the shadow of death upon our eyes, then something we
would say or do, which should do our souls good. But,
alas ! how should it then be 1
CHAP. X.
The Third Error of applyiiitr comfort, which is iudiscrect application.
Tiie first case wherein" it happens, which is too sudden application;
and the demonstration of that error.
When the spiritual physcian pours the balm of mercy and
oil of comfort into a wounded conscience —
1. Too soon. The surgeon that heals up a dangerous sore.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 171
and draws a skin over it before his corrosive have consumed
the dead Heth, before he hath opened it vi'ith his tents,
ransacked it to llie root, and rent out the core, is so far from
serving, that he procures a great deal of misery to his
patient. For the rotten matter that remains behind will
continue to rankle and fester underneath, and at length
break out again perhaps, both with more extremity of
anguish and difficulty of cure. They are but mountebanks,
smatterers in physic and surgery, in short, but plain cheaters
and cozeners, who are so ready and resolute for extemporary
and palliative cures. Sudden recoveries from rooted and
old distempers are rarely sound. If it be thusin bodily cures,
what a deal do you think of extraordinary discretion,
heavenly wisdom, precise and punctual pondering of cir-
cumstances, well-advised and seasonable leisure, both
speculative and experimental skill, heartiest ejaculations,
wrestlings with God by prayer for a blessing, is very con-
venient and needful for a true and right method in healing
a wounded conscience ! which doth pass immeasurably all
other maladies, both in exquisiteness of pain, tenderness of
touch, deceitfulness of depth, and in highest and greatest
consequence, either for the everlasting health or endless
horror of an immortal soul. Hence it was that that one of
a thousand and learned doctor in this heavenly mystery *,
did so far differ from all daubers with untempered mortar
and the ordinary undoing courses in this kind : — ;
" But now coming to the salving of this sore," saith he, "I
shall seem very strange in my cure, and so much the more
be wondered at, by how much in manner of proceeding I
differ from the most sort of men herein. I am not ignorant
that many visiting afflicted consciences cry still. Oh, com-
fort them ! Oh, speak joyful things unto them ! Yea,
there be some, and those of the most learned, who in such
cases are full of these and such like speeches : Why are you
so heavy, my brother? Why are you so cast down, my
sister? Be of good cheer. Take it not so grievously.
What is there that you should fear? Cod is merciful;
Christ is a Saviour. These be speeches of love indeed ;
but they often do the poor souls as much good herein, as if
they should pour cold water into their bosoms ; whenas
without further se irching of their sores they may as well
minister a malady as a medicine. For as nutritive and cor-
dial medicines are not good for every sick person, especially
when the body needeth rather a strong purgative than a
matter restorative ; and as carminative medicines may for
• Greenharo, in his Treatise for an Afflicted Conscience.
172 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
a time allay the pain of the patient, but after the grief be-
cometh more grievous : so the comfortable applying of G od's
promises are not so profitable ibr every one that is humbled,
especially when their souls are rather further to be cast
down than as yet to be raised up ; so those sugared consola-
tions may for a while overheal the conscience and abate
some present grief; but so as afterwards the smart may be
the sorer, and the grief may grow the greater. Hereof en-
sueth this effect, that comfort seemeth to cure for a while,
but for want of wisdom in the right discerning of the cause,
men minister one medicine for another ; and so for want of
skill the latter grindeth sorer than the former."
Calvin, also, that great pillar and glory of the Christian
world, for sincere and sound orthodox doctrine*, concurs
in judgment with this blessed man of God ; and so, I doubt
not, do all the faithful ministers of Jesus Christ. " Let this
be the first degree of repentance, when men feel that they
have been grievous offenders; and then the grief is not to
be immediately cured, as impostors deal flatteringly and
nicely wath men's consciences, that they may favour them-
selves as much as may be, and be notably deceived with
superficial daubing. The physician will not forthwith
assuage the pain, but will consider what may be more ex-
pedient. Perhaps he will increase it, because a sharper
medicine will be necessary. Even so the prophets of God,
when they see trembling consciences, do not presently ap-
ply sweet consolations ; but rather tell ihem, that they must
not dally with God, and stir up those who are so forward of
their own accord, that they would propose unto themselves
the terrible judgment of God, that they may yet be more
and more humbled."
Another excellent and skilful workman in the great mys-
tery of saving souls t, tells us truly, " That the promise of
salvation doth not immediately belong to one terrified in
conscience, but to one that is not only terrified for his pu-
nishment, but is contrite-hearted for sin, which is the work
of the gospel. Let not these be weary of the yoke of God
and the law, and make overmuch haste out of this state, for
so they may undo themselves. For some withstanding their
terror, have withstood their salvation, &c. Even as an impa-
tient patient gets the surgeon to pull out the tent and
corrosive, or pulls it oft' himself as soon as it begins to smart
a little, and so thinks it is searched enough, and now lays
on healing plaisters : but afterwards breaks oft" again worse
than ever. Whereas if the corrosive had been let lie on till
* On Joel, chap, ii, f Mr. Rogers of Dedham, Doctrine of Faith.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 173
it had eaten out the corruption indeed, then it might have
been whole Ions; ago."
If daubers in this kind did rightly understand and acknow-
ledge, or had ever had any experimental feeling in their
own souls of Christ's rule, and the Holy Ghost's method,
which is first to convince of sin, to deject and humble in
the sight of the Lord with apprehension and sense of a most
abominable and cursed state, before there follow a convic-
tion of the righteousness of Christ to raise up (see John
xvi, 8), or of the necessity of the work of the spirit of
bondage, to fit and prepare for Christ and comfort ; I say,
then, they would not deal so ignorantly in a matter of so
dear and e\'erlasting importance. They would not so has-
tily and rashly, without all warrant and wisdom, without
any further search, discovery, or dejection, oflPer mercy,
pardon, and all the promises to a man formerly wicked, only
for some faint and enforced confession of sins, or because
now being overtaken by the evil day, he howls upon his
bed, not for any true hatred of sin, but for present smart
and expected horror, 6cc. But would labour to let the spirit
of bondage have its full work, and lay him open more at
large in the true colour of his scarlet sins ; and not only-
cause a bare confession of them, but such a conviction as
may stop his mouth, so that he hath not a word to speak,
but trembles to see such a sink, Sodom, and hell of sin and
abomination in himself, &c. Oh, how oft have I heard
many a poor ignorant soul in the day of sorrow, being
moved to humble himself in the sight of the Lord that he
might lift hira up, first to get his heart broken with the
abhorred burthen of all his sins, and then to bring it thus
bleeding to the throne of grace, that Christ might bind it
up ; I say, being thus intreated, to answer, Yes, yes, with
all my heart ; I am sorry for ray sins with all my heart ; I
trust in Jesus Christ with all my heart ; and thus, whatso-
ever you can counsel or advise, he doth it with all his heart ;
whereas, alas ! poor heart, as yet his understanding is as
dark as darkness itself, in respect of any, I say not only
saving knowledge, but almost of any knowledge at all ; and
his heart in respect of any true remorse as hard as a rock of
flint. Now those unskilful physicians of the soul, who in
this and the like cases will needs without any more ado,
without any further enlightening or labour, thrust mercy
and comfort upon them, are like those " foolish shepherds,"
as lMarbury,in his Exposition upon Psalm xxxii, calls them,
" who when they want skill to help their poor sheep out of
the ditch, are driven to play the miserable comforters, and
to take some other indirect course (as many use to do in such
Q 3
174 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
cases), to cut the sheep's throat in time to make him man's
meat, lest it should be said, he died in a ditch." They are
desolators not consolators, as Austin sometimes calls them ;
not sound comforters, but true cut-throats.
Besides that which i have said before of the precedency
of the woiking of the law and of the spirit of bondage to
make way for Christ, let me further tell you upon this oc-
casion (that it may appear that much more is to be done
herein than is ordinarily imagined before comfort may upon
good ground and seasonably be applied to the conscience
awaked) what an excellent divine, both for depth of learn-
ing and height of holiness, delivered somewhere in this
point to this purpose.
" No man must think this strange, that God dealeth with
men after this strange manner; as it were to kill them
before he make them alive ; to let them pass through, or by,
as it were, the gates of hell to heaven ; to suffer the spirit
of bondage to put them into a fear, into a shaking and
trembling, &c. For he suffers those that are his to be terri-
fied with this fear, —
" First. In respect of his own glory, for the magnifying
both of his justice and of his mercy.
"(1.) He glorifies his justice when lessening, or altoge-
ther, for the time, abstracting all sight of mercy. He lets
tlie law, sin, conscience, and Satan loose upon a man to
have their course and several comminations, and sets the
spirit of bondage on work, &c. Thus as in the great work
of redemption*, he would have the glory of his justice
appear ; so would he have it also in the application of our
redemption, that justice should not be swallowed up of
* As in the work of creation, so in the work of redemption, God
would have the praise of all his attributes. He is much honoured when
tliey are ackuowledi^ed to be in him in hiirhest perfection, and their in-
finiteness and excellency admired and magnified. In the former there
appeareth gloriously his infinite wisdom, goodness, power, justice,
mercy, &c.; and yet in the work of redemption, which wasthe greater,
they seem to shine with more sweetness, amiableness, and excellency;
for in it appeared all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, &c. And
in conveying it to the churcli — First, His wisdom there appeareth
intinite wisdom, in finding out such a means for the redemption of man-
kind as no created understanding could possibly imagine or think of.
Secondly, His mercy inuiieasurably sweet and admirable, in not sparing
his own Son, the Son of his love," that lie might spare us, who had so
grievously transgressed against iiim. Thirdly, His justice in its highest
excellency, in sparing us, not to spare his own only Son; laying, as it
were, his tiead upon the block, andchoppinar it off ; rending and tearing
tliat blessed body, even as the veil of the temple was rent, and making
his soul an offering for sin, &c. This was the perfection of justice.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 175
mercy ; but even as the woman, 2 Kings iv, who had nothing
to pay was threatened by creditors to take away her two
sons, and put them in prison, so we having nothing to pay,
the law is let loose upon us, to threaten imprisonment and
■damnation-, to affright and terrify, and all this for the ma-
nifesting of his justice. Furthermore, the book of God is
full of terrible threatenings against sinners. Now, shall all
those be to no purpose? The wicked are insensible of them,
to ihem therefore in that respect they are in vain. Some
there must needs be upon whom they must work. * Shall
the lion roar,' saith the prophet, ' and no man be afraid 1 '
Since, then, they who should, will not; some there be who
must tremble. This the prophet excellently setteth forth,
Isa. Ixvi, 2, where the Lord showeth whom he will regard.
* Bwt to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and
of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.' Neither is
it without good cause that God dealeththus with his own in
this manner, though it be sharp in the experience. First,
we must fear, tremble, and be humbled ; and then we shall
receive a spirit not to fear again.
"(2.) His mercy is also thereby mightily magnified;
which would never be so sweet, nor relish so well, nor be so
esteemed of us, if the awful terror of justice had not
formerly made us smart. A king sometimes doth not only
suffer the law to pass upon some grievous malefactor for
high treason, but also causeth him to be brought to the place
of execution, yea, and lay down his head upon the block
ere he pardon ; and then mercy is mercy indeed, and melts
the heart * abundantly with amazement and admiration
of it. So God dealeth with us many times ; lets the law
loose against us, puts us in fear, casts us into prison, and
threateneth condemnation in hell for ever ; so that when
mercy cometh to the soul, being now lost in itself and at the
pit's brink, it appears to be a wonderful mercy, the riches
of exceeding mercy, most seasonable, most sweet, most
* A man who otherwise would not cry nor shed a tear for any thing,
despiseth death, and would not fear to meet a host of men ; I say, such
a one now having at the last instant a pardon brought from the king, it
workech wonderfully upon him, and will cause softness of heart and
tears to come many times where nothing else could. He is so struck
with admiration of so great mercy, so sweet and seasonable in such an
extremity, that he stands amazed and knows not what to say ; but many
times falls to weeping, partly for joy of his deliverance, arid partly also
out of indignation against himself, 'for his barbarous behaviour towards
so merciful a prince. This was to be seen in some great men, at the
beginning of King James's reign, condemned for treason, and pardoned
at the block.
176 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
ravishing. Why do so many find no savour in the gospel?
Is it because there is no matter of sw^eetness or delight in
it 1 No ; it is because they have not tasted of, not been
soundly touched and terrified by the law and the spirit of
bondage. They have not smarted, nor as yet been afflicted
with a sense of the bitterness of sin, nor of the just punish-
ment due unto the same. God therefore sends into our
hearts the spirit of fear and bondage to prepare us to relish
mercy ; and then the spirit of adoption not to fear again.
And thus by this order the one is magnified and highly
esteemed by the foregoing sense of the other.
" Secondly, for our good ; and that two ways : 1. In jus-
tification ; and 2. In sanctification.
" (1.) We are such strangers unto God that we will ne-
ver come unto him till we see no other remedy ; being at
the pit's brink, ready to starve, hopeless, &c. We see it
in the prodigal son. He would never think of any return
unto his father till all other helps failed him ; money,
friends, acquaintance, all sorts of food ; nay, if he might
have fed upon husks with the swine he would not have
thought of returning anymore to his father. This being de-
nied him, the texth saith, ' he came to himself : ' showing
us, that when men run on in sinful courses they are mad-
men, out of themselves, even as we see those in Bedlam are
beaten, kept under, denied comforts till they come to
themselves. And what saith he theni ' I will arise and
go to my father ; and I will say unto him. Father, I have
sinned against heaven and against thee,' &c. So it is with
us : until the Lord humble and bring us low in our own eyes,
show us our own misery and spiritual poverty, and that in
us there is no good thing ; that we be stripped of all helps
in and without ourselves, and see that we must perish un-
less we beg his mercy: I say, until then we will not seek
his face and favour, nor have recourse to Jesus Christ, the
rock of our salvation. It is with us in this case as it was
with the woman whom Christ healed of the bloody issue
(Luke viii, 43). How long was it ere she came to Christ 1
She had been sick twelve years ; she had spent all her liv-
ing upon physicians, neither could she be healed of any.
Now this extremity brought her to Jesus Christ. This then
is the means to bring to Christ, to bring us upon our knees,
to drive us out of ourselves hopeless, as low as maybe ; to
show us where help is only to be found, and make us run
unto it. The hunted beast flies unto his den ; the Israelites
being stung by fiery serpents made haste to the brazen ser-
pent, a type of Christ, for help ; the man-killer under the
law, chased by the avenger of blood, ran apace to the city
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 177
of refuge ; Joab, being pursued for his life, fled to the ta-
bernacle of the Lord, and laid fast hold upon the horns
of the altar ; a wounded man hies unto the surgeon : pro-
portionably a poor soul, broken and bruised with the in-
supportable buithens of all his abominations, bleeding at
heart's root under sense of Divine wrath hy the cutting
edge of the sword of the Spirit, managed aright by some
masters of assemblies, chased furiously by the law, sin,
conscience, and Satan ; sometimes even to the brink of des-
pair, will be willing in good earnest to cast itself into the
sweet, compassionate, inviting arms and embracements of
Jesus Christ, broken and bleeding upon the cross for our
sins, and so be made his for ever.
"(2.) For our sanctification, also, it is good for us that
the Comforter's first work be to v/ork fear in us ; for we are
naturally so frozen in our dregs, that no fire will warm or
thaw us. We wallow in our own blood ; we stick fast in
the mire of sin up to the chin, that we cannot stir ; so that
this fear is sent to pull us violently as it were from our cor-
ruptions, to make us holy, and look unto our ways for the
time to come. Now to effect this, sharpest things are best,
us are the law and threatenings of condemnation, the open-
ing of hell, the racking of the conscience, and a sense of
svrath present and to come. So hard-hearted are we by
nature, being as the children of the bondwoman, to whom
Violence must be used, even as we see a man riding a young
and wild horse to tame him. He will run him against a
wall that he may make him afraid ; ride him in deep and
rough places ; or, if this will not do, take him up to some
high rock, and bringing him to the brink thereof, he threat-
eneth to throw him down headlong ; maketh him shake and
quake, whereby at the last he is tamed. So deals the Lord
with us : he gives us a sight of sin and of the punishment
due thereunto, a sense of wrath, setteth the conscience on
fire, as it were ; fiUeth the heart with fears, horrors, and
disquietness ; openeth hell thus unto the soul, bringeth us
to the gates thereof, and threateneth us to throw us in ; and
all this to make a man more holy, and hate sin the more."
" The cure of the stone in the heart," saith another*,
speaking to the same purpose, " is like that of the stone in
the bladder. God must use a sharp incision, and come
with his pulling and plucking instruments, and rend the
heait in pieces, ere that sin can be got out of it." " Even
as in a lethargy it is needful the patient should be cast into
;i burning fever, because the senses are benumbed, and this
• Dyke of Repentance, chap, ii.
170 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
will wake them, and dry up the besotting humours; so in
our dead security before our conversiou, God is pleased to
let the law, sin, conscience, and Satan loose upon us, and
to kindle the fire ofhell in our souls, that so we might be
roused. Our sins stick close unto us as the prisoners' bolts,
and we are shut up under them as in a strong prison ; and
therefore, unk ss as once in Paul and Silas's case an earth-
quake, so here there come a mighty heart-quake, violently
breaking open the prison doors and shaking oft' our fetters,
never shall we get our liberty," *5lC.
Thus we see what a mighty work of the law and of the
spirit of bondage there must be to prepare for Christ, and
how requisite ii is both for the glorifying of God's justice
and mercy, and also for the furtherance of our justification
and sanctihcation. For illustration of which point, besides
all that hath been said before, 1 have more willingly in this
last passage pressed at large the authority of so great a di-
vine (in which I hope I have not swerved from his sense),
because he is without exception, both for holiness and
learning ; and so his sincere and orthodox judgment more
current and passable.
CHAP, XI.
Objection against the former Doctrine. Differences between legal
Terrors in Ihe Elect and others.
Object. But hence, it may be, some troubled soul may
take up a complaint and say : Alas ! if it be thus, what
shall 1 think of myself f I do not remember that ever 1
tasted so deeply of such terrors and legal troubles as you
seem to require. 1 have not been so humbled and terrified,
nor had such experience of that state under the " spirit of
bondage " as you talk of, &c. ; and therefore you have cast
scruples into my conscience about the truth and soundness
of my conversion.
Answer. I answer : in this work of the " spirit of bon-
dage ; " in this case of legal terrors, humiliations, and other
preparative dispositions, we do not prescribe precisely just
such a measure and quantity : we do not determine peremp-
torily upon such or such a degree or height ; we leave that
to tlie wisdom of our great Master in heaven, the " only
wise God/' who is a most free agent ; but sure we are a
man must have so much, and in that measure, as to bring
him to Christ. It must make him weary of all his sins, and
of Satan's bondage wholly ; willing " to pluck out his right
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 179
eye, and cut off his right hand," I mean, to part with his
best beloved bosom lusts, to sell all, and not to leave so
much as a hoof behind. It must be so much as to make him
see his danger, and so haste to the city of refuge ; to be
sensible of his spiritual misery, that he may heartily thirst
for mercy ; to find himself lost and cast away in hiijiself,
that Christ may be all in all unto him ; and after must fol-
low a hatred of all false and evil ways for the time to come ;
a thorough change of former courses, company, conversa-
tion ; and setting himself in the way and practice of so-
briety, honesty, and holiness. If thou hast had experience
of these affections and effects in thine own soul, whatsoever
the measure of the work of the " spirit of bondage" hath
been in thee, less or more, thou art safe enough, and mayest
go on comfortably in the holy path, without any discourage-
ment either from such pretended scruples in thyself, or any
of Satan's cruel cavils and oppositions to the contrary.
Upon this occasion it will not be here unseasonable to
tell you how that legal terror, which God appoints to be a
preparative in his elect for the spirit of adoption, and a
true change, differs from that which is found in aliens, and
not attended with any such saving consequents ; that every
one who hath had trouble of conscience for sin, may dearly
discern whether it hath brought him to Christ, or left him
unconverted.
1. That happy soul, which is under the terrifying hand
of God preparing by the work of the spirit of bondage for
the entertainment of Christ and a sound conversion, upon
that fearful apprehension of God's wrath and strict visitation
of his conscience for sin, casts about for ease and reconcile-
ment only by the blood of the Lord Jesus, and those soul-
healing promises in the book of life, with a resolute con-
tempt of all other means and offers for pacification ; feeling
now, and finding by experience, that no other way, no
earthly thing, not this whole world, were it all dissolved into
the most curious and exquisite pleasures that ever any car-
nal heart conceived, can any way assuage the least pang
of his grieved spirit. Glad therefore is he to take counsel
and to advise with any that is able or likely to lead him by
a wise and discreet hand to a well-grounded comfort and
refreshment ; and resolveth greedily, whatever the pre-
scription and direction be, to give way unto it most will-
ingly in his performance and practice. " And the people
asked him, saying. What shall we do then? Then came
also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master,
what shall we do ? And the soldiers likewise demanded of
him, saying, And what shall we do 1 " Thus were John's
180 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING^
hearers affected (Luke iii, 10, 12, 14), being afflicted with
the piercing passages of John's thundering sermon. " Men
and brethren, what shall we do V say the penitent Jews,
pricked in their hearts (Acts ii, 37). The jailor (Acts xvi,
29, 30) " came trembling and fell down before Paul and
Silas, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved 1 " As if
they had said, Prescribe and enjoin what you will, be it
never so harsh and distasteful to flesh and blood, never so
cross and contrary to carnal reason, profit, pleasure, prefer-
ment, acceptation with the world, ease, liberty, life, &c.
having warrant out of the word, we are resolved and ready
to do it. Only inform us first how to partake and be as-
sured of the person and passion of Christ Jesus; how to
have the angry facer of our blessed God, to whom we have
continued rebels so long, turned into calmness and favour
unto us. But now a cast-away and alien thus legally terri-
fied and under wrath for sin, is never wont to come to this
earnestness of care, eagerness of resolution, stedfastness of
endeavour, willingness upon any terms, to abandon utterly
all his old ways, and to embrace new, strict, and holy
courses. These things appear unto him terrible, puritani-
cal, and intolerable. He commonly in such cases hath
recourse for ease and remedy to worldly comforts and the
arm of flesh. He labours to relieve his heavy heart by a
strong and serious casting his mind and nestling his con-
ceit upon his riches, gold, greatness, great friends, credit
amongst men, and such other transitory delights and fading
flowers of his fool's paradise. For he is at a point, and
resolute with a sensual impenitent obstinacy, not to pass
forward through the pangs of the new-birth by repentance
and sanctification into the holy life of new obedience ; lest
he should (as out of a foolish and frantic baseness he is apt
to fear) be engaged and enchained, as it were, to too much
strictness, preciseness, holiness of life, communion with
God's people, and opposition to good fellowship.
2. He that is savingly wounded with legal terror, is wont
in cool blood, and being something come to himself, to en-
tertain the very same thought (or rather mingled with a
great deal more reverence, afl'ectionateness, and love, as
far as the life of an iminortal soul doth surpass in dearness
and excellency the cure of a frail and earthly body) of that
man of God, who by a right managing the edge of his spi-
ritual sword hath pierced his heart, scorched his conscience,
and bruised his spirits ; I say, the same in proportion, which
a wise and thankful pTtient would have of that faithful
surgeon who hath seasonably and thoroughly lanced some
deep and dangerous sore, which otherwise would have been
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 181
his death. Upon the search and discovery he clearly sees
and acknowledges, that had not that holy incision been
made into his rotten and ulcerous heart, it had cost him the
eternal life of his soul. But now the alien, put out of his
sensual humour with horror of conscience, is ordinarily
transported with much rageful discontentment against the
powerful ministry of God's earnest messengers, who put
him to such torture by troubling him for sin and frighting
him with hell ; and thereupon cries out against them, at
least with secret indignation and fretting, as the devils did
against Christ, " Why do you thus torment us betbre the
time 1
3. Aliens in such cases entertain no other thought, and
cast about for no other comfort at all, but only how they
may recover their former quietness of mind, carnal ease, and
freedom from present terror. But he that is fitting by the spirit
of bondage for faith and the fellowship of the saints, will
never by any means, whatsoever come of him, relapse to
his wonted sensual security. Nay, of the two, he will
rather lie still upon the rack, waiting for the Lord Jesus all
lheda>sof his life, than " return any more unto foolish-
ness," or hunt again after any contentment in the mise-
rable pleasures of good-fellowship.
4. That messenger, an interpreter, one among a thousand,
who in such a case can seasonably and soundly declare
unto a savingly v/ounded soul his righteousness ; assure
him it was Christ Jesus' only business in coming from
heaven to disburthen " all that labour and are heavy
laden," and ease such trembling hearts, 6cc. ; I say such a
blessed man of God to such a broken heart is for ever after
most dear and welcome ; "his feet are beautiful" in his
eye every time becomes near him. Comfort of so high a
nature in extremity of such iiorrible consequence doth in-
finitely and endlessly endear the delivered soul to such an
heavenly doctor. But aliens commonly make no great
account of godly ministers any longer than they have pre-
sent need of them, and trouble of mind makes them melan-
cholic and out with mirth. They seem to reverence them,
while from their general discourses of micrcy and God's
free grace, of merciful invitations to Christ and certainty of
acceptation (if they will come in), they suck into their false
hearts before the time and truth of humiliation some super-
ficial glimmerings and flashes of comfort and cooling; but
if once the heat of their guilty rage begin to assuage, and
they find again some ease from their former terrors and
wonted relish in earthly delights, they turn such holy men
182 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
out of their hearts, cast them out of their consciences, and
hold no higher or further estimatioh of them, than of other
and ordinary men, if they forbear to persecute them with
thoughts of disdain and contempt.
5. The true penitent having smarted under the sense of
Divine wrath, and frighted witii the flames of horror for
sin, doth grow fearful for ever after to offend, and with
much gracious care dreads that " consuming fire." But
the alien, while he is upon the rack indeed, and hath the
heinousness of his sins and hell freshly in his eye, will
easily make many glorious protestations and promises what
a rare and resolute convert he will become upon his re-
covery. But if once the storm be oveiblown, God's hand
withdrawn, and his peiinful conscience cast agam into a
dead sleep by the power, or rather poison of some sensual
receipt, he performs just nothing ; but like a filthy swine
wallows again in tiie mire and mud of earthliness and car-
nality, and again with the beastly dog returns unto and
resumes his vomit.
6. He that hath savingly passed through the pangs of
such spiritual afflictions, is wont to be very kindly affected,
most compassionate and tender-hearted to others afflicted
with the same woful terrors and troubles of conscience. A
woman, who hath herself with extraordinary pain expe-
rienced the exquisite torture of childbirth, is wont to be
more tenderly and mercifully disposed towards another in
the like torment, than she that never knew what that misery
meant ; and is more ready, willing, and skilful to relieve
in such distresses. It is proportional)ly so in the present
case ; but the alien being tainted in some measure with
the devil's hateful disposition, is by the heat of his slavish
horror rather enraged with malice than resolved into mercy ;
he is rather tickled with a secret content, than touched
with true commiseration, to see and hear of others plunged
into the same gulf of misery and plagued like himself. He
is much troubled with soleness in suffering, and the singu-
larity of any sorrowful accident. Companionship in cros.>-e,s
doth something allay the discomlorts of carnal men ; so
that sometimes they secretly but very sinfully rejoice (such
is their dogt:,ed devilish disposition) even to see the hand
of God upon their neighbours. Neither can he in such ex-
tremities minister any means of help or true comfort at all,
either by prayer, counsel, or any experimental skill, because
the "evil spirit" of his vexed conscience was not driven
away by any well-grounded application of God's mercies
and Christ's blood ; but as Saul's was by music, worldly
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 183
uiirth, carnal advice, soul -slaying flatteries of men-pleas-
ing ministers, plunging desperately into variety of sensual
pleasures, 6cc.
7. He who after the boisterous tempest of legal terrors,
hath happily arrived at the port of peace, 1 mean that
blessed peace " which passeth all understanding," made
with God himself in the blood of his Son, enters presently
thereupon into the good way, takes upon him the yoke of
Christ, and serves him afterwards "in holiness and right-
eousness all the days of his life," and ordinarily his deeper
humiliation is an occasion of his more humble, precise,
holy, and strict walking, and of more watchfulness over
his heart and tenderness of conscience about lesser sins also,
all occasions of scandal, appearances of evil, even aberra-
tions in his best actions and holiest duties. But aliens,
when once they be taken off the rack, and their torture de-
termine, either become just the same men they were before,
or else reform only some one or other gross sin which stuck
most upon their consciences, but remain unamended and
unmortified in the rest; or else, which often comes to pass,
grow a great deal worse : for they are, as it were, angry
with God that he should give them a taste of hell-fire before
their time ; and therefore knowing their time but short, fall
upon earthly delights more furiously, and engross and grasp
the pleasures of the world with more greediness and im-
portunity.
CHAP. XII.
Instructions for the avoiding this fault of applying comfort too soou.
These things thus premised, I come to tell you, that for the
rectifying of the forementioned error, and prevention of the
danger of daubing and undoing for ever in a matter of so
weighty importance, I would advise the spiritual physician
to labour with the utmost improvement of all his divine
skill, heavenly wisdom, best experience, heartiest prayers,
most piercing persuasions pressed out of the word for thai
purpose, wisely to work and watchfully to observe the season
when he may warrantably and upon good ground apply
unto the wounded soul of his spiritually sick patient assured
comfort in the promises of life, and that sovereign blood
which was spilt for broken hearts, and assure him in the
word of truth, that all those rich compassions which lie
within the compass of that great covenant of everlasting mercy
and love, sealed with the painful sufferings of the Son of
184 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
God, belong unfo him. Which is then when his troubled
heart is soundly humbled under God's mighty hand, and
brought at length to, first, a truly penitent sight, sense, and
hatred of all sin ; secondly, a sincere and insatiable thirst
after Jesus Christ and righteousness both imputed and in-
herent ; thirdly, an unfeigned and unreserved resolution of
an universal new obedience for the time to come, Here 1
had purposed to have enlaiged ; but I am prevented by
that which hath been said already ; and therefore to avoid
repetition, I must remit you to the consideration of those
legal and evangelical preparations for the entertainment of
Christ and true comfort which I handled before, which may
give some good direction and satisfaction in the point.
See p. 92 to 103.
Yet take notice, that in the mean time, before such fit-
ness be fully effectuated, I would have the man of God ply
his patient with his best persuasions and proofs, seasonably
mingled with motives to humiliation, of the pardonableness
of his sins, possibility of pardon, damnableness of despair,
danger of ease by outward mirth, &c. ; and to hold out to
the eye of the troubled conscience as a prize and lure, as it
were, the freenessof God's immeasurable mercy, the general
offer of Jesus Christ without any exception of persons,
tiines, or sins ; the preciousness and infallibility of the pro-
mises, in as fair and lovely a fashion, in as orient and allur-
ing forms as he can possibly. But it is one thing to say, If
these things be so, 1 can assure you in the word of life of
the promises of life, and already real right and interest to
all the riches of God's free grace and glorious purchase of
Christ's meritorious blood ; another thing to say, if you will
suffer your understandings to be enlightened, your con-
sciences to be convinced, your hearts to be wounded with
sight, sense, and horror of sin ; if you will come in and
take Jesus Christ, his person, his passion, his yoke ; if you
will entertain these, and these affections, longings, and
resolutions, then most certainly our merciful Lord will
crown your tjuly humbled souls with his dearest com-
passions and freest love.
Lastly, be informed that when all is done, I mean when
the men of God have their desire, that the patient in their
persuasion is soundly wrought upon, and professeth under-
standingly and feelingly, and as they verily think from his
heart; first, that he is "heavy laden" with the grievous
burthen of all his sins; secondly, that he is come by his
pi esent spiritual terror and trouble of mind to that resolu-
tion, " to do any thing," which we find in the hearers of
John and Peter (Luke iii, Actsii) ; thirdly, that he rac^t
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 185
highly prizeth Jesus Christ far above the riches, pleasures'
and glory of the whole earth ; thirsts and longs for him in-
finitely : fourthly, that he is most willing " to sell all," to
part with all sin, with his right eye and right hand, those lusts
and delights which stuck closest to his bosom, not to leave
so much as a hoof behind ; fifthly, that he is content with
all his heart to take Christ, as well for a lord and husband,
to serve, love, and obey him, as for a Saviour to deliver
him from the miseries of sia ; to take upon him his yoke ;
to enter into the narrow way and walk in the holy path ;
to associate himself to that sect which is " so spoken against
everywhere" (Acts xxviii, 22); I say, when it is thus
with the afflicted party, and most happy is he when it is
thus with him ; yet, notwithstanding, because God alone
is the searcher of the heart, and the heart of man is de-
ceitful above all things, we can assure mercy and pardon
only conditionally, though by the mercy of God we do it
many and many times with strong and undeceiving confi-
dence. We must ever add, either expressly or impliedly,
such forms of speech as these : If all tliis which you profess
be in truth ; if you be thus resolved indeed ; if these things
be so as you have said, why then we assure you in the word
of life and truth, your case is comfortable ; you may
sweetly repose your troubled and truly humbled soul upon
Jesus Christ as your " wisdom, righteousness, sanctifica-
tion, and redemption ;" upon all the promises of life, God's
free grace, &c. as truly belonging unto you and certainly
yours for ever.
Hear two master builders upon the matter, confirming the
present point : —
1. "To think that it lieth in the power of any priest truly
to absolve a man from his sins, without implying the condi-
tion of his believing and repenting as he ought to do, is
both presumption and madness in the highest degree *."
2. " In the pardon whereby a priest pardonetht a sinner
* Dr. Usl:er, in his Answer to a Jesuit's Challenge ; Of the Priest's
power to forsrive sins.
t By pardoning here understand not any sovereis^nty of remitting
sins; we leave that error to the Luciferian pride of that '• man of sin,
who exalteth himself above all that is called God: " whom if we follow,
we must say that in this high priest there is the fulness of all grace,
because he alone giveth a full indulgence of all sins, that that may
agree unto him which we say of the chief prince our Lord, that "of
his fulness all we have received " (De Regimine Principuura, lib. iii,
cap. X, inter Opuscula Thoma;, num. 20). Nay, we nmst acknowledge,
that the meanest in the whole army of priests that follows this king of
pride, hath such fulness of power derived unto him for the opening and
shutting of heaven before men, "that foruiveness is denied to them
R 3
lae INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
for an offence by him committed against God, there are two
things to be considered ; one, that there is no pardon if the
sinner doth not earnestly repent ; the other, that he himself
which pardoneth hath need of pardon. Of these two points,
the first is the cause that the priest's pardon is conditional,
because he knoweth not the heart ; the other is a cause that
the priest should consider of himself that he is rather a
delinquent than a judge ; and to teach him to fear, lest that
after he hath pardoned others, he himself may not obtain
pardon. It is a thing certain, that if a sinner seriously con-
verted and believing in Jesus Christ cannot obtain absolution
of his pastor, who is passionate or badly informed of the
truth, God will pardon him. On the contrary, if a pastor
that is indulgent and winketh at vices, or that is deceived
by appearance of repentance, absolveth an hypocritical
sinner and receiveih him into the communion of the faithful,
that hypocritical sinner remaineth bound before God, and
shall be punished notwithstanding. For God partaketh not
with the errors of pastors, neither regardeth their passions ;
nor can be hindered from doing justice by their ignorance *."
3. Let me add Cyprian, who at the first rising of the
Novatian heresy, wrote thus to Antonianust ; " We do not
prejudice the Lord that is to judge, but that he, if he find
the repentance of the sinner to be full and just, may then
ratify that which shall be here ordained by us. But if any
one do deceive us with the semblance of repentance, God,
who is not mocked, and who beholdeth the heart of man,
may judge of those things which we did not well discern,
and the Lord may amend the sentence of his servants."
Neither let this truth (to wit, that our assuring of mercy
and pardon must be conditional upon such like terms as
these, " If thou dost believe and repent as thou oughtest
to do ; if these things be in truth as you promise and con-
fess," &c.) discourage or trouble any that are true of heart :
whom the priest will not forgive" (Bellarm. de Poeniteiit. lib. iii,
cap. ii), I say then, by pardoning, we must not understand any sove-
reignty of remitting sins ; but a declaring and showing to the true
repentant that they are pardoned, ministerially only. To which truth,
it is so mighty, even some popish writers subscribe. *' God," saith
Lomburd, the father of the Romish school, " hath given to priests to
bind and unbind, that is, to show that men are bound or unbound."
Nay, our polemical divines prove it to be publicly taught from the time
of Satan's loosing until his binding again by the restoring of the purity
of the gospel in our days.
* Buckler of the taith, by Peter de Moulin against Armour the
Jesuit, of Auricular Confession.
t Ad Antonianum, epist. ii, lib. iv.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 187
for it should not prejudice or hinder their application of the
promises, taking Christ as their own, assurance of mercy and
comfort ; because they are conscious to themselves of the
sincerity of their own hearts : and therefore look how the
prophet Isaiah was comforted when the angel said unto
him, "Thine iniquity is taken away and thy sin purged"
(Isa. vi,t7), and the poor woman in the gospel, when Jesus
said unto her, " Thy sins are forgiven " (Luke vii, 48) : the
like consolation doth the distressed sinner receive from the
mouth of the minister, when he hath compared the truth of
God's word faithfully delivered by him with the work of
God's grace in his own heart. According to that of Elihu,
"If there be an angel, or a messenger with him, an inter-
preter, one of a thousand, to declare unto man his righteous-
ness ; then will God have mercy upon him, and say. Deliver
him from going down to the pit, 1 have found a ransom "
(Jobxxxiii, 23,24)*.
CHAP. XllL
The Second Case wherein the former Error is committed, which is in
applying too much. Two things concerning which the afflicted Is to
be advised for avoiding tliis error.
2. Too much. A little aqua vita may happily revive and
refresh the fainting spirits of a swooning man, but too much
would kill. A spoonful of cinnamon water mingled with
twelve spoonfuls of spring water and one spoonful of rose
water, &c. may be sovereign against the sinking of the heart ;
but pour at once a pint into the stomach, and it might un-
happily choke the natural heat, waste the radical moisture,
and burn up a man's bowels. Mercy being wisely admi-
nistered in the right season, and mingled with convenient
counsels and cautions, may by God's blessing bind up a
broken heart with a progressive and kindly cure, it may
mollify for the present with an healing and heavenly heat
the smarting anguish of a wounded conscience, and at
length seasonably close it up with sound and lasting com-
fort ; but poured out at random by an unsteady and indis-
creet hand, it may by accident dangerously dry up penitent
tears too soon, and stifle the work of the spirit of bondage
in tlie beginning.
But here let none either out of ignorance or malice mis-
take or be troubled with this too much. The same phrase la
* Usher, in his Answer to a Jesuit's Challcuge.
188 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
the same sense is to be found in Mr. Perkins *, a great
master in the deep mystery of dealing with afflicted con-
sciences. For we must know, that too inuch is by no means
to be meant of any ways restraining or confining the infinite-
ness of God's mercy. It were execrable blasphemy to dis-
robe God's most glorious attribute of its immensity ; but in
respect of not mingling some cautions to keep from presump-
tion, as will appear in the ensuing counsels 1 shall commend
for that purpose.
Upon this ground, I reason thus : —
A man may press and apply God's justice and the terrors
of the law loo much ; therefore also mercy and the comforts
of the gospel too much : the consequence is clear ; for as
the former may plunge into the gulf of despair, so the other
may cast upon the rock of presumption. Nay, it is more
than unanswerably strong, because we are far readier to
apprehend and apply unto ourselves mercy than judgment ;
and thousands are endlessly overthrown through presump-
tion for one by despair. And the antecedent who will deny 1
It is rather so preposterously applauded and pressed, that
most, if a minister, even with his best discretion, reveal the
whole counsel of God, and tell them that none shall be
refreshed by Christ, but only those who " labour and are
heavy laden" (Matt, xi, 28); that they must "humble
themselves in the sight of the Lord," if they would have
him "to lift them up " (James iv, 10); that none "shall
have mercy " but such as " confess and forsake their sins "
(^Prov. xxviii, 13) ; that the mere civil man and lukewarm
formal professor without holiness and zeal can never be
saved (Heb. xii, 14; Revel, iii, 19) ; that all "the wicked
shall be turned into hell," &c. (Psalm ix, 17) ; in a word,
if he take the right course to bring men " from darkness to
light, from Satan to the living God;" by first wounding
with the law before he heal with the gospel ; — I say, the
most in this case are ready to cry out and complain that he
throws wildfire, brimstone, and gunpowder into the con-
sciences of men.
Conceive, therefore, I pray you, —
That there is in God, first, his justice ; and secondly, his
mercy, both infinite and equal. Only in regard of man
there is an inequality, for God may be said to be more mer-
ciful unto them that are saved, than just to them that are
damned. For of damnation, the just cause is in man ; but
of salvation, it is wholly from grace. In himself, and origi-
* Cases of Conscience, book i, chap, vii, ject. 6; and chap, xi,
sect. 1.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 189
nally, they are both equal, and so are all his attributes ;
but in respect of the exercise and expression upon his crea-
tures, and abroad in the world, there is some difference.
But for my purpose and our ministerial employment and
commission, take notice,
That as the revealed effects of God's mercy are love,
tender-heartedness, compassions, his own dear Son's precious
heart-blood, pardon of sins, peace of conscience, unspeak-
able and glorious joy thereupon, evangelical pleasures, com-
fortable presence of the Spirit even in this life, and in the
other world pleasures infinitely more than the stars of the
firmament in number, even for ever and ever ; and all
these upon all true penitents : —
So the revealed effects of his justice are " indignation and
wrath, tribulation and anguish ; " that sword, " which will
devour flesh ; " those arrows, that " drink blood ; " that
fiery anger, " which will burn unto the lowest hell, and set
on fire the foundations of the mountains ; " that coming
against, which is " with fire and chariots like a whirlwind,
to render anger with fury, and rebuke with flames of fire ; "
that meeting, which is as of a " bear bereaved of her
whelps, to rend the caul of the heart, and devour like a
lion," 6cc. ; all plagues, with the extremity, temporal,
spiritual, eternal ; all the curses in this book of his ; all
the torments of hell, to the utmost spark of those infernal
flames ; and all these upon all impenitent sinners. Now
God will be glorified both ways and by them both.
Give us leave, then, to give them both their due.
We are most willing and ready, as our great Master in
heaven would have us (Isa. xl, 1, 2), and our blessed
Saviour by his example doth teach us (Luke iv, II), to
convey by our ministry into every truly broken heart and
bleeding soul the warmest blood that ever heated Christ's
tender heart, and to keep back from the true penitent not
any one grain of that immeasurable mine of all the rich
mercies purchased Avith that precious blood.
Be content therefore on the other side that we open the
armoury of God's justice, and " reveal his wrath from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men ; that
indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, shall be
upon every soul of man that doth evil," &c. As we are ever
ready to bind up the bruised spirit with the softest oil of
God's sweetest mercy ; so let us, 1 pray you, have leave, in
the equity of a just and holy proportion, to wound with the
hammer of the law the hairy scalp of every one that goes
on in his sin.
Let us deal faithfully even with wicked men, lest we
190 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
answer for the blood of their souls, by telling them, that as
certainly as all the glorious comforts and blessed conse-
quents of God's infinite mercy shall crown the heart and
head of every true-hearted Nathanael for ever, so all the
dreadful effects of his angry justice will at length seize upon
the souls and confound the consciences of all unholy men
with extremest severity and terror.
Let it be thus, then, and let our ministerial dispensation
be in this manner. If thou be an impenitent person, I would
tell thee that the utmost wrath of God, unquenchable and
everlasting vengeance, all earthly and infernal plagues, are
thy certain portion ; but I would mollify and sweeten the
bitterness of this sentence with assurance of mercy upon
repentance, to prevent the assaults of despair.
On the other side ; if the ministry of the word hath
wrought upon thee effectually, and now thy truly humbled
soul thirsts after Christ with a sincere hatred and opposition
against all sin ; I would assure thy troubled and trembling
heart in the word of life and truth, of all those most preci-
ous blessings and sweetest comforts, which the book of God
doth promise, and the blood of Christ hath bought. But
withal I would commend unto thee some coolers and coun-
ter-poisons against presumption and falling to pharisaism.
For which purpose, and for prevention of danger and
spiritual undoing by unskilful and indiscreet daubing in the
case proposed, 1 come now to tender such counsels and cau-
tions as these, or the like, which the faithful physician of the
soul, according to occasions, circumstances, and present
exigencies, may think fit to be mingled with administration
of mercy, and wisely propounded to the afflicted party.
It may not prove unseasonable to speak thus, or in some
such manner, to thy spiritual patient : —
I. If these things be truly and soundly so ; if thou find
and feel indeed such a mollified and melting spirit, such
broken and bleeding affections in thy bosom, thou art cer-
tainly blessed. If thai sorrowful soul of thine doth renounce
from the very heart-root with special distaste and detesta-
tion all manner of sin ; insatiably " tliirst after righteous-
ness ;" unfeignedly resolve for the short remainder of a few
and evil days to bend itself towards heaven in all new obe-
dience ; I say, if this be sincerely the holy disposition and
resolution of thine heavy heart, notwithstanding all thy
present terror and trouble of mind, thou art truly and ever-
lastingly happy. Only take notice (lest my ministering of
mercy be mistaken, or thy conceiving of comfort miscarry)
that the '* heart of man is deceitful above all things." A
bottomless depth it is of falsehoods, dissemblings, hypoeri-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 191
sies ; aa endless maze of windings, turnings, and hidden
passages. No eye can search and see its centre and secrets,
but that all-seeing One alone, which is ten thousand times
brigliter than the sun, to which the darkest nook of hell is
as the noon-day : and therefore not I nor any man alive
can promise pardon, or apply the promises, but conditionally
upon supposition, "if these things be so and so, as thou
hast said." And the sincerity of thy heart and truth of these
hopeful protestations, which we now hear from thee in this
extremity (and I must tell thee by the way, such like rnay
be enforced by the slavish sting of present tenor, not fairly
and freely flow from a true touch of conscience for sin; I
say this may be, though I hope better things of thee) -, the
truth, as 1 said, both of thy heart and these affectionate
promises will appear when the storm is over, and this dismal
tempest, which hath overcast and shaken thy spirit with
extraordinary fear and astonishment, is overblown. Thy
course of life to come will prove a true touchstone, to try
whether this be the kindly travail of the new birth, or only
a temporary terror during the fit, by reason of the uncouth-
ness and exquisiteness of this invisible spiritual torture,
without true turning to Jesus Christ. If when the now-
troubled powers of thy soul, which the wound of thy con-
science hath cast into much distracted and uncomlortable
confusion, shall recover tlieir wonted calmness and quiet,
thou turn unto thine old bias, humour, company, and con-
versation, it will then be more than manifest that this
furnace of terror and temptation, wherein thou now liest
and languishest, was so lar from working thine heart to
heavenliness and grace, that it hath hammered it to more
hardness and ungraciousness — from purging and refining,
that it hath occasioned more earthliness, epicurism, and
raging affections in sensuality and sinful pleasures. But if,
when thou art up again and raised by God's merciful hand
out of the depth of this spiritual distress, into which the
horrible sight and heavy weight of thy sins hath sunk thee ;
if then thou express and testify thy true heartedness in these
present solemn protestations, made now, as it were, in thy
hot blood ; I mean, of thy hatred against sin, by an earnest
opposition, watchfulness, and stiiving against all, especially
that, which in thine unregenerate time stuck closest to thy
bosom, of thine hunger and thirst after a comfortable frui-
tion of God's face and favour, by a conscientious and con-
stant pursuit and exercise of all good means and opportuni-
ties, of all his blessed ordinances appointed and sanctified
for growth in grace, and bringing him nearer unto him ; of
thy future new obedience and Christian walking, by plyinc;
192 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
industriously and fruitfully with thy }>est endeavour and
utmost ability those three glorious works of Christianity,
preservation of purity in thine own soul and body, righteous
dealing with all thou hast to do with, holy carriage towards
God in all religious duties ; in a word, by " denying un-
godliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously,
and godlily in this present world," of which the " grace of
God teacheih " every true convert to make conscience (Tit.
ii, 11, 12) ; — I say, if upon thy recovery this be thy course,
thou art certainly new-created. Such blessed behaviour as
this will infallibly evidence these present terrors to have
been the pangs of thy new-birth, and thy happy translation
from death to life, from the vanity and folly of sin into the
light and liberty of God's children.
II. Secondly, say unto him : When once that blessed
fountain of soul-saving blood is opened upon thy soul in
the side of the Son of God by the hand of faith for " sin
and for uncleanness ;" then also must a counter-spring, as
It were, of repentant tears be opened in thine humbled
heart, which must not be dried up until thy dying day.
This is my meaning (for every Christian hath not tears at
command : the heart sometimes may bleed when the eyes
are dry). Thou must be content to continue the current
of thy godly sorrow upon that abominable sink of all the
lusts, vanities, and villanies of thy dark and carnal time ;
and also upon those frailties, infinnities, imperfections, de-
fects, relapses, backslidings, which may accompany thy
regenerate state, even until that body of sin which thou
carriest about thee be dissolved by the stroke of death. As
concerning thine old sins, and those that are past, it is not
enough that now the fresh horror of them, and those grisly
affrighting forms wherein they have appeared to the eye of
thy wounded conscience, have wrought upon thy heart, by
God's blessing, some softness, heart-rising, remorse, and
hatred : but thou must many and many a time hereafter,
in the extraordinary exercises of renewed repentance, press
thy penitent spirit to bleed afresh within thee, and draw
water again out of the bottom of thy broken heart with
those Israelites (1 Sam. vii, 6), and pour it out before the
Lord in abundance of bitter tears for thy never -sufficiently-
sorrowed-for abominations and rebellions against so blessed
and bountiful a God.
Now the solemn times and occasions when we are called
to this renewed repentance are such as these : —
1. When we are to perform some special services unto
God; because then out of a godly jealousy we may fear
lest the face and favour of God, the love and light of his
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 19J
countenance, may not lie so open unto us, by reason of the
cloudy interposition of our former sins. 2. When we seek
for any special blessing at God's merciful hands ; because
then out of a gracious fear we may suspect that our old
sins may intrude, and labour to intercept and divert from
our longing souls the sweet and comfortable influences ot
the throne of grace. It may seem that David, in the cur-
rent of his prayer, saw his old sins charge upon him, and
therefore cries out by the way, " Remember not the sins oi
my youth." 3. In the time of some great affliction and
remarkable cross, when upon a new search and strict ex-
amination of our hearts and lives, we, humbling ourselves
more solemnly again in the sight of the Lord, and mourn-
ing afresh over him whom we have pierced with our youthful
pollutions and provoke daily vvith many woful failings, are
wont to seek God's pleased face and our former peace,
sanctification of it unto us at the present time, and the re-
moval of it from us in due time in the name of Jesus C'hrist.
4. After relapse into some old secret lust, or fall into some'
new scandalous sin. David's remorse for adultery and
murder brought his heart to bleed over his birth sin
(Psalm li, 5). 6. Above all, upon all those mighty days
of humiliation by prayer and fasting, public, private, or
secret, wherein God's people wrestle with God by the om-
nipotency of prayer, and work so many wonders from time
to time. Some there are also, who setting apart some spe-
cial times to confer with God in secret, lay together before
him the glorious catalogue of the riches of his mercy,
reaching from everlasting to everlasting, all his favouis,
preservations, deliverances, protections, &c. from their first
being to that time, and the abhorred catalogue of all their
sins from .^dam to that hour; original, both imputed and
inherent; actual, both before and since their calling; and
this they do with hearty desire of such different afl'ections
as they severally require. A serious and sensible com-
paring of which two together, makes sin a great deal more
loathsome and the mercies of God more illustrious, and so
proves effectual many times, by the help of the Holy Ghost,
to soften their hearts extraordinarily, to make them weep
heartily, and fills their soul with much joyful sorrow and
humble thankfulness. 6. Upon our beds of death. Then,
because we take our faiev.ell of repentance, we should
take our fill of it; because it is the last time we shall look
upon our sins for that purpose, we should dismiss them
with utmost and extreinest loathing. At such times and
upon such occasions as these and the like, when thou art
called to a more solemn, strict, and severe search and re-
S
194 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
view of thy old sins and former life, thou must renew this
present repentance of thy new birth, make thine heart
break again and bleed afresh with the sight of thy hereto-
fore much doated upon but now most abhorred abominable
courses. And so often also as thou lookest back upon them,
thou must labour to abominate and abandon them with
more resolute aversion and new decrees of detestation.
Though it may be, by the mercies of God, they shall never
be able to sting thee again with the same slavishness of
guilty horror, yet thou must still endeavour in thy cool
blood to strangle utterly thy former delight in them with
more hearty additions of deadly hatred, and to be more
and more humbled for them until thy ending hour. It is a
very high happiness and blessing above ordinary to be able
to look back upon thy choicest youthful pleasures and pol-
lutions, without either sensual delight or slavish horror ;
with sincere hatred, holy indignation, and hearty mourn-
ing.
Now for the time to come, and those sins which here-
after the rebelliousness of thy sinful nature, and violence of
the devil's temptations may force upon thee ; if thy heart
be now truly touched and conscience savingly enlightened,
thou shalt find much matter, necessity, and use of con-
tinuing thy repentance so long as thy life lasts. In a leak-
ing ship there must be continual pumping. A ruinous
house must be still in repairing. These bodies of death we
bear about us, are naturally liable to so many batteries and
breaches by the assaults of original sin and other impla-
cable enemies to our souls, that there is extreme need of
perpetual watch and ward, repenting and repairing, lest
the new man be too much oppressed and too often sur-
prized by the many and cunning encounters of the old
Adam. When thou art in company, solitary, busied about
thy particular calling, there may suddenly arise in thine
heart sqme greedy wish, some gross conceit, some vain, un-
clean, ambitious, revengeful thought : ejaculate presently
a penitent sigh and fervent prayer for pardon of it in the
passion of Christ. In thy family, perhaps amongst thy
children and servants, by reason of some cross accident,
thou mayest break out into some unadvised passionate
speech, and disgrace thyself and profession by over-hasty
intemperate heat, not without some danger of hurting and
hardening those about thee thereby : get thee presently
upon it into thy closet, or some place for that purpose,
throv.' thyself down with a truly grieved and humbled soul
before the throne of grace, and rise not until thou be recon-
ciled unto thy God. If at any time, which God forbid,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 195
thou be overtaken with some more public and scandalous sin,
or tlangerously haunted with some enormous secret lust ;
appoint for thyself a solemn day of humiliation, and then
cry unto the Loid " like a woman in travail," and give him
no rest until he return unto thee with the wonted favour
and calmness of his pleased countenance. If Christians
would constantly take to heart and ply this blessed busi-
ness of immediately rising by repentance after every relapse
and fall into sin, they would find a further paradise and
pleasure in the ways of God than they ever yet tasted.
'I'his course continued with present feeling and after-watch-
fulness, would help excellently, by the blessing of God and
exercise of faith, the only conduit of all spiritual comfort,
to keep in their bosoms that which they much desire and
often bewail the want of, a cheerful, bold, and heavenly
spirit.
Neither let any here be troubled because I press the ex-
ercise and use both of renewed and continued repentance
all our life long, as though thereupon the Christian's life
might seem more uncomfortable. For we are to know that
" sorrow after a godly sort," evangelical mourning, is
mingled with abundance of spiritual joy, which doth in-
finitely surpass in sweetness and worth all worldly plea-
sures and delights of sense. Nay, whereas all the jovial
good-fellow mirth of carnal men is but a flash of hellish
folly, this is a very glimpse of heavenly glory. Let me
tell you again how sweetly and truly that excellent
divine of Scotland* speaks of it: "There is," saiih he,
" more lightness of heart and true delight in the sorrow
of the saints, than in the world's loudest laughter. For
unspeakable joy is mingled with unutterable groans." The
ancient fathers are of the same mind with this man of God.
" Godly sorrow," saith Chrysostom, " is better than the
joys of the world." Even as " the joy of the world is ever
accompanied with sorrow, so godly tears beget continual
and certain delight." Again, " Such a maii as this now"
(meaning him whose heart is inflamed with a heavenly
heat), " despising all things here below, doth persevere in
continual compunction, pouring out abundance of tears
everyday, and taking thence a great deal of pleasure!."
•' Let the penitent," saith Austin, '* be always sorrowful
for sin, and always rejoice for that sorrow t."
* Rolloc, on John, cb;ip. xi.
t Chi-ysostoni, 2 Cor. vii, hom. 15; Matt, ii, lioiii. (>.
t De vera et falsa Heiiiterjtia, cap. xiii.
196 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
CHAP. XIV.
Two Things more, concerning wliicli the Afflicted Is to be advised, and
Two Things wliich the Minister is to heed for avoiding that Error.
III. Beware of two dangerous errors : — 1. Either to con-
ceive that thou mayest not admit of any comfort, or apply
the promises comfortably, because thou still findest in thy-
self more matter of mourning and further humiliation.
2. Or to think, when thou hast once laid hold upon Christ's
person and precious sufferings for the pardon of thy sins
and quieting of thy soul, that then thou must mourn no
more.
1. For the first know, that were our heads seas, and our
eyes fountains of tears, and poured out abundantly every
moment of our life ; should our hearts fall asunder into
drops of blood in our breast, for anguish and indignation
against ourselves for our transgressions, yet should we come
infinitely short of the sorrow and heart's grief which our
many and heinous lusts and pollutions justly merit and
exact at our hands. Therefore we cannot expect from our-
selves any such sufficiency of sorrow or worthiness of weep-
ing for our sins, as by the perfection and power thereof to
win God's favour and draw his mercy upon us. Such a
conceit were most absurd, senseless, and sinful, and would
rather discover and taste of natural pride than true humi-
lity, and tend unhappily to the disgrace of God's mercies
and gracing our own merits. True it is, had we a thousand
eyes it were too little to weep them all out, for the very
vanity of that one sinful sense. Had we a thousand hearts,
and they should all burst with penitent grief and bleed to
death for the sins of our souls, it were more than immea-
surably, inconceivably insufficient. For were all this so,
yet were it not this, but the heart's blood of Jesus Christ
could make the Father's heart to yearn compassionately
over us, or purchase pardon and acceptation at his hands.
Tender therefore unto that poor troubled soul, who being
sorely crushed and languishing under the burthen of his
sins refuses to be raised and refreshed, endlessly pleading
and disputing against himself out of a strong, fearful appre-
hension of his own vileness and unworthiness, putting off
all comfort by this misconception, that no seas of sorrow,
no measure of mourning, will suffice to enable him to come
comfortably unto Jesus Christ ; — I say, press upon such an
one this true principle in the high and heavenly art of
lightly comforting afflicted consciences : —
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 197
So soon as a man is truly and heartily humbled tor all
liis sins, and weary of their weight, thougli the degree of
his sorrow be not answerable to his own desire, yet he shall
most certainly be welcome unto Jesus Christ.
It is not so much the amount and measure of our sorrow,
as the truth and heartiness, which fits us for the promises
and comforts of mercy. Though I must say this also, He
that thinks he hath sorrowed enough for his sins, never
sorrowed savingly.
2. For the second, which is more properly and specially
pertinent to our purpose, take notice, that the blood of
Christ being seasonably and savingly applied to thine hum-
bled soul for the pardon and purgation of thy sin, must by
no means dam and dry up thy well-spring of weeping, but
only assuage and heal thy wound of horror. That precious
balm hath this heavenly property and power, that it rather
melts, softens, and makes the heart a great deal more
weeping-ripe. If these be truly the pangs of the new birth
wherewith thou art now afflicted, thou shalt find that thy
now cleaving with assurance of acceptation unto the Lord
Jesus will not so much lessen, hinder, or cease thy sorrow,
as rectify, season, and sweeten it. If thy right unto that
soul-saving passion be real, and thou cast thine eye with a
believing, hopeful heart upon him whom thou hast therein
pierced with thy sins (and those sins alone are said pro-
perly to have pierced Christ which at length are pardoned
by Ins blood), thou canst not possibly but entertam excess
of love unto thy crucified Lord; and sense of God's mercy
shed into thy soul through his merits will make thee weep
again, and fairly force thine heart to burst out abundantly
into fresh and filial tears.
See how freshly David's heart bled with repentant sor-
row upon his assurance by Nathan of the pardon of his sin
(Psalm li). Thou canst not choose but mourn more
heartily, evangelically, and (which should passingly please
thee and sweetly perpetuate the spring of thy godly sorrow)
more pleasingly unto God.
Take therefore special notice and heed of these two depths
of the devil that I have now disclosed unto thee.
First. When thou art truly wrought upon by the ministry
of the word, and now fitted for comfort, " believe the pro-
phets," those ones of a thousand, learned in the right hand-
ling of afflicted consciences, " and thou shalt prosper."
As soon as thy soul is soundly humbled for sin, open and
enlarge it joyfully like the thirsty ground, that the refresh-
ing dew and doctrine of the gospel mav drop and distil
S 3
198 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
upon it as the small rain upon the parched grass. Other-
wise —
(1.) Thou ofFerest dishonour and disparagement as it
were to the dearness and tenderness of God's mercy, who
is ever infinitely more ready and forward to bind up a
broken heart, than it to bleed before him*. Consider for
this purpose the parable of the prodigal son (Luke xv, 11) ;
he is there said to go, but the father ran.
(2.) Thou mayest by the unsettledness of thy heavy
heart unnecessarily unfit and disable thyself for the duties
and discharge of both thy callings.
(3.) Thou shalt gratify the devil, who will labour mightily
by his lying suggestions (if thou wilt not be counselled and
comforted when there is cause) to detain thee in perpetual
horror here, and in an eternal hell hereafter. Some find
him as furiously and maliciously busy to keep them from
comfort when they are fitted, as from fitness for comfort.
(4.) Thou ait extremely unadvised, nay, very cruel to thine
own soul. For whereas it might now be filled with " un-
speakable and glorious joy" (1 Pet. i, 8), with " peace that
passeth all understanding" (Phil, iv, 7), with evangelical
pleasures, which are such as " neither eye hath seen nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man"
(1 Cor. ii, 9), by taking Christ, to which thou hast a strong
and manifold calling — " Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come
ye to the waters," &c. (Isa. Iv, 1) ; " Come unto me all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"
(Matt, xi, 28) ; " If any man thirst, let him come unto me
and drink'* (John vii, 37) ; "and let him that is athirst,
come : and whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely" (Revel, xxii, 17) ; yea, a commandment — "And
this is his commandment, that we should believe on the
name of his Son Jesus Christ" ( 1 John iii, 23) : — and yet,
for all this, thou as it were wilfully standest out, will not
" believe the prophets," forsakest thine own comfort, and
liest still upon the rack of thy unreconcilement unto God.
Secondly. On the other hand, when the anguish of thy
guilty conscience is upon sure ground something allayed
and suppled with the oil of comfort, and thy wounded
heart warrantably revived with the sweetness of the pro-
raises, as with " marrow and fatness," thou must not then
* "And therefore will the Lor J wait that he may be gracious unto
you" (Isa. XXX, 18). "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not
comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and thy foun-
dations with sapphires" (isa. liv, II). "He rctaineth not his anger
for ever, because lie delighteth in mercy" (Micah vii, 18).
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 109
either shut up thine eyes from further search into thy sins,
or dry them up from any more mourning. But comfort of
remission must serve as a precious eye-salve, both to clear
their sight, that they may see more and with more detes-
tation ; and to enlarge their sluices, as it were, to pour out
repentant tears more plentifully. Thou must continue rip-
ping up and ransacking that hellish heap of thy former re-
bellions and pollutions of youth ; still dive and dig into
that body of death thou bearest about thee, for the finding
out and furnishing thyself vi^ith as much matter of sound
humiliation as may be, that thou mayest still grow viler
and viler in thine own eyes, and be more and more humble
until thy dying day. But yet so, that as thou boldest out
in the one hand the clear crystal of God's pure law to dis-
cover the vileness and variety of thy sins, all the spots and
stains of thy soul, so thou hold out in the other hand, or
rather with the hand of faith lay hold upon the Lord Jesus,
hanging bleeding and dying upon the cross for thy sake.
The one is sovereign to save from slavish stings of con-
science, bitterness of horror, and venom of despair. The
other, mingled with faith, will serve as a quickening preser-
vative to keep in thy bosom an humble, soft, and lowly
spirit, which doth ever excellently fit to live by faith more
cheerfully, to enjoy God more nearly, to apply Jesus Christ
more feelingly, and to long for his coming more earnestly :
in a word, to climb up more merrily those stairs of joy,
which are pressed upon us by the holy prophet, " He
glad — rejoice — and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in
heart" (Psalm xxxii, 11).
IV. Conceive that hypocrisy may lurk in very goodly out-
ward forms and fairest promises and protestations of self-
seeming earnest humiliation. Look upon Ahab (1 Kings
xxi, 27^ ; upon the Israelites (Psalm Ixxviii, 34, 35). I mean
not only gross hypocrisy, whereby men's false hearts teach
them to deceive others; but also that which elsewhere I
have styled formal hypocrisy, whereby men's own hearts
deceive even their ownselves. For I make no question but
the promises of amendment which many make when they
are pressed and panting under some heavy cross or grievous
sickness, proceed from their hearts ; I mean they speak as
they think, and, for the present, purpose performance, who
notwithstanding upon their recovery and restitution of
former health and wonted worldly happiness, return " with
the dog unto their vomit," and plunge again perfidiously
into the cursed current of their disclaimed pleasures. But
by the way, and in a word, to enlighten a perplexed point,
200 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and prevent a scruple which may trouble true hearts indeed,
who hold truth of heart in their repentances, services, and
duties towards God to be their peculiar and a special touch-
stone to try and testify tlie soundness of their sanctification,
the truth of their spiritual states, and a distinctive character
from all sorts of unregeuerate men, and all kinds of hypo-
crisy ; — i say, purposes and promises made from the heart
in the sense 1 have stated, with earnest eager protestation
while they are in anguish and extremity, and yet after de-
liverance and ease melt away " as a morning cloud and
like the early dew," proceed from hearts rather affected
only with sting of present horror, natural desire of happi-
ness, misconceit that it is a light thing to leave sin, and the
like, than truly broken and burthened with sight of their
own viieness, sense of God's displeasure, hatred of wicked-
ness and former sensual ways ; or enamoured with the
sweetness of Jesus Christ, amiableness of grace, and good-
ness of God, 6cc. Howsoever for my purpose certain it is,
and too manifest by many woful experiences, that as it
often falls out and fares with men in their corporal visita-
tions and outward crosses, to wit, that while the storm and
tempest beats sore upon them they run unto God as " their
rock, and inquire early after him," as it is said of the
Israelites, Psalm Ixxviii, 34 ; but when once a hot gleam of
former health and prosperity shines upon them again, they
hie as fast out of God's blessing into the warm sun ; from
sorrow for sin to delight of sense ; from seeking God to
security in their old ways : 1 say, even so it is sometimes
also with men in afflictions of soul and troubles of con-
science. While the agony and extremity is upon them, they
grieve as though they would become true converts ; both
promise and purpose many excellent things for the time to
come, and a remarkable change ; but if once the fit be over,
they " start aside like a broken bow," and fearfully fall away
from what they have vowed, with horrible ingratitude and
execrable villany, having been extraordinarily schooled and
scorched, as it were, in the flames of horror, and warned
to take heed by the very vengeance of hell. For the former,
hear the experience of reverend divines. " jMany seeming,"
saith one, " to repent affectionately in dangerous sickness,
when they have recovered have been rather worse than
before." " 1 would have thought myself," saith another,
" that many monstrous persons whom 1 have visited, when
God's hand upon them caused them to cry out and promise
amendment, would have proved rare examples to otiicrs of
true conversion unto God. But to my great grief, and to
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES* 2M
teach me experience what becometh of such untimely fruits,
they have turned back again as an arrow from a stone wall,
and as the dog to his own vomit."
For the latter, 1 could here make it good also by too
many experiences, were it convenient ; but I forbear for
some reasons to report them at this time.
I publish this point and speak thus, not to trouble any
true converts about the truth of their hearts in their troubles
of conscience : consciousness unto themselves of their new
birth, already happily past; their prizing and cleaving to
the Lord Jesus invaluably, invincibly ; their present new
obedience, new courses, new company, new conversation,
<S;c. makes it more than evident that they were savingly
mollified and melted in the furnace of their spiritual afflic-
tions, fashioned and framed by the hand of the Holy Ghost
to be God's jewels : but to terrify those miserable men, who
having tasted that transcendent torture of a wounded con-
science, dare upon any terms look back again upon the world
with delight and doating, and again commit those sins
which have already stung their hearts with the very terrors
of hell : or rather at this time to teach and tell the afflicted
in conscience, that when the rich treasures of God's free
mercy and " the unsearchable riches of Christ " are opened
and offered unto him, he drink not so indiscreetly at first of
that immeasurable sea as presently to fall into a surfeit of
security. But to prevent miscarriage in a matter of so in-
valuable moment, let him rather mingle motives to humilia-
tion with his medicine of mercy. Let him look well to the
grounds and good speeches upon which the spiritual physi-
cian is encouraged to comfort him, that they shrink not hi
the wetting. Let him fear and attend his own deceitful
heart with all nairow watch and a very jealous eye. Other-
wise that false heart of his may prove a depth to drown his
own dear soul in the pit of endless perdition. For in time
of extremity and terror, especially of conscience, it may
seem pliable and promise fair, and yet when it comes to
performance and practice, either impudently and perfidiously
wallows again in open wickedness, or rests only in a " form
of godliness " at the best. Let him be " stedfast in the
covenant," and then he may be suie that his " heart was
upright," and that he did not " flatter with his mouth, or
lie unto God with his tongue."
202 INSTRUCTIOxXS FOR COMFORTING
CHAP. XV.
Tlie Fiftli Advice to the Afflicted. Two Directions to the Minister, to
be observed towards his Patient.
V. Since thou art now upon terms of turning unto God,
taking profession upon thee, and giving up thy name unto
Christ, the blessedest business that ever thou wentest about,
be well advised, consider seriously what thou undertakest,
and cast deliberately beforehand what it is like to cost thee.
Thou must make an account to become the drunkard's song,
and to have those " that sit in the gate to speak against
thee ;" the vilest of men to rail upon thee, and the wisest
of the world to laugh at thee. Thou must be content to
live a despised man, to be scoffed at, to "be hated of all
men," to " crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts ; "
to look upon the world, set out in the gaudiest manner with
all her baits and Babels of riches, honours, favours, great-
ness, pleasures, &c. as upon an unsavoury rotten carcass.
Thou and the world must be as two dead bodies upon one
bier, without any delightful mutual commerce or inter-
course, strangers and stark dead one unto another in respect
of thy any farther trading with the vanities thereof. For
keeping a good conscience, standing on God's side and for
Christ's sake, thou must deny thyself thy v/orldly wisdom,
carnal reason, corrupt affections ; thy acceptation with the
world, favour of great ones, credit and applause with the
most ; thy passions, profit, pleasures, possibility of rising
and growing great ; thy nearest friends, dearest companions,
ease, liberty, life ; and grow by little and little into Esther's
most noble and invincible resolution, when doing God's will
threateneth any earthly danger; "And if 1 perish, I
perish ; " but not to perish so is everlastingly to perish, and
so to perish is to be saved for ever. Thou must thus resolve
upon this self-denial when thou first enterest into profession,
or else thou wilt never be able to hold out in thy spiritual
building, or conquer in the Christian warfare (See and con-
sider the occasion, and how earnestly Christ enjoins it.
Matt, xvi, 24 ; Luke xiv, 26, &c., and presses it with two
parables.) ; but all will come to nought, and thou cursedly
conclude in open apostasy, gross hypocrisy, or self- deceiving
formality. Consider the young man in the gospel. He
came hastily to Jesus Christ, and would needs be his disciple
and follower upon the sudden. But alas ! he did wofully
mistake. Little did he know, neither indeed would know,
what belonged unto it. That the servant of such an heaveiily
Master must be no earth-worm ; that every one of his dis-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 203
ciples must " take up their cross and follow him; " for his
sake part with any thing, every thing, be it riches, honours,
credit, pleasures, &c. And therei'ore wiien once Christ for
the trial of his heart had bid him " go and sell that he had,"
&c., he had soon done ; he was quickly gone. Now had
this young man gone away without this lesson, he had gone
away a disciple as well as any other, and perhaps as jolly a
professor as the forwardest of them all ; and that both in his
own strong opinion and uncharitable misconceit of the rest
who were true of heart : as Judas did a long time ; and the
foolish virgins all their life long. Too many such professors
as he would have proved, are to be found even in this noon-
tide of the gospel abroad in the world ; who being at their
first entrance into profession not soundly humbled, nor lay-
ing a sure foundation ; not resolved upon an universal self-
denial, nor weighing with due forecast what it will cost
them ; do afterward misbehave themselves upon any gainful
occasion, or greater trial and temptation, or being put to it
indeed. They are wont from time to time to discover their
rottenness, open the mouths of the profane, and shame all.
They are like unto reeds, which in a calm stand upright and
seem stiff and strong; but let the tempest break in upon
them and they bend anyway. While their lemporal state
is untouched, their outward happiness unhazarded, they
seem resolute, thorough, and courageous ; but let a storm of
persecution be raided against them ; let them be put into
a great fright that if they stand to it they may be undone,
&c. and then like cowards they hide their heads, pull in the
horns; and shamefully shrink in the wetting ; unhappily
holding it better to sleep in a whole skin than with a good
conscience. Like the eagle, they soar aloft with many good
religious shows and representations, but they still keep their
eye upon the prey ; and therefore when advantage is offered
they will basely stoop from forwardness, honesty, generosity,
humanity, anything, to seize upon a worldly commodity,
office, honour, soine earthly pelf, and transitory nothing.
Some of these, after profession for some tin)e, fall quite
away from it, and turn epicures or worldlings, if not scor-
ners and persecutors. Others hold on in a plodding course
of formal Christianity all their life long ; and at last depart
this life like the foolish virgins, and in that formal manner 1
told you of before. Neither be thou disheartened with this
counsel of leaving all for Christ. For thou shalt be no loser,
but a great gainer thereby. Besides "eternal life in the
world to come," tliou shalt receive a hundredfold now in
this time," as Christ himself tells thee, ]\lark x, 30. If
thou part with worldly joys, thou shalt have quiet in
204 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
the Holy Ghost, spiritual joy unspeakable and glorious,
nearer familiarity with God, dearer communion with Jesus
Christ, &ic. ; to which the pleasures ot ten thousand worlds,
were they all to be enjoyed at once, were but extremest
pain. If thou lose thine husband, he that made thee will
be in his stead unio thee, " Thy Maker is thine husba:id,
the Lord of Hosts is his name " (Isa. liv, 5). Jf thou lose
thy father, the all-sufficient Jehovah, blessed for ever, " will
pity thee as a father pitieth his children " (Psalm ciii, 13).
if thou lose thy friends and the world's favour, thou shalt
have all and the only excellent upon earth to love thee
dearly, and to pray heartily for thee (Psalm xvi, 3) ; in a
word, if thou lose all for Christ's sake, he will be unto thee
" all in all" (Coloss. iii, 11). And in him all things shall
be thine in a faj more sweet and eminent manner. " All
things are yours, whether Paul, or ApoUos, or Cephas, or
the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to
come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is
God's" (1 Cor. iii, 21, 22, 23).
VI. When the spiritual physician shall see the soil of his
patient's heart well softened with sorrow for sin, comforta-
bly warmed with refieshing beams of favour from the face
of Christ, and so seasonably fitted to enter a Christian
course, and to " bring forth fruits meet for repentance," let
him throw in some timely seeds of zeal, holy preciseness,
undaunted courage, and unshaken resolution about the
affairs of heaven, and in the cause of God ; from such
quickening scriptures and excellent examples as these,
Luke xiii, 24 ; Rom. xii, 11, 12 ; Kphes. v, 15 ; Phil, i, 10,
11; Matt, xi, 12; Revel, iii, 16; Ruth iv, 11; Esther iv,
16; Nehem. vi, 11 ; 1 Kings xxii, 14; Heb. xi, 24, 25;
1 Sam. XX, 32 ; Acts xxi, 13, &c. that it may be happily
preserved from the rank and flourishing, but rotten and
fruitless weed of formality and lukewarmness ; which pesti-
lent canker, if it once take root in the heart, it will never
suffer the herb of grace, if 1 may so speak, the heavenly
unfading flowers of saving grace, to grow by it while the
world stands. Nay, and will prove one of the strongest
blots to bar them out ; and the most boisterous cart- rope to
pull down extraordinary vengeance upon the head of the
party. For as a loathsome vomit is to the stomach of him
that casts it out, so are lukewarm professors to the Lord
Jesus (Revel, iii, 10). 1 marvel many times what such
men mean, and what worship, service, and obedience they
would have the mighty Lord of heaven and earth to accept.
He offers to us in the ministry his own blessed Son to be
our dear and everlasting husband, his person with all the
AFFLICTED CONSCIENGES. 205
rich and royal endowments thereof, the glory and endless
felicities above, his own thrice-glorious and ever-blessed
self to be enjoyed through all eternity, which is the very
soul of heavenly bliss, and life of eternal life. Do you
think it then reasonable or likely that he will ever accept at
our hands a heartless, formal outwardness ; a cold, rotten
carcass of religion ; that we should serve ourselves in the
first place, and him in the second ; that w^e should spend
the prime and flower of our loves, joys, services, upon some
abominable bosom sin ; and then proportion out to the ever-
lasting God, mighty and terrible Creator and Commander
of heaven and earth, only some outward religious forms
and conformities, and those also so far only as they hurt
not our temporal happiness, but may consist with the entire
enjoyment of some inordinate lust, pleasure, profit, or pre-
ferment ] Prodigious folly, nay, fury to their own souls !
This very one most base and unworthy conceit of so great a
God, and his due claims, meriteth ju>tly exclusion from the
kingdom of heaven with the foolish virgins for ever. jMy
counsel therefore is, when the spiritual patient hath passed
the tempestuous sea of a troubled conscience, and is now
upon terms of taking a new course, that by'kll means he
take heed that he run not upon this rock. It is better to
be key-cold than lukewarm ; and that the milk boil over
than be raw.
Vn. I hough itbeanordinary,yetitisadangerousand utterly
undoing error and deceit to conceive that all is ended when
the afflicted party is mended, and hath received ease and
er largement trom the terrible pressures ( f his troubled con-
science ; to think that after the tempest of present terror and
rage of guiltiness be allayed and overblown there needs no
more to be done. As though the new birth uere not ever
infallibly and inseparably attended with new obedience. \s
though when once the soul is soundly and savingly struck
through, humbled, and prepared for Christ by the terrifying
power of the law revealing the foulness of sin and fierceness
of Divine wrath, which set on by the " spirit of bondage "
is able like a mighty thunder to break and tear in pieces the
iron sinews of the most stubborn and stony heart, there
followed not hearty showers of repentant tears, never to be
dried up uritil our ending hour (as 1 taught before), when
all tears shall be everlastingly wiped away with God's mer-
ciful hand: and that the Sun of righteo'isness did not
presently break forth upon that happy soul, to dispel the
hellish clouds of sensuality, lust, lying in sin, iSic. and to
enlighten, inflame, and fill it with the serenity and clear sky
as it were of sanctification and purity, a kindly fervour of
r
206 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
zeal for God's glory, good causes, good men, and keeping a
good conscience and fruitful influence of sobriety, righteous-
ness, and holiness for ever after. And therefore, if upon
recovery out of trouble of conscience there follow not a
continued exercise of repentance, both for sins past, present,
and to come, as you heard before, an universal change in
every power and part both of soul and body, though not in
perfection of degrees, yet of parts ; a heart-rising hatred
and opposition against all sin ; a shaking off old com-
panions, brethren in iniquity, all Satan's good-fellow revel-
lers; a delight in the word, ways, services, sabbaths, and
saints of God ; a conscientious and constant endeavour to
express the truth of the protestations and promises made in
time of terror, as I told you before, &c. ; — in a vv^ord, if
there follow not a new life, " if all things do not become
new" (2 Cor. v, 17), there is no new-birth in truth : all is
nought, and to no purpose in the point of salvation.
I'hey are then miserable comforters, physicians of no
value; nay, of notorious spiritual bloodshed, who having
neither acquaintance with, nor much caring for the manner,
means, method, any heavenly wisdom, spiritual discretion,
or experimental skill in managing aright sucli an important
business ; if any ways they can assuage the rage and still
the cries of a vexed, guilty conscience, they think they have
done a worthy work, though after their daubing there be
nothing left behind in it but a senseless scar ; nay, and per-
haps more searedness and benumbedness brought upon it,
because it was not kin-ilily wrouglit upon in the furnace of
spiritual affliction, and rightly cured.
I fear many poor souls are fearfully deceived, who being
recovered out of terrors of conscience too suddenly, unsea-
sonably, or one way or other unsoundly, conceive presently
they are truly converted, though afterward they be the very
same men, of the same company and conditions they were
before, or at best bless themselves in the seeming happiness
of a half conversion *.
* By this half Herodlan conversion they may leave many sins, and
" do niany things," hear the best ministers gladly, respect and counte-
nance them, &c. ; and yet for all this, in respect of their own personal
salvation, as well never a whit as never the better; as wel I not at all as
nor thorough-stitch.
afflictp:d consciences. 207
CHAP. XVI.
Two Cases wherein pangs of Conscience are not healed, whatever they
seem.
For a more full discovery of this mischief, and prevention
of those miseries which may ensue upon this last miscarriage,
let me acquaint you with four or five passages out ot pangs
of conscience, which still lead amiss and leave a man to
the devil still, and for all his fair warning by the smart ot
a wounded spirit, drown him in the works of darkness and
ways of death.
1. Some, when by the piercing power and application of
the law, their consciences are pressed with the terrible and
intolerable weight of their sins ; and the worm that never
dies, which hath been all this while dead drunk with sen-
sual pleasures, is now awaked by the hand of Divine justice,
and begins to sting ; they presently with unspeakable rage
and horror fall into the most abhorred and irrecoverable
dungeon of despair. The flames of eternal fire seize upon
them even in this life ; they are in hell upon earth, and
damned, as it were, above ground. Such they are com-
monly who all their life long have been contemners of the
gospel ministry ; scorners of the " good way ;" quenchers of
the Spirit ; revolters from good beginnings and profession of
grace ; harbour ers of some secret, vile, abominable lusts in
their hearts against the light of their conscience ; close
agents for popery and profaneness ; plausible tyrants against
the power of godliness, and such other like notorious cham-
pions of the devil, and infamous rebels to the Highest Ma-
jesty : whom, since they have been such, and have so des-
perately and so lung "despised the riches of his goodness
and forbearance and long suflering, leading them to repen-
tance," God most justly leaves now in the evil day : when
once the hot transitory gleam of worldly pleasures is past,
and his judgments begin to grow upon their thoughts like a
tempestuous storm ; and death to stand before them irre-
sistible like an armed man ; and sin to lie at the door like
a bloodhound ; and the guilty conscience to gnaw upon
the heart like a vulture, &c. ;— I say, then he leaves them
in his righteous judgment to sink or swim, " to eat the
fruit of their own ways" to the fulness of that unquench-
able wrath which by their innumerable sinful provocations,
impenitency, and unbelief, they liave " treasured up against
this day of wrath." That raging worm, which never dies
in the damned, and naturally breeds in every graceless
208 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
conscience by their insatiable surfeit in sin, and greedy
" drinking in iniquity like water," grows so strong and to
such a strange bigness, that taking advantage, especially
in the time of terror, of their weakness and confusion of
spirit upon the bed of death, at some season of irrecove-
rable danger, it surprises them upon the sudden with un-
expected hellish armies of guiltiness and horror, and over-
throws them quite, horse and man, never to rise again in
this world or the world to come. Then would those woful
wretches who would never be warned betinie, give ten
thousand worlds, if they had them, for one moment of that
merciful time of grace which they have cursedly long abused,
for the benefit of the ministry which they have insolently
scorned, for a drop of that precious blood which by their
desperate villanies and hatred to be reformed they have
trampled under foot. But, alas ! no mercy, no blessing,
no comfort will then be had, though, with profane Esau,
they seek it with tears, and throw their rueful and piercing
cries into the air with hideous groans and yelling. And
therefore turning their eye upon their torments will roar
out like those sinful hypocrites, Isaiah xxxiii, 14, with un-
utterable anguish of spirit, " Who among us shall dwell
with the devouring fire 1 who among us shall dwell with
everlasting burnings'?" "In the morning they shall say,
Would God it were even ; and at even they shall say,
Would'God it were morning ; for the fear of their hearts
wherewith they shall fear, and for the sight of their eyes
which they shall see" (Deut. xxviii, 67). In their life-
time they behaved themselves like cruel beasts and bloody
goads in the sides of the saints and against their sincerity ;
and now at last themselves are caught with a witness, and
lie upon their beds of extremity and terror " like wild bulls
and beasts in a net, full of the fury of the Lord."
JI. Others there are, who finding their sins discovered,
and their consciences wounded by the light and power of
the word, and now feeling sadness, heavy-heartedness,
uncouth terrors, much perplexity and anxiety of spirit
coming upon them, address themselves presently and have
speedy recourse to the "arm of flesh," outward mirth,
carnal contentment, and such other miserable comforters.
They falsely suppose, and to their own utter and everlasting
overthrow, that these spiritual pangs that are now upon
them, which if rightly managed might prove a happy pre-
parative and legal artillery, as it were, to break the iron
bars and open the everlasting doors of their souls that the
King of Glory might come in, be nothing but fits of melan-
choly, or sour and unseasonable eflects and impressions of
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 209
some puritanical ministry and dangerous temptations to
despair. And therefore they hie out of them as fast as they
can, by posting after worldly pleasures, pastimes, plays,
music, gaming, merry company, jovial meetings of good
fellowship, taverns, ale-houses, visits, entertainments, im-
provement of their chief carnal contentment, &,c. ; if not to
wizards and even to light a candle at the devil for light-
someness ef heart. Thus, I know not whether with more
sin or folly, they endeavour to come unto themselves again
by the mirth and madness of wine, earthly joy, carnal
counsel, &c. ; wherein they are not unlike those idolatrous
Israelites, who while they burnt up their children in sacri-
fice to Moloch, filled iheir ears with noise of instruments,
lest by the rueful cries of their little babes they should be
moved to pity, and so stayed in the cruel service of that
blood-sucking idol. Just so these men of pleasure and per-
dition do sinlully seek to stop the guilty clamours of their
vexed consciences with the comforts of this life and sensual
joy, while their souls are sacrificing to Satan, and making
fit fuel for the fire of hell, lest by listening to their cries
and controlments they should be stirred up to take com-
passion of their own poor immortal souls, and be stopped
in the pursuit of their fugitive follies and delights of sense.
But, alas ! in so doing they are also like a man in a burn-
ing fever, who lets down cold drink eagerly and merrily,
because in the extremity of thirst it cools him a little ; but
after a wliile he shall find the heat, the pain, and the
danger all doubled upon him. Earthly pleasures may for
the present still the noise of an accusing conscience, and
seem somewhat to allay its guilty rage, but assuredly they
will afterwards kindle such a fire in the bowels of these
miserable men as will burn even to the very bottom of hell,
and blow them up body and soul with irrecoverable ruin
for ever. He that goes about to cure the wound of his con-
science for sin with sensual delight, is as if to help the
toothache he should knock out his brains, or when he is
stung with a wasp siiould rub with a nettle the smarting
place, or finding no good by physic should run unto wizards ;
as if in extremity of thirst he should drink rank poison to
quench it, apply a venomous plaister to his sore, and prop
up his falling roof with burning firebrands ; remedies far
worse and more pestilential than the malady, for they
either plunge them deeper into the dungeon of melancholy
and heavy-heartedness, or else draw a skin only over the
spiritual wound, whereby it festers and rankles underneath
more dangerously. For thus stopping the mouth of that
1 3
210 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
never-dying worm, that insatiable wolf in the mean time
doth make it, when there is no more supply of carnal plea-
sures whereupon it feeds for a while, to fall more furiously
upon the conscience that bred it, and to gnaw more ra-
gingly by reason of its former restraint and enforced diver-
sion.
I know full well, Satan is right well pleased, and doth
much applaud this pestilent course of theirs, and therefore
he helps forward this accursed business all he can, of aban-
doning and banishing all trouble of mind for sin with
worldly toys. For ordinarily out of his cruel cunning thus
he proceeds in these cases : —
1. In the first place, and above all, he labours might
and main to detain men in that height of hard-heartedness,
that they may not be moved at all with the ministry, or
suffer the sword of the Spirit to pierce. And then like " a
strong man armed" he possesseth their bodies and souls,
which are his palace, with much peace, and disposeth them
wholly in any hellish service at his pleasure. Thus he
prevails with a world of men amongst us. They hear ser-
mon after sermon, judgment upon judgment, and yet are no
more stirred with any penitent astonishment for sin or saving
work of the word, than the very seats whereon they sit, the
pillars to which they lean, or dead bodies upon which they
tread. They are ordinarily such as these: — First; Igno-
rants of two sorts : (1.) Unskilled both in the rules of rea-
son and religion ; such are our extremely sottish and grossly
ignorant people, which swarm among us in many places,
to the great dishonour of the gospel, by reason of the want
of catechising and other discipline. (2.) Led by the light
of natural conscience to deal something honestly, but idiots
in the great mystery of godliness ; such are our merely
civil honest men. Secondly ; Those that are wise in their
own conceits (Isa. v, 21), being strongly persuaded of their
good estate to God-ward, whereas, as yet, they have no
part at all in the first resurrection : such as those,
Matt, vii, 22; and xxv, 11. Thirdly ; All such as are re-
solved not to take sin to heait (See Isa. xxviii, 15). These
either, (1.) iMake God all of mercy; (2.) Or preserve a
secret reservation in their hearts to repent hereafter ;
(3.) Or have so prodigiously hardened their hearts that they
fear not the judgment to come ; (4.) Or with execrable
villany desire to extinguish the very notions of a Deity by
a kind of an affected atheism, and, being drowned in sen-
suality, labour not to believe the word of God, that they
may sin without all check or reluctance.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 211
% But if it fall out by God's blessing that the word once
l>egin to get within a man, and to work terror and trouble
of mind for sin ; so that he sees him grow sensible of his
slavery, weary of his former ways, and like enough to break
the prison and be gone ; then doth he seriously observe
and attend which way the party inclines, and how he may
be most easily diverted, that he may thereafter proportion
his plots and attempts against him the more prosperously.
(1.) If he find him to have been a horrible sinner, of a sad
and melancholic disposition, much artlicted with outward
crosses, &c., he then lays load upon his affrighted soul with
all his cunning and cruelty, that if it be possible he may
drive him to despair. For this purpose he makes keen the
sting of the guilty conscience itself all he can, sharpens the
empoisoned points of his own fiery darts ; adds more gris-
liness to his many hateful transgressions, more horror to
the already flaming vengeance against sin, i\c.; that, if
God so permit, he may be sure to strike desperately home,
and sink him deep enough into that abhorred duneenn.
(2.) But if he perceive him not to have been infamous
and noted for any notorious sins, by natural constitution to
be merrily disposed, impatient of heavy-heartedness, and
formerly much addicted to good-fellowship ; if he spy him
to strive and struggle for disentanglement out of these un-
couth terrors, and re-enjoyment of his former worldly de-
lights and jovial companions ; — I say, then he is most for-
ward to follow and feed his humour this way also, that so
he may stifle and utterly extinguish the work of the spirit
of bondage in the very beginning. And to this end he
blunts with all the cunning he can the sting of a man's own
conscience, and quite removes his own : he procures and
offers all occasions of outward contentment, he furnishes
his fellows in iniquity and the devil's proctors with per-
nicious eloquence and store of enticements to bring him
back again to their bent and beastly courses ; he ministers
his own delicious potions of carnal pleasure to cast his con-
science asleep again. In brief, he leaves no policy, plot,
or practice unassayed, unattempted, to make the power of
the law unprofitable unto him, and to drown all his sorrow
for sin in sensual drunkenness.
This, then, I make the second pestilent passage out of
pangs of conscience ; to wit, when a man to decline them
is driven by the subtlety of Satan and perverseness of his
own flesh, if not to wizards and fortune-tellers, as they call
them, and other such oracles of the devil, yet at best to
human helps, lo worldly wisdom, to outward mirth, good-
fellowship, pleasant company, his hea' s of gold, hoards of
212 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
wealth, riches, pastures, variety of choicest pastimes; nay,
for ease to any thing, even to drinking, dancing, dicing,
masking, revelling, roaring, or any other such ribald, bed-
lam, and raging fooleries.
CHAP. XVII.
A Third Case, wherein Fangs of Conscience may seem to be healed
and are not; with tht; l>iscovery of Men's Errors in that kind.
III. Some there are, vv-ho pass out of trouble of mind for sin and
legal terrors into a kind of an artificial, enforced, unsound,
untimely, and counterfeit peace of conscience. I mean it
thus : when a man's carnal heart, wounded by the terrify-
ing power of the word, with sight and horror of his former
wicked ways ; but weary of the wound, impatient of spi-
ritual heaviness, wilfully set and resolved obstinately against
the holy severities of the school of repentance, mortifica-
tion, godly strictness, walking with God, 6cc., and withal
meeting with some dauber with untempered mortar, who is
very reatiy to heal his heart with sweet words, saying,
" i eace, peace, when there is no peace " (Jer. vi, 14) ; —
I say, in this case snatches hold of comfort, and applies
the promises of mercy and salvation before they belong
unto him; before he be searched to the quick, sounded to
the bottom, and soundly humbled ; before the spirit of
bondage hath its perfect work, and he be kindlily fitted for
Jesus Christ. For this purpose they are wont to wrest,
abuse, misapply many places in the book of God; the un-
skilful physicians in application, and the deluded patients
in apprehension of them ; even such as these : " Come unto
me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and 1 will give
you rest " (Matt, xi, 28). Yea, but they are not weary of
all their sins, but only troubled with the present terror ;
nor willing to take upon them the cross ot Christ. Well
enough content they are to take him as a Saviour to pre-
serve them from hell, but not as a lord, a king, and a hus-
band, to serve, obey, and love him. " Whosoever shall
call upon the name of the T^ord shall be saved " (Rom. x,
13). Yea, but they do not consider that many also shall
cry "Lord, Lord," (Matt. vii,22, andxxv, 11) and yet be ex-
cluded from eternal bliss ; and therefore " all that call
savingly upon the name of Christ, must depaitfrom iniquity"
(2 Tim. ii, 19). But they upon lecovery will by no means
depart from their darling delight. " He that believeth on
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 213
tlie Son hath everlastins life" (John iii, 36) Yea, but jus-
tifying faith purifies the heart (Acts xv, 9), fills it with dear
affections unto heavenly things, deadens it to the world, and
divorces it quite from all former carnal pleasures and com-
panionship. " I will give unto him that is athirst of the
fountain of the water of life freely" (Revel, xxi, 6). Yea,
but they thirst only for salvation, not for sanctification ;
for mercy, not for grace ; for happiness, not for holiness,
&c. These men, as well as the second sort, will by no
means pass through the pangs of the new birth into the
holy path. They wickedly misconceive, out of the rotten
principles of their own worldly wisdom, prejudice against
the power of godliness, and pestilent persuasions of " pillow-
sewers under their elbows," that in so doing they shall be
utterly undone and never have a good day afterward ; but,
to speak in their own language, fall presently into the hands
of the puritans, into the strict tortures and hypocritical
miseries of preciseness, into sourness, unsociableness,nielan-
choly ; and indeed into a state only a step short of distrac-
tion and madness. And these therefore cast about to get
out of trouble of mind and sense of Divine terror with as
great impatiency and precipitation as the former, only more
plausibly and with seemingly fairer, but truly false satis-
faction to their own souls. For the former rush with furious
indignation out of these spiritual dejections of conscience,
as unmanly fears not fit for worthy spirits and men of jovial
resolution, into greater excess and variety of vyorldly de-
lights and sensual looseness ; and so ordinarily become
afterward very notorious and more desperate enemies to the
kingdom of Christ. Jiecause the power of the word hath
once stung their carnal hearts with some remorseful terror,
they ever after heartily hate the sound and searching
ministry, and managers thereof, the inflicters of their
smart ; for no other reason in the world but that they tell
them the truth, and thereupon torment them before their
time, that so, if they be not wanting unto themselves, they
may escape the torments of eternity hereafter. And they
set themselves against godly Christians with incompatible
estrangement and implacable spite, only because they are
professors of self-denial, holy strictness, nonconformity to
the world, repentance, mortification, .Stc. ; the entertain-
ment and exercise whereof they furiously more detest and
fly from, than the death of their bodies and damnation of
their souls. But these latter pass more plausibly out of
trouble of conscience, and take a fairer course of the two,
though it prove but an imaginary and counterfeit cure. For
they labour to close up their spiritual wourwl with comfort
214 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
out of the word, and promise peace to their troubled hearts
from the promises of life. But herein they tail and fearfully
deceive themsslves, in that they co'jceive the first fits and
quHim<, as it were, of legal terror, to be savini;- repentance ;
a general speculative apprehension of Christ's passion, to
procure a special pardon for all their sins ; fruitless specula-
tions of faith, to prevent and secure them from the wrath
that is to come ; a mere verbal profession, to be forwardness
enough except a man would be too precise. Upon the first
fright and feebng the smart of a confused remorse and
horror lor sm, without any further penitent wading into
particulars, or thorough search into their hearts, lives, con-
sciences, and callings ; without suffering the work of the
spirit of bondage to drive them to Christ, and a resolution
to sell all, &c. ; they presently apply, by the strong delusion
of their own idle groundless conceit, all the gracious pro-
mises and privileges of God's child to their unhumbled
souls, and enforce their understandings, by a violent greedy
error, to think they are justified by such an artificial heart-
less notion, which falsely they call faith : and so, resting in
a counterfeit pei suasion that they are true converts, ordina-
rily turn carnal professors.
These are a kind of people who have no more spiritual life
than a dead faith can infuse into them ; no more comfort in
the communion of saints than an outward correspondence
in profession, speculative discourses of religion, and meet-
ings at the means of grace, can yield ; no more interest or
right to heaven, than a bold presumptuous confidence, built
first upon their own wilful fancy, and seconded with Satan's
lying suggestion, can give them : whose sorrow for sin at
the most is commonly no more than " afflicting their souls
for a day, and bowing down their heads like a bulrush,
without loosing the bands of wickedness or departing from
iniquity," whose conversion is nothing but a speculative
passage from a confused apprehension of sin to a general
application of Ciiiist, vvithout any sensible or saving altera-
tion in their ways : whose new obedience consists only in a
formal conformity to outw^ard exercises of religion, without
all true zeal, life, heartiness, holiness, or indeed honest
dealing with their brethren. But these men are to know,
that Christ's blood never pardoned any man's soul from sin,
whose spirit the power thereof did not purge from ;v;uile. It
never saves any one from hell whom it doth not hist in some
good measure season with holiness and heavenly life. In
vain do they build comfort upon his passion, who do not
conscientiously conform to the practice of his word. And
let them further be informed, for a more clear discovery of
AFFLICTED COJ^J SCIENCES. 215
their giossand damnable self-deceili that howsoever a di^ad
faith, according to its n;ime and nature, enters (if it hath
any being at all) into the understanding without any re-
markable motion, sense, and alteration ; yet that faith
which truly justities, pacilies, purities, mortifies, sanctifies,
and saves, is evidently discernible by — First, many stirring
preparatives ; sight and sense of a man's miserable state by
nature, of his siniuluess and cursedness, humbling himself
in the sight of the Lord," fearful apprehensions wrought by
the spirit of bondage ; illumination, conviction, legal terrors,
ixc. Secondly, violent affections about the infusing of it,
which are wont to be rai>:ed in the humbled heart by the
Holy Ghost; extreme thust, infiamed desires, vehement
longings, unutterable groanings of spirit, prizing and pre-
ferring the person and passion of Christ before the possession
of infinite worlds; willingness to "sell all," to part with
any thing for him, though never so dear or so much doated
upon heretofore ; with pleasure, riches, preferments, " a
right hand, aright eye," liberty, life, 6cc. Nay, in such
a case, if even hell itself should stand between Jesus Christ
and a poor soul, he would most willingly pass through the
very flames thereof to embrace his blessed crucified Lord in
the arms of a lively faith. Thirdly, inseparable consequents
and companions : 1. A hearty and everlasting falling out
with all sin. 2. Sanctification throughout in body, souL
spirit, and calling, and in every power, part, and passage
thereof, though not in peifection of degrees, yet in truth and
effectually. 3. A set and solemn course of new obedience,
spent principally in self- sobriety, righteousness towards our
brethren, and holiness towards (jod.
Many unfaithful men in the m.inislry, both in their public
teaching, and private visitations of the sick, have much to
answer for in this point ; who for want of skill in that
highest art of saving souls : of familiarity with God, and
secret working of his Spirit ; of experience in their own
change, and of the spiritof discerning, &c. many times concur
with such miserable men to mar all, in stifling the very first
stirrings of legal remorse, by healing the wounds of their
conscience with sweet words before they be searched and
sounded to the bottom ; and by an unseasonable and indis-
creet heaping a great deal of comfort there, where as yet a
good ground-work of true humiliation is not soundly laid.
Many and lamentable are the spiritual miseries in those
places where such daubers with untempered mortar have
the direction, who never passed through the pangs of the
new birth themselves, were never feelingly acquainted with
the wonderful dealings of God in that great miracle of a
216 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
man's conversion; or*" trained up experimentally in the
school of temptations, painful exercises of mortification and
counterminings against the depths, wiles, devices, and
stratagems of the devil. The blessed prophet paints them
to the life, and denounces a dreadful woe against such
flattering and foolish prqphets (Ezek. xiii). A ship-master,
skilful only in astronomy and other speculative passages of
the art of navigation, is nobody in conducting men safely
over some dangerous sea, to him that beside sufficiencies
of art, is furnished also with experimental skill in those
parts, by passing formerly that way himself, and having
discovered those dangers of ruin and hidden rocks, which
the other man might easily run upon. Give me a man in
whom variety and profoundness of best learning doth con-
cur in the highest degree of excellency ; yet if his own
heart be not soundly wrought upon and seasoned with
saving grace, himself experimentally seen into the mystery
of Christ and secrets of sanctitication ; as he shall be hardly
able to wound other men's consciences, and pierce them to
the quick, so he will be found very unfit to manage aright
the spiritual miseries of a troubled soul, and to transport it
savingly through the tempestuous terrors and temptations
incident to the new creation, into the port of true peace
and paradise of the blessed brotherhood. A dreadful and
tender point it is to deal with distressed consciences ; so
many depths of Satan and deceits of man's heart mingle
themselves with business of so great consequence. Even a
well-meaning man without much heed and good experience,
both in the point and the party, may err dangerously and be
much deceived herein, i have heard from a man of con-
science and credit, besides many and many in the same
kind, of a fearful imposture to this purpose. " A man who
for the world was well enough, visited with some trouble of
mind for his sins, sent for a minister to comfort him. He,
it seems, not sounding him to the bottom, or searching to
the quick, heaped upon him unseasonably and too soon,
mercies and hopes of spiritual safety. Amongst other
things he asked him, whether formerly he had ever felt tes-
timonies and refreshings of God's favour and love. Yea,
answered the party (and heie take notice of a notorious
depth of the devil); once riding alone upon the way in
sucii a place, 1 grew upon the sudden veiy lightsome and
light-hearted, &c. (I'his was but a flash of Satan's angelical
glory, cunningly to lighten and lead him the way to further
confusion.) VVhy then, replied the minister, you may
build upon it. God is constant in his favours ; and whom
lie loves once he loves for ever. Hereupon the patient was
AFFLICTED COiNSCIENCES. 217
presently healed of his wounded heart, and after fell into
his former courses, and grew fully as profane as he was
before." Amongst tlie many important passages of our
ministerial employment, 1 fear this weighty affair of visiting
the sick is passed over also (more is the pity ! ) w-ith much
ignorance, slightness, and neglect. It is incredible to con-
sider how fearfully many offend, and what a deal of hurt
they do by observing one plodding general form, and that a
poor one too, towards all patients promiscuously, without
any judicious discretion in distinguishing the variety of
spiritual states, the different degrees of unregenerateness,
former courses of life, -Sec. Commonly their carriage in
such cases is the same to the notorious sinner, the mere
civil man, gross hypocrite, carnal gospeller, formal professor,
backslider, the weak and strong, the tempted and untempted
Christian. If they but hear from the sick man a general
acknowledgment of his sins, forural cries for mercy and
pardon, earnest desires to die the death of the righteous,
6cc. which may be easily and ordinarily found in a pharisee
or foolish virgin, as you have heard before, they will pre-
sently needs persuade him that he is as surely a saved man
as if he were in heaven already. Herein resembling, saith
Marbury on Psalm xxxii, " a foolish shepherd, who want-
ing skill to help his poor sheep out of the ditch, is driven to
play the miserable comforter, and to take some other indi-
rect course (as many use to do in such cases), to cut the
bheep's throat in time to make him man's meat ; lest it
should be said he died in a ditch." Many and many a time
do such fellows as these empty and discharge their common
place books of all the phrases of mercy and comfort,
collected curiously and industriously for that purpose, upon
those men who were never acquainted with the ways of God
in their life-time, nor with the truth of humiliation, or truly
with the great work of repentance upon their beds of death.
Those formal churchmen who stood about Marshal Biron,
that great peer and pillar of France, at his death, did in
this respect very ill offices of ghostly fathers unto hirn in
his greatest need and last extremity. For when he behaved
himself more like a furious devil already amongst the
damned spirits in blasphemies, impatiencies, and most
raging passions, than a meek and humble saint of (lod,
ready to pass into everlasting mansions of peace, they not-
withstanding, out of their popish divinity, gave him " this
absolution, assuring him that his soul was ready to see God,
and to be partaker of his glory in heaven;" when it had
been far fitter to have diiven him to the sight of his sins,
sense of that dreadful hour, terror of that strict tribunal to
U
218 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
which he was ready to pass, and fearfulness of that infernal
fiery lake from which no greatness can privilege graceless
men. I fear there are many time-serving ministers of the true
religion also, who are ready to do proportionable service to
ungodly great ones upon whom they depend, by promising
them life. But many and dreadful are the mistakings and
miseries which fall upon the souls of men, both patients
and by-standers, by these flattering formal visitations and
funeral panegyrics which ordinarily follow after. Happy
then, and hopeful is that man, who in the troubles of his
soul meets with that " one of a thousand" (Job xxxiii, 23),
with those sons both of consolation and thunder, who are
as able, ready, and willing rightly to bind up a bruised
spirit with the balm of mercy and promises of life, as to
break in pieces a stubborn heart with the terrors of the
law : who, as they labour in the first place to frighten men
out of their sinful courses into penitent dejections of con-
science, a needful preparative to a saving conversion, so
they have learned both speculatively and experimentally to
conduct them through the pangs of the new birth to sound
comfort in Christ, mortification, new obedience, walking
with God, &c.
CHAP. XVIII.
Three Cases more, wherein the pangs of Conscience are not healed.
4. Others there are who pass out of trouble of conscience
for sin into some more tolerable courses for the time to
come ; bui yet not thoroughly and savingly into the truth
and pursuit of Christianity. For when Satan once per-
ceives that sorrow for sin lies so heavy upon a man's heart,
and the rage of guiltiness doth sting him still with such
restless anguish, that in all likelihood it will at length
draw and drive him to some alteratiou at least, and work
out at last some measure of amendment, then doth he, out
of an insatiable hellish thirst to hold him still in his clutches,
bend and employ all his power and policy to make him
satisfy himself, and rest finally, as sufficiently fitted for
salvation, in some partial, insufficient, half conversion ;
and to sit down contentedly with religious forms only, and
some outward reformation. The devil's first desire in work-
ing our destruction is to keep a man who is notoriously
naught in the highest strain of impiety ; a traitor in grain.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 219
as it were, and most desperate rebel to the Divine Majesty,
wallowing still in all variety of viilany and vanity, iiut
if that will not be, he is glad to detain him in what degree
of profaneness he can most conveniently and with greatest
safety, though the least and the lowest ; in any state of un-
regenerateness, though furnished with the utmost perfec-
tion of which it is capable, so that he step not into the
kingdom of Christ. Rather than he will utterly lose him
and part with him quite, he will leave possession of him in
part, and be willing, though full sore against his will, to
lose a great deal of his former more furious service, and
something of the fulness of his conformity to the fashions of
hell. If he cannot do as he would, he will do as he may.
When he sees him grumbling, and grow discontent and
weary with the loathsomeness of the dungeon and weight
of his fetters, rather than he should escape and break quite
away, he will knock off some of his irons, grant him the
liberty of the prison, the comfort of the walks ; nay, and
suffer him sometimes to walk abroad, so that he be still
watchfully attended by his keeper, and continue a retainer
to the kingdom of darkness. He will be content to give
him the benefit of the fewest stripes in hell, and the least
measure of damnation, though that also be more than in-
finitely terrible and intolerable, rather than he should not
be damned at all. And therefore in such a case he will
easily suffer him to proceed to some kind of repentance,
and reformation of some one or more outward gross no-
torious sins, remorse whereof, perhaps, did first raise the
terror and trouble in his mind, so that he will there rest
and remain unmortified and unamended in the rest. Or,
he cares not much though he be universally outwardly
reformed, and unblameable for the most part in his visible
carriage and conversation, though he restore ill-gotten goods,
say his prayers, give alms, fast often, give tithes of all that
he possesses with the pharisee, hold out a lamp of goodly
profession to the eye of the world with the foolish viigins,
observe godly ministers, reform many things after their
preaching, and hear them gladly, with Herod ; so that for
all this plausible and unpernicious outside the heart con-
tinue unchaste, impure, unholy, unheavenly still ; and he
still hug in his bosom some secret lusts and sensual cor-
ruptions with willing delight and loathness to leave them.
Or, if a man, besides outward religious representations and
conformities, desires also to find and feel in himself some
kind of inward work, he will not be much troubled with
addition of the spirit of illumination, temporary faith, some
"joy in the word" (Matt. xiii,20), "taste of the powers
220 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
of the world to come," &c. (lleb. vi, 5) ; so that the spirit
of special sanctification be wanting still, and that some
darling deliglit be maintained in heart, life, or calling ;
which the man by no means would have meddled with or
mortified. On that (which is a notable depth of the devil,
of which take special notice), wheieas a man hears many-
times out of the ministry of the word, that the abandoning
of his bosom sin is a good token of a true conversion, and
the embracing of it still is too sure a sign that he is Satan's
still ; to the end he may blind him in this important point,
he will suffer him to exchange the visible form and outward
exercise even of his beloved sin. For example: a man's
captain and commanding sin is covetousness, and it is out-
wardly exercised in usury, bribery, sacrilege, &c. He is
well enough content in this case to let him be frighted by
the terror of the ministry from those grosser acts of cruelty
for which the world cries shame on him (especially not
restoring), so that he insensibly fall into and secretly prac-
tise some other cunning invisible oppressions, or any un-
lawful ways of getting. His sweet sin is voluptuousness ;
he hunts after it in the horrible villanies of adultery or for-
nication ; but at some sermon or other, he is told and ter-
rified, that by such sins he doth not only damn himself,
but also even draw another to hell with him ; whereupon
he may grow into a slavish distaste and discontinuance from
them, and Satan will not say much, so that there succeed
in their rooms some other kinds of sins of the same class.
Nay, he will yet yield further, and endure an utter cessation
from the external acts and visible practice of a man's pre-
dominant and reigning sin, so that he delightfully feed
upon it still in his' heart with speculative greediness, and
spend the strength of his affections and the most of his
thoughts that way. He will give him leave to leave off" his
usury, and to call in his money (but ordinarily ever without
restitution), so that he may hold his heart still "exercised
with covetousness." He can well enough abide abandon-
ing the gross acts of uncleanness ; so that he lie frying in
the flames of his own scorching concupiscence, and consume
his thoughts in the adulteries of the heart and contem-
plative filth. O the endless mazes, unfathomed depths, and
deepest malice of that old red dragon ! He will yield unto
any thing, rake in the very darkest nook of hell for some
cunning device, rather than part with a precious soul out
of his hellish paw. If a man be so haunted with horror of
conscience that he dare not for his life lie any longer in
notoriousness, but will needs get into som.e new course, he
can put him into many new fashions, and yet no new birth,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. "221
no new man. He will suffer him to pass into a more to-
lerable conversation, and yet come short of a true conver-
sion ; he can afford him a moral change, or a formal change,
or a mental change (I mean it only in respect of the spirit
of illumination and general graces), or a temporary change
(of which see my " Directions for Walking with God"),
and yet continue him still within the confines of his cursed
kingdom, and in a damnable state. He doth improve to
the utmost, as occasion of advantage is offered, both the
grisliest shape of a foul fiend, and the most alluring light
of his angelical glory, to do us a mischief any way, either
upon the right hand or the left. How many thousands,
(ah, pity!) even in this clearest noon-tide of the Gospel
doth he keep in a presumptuous confidence, that they are
converted ; and yet most certainly his own still, and in a
willing slavery to some one or other predominant lust at
the least ! Be advised, then, in the name of Christ, who-
soever thou art, when the hand of God in great mercy shall
visit and vex thy conscience for sin by the piercing power
of the ministry, be sure to follow the direction and guidance
of that blessed hand, without daubing or diversion, out of
the kingdom of darkness, through the pangs of the new
, birth into the holy path, wholly and for ever. Make sure
work, whatsoever it cost thee ; go thorough-stitch, though
thou lose a right hand or right eye by it ; " sell all that
thou hast ; " the pearl is of great price ; have never any
thing more to do with the devil ; give over the trade of
sinning entirely; never more to "turn again unto folly"
upon any terms. And if Satan set upon thee with baits
and allurements to detain thee in his spiritual bondage but
by one darling delight to which thou hast been most ad-
dicted, answer him in this case with unshaken resolution,
as Moses did Pharaoh in a point of temporal bondage,
" There shall not so much as a hoof be left behind ;" yield
not a hair's breadth upon any condition to that hellish
Pharaoh ; especially in so great a matter as the endless
salvation or damnation of thy soul. If he can keep pos-
session but by one reigning sin, in which thou liest with
delight against the light of thy conscience, hating to be re-
formed, he desires no more. One knot in a thread will stay
the needle's passage as well as five hundred. See to this
purpose my Directions of Walking with God. Beware then
of closing up the wound of thy terrified and troubled con-
science with any outside, half, or unsound conversion ;
which I make the fourth passage out of trouble of mind for
sin.
5. And why may not Satan sometimes by God's permis-
V 3
222 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
sion be suffered to inflict and fasten his fieiy darts of terrorj
and temptations upon a man's conscience, continue them
there some while with much anguish and horror for some
secret holy end, seen and seeming good to Divine wisdom,
and at length remove and withdraw them, not upon suc-
cession of any sound comfort or true peace from the pro-
mises of life and pardon of sin ; but only upon a mere ces-
sation of the devil's pleasure to torment and terrify any
longer'? Not that he can hurt the least or most contemp-
tible creature that ever God made when he pleases ; but
that it pleaseth God sometimes to give him the reins and
leave to rage. Quieting the conscience in this case is no
comfortable cure from positive help ; but a counterfeit pal-
liation by ceasing to hurt.
6. Nay, let me here further, before I pass out of the
point, discover unto you a mystery ; but it is of iniquity and
horrible hypocrisy. I have known some (would you think
it?) who have counterfeited even trouble of conscience;
and made show without all truth or true touch of sundry
temptations and spiritual distempers incident only to the
saints. And have for that purpose addressed themselves
Avith much industry and noise, and had recourse many
times to some spiritual physicians, with many tears, a
heavy countenance, and other rueful circumstances, ex-
pressing almost exactly the scruples, doubts, distrusts, com-
plaints, of such as are truly grieved in spirit and true of
heart. O the wonderful depth which lieth hid in the con-
fluence of the hypocrisies of man's false heart ; and the
devices of " that old serpent, which deceiveth the whole
world!" (Revel, xii, 9.) Such as these take upon them
and lay aside terrors of conscience, as players do their ap-
parel and parts.
SECT. II, PART II.
CHAP. I.
The rk^ht method of curing an Afflicted Conscience. Four things re-
quired in the riglit method of curing.
The passages past do all mislead into bye-paths ; but there
is one blessed way, besides all these, though it be a narrow
one, which conducts directly out of a natural state through
the pangs of the new birth without diversion or daubing ;
without any longer detainment in any lust, sensual plea-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 223
sure, or beloved vanity ; in any kind of hypocrisy, or de-
gree of unregenenition, into the paradise of grace fully and
for ever. This neither plunges a man into the pit of des-
pair, nor misguides him by carnal counsel and his ovi^n
wicked conceit into the fool's paradise, and tasteless fool-
eries of outward mirth ; nor pacifies unseasonably with un-
timely and counterfeit peace ; nor leaves in the deceiving
forms of an unsound conversion, and unsaving flourishes of
general graces only, (S:c. ; but conveys and transports him
happily by an universal, sincere, supernatural, thorough
change, into the •' holy path ; " and that thus, and by such
degrees as these : —
i. The fiist is an illumination of the mind, conviction of
the conscience, terrifying the heart with sight, sense, and
horror of sin in some true measure. The first work of the
Spirit is to " convince of sin " (John xvi, 8), which presup-
poseth illumination and produceth terror. The Spirit of
bondage must be first set on work to show us our spiritual
misery, to humble us to prepare for Christ. And yet this
work in itself is common to the alien with the child of the
new birth ; and ordinarily here they part. The alien, and he
that hates to be reformed, out of an inveterate, unhappy pre-
judice against the saving preciseness of the saints and loath-
ness to leave utterly his foimer courses, company, conver-
sation ; being obstinately against passing on forward into
the way which is called holy (regeneration, the new birth,
repentance, mortification, sanctification, self-denial, new
obeuience, walking with God, turning Puritan, &c., are
terras perhaps of as great terror unto him as his present
trouble of conscience), doth now here divert, and afterward
wilfully and wofully perish in some pestilent or plausible
bye-path. In this case he labours and lays about him for
ease any way (yea, sometimes he will have it from the
devil himself, if he can, rather than miss of it) so that he
niay attain and keep it without any great alteration of
his former ways, or especially without parting with
his darling pleasure. And therefore he assays either
to conquer his spiritual affliction with worldly comforts,
carnal counsel, choice contentments, &c., or else to allay
the present storm of his guilty rage with some counterfeit
calm ; or at best to still the cry of his conscience, with put-
ting forth his hand to some outward works of Christianity,
and some kind of conversion, which may yet well enough
consist with the secret enjoyment of his bosom sin ; or by
some other such indirect course and unsound cure. But
now the other, whom the Lord doth purpose to prepare for
himself by this first work, and to call effectually, doth en-
224 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
tertain at the same time by the help of God a strong, invin-
cible resolution, not only never more to return unto foolish-
ness, whatsoever comes of hicn, never upon any terms to
fall back again into his former sinful pleasures, which have
now fastened so many fiery scorpion's stings in his con-
science ; but also never to admit of any cure, recovery,
and comfort to his afHicted soul but only by Jesus Christ.
Never to have the bleeding wounds of his bruised spirit
bathed, bound up, and healed, but in tliat " fountain,
opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." Nay, rather than
he will do the one or the other, he will abide upon the rack
of his spiritual torture unto his ending hour. Whereupon
he directly addresseth and applies himself to the only
means appointed and sanctified by God for working a sure,
kindly, and lasting cure in such a case ; 1 mean, the mi-
nistry of the word. And if he may have his will, he would
hit upon the most skilful, experienced, searching, and
sound-dealing man, amongst all God's faithful messengers.
2. And so in a second place, without all reservation or
any purpose ever to return or divert, he comes unto the
ministers of God in the same mind and with the same mean-
ing that Peter's hearers did, having his heart pricked and
rent in pieces with legal terror, as theirs were : " Men and
brethren, what shall we dol" (Acts ii, 37.) If there be
any instruction, direction, or duty, which upon good ground
out of God's blessed book you can enjoin, we will willingly
follow it, embrace it, and rather die than not do it. Pre-
scribe any course whereby we may have the boiling rage
of our guilty consciences somewhat assuaged, and we will
bless God that ever we saw your faces ;. nay, that ever he
made you the happy instruments to fasten these keen ar-
rows of truth and terror in our amazed and afflicted spirits.
And now here the ministers of God have a strong and sea-
sonable calling to set forth in the highest degree the ex-
cellency, amiableness, and soul-saving sufficiency of Jesus
Christ, blessed for ever ; to amplify and magnify to the life
the heavenly beauty, invaluableness, and sweetness of his
person, passion, promises. No sin of so deep a dye, be it
scarlet or crimson, but his precious blood can raze it out.
No heart so dark or heavy, but one beam shining from his
pleased face can fill it as full of spiritual glory and joy as
the sun is of light, or the sea of waters. No man so mi-
serable, but if he will go out of himself and the devil's sla-
very quite, and come in, when he is dearly invited, he will
advance him " without money, and without pricef»'' from
depth of horror to height of happiness.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 22&
3. By this time, being thus told and truly informed in the
mystery and mercy of the gospel, the poor wounded and
weary soul begins to be deeply and dearly enamoured of
Jesus Chi ist. 'l"o advance him highest in his thoughts, as
the only jewel and joy of his heart, without which he hath
been heretofoie a dead man, and shall hereafter be sunk m
endless perdition ; to prefer and pnze him far above the
pleasures, riches, and glory of the whole earth ; to set his.
eye and longing so upon him, as to hold himself lost forever
without his love. Nay, in the case in which he now stands,
he is most willing for a sound and saving cure to pass
through a piece of hell, if need were, to such a heavenly
physician, in whose blessed person alone, as he hears, all
the riches of mercy, goodness, compassion, and comfort are
to be found, and in whom are hid and heaped up the fulness
of grace and treasures of all perfection. So that now the
current of his best affections, and all the powers of his hum-
bled soul are wholly bent and directed towards him, as the
sunflower towards the sun, the iron to the loadstone, and
the loadstone to tlie pole star : to whom the nearer he draws,
the more heartily it grieves him that ever he pierced so
sweet and dear a Saviour with such a former impure, loath-
some life, and so many abominable and now most abhorred
provocations.
4. I'pon this discovery, survey, and admiration of this
" pearl of great price," this rich treasure, the now truly
broken and contrite heart doth cast about by all means how
to compass it. Oh ! what would he now give for the sweet
fruition and ravishing possession of it ! Heart's blood, life,
lying in hell for a season, were nothing in this case. The
imperial crowns and command of ten thousand worlds,
could they be all enjoyed at once, would be in his thoughts
but as dust in the balance laid in the scale against Jesus
Christ. But these things are not required at his hands. At
last he happily hits upon that which God would have him ;
he even resolves to " sell all that he hath," to part with all
sin, though it should be as dear and as much doated upon as
that compared to a right eye or right hand ; be it that which
hath kept him longest in hell, most wasted the conscience,
and stuck closest to his bosom ; I mean his captain corrup-
tion, master lust, or dearest delight, he will spare none, he
will quite depart from Sodom, he will not leave so much as
a hoof behind. For he well now remembers what he hath
often heard heietofore, though then he took no heed, that
the Lord Jesus and any one allowed lust are never wont to
lodge together in the same soul.
226 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
CHAP. II.
Three Things more required in those who are rightly cured.
5. To the party thus legally afflicted, evangelically affected,
and fitted savingly, now do all the promises of life in God's
blessed book offer themselves as so many rocks of eternity
in " faithfulness and truth;" for his wearied soul, tossed
with tempest, and sorely bruised with storms of terror,
sweetly to rest upon with everlasting safety. God the Fa-
ther, his bowels of tenderest compassion and bounty already
stirring within him, runs, if I may so say, as the father in
the gospel, to fall upon its neck and to kiss it with the kisses
of his sweetest mercy. Jesus Christ opens himself, as it
were, upon the cross to receive it graciously into his bleed-
ing wounds ; all which, he beholding with a spiritually en-
lightened eye, admiring and adoring, cannot choose but sub-
scribe and seal unto them that they are true, and so by the
help of the Holy Ghost casts himself with all the spiritual
strength he can, at least with infinite longings, most thirsty
desires, and resolution never to part, into his blessed bosom,
saying secretly to himself. Come life, come death, come
heaven, come hell, come what may, here will I stick for
ever : and if ever I perish, they shall pluck me out of the
hands, and rend me from between the arms of this mighty,
glorious, and dearest Redeemer of mine.
6. And having now taken Christ as a Saviour, to free him
from the miseries of sin, he is willing also to take him as a
Lord, husband, and king, to serve, love, and obey him. For
every one that is truly Christ's, doth as well thirst heartily
and sincerely endeavour after mortification, conquest over
corruptions, sanctification, purity, new obedience, ability to
do or suffer any thing for Christ, as for pardon of sin and
salvation from hell : and therefore he willingly " takes tipon
him his yoke," which though so called, is " easy and light;"
enters in earnest into the " narrow way," which though it
be " everywhere spoken against," as it was in Paul's time
(Acts xxviii, 22), yet in truth and upon trial is most pre-
cious, profitable, and pleasant. See Prov. iii, " Happy is
the man that findeth wisdom," to wit, in the word, to walk
in the ways of God. "She is more precious than rubies ;
and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared
unto her. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her
left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of plea-
santness, and all her paths are peace." He now, for the
short remainder of his abode in the vale of tears, vows and
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 227
gives up the flower and prime of all his abilities, loves, joys,
endeavours, performances of every kind, to the Highest
Majesty ; and consecrates all the powers and possibilities of
body and soul to do him the best and utmost service he can
any way devise, until his dying day, and still grieves and
walks more humbly because he can do no better. For when
he casts his eyes upon God the Father's free love, and
Christ's dear passion, he thinks with himself (and so he
well may), that if he were able to do him as much service
as all the saints do, both in this and the church above, with
addition of all the angelical obedience, it were all infinitely
less than nothing towards the discharge of his debt and
incomprehensible everlasting obligation.
7. And being thus incorporated into Christ, he presently
associates himself to the brotherhood, to the " sect that is
everywhere spoken against : " for so is profession accounted
(Acts xxviii, 22). After that Peter's hearers " were pricked
in their hearts," they were counselled to repent, believe, be
baptized, &c. and to " save themselves from that untoward
generation" (Acts ii, 40). He now begins to delight him-
self in them whom he heartily hated before; 1 mean, the
people of God, professors of the truth and power of religion,
and that as the most " excellent of the earth," the only true
noble worthies of the world, worthy for ever of the flower,
fervency, and dearness of his most melting aff'ections and
intimate love. And he labours also might and main to ingra-
tiate himself into their blessed communion, by ail engage-
ments and obligations of a comfortable, fruitful, and con-
stant '• fellowship in the gospel ;" by a humble mutual in-
tercourse and communication of holy conference, heavenly
counsel, spiritual encouragements, consideration one of an-
other, confirmation in grace, and in assurance of meeting in
heaven ; resolved to live and die with these neglected happy
ones, in all fair and faithful correspondence, sweetest offices
of Christianity, and constant cleaving to the Lord Jesus and
his glorious cause ; nay, assured to reign with them here-
after everlastingly in fulness and height of all glory, joy,
and bliss ; for if once this divine flame of brotherly love be
kindled by the Holy Ghost in the hearts of true-hearted
Christians one towards another, it hath this property and
privilege above all other loves, that it is never after put out
or quenched, but burns in their breasts with much affec-
tionate fervour, with mutual warmth of dearest sweetness
here upon earth, and shall blaze eternally with seraphical
heat in the highest heavens hereafter. In the mean time,
he makes conscience of sympathizing both with their felici-
ties and miseries. His heart is enlarged with lightsomeness.
228 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
or eclipsed with grief, as he hears of the prosperity or op-
pression of God's people. I the rather here mention this
mark of the true convert, because it is so much required,
nay infinitely exacted at our hands in these heavy times of
the church ; and therefore may be to every one of us an
evident touchstone to try whether our profession be vital or
formal. If those terrors which 1 have heretofore many times
threatened out of God's book against all those pitiless and
hard-hearted cannibals who take not the present troubles of
the church to heart, on purpose to break in pieces those
flinty rocks which dwell in some men's breasts, and to drive
us all to compassionateness, prayer, days of humiliation,
and parting from our evil ways ; I say, if they have been
thought by any to have been pressed too precisely and pe-
remptorily, hear what I have since seen in Austin, and what
a peremptory censure he doth pass upon those who want a
fellow-feeling in such a case : "If thou hast this fellow-
feeling, thou art of that blessed body and brotherhood ; if
not, thou art not." And here can I hardly forbear crying
out with " a voice lifted up like a trumpet," against all
those profane Esaus, swinish Gadarenes, senseless earth-
worms, who all this while that so many noble limbs of that
great blessed body of the reformed churches have lain in
tears and blood, did never take to heart to any purpose, or
trouble themselves at all with their grievous troubles ; but
have sottishly and securely lain " at ease in Zion," liable to
that horrible curse denounced against Meroz: — " Curse ye
Meroz (said the angel of the I-ord), curse ye bitterly the
inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of
the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty "
(Judg. V, 23). They have not helped the people of God so
much as with any hearty fellow-feeling, wrestling with God
in prayer, set days to seek the return of God's face and fa-
vour. Men they are of the world, which have their portion
in this life ; who feel nothing but worldly losses, know no-
thing but earthly sorrows, relish nothing but things of sense.
If they be stung with a dear year, rot of cattle, loss by sure-
tyship, shipwreck, robbery, fire, &c. they howl and lament
immoderately. But let " Joseph be afflicted," God's people
in disgrace, the ministry hazarded , Christ's spouse " sit in
the dust," the " daughter of Zion" weep bitterly and have
none to comfort her, and these merciless men are no whit
moved. They have not a tear, a groan, or sigh to spend in
such a rueful case; whereby they infallibly demonstrate to
their own consciences, that they are no living members of
Christ's mystical body, have no part of the holy fellowship
of the saints, no spark of spiritual life, no acquaintance at
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 229
all with the ways of God ; but continue cursedly careless
what becomes of the gospel, or God's children, so that they
may rise, grow rich, and sleep in a whole skin.
By this time he is become the drunkard's song, table-talk
to those that " sit in the gate," music to great men at their
feasts, a bye-word to the children of fools and the children
of villains, men viler than the earth, vvhose fathers he would
have disdained to have set with the dogs of his flock. And
what then 1 Even thus they dealt with David, Job, and
Jeremiah (Psal. Ixxix, Job xxx, Lam. iii, 63). Nay, they
told the Son of God himself, in whom the Godhead dwelt
bodily, that he was " a Samaritan, and had a devil" (John
viii, 48). What thinking man, then, that gives his name to
Christ and looks to be saved, will look for exemption 1
Especially since all the contumelies and contempts, all those
nicknames of puritan, precisian, hypocrite, humourist, fac-
tionist, with which lewd tongues are wont to load the saints
of God, are so many honourable badges of their worthy de-
portment in the holy path, and resolute standing on the
Lord's side. Some noble Romans having done some singular
service to the state, being afterwards troubled and handled
violently in some private cases, were wont to bare their bo-
dies, and to show in open court the scars and impressions of
those wounds which they had received in their country's
cause, as characters of special honour and strongest motives
to commiseration. So many lying imputations, unworthy
usages, and persecutions in any kind for profession of godli-
ness, which the faithful Christian shall bring to the judg-
ment-seat of Christ, so many glorious and royal representa-
tions of excellency of spirit and height of courage in the
Christian cause shall they be accounted in the sight and
judgment of Almighty God and the blessed angels, and
make him more amiable and admirable in the face of heaven
and earth.
SECT. Ill, PART I.
CHAP. T.
Three Principles of Comfort from without us, to be applied to AfHicted
Consciences.
Thus much of the theory, I come now to the practical part,
to a particular application of some special sovereign anti^
dotes to the most grievous ordinary maladies incident to the
souls of the saints.
But first give me leave to premise some general well-heads,
out of which do spring abundance of comfort, and over-
flowing rivers of refreshing for all intents and effects in point
of temptation and trouble of mind.
And first take a fruitful cluster and heavenly heap of them
together; those twelve heads of extraordinary, immeasura-
ble, comfortable matter for spiritual medicines, vi'hich I
have heretofore erected as so many invincible bulwarks
against all assaults of despair, oppositions of Satan, excep-
tions of distrust.
1. The infiniteness of God's mercy, sweetly intimated in
Isa. Iv, 6, 7, 8. The mercy of God is like himself, infinite.
All our sins are finite, both in number and nature. Now
between finite and infinite there is no proportion, and so no
possibility of resistance. And therefore be thy sins never
so notorious and numberless, yet a truly broken heart,
thirsting for and throwing itself upon Christ, unfeignedly
resolving upon new obedience and his glorious service for
the time to come, can no more withstand or stand before
God's mercies, than a little spark can withstand the bound-
less and mighty ocean, thrown into the midst of it ; nay,
infinitely less. If all the sins that all the sons and daugh-
ters of Adam have committed since the creation to this time
were all upon one soul, yet so affected as 1 have said, and
put into such a new penitent gracious temper, it should be
most certainly upon good ground and everlastingly safe. I
speak not thus to make any secure ; for any one sin, pleasing
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 231
and reigning, will ruin a soul for ever ; but to assure of
mercy enough, how great or many soever the sins have
been, if the heart be now truly humbled for them all, and
wholly turned heavenward.
2. The invaluableness of Christ's meritorious blood , which
is called " the blood of God," and therefore of inestimable
price. Understand me aright : it was " the blood of God ;"
not of the Godhead, but of him who was both God and man.
For the manhood of Christ was received into the union of
the Second Person, and so it may be called " the blood of
God," for so speaks St. Paul ( Acts xx, 28), "God purchased
his church with his own blood ;" that is, Christ, God incar-
nate. Our divines express it thus : " It was the Son of God
and Lord of life that died for us upon the cross ; but it was
the nature of man, not of God, wherein he died ; and it was
the nature of God, and infinite excellency of the same,
whence the price, value, and worth of his passion grew."
This blessed blood then is of infinite efficacy ; and therefore,
if thou be now turning to the Lord, assure thyself, whatso-
ever thy sins have been, they have not outgone the price
that hath been paid for them. This blood, upon repentance,
did take oflf the transcendant scarlet guilt from the souls
even of those that shed it. (Acts ii, &c.)
3. The riches of the word, in affording precedents of the
saints, and of the Son of God himself, who have surpassed
thee, and that perhaps very far, in any kind of misery thou
canst name.
(1.) Thou art perhaps consulting with the prodigal to
come in, but there comes terribly into thy mind the extra-
ordinary heinousness of thy former sins, and that hinders.
Cast thine eye then upon Manasseh, a man of prodigious
impiety and matchless villany. He " shed innocent blood
very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to
another. He did that which was evil in the sight of the
Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the
Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. He caused
his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son
of Hinnom. Also he observed times, and used enchant-
ments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit,
and with wizards. He wrought much evil in the sight of the
Lord, to provoke him to anger," &c. (2 Kings xxi, 16;
2 Chron. xxxiii, 2 — b.) And yet this great sinner, " hum-
bling himself greatly before the God of his fathers," was
received to mercy (ver. 12, 13).
(2.) Suppose (which yet were a horrible thing) that after
conversion, by extraordinary violence of temptation, strong
ensnarement of some sudden sensual offer and opportunity.
232 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
treacherous insinuation of thy own false heart, and furious
reassault of thy former bosom sin, thou shouldst be over-
taken grossly with some grievous sin and scandalous fall,
and then upon illumination, remorse, and meditation of
return, reason thus within thyself : — "Alas', what shall 1
do now ? I have undone all. I have wofully again defiled
my soul, so fairly washed in my .Saviour's blood, with that
disavowed sin of my unregenerate time. I have shamed
my profession, disgraced religion for ever ; I have broke my
vows, lost my peace, and my wonted blessed communion
with God : and therefore what hope can I have of any ac-
ceptance again at the throne of grace?" — I say in this case,
to keep thee from sinking, cast thine eye upon Aaron,
David, Peter, who, returning with sound and hearty re-
pentance, were mercifully received into as great favour as
they were before. But God forbid that any professor of
religion should ever fall so foully, especially in this glorious
mid-day of evangelical light.
(3.) Art thou languishing under the heavy desolations of
a spiritual desertion, and deprived of thy former comfortable
feelings of God's favourable countenance 1 Look upon Da-
vid: " I remembered God, and was troubled. I com-
plained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. I am so troubled
that I cannot speak. My soul refused to be comforted"
(Psalm Ixxvii). Nay, upon Jesus Christ himself, crying,
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me 1" (Matt,
xxvii, 46.)
(4.) Art thou haunted with some of Satan's most hateful
and horrible injections, grisly to the eye even of corrupted
nature ; thoughts framed by himself immediately and put
into thee, perhaps tending to atheism, or to tlie dishonour
of God in the highest degree, or of his blessed word ; to
self-destruction, or the like? — thoughts which thou canst
not remember without horror, and darest not reveal or name
for their strange and prodigious monstrousness ? If it be
thus with thee, consider how this malicious fiend dealt with
the Son of God himself. He offered to his most holy and
unspotted imagination these propositions: First, murder
and make away with thyself (Matt, iv, 6). Secondly, fall
down and worship the devil (ver. 9) ; thaa which, a fouler
thought I think was never injected ; that Jesus Christ,
blessed for ever, in whom the Godhead dwelt bodily, should
fall down and worship the devil, the vilest of creatures.
And yet this was suggested to our blessed Saviour ; to
which his purest heart, infinitely incapable of sin, was as a
brass wall to an arrow, beating it back presently with infi-
nite contempt, and himself did utterly conquer and confound
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 233
the tempter, and that for thee and thy sake too. And
therefore if thy humbled soul do abominate and abandon
them from the heart-root to the pit of hell, they shall never
be laid to thy charge, but set on Satan's score. Extremely
then do those wrong themselves, and gratify the devil to
the height, who suffer such injections, which they heartily
hate and stand against with all their strength, to hold their
hearts still upon the rack of extraordinary astonishment and
distraction, whereby they are unnecessarily discouraged
and disabled for a cheerful discharge of both their callings,
which is the thing Satan especially aims at in vexing so
many of God's dearest servants with this most fiery dart.
(5.) It may be that many years after thy new birth, when
thou thinkest the worst is past, thoumayest be revisited and
afflicted afresh with perhaps sorer spiritual pangs and more
horror than at the first. And what then? Hear how Da-
vid, a man after God's own heart, cries out: " My bones
waxed old, through my roaring all the daylong; for day
and night thy hand was heavy upon me : my moisture is
turned into the drought of summer" (Psal. xxxii, 3, 4).
And Job, a God fearing man and most upright : " Where-
fore hidest thou thy face, and boldest me for thine enemy ?
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro ; and wilt thou
pursue the dry stubble 1 For thou writest bitter things
against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of ray
youth. The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the
poison thereof drinketh up my spirit : the terrors of God do
set themselves in array against me" (Job xiii, 24, 25, 26 ;
vi, 4). Hezekiah, that walked before God in truth and
\yith a perfect heart -. " I reckoned till morning, that as a
lion so will he break all my bones : from day even to night
wilt thou make an end of me. Like a crane or a swallow,
so did I chatter : I did mourn as a dove. Mine eyes fail
with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed, undertake
for me" (Isa. xxxviii, 13, 14).
(6.) Dost thou day after day pour out thy soul in prayer
before the throne of grace with all the earnestness thy poor,
dead heart (as thou callest it) can possibly ; and dost thou
still rise up dull, heavy-hearted, and uncomfortable, with-
out any sensible answer from Cod, or comfortable sense of
his favour and love shed into thy heart? Be it so : yet for
all this, pray still in obedience unto thy God against all
discouragements and appositions whatsoever. Still press
hard unto and ply God's mercy-seat, if it be but with sighs
and groanings. Assuredly at length and in the fittest time
thou shalt be gloriously refreshed, and registered in the
remembrance of God for a Christian of excellent faith. See
X 3
234 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
a. pattern of rare and extraordinary patience this way in
Matt. XV, 23. There that woman of Canaan, having re-
ceived many grievous repulses and cutting discouragements ;
— the solicited was silent — the disciples grumble — she was
not of the fold — she was a dog ; — yet for all this, by her
constancy in crying after Christ, her petition at last was
not only granted, but herself also crowned with a singular
and admirable eulogy from the Lord's own mouth: " O
woman ! great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou
wilt." What an honour and comfort was this, to be thus
commended by Jesus Christ! — and that with an admira-
tion, " O woman! "
(7.) Hath thy faith lost its feeling? Dost thou for the
present feel nothing but " anger, wrath, and great indigna-
tion 1 " Is God's face and favour, wherein is life, turned
away from thee, and quite hid from thy sight! Nay, " hath
he broken thee asunder, taken thee by the neck, and shaken
thee 10 pieces, and set thee up for his mark 1" Yet for all
this, let thy truly humbled soul be so far from loosing or
leaving its holdfast and sure repose upon the person, pas-
sion, and promises of Jesus Christ, that in such a case it
cleave and cling faster to that blessed rock, and far more
immovably. For therein especially is the strength and glory
of faith improved and made illustrious. It is one of the
most noble and heroical acts of faith to believe without
feeling. " He who believeth most and feeleth least, is he
who glorifieth God most, [t is nothing to swim in a warm
bath : but to endure the surges and tumbling billows of the
sea — that is the man." To believe when God doth fairly
and sensibly shine upon the soul with the love and light of
his countenance, is no great matter ; but to rest invincibly
upon his mercy through Christ, when he grinds thee to
powder, that is the faith. Thou hast before thee for this
purpose a matchless precedent. Thus cries holy Job, vexed
not only with an unparalleled variety and extremity of out-
ward aifiictions, but also with the venom of the Almighty's
arrows, drinking up his spirit — " Though he slay me, yet
will I trust in him" (Chap, xiii, 15). So Abraham, Rom.
iv, 18.
(8.) Hast thou given thy name stoutly to religion, and
dost thou stand on God's side with resolution 1 And art
thou therefore villanously traduced with slanderous, odious
nicknames of puritan, precisian, hypocrite, humourist, dis-
sembler, &c. 1 Consider then for thy comfort, that grace-
less wretches, when he was upon earth, called thy blessed
Lord and Saviour devil (Matt, x, 25; John vii, 20), which
passeth all, lam persuaded, that any drunken Belial ever
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 235
fastened upon thee. Contemn thou therefore for ever, and
trample upon with a humble and triumphant patience, all
their contumelies and contempts. Pass by nobly, without
touch or trouble, without wound or passion, the utmost
malice of the most scurrilous tongues, the basest taunts of
the most impure drunkard.
(9.) Doth the world, carnal men, thine own friends, for-
mal teachers, suppose and declare thee to be a dissembler
in thy profession, and will needs concurrently and confi-
dently, yet falsely, fasten upon thee the imputation of hy-
pocrisy? A heavy charge ! Yet for all this, let thy truly-
humbled heart, conscious to itself of its own sincerity in
holy services, like a strong pillar of brass, beat back all
their poisoned arrows of malice and mistake, without any
direction or discouragement ; only take occasion hereby to
search more thoroughly, and walk more warily. Job may
be a right noble pattern to thee in this point also. He had
against him not only the devil, his enemy, pushing at him
with his poisoned weapons ; but even his own friends scourg-
ing him with their tongues ; his own wife a thorn pricking
him in the eye : yea, his own God " running upon him like
a giant, and his terrors setting themselves in array against
him;" powerful motives to make him suspect himself of
former halting and hollow-heartedness in the ways of God ;
yet notwithstanding his good and honest heart having been
long before aquainted with, and knit unto his God in truth,
makes him break out boldly, and resolutely protest — " Till
1 die I will not remove my integrity from me. My righ-
teousness I hold fast, and will not let it go. Behold, my
witness is in heaven, and my record is on high" (Job xxvii,
5,6; xvi, 19).
(TO.) Art thou a loving and tender-hearted mother unto
thy children, and hast thou lost the dearest? The greatest
outward cross, 1 confess, that ever the sons and daughters of
Adam tasted, and goeth nearest to the heart. Yet thy sor-
row is not singular, but outgone m this also : for the blessed
mother of Christ stood by, and saw her own only, dear, in-
nocent Son, the Lord of life, most cruelly and villanously
murdered upon the cross before her eyes (John xix, 25).
Hast thou lost thy goods or children? Doth thy wife that
lies in thy bosom set herself against thee ? Do thy nearest
friends charge thee falsely? Art thou pained extremely
from top to toe? Do the arrows of the Almighty stick fast
in thy soul ? Thy affliction is grievous enough, if thou taste
any of these severally ; but do they all in greatest extremity
concur upon thee at once ? Hast thou lost all thy children
236 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and all thy goods? Doth thy wife afflict thy afflictions?
If this be not thy case and rueful condition, thou comest
yet short of Job, a most just man, and one of God's dearest
jewels.
CHAP. II.
Two Principles of Comfort more.
4. The " exceeding greatness and preciousness of the pro-
mises." In every one of which it is incredible to consider
what abundant matter of unspeakable and glorious joy lies
wrapt up ! Oh ! how sweet are they to a thirsty soul m the
tiine of anguish and trouble ! They are like a cloud of
rain that cometh in the time of a drought. They are very
glimpses of heaven shed into the heart, many times as dark
as hell. They are even rocks of eternity, upon which every
bruised reed may sweetly repose with impregnable safety.
A truly humbled spirit, relishing spiritual things, would not
exchange any one of them for all the riches and sweetness
of both the Indies. Tell me, dear heart, thou that in thy
uuregenerate time, though now happily changed, lay soak-
ing in sins of cruelty and blood ; whether that merciful
promise, " Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
Lord ; Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as
white as snow ; though they be red like crimson they shall
be as wool" (Isa. i, 18) ; be not far dearer unto thee " than
thousands of gold and silver?" Or thou, who formerly
pollutedst thyself villanously with such secret execrable
lusts, which now thou canst not remember without horror,
tell me, if it were utterable by the tongue of man, with what
dearest sweetness and blessed peace thy broken heart was
bound up and revived, when thou didst cast thine eye con-
siderately and believingly upon that precious place, " I will
sprinkle water upon you, and ye shall be clean ; and from
all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse
you" (Ezek. xxxvi, 25).
"There was beyond the seas, as my Author reports*,
a Christian matron of excellent parts and piety, who
languishing long under the horrible pressure of most furious
and fiery temptations, wofully at length yielded to despair,
and attempted the destruction of herself. After often and
curious seeking occasion for the fulfilment of her design, at
last, having first put off her apparel, she threw herself head-
long from a high promontory into the sea. But having re-
* Alexipharm. adversus desperationem ; Authore M. Nlcolao Lau-
entio, p. 63 et seq.
AFFLICTED CONSCIEMCES. 237
ceived no hurt by the fall, she was there by a most ex-
traordinary mercy strangely preserved for the space of two
hours at the least, though all the while she laboured in-
dustriously to destroy herself. Afterwards drawn out with
much ado, and recovered, she yet did conflict with that
extremest desperate horror almost a whole year ; but by
God's good providence, which sweetly and wisely ordereth
all things, listening on a time, though very unwillingly at
first, to her husband, reading amongst other places Isa. Ivii,
15, 16, ' Thus saith the high and lofty 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 ones. For 1 will not contend for ever, neither
will I be always wroth : for the spirit should fail before
me, and the souls which I have made ; ' — I say, listening to
these words, the Holy Ghost drawing her heart, she began
to reason thus with herself: 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 always wroth. But I have a very contrite heart, and a
spirit humbled even unto the dust, out of the acknowledg-
ment and sense of my sins and divine vengeance against
them; therefore, peradventure, God will vouchsafe to re-
vive 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 God's
blessing into her dark and heavy heart abundance of life,
lightsomeness, spiritual strength, and assurance. In which
she continued with constancy and comfort many a year
after, crowned those happy days and a blessed old age
with a glorious and triumphant death, and went to heaven
in the year 1595."
What heart now but hers that felt it can possibly con-
ceive the depth of that extraordinary unutterable refreshing,
which sprung out of that promise upon her forlorn and
fearful soul ; or the excess of that love which she bore ever
after to those blessed lines, to the mercy that made them,
and to the blood that sealed them 1
" Another, terrified in conscience for sin, resolves to turn
on God's side ; but the cry of his good-fellow companions,
strength of corruption, and cunning of Satan, carry him
back to his former courses. A good number of years after
he was so thoroughly wounded, that whatsoever came of
him he would never return again unto folly. Then comes
into his mind the first of the Proverbs, whence he reasoned
against himself: — So many years ago God called and
238 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
stretched out his hand in mercy, but I refused ; and there-
lore now, though I call upon him he will not answer ; though
I seek him early I shall not find him. Whereupon was his
heart filled with much grief, terror, and slavish fear. But
the Spirit of God leading him at length to that place,
Luke xvii, 4, *If thy brother trespass against thee seven
times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee,
saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.' He thence happily
argued thus for himself: — Must I, a silly,, sinful man, for-
give my brother as often as he repents ; and will not then
the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort entertain
me, seeking again in truth his face and favour? God forbid.
From which he blessedly drew such divine sweetness and
secret sense of God's love, that his trembling heart at first
received some good satisfaction, and afterward was settled
in a sure and glorious peace.
" Another godiy man passing through his last sickness
with such extraordinary calmness of conscience, and abso-
lute freedom from temptation, that some of his Christian
friends observing and admiring the smgularity of his soul's
quiet, at that time especially, questioned him about it : — he
answered, that he had stedfastly fixed his heart upon that
sweetest promise, Isa. xxvi, 3, ' Thou wilt keep him in per-
fect peace whose mind is stayed on thee ; because he
trusteth in thee.' And his God had graciously made it
fully good unto his soul."
And so must every saint do who would sound the sweetness
of a promise to the bottom ; and make it the arm of God
unto him for sound and thorough comfort ; even settle his
heart fixedly upon it, and set his faith on work to brood it,
as it v/ere, with its spiritual heat, that quickness and life
may thence come into the soul indeed. For God is wont
to make good his promises unto his children proportionally
to their trust in them, and dependence upon his truth
and goodness for a seasonable performance of them.
Now all these promises in God's blessed book (which
adds infinitely to their sweetness and certainty) are sealed
with the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. ix, IG) and confirmed
with the oath of Almighty God, Heb. vi, 17, 18; " God,
willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise
the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath :
that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible
for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have
fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." O
what a mighty and precious invitation is this, to believe
perfectly ! The special aim of God's oath, whereas his pro-
mise had been more than infinitely suflficient, was to
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 239
strengthen our consolation ; and therefore every heart true
unto Christ ought hence to hold fast, not a faint, wavering,
inconstant ; but a strong, stedfast, and unconquerable com-
fort. Otherwise it sacrilegiously, as it were, robs God of
the glorious end for which he swore.
5. The free love of God ; which, how rich and glorious,
how bottomless and boundless a treasure it is of all graci-
ous sweetness, abundant comfort, and endless bounty, ap-
pears in this ; that Jesus Christ blessed for ever, that in-
valuable, incomparable jewel, came out of it. " For God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life" (Johniii, 16): and therefore every
sincere servant of Christ, who upon a serious and sad sur-
vey of his Christian ways, finds himself to come so far
short of that which God requires and himself desires, that
his prayers are very faint, his sorrow for sin very scant,
his love unto the brethren too cold, his spending the sab-
baths very unfruitful, his spiritual growth since he gave his
name to Christ very poor, his profiting by the means he en-
joys most unanswerable to the power and excellency there-
of, his new obedience almost nothing, &c. (for so he is
wont to vilify himself) : whereupon he is much cast down ;
and out of this apprehension of his manifold unworthiness
concludes against himself, that he hath little cause to be
confident in the promises of life ; or to presume of any part
and interest in Jesus Christ ; and so begins to retire the .
trembling hand of his already very weak faith from any
more laying hold of comfort : — I say, in such a case, being
true hearted, he may safely and upon sure ground have re-
course to this ever-springing fountain of immeasurable
mercy ; and raise up his drooping soul against all contrary
oppositions, with unspeakable and glorious refreshing, from
such places as these: "I will love thee freely" (Hos.
xiv, 4) ; " Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the
waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat ;
yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without
price." " I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgres-
sions for ray own sake, and will not remember thy sins "
(Isa. Iv, 1 ; and xliii, 25) ; " I will give unto him that is
athirst of the fountain of the water of life fieely " (Revel,
xxi, 6). God never set the promises on sale, or will ever
sell his S n to any. He never said, just so much sorrow, so
much sanctity, so much service, or no Christ ; but he ever
gives him freely. Every truly humbled heart, which will
take him at the hands of God's free love, as a husband to
be saved by him and to serve him in truth, may have him
240 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
for nothing. Yet I must add this ; there was never any
who received the Lord Jesus savingly, but he laboured sin-
cerely to sorrow as much for sin, to be as holy, to do him
as much service as he could possibly. And when he re-
flected upon his best, he ever desired it had been infinitely
better.
CHAP. III.
Five other Principles of Comfort.
<i. The sweet name of the Lord, which lie proclaims,
Exod. xxxiv, 6; 7, wherein he first expresseth his esseiice in
one word, " Ihe Lord, the Lord : " which doubled is ef-
fectual to stir up Moses' attention. Secondly, three attri-
butes: first, his power in one word, "strong." Secondly,
his justice in two forms of speech: "not making the
wicked innocent ; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
the children, and upon children's children, unto the third
and fourth generation : " Thirdly, but his special goodness
and good affection towards repentant and believing sin-
ners in seven: (L) "Merciful, and (2.) Gracious; (3.) Long
suffering and abundant in (4.) Goodness and (5.) Truth,
<6.) Keeping mercy for thousands ; (7.) Forgiving iniquity,
transgression, and sin." In which there are contained un-
answerable replies to all the scruples, doubts, exceptions,
and objections, which may arise in a troubled soul.
(1.) Thou sayest, perhaps, that thou art plunged into the
depth of ext.remest spiritual misery, both in respect of sin-
fulness and cursedness; the present sense whereof is ready
to sink thee into despair. Be it so. Then take my counsel
in this case : Cast thine eye upon the first and fairest flower
in this heavenly, glorious garland of divine goodness ; and
thou shalt find a far greater depth of mercy ready to swallow
up thy depth of misery. The mercy of God and misery
in this kind are relatives. No misery, no mercy ; much
misery, much mercy ; transcendent misery, transcendent
mercy; the only difference is, the mercy of God is infinite,
thy misery finite. And therefore how much spiritual misery
soever thoubringest in a broken heart to the throne of grace,
God's bountiful hand will weigh out to thee a proportion-
able measure of mercy ; nay, a measure without measure,
superabundant, running over. For where misery in a truly
humbled soul aboundeth, there mercy doth much more
abound.
(2.) Or suppose, that at thy first turning unto God,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 24!
tliough truly humbled, yet thou art tempted not to take
Christ, because thou art but even now come out of hell
and horrible courses, and as yet hast no good thing in thee
at all ; or after some progress in Christianity, reflecting in
time of temptation upon thy whole carriage since conver-
sion, and finding it to have been so fruitless and full of
failings, thou concludest thyself in thy present feeling to
be extremely vile ; of a very doubtful state for thy soul, if
not altogether naught ; that no professor upon earth walks
so unworthily, and if ministers knew thy heart, and weak
performance of holy duties, they would not be so forward
to press comfort upon thee. I say in these two cases and
the like, it is a great happiness and sweetest comfort that
the mighty Lord of heaven and earth hath proclaimed him-
self to be gracious, which imports thus much, — to pour out
abundance of extraordinary bounty upon a most undeserv-
ing party ; to place dearest affection and desire of doing
good there, where there is no desert at all. As if a king,
to make his royal favours more illustrious, should raise a
worthless wretch, a most contemptible vassal, to be his
worthiest favourite and highest in his love. And therefore
bring unto the throne of grace but a true sense of thy mi-
sery, a sincere thirst for mercy, a humble acknowledgment
of thine unworthiness ; and God hereupon, for Christ's sake,
will think thee worthy of the " riches of his grace," the
righteousness of his Son ; all the promises in his book, all
the comforts of his Spirit, a crown of immortality and bliss ;
for he is gracious, and an universal glorious confluence of
blessedness in all kinds is promised to poverty in spirit, and
shall most certainly to the utmost be made good unto it for
ever.
(3.) But, alas ! I, saith another, have most wretchedly
mispent the flower and strength of mine age in vanity and
pleasure ; in lewdness and lust. The best of my time hath
been wofully wasted in Satan's notorious service, and sen-
sual serving myself ; and therefore, though I be now
weary of my former ways, and look back upon them with a
trembling heart and grieved spirit ; yet I am afraid that
God hath given over looking after me ; that his patience
towards me is expired, and my day of visitation outstood ;
and that he will not vouchsafe to cast his eye of compas-
sion upon such a Blackmoor and leopard as I am ; so over-
grown with corruption, and grown old in sin ; especially
having so long neglected so great salvation, forsaken mine
own mercy so long, and so unthankfuUy " despised the riches
of his goodness and forbearance leading me to repentance."
I confess, it is something rare to see men gone on so long,
242 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and grown old in sin, to return and give way to any saving
work of the ministry, because too often in the mean time
they so " harden their hearts, that they cannot repent;"
yet notwithstanding, be thou assured in the word of life and
truth, if now at length thou be truly touched indeed, and
wilt come in earnest, the Father of mercies will receive
thee freely to mercy, and embrace thy bleeding soul in
the arms of his everlasting love through Christ. For it is a
title of highest honour unto him to be " long-sufFering." He
all this while " waited that he might be gracious unto thee ; "
(Isa. XXX, 18) ; andnow undoubtedly upon thy first resolution
to return in truth he will meet thee with infinitely more com-
passionate affectionateness than the father in the gospel
met his prodigal ; who " when he was a great way off, his
father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on
his neck, and kissed him, &c." (Luke xv, 20,)
(4.) Yea, but, saith another, though I have been a pro-
fessor long, yet many times my heart is full heavy, and
more loath to believe when I seriously and sensibly call to
mind the heinousness of my unregenerate time, and see in
myself besides, since I was enlightened and would have
behaved myself in forwardness and fruitfulness for God
answerably to my former folly and furiousness in evil, so
many defects and imperfections every day ; and such weak,
distracted discharging of commanded duties, both to God
and man. Take then counsel and comfort in this case, by
casting thine eye upon God's kindness. He is " abundant
in kindness ; " which hath these four precious properties :
first, to be easily entreated ; secondly, to be entreated for
the greatest; thirdly, to pass by involuntary infirmities;
fourthly, to accept graciously weak services. Even a frail
man, if of a more noble, generous, and kind disposition,
will be easily appeased for the unpurposed offences, errors,
and oversights ; and well pleased with the good will, sin-
cere and utmost endeavours, especially of those who he
knows to be true-hearted unto him ; and desire heartily, if
they were able, to do all he desires, even to the height of
exactness and expectation. How much more then will our
heavenly Father deal so with his children, who is in himself
essentially and infinitely kind.
(5.) Yea, but, sayest thou, many times when I reach out
the hand of my faith to fetch some special promise into my
soul for refreshing and comfort ; and weighing them well,
and comparing advisedly my own nothingness, worthless-
ness, vileness, with the riches of mercy, grace, and glory
shining in it ; and marking the disproportion, I am over-
whelmed with admiration and astonishment; and;, to tell
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 243
you true, say sometimes to myself, Is it possible that this
should be so ? That so glorious things should belong lo such
a wretch and worm as 1 am 1 But turning thine eye from
a distrustful and too much dejected dwelling upon thine
own desert, to what Christ hath done for thee, and to the
almightiness and all mercifulness of him that promiseth,
consider withal, that God is also " abundant in truth."
Every promise in his book is as sure as himself, sealed with
his Son's blood, and confirmed with his own oath. He
must sooner cease to be God and deny himself, which is
more than infinitely impossible, and prodigious blasphemy
to imagine, than fail in the least circumstance or syllable
of his immeasurable love and promises of life to any one
that heartily loves him and is true of heart : and therefore
when thy thirsty soul makes towards the well of life, by
virtue of that promise, Rev. xxi, 6, " I will give to him
that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely ; "
and upon survey of the overflowing rivers of pleasures and
bliss, which everlastingly spring thence, begins to retire
from it, as too good news to be true: I say then steel thy
faith and comfort thyself gloriously by consideration of
that " abundant truth " with which he hath crowned every
word of his, stronger than a rock of brass, far surer than
the pillars of the earth or poles of heaven. Nay, I speak
an admirable thing, and of unutterable consolation, which
cannot be violated without destruction of the Deity, most
blessed and glorious for evermore ; and let this ever banish
and beat back all scruples, doubts, fears, which at any time
offer themselves, and oppose thy unspeakable joy and peace
in believing."
(6.) Well, saith another, I easily acknowledge the incom-
prehensible goodness in this name of God ; and hold them
most blessed who have their part and portion therein. But
for my part 1 am afraid I come too late : for I have observed
the course of the ministry amongst us, and the dispensa-
tion of God's mercy in it. At first coming, our town being
full of ignorance, profaneness, and much superstitious fol-
lies, having never before enjoyed the word with any life or
power, we all stood amazed a good while at the majesty
and mystery of this new heavenly light. The first mes-
sages of the ministry sounded in our ears " as the voice of
many waters," m.ighty and great, but confused ; not work-
ing in us either joy or terror, but only an extraordinary
wonder, and secret acknowledgment of a strange force and
more than human power. But afterwards, when our watch-
man was better acquainted with our ways, and had more
fully discovered the state of our souls, the word was unto
•244 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
us as a " voice of a great thunder," more distinct and par-
ticular ; breeding not only admiration but fear also ; not
filling our ears only with an uncouth sound, but our hearts
also with a terrible searching. For the sermons of every
sabbath came home to our consciences, singling out our
several reigning corruptions, beating punctually upon our
bosom sins, manifesting clearly our spiritual misery and
certain liableness to the exlremest wrath of God and end-
less woe. Whereupon we were all at our wits' end what
to do, grew weary of our lives, wished with all our hearts
that such a puritan preacher had never come amongst us ;
told every man almost we met, ihat we had a fellow at our
town would drive us all to despair, distraction, self-destruc-
tion, or some mischief or other ; that we heard nothing
from him but of damnation, and hell, and such horrible
things. Now in this second work of the word there was a
good number, even some out of that cursed crew and knot
■of good-fellowship wherein I have been ensnared so long,
won unto Jesus Christ. For being enlightened, convinced,
and terrified in conscience for their former sinful courses,
the continued piercing of the word and work of the spirit of
bondage keeping them upon the rack under the dreadful
sense of divine wrath and their damnable state a good
while ; at last they happily resolved, without any more
delay, diversion, bye-path, or plunging again into worldly
pleasures, to pass on directly, by the light and guidance of
the gospel, into the holy path. And so undertook, and hi-
therto have holden out in profession and a blessed confor-
mity to the better side. But I, and a greater part, a great
deal more was the pity, hating heartily to be reformed, and
abhorring that precise way so much " spoken against every-
where,'' into which we conceived such severe ministerial
counsel would have conducted as ; I say, we wickedly
wrested out of our vexed consciences those keen arrows of
truth and terror with great indignation; we unhappily
hardened our hearts and foreheads against the power of the
word, which particularly pursued us every sabbath. Nay,
alas ! we persecuted the very means which should sanctify
us ; and men which would have saved us. Here then is my
case and complaint ; neglecting that blessed season when I
was first terrified and troubled in mind, when the angel
from heaven, as it were, " troubled the water," and when
some, even of mine own companions in iniquity, were con-
verted ; I am afraid I now come too late, that the mercy of
God to do me spiritual good is already expiied ; and that
the ministry which I have so wretchedly opposed, is the
very same to me that it was to the obstinate Jews (Isa. vi,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 245
9, 10). Nay, but yet say not so, though it be with thee as
thou hast said ; for our gracious God " keepeth mercy for
thousands." Here you must know that a Jinite number is
put for an infinite, and an infinite indeed. And therefore
if thou now be in earnest, and willing to come in, in truth ;
and those thine other brethren in good-fellowship, and
hundreds, thousands, millions more, or any whosoever to
the world's end, God hath mercy in store for you all ; and
being all weary of all your sins, unfeignedly thirsting for
the well of life, resolving for the time to come upon new
courses, company, and conversation, you shall all be most
welcome to Jesus Christ. Even the last man upon earth,
bringing a truly broken heart to the throne of grace, shall
be crowned as richly and with as large a portion of God's
infinite mercy and Christ's invaluable merit as Adam and
Eve, or whosoever laid first hold of that first promise,
" The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head."
(7.) Yea, but, alas ! I have been no ordinary sinner. My
corruptions have carried me beyond the villanies of the
vilest you can name. Not only the variety, but the notori-
ousness also, and enormity of my wicked ways have set an
infamous brand upon me, even in the sight of the world ;
beside those secret pollutions and sinful practices which no
eye but that which is ten thousand times brighter than the
sun ever beheld. Had I not been extremely outrageous,
stained with abominations of deepest dye, and gone on thus
with a high hand, I might have had some hope ; but now 1
know not what to say ! Take notice, then, to the end that
nothing at all may possibly hinder or any way discourage
any poor soul that sincerely seeks for mercy and desires to
turn truly on God's side, from assurance of gracious accep-
tation and entertainment at his throne of grace ; that it is
natural also to his name " to forgive iniquity, transgression,
and sin ; " that is, sins of all sorts, kinds, and degrees
whatsoever. There is none so hateful and heinous, whe-
ther natural corruption, or ordinary outward transgression,
or highest presumption, but, upon repentance, God is most
able, ready, and willing to remit it.
7. God the Father's compassionate pangs of infinite afifec-
tion, and forwardness to entertain in his arms of mercy all
true penitents. " As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no
pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked
turn from his way and live : turn ye, turn ye from your
evil ways : for why will ye die, O house of Israel 1 " (Ezek.
xxxiii, 11.) " Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem, wilt thou not
be made clean? when shall it once be?" ( Jer. xiii, 27.)
" They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from
Y^
246 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her
again 1 shall not that land be greatly polluted ? But thou
hast played the harlot with many lovers ; yet return again
to me, saith the Lord/' (Jer. iii, 1). " Oh that my people
had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways !
1 should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my
hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord
should have submitted themselves unto him : but their time
should have endured for ever. He should have fed them
also with the finest of the wheat : and with honey out of
the rock should I have satisfied thee" (Psalm Ixxxi, 13
— 16). " O that thou hadst hearkened to my command-
ments ! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righte-
ousness as the waves of the sea : thy seed also had been as
the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel
thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor de-
stroyed from before me" (Isa. xlviii, 18, 19).
8. His merciful almightiness in putting life andlightsome-
ness into the most dead and daikest heart. " Seek him,"
saith the prophet, " that maketh the seven stars and Orion,
and turneth the shadow of death into the morning " (Amos
v, 8). Suppose thou settest thyself to seek God's face and
favour, and art presently set upon with this temptation —
But alas! my soul is so black with sin and dark with sor-
row, that it is to no purpose for me to proceed. But now,
in this case, consider who he is that thou seekest. It is he
that made of nothing those beautiful, shining, glorious con-
stellations, Orion and the Pleiades ; he it is that turneth the
darkest midnight into the brightest morning.
9. Christ's sweetest, dearest, most melting invitations of
all truly troubled souls for sin unto the well of life, and
their own everlasting welfare. " Come unto me, all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest "
(Mat. xi, 28). " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how
often would I have gathered thy children together, even as
a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings," &c. (Matt,
xxiii, 37). " And when he was come near, he beheld the
city, and wept over it, saying. If thou hadst known, even
thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto
thy peace!" (Luke xix, 41, 42.) " In the last day, that
great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If
any man thirst, let him come unto ir^e and drink " (John
vii, 37).
10. Experience perhaps of the comforter, converted from
a more wicked and desperate course than the patient him-
self. And it doth not a little refresh the heart of him, who
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 247
grievously wounded in conscience, thereupon sendeth for
a skilful and faithful mesenger of God ; and when he hath
opened his case fully unto him heareth him say, when he
hath said all : " My case was far worse than yours every
way." Nay, but besides those notorious sins I have named
unto you, I have defiled myself with many secret execra-
ble lusts, lie it so, saith the spiritual physician, yet in
the days of my vanity I have been guilty of more and more
heinous crimes than any you have yet spoken of. Yea, but
even now, when I have most need of, should most prize, re-
verence, and lay hold upon God's blessed word. Son, and
promises, I am continually beset with many abhorred, vil-
lanous, and prodigious injections about them. Not a man
alive, replires the man of God, hath had his head troubled
with more hideous thoughts of this hellish nature than I.
11. That precious parable (Luke xv) wherein all those
loving passages of the father unto his prodigal son ; to wit,
" his beholding him when he was yet a great way off; his
compassion, running towards him, falling upon his neck,
kissing him, putting on him the best robe and the ring,
killing the fatted calf," &:c. ; — do shadow that immeasurable,
incomprehensible love of God the Father to every one that
is willing to come out of the devil's cursed service into the
good way ; but come as far short of expressing it to the life,
as the infinite greatness of Almighty God surp^sseth the
finite frailty of a weak man and worm of the earth.
CHAP. IV.
Foar Conclusions of Comfort, drawn from those places of Scripture
which set forth the Lord's dealing with us as a Father with his Chil-
dren.
In the second place, let us take a view of some of those
most delicious and sweetest streams of dearest comfort,
which spring abundantly out of that fruitful fountain of
compassion and love — "Like as a father pitieth his chil-
dren ; so the Lord pitieth them that fear him" (Psalm
ciii, 13 ; see also Deut. viii, 5 ; and Mai. iii, 17).
Hence may we draw refreshing enough to our thirsty
souls in many passages of heavy thoughts and grievous
complaints about our spiritual state.
1. In the distempers and damps of prayer, thus : —
Suppose the dearest son of the most loving father to lie
grievously sick, and out of the extremity of anguish to cry
out and complain unto him, that he is so full of pain in.
248 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
every part that he knows not which way to turn himself, or
what to do ; and thereupon entreats him by the love he
bears him, to touch him tenderly, to lay him softly, to mol-
lify all he may his painful misery, and give him ease. How
ready, think you, would such a father be, with all tender-
ness and care to give his helping hand in such a rueful case !
But yet if he should grow sicker and weaker, so that he
could not speak at all, but only look his father in the face
with watery eyes, and moan himself unto him with sighs
and groans, and other dumb expressions of his increased
pain and desire to speak, would not this yet strike deeper
into the father's tender heart ; pierce and melt with more
feeling pangs of compassion, and make his bowels yearn
within him with an addition of extraordinary solicitude to do
him good? Even just so will thy heavenly Father be
affected and deal with thee, in hearing, helping, and show-
ing mercy, when all thy strength of prayer is gone, but
only groans and sighs. Nay, with incomparably more
affectionateness : for, look how far God is higher than man
in majesty and greatness, which is by an infinite distance
and disproportion ; so far doth he pass him in tender-
heartedness and love. See Isaiah Iv, 8, 9.
Or be it so that thou art able to speak unto God, and in
some measure to utter thy mind, yet in thy thought it is so
weakly, coldly, and confusedly, that thou thiukest it had
been better altogether to have held thy peace. Take no-
tice here, that God's child is able, first, sometimes to pour
out his heart unto his God with life and power : secondly,
sometimes to say something, but with much coldness, dead-
ness of heart, and distractedness (as he complains), with-
out his wonted feeling and freedom of spirit : thirdly, at
other times he can say just nothing, but groan and sigh, and
only desire he could pray. For this last, look upon the
last passage. For the second, to wit, when the Christian
is troubled that he can say something and speak words unto
God, yet without that order, eflficacy, fit phrase and com-
ing off so comfortably, as he thinks it to be found in other
professors ; I say in this case consider, that as a father is
more delighted with the stammering and fluttering, as it
were, with the inarticulate and imperfect talk of his own
little child when it first begins to speak, than with the ex-
actest eloquence of the most famous orator upon earth ;
so assuredly our Heavenly Father is infinitely better pleased
with the broken, interrxipted passages and periods of prayer
in thee, an upright heart, heartily grieved that he can do no
better, nor offer up a more lively, hearty, and orderly sa-
crifice, than with the excellently composed, fine-phrased.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 249
ami most methodical petitions of the most learned phaiisee.
Nay, his soul extremely loathes the one, and graciously
accepts the other in Jesus Christ. As concerning the com-
plaint of coldness ; be assured, that though thy prayers pro-
ceed out of thy mouth faint and feeble, cold and uncom-
fortable, yet springing from a sincere heart, purified by
faith, truly humbled under God's mighty hand for sin,
seconded with groans and grief, with a holy anger and
self-indignation that they be not more fervent and piercing,
and offered in obedience unto God ; they are most certainly
as it were by the way fortified and enlivened with the pa-
cifying perfections and intercessory spirit of Jesus Chiist,
sweetly perfumed with the precious odours of his fresh
bleeding merits and blessed mediation, so that they strike
the ears of the Almighty with far greater strength and ir-
resistible importunity than is ordinarily imagined ; and are
as sweet smelling sacrifices in his nostrils ; the very sight
of whose crucified Son at his right hand tendering the suit
can calm his most angry countenance, and convert, by a
sacred meritorious atonement, his displeasures and wrath
into compassions and peace. Now blessed be God that the
weak prayers and broken sighs of tempted and troubled
spirits have this happy promise and prerogative, that be-
fore they press, as it were, into the presence of God the
Father, they are mingled in the mean lime with the sove-
reign and satisfactory incense in the " golden censer,"
whence evaporating out of the angel's hand (I mean the
" Angel of the Covenant," for so the truest interpreters
understand the place) they ascend into the sight of our
gracious Father, incorporated and enwoven into that pre-
cious and pleasing fume ; and that it pleaseth the blessed
Spirit, in the needful time of spiritual extremities, to draw
the petitions of our sometimes speechless, heavy, and dis-
tracted hearts ; Jesus Christ the great angel of the cove-
nant to perfect, perfume, and present them : he that by an
excellency and title of the highest honour is styled the
Hearer of prayers, to receive them into his merciful hand
and bosom of compassionate acceptation ! Go on then,
poor soul ! thou that sorely droopest under the sensible
weight of thy manifold weaknesses and unworthiness this
way ; and thereupon sometimes sinfully drawest back, with
some thoughts of giving over quite, which is that the devil
desires, and would utterly undo thee for ever, — press forward
in the name of Christ unto the throne of grace with a lighter
heart than thou art wont. Shall the Lord Jesus call and
cry for a pardon for those who put him to death, who were
so far from seeking unto liim, that like so many evening
250 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
wolves they sought and sucked his blood ; and will he shut
his ears, thinkest thou, from thy complaints and groans,
who values one drop of his blood to quench thy spiritual
thirst at a higher price than the worth of many worlds'?
Comfort thyself invincibly. It cannot be.
2. In the faintness of faith, and want of feeling.
Thou beholdest sometimes a father holding a little child
in his arms : now, whether dost thou think is the child safe
by its own or by the father's hold 1 It clasps about the fa-
ther with its little weak hands as well as it can ; but the
strength of its safety is in the father's arm ; nay, and the
father holds the faster when at any time he perceives the
child to have left its hold. Thou art tied as it were unto
Christ by a double bond ; first, of the Spirit, and secondly,
of faith. Thou layest hold on Christ by faith, and he holds
thee by his Spirit. Now thy infant faith, or after some
good standing in Christianity weakened and sorely wounded
in thy present feeling, hath lost its holdfast ; and therefore
thou thinkest all is gone, and walkest dejectedly and un-
comfortably, as though not any promise in God's book, or
drop of Christ's blood were thine. But assure thyself, be-
ing sound at the heart-root, and " walking in the light, as
God is in the light," thy heavenly Father in this case holds
thee so fast by his Spirit, that no man or devil, not all the
powers of darkness or gates of hell, can possibly pluck
thee out of his hand. Nay, the excellency of his power is
most gloriously improved and made more illustrious in thy
greatest extremities and extremest spiritual weakness ; and
he holds it his highest honour to hold thee the fastest when
thy hold is gone. Here then and upon this ground thou
hast a calling, and mayest comfortably, for he is ever most
loving and tender-hearted in times of temptation to all that
are true of heart, exercise that most excellent act of faith,
" to believe without feeling : " to believe when the face of
God doth shine upon thee with sensible refreshing, and
when thou enjoyest plentiful and pregnant proofs of his fa-
vour, is no great matter, no such mastery ; but to believe
when all sense of God's love is gone, and the light of his
countenance hid from thee, when all go quite cross and con-
trary in the apprehension of carnal reason, then is the
highest praise ; this is the perfection of faith. The very
dull, senseless, and soul-less earth upon which we tread,
may teach us to rest and depend upon God in such a case.
It is a mighty and massy body, planted in the midst of thin
air, and hangs upon just nothing in the world, but only
upon God's word. By that alone it is there established
immoveably, keeps its place most steadily, never stirs an
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 251
inch from it. It hath no props nor pillars to uphold it ; no
bars nor beams to fasten it ; nothing to stay and support it,
but the bare word of God alone. " He upholdeth all things
by the word of his power," saith the apostle, Heb. i, 3 ;
and yet not all the creatures in the world can shake it, or
make it tremble. Be it so then that thy faith hath lost its
holdfast ; that for the present thou findest no feeling ; no
encouragements of " joy and peace in believing," no sensi-
ble pawns and pledges of God's wonted favour ; yet for all
this, cast thyself upon the sure word of that mighty God
who hath established all the ends of the earth ; and reared
sucli a great and goodly building where there was no foun-
dation ; and doubtless thou slialt be more than infinitely,
everlastingly safe, and settled like " mount Zion, which can-
not be removed, but abidetn for ever."
3. In failings of new obedience.
Thou puttest thy son in employment, settest him about
thy business, he improves the utmost of his skill, strength,
and endeavour to do thee the best service he can, and
please thee, if it were possible, to perfection ; but yet comes
short of what thou desirest, and fails in many particulars ;
and therefore he weeps and grieves, and is much troubled
that he can give no better contentment. Now tell me, thou
whose heart is warmed with the tenderness of a father's
affection, whether thou wouldst not be most ready and will-
ing to pardon and pass by all defects and failings in this kind"?
Nay, I know thou wouldst rejoice and bless (iod that he had
given thee a child so obedient, willing, and affectionate.
In like manner thy heavenly Father sets thee on work, to
believe, repent, pray, read the Scriptures, hear the word,
confer, meditate, love the brethren, sanctity his sabbaths,
humble thyself in days of fasting and prayer, pour out thy
soul day and night (as the times require) in compassion,
fellow-feeling, and strong cries for the afflictions of Joseph,
the destruction of the churches, and those brethren of
thine which have so long lain in blood and tears ; to be in-
dustrious and serious in all works of justice, mercy, and
truth. And thou goest about these blessed tasks with an
upright heart and obedience unto God, but the several per-
formances come far short of what his word requires and thy
heart desires ; and thereupon thou mournest and grievest,
and afflictest thy soul in secret, because thou canst not come
off with more power and life ; nor bring that glory unto God
in thy Christian walking, which so many mercies, means,
and such a ministry may exact at thy hands. In this case
now, of these involuntary failings and humble disposition
of thy heart, therefore be most assured thy All-suffiicient
252 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
Father " will spare thee as a man spareth his own son, that
serveth him." Nay, and with so much more kindness and
love, " as the heavens are higher than the earth," and God
greater than man.
4. In case of spiritual desertion.
A father solacing himself with his little child, and de-
lighting in its pretty and pleasing behaviour, is wont some-
times to step aside into a corner or behind a door, upon
purpose to quicken yet more its love and longing after him,
and try the impatiency and eagerness of its affections. In
the mean time he hears it cry, run about, and call upon
him, and yet he stirs not, but forbears to appear; not for
want of compassion and kindness, which the more it grieves
the more abounds ; but that it may prize more dearly the
father's presence, that they may meet more merrily, and re
joice in the enjoyment of each other more heartily. Con-
ceive then, and consider to thine own exceeding comfort, that
Ihy heavenly Father deals just so with thee in a spiritual
desertion. He sometimes hides his face from thee, and
withdraws his quickening and refreshing presence for 3 time,
not for want of love, for he loves thee freely ; he loves thee
w^ith an everlasting love ; he loves thee with the very same
love with which he loves Jesus Christ ; and that dear Son
of his loves thee with the same love his Father loves him.
But to put more heat and life into thine affections towards
him and heavenly things ; to cause thee to relish commu-
nion with Jesus Christ, when thou enjoyest it, more sweetly ;
to preserve it more carefully ; to joy in it more thankfully ;
and to shun more watchfully whatsoever might rob thee of
it ; to stir up all the powers of thy soul and all the graces
of God in thee ; to seek his face and favour again with more
extraordinary and* universal seriousness and industry. For
we find with pleasure, possess with singular contentment,
and keep with special care, what we have sought with pain.
We may see this in the spouse. Cant, iii, 1,6, under the
pressure of a grievous desertion. Ponder every particular.
" By night on my bed I sought him. whom my soul loveth :
I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go
about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will
seek him whom my soul loveth : I sought him, but I found
him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me :
to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth ? It was
but a little that I passed from them, but 1 found him whom
my soul loveth : 1 held him, and would not let him go, un-
til I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the
chamber of her that conceived me. I charge you, O ye
daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 253
the field, that ye stir not up nor awake my love till he
please." And lastly, that when the comfortable beams of
God's lightsome countenance shall break out again upon
thy soul, and thy beloved is returned, thou mayest sing
that triumphant song of faith most joyfully ; " I am my
beloved's, and my beloved is mine." i)esertions then and
delays of this nature are fruits of thy heavenly Father's
love, and ought to be no discouragements unto thee at all,
holding thy integrity. His love thereby is intended to-
wards thee by the restraint of the influence and sense of it
from thy soul, as a brook grows big by damming it up for a
while ; and thy love is more inflamed towards him, when
thou feelest by the want of it what a heaven upon earth it
is to have his face shine upon thee with its quickening, re-
freshing presence ; and that a sensible embracement of
Jesus Christ in the arms of thy faith is the very life of the
soul, as the soul is the life of the body, the crown of all
sweet contentment in this vale of tears, and a piece, as it
were, of everlasting pleasures.
CHAP. V.
Eight Conclusions more drawn from the afore-mentioned places.
5. In times of trial.
Thou seest sometimes a father setting down his little one
upon its feet to try its strength, and whether it be yet able
to stand by itself or no ; but withal he holds his arms on
both sides to uphold it, if he see it incline either way, and
to preserve it from hurt. Assure thyself thy heavenly
Father takes care of thee with infinitely more tenderness in
all thy trials, either by outward afflictions or inward
temptations. "Though thou shouldst fall, yet shalt thou
not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth thee with
his hand" (Psalm xxxvii, 24). Never did goldsmith
attend so curiously and punctually upon those precious
metals he casts into the fire, to observe the very first season,
and be sure that they tarry no longer in the furnace than
the dross be wasted, and they be thoroughly purified and
fitted for some excellent use, as our gracious God lovingly
waits to take thee out of trouble and temptation when the
rust is removed from thy spiritual armour, thy graces shine
out, and thou art heartily humbled and happily fitted to do
him more glorious service for the time to come ; 1 mean
when he hath attained the end which he mercifully in-
tended in love and for thy good.
Z
254 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
6. In thoughts of our unworthiness.
David commanded Joab and the other captains " to en-
treat the young man Absalom gently for his sake " (2 Sam.
xviii, 5). A rebellious, traitorous son up in arms against his
own father, gracelessly and unnaturally thirsting, out of a
furious ambitious humour, to wring the regal sceptre out of
his hand, and to set the imperial crown upon his own head.
How dearly and tenderly then will the Father of mercies
deal with a poor humbled soul that sighs and seeks for his
favour infinitely more than any earthly treasure, or the
glory of a thousand worlds !
7. I will suppose thou hast broke some special vow
(which were a grievous thing) made before the sacrament
upon some day of humiliation, or such other occasion, and
so forfeited thyself, as it were, and thy soul into the hands
of God's justice, to be disposed of to the dungeon of utter
darkness, if thou wert served as thy sin hath deserved.
And thereupon thou art much afflicted and sore troubled in
mind, to have suffered thyself to be so sottishly ensnared
again in such a disavowed sin, against so strong a purpose.
But here consider whether thou, being a father, wouldst
take the forfeiture of a bond, and advantage of breaking
day, especially full sore against his will, from thy dearest
child, entreatmg thee to regard him kindly. Much, nay
infinitely less will thy heavenly Father deal hardly with
thee in such a case, if thou complain at the throne of grace
with a grieved spirit, renew thy covenant, and tell him truly
that thou wilt, by the help of the Holy Ghost, guard thy
heart with a narrower v/atch and stronger resolution for the
time to come. " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins" (1 John i, 9) ; and in such a
case we have ever a blessed " advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John ii, 1).
A father sometimes threatens and offers to throw his little
one out of his arms •, but upon purpose only to make him
cling closer unto him. Our heavenly Father may seem to
cast oflf his child, and leave him for a while in the hands
of Satan for inward temptation, or to the rage of his blood-
thirsty agents for outward persecution : but it is only to
draw him nearer to himself by more serious seeking and
sure dependence in the time of trouble, and that with the hand
of his faith he may lay surer hold upon his all-sufficiency.
And the child, especially if of riper age and wiser
thoughts, laughs perhaps in the father's face, dreads no
danger, dreams not of being hurt : and what is the reason,
think yel Only because he knows he that holds him is his
father. So thy heavenly Father holds thee as it were over
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. , 255
hell in some strong temptation, upon purpose to terrify thee
I'rom tampering so much with the devil's baits ; so that thou
seest nothing about thee for the present but darkness and
discomforts, and the very horrors of eternal death ready to
take hold of thee ; yet for all this, upon the ground of this
loving, gracious resemblance, thou mayest be comforted
and cry confidently with Job, " Though he slay me, yet
will I trust in him" (Job xiii, 15) ; with David, " though
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil " (Psalm xxiii, 4). " Who is among you," saith
the Prophet (Isaiah 1, 10), "that feareth the Lord, that
obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness,
and hath no light ? Let him trust in the name of the Lord,
and stay upon his God."
9. A son, by the seduction of some dissolute and drunken
Belials is drawn into lewd and licentious company, and
so plunges presently over head and ears into pestilent
courses ; falls unhappily to swaggering, drinking, gaming,
the mirth and madness of wine and pleasures ; and at
length to express to the life an exact conformity to that
complete character given in the book of Wisdom* of the
professors of good-fellowship (astheycall it) and epicurism,
both for pursuit of sensual delights and persecution of true
professors, whereby he wastes his patrimony, cuts the heart
of his parents, and wounds his conscience. His father
mourns and grieves, consults and casts about with all love
and longing for his recovery and return. At length, out of
sense and conscience of his base and debauched behaviour,
vile company, dishonouring God, banishing good motions,
" he comes to himself," entreats his father upon his knees
with many tears that he would be pleased to pardon what
is past, receive him into favour again, and he will faithfully
endeavour to displease him no more, but redeem the loss
of the former with the improvement of the time to come.
How willingly and welcomely think you would such a
father receive such a son into the bosom of his fatherly af-
fection, and arms of dearest embracement. And yet so,
and infinitely more, is our heavenly Father merciful and
melting towards any of his relapsed children, returning unto
his gracious throne with true remorse and hearty grief for
so going astray ; which is an incomparable comfort in case
of backsliding, which yet God forbid.
10. A father indeed will lay heavier burthens upon his
son now grown into years and strength, and puts him to
sorer labour and harder tasks ; but while he is very young
he is wont to forbear him with much tenderness and com-
passion ; because he knows he is scarcely able to carry him-
* Wisd. ii, 6, &c. ; xii, &c.
256 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
self out of the mire. Even so, but with infinitely more affec-
tionateness and care, watchfulness and love, doth our
heavenly Father bear in his arms and forbear a babe in
Christ. See Isa. xl, 11. This maybe a very sweet and
precious cordial to weak consciences at their first conversion,
who when they cast their eye upon the heinousness and
number of their sins, the fiery and furious darts of the devil,
the frowns and angry foreheads of their carnal friends, the
world's lowering and enmity, the rebelliousness and un-
towardness of their own hearts, pressing upon them all at
once, and so considering that " refraining from evil, they
make themselves a prey," are ready to sink and faint, and
fear that they shall never hold out. For they may hence
ground upon it, being upright-hearted, and believing that
(jod, who knows their weakness full well, " will not suffer
them to be tempted above that they are able ; but will with
the temptation also make a way to escape, that they may
be able to bear it." So that over all these adversaries and
ungodly oppositions they shall most certainly be more than
conquerors.
11. When thou art dejected in spirit, and walkest more
heavily, because thou comest short of stronger Christians in
all performances, services, duties, and fruitful walking, and
thereupon sufFerest slavish doubts and distrusts, lest thy
groundwork be not well laid, and beat back and bar out
all spiritual joy and expected contentments in thy Christian
course ; 1 say then, and in such a case, suppose a father
should call unto him in haste two of his children, one of
three years old, the other of thirteen : they both make all
the haste they can, but the elder makes much more speed,
and yet the little one comes on waddling as fast as it can,
and if it had more strength it would have matched the
other. Now would not the father accept of the younger's
utmost, endeavour according to its strength, as well as of
the elder's faster gait, being stronger! I amsure he would ;
and that with more tenderness too, and taking it in his arms
to encourage it. And so certainly will thy heavenly Father
deal with thee in the like case about thy spiritual state,
being true-hearted, and heartily grieving, praying, and en-
deavouring to do better.
12. Suppose a child to fall sick in a family. The father
presently sets the whole house on work for the recovery of
its welfare. Some run for the physician, others for friends
and neighbours ; some tend it, others watch it ; all contri-
bute their several abilities, endeavours, and diligence to do
it good; and thus they continue in motion, afi'ection, and
extraordinary employment about it, far more than about
all the rest that are well, until it recover. With the very
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 257
same but incomparably more tender care and compassion
will thy heavenly Father visit thee in all thy spiritual
maladies and sicknesses of soul. The whole blessed Trinity
is stirred, as it were, extraordinarily, and takes to heart thy
troubles at such a time. Even as a shepherd takes more
pains and exercises more pity and tenderness about his
sheep when they are out ot tune. See Isa. xl, 11 ; Ezek.
xxxiv, 16 ; upon which places hear the paraphrase of a
blessed divine : "The Lord v/ill not be unfaithful to thee
if thou be upright with him, though thou be weak in thy
carriage to him ; for ' he keeps his covenant for ever ; ' and
therefore in Isa. xl, the Lord expresseih it thus : ' You shall
know me as sheep know their shepherd, and I will make
a covenant with you,' and thus and thus I will deal with
you. And how is that? Why the covenant is not thus
only — as long as you keep within the bounds and keep within
the fold, as long as you go along the paths of righteousness
and walk in them; — but this is the covenant that I will
make : I will drive you according to that you are able to
bear. If any be great with young, I will drive them softly ;
if they be lame that they are not able to go, saith he, ' I
will take them up in mine arms and carry them in my
bosom.' If you compare with Ezek. xxxiv, j'ou shall find
there he puts down all the slips we are subject to (speaking of
the time of the gospel, when Christ should be the shepherd),
he shows the covenant that he will make with those that are
his. Saith he ; 'if any thing be lost,' if a sheep lose itself,
this is my covenant, ' I will find it ; ' if it be driven away
by any violence of temptation, ' 1 will bring it back again:'
If there be a breach made into their hearts by any occasion
through sin and lust, ' 1 will heal them and bind them up.'
This the Lord will do ; this is the covenant that he makes."
But I was telling you the whole blessed Trinity grieves (if
I may so speak) after a special manner in all the spiritual
troubles especially of all those who are true of heart. God
the Father's bowels of mercy yearn compassionately over
thee when he sees thee spiritually sick. The distressed and
disconsolate state of thy soul, puts him into such melting
and affectionate pangs as these: "O thou afflicted, tossed
with tempest, and not comforted ; behold, I will lay thy
stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sap-
phires," &c. " Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith
your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto
her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is
pardoned," &c. (Isa. liv, 11 ; and xl, 1, 2.) Jesus Christ,
out of his own experience, knoweth full well what it is to be
grievously tempted, what it is to have the most hideous
Z 3
253 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
thoughts and horrible injections thrown into the mind that
can be possibly imagined ; nay, that the devil himself can
devise. See Matt, iv, 6, 9. What a hell it is to want the
comfortable influence of the Father's pleased face and
favour. See INIatt. xxvii, 46. And therefore he cannot
choose but be "afflicted in our afflictions;" and very
sensibly and sweetly tender-hearted in all our spiritual
troubles. They pity us most in our sicknesses, who have
felt the same themselves. *' In that he himself suffered and
was tempted, he is able to sviccour them that are tempted "
(Heb. ii, 18). As for the blessed Spirit, it is his proper
work, as it were, " to comfort them that mourn in Zion ; to
give unto them beauty for ashes ; the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." And yet
besides all this, thy heavenly Father, in the distress of thy
soul, sets also on work the church of God about thee ;
faithful ministers to pray for, and prepare seasonable and
sound arguments, reasons, counsels, and comforts out of
God's blessed book, to support, quicken, revive, and recover
thee all they can ; private Christians to commend thy case
unto the "throne of grace and mercy;" and that ex-
traordinarily with mightiness of prayer upon their more
solemn days of humiliation.
Thus, and in the like manner, peruse all the compassionate
passages of the most tender-hearted parents to their best-
beloved children in all cases of danger and distress ; and so
and infinitely more tenderly will our heavenly Father deal
with all that are upright-hearted in all their troubles, trials,
and temptations, tor the dearest love of the most affectionate
father and mother to their child is nothing to that, which
lie bears to those that fear him (Isa. xlix, 15; Psalm ciii, 13;
Deut. viij, 5),
CHAP. VI.
A Principle of Conifoit from something within us, confirmed from
several Testimonies and Instances of Scripture, and by one Reason.
Thirdly. There is a precious principle in the mystery of
salvation, which, as a comforting cordial water, serves to
quicken and revive in the swoonings and faintings of the
body, defection of the spirits, and sinking of the heart ; so
it may be sovereign to support and succour in afflictions
and dejections of soul, and weaknesses of our spiritual
state. It is thus delivered by divines : —
" A constant and earnest desire to be reconciled to God.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 269
to believe and to repent, if it be in a touched heart, is in
acceptation with God as reconciliation, faith, repentance
itself*."
" A weak faith shows itself by this grace of God, namely,
an unfeigned desire, not only of salvation (for that the
wicked and graceless man may have), but of reconciliation
with God in Christ. This is a sure sign of faith in every
touched and humbled heart, and it is peculiar to the
elect t."
" Those are blessed who are displeased with their own
doubting and unbelief ; if they have a true earnest desire
to be purged from this distrust, and to believe in God
through Christ :t."
"Our desire of grace, faith, and repentance, are the
graces themselves which we desire ; at least, in God's
acceptation, who accepteth of the will for the deed, and of
our affections for the actions §."
'• Hungering and thirsting desires are evidences of a
repenting heart II."
" Tjue desire argues the presence of things desired, and
yet argues not the feeling of it If."
" It may not be dissembled, that there are in the world
many definitions or descriptions of faith, such as do not
comprehend in them that only thing which is the chief stay
of thousands of the dear servants of God, and that is, desires
which may not be denied to be of the nature of faith. I ex-
press my meaning thus : That when a man or woman is
so far exercised in the spiritual seeking of the Lord his
God, that he would be willing to part with the world and
all things thereof if he had them in his own possession,
so that by the Spirit and promises of God he might be as-
sured that the sins of his former life, and such as presently
do burthen his soul were forgiven him ; and that he might
believe that God were now become his God in Christ ; — I
would not doubt to pronounce that this person (thus prizing
remission of sins at this rate, that he would sell all to buy
this pearl) did undoubtedly believe. Not only because it
is a truth (though a paradox) that the desire to believe is
faith ; but also because our Saviour Christ doth not doubt
to affirm that they are blessed that ' hunger and thirst after
righteousness, because they shall be satisfied' (Matt, v, 6).
' Perkins, in his Grain of Mustard Seed, Concl. 3.
t Idem, in his Exposition of the Creed.
t Idem, upon the Sermon on the Mount.
5 Downam, in his Christian Warfare, chap. .xlii.
|| Dvke, of Kepentance, chap. xv.
II T'T. upon Psalm xxxii.
260 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
And to * him that is athirst I will give to drink of the water
of life freely ' (Revel, xxi, 6). And David doubted not to
say, 'The Lord heareth the desire of the humble' (Psalm
X, 17)*."
" I think, whensoever the humbled sinner sees an infinite
excellency in Christ, and the favour of God by him, that it
is more worth tiian all the world, and so sets his heart upon
it that he is resolved to seek it without ceasing, and to
part with all for the obtaining it ; now, I take it, is faith
begun." — "What graces thou unfeignedly desirest, and
constantly usest the means to attain, thou haslt."
" There is no rock more sure than this truth of God, that
the heart that complaineth of the want of grace, desireth
above all things the supply of ihat want, useth all holy
means for the procurement of that supply, cannot be desti-
tute of saving grace |."
** Such are we by imputation as we be in affection. And
he is now no sinner, who for the love he beareth to righteous-
ness would be no sinner. Such as we be in desire and
purpose, such we be in reckoning and account with God,
who giveth that true desire and holy purpose to none but to
his children whom he justifieth §."
" We must remember that God accepts affecting for
effecting ; willing for working ; desires for deeds ; purposes
for performances ; pence for pounds ; and unto such as do
their endeavour, hath promised his grace enabling them
every day to do more and more ||."
"If there be in thee a sorrow for thine unbelief ; a will
and desire to believe ; and a care to increase in faith by
the use of good means ; there is a measure of true faith
in thee, and by it ihou mayest assure thyself that thou art
the child of God If."
"It is a great grace of God to feel the want of God's
graces in thyself, and to hunger and thirst after them**."
" If you desire healing of your nature, groan in desire for
grace, perceive your foulness unto a loathing of yourself,
fear not, sin hath no dominion oyer you." — " Sense of want
of grace, complaint and mourning from that sense, desire,
settled and earnest, with such mourning to have the want
supplied, use of good means, with attending upon him
therein for this supply, is surely of grace." — " What graces
* Byfield, In his Exposition upon the Epistle to the Colossiaiis,
chap, i, ver. 4.
t Rogers of Dedhani, iu his Doctrine of Faith, chap. ii.
t (!rook, scrm. ill. $ Greenliani.
II DvkCjOf vSelf-Deceivinjr, chap. xix. % Perkins, on (iaiatians.
* * Broad, p. 88.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 261
thou unfeignedly desirest and constantly usest the means to
attain, thou hast*."
Take it in short from me thus : —
A true desire of grace argues a saving and comfortable
estate.
The truth of which appears clearly by scripture, reason,
both ancient and modern divines.
Proofs: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness, for they shall be filled'' (iNIatt. v, 6).
Here to a desire of grace is annexed a promise of blessed-
ness, which comprehends all the glory and pleasures of
Christ's kingdom here, and all heavenly joys and everlasting
bliss hereafter. " If any man thirst, let him come unto me
and drink" (John vii, 37;. " The Lord heareth the desire
of the humble " (Psalm x, 17). " He will fulfil the desire
of them that fear him" (Psalm cxlv, 19). "The Lord
filleth the hungry with good things" (Luke i, 53). "Let
him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely" (Kev. xxii, 17). "Ho! every
one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters," &c. "1 will
pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the
dry ground " (Isa. Iv, I ; and xliv, 3).
"(J Lord, I beseech thee," saith Nehemiah, "let now
thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to
the prayer of thy servants who desire to iear thy name."
Here those who desire to fear the Lord are styled his
servants ; and proposed as men qualified and in a fit dis-
position to have their prayers heard, their petitions granted,
their distresses relieved, their atfairs blessed with success.
And no doubt this man of God would make special choice
of such attributes and afl^ections, which might prove power-
ful and pleasing arguments to draw from (jod compassion,
favour, and protection. And therefore a true-hearted de-
sire to fear the Lord is a sign of his servant.
Abraham, as you know. Gen. xxii, did not indeed when
It came to the point, sacrifice his son ; an angel irom heaven
stayed his hand. Only he had a will, purpose, and resolu-
tion, if the Lord would so have it, even to shed the blood
of his only child. Now this desire to please God was
graciously accepted at his hands as though the thing had
been done, and thereupon crowned with as many blessings
as there are stars in the heaven, and sands upon the sea
shore. " By myself have 1 sworn, saith the Lord, because
thou hast done this thing, and hast not spared thine only
t;ou" (and yet he spilt not a drop of his blood, save only
* Wilson on Faith.
262 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
in purpose and preparedness to do God's will), " therefore
will 1 surely bless thee and greatly multiply thy seed as
the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea
shore" (Gen. xxii, 16, 17).
Rich men cast into the treasury large gifts and royal
offerings no doubt (Mark xii) ; for it is there said, " Many
that were rich cast in much " (ver. 41) ; and yet the poor
widow's two mites, receiving worth and weight from her holy
and hearty atfection, in Christ's esteem did outvalue and
overweigh them all. " Verily," saith Christ, " 1 say unto
you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they
which have cast into the treasury."
Reaso7is. 1. One argument may be taken from the
blessed nobleness of God's nature, and the incomparable
sweetness of his divine disposition, which by intinite
distance, without all degree of comparison and measure ot
proportion, doth surpass and transcend the ingenuousness
of the noblest spirit upon earth. Now, men of ingenuous
breeding and generous dispositions are wont to receive
sweetest contentment, and rest best satisfied in prevailing
over and winning the hearts, good wills, and affections of
those who attend or depend upon them. Outward perform-
ances, gratifications, and visible effects, are often beyond
our strength and means ; many times mingled and quite
marred with hypocrisies, disguisemeuts, feigned accom-
modations and tiatteries, with self-advantages, bye-respects,
and private ends. But inward reverence and love, kind
and affectionate stirrings of the heart, are ever and alone
in our power, and ever by an uncontrollable freedom ex-
empted from enforcement, dissembling, and formality. No
marvel then though the most royal and heroical spirits prize
most, and be best pleased with possession of men's hearts,
and being assured of them can more easily pardon the
want of those outward acts of sufficiency and service (most
minded by basest men) which they see to be above the
reach of their ability and power. Now if it be so that
even ingenuous and noble natures accept with special
respect and esteem the afiectionateness and hearty well
willing of their followers and favourites, though they want
dexterity and means to express it actually in visible effects
and executions answerable to their afiections, how much
more are spiritual longings, holy affections, thirsty desires,
graciously accepted of that God, in respect of whose com-
passions, the bowels of the most merciful man upon earth
are cruelty ; in respect of whose unmeasurably amiable,
melting, sweetest disposition, the ingenuousness of the
noblest spirit is doggedness and disdafti. Especially since
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 263
men's good turns and offices of love turn many times to our
good and benefit, to our advancement, profit, preferment :
but our "well-doing extendeth not unto God" (Psalm
xvi, 2). That infinite essential glory with which the highest
Lord, alone to be blessed, adored, and honoured by all for
ever, was, is, and shall be everlastingly crowned ; can
neither be impaired by the most desperate rebellions, nor
enlarged by the most glorious good deeds, " Can a man,"
saith Eliphaz to Job, " be proifitable unto God : as he that
is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure
to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to
him that thou makest thy ways perfect? If thou sinnest,
what doest thou against him ? Or if thy transgressions be
multiplied, what doest thou unto him ? If thou be righteous,
what givest thou him "^ or what receiveth he of thine hand?
Thy wickedness may hurt a man, as thou art ; and thy
righteousness may profit the son of man " (Job xxii, 2, 3 ;
and XXXV, 6, 7, 8). Were all the wicked men upon earth
turned into human beasts, desperate Uelials, nay, in-
carnate devils ; and the whole world full of those outra-
geous giants of Babel, and those also of the old world ; and
all with combined force and fury should bend and band
themselves against heaven, yet they could not hurt God.
" The Lord is king, be the people never so impatient; he
sitteth between the cherubim, be the earth never so un-
quiet." Or were all the sons of men Abrahams or angels,
and as many in number as the stars in heaven; and as
shining both with inward graces and outward good deeds
as they are in visible glory ; yet could they make no addi-
tion unto that incomprehensible Majesty above ; they could
not confer so much as one drop to that boundless and
bottomless sea of goodness, or the least glimpse unto that
Almighty Sun of Glory. " All nations before him are as
nothing, and they are counted to him less than nothing,
and vanity" (Isa. xl, 17). Our sins hurt him not; our
holiness helps him not. It is only for our good, that God
would have us good. No good, no gain accrues unto him
by our gcodness. For what good can come by our imperfect
goodness to that which is already infinitely good ? What
glory can be added by our dimness to him, which is already
incomprehensibly glorious ? Every infinite thing is naturally
and necessarily incapable of addition ; possibility of which
supposed, implies contradiction, and destroys the nature of
infinity. If it be so then, that good turns do good unto
men, and yet out of their ingenuousness they most esteem
goodwills, true-heartedness, kind affections, and can well
find in their hearts to pass by failings where there is heart
264 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and good will ; to pardon easily want of exactness in per-
formance where there are unfeigned purpi ses ; how much
more will your gracious God, who gains nothing by all the
good works in the world, out of the depth of his dearest
compassions, kindly interpret and accept in good part the
holy longings and hungry desires of a panting and bleeding
soul ? How dearly will he love the love of a true-hearted
Nathanael 1 How willingly will he take the will for the
deed, the groanings of the heart before the greatest sa-
crifice'?
But lest you mistake, take notice here of a twofold
glory: —
1. Essential, infinite, everlasting. It is impossible that
this should either receive disparagement and diminution, or
addition and increase by any created power. And this I
meant in the precedent passage.
2. The other I may call accidental, finite, temporary.
This ebbs or flows, shines oris overshadowed, as goodness or
gracelessness prevails in the world ; as the kingdom of
Christ or powers of darkness get the upper hand amongst
the sons of men. In this regard indeed, rebellious wretches
dishonour God upon earth, I confess ; and godly men by
their holy duties, good works, and gracious behaviour, make
his name more illustrious in the world ; but what is this to
that essential, infinite, everlasting glory, which was as great
and lull in all that former eternity, before the world was,
when God, blessed for ever, enioyed only his glorious self,
angels, men, and this great universe lying all hid as yet in
the dark and abhorred dungeon of nothing, as now it is or
ever shall be?
CHAP. VII.
One Reason more, confirming the Truth of the former Principle.
Reason 2. A second reason may be taken from God's pro-
portionable proceedings in his courses of justice and mercy.
In his executions of justice and inflictions of punishment,
he interprets and accepts desires for the deeds, aftections
for actions, thoughts for the things done. " Whosoever,"
saith Christ, " looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt.
V, 28). In God's interpretation, in the search and judg-
ment of divine justice, he that lusts after a woman in his
heart is an adulterer ; and without true and timely repent-
ance shall be so taken and proceeded against at that great
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 265
and last day. " Whosoever hateth his brother," saithJohn.
" is a murderer" (1 John iii, 15). A hateful thought of our
brother, murders nim and spills his blood by the verdict of
the blessed Spiiit ; and a malicious man, at the bar of God,
goes for a manslayer. If this, then, be God's manner of
proceeding in justice, we may much more confidently ex-
pect, nay, with reverent humUity challenge (way being
made by the mediation of Christ) the same proportionable
measure in those his most sweet and lovely inclinations and
expressions of mercy. Shall a lewd desire after a woman
fall under the axe of God's justice, as if it were the gross
act of lust ; and shall not a longing desire after grace be
graciously embraced in the arms of mercy as the grace
itself? Shall an angry thought, invisible, immaterial, hurt-
ful only to the heart which harbours it, be charged with
actual bloodshed ; and shall not a panting thirst of a broken
and bleeding soul after Christ's saving and sanctifying blood
be bathed and refreshed in his precious blood? Yes, cer-
tainly, and much rather ; for " God's tender mercies are
over all his works" (Psalm cxlv, 9), and mercy with a
holy exultation triumpheth and " rejoiceth against judg-
ment " (James ii, 13). " His mercy is great unto the hea-
vens" (Psalm Ivii, 10). He doth with much sweet content-
ment, and as it were natural propension, incline to the
gracious effusions of mercy. " He delighteth in mercy,"
saith Micah (chap, vii, 18) ; he is most highly pleased and
exalted most gloriously when he is pardoning sins, purging
souls, pulling out of the devil's paw, pouring in grace,
shining into sad and uncomfortable hearts, saving from hell,
&c. 1 his makes him so passionate (in a holy sense) when
he hath no passage for his love. (See Deut. v, 29; Psalm
Ixxxi, 13 ; Isa. xlviii, 18 ; Matt, xxiii, 37 ; Luke xix, 41, 42.)
But now on the other side he is hardly drawn, not without
much reluctancy, delays, forbearance, and as it were some
kind of violence offered by excess of multiplied rebellious
provocations, to exercise his justice and to punish for sin.
(See 2 Chron. xxxvi, 16 ; Hos. vi, 4, &c.) It appears from
the emphasis of the original in Zeph. ii, 2, that in this
respect, in a right and sober sense, God travaileth as it were
with anger. When the cry of our sins comes first to heaven,
he doth not presently pour upon our heads fire and brim-
stone, according to our desert ; but as loath to enter into
judgment with us, he then but begins to conceive, as it
were, wrath, which he bears, or rather forbears, full many
and many a month ; still waiting, when upon our re-
pentance he might "be gracious unto us;" until it come
to that ripeness by the fulness and intolerable weight
2 A
266 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
of our sins that, he can possibly bear no longer. And then
also, when he is about to be delivered of his justly-con-
ceived and long-forborne vengeance, mark how he goes
about it: "Ah!" says he (Isa. i, 24). This aspiration
argues a compassionate pang of grief, speaking after the
manner of men, to proceed against his own people, though
they had provoked him as enemies. "How shall I give
thee up, Ephraim ? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? How
shall 1 make thee as Admah ? How shall I set thee as
Zeboim? ]\iine heart is turned within me : my lepentings
are kindled together" (Hos. xi, 8). When he came against
Sodom and Gomorrah, the most prodigiously wicked people
that ever the earth bore, what a miracle of mercy was it
that he should be brought so low as to say, "I will not
destroy it for ten's sake " (Gen. xviii, 32).
So it is, then, that mercy flows naturally and easily from
God, and he is most forward and free-hearted in granting
pardons and receiving into grace and favour. But justice is
ever, as it were, violently with " cart-ropes of iniquity"
pulled from him. He is pressed with our sins, as a cart is
pressed that is full of sheaves, before we wring from him
the vials of just wrath, and wrest out of iiis hands the
arrows of deserved indignation. That you err not in this
point, conceive thai both God's mercy and justice are ori-
ginally and fundamentally, as God himself, infinite; both
of the same length, height, breadth, and depth; that is,
equally endless, boundless, bottomless, unsearchable. Yet,
if we consider the exercise and execution of them amongst
the creatures and abroad in the world ; mercy, that sweetest
attribute and most precious balm to all bruised hearts, doth
far surpass and outshine the other though incomparable ex-
cellencies of his divine nature, and all the perfections which
accompany the greatness of God ; as appears Exod. xx, 5, 6;
Gen. xviii, 32; Joel ii, 13 ; Jonah iv, 2; Psalm xxxvi, and
ciii ; 2 Chron. xxi, 13. His influences and beams of mercy
are fairly and plentifully shed into the bosom of every crea-
ture, and shine gloriously over all the earth, even from one
end of heaven to the other. The whole world is thickly set
and richly embroidered as it were with wonderful variety of
impressions and passa;^es of his goodness and bounty. In
this great volume of nature round about us we may run and
read the deep prints and large characters of kindness and
love, which his merciful and munificent hand hath left in
all places, in every leaf, and page, and line of it. If mercy
then be so graciously magnified over all his works, Me may
more strongly build upon it, that if the hand of justice seize
upon a hateful thought as a murderer and stained with
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCI':S. 267
blood, and arraign a lustful thought as guilty of adultery
and actual pollution ; his arms of mercy will most certainly
embrace and accept of a sincere desire of the deed done, of
hearty affections for the actions, and of a grieved spirit for
the grace it groans for.
Yea, but, may some say, if mercy be so fair a flower in
the garland of God's incomprehensible greatness, if it so
far excel his other attributes in amiableness amongst his
creatures, how comes it to pass that the number of his elect
is so small, and the sway of the multitude sink down urider
the burthen of their iniquities, transgressions, and sins, into
the pit of endless perdition? How comes it to pass, that
out of the great heap and mass of all mankind, there are
made but so few vessels of mercy ; and that so many vessels
of wrath are justly for their sins filled brini full with the
vials of everlasting vengeance? See Matt, vii, 13, 14 ; and
XX, 16.
Some matter of answer to this point (would ye think it?)
may be taken even from the schoolmen.
If we consider, first, the inconceivable eminency and in-
valuable worth of the crown of glory, which doth so far and
disproporlionabiy surpass and transcend the common slate
and condition of our nature. Secondly, the preciousness of
the effusion of the blood of the dear and only Son of God
for the purchasing of that so glorious a crown. Thirdly, the
necessary and inevitable defectibility of the creature.
Fourthly, the most free and wilful apostasy of Adam, and
in him of all his posterity. Fifthly, the abominable and
villanous nature and stain of sin. Why should we^not,
therefore, rather wonder at the unsearchableness of God's
mercy for advancing one soul to that endless bliss in heaven,
than repine at the equity of his justice, if he should have
suffered all the polluted and sini'ul sons of Adam to pass
from the mass of corruption into which they freely fell of
their own accord and cursed choice, through a rebellious
life, into the endless miseries of their deserved confusion ?
Would it not have been a greater marvel to have seen any
one clearly convinced and found guilty of that rnost horrible
villany that ever was bred in hell, or heard of in the world
(I mean the Popish powder treason), pardoned, than all
those desperate assassins to have justly perished in their so
abhorred and execrable rebellion? And it is utterly unima-
ginable, either by man or angel, what a deal of mercy doth
flow out of the bowels of God's dearest compassions, through
the heart's blood of his only Son, to the washing and salva-
tion but of one soul !
•268 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
CHAP. VIII.
The former Principla confirmed by Two more Reasons, and by
Aatliority.
Reason 3. A third reason may be taken from its part and
interest in the fountain of salvation and rivers of living
water. He that thirsts after grace is already entitled to the
well of life and fulness of heavenly bliss, by a promise from
God's own mouth, in Kev. xxi, 6, " I will give to him
that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
In that place, after God himself had confirmed and crowned
the truth and certainty of the gloriousness of the holy city,
and the happiness of the inhabitants thereof, with a solemn
asseveration of his own immutability and everlastingness —
" It is done. 1 am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and
the end" — he then notifies and describes the persons to
whom the promise and possession of so great and excellent
glory doth appertain, and those also which shall be eter-
nally abandoned from the presence of God, and burned in
the lake of fire and brimstone for ever.
Inhabitants of heaven elect are : —
1. Humble souls, thirsting after grace, God's favour, and
that blessed fountain open to all broken hearts for sin and
uncleanness, "1 will give to him that is athirst of the well
of the water of life freely" (ver. 6).
2. Christ's champions here upon earth against the powers
of darkness, and conquerors of their own corruptions. " He
that overcometh shall inherit all things ; and i will be his
God, and he shall be my son" (ver. 7). But the fearful,
&CC. are marked out for hell (ver. 8); for all that cursed
crew and slaves of sin are overcome of Satan and their own
lusts, and so carried away captives into everlasting misery
and woe.
Cast not away thy confidence then, poor heart ; no, not
in the lowest languishings of thy afflicted soul. If thou be
able to say sincerely with David (Psalm cxliii), " My soul
thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land ;" if thou feel in thy
affections a hearty hunger after righteousness, both infused
and imputed, as well after power against, as pardon of sin ;
be assured the well of life stands already wide open unto
thee, and in due time thou shalt drink thy fill. Thy soul
shall be fully satisfied with the excellencies of Jesus Christ,
evangelical joys, " as with marrow and fatness," and thou
shalt be abundantly refreshed out of the river of his plea-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 269
Ueason 4. That which Paul tells us in the point of com-
municating to the necessities of the saints ; to wit, " If
there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that
a man hath, and not according to that he hath not" (2 Cor.
viii, 12), holds true also in all other services and divine du-
ties ; so that we are accepted with the Lord accordingly as
we are inwardly affected, although our actions be not an-
swerable to our desires. He that hath a ready and resolved
mind to do what he may, would undoubtedly do a great
deal more if ability were ministered. God, saith Paul,
" worketh both to will and to do." If both be his own
works, the desire as well as the deed, he must needs love
and like both the one and the other, both in respect of ac-
ceptation and reward. David did but conceive a purpose to
build God a house, and he rewarded it with the building
and establishing of his own house (2 Sam. vii, 16). He did
but conceive a purpose to confess his sin, and God's ear was
in his heart before David's confession could be in his tongue
(Psalm xxxii, 5). To poor beggars that wanted food for
themselves, Christ shall say at the last day, Ye have fed
me when I was hungry, only in regard of their strong affec-
tions if they had had means. The prodigal child, when he
was but conceiving a purpose of returning, was prevented
by his father first coming to him ; nay, running towards him
(Luke XV, 20). God will answer us before we call (Isa.
Ixv, 24) ; that is, in our purpose of prayer.
Besides scripture and reasons, I add ancient a,nd modern
authority ; not for any other confirmation, but only to show
consent.
" To desire the help of grace is the beginning of grace,"
saith Austin*.
" Only thou must will, and God will come of his own
accord," saith Basil t.
" He that thirsts, let him thirst more ; and he that desires,
let him yet desire more abundantly ; because, so much as he
can desire, so much he shall receive." — Bernard t.
" Christ," saith Luther§, " is then truly omnipotent, and
then truly reigns in us, when we are so weak that we can
scarce give any groan."
Again : " The more we find our unworthiness, and the
less we find the promises to belong unto us, the more we
must desire them ; being assured that this desire doth greatly
please God, who desiieth and willeth that his grace should
be earnestly desired ||."
* Lib. tie Correptioiic ct Gratia, cap. i. t 8erm. de Penitentia.
t De Lectione Evaugelica, senn.i. i Tom. iv, p. 124.
II Ibid, r- 300.
2A 3
270 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
" When I have a good desire," saith Kemnicius*, " though
it doth scarcely show itself in some little and slender sigh,
1 must be assured that the Spirit of God is present, and
worketh his good work."
'' Faith," saith Ursint, "in the most holy man in this life,
is imperfect and weak ; yet, nevertheless, whosoever feels in
his heart an earnest desire and striving against his natural
doublings, both can and must assure himself that he is en-
dued with true faith."
" If thou shalt feel thyself," saith RollocJ, " to believe in
Christ, and that for Christ ; or at least, if thou canst not
forthwith attain that, if thou feel thyself willing to believe
in Christ for Christ, and willing to do all things for God's
sake and sincerely, thou hast certainly a very excellent ar-
gument, both of perseverance in faith, and of that faith
which shall last for ever."
" Our faith may be so small and weak," saith Taffin§,
" that it doth not yet bring forth fruits that may be lively
felt in us ; but if they which feel themselves in such estate
desire to have these feelings (namely, of God's favour and
love) ; if they ask them at God's hands by prayer, this de-
sire and prayer are testimonies that the Spirit of God is in
them, and that they have faith already. For is such a de-
sire a fruit of the flesh or of the Spirit] It is of the iloly
Spirit, who bringeth it forth only in such as he dwells in."
" Is it possible," saith Hooker||, speaking of Valentinian
the emperor, out of Ambrose, " that he which had purposely
the Spirit given him to desire grace, should not receive the
grace which that Spirit did desire?"
" Where we cannot do what is enjoined us, God accepteth
our will to do, instead of the deed itself^f."
" I am troubled with fear that my sins are not pardoned,
saith Careless. They are, answered Bradford ; for God
hath given thee a penitent and believing heart ; that is, a
heart which desireth to repent and believe. For such a one
is taken of him ( he accepting the will for the deed) for a
penitent and believing heart**.
* Loc. Com. par. i. t Catechis. t On John v.
^ I n his Marks of God's Children. || Lib. v, sec. Ix.
% Ibid. ** Acts and Monuments, Bradford's Letter to Careless.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 271
CHAP. IX.
By uiiut Marks true Desires of Grace in us may be known.
BtFORE 1 come to the use of this comfortable point, lest any
deceive themselves about it, as the notorious sinner, the
mere civil man, and the formal professor may all do very
easily, take notice of some marks of this saving desire.
It is—
1. Supernatural ; for it follows an effectual conviction of
sin and co-operation of the spirit of bondage with the
preaching and power of the law ; for a thorough casting a
man down in the sight of the Lord, showing and convincing
him to be a sink of sin, abomination, and curse ; to be quite
undone, lost, and ruined in himself (which preparative
work, precedent to the desire I speak of, is itself above
nature); whereupon the soul thus enlightened, convinced,
and terrified, being happily led unto and looking upon the
glorious mystery of the gospel, the excellency and otier of
Jesus Christ, the sweetness and freeness of the promises,
the heavenly splendour and riches of " the pearl of great
price," doth conceive by the help of the Holy Ghost this
desire and vehement longing, which you may then know to
be saving, when it is joined with a hearty willingness and
unfeigned resolution to sell all, to part with all sin, and to
bid adieu for ever to our darling delight. It is not then an
effect only of self-love, not an ordinary wish of natural ap-
petite, like Balaam's (Numb, xxiii, 10) ; of those who desire
to be happy, but are unwilling to be holy ; who would
gladly be saved, but are loath to be sanctified.
2. It ever springs from a humble, meek, and bruised spi-
rit ; very sensible, both of the horror of sin and happiness of
pardon ; both of its own emptiness and of the fulness in
Christ ; never to be found in the affections of a self-ignorant,
self-confident, unhumbled phaiisee.
3. It must be constant, importunately greedy after supply
and satisfaction. Not out of a pang or passion only, or
begot by the tempest of some present extremity, like a flash
of lightning, and ihen quite vanishing away when the storm
of terror and tempation is over. For if a sincere thii st after
Christ be once on foot, and takes root in a heart truly hum-
bled, it never determines or expires in this life or the life to
come.
4. It is ever linked and enlivened with a continued and
conscientious use and exercise of the means ; and draws
272 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
from them, by little and little, spiritual strength and vigour,
much vital efficacy and increase. Not idle, ignorant, un-
exercised. It were very vain and absurd to hear a man
talk of his desire to live, and yet would neither eat nor
drink, nor sleep, nor exercise, nor take physic, nor use
those means which are ordinary and necessary for the
maintenance of life. It is as fruitless and foolish for any
one to pretend a desire of grace after Christ, and to be
saved, and yet will not prize and use the faithful ministry,
the word preached and read, prayer, meditation, conference,
vows, days of humiliation, the use of good company and
good books, and all divine ordinances and blessed means
appointed and sanctified by God for the procuring and pre-
serving a good spiritual state.
5. It is not a lazy, cold, heartless, indifferent desire, but
earnest, eager, vehement, extremely thirsting, as the parched
earth for refreshing showers, or the hunted hart for the
water-brooks. Never was Ahab more sick for a vineyard ;
Rachel more ready to die for children ; .Sisera or Sampson
for thirst, than a truly humbled soul after Jesus Christ,
after bathing in his blood and hiding itself in his blessed
righteousness. This desire deadens the heart to all other
desires after earthly things, gold, good-fellowship, pleasures,
fashions, even the delights of the bosom sin. All other
things are but dross and dung, vanity and vile in respect of
that object it hath now found out and affects. As Aaron's
rod, managed miraculously by the hand of Divine power,
swallowed up all the other rods of Pharaoh's sorcerers, so
this spiritual desire, planted in the heart by the Holy Ghost,
eats up and devours all other desires and over-eager affec-
tions after worldly contentments, as worthless, vain, tran-
sitory ; as empty clouds, wells without water, comforters
of no value. We that deal with afflicted consciences hear
many times some expressions of this impatient, violent de-
sire in troubled minds. " I have borne nine childien,"
said one, "with as great pain I think as other women. I
would with all my heart bear them over a^ain, and pass
again through the same intolerable pangs every day, as
long as I live, to be assured of my part in Jesus Christ."
Complaining another time that she had no hold of Christ,
it was said unto her : But doth not your heart desire and
long after him ! " Oh ! " says she, " I have a husband and
children, and many other comforts ; I would give them all,
and all tlie good I shall ever see in this world or in the
world to come, to have my poor thirsty soul refreshed with
that precious blood of his."
6. It is growing from appetite to endeavour, from endea-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 273
vour to action ; from action to habit ; from habit to some
comfortable perfection and stature in Christ. If it be
quite quenched and extinguished when the spiritual an-
guish and agony is over, or stand at a stay, never trans-
cending the nature of a naked wish, it is to be reputed
rootless, heartless, graceless. There are Christians that lie
as yet, as it were, struggling in the womb of the church,
who, for a time at the least, live spiritually only by grievings
and groans, by hearty desires, eager longings, and affec-
tionate stirrings of spirit : there are also babes in Christ ;
young men in Christ; strong men in Christ ; old Christians.
A perpetual infancy argues a nullity of sound and saving
Christianity. The child that never passeth the stature and
state of an infant will prove a monster. He that grows not
by the sincere milk of the word is a true changeling, not
truly changed. He that rests with contentment upon a desire
only of good things, never desired them savingly. But
here, lest any tender conscience be unnecessarily troubled,
1 must confess, it is not so growing as I have said, or not so
sensibly, at certain times — as while the pangs of the new-
birth are upon us, in times of desertion, temptation, though
even then it grows in a holy impatiency, restlessness, and
longing, which is well-pleasing unto the Father of mercies,
and which he accepts graciously until he give more
strength.
CHAP. X.
Two especial Times wlierein the former Principle is to be applied.
The point thus cleared is very sweet and sovereign ; but
so that no carnal man must come near it, no stranger meddle
with it, much less swine trample upon it. It is a jewel for
the true-hearted Nathanael's wearing alone. Nay, the
Christian himself, in the time of his soul's health, height of
feeling, and flourishing of his faith, must hold off his hand ;
only let him keep it fresh and orient in the cabinet of his
memory, as a very rich pearl against the day of spiritual
distress. As precious and cordial waters are to be given
only in swoonings, faintings, and defection of the spirits ;
so this delicious manna is to be ministered specially, and
to be made use of in the straits and extremities of the soul,
at such times and in such cases as these : In
1. The strugglings of the new-birth.
2. Spiritual desertions.
274 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
3. Strong temptations.
4. Extraordinary troubles upon our last bed.
1. When thou art once come so far as I intimated before ;
to wit, that after a thorough conviction of sin, and sound
humiliation under God's mighty hand, upon a timely and
seasonable revelation of the glorious mystery of Christ, his
excellencies, invitations, his truth, tender-heartedness (for
the desire I speak of is an effect and affection wrought ever
immediately by the gospel alone) ; 1 say, when in this case
thine heart is filled with vehement longings after the Lord
of life, if ihou be able to say with David, " jMy soul thirsteth
after thee, as a thirsty land" (Psalm cxliii, 6) ; if thou feel
in thy-elf a hearty hunger and thirst after the favour of
God, that fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, and
fellowship with Christ, assuredly then the well of life is
already opened unto thee by the hand of thy faithful Re-
deemer, and in due time thou shalt drink thy fill. He that
is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the eter-
nal and unchangeable God, hath promised it. And amidst
the sorrows of thy trembling heart, and longings of thy
thirsty soul, thou mayest even challenge it at his hands
with a humble, sober, and zealous confidence. As did that
Scottish penitent (George Sprot) a little before his execu-
tion. He freely *' confessed his fault, to the shame, as he
said, of himself, and to the shame of the devil, but to the
glory of God. He acknowledged it to be so heinous and
horrible, that had he a thousand lives, and could he die ten
thousand deaths, he could not make satisfaction. Not-
withstanding, said he, Lord, thou hast left me this comfort
in thy word, that thou hast said, ' Come unto me all ye that
are weary and laden, and I will refresh you.' Lord. I am
weary ; Lord, I am heavily laden with my sins, which are
innumerable. I am ready to sink, Loid, even to hell, with-
out thou in thy mercy put to thine hand and deliver me.
Lord, thou hast promised by thine own word, out of thine
own mouth, that thou wilt refresh the weary soul. And
with that he thrusts out one of his hands; and reaching
as high as he could, with a louder and a strained voice
cried, I challenge thee, Lord, by that word, and by that
promise which thou hast made, that thou perform and
make it good unto me that call for ease and mercy at
thine hands." Proportionably when heavy-heartedness for
sin hath so dried up thy bones, and the angry counte-
nance of God so parched thine heart that thy poor soul be-
gins to gasp for grace, as the thirsty land for drops of rain,
thou mayest, though dust and ashes, with a holy humility
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 275
thus speak unto thy gracious God. O merciful Lord God,
thou art Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Thou sayest, It is done, of things that are yet to come, so
faithful and true are thy decrees and promises. And thou
hast promised by thine own word out of thine own mouth,
that " unto him that is athirst, thou wilt give of the fountain
of the water of life freely" (Rev. xxi, 6). O Lord, I thirst,
I faint, i languish, I long for one drop of mercy. " As the
hart panteth for the water brooks, so panieth my soul after
thee, O God," and after the yearning bowels of thy wonted
compassions. Had I now in possession the glory, the
"wealth, and the pleasures of the whole world ; nay, had I ten
thousand lives, joyfully would I lay them all down and part
with them to have this poor trembling soul of mine received
into the bleeding arms of my blessed Redeemer. O Lord,
and thou only knowest it, my spirit within me is melted
into tears of blood, ray heart is shivered into pieces. Out
of the very place of dragors and shadow of death do I lift
up my thoughts, heavy and sad, before thee ; the remem-
brance of my former vanities and pollutions is sickening to
my soul ; and it is sorely wounded with the grievous re-
presentation thereof. The very flames of hell, Lord ! the
fury of thy just wrath, the scorchings of mine own con-
science, have so wasted and parched mine heart, that my
thirst is insatiable. JNly bowels are hot within me ; my de-
sire after Jesus Christ, pardon, and grace, is greedy as the
grave; "the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a
most vehement flame." And, Lord, in thy blessed book
thou callest and criest, " Ho ! every one that thirsteth,
come ye to the waters," &c. (Isa. Iv, 1). " In that great
day of the feast, thou stoodest and criedst with thine own
mouthj saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me
and drink" (John vii, 37). And these are thine own
words, those " who hunger and thirst after righteousness
shall be filled" (Watt, v, 6). I challenge thee. Lord, in
this my extremest thirst after thine own blessed self, and
spiritual life in thee, by that word, and by that promise
which thou hast made, that thou perform and make it good
unto me that lie grovelling in the dust and trembling at thy
feet. Oh! open now that promised "well of life;" fori
must drink, or else I die.
Here then, and in a word, is thy comfort : in these hun-
gerings and thirstings of ihe soul, there is as it were the
seed of faith, there is something of faith in them, as excel-
lent divines both for learning and holiness do affirm. How-
soever, or in Avhat phrase soever it be expressed, sure I am,
276 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
such desires, so qualified as before, shall be fulfilled, satis-
fied, accomplished, possessed of the well of life ; and that
is abundant to put the thirsting party into a comfortable
and saving state. The words of Scripture are punctual and
downright for this. " Blessed are they which do hunger
and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled "
(Matt. V, 6). "If any man thirst, let him come unto me
and drink" (John vii, 37). "The Loid heareth the desire
of the humble" (Psalm x, 17). " He will fulfil the desire
of them that fear him" (Psalm cxlv, 19). "The Lord
filleth the hungry with good things" (Luke i, 53). "Let
him that is athirst. come. And whosoever will, let him
take the water of life freely" (Rev. xxii, 17). " Ho ! every
one that ihiisteth, come ye to the waters" &c. (Isa. Iv, 1).
" I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon
the dry ground" (Isa. xliv, 3). These longings and de-
sires, this hunger and thirst, before a sensible apprehension
and enjoyment of Christ, arise from a sense of the necessity
and want of his blessed person and precious bloodshed,
which the afflicted soul now prizeth before ten thousand
worlds : and for whose sake is most willing to sell all, and
to abandon wholly the devil's service for ever. Those, after
a full entrance into the holy path, and joyful grasping of
the Lord Jesus in the arms of our faith, arise partly from
the former state of unutterable sweetness we found in him ;
partly from the want of a more full and farther fruition of
hiu), especially when he is departed, in respect of present
feeling ; as in times of desertion, extraordinary temptation,
&c. In the passage that is past 1 understand the former ;
in those that follow, the latter.
2. Concerning desertions, I intend a larger anvl moie
particular discourse ; and therefore 1 pass by them here.
CHAP. XI.
Two other especial Times wherein use is to be made of the former
Principle.
3. We may have recourse for comfort to this precious point
in some special temptations of doubtfulness and fear about
our spiritual state. When spiritual life is run, as it were,
into the root in some particulars, and actual abilities to
exercise some graces and discharge some duties aie returned
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 277
to nothing for the present, but groans, desires, and longings
to do as God would have us.
For instance : —
Thou art much afflicted, because thou feelest the spirit of
prayer not to stir and work in thee with that life and vigour
as it was wont ; but beginnest to languish in the inward man
for lack of that vital heat and feeling in the mutual inter-
course and commerce between God and thine own soul,
which heretofore many times warned thine heart with many
sweet refreshings, springing from a comfortable correspon-
dence between thy holy ejaculations and his heavenly in-
spirations ; between thine humble complaints at the throne
of grace and his gracious answers; nay, it maybe, thou
throwest down thyself before his seat of mercy in much
bitterness of spirit ; and for the time can say little or
nothing ; the present dulness and indisposition of thine
heart stopping all passages to thy wonted prayers, and
damming up, as it were, the ordinary course of thy most
blessed heart-ravishing conference with thy God in secret.
But tell me true, poor soul, though at such a time, and in
such an uncomfortable damp and spiritual deadness, thou
feelest not thine heart enabled and enlarged for the pre ent,
to pour out itself with accustomed fervency and freedom ;
yet doth not that heart of thine with an unutterable thirst
and desire long to offer up unto his throne of grace thy
suits and sacrifices of prayer and praises with that hearti-
ness and feeling, with all those broken and bleeding affec-
tions, which a grieved sense of sin that hangs so l^ast on,
and a holy greediness after pardon, grace, and nearer com-
munion with his heavenly highness, are wont to beget in
truly humbled souls 1 If so, assure thyself this very desire
is a prayer of extraordinary strength, dearness, and accep-
tation with thy God ; — I say, with that thy merciful Lord
God, who is as far more compassionately and lovingly af-
fected to his child, than the kindest father to his dearliest
beloved Son ; as the infinite love of a tender-hearted God
doth surpass the faint affection of a frail and mortal man.
Suppose thy dearest child were in great extremity, and
should at last grow so low and weak, that it were not able
to speak, but only groan and sigh, and cast its eye upon
thee, as one from whom alone it looked for help. Would
not thine heart melt over thy child a great deal more in
that misery than ever before when it was able to express its
mind? I am sure it would. It is just so in the present
point : for " like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord
pitieth them that fear him." Nay, and much more, if we
consider the amount and quantity. For look how far God
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278 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
is higher than man in majesty and greatness, which is with
an infinite distance and disproportion ; so fai doth he pass
him in tender-heartedness and mercy. See Isa. Iv, 8, 9.
Thou mayest sometimes upon the awakening, illumina-
tion, and search of thy conscience after some drowsy repose,
and deeper sleep upon the bed of security ; some fouler
ensnarement and longer abode in some knows scandalous
sin, after the canker of earthly cares and teeth of v/orldly
mindedness have, ere thou be well aware, with an in-
sensible pleasing consumption eaten too far into the
heart of thy zeal and other graces ; in the apprehension
of some present terror, arising from a more serious
and sensible survey of the new abhorred villanies and
abominations of thine unregenerate time; or from the
grieved remembrance of thy falls and failings ; of thy sins
and unserviceableness since thy conversion, which I am
persuaded trouble the Christian most, and go nearest to his
heart, &c. ; — I say, in such cases as these thou mayest feel
such a fearfulness and faintness to have surprised the hand
of thy faith, that it cannot so presently and easily recover
its former hold ; nor clasp about the glorious justice and
meritorious blood of Christ with that fastness and firmness
of assent, with that comfort and confidence, as it was wont.
So that for a time thou mayest lie under the torture of a
heavy heart, uncheerfulness in all thy ways, and some de-
gree of horror, because thou canst get no better hold-fast.
But more is thy fault ; for never did dearest father so
lovingly entertain into his greedy arms a penitent sou, re-
turning from going astray, than our merciful God upon thy
renewed humiliation is willing to shine upon thee again
with the refreshing beams and blessings of his wonted fa-
vour. Yet tell me true, dear heart, though for the present
that precious and happy prayer of Paul for the Romans,
" The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believ-
ing" (Rom. XV, 13), be not fulfilled upon thy soul ; though
thy former joyful feelings be turned into distrustful fears ;
yet doth not that heavy heart of thine desire far more to be
recomforted with the presence and pleased face of thy be-
loved, than crowned with the glory and pleasures of many
worlds? Wouldst thou not much rather feel the hand of
thy faith fastened again with peace and full persuasion
upon the person, passion, and piomises of the Lord Jesus,
than grasp in thy bodily hand the richest imperial crown
that ever sat upon any Cesar's head? If Satan's spiteful
craft, taking a cruel advantage of thy present dejection of
spirit, do not hinder thy trembling heart from telling the
truth, I know thou canst not deny this. And then I must
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 279
tell thee, these hearty longings and lorkging desires in the
mean time, until God give more strength, be right dear to
that tender-hearted Father of thine, who doth infinitely
more esteem one groan or sigh from a broken spirit, than
" a thousand rams, or ten thousand rivers of oil," and are
most precious and piercing to that compassionate heart, that
poured out its warmest and dearest blood to purchase the
salvation and refresh the sadness of every truly humbled
soul. Ground upon it then, and be of good cheer. If thy
troubled spirit, filled with the sense of the want of its former
sweet and joyful feelings, find in itself a true and hearty
longing after the supply of that want; a constant and con-
scientious pursuit of all holy means for the procurement of
that supply, I can assure thee in the word of life and truth,
in God's season thou shalt be satisfied. " He will fulhl the
desire of them tliat fear him ; he also will hear their cry
and will save them" (Psalm cxlv, 19). And this blessed
promise for the accomplishment of thy desire is as surely
thine as the breath in thy body. He must sooner cease to
be God, and deny himself, which is more than infinitely
impossible and prodigious blasphemy to imagine, than fail
in the least circumstance or syllable of all his love and pro-
mises of life to any one that heartily loves him. All the
sacred sayings in his holy book, and all those promises of
salvation, are signed with the hand of truth itself, and sealed
with the blood of his beloved Son ; and so are far surer than
the pillars of the earth, or poles of heaven : for heaven and
earth must pass away before any tittle of his word fall unto
the ground ; and therefore, as he will most certainly pour
upon the hairy pate of every one which hates to be reformed
all the plagues and curses threatened there, even to the
least spark of the flames of hell ; and the last drop of the
full vials of his infinite, endless, unquenchable wrath ; so
will he abundantly make good to every upright soul, sin-
cerely thirsting after Jesus Christ, in the best time, all the
promised good in his blessed book, and that above all ex-
pectation, expression, or imagination.
Fourthly. Thou mayest be in many ways distressed upon
thy bed of death.
1. Casting thine eye back upon thy whole life, all thy
sins from Adam to that hour, and willing, as thou must
now take thy farewell so to take thy fill of repentance ; they
appear to the eye of thy conscience far more in number, and
more ugly than ever before. And no marvel ; for being
now sequestered for ever from all worldly comforts and
company, distractions and diversions, and the clouds of
natural fear, raised by the dreadful circumstances of ap-
280 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
proaching dissolution, uniting, as it were, and collecting the
sight of thy soul, which employments, in the world, com-
merce among men, and sunshine of outward prosperity,
did before too much disperse, dazzle, and divert; they are
represented far more to the life, and in their true colours.
Whereupon, comparing the poor weak, nothingness, as thou
now apprehendest, of thy godly sorrow, hatred, and oppo-
sition against them, with thy present apprehension of their
heinousness, hatefulness, and horrible number, thou begin-
nest to be dejected, and knowest not well what to think of
thyself : I say then for thy comfort, consult with thy sanc-
tified heart, and thou shalt find and feel an infinite hearty
desire that thy repentance for them, detestation of them,
and heart rising against them, had been, and now were as
thorough, sound, and resolute as ever was in any penitent
soul that breathed the lite of grace upon earth.
2. Revising now thy whole Christian conversation, spend-
ing of sabbaths, pouring out prayers, reading scriptures,
hearing the word, love of the brethren, days of humiliation,
works of mercy, receiving the sacrament, godly conference,
living by faith in all estates, Sec, thou mayest see them in
this last, impartial, clear, retired examination of thy con-
science, to have been beset with so many failings, imper-
fections, deadness of spirit, distractions, distempers, that
thou beginnest to fear and conceive thou mightest as well
never have entered the Christian course at all as to have
made so little progress therein. In this case also reflect
upon the holy habitual disposition of thy heart, and thou
shalt feel it thirsting and longing unfeignedly that all the
holy duties and good deeds that ever passed through thy
heart and hands had been done in answerable exactness to
the rules of divine truth ; and, if it had so pleased God,
with absolute freedom from all infirmities.
3. Thou mayest be troubled at that time, because, be-
ing perhaps, as yet, but of little standing in profession, thou
hast done God so little service ; and in that short time hast
not stood on God's side with that courage and life, nor
walked in his holy ways with that watchfulness and zeal
as thou mightest. And it cuts thy heart the more, because
thou hast spent so much of thy time in serving thyself and
Satan, and expectesc now to enjoy immortal joys and a
crown of endless bliss. But here is thy comfort — it is the
unfeigned desire and resolution of thine heart. If the Lord
would be pleased to allow thee a longer time in this life,
and add many more years unto it, thouvvouldest double
thy diligence, and improve all opportunities to do thy God
every way far more glorious service than heretofore, all the
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 281
days of thine appointed time. Oh ! then thou wouldst do
so and so !
Assure now thyself in these three cases and troubles upon
thy last bed, this sincere desire of thine upright soul will be
graciously accepted of our merciful God in the name of
Jesus Christ ; as though, first, thy repentance had been to
the full ; secondly, thy obedience to the height ; thirdly,
thy present promises, vows, and resolutions for future for-
wardness and fruitfulness performed to the utmost. For
when all is done, Jesus Christ is all in all. He alone is the
only sanctuary and tower of everlasting safety, for every
truly humbled soul to fly unto, both in life and death. He
is made untcr us " wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption" (1 Cor. i, 30).
SECT. Ill, PART II.
CHAF.I.
The First particular Malady set down, with a general Principle for the
Cure of it.
I COME now, as I promised, to some special cures and par-
ticular application of comfortable antidotes to divers spiri-
tual maladies, of which Christians especially complain ; to
those terrors and temptations which are wont most to afflict
sin-troubled and truly humbled souls.
1. I will suppose thou art eftectually and savingly
wrought upon by the preaching and power of the word ;
enlightened and convinced to acknowledge and feel thy-
self to be a most sinful and cursed wretch by nature ; lost
and forlorn, damned and utterly undone in thyself, <Scc. ; and
upon the opening of the glorious mystery of the gospel, and
offer therein of the person and precious merits of Jesus
Christ, for the present binding up of thy broken heart and
endless blessedness, thou art ravished with extraordinary
admiration and affection after that " hidden treasure and
pearl of great price," holding thyself happy that ever
thou wast born, and made for ever if thou canst get posses-
sion of it ; but a lost man if thou canst not get it, and an
everlasting castaway. Most willing therefore art thou to
" sell all that thou hast; " prizing it infinitely before the
riches, glory, and pleasures of the whole earth. In which
state thou hast a strong, direct, and special calling to fill
thine hungry soul with Jesus Christ ; to lay hold upon his
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^282 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
person, sufferings, promises, and all the rich purchases of
his dearest blood as thine own for ever ; to take him as
thy " wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption ; " that so " unspeakable joy, and full of glory,"
" peace which passeth all understanding," evangelical
pleasures, which " neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard, nei-
ther have entered into the heart of man," might abun-
dantly flow into thine heart from the " fountain of all com-
fort." But yet so it is, alledging that thou art the unwor-
thiest upon earth, the vilest of men ; no heart so hard as
thine ; thy sins far above ordinary ; of an abominable and
most abhorred strain ; of a scarlet and crimson dye; for
thou hast done so and so ; sinned many and many a time
against that divine, nay and even natural light, which stood
in thy conscience like an armed man ; persecuted the
saints ; lived in Sodom ; and that which troubles thee most
of all, for all these sins thy sorrow is very poor and scant,
in no proportion to thy former heinous provocations: — I
say upon these, and the like mistaken grounds, thou very
unadvisedly professest, but against thine own soul, that as
yet thou canst not, thou darest not, thou wilt not meddle
with any mercy, apply any promise, or be persuaded that
Jesus Christ belongs unto thee. What! such a vile, un-
worthy, abominable wreicli as thou, to expect such glorious
things, to come near so pure a God, to lay violent hands
upon the Lord of life, and look for everlasting bliss ! Alas !
say what you will, sayest thou, as yet 1 cannot, I dare
not, I will not. Whereupon thou wilfully, as it were,
liest still jupon the rack of much spiritual terror and trou-
ble of mind ; and, which is a miserable addition and mis-
chief, for which thou mayest thank thyself, art all the
while far more liable and liest much more open to Satan's
most horrible injections, and cruellest temptations to self-
destruction, despair, plunging again into former pleasures
of good-fellowship, and the like.
It grieves me to consider how fearfully and falsely thou
deceivest thine own heart in a point of so great importance,
to thy much spiritual hurt and further horror. Why, this it
is which maketh thee most welcome to Jesus Christ; be-
cause thou art so sensible of thy spiritual misery and beg-
gary ; because thou art so vile, so abominable, so unwor-
thy and wretched in thine own conceit. " Those that be
whole, need not a physician, but they that are sick. Christ
came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mat. ix,
12,13). And in this respect he is said to " justify the un-
godly " (Rom. iv, 5) ; and to " die for the unjust" (1 Pet.
iii, 10) ; and to seek those that find themselves lost : and
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 283
therefore that which thou makest thy greatest discourage-
ment to come unto ("hrist, should be, and in truth is the
greatest encouragement to cast thyself with confidence into
tiie bosom of his love.
But before 1 come to speak more fully to the point, let
me premise this principle : —
When a man is once sincerely humbled under God's
mighty hand, with sight of sin and sense of divine wrath ;
so that now all his former wicked ways, pollutions, and pro-
vocations of God's pure eye, lie so heavy upon his heart,
that he is truly weary, willing to be rid of them all, un-
feignedly thirsting after the blood and righteousness of
Christ ; and therefore as well content to take upon him his
sweet and easy yoke, to please him in new obedience
for the time to come, as to partake of the merit of his pas-
sion for the present pardon of his sins : — I say then he
must conceive that he hath a sound, seasonable, and com-
fortable calling to lay fast hold upon Jesus Christ, and to
be undoubtedly persuaded that he hath his part and por-
tion in him. And besides that God's blessed word deter-
mines it, he may the rather assent unto it and the more
boldly believe it, because he hath now found and feels by
his own expeiience the practice of that double policy of
the devil, so often discovered unto him heretofore by God's
faithful messengers ; to wit, that whereas he was a long
time uiOit industrious to keep his heart resolutely stubborn
and unstirred against the might and piercing of the most
powerful ministry, and when at any time he once perceived
it to begin to work upon him, raised all possible opposition
against his yielding ; so now, when he is truly touched in-
deed and resolute to abandon his hellish slavery for ever,
he labours might and main, with all restless cruelty and
malice, to keep his conscience continually upon the rack.
To this purpose he objects and urges to the utmost the
heinousness of his former sins, the fierceness of God's
wrath (vyhich he cunningly concealed before), the little-
ness of his sorrow, his unworthiness to meddle with any
prouiise, and the like. And what is the reason, think you,
that he who was so daubing before is now so downright ?
he that was so indulgent before is now so desperate, and for
nothing but despair and damnation] It is easy to tell : for
tliat foul fiend knows full well, if a poor soul in the sup-
posed case and such a truly humbled state, shall but come
now, when Christ calls him, and " set to his seal that God
is true " (which not to do shall ever be an unmannerly mad-
ness, and wilful cruelty to a man's own conscience), he is
then quite gone out of his kingdom of darkness, and an im-
mortal soul is pulled out of his hellish paw for ever. This
284 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
is the true reason why he so rageth when he sees a weary
soul make towards Jesus Christ for rest. I have often fore-
told you of Satan's method and malice in managing his
temptations in this kind, that being forewarned ye may be
fore-armed. He plots first, and prevails with most
amongst us, to keep them from terror and trouble for sin :
but if they be once happily wounded that way, then his
next plot is to allay and take away the smart by outward
mirth, or daub and draw over a skin only with unsound and
superficial comfort. But if he find that it bleeds still, and
will not be stanched but only by the blood of Christ, and
that no earthly pleasure can any whit assuage the pain ;
then in the third place doth he cast about and contend with
all cruelty to keep the poor soul in a perpetual sad, slavish
trembling, that it may not dare to meddle wiih any comfort,
or apply the promises ; but cherishing the bruise, against
the counsel of the prophets, bleed inwardly still. And this
point he plies with more eagerness and fury, because the
very next step, to wit, but even reaching out of this spiri-
tual gulf and grief for sin towards the merciful hand of
Christ holden out to help him up, is the next and imme-
diate act by which a man is quite and for ever pulled out of
his power and put into the paradise of grace.
Or in a word, and shorter, thus : — Though thou comest
freshly out of a hell of heinous sins ; and hitherto hast nei-
ther thought, nor spoke, nor done any thing but abomi-
nably ; yet if now with true remorse thou groanest under
them all, as a heavy burthen, and sincerely longest for the
Lord Jesus and newness of life, thou art bound presently,
immediately after that act and unfeigned resolution of thy
soul, to take Christ himself and all the promises of life as
thine own for ever. All delays, demurs, exceptions, objec-
tions, pretexts, standing out, scruples, distrusts, and con-
tradictions to the contrary, are dishonourable to God's
mercy and free grace, disparagement to the promises, dero-
gatory to the truth and tender-heartedness of Jesus Christ ;
an unnecessary detainment of the soul in terror, and only
a gratification of that roaring lion, whose trade is to tear
souls in pieces and torture them all he can. For as soon as
we are poor in spirit, we are presently blessed (Mat. v, 3) ;
as soon as we are weary of our sins, the hand of Christ is
ready to take off the burthen (Mat. xi, 28) ; as soon as we
thirst in the sense I have said, the " fountain of the water
of life " is set wide open unto us (Rev. xxi, 6) ; as soon as
we have got "contrite and humble spirits," we become
royal thrones for " the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth
eternity" to dwell in forever (Isa. Ivii, 15).
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 285
CHAP. II.
Tlif /irst partic'.ilar ar^'ument to l>e applied for the Cure of the former
Malady.
And now come and take abundantly mighty arguments and
invincible motives, which neither man, nor devil, nor na-
tural distrust can ever any ways possibly disable ; not to
lie any longer, being in the supposed state, upon the rack of
terror ; but to lay hold upon the rock of eternity. I mean,
to rest and establish thy trembling heart upon the Lord
Jesus with everlasting peace and safety ; and af;er\vards to
walk watchfully and fruitfully in the holy way until thine
ending hour.
1. And first take notice, that Jesus Christ, God blessed
for ever, keeps an open house for all such hungry and thirsty
souls. " Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever
will, let him take the water of life freely " (Rev. xxii, 17).
" Whosoever will ; " in whose heart soever the Holy Ghost
hath wrought an eflectual, earnest, hearty will ; that su-
pernatural sincere desire described before, which prizeth
the " uell of life" before the whole world, and is ever ac-
companied with an unfeigned resolution to sell all for the
pearl of great price ; 1 say, such a one may come and
welcome, and that without bidding, and drink his fill of
the river of all spiritual pleasures. If there were no
more but this, this is more than enough to bring thee to
Jesus Christ. If a proclamation should be made, that
such or such a great man kept open house for all comers,
there need no move to bring in all the poor hungry people
in the country, without any further waiting or inviting.
But here, above all degress of comparison, the hunger is
more importunate and important ; the feast-maker more
faithful and sure of his word ; the fare more delicious and
ravishing. And why dost thou refuse? Thou hast a war-
rant, infinitely above all exception. 1 he Lord of life keeps
open house for all that mil come; and thou knowest in
thine own conscience, and canst not deny but that he hath
already honoured thee with that singular favour as to plant
in thy soul a icill this way, and that most earnestly. For
what wouldst thou not part with to have assurance of thy
part in Jesus Christ ? What wouldst thou not give, if it
might be bought, to hear him speak peace unto thy soul,
and say sweetly unto it, " I am thy salvation 1" And
therefore if thou come not in presently, and take the com-
fort of this precious place and promise, " setting to thy
286 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
seal that God is true," consider by the foregoing view of
thy case, whether thy terrors and temptations be not justly
upon thee until thou dost.
2. If this will not serve (which God forbid), then in a
second place thou art invited solemnly by the feast -maker,
as it were, himself, with his own mouth, which is an infi-
nite mercy, honour, and comfort: " Come unto me, all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest "
(Mat. xi, 28). Here is no exception of sins, times, or per-
sons. And if thou shouldst reply. Yea, but alas ! I am the
unworthiest man in the world to draw near unto so holy a
God ; to press into so pure a presence ; to expect upon the
sudden such glorious, spiritual, and heavenly advance-
ment; most impure, abon.inable, and vile wretch that I
am ! readier far and fitter to sink into the bottom of hell
by the insupportable weight of my manifold heinous sins: —
I say then the text tells thee plainly, that thou mightily
mistakest ; for therefore only art thou ht, because thou
feelest so sensibly thy unfitness, unworthiness, vileness,
wretchedness. The sorer and heavier thy burthen is, the
rather shouldst thou come. In a word, it appears by thine
own words expressing such a penitent apprehension of thy
spiritual poverty, that thou art the only man, and such as
thou alone, which Christ here specially aims at, invites,
and accepts.
3. " He knowing our frame," our sluggish, dull, and heavy
disposition, our spiritual laziness, natural neglect of our
own salvation, and loathness to believe ; adds in another
place to ordinary invitation, a stirring, compassionate, and
quickening compellation, or rather exclamation. "Ho!"
saith he, Isaiah Iv, 1, " every one that thirsteth, come ye to
the waters," 6ic. And lest any think he shall come to his
cost, or shall bring any thing in his hand, he calls upon
" him that hath no money ; ' and thus doubles his cry :
" Come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wiue and milk,
without money, and without price." O most blessed and
sweetest lines ! So full of love and longing to draw us to
the well of life, that besides that holy pang of compassion
and excitation, " Ho ! " he cries thrice, " Come, come,
come ! " Yea, but,mayest thou say, alas ! I am so far from
bringing any thing in my hand, that I bring a world of
wickedness upon my heart ; and that above ordinary, both
in notoriousness and number ; and therefore I am afraid the
heinousness of my sins will hinder my acceptation, though
the invitation be most sweet and precious. Be it so ; yet
the Spirit of God in the same chapter doth purposely meet
with and remove that very scruple : " Let the wicked, saith
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 287
he, " forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts "
(and this is thy case ; thou art unfeignedly set against all
sin, both inward and outward), *' and let him return unto
the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our
God, for he will abundantly pardon " (ver. 7). He will
not only have mercy upon thee, but he will also abundantly
pardon. He will multwl.y his pardons according to thy pro-
vocations, and that with superabundance (Kom. v, 20).
4. If all this will not yet do, he descends, out of the infi-
nite riches of his grace, to a miracle of further mercy. For
the mighty Lord of heaven and earth sends ambassadors
unto us, dust and ashes, worms and no men, to beseech us
to be reconciled unto him. " Now then we are ambassadors
for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray
you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto God " (2 Cor.
V, 20). What man can possibly ponder seriously upon this
place, but must be transported with extraordinary admira-
tion ; nay, adoration of the bottomless depth and infinite
height of God's incomprehensible, everlasting, and free
love ! We most abhorred, vile wretches, are the offenders,
traitors, rebels, and enemies, and ought to seek and sue unto
him fi.rst upon the knees of our souls, trembling in the dust,
and, if it were possible, with tears of blood. And yet he
begins unto us, entreating us by his own Son, and his ser-
vants, the ministers, to come in, accept his favour and grace,
enter into the wise and good way, which is precious, profi-
table, honourable, and pleasant ; that he may hereafter set
upon our heads everlasting crowns of glory and bliss. An
earthly prince would disdain and hold it in foul scorn to
send unto his inferior for reconcilement, especially who
had behaved himself basely and unv/orthily towards him,
and justly provoked his royal indignation. It is thus indeed
with worms of the earth, " in whom there is no help," and
whose breath is in their nostrils. But it is otherwise with
the King of kings, " who sitteth upon the circle of the
earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, and
the nations as the drop of a bucket ; who bringeth the
pririces to nothing, and maketh the judges of the earth as
vanity." He is content to put up at our hands this indig-
nity and affront, if I may so speak. He is glad to sue unto
us first, and send his ambassadors day after day, beseeching
us to be reconciled unto him. O incomprehensible depth of
unspeakable mercy and encouragement to come in and trust
in his mercy in case of spiritual misery, able to trample
under foot triumphantly all oppositions of the most raging
hell or distrustful heart !
5. Nay, he commands us ; " and this is his command-
288 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
ment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus
Christ" ( 1 John iii, 23). This command alone of the All-
powerful God should infinitely outweigh and prevail against
all other countermands of heaven or earth, flesh and blood,
Satan, nature, reason, sense, the whole creation, all the
world. It should swallow up all scruples, doubts, fears,
despairs. Coming to Jesus Christ with broken hearts ac-
cording to this commandment, it will bear us out against
all oppositions, accusations, weaknesses of faith, in the evil
times, in the hour of temptation, upon our beds of death, at
the last and greatest day. It will be a plea at such times
utterly above all exception, against all allegations, terrors,
and temptations to the contrary, to say, i was humbled
under the burthen of sin and sense of my spiritual misery.
God in mercy offered me his Son Jesus Christ freely in the
mystery of the gospel by the ministry of the word. I there-
upon thirsted infinitely for his person and precious blood,
that I might thereby obtain pardon and power against my
sins. He called upon me and commanded me to drink my
fill of the water of life freely. I accepted his gracious offer,
and according to his commandment cast myself upon the
Lord Christ against all the contradictions of carnal reason
and sophistry of Satan ; and since that time he hath given
me power to serve him in sincerity of heart. This is my
ground and warrant, even the commandment of my blessed
God, thus to drink when 1 was thirsty ; against which the
gates of hell can never possibly prevail. In thy case then,
who thirstest extremely, and upon free ofter yet refusest to
drink, consider how unworthily thou dishonourest God and
wrongest thine own soul ; by suffering the devil's cavils and
the groundless exceptions of thine own distrustful heart to
prevail with thee against the direct command of Almighty
God, which thou oughtest to obey against all reason, sense,
fears, doubts, despairs, and hellish suggestions. Abraham,
the father of the faithful, did readily and willingly submit
to God's commandment, even to kill his own only dear son
with his own hand, naturally, matter of a great grief as
could possibly pierce the heart of a mortal man. And wilt
thou, being broken-hearted, stand off from believing, and
refuse when he commands thee to take his own only dear
Son ; especially since thou takest with him the excellency
and variety of all blessings both of heaven and earth ; a
discharge from every moment of the everlasting pains of
hell ; deeds sealed with his own blood, of thy right to the
glorious inheritance of the saints in light 1 In a word, even
all things, the most glorious Deity itself blessed for ever, to
be enjoyed through him, with unspeakable and endless
rVFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 289
pleasure through all eternity ! Prodigious madness ! cruelty
to thine own soul ; or something at which heaven and earth,
man and angel, and all creatures may stand amazed, that
thou shouldst so wickedly and wilfully " forsake thine own
mercy," and " neglect so great salvation."
6. Lastly, lest he should let pass any means, or be any
ways warning on his part to drive us to Christ, and settle
our souls upon him with sure and everlasting confidence, he
also threateneth : " And to whom sware he, that they
should not enter into his rest ; but to them that believed
notV (Heb. iii, 18.) Wherein he expresseth extremest
anger, unquenchable and implacable indignation. He
swears in his wrath that no unbeliever shall ever enter into
his rest. In the threats of the moral law there is no such
oath, but a secret reservation of mercy upon the satisfaction
of divine justice some other way. But herein the Lord
is peremptory, and a third way shall never be found or
afforded the sons of men. Neglect of such a gracious offer
of so great salvation, must needs provoke and incense so
great a God extraordinarily : for with prodigious ingratitude
and folly it slings as it were God's free grace in his face
again, and sins against his mercy. Suppose a mighty prince,
passing by all the royal and noble blood in Christendom,
many brave and honourable ladies, should send to a poor
maid, bred in a base cottage, born both of beggarly and
wicked parents, offer her marriage, and to make her a prin-
cess ; and she then should foolishly refuse and reject so
infinitely undeserved and unexpected advancement. As
she might thereupon be justly branded for a notorious ma-
niac ; so would not so great a prince, think you, be mightily
enraged at such a dunghill indignity and peevish afiVont ?
The Prince of peace, upon whose thigh is written " King of
kings, and Lord of lords," passing by more excellent and
noble creatures, sends unto thee, whose "father is corrup-
tion and the worm thy mother and thy sister," and who in
respect of thy spiritual stateliest "polluted in thine own
blood," and offers to "betroth thee unto himself in righ-
teousness and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in
tender mercies" (Ilos. ii, 19); to crown thee with all the
riches both of his kingdom of grace and glory. Now if thou
shouldest stand off (which God forbid !) as thereupon out
out of perfection of madness thou forsakest thine own sal-
vation, so thou most justly enforcest that blessed Lord to
swear in his wrath that thou shalt never be saved.
Thus thou hast heard how, first, he keeps open house to
all such hungry and thirsty souls (Rev. xxii, 17; ; secondly,
he invites (Mat.xi, 28) ; thirdly, invites with an awakening
290 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and rousing compellation (Isa.lv, 1); fourthly, entreats
(2 Cor. V, 26) ; fifthly, commands (1 John iii, 23) ; sixthly,
and threatens (Heb. iii, 18). How cruel then is that man
to his own wounded conscience, who in his extreme spiri-
tual thirst will not be drawn by this sixfold merciful cord to
drink his fill of the fountain of the water of life ; to cast
himself with confidence and comfort into the arms of the
Lord Jesus, which is more than infinitely able to tie the
most trembling heart, and that which hangs off most by
reason of pretended doubts, scruples, and distrusts, to that
blessed Saviour of his with all full assurance and perfect
peace ! How is it possible but that all, or some of these
should bring in every broken heart to believe ; and cause
every one that is weary of his sins to rely upon the Lord of
life for everlasting welfare !
CHAP. in.
The Second particular Argument to be used for the Cure of the Foi-mer
Malady. Five Parts of that Argument laid open. The First Branch
of the Fifth Part.
But that which I desire principally to press for my purpose
in the point at this time, is this : Thy conscience is now
awakened, terrified, and troubled, and therefore, as I sup-
pose, tender and very sensible, at least for a time, of the
least sin. Every sin lies now upon thy soul as heavy as a
mountain of lead ; and therefore thou wouldst not willingly
add unto thy already insupportable burthen any more
weight. All thy youthful lusts and abominations stare in
the face of thy conscience with grisly and horrible looks ;
and therefore, for the present especially, thou art notably
scared from a willing provocation of God's anger and
wounding it afresh with a new sin. Well, it being thus then,
if it appear unto thee, that by thy standing off, in the case
I have supposed thee, from taking Christ as thine own,
applying the promises as most certainly belonging unto
thee, and so "setting to thy seal that God is true," thou
dishonourest him extraordinarily in many respects. Me-
thinks then thou shouldst be mightily moved, without any
more ado, to cast thyself presently upon the Lord Jesus
with comfort and much assurance; especially since thy so
yielding to the law of faith is for thy infinite good. And
assure thyself thou oft'endest in the mean time many ways.
L By a sour and self-willed unmannerliness towards
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 291
Christ in not coming when he calls thee, Mat. xi, 28. " It
is pride, and high pride," saith a worthy divine*, "not
to come when thou art called. It is rudeness, and not good
manners, not to do as thou art bidden to do ; yea, so often
and earnestly charged to do." It would be a foul fault and
unmannerly disobedience for any subject in this kingdom,
though never so ragged and tattered, or pretending never so
much his unfitness and unfineness to press into so great a
presence, not to come unto the king, if he should please
earnestly to call upon him. Disobedience to the law of
faith and rejecting God's gracious ofi'er of his Son freely, is
the greatest, and an inexpiable sin. He hath sworn in his
wrath that such as thus refuse shall never enter into his
rest.
2. By a saucy prescribing unto him upon what terms he
shall take thee. "Ho!" says he, "everyone that thirst-
eth, come ye to the waters ; and he that hath no money ;
come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk,
without money and without price" (Isa. Iv, 1). Nay,
sayest thou, I will either bring something in mine hand, or
I will have none. Whereas it appears in the cited place,
that Christ calls not only those that are "thirsty," but also
such as " have no money."
3. By undervaluing the invaluable worth of his precious
blood, as though thy sins had exceeded the price that hath
been paid for them. Whereas it is called, Acts xx, 28,
God's own blood ; and therefore no want in it to wash away
any sin, and for ever.
4. By offering disparagement to all the promises in God's
blessed book ; every one whereof doth now sweetly and
upon geod ground invite thee, as it were, to repose upon it
as upon a sure word of God with everlasting rest and
safety. But thou, giving too much way to the devil's lies,
and the dictates of thine own distrustful heart, keepest off
and retirest, as though they were too weak to support thy
now troubled and trembling soul, especially laden with so
many and heinous sins. Whereby consider how great in-
dignity thou offerest to such promises and places as these,
Isa. i, 18 ; Ezek. xxxvi, 25 ; Isa. Iv, 7, 8, 9 ; and Ivii, 15.
Especially being so strongly backed by God's blessed oath :
" God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of
promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an
oath. That by two immutable things, in which it was im-
possible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation,
who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before
* Ward, in his Life of Faith.
292 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
us" (Heb. vi, 17, 18). What a mighty strength may that
most glorious speech of our all-merciful God infuse into our
faith, Ezek. xxxiii, 11, " As I live," &c. ; as if he should
have said, As sure as I am the true, eternal, living, and
omnipotent God, &c. so certainly " 1 have no pleasure in
the death of the wicked ; " but I have pleasure that he
should come in, take my Son, and be my servant. Under-
stand the same proportionably of every promise. As sure
as I have an eternal essence and being of a Godhead, &c. ;
so certainly will I give freely to every one, that is truly
weary of all his sins, and thirsts unfeignedly for mercy and
grace, eternal rest and refreshing in the ever-springing foun-
tain of all spiritual and heavenly pleasures : and so of the
rest.
In a word, what an unworthy thing is this ; that all the
precious promises in the book of God, confirmed with his
own oath and sealed with his Son's blood, should suffer dis-
honour and disparagement, as it were, by thy distrust. As
if so many mighty rocks of mercy and truth were not able
to sustain a poor bruised reed !
5. By disabling and dishonouring —
(1.) God's free love. See Hos. xiv, 4; Jer. xxxi, 3;
Ezek. xvi ; Deut. vii, 7. 8 ; John iii, 16 ; Ephes. i, 5.
If God would not give us Christ without some matter and
motives in us, without something done by ourselves first, it
were something to stand out in such a case. But he gives
him most freely, without any respect or expectation at all of
any precedent work or worth on our part. Only there is
required a predisposition in the party to take Christ, legal
dejection, sight, sense, and burthen of sin ; we must be
truly wounded, sensible of the devil's yoke, feel our own
misery ; we must prize him above, and thirst for him more
than the whole world (See Luke iv, 18). A man will not
seriously seek after a physician before he feel himself to be
sick ; for ease, before he be pressed with the weight of his
burthen ; for a plaister, before he be wounded ; for heavenly
riches, before he be sensible of his spiritual beggary; for
enlargement and pardon, before he find himself in prison ;
for mercy, before he smart with sense of his misery. Such
dispositions, then, as these, serve only to drive us unto
Christ, and to let us see and feel a necessity of him ; but
they are infinitely impossible by any worthiness to draw on
Christ. He is a "gift" (Rom. v, 16; John iii, 16), and
what is freer than gift ? Nothing is required at our hands
for receiving him, but empty-handedness and sensiblenesS
of our own nothingness. Our heavenly Father never did,
nor ever will sell his Son unto any one that will needs be
AFFLICTED COjS SCIENCES. 293
something in himself. He ever did, and ever will give him
to every poor soul that is vile in his own eyes, nothing in
himself ; " labours and is heavy laden," and willing to take
him as a Saviour and a Lord. A full hand can hold nothing.
Either it must be empty, or we cannot receive Christ. First
thirst, and then " buy without money and without price."
Methinks Chrysostom doth somewhere set out sweetly the
admirable and adored frankness of this Divine bounty : —
" If thou wilt be adorned with my comeliness, or be armed
with my weapons, or put on my garments, or be fed with
my dainties, or finish my journey, or come into that city
whose builder and maker I am, or build a house in my
country, thou mayest so do all these things, that I will not
only not exact of thee any price or payment for any of these
things, but 1 myself would be a debtor unto thee of a great
reward, so that thou wouldst not disdain to use my things,
my strength, gifts, graces. What can be ever found equal
to this bounty *."
If God, then, be so infinitely good as to oifer his Son so
freely ; and thou so fitted to receive him by sensibleness of
thy spiritual misery, thirsting for his blood, resolving upon
his service for the time to come, &c. ; how unadvisedly
cruel art thou to thine own conscience, and how beyond
measure proud, that wilt needs stand off still from taking
the Lord Jesus ; and suffer still thy poor trembling soul to
lie unnecessarily upon the rack of terror ? Since thou
gettest and gainest nothing thereby ; but first, God's dis-
honour ; secondly, thine own wilful torture ; thirdly, grati-
fication of Satan's malicious cruelty.
Object. 1. But were it not fitter for me, mayest thou say,
first to amend my life ; to do some good works ; to have ex-
perience of the change of my conversation ; to grieve legally
longer, before I be so bold as to lay hold upon Christ, and
apply the promises 1
Answer. Thou must first be alive before thou canst work.
Thou must have spiritual ability inspired before thou canst
walk in the "good way;" thou must be justified before
thou be sanctified. Now spiritual life is only then, and
never before or by any other means infused, but when we
reach out an empty hand, and take Jesus Christ into our
humbled souls. When a poor soul weary of all sin, accord-
ing to his call, commandment, and counsel, rolls itself as it
were and leans upon the Lord Jesus, then is spiritual life
first breathed into it. The vital operations of grace in alt
holy duties, good deeds, amendment of life, holy walking,
* On Mat. xxiv, horn. 77.
2C 3
291 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
universal obedience, must appear afterward. Zaccheus
received Jesus Christ first into his heart and house, before
he M^as able to restore and distribute. Casting ourselves
upon the Lord of life with truth of heart, as our only jewel
and joy we have in heaven or in earth, with whom we are
resolved to live and die, draws from him into our souls that
heavenly virtue and vigour, whereby we are afterward en-
abled to exercise all the functions of spiritual life, and to
die to the world and all worldly pleasures for ever. Herein
is thy fault and failing : thou conceivest not aright of God's
free grace ; but thinkest thou shalt not be welcome, except
thou cumest with thy cost. Whereas God ever gives his
Son freely, and bids thee come and welcome, and "buy
without money, and without price."
Object. 2. But will it not be presumption in me, having no
good thing in me at all to bring with me, but coming now
as it were fresh out of hell, from a most wicked, impure,
abominable life, to take Christ as mine own, and all those
rich and precious promises sealed with his blood 1
Answer. Knough hath been already said to meet with this
objection. It is not presumption, but good manners, to
come when thou art called. How can he be said to pre-
sume, who is both invited and entreated, commanded and
threatened to come in 1 Of which see before. 1 hou must
now, in this extreme spiritual thirst of thine, drink of the
water of life so freely offered, that thou mayest receive some
heavenly strength to be good, and " power to become the
son of God ■' (John i, 12). Thou must throw thy sinful
soul upon Jesus Christ, bleeding and breathing out his last
upon the cross (as the body of the Shunamite's child was
applied to the prophet, who stretched himself upon it), that
thou mayest thereby be quickened with desired fruitfulness,
filled by little and little with " all the fulness of God "
(Kphes. iii, 19) ; receiving " grace for grace" (John i, 16) ;
"I am the resurrection and the life," saith Christ; "he
that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he
live" (John xi,25).
It were execrable presumption for any man who pur-
poseth to go on in the willing practice or allowance of any one
known sin, to believe that Christ is his righteousness and
sanctification. But, where all sin is a burthen, every pro-
mise as a world of gold, and the heart sincere for a new
way, there a man may be bold. For thee to have pre-
tended part in Christ, wallowing yet in thy sins, had been
horrible presumption indeed ; and for me to have applied
the promises and preached pe;ice unlo thy remorseless con-
science before the pangs of the new birth had seized upon
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 295
thee, had been the vilest daubing. But in the case 1 now
suppose, it is both seasonable and surely grounded for me
to assure thee of acceptation and pardon, and for thee to
receive Jesus Christ without any more ado into the arms of
thy humble soul.
CHAP. IV.
Two Brfinclics more of the Fifth Part of the former Argument, and
the several Particles which belong to the Second of them.
(2.) His sweet name (Exod. xxxiv, 6, 7), wherein is an-
swered whatsoever may any ways be pretended for standing
out in this case, as appears fully before, chap, iii, p. 240.
(3.) His glorious attributes.
1st. His truth. He that believeth hath set to his seal
that God is true (John iii, 33). He that labours and is
heavy laden with the burthen of sin, comes to Christ for
ease when he is called, takes him for his Saviour and his
Lord, and thereupon grounds a resolute, unshaken, and
everlasting confidence, that he is his for ever, puts to his
seal that Christ is true, that his precious promise, "Come
unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest " (Mat. xi, 28), is inviolable. Whereby Christ
Jesus, blessed for ever, is mightily honoured, his truth glori-
fied, and thine own soul with extraordinary blessedness
everlastingly enlivened. But he now that retires in this
case and holds ofF, makes him who is truth itself a liar.
"He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar"
(1 John v, 10).
Now what a fearful indignity is this against the Lord God
of truth ! We see too often how miserable mortal men,
worms of the earth, take such an affront at the hands one
of another ; for many times for the lie given them they
throw ihemselves desperately upon the irrecoverable ruin of
their lives, estates, soul>, and posterity, by challenging and
killing each other ; which dishonour to the mighty Lord of
heaven and earth is the greater, and is much aggravated by
the infinite infallibility of the promises. For besides his
word, which were more than immeasurably sufficient, he
hath added a most solemn oath for our sakes, that we might
have greater assurance and stronger consolation.
2d. His mercy, most directly and specially. And to say
nothing of the freeness of his mercy, which springs only out
of the riches of his infinite bounty, and " the good pleasure
296 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
of his will ; " of his readiness to forgive, otherwise the
death of Christ should be of none effect, his blood shed in
vain, the greatest work lost that ever was done ; of his
"delight in mercy," Micah vii, 18 (Mercy in man is
a quality, in God it is his nature and essence. Now what
we do naturally we do willingly, readily, unweariedly. As
the eye is not weary of seeing, the ear with hearing, &;c.
A bee gives honey naturally, never stings but when pro-
voked. When God is angry, it is but as it were by acci-
dent, upon occasion, drawn unto it by the violent importu-
nity of our multiplied provocations ; but he delights in
mercy, ficc.) — I say, to say nothing of these, this one consi-
deration may convince us of extreme folly in refusing mercy
in such a case, notwithstanding the heinousness or number
of our sins ; to wit, that no sins, either for number or noto-
riousness, in a truly broken heart, can make so much resist-
ance to God's infinite mercies, as the least spark of fire
could make to the whole sea, and that is little enough. Nay,
as infinitely less as an infinite thing exceeds a finite ; be-
tween which there is no proportion.
3d. His power. For thou art very likely thus or in the
like manner to reason with thyself, and cavil cruelly against
thine own soul. Alas ! what talk you of taking Christ, the
promises of life, and heavenly lightsomeness ; my poor heart
is as dark as the very middle of hell ; much harder than a
rock of adamant ; as cold and dead as the senseless centre
of the earth ; as uncomfortable and restless almost as des-
peration itself. It is more than infinitely impossible that
such a dark, hard, dead, comfortless thing should ever be
enlightened, softened, quickened, and established with
joy, 6lC.
But mark how herein thou unadvisedly undervaluest and
unworthily settest bounds to the unlimited power of God.
Whereas thou shouldest imitate Abraham, the father of all
them that believe, who " staggered not at the promise of
God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory
to God ; and being fully persuaded that what he had pro-
mised he was able also to perform " (Rom. iv, 20, 21).
Be advised in this case :
[1.] To compare these two things together : " the mak-
ing of the seven stars and Orion, and turning the shadow
of death into the morning ; " and the infusion of heavenly
light into thy dark and heavy heart. And dost thou not
think that the second is as easy as the first to the same om-
nipotent hand 1 Nay, it is easier in our own apprehension
(to the Divine Majesty nothing is difficult or uneasy). For
those glorious shining constellations were created of nothing j
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES; 297
and nothing hath no disposition to any being at all, much
less to any particular existence ; but a soul sensible and
weary of its spiritual darkness is in the nearest and most
immediate passive disposition, if I may so speak, to receive
the whole sun of righteousness. Reach but out thy hand in
this case to Jesus Christ offering himself freely unto thee
as a Saviour and Lord, and thou shalt presently take posses-
sion of the kingdom of grace, and undoubted right to ihe
everlasting kingdom of glory. The prophet (Amos v, 8)
presseth this argument of power for some such purpose ;
and it may serve excellently against all pretences and
counter-pleas, for a supposed impossibility of being enlight-
ened and refreshed in the depth of spiritual darkness and
distress. It may be thou mayest say unto me, You advise
me indeed to seek God's face and favour ; but, alas ! mine
is not an ordinary heart, it is so full of guilty sadness and
horror for sin, that I have little hope. Yea, but consider,
He that 1 counsel thee to seek, " made the seven stars and
Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning ; "
and will do far greater wonders for thy soul if thou wilt
** believe the prophets that thou mayest prosper." If thou
wilt trust in him, he will quickly turn the tumultuous roar-
ings of thy conscience into perfect peace. " Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee ;
because he trusteth in thee " (Isa. xxvi, 3). The prophet,
therefore, to prevent all scruples and exceptions in this
kind, calls upon them thus : " Seek him that maketh the
seven stars and Orion," 6cc.
[2.] Lay these two together: "To bring honey out of
the rock and oil out of the flinty rock " (Deut. xxxii, 13) ;
and to mollify thine heart, even to thine own heart's desire ;
in which there is already some softness, else thou couldst
not sensibly and sincerely complain of its hardness. And
thou must needs acknowledge that they are both equally
easy to the same Almighty arm.
[3.] Thou mayest well consider that it is a far greater
work " to make heaven and earth," than to put spiritual
life and lightsomeness into thy truly humbled and thirsty
soul, to which so many precious promises are made. And
He, with whom thou hast to do, and from whom thou ex-
pectest help, is He " that made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that therein is; which keepeth truth for ever"
(Psalm cxlvi, 6) ; which openeth the eyes of the blind,
and raiseth them that are bowed down ; " which healeth
the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds; who
taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope
in his mercy " (Psalm cxlvii, 3, 11).
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[4.] In such an extremity of helplessness and hopeless-
ness, in this trembling and terror of thy heart, thou
shouldst call to mind for thy comfort, that " he who esta-
blisheth all the ends of the earth " (Prov. xxx, 4) and hath
"hung" that mighty and massive body " upon nothing "
(Job xxvi, 7), can most easily stay and stablish the most
forlorn and forsaken soul, even sinking into the mouth of
despair. He that said at first to the earth, Stand still upon
nothing, and it never stirred out of its place since the
creation, can easily uphold, fortify, and refresh thine heart
in the depth of the most grievous spiritual misery ; even
when in the bitterness of thy spirit thou criest, " My
strength and my hope is perished from the Lord" (Lament,
iii, 18).
4th. Even his justice. Christ's blood is already paid as
a price for the pardon of the sins of thine humbled soul,
and thou wilt needs pay it over again, or else thou wilt not
enter upon the purchase: as though God did expect and
exact the discharge of the same debt twice, which to ima-
gine, were a monstrous intolerable indignity to the most
just God. You know full well what we should think of
that man, who having a debt fully discharged by the surety,
should press upon the principal for the payment of the
same again. We should indeed think him to be a very
cruel, hard-hearted, and merciless man ; we should call
him a Turk, a cut-throat, a cannibal, far fitter to lodge in
a den of tigers than to live in the society of men. What a
fearful dishonour then is it to the merciful and mighty
Lord of heaven and earth, to the righteous Judge of all the
world, to conceive, that having received an exact and full
satisfaction for all our sins, by the heart's blood of his own
dear Son, he should ever require them again at our hands !
Far be it then from every one, who would not offer extra-
ordinary disparagement even to God's glorious justice, to
entertain any such thought, especially since we have his
word, his oath, and the seal of his Son's blood for security.
And assuredly we may build upon it, as upon a rock of
eternal truth ; that when we come unto Christ, weary of
all our sins, thii sting sincerely for him, and throwing our-
selves upon him, as salvation itself, resolved to take upon
us his sweet and easy yoke for the time to come, he doih
presently, as he hath promised, take off the burthen, and
free us everlastingly from the guilt and stain, condemna-
tion and reign of all our sins.
But now if thou wilt cast thyself upon Jesus Christ, roll
thyself upon the promises, being so humbled, spiritually
thirsty, and resolved, as thou hast said and I supposed at
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 299
the first (for we who are God's messengers, comfort and
assure of pardon in sucli cases, only upon supposition, that
the heart and speeches, all the promises and protestations
of the party and patient we deal with, be sincere every
way) ; I say, if thou thus cast thyself upon the Lord Jesus
and the promises of lil'e, having a well-grounded, strong,
and seasonable calling thereunto, being, as appears before,
invited, entreated, commanded, &c. the case will be bles-
sedly altered. Thou shalt now do as God would have thee ;
and mightily honour the invaluable and infinite dignity of
his Son's passion and blood, the precious freeness of all
the promises, his free love, sweet name, truth, mercy, power,
justice, <ScC.; thou shalt also cut off and defeat the devil's
present fiery darts and projects of further cruelty ; disen-
tangle and unwind thyself out of the irksome maze of rest-
less terrors and trouble of mind ; crown thine own soul in
the mean time " with peace thatpasseth all understanding,
with joy unspeakable and full of glory " (Philip, iv, 7 ; and
IPet. i, 8); with evangelical pleasures, such as "neither
eye hath seen, ear heard, or have entered into the heart
of man " (1 Cor. ii, 9) ; and hereafter be most certainly
received by that sweetest Redeemer of thine into those
glorious mansiops above, where nothing but light and
blessed immortality, no shadow for matter of tears, dis-
contentments, griefs, and uncomfortable passions to work
upon ; but all joy, tranquillity, and peace, even for ever and
ever, doth dwell.
CHAP. V.
The second Malady of Conscience. Three Considerations against Un-
soundness, proposed for the Cure of this Malady j and Three more
against Unadvisedness.
Yea, but, may another say, I, in the case proposed, have
cast myself, according to your counsel, upon Jesus Christ ;
and there by the mercy of God am I resolved to stick, come
what will ; and yet no comfort comes. What should I
think of myself in this case 1
I think in such a case it may be convenient, and tliat
such an one hath thereupon some cause and calling seriously
and impartially to search and try his spiritual state. For
which purpose, ponder seriously upon such considerations
as these ; some of which may discover unsoundness, others
unadvisedness.
1. It may be the party is not yet come in truth to that
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sound humiliation, contrition, spiritual thirsting, resolution
to sell all, iScc, required by the reverend Author quoted
before*: but only hath passed over them overtly, not
soundly ; superficially, not sincerely ; and then no marvel
though no true and real comfort come. Inform thyself fur-
ther in this point, that thou mayest more fully knovv^ my
meaning in it, and be guided aright in a matter of so great
weight t.
2. Or it may be, how^soever he protest otherwise, and for
all his partial legal terror and trouble of mind, his deceit-
ful heart may still secretly harbour and hanker after some
sweet sin, as pride, revenge, strange fashions, worldliness,
lust, plays, gaming, good-fellowship, as it is called, &c. ;
from which it doth not heartily yield, resolve, and endea-
vour to make an utter and final cessation and divorce. And
assuredly that false heart which regards and allows any
wickedness in itself, howsoever it may be deluded with
some Anabaptistical flashes, yet shall never be truly re-
freshed with " joy in the Holy Ghost."
3. It may be, though there were some probable and
plausible shows that the party was principally cast down
and affected with the heavy weight of sin and horror of
God's wrath for it ; yet the true predominant cause of his
heaviness, heart's grief, and bitterest complaint, was some
secret earthly discontentment, the restless biting of some
worldly sting : and in such cases, remove this, and you
remove his pains ; comfort him about his cross, and you set
him were he was ; and therefore, as in all this he continues
a mere stranger in affection to the sweetness, amiableness,
and excellency of Jesus Christ, so it is impossible that he
should be acquainted with any sound spiritual comfort.
But I will suppose all to be sincere and as it should be ;
let me advise thee then to take notice of thine own un-
advisedness.
(1.) Thou art perhaps so full of the want of feeling,
such a stranger to so much expected and desired joy and
peace in believing, and by consequence so drowned in the
unnecessary distractions and distempers of a sad heart,
that thou utterly forgettest to give thanks and magnify God's
singular and incomprehensible mercy for enlightening,
convincing, and territying thy conscience, offering his Son,
raising in thine heart an insatiable thirst after him, and
giving thee spiritual ability to rest thy weary soul upon
him ; and who knows not that unthankfulness keeps many
good things from us, and is an unhappy block in the way to
* Rogers of Dedham, on Faith. t Ibid. cap. ii, and v.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 301
intercept and hinder the comfortable influence and current
of God's favours and mercies from being showered down
so frankly and plentifully upon his people 1 And he is more
likely to be the more provoked in this case, because thou
sufferest thine heart to be locked up and thy tongue tied, by
Satan's cunning and cruel malice, from praising the glory
of God's free grace, for such a work of wonder ; I mean
that mighty change of thine from nature to grace, in extol-
ling of which, were all the hearts and tongues of all the
men and angels in heaven and earth set on work industri-
ously through all eternity, they would still come infinitely
short of that which is due and deserved.
(2.) Or it may be, when some one of a thousand, upon
thy complaint that no comfort comes, doth seriously labour
to settle thine heart in peace, pressing upon thee for that
purpose invincible and unanswerable arguments out of the
word of truth ; to open it wide, that overflowing rivers of
evangelical joys, which may spring (to him that is advised
and believes the Prophets) abundantly even from the
weakest faith to refresh and comfort it ; telling thee, that
as thine humbled soul, leaning upon Christ, draws much
heavenly virtue, mortifying power, and sanctifying grace
from him, so it may and ought also to draw abundance of
spiritual-lightsomeness from that ever-springing fountain of
life, &c. ; — yet notwithstanding all this, thou sufferest some
malicious counter-blasts and contrary suggestions of the
devil to disperse and frustrate all these well-grounded and
glorious messages ; and therefore it is just with God that
thou fare the worse at his hands, and fall short of thine
expectation, because thou givest more credit to the father
of lies than to the Lord of truth. Since thou spillest all
the cordials that are tendered unto thee in the name of
Christ by his faithful physicians, thou art deservedly desti-
tute of comfort still. Many in such cases, while God's
messenger, who can rightly declare his ways unto them,
stands by, opening and applying the rich treasures of God's
free mercy in the mystery of the gospel, and with present
replies repelling Satan's cavils, are reasonably well cheered
and revived ; but when he is gone they very weakly and
unworthily give way again to that foul lying fiend, to cast
a discomfortable mist over the tender eye of their weak
faith, and to domineer as he did before.
Tell me true, if thou wert in doubt and distress about
thy temporal state, tenure of thy lands, soundness of thy
title-deeds, wouldst thou advise with and take counsel from
a fool, a knave, and an enemy ; or wouldst thou make
clwice of an honest, wise, understanding friend 1 I doubt
2 D
302 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
not of thine answer. And wilt thou then so far disparage
divine truth, gratify hell, and hurt thine own heart, as in
that weightiest point of thy spiritual state to consult and
resolve with the devil, a liar, a murderer, a sworn enemy
to God's glory and thy soul's good ; and neglect God him-
self, blessed for ever, speaking unto thee out of his word,
by that minister, which in such a case durst not falsify or
flatter thee for a world for gold ] Shall many thousands of
worldly wise men give credit very readily and roundly to
" daubers with untempered mortar," upon a false and rotten
foundation, to the most certain and eternal ruin of their
souls ; and shall not a humble, an upright-hearted man,
believe the prophet upon good ground, that the bones
which the heavy burthen of sin hath broken may rejoice 1
God forbid.
(3.) Nay, but suppose the party be truly humbled, very
thankful, resolute against all sin, labour to believe the
prophets, &c. and yet no comfort come. I say then there
is one other duty expected at thy hands, right precious
and pleasing unto God, and that is waiting ; by which God
would,
1. Set yet a sharper edge and eagerness, more hungering
and thirsting, greater longing and panting after the ravish-
ing sweetness of his comfortable presence, with which
melting, earnest, crying dispositions, he is very much
delighted.
2. Cause us with peace and patience to submit unto and
depend upon his merciful wisdom in disposing and appoint-
ing times and seasons for our deliverances and refreshings.
For he well knows that very point and period of time, first,
when his mercy shall be most magnified ; secondly, his
children's hearts most seasonably comforted and kindly
enlarged to pour out themselves in thankfulness ; thirdly,
his and our spiritual enemies most gloriously confounded.
3. Quicken and set on work with extraordinary fervency
the spirit of prayer, fright us further from sin for the time
to come ; fit us for a more fruitful improvement of all offers
and opportunities to do our souls good ; to make more of
"joy and peace in believing" when we enjoy it ; and
to declare to others in like extremity God's dealings with
us for their support, &c.
We must learn then to expect and be content with God's
season ; and hold up our hearts in the mean time with such
considerations as these : First, we perform a very ac-
ceptable service, and a Christian duty, right pleasing unto
and much prevailing with God, by waiting. See Isa. xl,
31 ; xlix, 23; Ixiv, 4; and Lam. iii, 25. Secondly, By our
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 303
patient dependence upon God in this kind, we may mightily
increase and multiply our comfort when his time is come.
For he is wont to recompense abundantly at last his longer
tarrying with excess of joy, and overflowing expressions of
his love. Thirdly, we must ever remember, that all the
while he exerciseth us with waiting, that season is not yet
come, which in his merciful wisdom he holds the meetest
to magnify the glory of his mercy most, and most wisely
to advance our spiritual good. Fourthly, and that which
is best of all, if the true convert, resting his weary soul
upon the Lord Jesus and promises of life, should be taken
away before he attain his desired comfort, he shall be
certainly saved, and undoubtedly crowned with everlasting
blessedness; for " blessed are all they that wait for him"
(Isa. XXX, 18). A man is saved by believing ; and not by
"joy and peace in believing." Salvation is an inseparable
companion of faith ; but joy and peace accompany it as a
separable accident ; as that which may be removed from
it ; yea, there is cause why it should be removed. The
light would never be so acceptable, were it not for the
usual intercourse of darkness.
Take here notice upon this occasion, that as a truly
humbled soul receiving Christ in the sense I have said,
hath power given him thereby to become the Son of God ;
so he doth draw also from that glorious object of faith, so
full of all amiableness, excellency, and sweetness—
L Sometimes, by the mercy of God, a very sensible,
stirring, and ravishing joy, " unspeakable and full of glory ;"
which though it be many times very short, yet is unutterably
sweet.
2. If not so, yet an habitual calmness of conscience, if
I may so call it ; which though we do not mark it so much,
or magnify God's mercy for it as we ought, yet it makes us
differ as far by a comfortable freedom from many slavish,
guilty twitches, and an universal contentedness in all our
courses and passages through this vale of tears, from the
world's dearest and most admired favourite, as the highest
region of the air from the restless and raging sea : espe-
cially if that unhappily happy wretch have a waking con-
science.
3. Or at least ever a secret heavenly vigour, whereby the
soul is savingly supported in what state soever, though it
be under the continued pressures of most hideous tempta-
tions ; the tithe of the terror whereof would make many
a worldling make way with himself, because he wants this
stay. And suppose they should continue unto the last gaspi
even unto thine ending hour, nay entrance into heaven j
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yet thy spiritual state is not thereby prejudiced, but thy
salvation is still most sure ; and thy first taste of those
eternal joys shall be the sweeter, by how much thy former
temptations and trials have been the sorer : for we must
ever hold fast this blessed tiuth, that we are justified by
casting ourselves upon Christ, not by comfort; by faith,
not by feeling ; by trusting the sure word of God, not by
assurance.
CHAP. VI.
Two Considerations more against Unadvisedness, for the Cure of the
former Malady.
But I desire to come yet nearer to thy conscience, and to
press comfort upon thee with such strong and irresistible
arguments, as all the subtlety of the infernal powers will
never be able to dissolve.
Thou sayest, and 1 suppose so, that thou art "weary of
all thy sins," dost hunger and thirst after the righteousness
of Christ ; prizest him before all the world ; hast cast thy-
self upon his truth and tender-heartedness for everlasting
safety ; and yet thou feelest no special sensible joy in thine
heart thereupon. Be it so ; yet upon this occasion take ray
counsel, and at my request address thyself again, and have
recourse afresh unto the promises : settle thy soul upon
them seriously, with fixed meditation and fervent prayer :
set thyself purposely with earnestness and industry to suck
from them their heavenly sweetness. And then, how is it
possible that thine humble, upright heart should make
resist ince to those mighty torrents of spiritual joys and
refreshings, which by a natural and necessary consequence
spring abundantly from the ensuing comfortable conclusions,
grounded upon the sure word of God, and thine ow^n in-
ward sense and most certain undeniable experience t
VVhosoever "hungers and thirsts after righteousness"
is blessed from Christ's own mouth. Matt, v, 6. And this
blessedness compriseth an absolute and universal confluence
of all excellencies, perfections, pleasures, and felicities in
this world, and in the world to come ; begun in some
measure in the kingdom of grace, and made complete in
the kingdom of glory through all eternity.
But I, mayest thou say, out of evident feeling and
experience, find myself to " hunger and thirst after righteous-
ness."
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 305
Therefore I am most certainly blessed and interested in
all the rich purchases of Christ's dearest blood and merit,
which is the full price of the kingdom of heaven and all
the glory thereof.
Whosoever is athirst, hath his part in the " fountain
of the water of life " (Rev. xxi, 6 ; xxii, 17 ; John vii, 37 ;
and Isa. Iv, 1).
But I, mayest thou say, cannot deny, dare not belie my-
self, but that my poor heart thirsts unfeignedly to be bathed
in the heavenly streams of God's free favour and Christ's
sovereign blood.
Therefore, undoubtedly I have my part in the well of life
everlastingly ; whence, what delicious streams of dearest
joy do sweetly flow !
Whosoever " labours and is heavy laden " may justly
challenge at the hands of Christ rest and refreshing (Matt,
xi, 28).
But I feel all my sins an intolerable burthen upon my
wounded soul, and most willingly take him as a Saviour
and a Lord.
Therefore I have my portion in his spiritual and eternal
rest.
"The High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy," and who dwells " in the high and
holy place ;" dwelleth also in every " humble and contrite
spirit," as in a royal throne. He hath, as it were, two
thrones ; one in the empyrean heaven, the other in a broken
heart (Isa. Ivii, 15).
But my heart lies groveling in the dust, humbled under
the mighty hand of God, and trembling at his feet.
Therefore it is the mansion of Jehovah, blessed for ever.
Whosoever " confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall have
mercy " (Prov. xxviii, 13).
But I confess and abominate all sin, resolved never to
'* turn again to folly."
Therefore mercy is most certainly mine.
He in whose heart the Holy Ghost hath enkindled a kindly
heat of affection to the brethren, hath passed from death to
life (1 John iii, 14).
But, by the mercy of God, my heart is wholly set upon
the "brotherhood " (1 Pet. ii, 17), which I heartily hated
heretofore.
Therefore I have passed from death to life.
These and the like conclusions are in themselves as full
of sound joy and true comfort, as the sun is of light or the
sea of waters. Open but the eye of thine humble souL
and thou mayest see many glorious things in them. Crush
2 D 3
306 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
them but a little with the hand of faith, and much delicious
sweetness of spiritual peace may distil upon thy soul.
Lastly, such considerations as these may contribute some
matter of comfort and support to him of weakest apprehen-
sion in this case.
1. If he consult with his own conscience, he shall happily
find in his present sincere resolution an impossibility to
turn back again to his former sinful life, pleasures, good-
fellowship, sensual courses, and company. He says, and
thinks it, that he will rather die than lie, swear, profane
the sabbaths, put to usury, do wrong, keep any ill-gotten
goods in his hands, haunt ale-houses, play-houses, gaming-
houses ; or willingly put his heart or hand to any kind of
iniquity, as he was formerly wont. And doth nature,
think you, keep him back, or grace and God's Spirit 1
2. If he should now hear, and have his ears filled with
oaths, blasphemies, ribald talk, rotten speeches, filthy
songs, railing at God's people, scoffing at religion, jesting
out of scriptures, &c., his heart would rise ; he would either
reprove them or be rid of them as soon as he could ; whereas
heretofore he hath been perhaps a delightful hearer of them,
if not a notorious actor himself. And whence do you
think doth this arise, but from the seed of God remaining
in him ?
3. If when you hear him complain, that howsoever he
hath cast himself upon Christ, as the prophets have coun-
selled him, yet since thereupon he feels no such comfort
and peace in believing as other Christians do, he begins to
doubt whether he hath done well or no, and to conceive
that he hath laid hold upon the promises too soon ; nay,
and it may be upon this discontent, doth thus further en-
large his complaint — Alas! my sins have formerly been
so great, my heart is at this present so hard, my sorrow so
scant, my failings so many, that I know not what to say
to myself. Methinks I can neither pray, confer, love the
brethren, sanctify the sabbath, rejoice in the Lord, as I see
other of God's children do ; and therefore I am afraid all
is nought. What heart can 1 have to hold on ] — 1 say, if
to such a speech thou shouldst for trial give this reply :
Well then, if it be so, even give over all ; strive no more
against the stream ; trouble thyself no longer with reading,
prayer, following sermons, forbearing good-fellowship and
thine old companions. And since no comfort comes by
casting thyself upon Christ, cast thyself again into the
current of the times, course of the world, and merry
company ; for there, yet, is some little poor pleasure to be
had at least. Oh ! No, no, no, would he say ; that will
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 307
I never do, whatsoever comes of me. I will trust in my
Christ, though he should kill me ; for all these discourage-
ments 1 will by no means cast away my confidence : I
have been so freshly stung with their guilt, that I will
rather be pulled in pieces with wild horses than plunge
again into carnal pleasures. 1 will put my hand to all
holy duties in obedience to God, though I perform them
never so weakly. 1 will, by the mercy of God, keep my
face towards heaven and back to Sodom so long as 1 breathe,
come what will, inc. And whence do you think springs
this resolution, but from a secret saving power, supporting
him in the most desperate temptations and assaults of
distrust 1
Now this first, secret saving power, by which an humble
soul leaning upon Christ is supported, when it is at the
lowest ; secondly, the seed of God ; and thirdly, presence
of grace, do every one of them argue a blessed stale, in
which thou shall be certainly saved ; and therefore thou
niayesl lift up thine heart and head with comfort unspeak-
able and glorious.
CHAP. VII.
The Third Malady of Conscience. The Danger of it. The Causes of
it. Two things proposed for Cure of it.
3. Many there are who much complain of the great dis-
proportion between the notorious vvickedness of their former
life and their lamentable weakness of an answerable be-
wailing it ; between the number of their sins and fewness
of their tears ; the heiuousness of their rebellions, and little
measure of their humiliation. And thereupon, because they
did not find and feel those terrors and extraordinary troubles
of mind in their turning unto God ; those violent passions
and pangs in their new birth, which they have seen, heard,
or read of, or knov/n in others, perhaps far less sinners than
themselves ; they are much troubled with distractions and
doubts about the truth and soundness of their conversion.
'\\ hereby they receive a great deal of hurt and hindrance
in their spiritual state ; for Satan gains very much by such
a suggestion, and grounds many times a manifold mischief
upon it. For by keeping this temptation on foot, these
doubts and troubles in their minds whether they be truly
converted or no, he labours and too often prevails —
1. To hinder the Christian in his spiritual building.
With what heart can he hold on who doubts of the sound-
308 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORtI^TG
ness and sure laying of the foundation 1 What progress is
he like to make in Christianity who continually terrifies
himself with fearful exceptions and oppositions about the
truth of his conversion 1 A man in a long journey would
jog on but very heavily, if he doubted whether he were in
the right way or no.
2. To abate, lessen, and abridge his courage in standing
on God's side, patience under the cross, and spiritual mirth
in good company. To keep him in dulness of heart, dead-
ness of affections, distractions at holy exercises, and under
the reign of almost a continual sadness and uncomfortable
walking ; to make him quite neglect and never look towards
those sweet commands of the blessed Spirit : ' ' Rejoice
evermore. Rejoice ; and I say again, rejoice. Be glad in
the Lord, and rejoice ye righteous ; and shout for joy all
ye that are upright in heart."
3. To fasten a great deal of dishonour upon God, {when
he can make the Christian disavow, as it were, and nullify
in his estimation, so great a work of mercy and grace,
stamped upon his soul by an Almighty hand. A work for
wonder and power answerable, if not transcendent, to the
creation of the world. To the production whereof the in-
finite mercies of the Father of all mercy ; the warmest
heart's blood of his only Son ; the mightiest moving of the
blessed Spirit, were required. Now what an indignity and
disparagement oflfered unto so glorious a workman and
blessed a work, to assent and subscribe unto the devil, a
known liar, that there is no such thing !
4. To double and aggravate upon the Christian the grie-
vous sin of unbelief. Not to believe the promises as they
lie in his book, is an unworthy and wicked wrong unto the
truth of God. But for a man to draw back and deny when
they are all made good upon his soul, makes him worse
than Thomas, the apostle ; for when he had thrust his hand
into Christ's side he believed. But in the present case a
man is ready to renounce and disclaim, though he have
already grasped in the arms of his faith the crucified bleed-
ing body of his blessed Redeemer, the sacred and saving
virtue whereof hath inspired into the whole man a new,
spiritual, sanctifying life, and a sensible, undeniable change
from what it was.
5. To detain the heart locked up, as it were, in a per-
petual barrenness from giving of thanks, which is one of the
noblest and most acceptable sacrifices and services that is
oflfered unto God. Now what a mischief is this, that an
upiight heart should be laced up, and his tongue tied by
the devil's temptation from magnifying heartily the ^ory
AFFLICTED CONSCIE]\CES. 309
of God's free grace for such a work ! I mean the new crea-
tion, at which heaven and earth, angels and men, and all
creatures, may stand everlastingly amazed. So sweet it is
and admirable, and makes an immortal soul for ever.
But to keep myself to the point. Those who complain,
as 1 have said, that because the pangs of their new birth
were not, in that proportion they desire, answerable to the
heinousness of their former pestilent courses and abomi-
nableness of their foregone ill-spent life, many times sus-
pect themselves, and are much troubled about the truth of
their conversion ; may have their doubts and scruples in-
creased, by taking notice of such propositions as these,
which divines both ancient and modern let fall sometimes
in their penitential discourses : —
" Ordinarily men are wounded in their consciences at
their conversion, answerably to the wickedness of their
former conversation." — " Contrition in true converts is for the
most part proportionable to the heinousness of their former
courses. — " The more wicked that thy former life hath been,
the more fervent and earnest let thy repentance or return-
ing be*."
" Sorrow must be proportionable to our sins. The greater
our sin, the fuller must be our sorrow t."
" According to the weight of sin upon the conscience,
ought penitent sorrow to be weighty J."
" He that hath exceeded in sin, let him exceed also in
sorrow^."
"Look how great our sins are, let us so greatly lament
them [|."
" Let the mind of everyone drink up so much of the tears
of penitent compunction, as he remembers himself to have
withered from God by wickedness H."
" Grievous sins require most grievous lamentations**."
" The measure of your mourning must be agreeable and
proportionable to the sin tt."
And we may see these rules represented unto us in the
practice of Manasseh, who being a most grievous sinner
(2 Chron. xxxiii, 6), " humbled himself greatly before the
God of his fathers" (ver. 12). In the woman who is called
a sinner (Luke vii, 37) emphatically, and by a kind of sin-
gularity, and therefore sorrows extraordinarily (ver. 38),
and " wipes Christ's feet with tears." In the idolatrous
Israelites upon their turning unto the Lord (I Sam, vii, 4,
* Homil. of Repentance. t Dike on Repentance, chap. iv.
t Ambr. ad Viri?. corr. cap. viii. § Idem de Penit. lib. i, cap. ii.
II Cypr. de Lapsis ad fin. % (iregor. Pastor. Curse, cap. xxx.
** Autr. ad Fratr. in ereino. tt Cireenliam's Grave Coausel.
310 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
6), " who drew water, and poured it out before the Lord."
In the hearers of Peter, who having their consciences all
bloody with the horrible guilt of crucifying the Lord of life
(Acts ii, 33, 36), were " pricked in their hearts" (ver. 37)
with such horror and raging anguish, as if so many poisoned
daggers and scorpions' stings were fastened in them. In
Paul, vvho having been a heinous offender, a grievous per-
secutor (Actsix), whereas the other apostles, as one says,
had been honest and sober fishermen, tasted deeper of
this cup than they ; for he tells us, Rom. viii, 11, that " the
law slew him." He was strangely amazed with a voice
from heaven, struck down to the earth, and stark blind.
" He trembled and was astonished : for three days he did
neither eat nor drink," &c. (Acts ix.)
And there is good reason for it. For ordinarily the newly
enlightened eye of a fresh bleeding conscience is very sharp
and clear, piercing and sightful, greedy to discover every
stain and spot of the soul ; to dive even to the heart root,
to the blackest bottom and ugliest nook of a man's former
hellish courses ; to look back with a curious survey through
the pure perspective of God's righteous law over his whole
life, to his very birth sin and Adam's rebellion. And in
this sad and heavy search, it is very inquisitive after and
apprehensive of all circumstances which may add to the
heinousness of sin and horror in his heart. It is quick-
sighted into all aggravating considerations ; and quickly
learns and looks upon all those ways, degrees, and circum-
stances by which sins are made more notorious and hateful.
And what the spirit of bondage in a fearful heart may infer
hereupon you may easily judge.
Now to the case proposed ; I say,
1. That between sin and sorrow we cannot expect a
precise equation ; not an arithmetical, but a geometrical
proportion. Great sins should be greatly lamented ; yet
no sin can be sufficiently sorrowed for, though it may be
savingly. When we say the pangs of the new birth must
be answerable to our former sinful provocations, vve mean
not that we can mourn for sin according to its merit ; that
is impossible. But great sins require a great deal of sor-
row. We must not think that we have sorrowed enough
for any sin, though we can never sorrow sufficiently.
Before I proceed to a farther and fuller satisfaction in
the point, let me tell you by the way how uncomfortable
and doubtful the popish doctrine is in this matter, that the
truth of our tenet may appear the more precious, and taste
more sweet.
Their attrition and conlritiGn, as I take it, differ as our
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 311
legal and evangelical repentance ; 1. In respect of the ob-
ject. Contrition, as they say, is sorrow for sin, as an offence
against God ; attrition is a grief for sin, as liable to punish-
ment. 2. In respect of the cause. Contrition ariseth from
son-like, attrition from servile fear*.
This contrition is the cause of the remission of sinst.
Well then, thou art a papist and troubled in conscience.
Thou knowest well that without contrition, no remission :
but when comest thou to that measure and degree which
may give thee some contentment about the pardon of thy
sins ? Go unto them in this point for resolution and relief,
and thou goest unto a rack. Consult with their chapters,
" De quantitate Contritionis," of the amount of sorrow,
and they are able to confound thee with many desperate
distractions.
1. Lookback upon the elder schoolmen; and you shall
have Adrian t and others tell you ofa contrition in the highest
strain, and to which nothing can be added§. This opinion
Vega refutes 1|, and Bellaimine dislikes it*[[. Note by the
way how sweetly they agree ; our concord is angelical in
respect of their confusions.
2. Go to Scotus** and his followers, and you shall find
him to talk of a certain intensity of contrition, which is only
known unto God; but this Greg.de Valent. censures as
very false tt. You see again, as there is no truth in their
tenets, so no constancy, no concord, and by consequence
no comfort to a truly troubled spirit.
3. Come at length to the latter locusts, some modern
Jesuits, daubers over of their superstitious ruins with many
rotten distinctions (I mean Bellarmine, Greg, de Valent.
and their fellows), and they dare not stand either to the
unknown intensity of Scotus, nor that of highest pitch, whicli
Adrian holds ; but come in with a sorrow for sin, apprecia-
tive summus. And what is that, think you 1
Hence Bellarmine (for ^'alent. speaks more warily in the
quoted place, Art. '• Neque veni ;" yet very weakly too,
for in such cases the troubled mind is not wont to rest upon
generals only, but will in spite of ourselves bring us to
particulars, howsoever Scotus, Navar, and Madina advise
the contrary) — " Sorrow for sin," saith he, " is then summus
* See Valent. Disp. vii, q. 8, De Contrit. punct, 2.
t Bellar. lib. ii, De Poeuit. cap. xil.
t QuEest ii, de Foenit. qnodlib. v, artic. 3.
§ \'alent. torn, iv, disp. 7, qu. 8, de Contrltione, punct. 5.
II De Justif. lib. xiii, cap. xiv ad princ.
% De Poeiiit. lib. ii, cap. xi, art. denique si summus.
** In 4 sent. dist. xiv, q. 2. tt Tom. iv, col. 17, 24.
312 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
appi-eciative, when the will doth more esteem the detesta-
tion of sin, than the attainment of any good, or escaping
any ill ;" and so by consequence (for, as I intimated, a
troubled conscience in such a case is very curious and
inquisitive, and will not stay only upon confused and general
notions of good and ill, but easily descend to particulars,
to know its state more perfectly, especially in a point of so
great importance) a man must find his heart first to prize
the hatred of sin before the happiness of heavenly joys or
avoiding hellish pains, before he can come to comfort of
the remission of his sins. What a torture were it to a
troubled spiiit to fall into the hands of such true pharisees,
who lay heavy burthens upon others, but will not touch
them themselves with the least of their fingers. But,
blessed be God ! we truly teach that it is not so much the
measure and amount, as the truth and heartiness of our
sorrow, which fits for the promises of life and pardon of
sin. Yet I must say this also, he that thinks he hath sor-
rowed sufficiently, never sorrowed truly. And I like Bel-
larmine's last proposition well, in the fore-cited place, if it
be thus understood, that we must desire, aim, and endea-
vour after the highest pitch of godly sorrow which can
possibly be attained. But it is one thing to £ay, either just
so much measure of sorrow or no mercy — such a quantity
• of contrition or no remission — another thing to say we ntiust
long and labour to bring our naughty hearts to this, even to
be willing rather to lie in hell than to live in sin. Perfec-
tions of grace are aimed at in this life, not attained.
4. I confess some of them sometimes, by reason of free-
dom in their schools, over-ruled like Caiaphas, or over-mas-
tered by the clearness and invincibleness of the truth, speak
something more orthodoxically * ; but you see them still
like the four winds blow in one another's faces. Hereupon
1 have many times marvelled, that understanding papists
looking into the point are not plunged into desperate per-
plexities, considering the variety of opinions and uncer-
tainty of the degree of sorrow required to their contrition :
but when I reflected upon another rotten daubing trick of
theirs, 1 rather wonder at the depths of their antichristian
craft in so politicly and plausibly patching together their
popish paradoxes, that they may still keep their deluded
disciples in contentment, and please them still at least with
some palliatives instead of cures. It is this 1 mean : they
* See on this point, Vega, lib. ili, cap. xxiv, art. " Ad que accedit;"
Ibid art. " Et Sacerdotes ; " Tolet. Instruct. Sacerd. lih. ii, cap. v, art.
"Quartani dubium ; " Navar. cap. i, num. xviii; Estius, in iv, sent,
dist. xvi, sect, vii, art. " Adde qu«jd si sumnius." &c.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 31 3
hold also (Prodigious infatuation ! It is impossible that the
learned on the pope's side — were not that curse justly upon
tliem, 2 Thes. ii, 10,11, "Because they received not the
love of the truth, that they might be saved ; God sends
them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" —
should ever be so grossly blinded) ; I say they hold, that a
man ex attrito, by the power of the priestly absolution is
made contiitus ; and that ex opere operato, as Valent. affirms.
Which in effect is thus much ; that having but only attri-
tion (legal repentance), that Iruitless sorrow which may be
found in a Judas, a Latomus, and which a reprobate may
carry with him to hell, is by the virtue of their feigned sa-
crament, " by the sacramental act of absolution," as they
call it, made truly and savingly contrite and put into a state
of justification. Hear it in the words of that great and
famous light of Ireland*, and for ever abhor all such popish
impostures: " When the priest with his power of forgiving
sins interposeth himself in the business, they tell us that
attrition, by virtue of the keys, is made contrition ; that is
to say, that a sorrow arising from a servile fear of punish-
ment, and such a fruitless repentance as the reprobate may
carry with them to hell, by virtue of the priest's absolution
is made so fruitful, that it shall serve the turn for obtaining
forgiveness of sins, as if it had been that godly sorrow,
which worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented
of (2 Cor. vii, 10) : by which spiritual cozenage many poor
souls are most miserably deluded, while they persuade
themselves that upon the receipt of the priest's acquittance,
upon this carnal sorrow of theirs, all scores are cleared
until that day, and then beginning upon a new reckoning,
they sin and confess, confess and sin afresh ; and tread this
round so long, till they put off all thought of saving repent-
ance ; and so the blind follov/ing the blind, both at last
follow into the pit."
Or thus, a little after : —
" It hath been always observed for a special difference
betwixt good and bad men, that the one hated sin for the
love of virtue, the other only for the fear of punishment.
The like difference do our adversaries make betwixt contri-
tion and attrition. That the hatred of sin in the one pro-
ceedeth from the love of God, and of righteousness in the
other from the fear of punishment ; and yet teach for all
this that attrition, which they confess would not otherwise
suffice to justify a man, being joined with the priest's abso-
lution is sufficient for that purpose. He that was attrite
* Usher, in his Answer to a Jesuit's Challenge.
2 E
314 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
being by virtue of this absolution made contrite and justi-
fied : that is to say, he that was led only by a servile fear,
and consequently was to be ranked among disordered and
evil persons, being by this means put in as good a case for
the matter of the forgiveness of his sins as he that loveth
God sincerely. For they themselves do grant, that such as
have this servile fear, from whence attrition issueth, are to
be accounted evil and disordered men," &c.
But leaving these blind pharisees in the endless maze of
their inextricable errors, until it please the Lord to enlighten
them and by a strong hand pull them out, which 1 heartily
desire and will ever pray, I come to prosecute mine own
point.
2. If you ask me when trouble for sin is saving, I would
answer, when it is true. If you further demand when is it
true ; I would say, when it drives thee utterly out of thy
self, and to sdl all in the sense 1 have said before ; and
brings thee with a sincere thirst and settled resolution to
Jesus Christ, to live and die with him as a Saviour and a
Lord, and is accompanied with an universal change in body,
soul, and spirit.
CHAP. VIII.
The Third Way of Curing ttie former Malady. One thing to be con-
sidered to that purpose.
In the third place, take notice of such considerations as
these : —
1. God, being a most free agent, doth not tie himself con-
stantly and invariably to ordinary, expected, set, and the
same forms, measures, times, proportions of his ways, and
workings upon his children. For he is wise without limit
and above measure ; and therefore hath many secret and
glorious ends and aims, which, according to his good plea-
sure, much diversify the means serviceable and subordinate
thereunto. From whence may spring these three conclu-
sions : —
(1.) He may for the most part create in the heart of the
true convert terrors and troubles of conscience, amazements
and mourning, answerable in some good measure to the
variety, vanity, and villany of his former wicked ways and
lewd life. As appears before in Manasseh, the sinful wo-
man, idolatrous Israelites, hearers of Peter, and many in
these days, if it were convenient to name them. " For the
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 315
most pait," saith a great divine, " the violence of humilia-
tion in the calling of a sinner, is according to the continu-
ance and greatness of his actual transgressions. According
to the same is the rent in the conscience and soul. There-
fore, if there be any who hath been a great and grievous
sinner, and hath not with violence been pulled from
his sin, he may do well to suspect and search himself
soundly."
(2.) He may sometimes suffer a notorious sinner to pass
something more easily and with less terror though the pangs
of the new birth. But then such a one is wont to walk
more humbly before God all his life after, for that he was
not humbled with more remarkableness of penitent remorse
and spiritual anguish in his conversion ; and so extension
and continuance of godly grief that he was not more grieved,
makes up as it were that desired intensity and extremity of
pangs which might justly have pained him in his passing
from death to life. Every hearty and sensible complaint
that the pangs of the new birth were not more painful and
proportionable to the pollutions of his youth, is, as it were,
and in the sense 1 have said, a pang of the new birth. Or
else upon some occasion afterward in his Christian course
he may be revisited and vexed afresh with more terror and
trouble of conscience than in his first change ; as in such
cases as these : — 1st. If he should (which God forbid !) by
some violent enticement and snaring opportunity be entan-
gled again and reinfected with any former sensual pleasure
of his unregenerate time ; or by neglect of his care and
watchfulness over his ways be suddenly surprised with some
new scandalous sin. 2diy. Upon the assault of some extra-
ordinary frighting temptation, or pressing of hideous thoughts
upon his melancholic imagination. 3dly. When some heavy
cross or sickness* after many prosperous days shall seize upon
him, which may lie sore and long. 4thly. Upon his bed of
death ; especially if he fall upon it immediately after some re-
lapse, backsliding, or new wound of conscience. There is a kind
of natural power besides God's special hand in sickness,
sorrow, darkness, melancholy, the night, extraordinary
crosses, the bed of death, to represent the true number and
* David, Psalm xxxviii, beinsr put in mind by his sickness of Ciod's
wrath against sin, was full sorely afflicted in soul ; so that lie cries :
" There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger : neither is
there any rest in my bones, because of my sin. For mine iniquities
are gone over mine head; as a heavy burthen they are too heavy for
me. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the
day long. I am feeble and sore broken ; I have roared by reason of
the distjuietiiess of my heart. My sorrow is continually before me."
316 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
heinousness of sins with greater horror and more unto the
life ; whereas prosperity, health, and days of peace, do
rather delude the eyes of the conscience ; and like false and
flattering glasses make those foul fiends seem fairer than
they are indeed. And therefore the Christian, especially
that I speak of, being outwardly distressed, cast upon his
bed of death, or any ways extraordinarily visited by God's
hand, seeing his sins upon the sudden marshalled and march-
ing against him ; more in number and more fiercely than
heretofore, may for the while be surprised and exercised
with unexpected terror, until by meditation upon God's
former special mercy unto him in spiritual things, upon the
marks and effects of his change, upon the uprightness of
his heart towards God in the days of health, upon those
testimonies and assurances which his Christian friends can
give him of his being in a gracious state, with such like
holy helps ; and so in cool blood and above all resolving to
stick for ever fast to the Lord Jesus, though he kill him, he
be raised again from such dejections of spirit to the wonted
confidence and comfort of his interest in Christ and salva-
tion of his soul. Here, by the way, let none think it strange,
that even the dearest servants of Christ may be revisited*
with more horror of conscience afterward than at their first
turning on God's side. As appears in Job, Hezekiah, David,
in Mrs. Brettergh, Mr. Peacick, &c. Besides the proposed
cases, this re visitation may befal them also — 5thly. For
* But how may this revisitatioii with as great, if not greater tenoi-s
than at first turning unto God, consist with that, Rom. viii, 15, " Ye
have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;" which seems to
import thus mnch, that God's child receives the spirit of bondage no
more after he hath once received the spirit of adoption, revealing and
evidencing unto him that he is a son and that God is his father ? In
answer : The same Spirit produceth these contrary effects. By the law,
fear and terror, by the gospel, peace and prayer. Now at the first talc-
ing a man in hand to turn him to the Lord, the spirit of bondage, by
the work of the law, doth testify unto the soul that it is in a wretched
and damnable state, bound over to the guilt of its own sin, and God's
fiery wrath, to death, and hell, and damnation for ever-, that so it may
be driven to Jesus Christ for release and pardon. But after the planta-
tion of faith and presence of the spirit of adoption it never testifies so
again, because it would be an untruth. It may afterward work an ap-
prehension that God is angry ; but not that he is not a father. The
hiding of God's face, which may often befal his child ; the darkness of
our own spirits thereupon, wliich may revive all the old guilt again ; and
the devil's cruel pressing upon us upon such advantages, raise these
hideous mists of horror I am speaking of, and such terrible after-tem-
pests, of wliich our only-wise and all powerful God makes excellent use,
hoth for ourselves and others, and attains thereby his own most glori-
ous, secret, and sacred end, as appears in the following passage.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 317
•
their own trial. This was the end, as it may seem, why
Job was sei up as a mark for the envenomed arrows of the
Almighty to aim at, and whole armies of terrors to fight
against. He approved himself to be steel to the back as tliey
say, by that victorious ejaculation, "Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him " (Job xiii, 15) ; whereby God was
mightily honoured, Satan utterly confounded, and that con-
troversy, " wlielher Job feared God for nought or no 1 "
gloriously ended on God's side. 6thly. That they may grow
into greater conformity with their blessed Saviour in spiri-
tual sufferings. 7thly. That, tasting again sometimes the
bitterness of divine wrath for sin, they may be the more
frighted and flee further from it. 8thly. That thereby the
incomprehensible love of Christ toward them may sink
deeper into their hearts, who for their sakes and salvation
drunk deep and large, and the very dregs of that cup, the
least drop whereof is to them so bitter and intolerable.
9thly. That by sense of the contrary, their joy in the favour
and light of God's countenance may be more joyful, their
spiritual peace more pleasant, the pleasure of grace more
precious, the comforts of godliness more comfortable, &c.
lOihly. For admonition to others ; to draw duller and
drowsy Christians to more strictness, watchfulness, and zeal,
by observing the spiritual troubles and terrors of those who
are far more holy and righteous than themselves. To inti-
mate unto formal professors that all is certainly nought
with them, who ordinarily are mere strangers to all afflic-
tions of soul and sorrow for sin. llthly. For terror to many,
who going on securely in their sensual courses, are wont to
cry down all they can the power of preaching, by crying to
their companions thus, or in the like manner — "Well, for
all this, we hope hell is not so hot, nor sin so heavy, nor
the devil so black, nor God so unmerciful, as these precise
preachers would make them." How may such as these be
affrighted and terrified upon this occasion, with pondering
upon that terrible place, 1 Pet. iv, 17, 18. " If judgment
begin at the house of God, what shall the end be of them
that obey not the gospel of God \ And if the righteous
scarcely be saved;" if God's children have their con-
sciences scorched, as it were, with the flames of hell ;
" where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear," but even
in the bottom of that fiery lake, and amidst the unquencha-
ble rage of those endless flames ? 12thly. For the just
hardening of such as hate to be reformed, and are despe-
rately resolved against the saving preciseness of the saints.
It may be in this manner : A godly man hath lived long
amongst rebels, thorns, and scorpions, scorners, railers, per-
2 E 3
318 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
secutors, who although he hath shined all the while " as a
light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,"
yet they were ever so far from being heated with love of
heavenly things by his holy life, or won unto good by his
gracious example, that like so many bats and owls, impatient
of all spiritual light, they did either fly from it as far as they
could in affection and practice, if not in habitation, or fell
upon it fiercely with their envenomed claws of spite and
cruelty, to extinguish quite, if it were possible, such blessed
beams of saving light ; and to darken, with hellish mists of
ignorance and ill life, the place where they live. They
willfully blinded themselves with a pestilent conceit, that
his sincerity was nothing but hypocrisy ; his holiness only
humour ; his forwardness f.tntasticalness, his sanctification
singularity. And thereupon resolved and boisterously com-
bined against him with all their policy, purses, and possibi-
lities, like those ungodly ones mentioned in the book of
Wisdom, " Let us lie in wait for the righteous ; because he
is not for our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings ;
he upbraideth us with our offending the law, and objecteth
to our infamy the transgressings of our education," &cc. I
say, God may sutler such a man upon his death-bed to fall
into some more extraordinary observable discomfort and
distress of conscience ; of which those graceless wretches
taking notice, may thereby be made desperately obstinate
and hardened in their lewd and carnal courses. For seeing
God's hand upon him in that fearful manner, and wanting
the spirit of discerning, they conclude most peremptorily,
that notwithstanding his great shows, he was most certainly
but a counterfeit. And so themselves become many times
upon that occasion most implacable enemies to grace and
all good men. They are more strongly locked up in the
arms of the devil, faster nailed to formality or good-fellow-
ship ; and, which is the perfection of their madness and
misery, " bless themselves in their hearts," saying merrily
to their brethren in iniquity: "You see now what these
men are, which make themselves so holy and are so hot
in religion : these are the fellows which pretend to be so
scrupulous and precise ; and of that singular strain of sanc-
tity that they think none shall be saved but themselves. You
see in this man the desperate end of such hypocritical
puritans." Thus the glory of God's justice is justly magni-
fied, by letting them grow stark blind who wilfully shut
their eyes against the light of grace, by giving ihem over to
a reprobate mind v.'ho so maliciously hated to be reformed ;
and so too often they walk on for ever after, with confidence
and hardness of heart which cannot repent, in a peipetual
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 319
prejudice against purity and the power of godliness, unto
the pit of hell. Whereas, by the mercy of God and invio-
lable constancy of his covenant, that blessed man, by these
terrors and afflictions of conscience, besides glorifying God
in hardening others, is the more thoroughly fitted and refined
for that glory which is presently to be revealed.
(3.) Greatest humiliations do not ever argue and import
the greatest sinners. For sins are not always the cause of
our afflictions, particularly and directly, but sometimes some
other motives. Abraham was put unto that heavy task of
taking away his own only dear son's life, principally for the
trial of his faith. Job was visited with such a matchless
variety and extremity of afflictions, for the purpose of end-
ing that controversy between God and Satan, whether he
feared God for nought or no ? God's heavy hand was some-
times upon David especially for the manifestation of his
innocency (Psalm xvii, 3) ; nay, our blessed Saviour, infi-
nitely free from sin, was notwithstanding tempted and tried
by Satan and the world, that his heavenly virtues and
divine excellencies might appear and be made more illus-
trious ; and himself tells us (John ix, 3) that the blind man
was so born, neither for his own sin nor for the sin of his
parents, " but that the works of God should be made mani-
fest in him."
For the particular I have in hand, — to prevent some sin
into which he sees his child inclinable and likely to fall, by
reason of some violent occasion, natural propensity, strong
temptation, or industrious malice of the devil to disgrace
him and his profession scandalously, God in great mercy
rnay give him a taste, nay a deep draught of the inexpres-
sible terrors of a troubled mind again ; that thereby he may
be taught betime to take more heed, walk more warily,
and stand upon his guard with extraordinary watchfulness
against the very first assault and least insinuation of sin.
There is preventing physic for preservation of health, as
well as that when the disease is dangerously upon us, for
recovery. There was given unto Paul a thorn in the flesh ;
which, if we will take the interpretation of some learned
divines, was a wound in the spirit, the sting of conscience
pressing him down to the nethermost hell in his present
feeling, who had lately been taken up to the highest heaven,
purposely lest he should swell with spiritual pride, be
puffed up and "exalted above measure with the abundance
of revelations." If we well weigh the admirable story of
that gracious and holy servant of Christ, JMrs. Brettergh,
we may probably conceive that a principal end why those
most grievous spiritual afflictions of soul upon her last bed
320 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
were laid upon her, was in God's just judgment to blind
yet more those bloody papists about her ; and because they
wilfully shut their eyes against that glorious light of true
religion which she so blessedly and fruitfully expressed in
her godly life, to let them thereby sink yet deeper into
strong delusion ; that they might stick still more stiffly to
popish lies, according to that prophecy concerning the anti-
christians (2 Thes. ii, 10, 11, 12), " Because they received
not the love of the truth that they might be saved ; for this
cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie ; that they all might be damned who believed
not the truth," &c. which we see at this day verified with
a witness in popish doctors, even their greatest scholars,
as Bellarmine, and other polemical writers. And therefore
let us never marvel, that though they be laden with much
learning, yet that they should lie egregiously, and defend
with infinite obstinacy and clamour the doctrine of devils,
that accursed hydra of heresies in their voluminous dung-
chills. Now God's judgment in hardening them hereby, as
I have said, was the more just ; because they were so far
from being wrought upon and won by her heavenly conver-
sation, that they were extraordinarily enraged against her
goodness and profession of the gospel, as appears in that,
besides their continual railing and roaring against her as an
eminent light, like so many furious bedlams, they barbar-
ously wreaked their malice and spite upon the dumb and
innocent creatures, by killing at two several times her hus-
band's horses and cattle in the night.
That her fiery trial, through which she passed as purest
gold into Abraham's bosom, did thus harden them is mani-
fest by the event : for as the reverend penman of that story
reports : " Those of the Romish faction bragged, as though
an oracle had come from heaven to prove ihem catholics
and us heretics." Prodigious folly ! Damnable delusion !
It is so then, that God, in his inflicting of afflictions,
doth not ever aim at sin as at the principal end. And yet
do not mistake : though he punishes sometimes and not for
sin, yet never without sin either inherent or imputed.
There is ever matter enough in our sinful souls, and bodies,
and Jives, to afflict us infinitely. The best of us brought
with us into this world that corruption which might bring
upon us all the plagues of this and the other life. Every
man hath in himself sufficient fuel for the fire of God's
wrath to work upon still, if it pleased him in justice to set
it on flame. As in the present point of spiritual terrors and
troubles of mind, if God should out of his just and cause-
ful indignation put the full sting but into the least sin, it
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 321
were able to put a man into the very mouth of hell. But
I speak of God's more ordinary ways and dealings with the
sons of men ; and so I say, God may sometimes, for some
hidden and holy ends seen and seeming good to his hea-
venly wisdom, bring a less heinous sinner through extra-
ordinary horror out of his natural state into the good
way.
CHAP. IX.
A Second and Third Thing to be considered for the cure of the former
Malady.
2. Aggkavation of horror is occasioned, terrors and trou-
bles may be multiplied and enlarged, in our enlargement
from the state of darkness and chains of the devil, by —
(1.) Some precedents and preparatives which God some-
times in his unsearchable wisdom doth immediately pre-
mise or suffer to fall out, as,
1st. Some heavy cross and grievous affliction, to make
the power of the law more forcible and fall more heavily
upon our stubborn and stony hearts. This we see in Ma-
nasseh, who was, as it were, terrified out of his bloody and
abominable courses by the heaviness and horror of his
chains, and so " was humbled greatly before the God of
his fathers," (2 Chron. xxxiii, 12). God's extraordinary
angry visitations make men many times cry with troubled
and grieved hearts, " Come, let us turn unto the Lord, he
hath wounded us," &c.
2d, Strange terrors sometimes arising from external ac-
cidents, yea hidden natural causes, uncouth visions, and
apparitions full of amazement and fear, bodily distem-
pers, horrible injections, hideous thoughts, whereby they
are mightily affrighted beforehand, and prepared to pass
through the pangs of the new birth more terribly.
3d. Some heinous and crying sin which he suffers some to
fall into, and immediately upon it awakes the conscience.
That almighty physician, who is able to bring health out of
poison, death out of life, light out of darkness, heaven out
of hell, may by accident as it were prepare one to conver-
sion by giving him over to the height of some one or more
abhorred abominations and crimson sins ; as we may see in
Peter's hearers (Acts ii), Paul, Manasseh, the sinful wo-
man, publicans and harlots, left to the killing of Christ,
spilling the blood of the saints, those horrible outrages, ex-
322 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
treme filth, extortions, pollutions. Physicians, by ripening
diseases, make way to heal them ; for diseased matter is
never more easily removed than when it exceedeth in ripe-
ness and quantity.
4th. Lying long in ignorance, sensuality, and dissolute
life, without profitable and powerful means. In this case,
upon the first awaking and affrighting the conscience for
sin, it may be exposed to many terrible perplexities and
longer continued terrors. For the light of natural con-
science bred with them in their own bosoms may in the
mean time serve to enrage and torture, as we see in many
guilty heathens ; but there is no natural light to lead us to
Christ and evangelical comforts. 'J'he commandments have
ground in nature ; but the mystery of the gospel is wholly
supernatural. We find by manifold experience what a hard
and heavy task it is to undertake a poor ignorant soul,
troubled in mind. The cure is many times very difficult,
dangerous, and long. The darkness of their ignorance,
being now distressed in conscience, is very fit and fearful
matter for Satan to work on hideously, and to play his pes-
tilent pranks of most gross impostures and much hellish
cruelty. His malicious main plot against such, and his ut-
most endeavour ordinarily is to drive them to self-destruc-
tion, if it be possible, before they get understanding in tlie
■ways of God, or we can get any competent light and com-
fort into their consciences.
(2.) Some concurrent circumstances ; as,
1st. The melancholic and sad constitution of the party ;
that humour doth naturally give extraordinary entertain-
ment and edge to terrors and sorrows.
2d. The crabbedness and crookedness of his natural dis-
position, which must be tamed and taken down with more
labour and with much violence. A hard and knotty block
must have a hard wedge. An angry word or frown will
work more with some dispositions, than many sore blows
upon a cross and sturdy spirit. God is here wont sweetly
and wisely to apply himself to the several natures, condi-
tions, and dispositions of his children.
3d. Height of place and happiness to have for this life
what heart can wish. Whereby it comes to pass that men
are so deeply drowned in sensuality, epicurism, and earthly-
mindedness, that for a thorough change they have need
many times to be taken down thoroughly with a deep sense
of legal terrors.
4th. Excellency of natural or acquired parts and endow-
ments ; as wit, learning, courage, wisdom, &c. wretchedly
abused and long misemployed upon wrong and wicked ob-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 323
jects. Much ado many times and a great measure of humi-
liation will hardly fright such vain over-valuers of them-
selves and idolizers of their own sufficiency from their ad-
mired follie^. And here also Satan interposeth most furi-
ously, and hinders this hai)py work all he can possibly ; for
he well knows, that if such noble and worthy parts should
be sanctified to the owners and turned the right way, his
kingdom would fare the worse and he should be a greater
loser. Suppose a Christian prince should with his army
break into the Turk's dominion, would not the Turk fortify
those castles best, out of which being won, ihe enemy
might do him most harm ? So whom the devil seeth to be
the likeliest instruments for the overthrow of his kingdom,
if once they become temples of the Holy Ghost, those he is
most loath to lose, and labours mightily to keep in his slavery
still. And therefore he opposes with all his power and po-
licy, raising as.many tempests of terror as he is able, that he
may either drive them back in their passage to the holy
path, or swallow them up in the abhorred gulf of despair
by the way.
5th. A more searching and piercing ministry, which is
ordinarily wont to awake the conscience with more terror,
to irradiate and fill it with more universal and clearer light,
to quicken it with more apprehension, and so proportion-
ably to aftect and afflict it with a more feeling and fearful
sense of God's most just and holy wrath against sin.
Whereupon they become excellent and everlasting Chris-
tians.
6th. Biting it in, as it may be called, and not opening
the wound of conscience betimes to some skilful soul phy-
sician, may be an unhappy means, much to enlarge both
the continuance and extremity of a man's spiritual trouble.
Shame, bashfulness, pretence of want of opportunity, hope
to get through by himself, ice., are ordinary keys to lock up
his tongue at such a time. But sure I am, Satan hatha
chief stroke and principal part to persuade concealment.
For, alas ! he wins by it wofully. All the while he plies
with great advantage and much subtlety his hideous temp-
tations to self- killing, despair of mercy, returning again to
folly, &c. ; and it is to be feared, which is a most grievous
thing, that sometimes by this cruel silence he conquers
and casts some poor souls upon the bloody and most ab-
horred villany of self-murder. Let such a one then be ever
sure most resolutely to break through the devil's accursed
snare in this kind, and to pour out his soul secrets betimes
into some faithful holy bosom. J have heard many after
they have escaped tell what strange tricks and variety of
324 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
devices he practised to discourage, divert, and disable them
from discovering their minds as they purposed, even when
they were come with much ado into the presence of the
spiritual physician.
3. The ends to which God prepares and fits some by
their sore travail in the new birth and longer languishing
under his visiting hand in this kind. God may purpose
sometimes in such cases ; —
(1.) To employ them as Christ's most resolute and un-
daunted champions in more worthy services. In managing
whereof, remembrance of their having been once, as it
■were, in the mouth of hell and scorched with flames of
terror, serves as a continual spur and incentive unto them
to do nobly, and to supply them from time to time with
mightiness of courage, height of resolution, and eminency
of zeal in those glorious ways. As we may see in those
renowned pillars of the church, Austin, Luther, &c. The
higher and greater the building is, the deeper must the
foundation be laid in the earth.
(2.) To make them afterwards of excellent use and spe-
cial dexterity, out of their former experience, to speak
unto the hearts of their brethren ready to sink into the
same gulf of horror and danger of despair, out of which the
good hand of God's gracious providence hath by such and
such means so mercifully pulled and preserved them. 1 he
same keys which did open the locks and loose the fetters
vi^hich Satan hung upon their heavy hearts, may hap-
pily undo those also which he hath fastened upon the souls
of others.
(3.) To render them to the church as remarkable pre-
cedents and mirrors of mortification, self-denial, heavenly
mindedness, and holy walking with God, for others to look
upon and imitate. Mindfulness of their former wrestling
with the wrath of God, despair, and the horrors of hell,
makes them for ever after more mindless of eaithly things,
weaned from the world, startling at every appearance of
evil, greedy of godliness, conversing in heaven, excellent
Christians indeed. Mr. John Glover, after five years hor-
rible afflictions of soul, was framed thereby, saith Mr. Fox,
to such mortification of life, as the like perhaps hath not
been seen ; in such sort, as he, being like one placed in
heaven already and dead in this world, led a life altogether
celestial*.
* See Acts and Monuments.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 325
CHAP. X.
The Fourth and Fifth Considerations which belong lo the Third Way of
Curing the tbrraer Malady. Also the Fifth Help for it by Advice.
4th. Iv sound contrition and saving repentance, let us for
the present t,ake notice of, — First, a sensible smart and an-
guish of the heart. Secondly, a dislike, hatred, and aver-
sion in the will. Thirdly, a change of the mind, enlightened
and now enabled to give stronger reasons out of God's book,
love of Christ, &c. against any sin, than carnal reason, the
devil himself, or the drunken eloquence of his old good-
fellow companions can suggest to the contrary. Fourthly,
an universal opposition and constant endeavour against all
manner of iniquity. Fifthly, a hearty sorrow that we are
not more sorrowful.
Now, say I, if thou shouldst not feel in thine heart that
stirring grief and violent rending for those many rebellions
and horrible filth of thy naughty heart and former wicked
life which thou heartily desirest, their heinousness exacts
at thine hands, and many lesser sinners than thyself have
endured ; yet if thou findest an unfeigned hatred and dis-
pleasedness in thy will, a settled resolution in thy mind,
a watchful striving in all thy ways against all sin, true
grief because thou art not more grieved, thou art by no
means to cast away thy confidence, or be discomforted
therefore, as though thou wert not truly converted ; but
only be advised and take occasion thereupon to w^alk more
humbly before thy God, with sincerity and constancy to
oppose all things which may hinder, and pursue all means
that may further the more kindly melting of thine heart,
sensible sorrow, and hearty mourning over him whom thoii
hast so cruelly pierced with thy youthful lusts and abomi-
nations.
5th. Lest any true hearted Christian, lying in no sin
against conscience, and labouring sincerely to please God
in all things, should be unnecessarily troubled and dejected
with slavish fears and jealousies lest he be not truly turned
unto God, because he feels not in himself that boisterous
vehement conversion, that extremity of pangs and horror iii
the new birth, which sometimes are to be found in some
others, let him ponder upon these resemblances : —
(1.) Thou mayest have thy bile or botch opened with the
point of a needle, whereas another man endures the slash-
ing of a surgeon's lancet ; yet, if the corruption and pu-
trified matter be let out by this easier means, and thyself
2 F
326 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
thereby thoroughly cured, I hope thou hast no great cause
to complain. It may be so in the present point. '
(2.) Two sons are punished for their offence ; the one
cries, and roars, and grieves extraordinarily ; the other
makes no great noise, but resolves silently with himself,
and in sincerity, upon a new course as well as the former.
Is not the change and reformation of them both equally
welcome and accepted of the father, who only aims at and
expects their amendment?
(3.) Two malefactors, equally guilty of high treason, both
apprehend their danger, acknowledge that they are utterly
undone, hold themselves for dead men ; to the one a par-
don comes, not yet cast, condemned, or carried to the place
of execution ; to the other, ready to lay down his head upon
the block. There is great difference in all likelihood in
their terrors and deiections*; but they have equal parts in
the pardon, and both their lives are saved.
(4.) Two men are arrived at their wished-for port : the
one was tossed with many roaring tempests and raging
waves; the other hath a reasonably calm passage. How-
soever they now stand both safe upon the shore, and have
both escaped destruction and drowning in that great merci-
less devouring gulf.
(5.) Suppose a man dead for some days, and then re-
■ vived ; he perceives his change with a witness ; another
is not so, but himself only alive walks amongst a multitude
of dead men ; he also may clearly enough see the difference,
and both acknowledge and praise God for his life*.
Yet for conclusion, let all those who have passed through
the pangs of the new-birlh not so terribly, but more tole-
rably, especially having been formerly notorious, take coun-
sel and be advised to ply more carefully the great and gra-
cious work of humiliation still, to "humble themselves in
the sight of the Lord " yet more and more unto their dying
day. The humblest Christians are ever highest in favour
* Those who are so happy, as by the benefit of religious parents, a
godly family, good education uu^ier po\ver%I means, have never en-
tered upon any nctoiioiisness, but by God's blessing upon those means
have sucked in grace in their younger years, as is saii of Timothy ; and
such also as after a profuie course have been turned unto God some-
what more easily than ordiniry ; and so both comp'ain of tiie want
of that testimony of terrible paiigsin their conversion, which they hear
others talk of; yet, I say, being now upright-hearted, and in the holy
path, they may" take comfort by comparing themselves with and cast-
ing their eyes upon a world of unregeuerate people about them, from
which by the mercies of God they di&er as far as living men from a
number of rotten dead carcasses ; and so may assure themselves of
soundness.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 327
and nearest in familiarity with Almighty God. They are,
as it were, his second royal throne, wherein he sweetly
dwells and delights. See Isa. Ivii, 15, and Ixvi, I, 2 ;
Psalrn xxxiv, 18, and li, 17. And they are also of the most
sweet, amiable, and inoffensive carriage amongst the people
of God. Hear that excellent artist in the spiritual anatomy
of man's deceitful heart*, " Humiliation is the procurer of
all other graces ' God resisteth the proud, and giveth
grace to the humble' (1 Pet. v, 5) ; and it is the preserver
of grace procured ; and therefore compared to a strong
foundation, upholding the building against the force of wind
and weather. Only those streams of grace hold out that
flovv out of the troubled fountain of a bruised spirit. An
unhumbled professor quickly starts back, even as a broken
egg or chesnut leaps out of the fire. Grace is nowhere safe,
but in a sound and honest heart. Now, ordy the humble
heart is the honest heart. Only a rent and broken heart
is a whole and sound heart. 'J he dross cannot be purged
out of the gold but by melting ; crooked things cannot be
straightened but by wringing. Now, humiliation is that
which wrings and melts us, and makes us of drossy, pure ;
of crooked, straight and upright; and so, sound, durable,
and persevering Christians."
And let them consider and examine whether neglect of
this holy endeavour I now exhort them to, may not bring
upon them much spiritual misery ; whether they may not
therefore be the rather exposed ; first, to many irksome
intrusioiis of very vexing doubts and fears, and slavish
questionings of the truth and soundness of their conversion
all their life long. Secondly, To much deadness of affec-
tion and listlessness ; many damps and distempers in the
performance of holy duties, use of the ordinances, and re-
ligious exercises. Thirdly, to greater variety of crosses and
a heavier hand upon their outward states, purposely to
bring the eye of their conscience to look back more heavily
and with heartier remorse upon the loathsomeness and filth
of their youthful folly. Fourthly, to more easiness of re-
entry and surprise by the assaults and insinuations of old
sins in their unregenerate time, especially that of the bosom,
which is a horrible thing. For the less sins are sorrowed
for, the sooner do they re-ensnare us with their sensual de-
light, and repollute with renewed acts. Fifthly, to the en-
tertainnient, at least for a time, of uncomfortable and
scandalous giddiness and some fantastical tenets of new
* Dyke, iu his Treatise on Repentance, cliap. v.
328 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and naughty opinions, which many times fearfully infect
our chiefest city ; and some proud companions and ignorant
teachers there and elsewhere, are ever ready to lay hold
upon ; whom you may ordinarily discern by their luciferian
pride and lewd tongues, to the great hurt and hindrance of
the power of godliness, holy obedience to the blessed law
of God, and humble walking with him ; if any will be so
miserable and mad as to listen to such petty and paltry
trash, idle and cheating dreams, contrary to the doctrine
which they have learned, or should have learned (for these
fellows were never well catechized); if professors will be
children still, " tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive," which God
forbid. For if it be possible that any true heart be en-
tangled, I hope he will quickly in cool blood disensnare
himself. As these tare-sowers themselves are ordinarily
very superficial in ministerial abilities ; so, for the most
part, their disciples are only the foolish virgins and unsound
professors of the places through which they pass. Sixthly,
to danger of some future grievous desertion, extraordinary
temptations, or revisitation with far greater terrors than
they tasted at their first turning into the ways of God, &c.
CHAP. XI.
The Fourth Malady. Two Causes of this Malady.
In a fourth place, I come to spiritual desertion, which puts
the Christian for the present into a most dark and uncom-
fortable condition ; 1 mean, when the most wise God, for
some holy ends, seeming good unto himself, retires for a
time, and withholds from the heart of his child the light of
his countenance, the beams of his favour, and sense of his
love. Whereupon, though the root of spiritual life, the
habit of faith and fundamental power of salvation and eter-
nal safety remain still and sure in his soul, never to be
shaken or prevailed against, no, not by the very gates of
hell, or concurrent forces and fury of all the powers of dark-
ness ; yet for the time he finds and feels in himself a fearful
deprivation and discontinuance of the feeling and fruition
of God's pleased face, exercise of faith, pardon of sin, in-
ward peace, joy in the Holy Ghost, cheerfulness in well-
doing and godly duties, confidence in prayer, assurance ot
AIFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 329
being in a saving state, &c. ; so that he may judge himself
to have been formerly a hypocrite * ; and for the present
can very hardly, or not at all, distinguish his vvoful con-
dition from that of a cast-away. This secret and won-
derful work of spiritual desertion doth God much exercise
and practise upon his children in many cases, for many
causes.
1. Sometimes upon a re-ensnarement in some secret
bosom lust, which was their darling and delight in the days
of their rebellion, relapSe into which Satan labours indus-
triously to procure by all his devices ; for he gains greatly
thereby. For so the new convert, considering in cool blood
what he hath done, may be cast upon such compldints as
these : — Alas ! what have I done now "? This pestilent old
pollution, which so wofully wasted my conscience in time
past, hath fearfully reinfected my newly- washed soul. I
have again, woe is me ! fallen into the abhorred pit of this
foul sin, 1 have grieved that good Spirit which was lately
come to dwell in me. All the former horrors charge afresh
upon my heart, from which I was happily freed even by
some glimpses of heavenly joy. 1 have wretchedly let go
my hold, lost my peace, broke my vows, and blessed com-
munion wilh my God. Ah ! wretch that I am ; what shall
I do ? And thereupon may fall upon a temptation of re-
turning to his disavowed sensual delights, out of the con-
ceit, that whatever he may do cannot make him worse than
he is. Do what 1 can, 1 see I can never hold out, &c.
Or he may plunge into the slavish perplexity — I dare not
go to God, 1 liave used him so villanously after such im-
measurable kindness ; and provoked the " eyes of his glory"
with such prodigious impurity, after I was purged. I dare
not fall again to good-fellowship and former courses, lest I
draw some remarkable vengeance upon me now, and be
certainly damned at last. So that he can neither lake plea-
sure upon the right hand or the left : or, which is most for
my purpose, and that which the devil specially desires, God
therefore may hide his face from him, and leave him to the
darkness of his own spirit, so that he may for a long time
* But how is it possible tliat lie sliould entertain any such thought,
since he knows in his own heart that he liath formerly made conscience
of avoiding all sin, and laboured to please God in all things, whicli are
infallible notes of a new man ? In height and heat of temptation, he
may think that all the good he did was in pride and hypocrisy. So
did one whom I might name, think that he forbore sin orily for slavish
fear. So did another, and yet the darkness of his horror and error
heing dispersed, he comes again to himself, and sees clearly, that, thoiitrh
with much weakness, yet he did both the one and tlie other io since-
rity ; as did botli these blessed sahits of God aftervvard,
2F 3
330 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
■walk on heavily and lame, in respect of those comfortable
supporters of the soul, affiance, hope, spiritual joy, peace
ot conscience, sense of God's favour, boldness m his ways,
courage in good causes, delight in the company of the
saints, &c. Such a damp, also, and desertion may come
upon the soul, especially after a fall into some new open,
scandalous sin, whereby not only their own consciences
within are grievously wounded, but also for their sakes and
sin, the profession of God's truth abroad scandalized and
disgraced, the common state ef goodness questioned and
traduced, the heart and glory of Christianity hurt and dis-
tained.
Uavid was thus dealt with in God's just judgment^ after
his monstious and matchless* fall. God's good Spirit had
richly crowned his royal heart with abundance of sancti-
fication and purity, and had graciously filled him aforetime
with the fruits and feeling thereof, and thereupon many
heavenly dews, no doubt, of spiritual joys had many times
sweetly refreshed his blessed soul ; but by the heinous
scandalousness of his hateful fall he so grieved that good
Spirit, and turned the face of God from him, that he had
neither sense of the comforts of the one, nor of the favour
of the other. The spiritual life of his soul, the eye of
his judgm,ent, light of conscience, lightsomeness in the
Holy Ghost, and the whole grace of sanctification, were
so wasted, dazzled, confounded, weakened, raked under
the ashes, as it were, and lun into the root, that he speaks
as if he had utterly lost them, and so stood in need of a
new infusion and creation thereof ( I'salm li, 10). But,
by the May, conceive aright of David's spiritual condi-
tion at this time. Though in his own feeling and present
apprehension he so complains and cries out for a new
creation, as though all were gone; yet even when he
was at the lowest and worst, the soul and substance, if
I may so speak, of saving grace and salvation did abide still
rooted and resident in his heart ; which once implanted
by God's omnipotent merciful hand in a humble soul,
and taking root, it there sticks fast for ever, far more im-
moveable than a thousand IMount Zions. The blossoms,
buds, and fruits may sometimes be foully cankered, as it
were, by our own conuptions, shrewdly nipped by the frost
of some earthly affections, blasted by sharper tempests of
Satan's temptations : but the foundation standeth sure,
grounded and founded upon the unchangeable nature of
God, and immutability of his counsel ; and therefore in
* I mean, he being God' teircliild.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 331
spite of the malice of all, both mortal and immortal rage,
there is still life in the root, which in due season will spring
out again and grow up to everlasting life.
In the present instance, all purity and cleanness of heart
was not utterly extinguished and abolished in David : lor,
(1.) Some little at least was left, which descried and dis-
covered those spots and pollutions of tilthiness and im-
purity which had lately overgrown it. For grace discovers
corruption, not nature. A sensible complaint of hardness
of heart, and an earnest desire after softness, is a sign
that the heart is not wholly hard. A sincere crying out
against impurity, and hearty endeavours after purity, argues
the presence of the punfying Spirit !
(2.) And how was this holy ejaculation, " Create in me
a clean heart, () God, and renew a right spirit within me,"
created, but by the Spirit of grace and supplications ?
Which blessed sanctifying Spirit was all the while rooted
and resident in David's heart, by a saving existence there,
though not so fully by an eft'ectual operation and exercise.
TMvines about this point consider : First, The infinite,
free, and eternal love and favour towards his child, with
which whom he loves once, he loves for ever. The gifts
and calling of Ood; that is, as best interpreters affirm,
the gifts of effectual calling, effects of his free grace, are
such as God never repenteth of, or taketh away. Se-
condly; His sanctifying Spirit, which he gives unto him.
Thirdly ; The habits of graces created in his heart by
that blessed Spirit, justification, regeneration, adoption.
Fourthly ; The feeling exercises and acts of those graces,
with many sweet and glorious refreshings of spiritual joy
springing thence, 'i he three first, after we be once Christ's,
are oius for ever, the last may be suspended, and cease
for a time.
(3.) By way of interpretation, in the latter part of the
verse he calleth the creation of the grace of sanctification
in his heart, a renovation and raising thereof to the same
degree wherein it was in former time.
(4.) He cries unto the Lord, " Not to take his holy
Spirit from him" (ver. 11); and therefore that blessed
Spirit was not gone. It were very absurd and incongruous
to desire the not taking away of that tiling which we have
not. He certainly hath the Holy Spirit, who heartily de-
sires he may not be taken away from him.
David's desire then of a clean heart did not argue that
it was utterly unclean, and wholly turned into a lump of
filth (Sanctity and cleanness of heart is never wholly ex-
tinguished in any one once truly sanctified, it was not in
332 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
J^avid, nor in Peter). But he was so earnest after it :
i'irst, because that little which was left, was scarcely or
not at all seiisible in his spiritual distress. Where the
glory of the sun hath lately been, the succession of a
candle's light is little worth. Secondly, and because now
he vehemently thirsteth after a great deal mt.re than he at
present had. Learned and rich men think themselves not
learned and rich in respect of what they desire. When the
sun begins to peep up, we gaze no longer at stars. God's
comforting Spirit began a little to warm his heart again,
whereupon he grew so eager and greedy of that heavenly
heat, that he thinks his heart key-cold, except it flame to
the height. That damp and darkness of spirit into which
he was fallen by reason of his grievous fall, had so frozen
his affections witii disconsolate deadness and heaviness of
heart, that a little glimpse of spiritual life and lightsome-
ness is presently swallowed up as it were, and devoured ;
and serves only to set an edge to his desire, to whet his
stomach, and stir up his appetite after a more full and fur-
ther fruition of those comfortable graces and wonted com-
munion with his God, a retaste and return whereof is so
sweet and dear unto his soul.
Take heed then that you do not mistake. When I speak
of a spiritual desertion, I mean it not either in respect of
a total or final dereliction and forsaking on God's part, or
a total and final falling away on the saint's side ; to hold
such an apostasy were a fearful apostasy ; but only in re-
spect of the exercise and operation of grace, of present
sense and feeling, as I said before. Life lies still in the
root ; and upon the first breaking out of the heavenly and
healing beams upon the soul from the sun of righteousness
returning in mercy, puts forth again and prospers. David
being astonished with a mighty blow of temptation (as
Bernard resembles it), lay for a time, as it were, in a
swoon ; but upon the voice of the prophet, sounding in his
ear, he awakened and came to himself. As we see in heated
water, the air's blowing upon it doth recover and reduce it
to its former natural coldness, by the aid of that little re-
mainder of refrigerating power which is originally rooted in
that element : so by tiie awaking of the north wind and
coming of the south, I mean the blessed Spirit's breathing
afresh upon David's heart, scorched dangerously with the
fire of lust, by stirring up and refreshing the retired and
radical power of grace, that immortal seed of God, never to
be lost, did sweetly and graciously bring it again to its
former spiritual, comfortable temper and constitution.
2. Sometimes the Lord may for a time withdraw the
AFFLICTED CONSCIEISCES. 333
light of his countenance and sense of his graces from his
child, that he may be driven thereby to take a new and
more exact review, a most serious thorough survey of his
youthful sins, of that dark time which he wholly spent
upon the devil ; and so put again, as it were, into the
pangs of his new-birth, that Christ may be more perfectly
formed in him, that he may again behold with fear and
trembling the extreme loathsomeness and aggravated guilt
of his old abominable lusts ; and so renewing his sorrow
and repairing repentance, grow into a further detestation of
them, a more absolute divorce irom his insinuating bosom
sin, and be happily frighted afresh and for ever from the
very garment spotted of the flesh, and all appearance of
evil. 1 hat upon this occasion he may make a new inquisi-
tion and deeper search into the whole state of his con-
science, several passages of his conversation, and every
corner of his heart ; and so for the time to come more care-
fully cut oft' all occasion of sin, and with more resolution
and watchfulness oppose and stand at stave's end with
every lust, passion, distraction in holy duties, enticements
to relapse, spiritual laziness, lukewarmness, worldliness,
&c. with greater severity to crucify our corruptions,^ and
ever presently and impartially execute the law of the Spirit
against the rebellions of the flesh.
This it may seem was one end of Job's spiritual affliction
in this kind. In chap, xiii, 23, he is earnest and importu-
nate with God to know what be those iniquities, transgres-
sions, and sins, which had turned his face and favour from
him in that fearful manner, as though he was a mere
stranger, or rather a professed enemy unto his majesty.
And he presently apprehends the burthen and bitterness
of the iniquities of his youth. " Thou writest," saith he,
" bitter things against me, and makest me possess the ini-
quities of my youth. At all such times, when God thus
hides his face from us, and leaves us to the darkness of our
own spirits, the sins of our youth are wont to lie most
heavy upon our hearts, and exact at our hands a more spe-
cial renewing, increase, and perfecting of penitent sorrow ;
for they are acted with the very strength of corruption, in
the heat of sensuality and heiglit of rebellion. Hence it
was that even David himself cries out, " Remember not
the sins of ray jouth " (Psalm xxv, 7) ; and so do many
more many times with much bitterness of spirit.
It is so, then, that God may deal thus in mercy even
with his dearest servants, especially if penitent grief and
trouble of conscience in their conversation were not in
some good measure answerable to their former abominable
334 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
life and sinful provocations ; if they have been extraordi-
nary sinners, and but ordinary sorrowers for sin ; if they
were formerly furious in the service of Satan, and now but
somet!,ing faint-hearted in standing on God's side ; if here-
tofore they marched inipetuously like Jehu in the pursuit of
earthly pleasures, and now creep but slowly forward in the
ways oi' God ; or if they begin to look back a^ain with
some uncontrolled glances after disavowed delights and
abandoned company, &c. — I say, in such cases the Lord may
withdraw himself in displeasure ; leave them for a time to
the terrors of their own hearts ; all tlieir old sins may re-
turn to the eye of their consciences as unrem tted, 6co. ; that
so their regeneration may be, as it were, regenerated, their
riew birth new born, their sins new sorrowed for, the hate-
fulness and horror of their youthful pollutions more hated
and abhorred; and in conclusion (for all the work and
ways of God with his chosen are ever in love and for their
good), that the storm being dispersed, the comfortable
beams of iJivine favour may shine more amiably upon them
than ever before, and by the effectual stirring again, and
stronger influence of the spiritual life, that was hid in the
heart for a season, may sprout out fresh, spring, and spread
abroad more flourishingly and fruitfully for ever after-
ward.
CHAP. XII.
Four Cases more of the former Malady,
3. For trial, quickening, and exercise of spiritual graces,
that they may put foith themselves with more power, im-
provement, and illustriousness. The cold comfort of a
desertion in this case being unto them as water cast upon
the smith's forge to make some of them especially to burn
inwardly, as it were, with more intensity and heat, and all
afterward to break out and flame more gloriously. There
are many gracious dispositions and endowments in the
Christian's heart which would never see the light, at least
with such eminency, were it not for this darkness. The
brightness of lamps langushes in the light, but they shine
clear in the dark : the splendour and beauty of the stars
would never appear were there no night. " Ye have heard
of the patience of Job," saith James (chap, v, 11); and
we read also of his excellent faith, when he said, "Though
he slay rhe, yet will I trust in him" (Job xiii, 15) ; but
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 335
^ve had neither heard of nor admired the one nor the other,
had he not been afflicted both with outward troubles and
inward terror. It is the highest and most herolcal act of
faitli, and it is improved to the utmost, and shown to be
armour of proof, to " trust in the name of the Lord and to
stay upon our God when we walk in darkness and have
no light" (Isa. 1, 10). God is best pleased and most
honoured when we rest upon him without any sensible
comfort. I make no doubt but that admirable ejaculation
of Job, " Though he slay me," &c., did hold scale in God's
acceptation with all those innocencies, integrities, and
gracious conformities to his holy law (blessed fruits, I con-
fess, of his invincible faith) enumerated chap, xxxi ; nay,
did incomparably overweigh them. Abraham's believing
against hope was far above and of infinitely more worth with
God than the sacrifice of his son, or all his other glorious
services. It is no such great matter or mastery to be con-
fident when we are encouraged and hired, as it were, with
joy and peace in believing ; but to stick to Christ and his
sure word when we have against us sense and reason, flesh
and blood, fears and feeling, heaven and earth, and all
creatures, that is the faith indeed, thereis its excellency, there
is the true and orient sparkling and splendour of that
heavenly jewel. Tha*^ prayer is truly fervent, fullest of
spirit, and enforced with most unutterable groans, which is
poured out lor the recovery of God's pleased countenance
after it hath been turned away from us for a time. That
love is most industrious and mighty, groweth strong ;'S
death and into a " most vehement flame," which is
enkindled in the upright soul, when her dearest love is
departed in respect of feeling and fruition. Oh ! then she
prizeth and praiseth his spiritual beauty and excellency as
one exceedingly '"sick of love," &c., grieves and luraents
extremely; as you may see, Cant, v, 6 — 1'. "I opened
to my beloved ; but my beloved had withdrawn himself,
and waN gone ; my soul failed when he spuke. I sought
him, but I could not find him ; I called him. but he gave
me no answer. The watchmen that went about the city
found me, they smot > me, they wounded me ; tlie keepers
of the walls took away ray veil from me. I charge you,
O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye
tell him that I am sick of love. What is thy beloved more
than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? What
is thy beloved more tlian another beloved, that thou dost so
charge us? My beloved is uhite and ruddy, the chiefest
among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold,"
&c. That thankfulness which springs from a sensible re-
n36 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
enjoyment of Jesus Christ, and return of the sense of the
savour of his good ointments into the soul, hath far more
heart and life than the free and full possession of all the
visible glory and outward comfort of the whole world could
possibly put into it. That joy which makes our hearts leap
within us upon the regaining of the wonted workings of
grace, and our heavenly feelings, is much more joyful than
either that which followed the first taste, or the after -free
enjoyment of them. Excellent and extraordinary good
things tasted and lost, beget a far greater sense of their
sweetness and comfort upon their recovery than if they had
been either never tasted or never Ipst. That sun- shine is
most fair and amiable which breaks out after some boisterous
storm, or great eclipse. Restitution to sense of grace after
some despairful sadness for God's departure, may produce
a deeper impression of spiritual pleasure in the recovered
patient, than the first plantation of it. Thus doth our
gracious God, who when he pleases can bring light out of
darkness, life out of death, something out of nothing,
heaven out of hell, even come nearer unto us by departing
from us. By the dead winter-time of a spiritual desertion
he may bring, by his blessed hand of mercy and quickening
influence, more strength, activeness, lively exercise, and
excellency into our graces and sweetest fruits thereof.
4. The Christian as he grows in knowledge, grace, spiritual
abilities, forwardness, fruitfulness, and further from his
new birth, except he be very watchful over his heart, much
practised in the exercises of humiliation, often exercised
in the school of afflictions, terrified sometimes with hideous
injections, and v/alk humbly with his God, shall have, by
a sly and insensible insinuation, privy pride to grov/ upon
him, confidence in his own strength, too much attribution
to the means, a self-conceit of an independent standing
upon his own bottom, as it were, and by the power of his
present graces ; and therefore our wise God doth sometiir.es
take a course to take down his self-confidence by withdraw-
ing his countenance, and to humble his spiritual presumption
with a spiritual desertion ; I mean, by taking from him the
sense of grace and feeling of his favour, by cutting off,
as it were, for a time those streams of comfort which were
wont to distil upon his soul by use and ordinary influence of
the means, meditation, prayer, conference, public ministry,
sabbaths, sacraments, days of humiliation and such like,
doth mercifully force him to have recourse unto at length,
with much longing and thirst, and to repose upon with njore
reverence and acknowledgment, the everlasting fountain
and founder of all graces, comforts, compassions, and life ;
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 337
even his own glorious, merciful, and almighty self. See
this in the beginning of the third chapter of the Canticles.
At the latter end of chap, ii, the Christian soul is sweetly
crowned with a glorious overflowing confluence of all
spiritual consolations, rapt extraordinarily with unuttera-
ble and joyful ravishment of spirit upon the nearer em-
bracement of her dearest spouse, and more sensible grasp-
ing of refreshing graces. She lies so peacefully in his arms
of mercy, and under the banner of his love, that she
sweetly sings unto herself, " My beloved is mine, and I am
his." But in the beginning of the third (for the days of
God's child, after conversion, are like the days of the
year; some fair and shining, some tempestuous and cloudy ;
some happy with heavenly honey dews, as it were, of un-
speakable joy and inconceivable peace, others more dismal
and disastrous, if I may so speak, for want of an amiable
aspect from the throne of grace); I say, a little after, {the
case is fearfully altered with her : for she lies struggling
and distressed in the irksome and comfortless desolations of
a spiritual desertion. Her spouse is gone, the very heart
and life, all her lightsomeness in this world and in the world
to come No sense now of the "savour of his good oint-
ments ;" no feeling of the assurance of his favour ; nothing
left of all that former heaven, but only a sad and woful
heart, which had been happy. In this rueful case, she
casts about for recovery of her wonted comfort ; assays
those means which were accustomed to convey unto her
with joy fresh streams and strength from time to time "out
of the wells of salvation."
First. She seeks her spouse and former refreshings of
spirit by secret prayer, meditation, experimental considera-
tions, calling to mind former assurances of his love, reflect-
ing upon the footsteps of a saving work, unfeigned change
and sweet communion with him aforetime, and other silent
«elf-inquisitions and inward exercises of the heart. " But
she found him not." (ver. 1.)
Secondly. She inquires abroad, and hath recourse unto
godly Christians, especially such as have been most ex-
ercised and best acquainted with trials, temptations, and
mysteries of the holy way ; to see if she can get any com-
fort, any new hold and hope by their counsel, prayers, in-
structions out of their own experience (for in such cases
God's children may and ought to confess their sins and
God's dealing with them one unto another, and pray one
for another). But she finds none (ver. 2).
Thirdly. She addresses herself and resorts to faithful
ministers, God's public agents in the church, about the
2 G
338 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
affairs of heaven and salvation of souls, to receive from
them some light and direction to regain her love ; but it
will not yet be (ver. 3). No comfort comes by all or any
of these means ; no feeling of God's favour and former
peace for all this various and solicitous seeking and pursuit.
For God may sometimes purposely restrain his quickening
influence from the means, and recal as it were to the well-
head those refreshing rivers of comfort, which ordinarily
flow through his own holy ordinances as so many blessed
conduits of grace into humble hearts ; that we may fetch
them more imm.ediately from the fountain, the boundless
sea of all heavenly treasures and true peace, and so with
more humility, sense of self-emptiness, reverence, and
praise, acknowledge from whence we have them.
"It was but a little that I passed from them," saith the
deserted soul, "but I found him whom my soul loveth "
(ver. 4). When no means would bring him, but that she
had passed through the use and exercise of them all, and he
would not be found; he after, at length, comes upon his
own compassionate accord, and enlightens her dark and
disconsolate state with the shining beams of his glorious
presence, and fills her plentifully with joy and believing
again ; that so no use, variety, and excellency of means,
but his own free mercy and goodness, might be crowned with
the glory of it.
Let every Christian, by the way, take notice of and treasure
up ihis point ; it may serve him in some spiritual extremity
hereafter. God may sometimes withdraw and delay his
comfort, to draw his children through all the means, which
when they have passed without prevailing, he after (and
immediately when he so pleases) puts to his helping hand,
that they may not attribute it to the means, though never
so excellent, but to the mercies of God, the only well-spring
both of the first plantation, continuance, and everlasting-
ne^,s of all spiritual graces and true comforts in all those
happy ones which shall be saved.
Why doth the Lord let us use all the means, and yet not
find him in them 1
That we may know he only cometh when he will, no-
thing moving him but his own good pleasure.
Fifthly. The world sometimes, that mighty enemy to the
kingdom of Christ, aided underhand by the covetous cor-
ruption of our false heart and the devil's craft (for ordina-
rily in all assaults and overthrows Satan is the bellows, the
world the wildfire, our corruptions the tinder, and the
precious souls of men those goodly frames which are fear-
fully set on fire and blown up), doth wrestle so desperately
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 339
evea with some of Christ's champions, that surprising their
watch, cooling the tervour of their first love, and stealing
away byhttle and little their spiritual strength, it supplants
them at length and throws them upon the earth ; whereon
it labours might and main to keep them down and doating,
that so they may root in the mud andmire tuereof,to the great
disgrace ot divine pleasures, their high aud exLellent call-
ing, and so raising the spirit of railing in unregenerate inen
to cast unworthy aspersions upon the glory of profession,
for their sakes. Aay, too often by its subtle insinuations
and syren's songs, it lulls them so long upon her lap that
they are cast into a heavy slumber even of carnal security.
And that so deep and dangerously, that though the Lord
Jesus, the beloved of their soul, cry aloud in their ears by
the shrill and piercing sound of his spiritual trumpeters, and
by the more immediate and inward motions of his Holy
Spirit, entreat them fairly upon all loves for his own dear
pa>sion's sake, and all those bloody sufferings, to shake off
that carnal drowsiness, and to delight again in God ; to let
the earth fall out of their minds, and again to mind heavenly
things — "Open to me, my sister, my love, ray dove, my
undehled : for my head is filled with dew, and my locks
with the drops of the night" (Cant, v, 2) : — Yet for all
this, full loaih they are to leave their beds of ease, and
therefore frame many shifts, excuses, and delays to pass by
and put oft" these compassionate calls of love and merciful
importunities: " 1 have put oft" my coat, how shall 1 put it on I
1 have washed my feet, how shall 1 defile them I " (ver. 3.)
Whereupon their blessed spouse, so unworthily repelled with
some notorious unkindness and ingratitude, scattering only
in iheii hearts some sense and glimmerings of his spiritual
sweetness ana beauty, to breed the more shame and sorrow
for so foul neglect, departeth from them for a time, with-
draws the life and lightsomeness of his gracious presence,
hides, as it were, in an angry cloud, the comfortable beanis
of his former favour, and so leaves them to the darknessof their
own spirits, and in the comfortless damp of a justly-deserved
desertion, that thereby they may be schooled to prize Jesus
Christ before gold and silver, and to prefer, as is most meet,
one glimpse of his pleased face before the splendour of all
earthly imperial crowns ; to listen with more reverence,
cheerfulness, profit, and holy greediness to his heavenly
voice in the ministry of the word, and to make more dear
account of godly comforts when they shall recover and
re-enjoy them. For the purpose we may find (Cant, v) the
Christian soul laid too soft and lazily upon the bed of ease
and earthly-raindedness, andslipt into a slumber of security
340 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and self-love (ver. 2). Her well-beloved knocks and calls
upon her ; nay, bespeaks and entreats upon all the terms of
dearest love, and for his painful sufferings' sake, to rise and
open unto him. But she most unworthily puts him off with
some slight excuses and delays of sloth (ver. 3) ; whereupon
he drops into her heart some taste of his " sweetest oint-
rnents," to set her aflections on edge and eagerness after
him (ver 4, 5), and so departs and leaves her in sad and so-
litary grief for driving away her dearest, by such intolerable
unkindness and shameful neglect (ver. 6) ; which perplexity
and trouble of spirit for his departure begets in her a great
deal of zeal, fervency, and patience to follow after him
(ver. 7, 8), an extraordinary admiration of his amiable
excellencies and heavenly fairness (ver, 10, &c.), and no
doubt a far nearer embracement and dearest esteem of him
upon his return, and enjoyment of a more full, blessed com-
munion with him again (chap, vi, 3).
Sixthly, The graces of salvation are the most precious
and costly things that ever issued out of the hands of God
by creation. The dearest of his infinite mercies, the heart's
blood of his Son, the noblest work of his blessed Spirit, do
all sweetly concur movingly, meritoriously, efficiently to
the production of them. No marvel then though it be right
pleasing unto God that such rare and inestimable jewels
should be rightly prized and holden in highest esteem by
those that have them ; that they should still appear and
present themselves to those souls wherein they shine in
their true excellency, orient fairness, and native beauty.
Now privation of excellent things hath special power to
raise our imaginations to a higher strain of estimation of
them, and to cause us at their return to enteitain them with
much more longing, far dearer apprehensions and embrace-
ment. Absence and intermission of the most desirable
comforts add a great deal of life to the love of them, and
weight of preciousness to their valuation. The goodness of
whatsoever we enjoy is better perceived by vicissitude of
want than continual fruition. Sleep is more sweet after the
tediousness of some wakeful and wearisome nights ; liberty
and enjoyment of the free air and faces of men after re-
straint and imprisonment ; the glory and fairness of the sun
after a black day or boisterous storm, &c. So God's favour-
able aspect is much more acceptable after an angry tempest
and hiding his face for a season, and the graces of salvation
far more amiable and admirable to the eye of his humbled
child, after the darkness of a spiritual desertion. Where-
fore our gracious God doth many times in great mercy and
wisdom deprive his dearest servants for a time of the pre-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 341
sence of their spouse, the assurance of his Jove, and sense
of those graces, that the absence thereof may represent the
glory of such an inconaparable happiness and those heavenly
pearls more to the life ; and discontinuance of their enjoy-
ment may inflame and afl^ect their hearts v^ith more holy
greediness and eager pursuit after them, and stir up in them
that height of esteem and heat of love, which may in some
good measure be answerable to their invaluable excellency
and sweetness. Such a dulness of heart, deadness of affec-
tions, and declination to the world, may grow sometimes
upon a good man, that he may find little more contentment
in communion with Jesus Christ than in the prosperity of
his outward affairs, which is infinitely unworthy a heir of
heaven. But now in such a case, let God make him but to
repossess the iniquities of his youth, and fight against him
with all his terrors for a while, and the same man witli all
his heart will prefer the reconciled face of God and peace
of conscience, before the sovereignty and sole command of
all the kingdoms upon earth. While we have a free and
uninterrupted recourse unto the throne of grace, we are apt
to undervalue and to conceive of that mighty grace of
prayer, but as of an ordinary gift; but it once the Lord
please to leave us to that confusion and astonishment of
spirit, that our ejaculations do sadly rebound upon our
heavy and unheated hearts without answer or encourage-
ment from heaven, we shall easily then acknowledge the
spirit and power of prayer to be one of the fairest flowers
in the garland of all our graces, the very arm of God to do
miracles for us many times, and ever to settle our troubled
souls in sweetest peace and patience amidst the greatest
pressures and persecutions, either cf hellish or earthly
enemies.
CHAP. XIII.
Two more Causes of tlie former Malady.
Skventhlv. Jesi'.s Christ himself, blessed for ever, drank
full deep of the extremity and variety of sorest sufferings in
many kinds, not, only to deliver his people from the " ven-
geance ol' eternii^ Are," but also lovingly to learn out of the
sense of that sympathy and self-feeling to show himself ten-
der-hearted, kind, and coinpassicnate unto them in all their
extremities, and never to suffer them to sink in any trouble
or aflSiclion, though never so full of desperate representa-
2 G 3
342 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
tions or apprehensions of impossibility to escape, or to be
tempted at any time above their power and patience. And
many are the means and methods by which he is wont to
ease and mitigate their many p .inful miseries, especially
that extremest one of martyrdom. 1. Sometimes he rescues
them by his own mighty and immediate arm out of the
mouth of lions, and pulls them by a strong hand from be-
iM-een the teeth of bloody persecuting wolves (2 Tim. iv, 17).
2. Sometimes he takes away or lessens the sting and fury of
the torment and torturers*. The fire had no force at all
over the bodies of those blessed men in Uan. iii, 27. And
no doubt in Queen Mary's days, of most abhorred memory,
he many times mollified and sweetened the rage and bitter-
ness of those merciless flames for our martyrs' sakes. 3. Some-
times he supports and supplies them with supernatural
vigour and extraordinary courage over the smart and rigour
of the most terrible and intolerable tortures. The heart of
that holy protomartyr, Stephen, was furnished and filled
with those heavenly infusions of spiritual strength and joy,
when " the heavens opening, he saw the glory of God, and
.lesus standing on his right hand " (Acts vii, 55, 56), which
were gloriously transcending and triumphant over the utmost
of all corporeal pain and Jewish cruelty. And so graciously
dealt he with many other martyrs in succeeding ages, as we
may read in ecclesiastical history. 4. He may sometimes
also, out of his merciful wisdom, put into their hearts so
m\ich of heaven beforehand, and ravishing comforts of the
world to come, that the excess thereof doth swallow up and
devour, as it were, the bitterness of all bodily inflictions
and sufferings of sense. Thus mercifully dealt he with that
worthy martyr, Robert Glover, even v/hen he was going
towards the stake. He poured into his soul upon the sudden
such overflowing rivers of spiritual joys, that no doubt they
mightily abated and quenched the raging fury of those
popish flames wherein he was sacrificed for the profession of
the gospel of Christ and God's everlasting truth. And
assuredly that comfortable sunshine of inexpressible joy,
which by the good hand of God was shed into Mr. Pea-
cock's sorrowful heart in the depth of his darkness and
desertion a little before the resignation of his happy soul
into the hands of God, did make the pangs of death and
that dreadful passage a great deal less painful and sensible,
if not very lightsome and pleasant. Now in both these men
* Let no Christian, then, afflict his soul with any corroding or vexing
forethought of fiery times. Assure thyself, if God call thee to suffer in
that kind, he will graciously give unto thee a martyr's faith, a martyr's
patience, and a crown of martyrdom.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 343
of God a woful spiritual dereliction was a fit introduction
and immediate preparative to the effusion of such a sudden
torrent of strange exultations and ravishment of spirit upon
their sad and heavy hearts. Conceive the point ihen thus :
The Lord sometimes even in tenderness and love to his
own dear children, whom he designs for extraordinary
sufferings, may purposely possess them with such a paradise
of divine pleasures as a counter-comfort to the extremity of
their pains; that, besides their own private refreshing and
support, their courageous insensibility and victorious pa-
titnce thereupon may bring a great deal of terror to their
tormentors, glory to their merciful Master, credit unto the
cause, and confusion to the enemies of grace. And that
there may be an addition of more heart and life to such
joyful elevations of spirit, and that he may make the excel-
lency of that spiritual joy proportionable to the exquisiteness
of their tortures and trouble, he may in his unsearchable
wisdom make way thereunto by a spiritual desertion, as he
did in the fore-named glorious martyr, hobert Glover. For
want of the sense of the comforts of godliness for a season,
doth make our souls a thousand times more sensible of their
sweetness upon their reinfusion.
Eighthly. Thus may the Lord sometimes deal with his
best and dearest children, even by withdrawing the light
of his countenance, leave them for a while to these inward
conflicts and confusions of spirit, that thereby they may be
fitted and informed with a holy experimental skill to speak
feelingly and fully to the hearts of their Christian brethren,
who may afterwards be tempted and troubled as they have
been. For God is wont at all times in his church, so gra-
cious is he, purposely to raise up and single out some special
men, whom he instructs and enables in the school of spiri-
tual experience and afflictions of soul, with extraordinary
dexterity and art to comfort and recover other mourners in
Zion, in their distresses of conscience, stronger tempta-
tions, spiritual desertions, decays of grace, relapses, eclipses
of God's face and favour, want of former comfortable feel-
ings ; in case of horrible thoughts and hideous injections,
darkness of their own spirits, and such other soul vexations.
And such a blessed physician, who is able to speak experi-
mentally to a dejected sorrowful heart, out of practice and
sense in his own soul, is far more worth, both for a true
search and discovery, and sound recovery and cure of a
wounded conscience, than a hundred mere speculative
divines. Such a one is that one of a thousand spoken of by
Job, who can wisely and seasonably declare unto his soul-
sick patient the secret tracks and hidden depths of God's
344 INSTia;CTIONS FOR COMFORTING
dealing with afflicted spirits. Let us take an instance in
those experimental abilities which David gained for such a
purpose by his passing through that most grievous spiritual
desertion recorded in Psalm Ixxvii. The case of that Chris-
tian were most rueful, both in his own fearful apprehension,
and to ihe injudicious eye of the beholders, who having
spent a long time in a ?ealous profession of the truth, walk-
ing with God, and secret communion with Jesus Christ,
should come to that pass, and fall into those woful straits
of spiritual trouble, — First, That he should fear, not with-
out extraordinary horror, lest the mercies of God were de-
parted from him for ever, and that the Lord would never
more be entreated, or ever shine again with his favourable
countenance upon his confounded soul. Secondly, That
the very remembrance of God, which was wont to crown
his heart with a confluence of all desirable contentments,
should even rend it asunder and make it fall to pieces in
his bosom like drops of water. Thirdly, That the pouring
out of his soul with pitiful groans and complaints in secret
unto his God, which heretofore did set wide open unto him
heavenly flood-gates of gracious refreshing, should now
quite overwhelm his spirit with much distracted amazement
and fear. Fourthly, That that heart of his, which had for-
merly so sweetly tasted those holy pleasures which far pass
the comprehension of any carnal apprehension, should now
be so brimfull and dammed up with excess of grief, that no
vent or passage should be left unto his speech. Fifthly,
And which methinks is the perfection of his misery in this
kind, that amidst all these heavy discomforts his soul should
refuse to be comforted ; that though the ministers and men
of God stand round about him, bring into his mind and
press upon him the pregnant evidences and testimonies of
his own godly life, the unchangeableness of God's never-
failing mercies to his people, the sweetness of his glorious
name, the sovereign power and mighty price of his Son's
blood, the infallible and inviolable preciousness and truth
of the promises of life, &ic. ; yet in the agony and anguish
of his grieved spirit he puts them all away from him as
none of his, nor as properly beloriging to his present state.
He is readier out of his spiritual distemper to spill, as water
upon the ground, the golden vials of the water of life, and
sovereign oils of evangelical joy tendered unto him by the
physician of his soul, than to receive them with wonted
thirst and thankfulness into the bruised bosom of his bleed-
ing conscience. Though they assure him in the word of life
and truth, having had (for that 1 must suppose) true and
sound experience of his conversion and former sanctified
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 345
courses, from Isa. xliv, 22, that as the heat and strength of
tlie summer's sun doth disperse and dissolve to nothing a
thick mist, or foggy cloud, so the inflamed zeal of God's
tender love through the bloodshed of his ow^n only dear Soa
hath done av^'ay all his oflences, his iniquity, transgression,
and sin, as though they had never been : and, Micah vii,
19, that that God which " delighteth in mercy" (ver. 18)
hath cast all his sins into the bottom of the sea, never to
rise again, either in this world or the world to come. The
prophet alludes to the drowning of the Egyptians in the Red
Sea ; and therefore they assure him, that as that mighty
host sunk down to the bottom like a stone (Exod. xv, 5), or
as lead (ver. 10), so that neither the sun of heaven nor son
of man ever saw their faces any more, so certainly all his
sins are so swallowed up for ever in the soul-saving sea of
his Saviour's blood, that they shall never more appear before
the face of God or angel, man or devil, to his damnation
or shame. Yet for all this, lying in a spiritual swoon, he
finds his heart even key-cold, and as it were stark dead in
respect of relishing or receiving all or any of these incom-
parable comforts. The case thus proposed may seem very
deplorable and desperate ; yet consider what good David's
experience might do in such distress ; what a deal of life
and light were it able to put into the very darkest damp,
and most heartless faintings of such a dying soul, to have
such a one as IJavid, even a man after God's own heart,
remarkably enriched and eminent with heavenly endow-
ments, one of the highest in the book of life and favoui*
with God, to assure it, that himself had already suffered as
grievous things in his soul, if not greater, and passed
through the very same passions and pressures of a troubled
spirit, if not with more variety and sorer pangs ; that pro-
portionably to his pre-ent perplexities, he cried out with a
most heavy heart — First, " W ill the Lord cast off for everl
and will he be favourable no more 1 Is his mercy clean gone
for ever l Doth his promise fail for everm. re 1 Hath God for-
gotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender
mercies ? " (Psalm Ixxvii, 7, 8, 9.) Secondly ; That " when
he remembered God he was troubled " (ver. '6). Thirdly ;
That when he prayed unto God, and " complained, his
spirit was overwhelmed." Fourthly; That lie "was so
troubled that he could not speak " (ver. 4). Fifthly ; That
" his soul refused to be comforted " (ver. 2), which painful
passages of his spiritual desertion answer exactly to the
comfortless case of the supposed soul-grieved patient. Nay,
and besides assurance of the very sameness in apprehen-
sions of fear and thoughts of horror, David also out of his
346 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
own experience and precedency might sweetly inform and
direct such a poor panting soul in a comfortable way to come
out of the place of dragons and depths of sorrow, by teach-
ing and telling him the manner and means of his rising and
recovery. Meditations of God's singular goodness and ex-
traordinary mercy to himself, his church, and childien
aforetime, gave the first lift, as it were, to raise his drooping
soul out of the dust. And no doubt ever since the same
consideration, by the blessing of God, hath brought again
many a bruised spirit from the very gates of hell and brink
of despair. And in his happy perusal of ancient times, and
God's compassions of old, it is very probable that his me-
mory first met with Adam, a most wonderful and matchless
pattern of God's rarest mercies to a most forlorn wretch.
For he was wofully guilty by his transgression of casting
both himself and all his sons and daughters from the crea-
tion to the world's end out of Paradise into the pit of hell,
and also of poisoning with the cursed contagion of original
corruption, the souls and bodies of all that ever were or
shall be born of woman, the Lord Jesus only excepted.
And yet this man, as best divines suppose, though he had
cast away himself and undone all mankind, was received to
mercy. Let never poor soul, then, while the world lasts,
upon true and timely repentance, suffer the heinousness
and horror of his former sins, whatsoever they have been,
to hinder his hopeful access unto the throne of grace, for
present pardon of them all ; or at any time afterward con-
found his comfort and confidence in God's gracious pro-
mises. Thus, no doubt, the weary soul of this m.an of God
waded further into those bottomless seas of mercies, mani-
fested and made good from time to time upon his servants.
His heavy heart might sweetly refresh and repose itself
upon the contemplation of God's never-failing compassion
in not casting off Auron everlastingly for his fall into most
horrible idolatry ; in not suffering the murmuring and re-
bellious Jews to perish all and utterly in the wilderness,
considering their many prodigious provocations and impa-
tiencies, &c. But at length, as we may see in the fore-cited
psalm, his soul sets its triumphant Selali upon that great and
miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, one of the most
glorious and visible miracles of mercy that ever shone from
heaven upon the sons of men, and also a blessed type of the
salvation of all truly penitent and perplexed souls from the
hellish Pharaoh and all infernal powers, in the Red Sea of
our Saviour's blood. How fairly now and feelingly might
these experimental instructions, and this passage of proof,
trodden and marked out by this holy man, enlighten and
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 347
conduct any, * that walks in darkness andhatli no comfort,"
out of the like distracted horror of a spiritual desertion?
Let him in such a case first cast back his eye upon God's
former maniibid merciful dealings with himself. If his God
made his soul, of the darkest nook of hell, as it were, by
reason of its sinfulness and curseciness, as fair and beautiful
as the brighte.^t sun-beam by that sovereign blood which
gushed out of the heart, and those precious graces which
shine upon it from the face of his Son, that never-setting
sun of righteousness, he will undoubtedly in due season
dispel all those mists of spiritual misery which overshadow
the glory and comfort of it for a time. If he upheld him
by his merciful hand from sinking into hell when he was a
horrible transgressor of all his laws with greediness and de-
light, he will most certainly (though perhaps for a small
moment he hide his face from him) bind up his soul in the
bundle of the living for ever ; now especially, when he pre-
fers the love and light of his countenance before life, and
would not willingly offend him in the least sin for all the
world, ice. Let him yet proceed further in David's foot-
steps, and strengthen his fainting soul with all that heavenly
manna of richest mercy which he hath heard, read, or
known to have been showered down at any time from the
throne of grace into the heavy, humble, and hungry hearts
of his afflicted hidden ones. Let him refiesh iiis memory
Avith consideration of David's deliverance by this means
from deeper distress, of that most memorable and triumphant
resurrection, as it were, and recovery of those three worthy
saints of God, Mr. Glover, Mrs. Brettergh, and Mr. Pea-
cock, from greatest extremity in this kind, into most unut-
terable joyful exultations of spirit. And so of others within
the register of his observation, remembrance, and reading.
But principally, and above all, let him live and die, let him
rest and recreate himself for ever, with surest holdfast and
sweetest thoughts upon that heavenly and healing anti-type
of the Ked Sea, the precious blood of thf^ Lord .Tesus. And
let him ground upon it, that though Satan with all his
hellish hosts and utmost fury pursue his fearful soul like a
partridge in the mountains, even to the very brink of des-
pair and mouth of hell, yet even then, when all rescue and
deliverance is nearest to be utterly despaired of (for it is
the crown of God's glorious mercy to save when the case
Stems desperate, and there is no hope of human help or
possibility of created power to comfort') ; I say, then that
soul-saving sea of his Saviour's heart's- blood wall rnost cer-
tainly and seasonably open itself wide unto him, as it did to
those above-named blessed saints, and swallow up into
348 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
victory, hell, death, the grave, damnation, the present
woful desertion, with all other adversary povs^er ; and at
length make him a fair and pleasant passage through the
sweetened pangs of death into the heavenly Canaan, which
flows with joys and pleasures unmixed and endless, more
than either tongue can tell or heart can think.
CHAP. XIV.
The Ninth and Tenth Causes of the former Malady.
Ninthly. A spiritual desertion may seem a proportionable,
fit, and most proper punishment and m.eans to correct and
recover the Christian, who out of infirmity and fear deserts
the Lord Jesus and the profession of his blessed truth and
gospel. If any be ashamed of him, refuse to do or sufl^er
any thing for his sake, who hath given unto us his own
heart's-blood, it is most just that in such a case he with-
draw himself in respect of all sense and feeling of Divine
favour and fruits of grace, or any comfortable influence at
all upon the consciences of such cowards ; that so, they
being left to the darkness of their own spirits, and by con-
sequence to the taste even of hellish horror for the time,
they may be brought again to themselves, and taught by
such terrors to return and become infinitely more willing
to embrace the stake, if the times should be so cruel, and
kiss the instruments of death, than languish any longer in
the despairing extremities of such a desertion ; to acknow-
ledge it incomparably better to pass through the temporary
bitterness of popish fire than to be abandoned to everlasting
flames : nay, and that which is the greater hell, to be
robbed of and rent from him, in whose glorious presence
alone is not only life and all lightsomeness even in this life,
but also " fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore " in
the life to' come. This point appears and is proved by
God's dealing with some of our martyrs in Queen Mary's
time : —
Thomas Whittell, a blessed martyr of Jesus, vyas by the
wicked suggestions of some popish incarnate devils, drawn
to subscribe to their hellish doctrine ; but considering in
cool blood what he had done, was horribly vexed, and as
he reports of himself, " felt hell in his conscience and
Satan ready to devour him ; " which terrible desertion and
trouble of mind made him quickly return with great con-
stancy and fortitude, and turn a most invincible and im-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 349
moveable martyr. Hear some passages from his own
pen : —
" The night after I had subscribed I was sore grieved,
and for sorrovv of conscience could not sleep. For in the
deliverance of my body out of bonds which I might have
had, 1 could find no joy, nor comfort ; but still was in my
conscience tormented more and more," &c.
" And I said (to Harpesfield, iicc), that my conscience
had so accused rrie through the just judgment of God and
his word, that I had felt hell in my conscience, and Satan
ready to devour me ; and therefore 1 pray you, Mr. Harpes-
field, said 1, let me have the bill again, for I will not
stand to it."
" When the Lord had led me to hell in my conscience
through the respect of his fearful judgments against me for
my fearfulness, mistrust, and crafty cloaking in such spiri-
tual and weighty matters, yet he brought me from thence
again," &c.*
Tenthly. God is many times forced by their frowardness,
lukewarraness, worldly-mindedness, cowardliness, self-
confidence, falling from their first love, and other such spi-
ritual distempers, to visit and exercise his children with
variety and sometimes severity of crosses and corrections ;
as losses in their outward state, afflictions of body, dis-
graces upon their good name, oppression by great ones, dis-
comforts in wives, neighbours, friends, children, &c. pur-
posely to put life, quickness, fruitfulness, and forwardness
into them, that thereby they may be more gloriously ser-
viceable to himself, more profitable to others, and more
provident to treasure up peace unto their own souls against
an evil day. " God humbleth us," saith a worthy divine,
" by afflictions, and pricketh the swelling of our pride.
He cutteth and loppeth us, to the end we may bring forth
the more fruit. He filleth us with bitterness in this life,
to the end we might long for the life to come. For those
whom God afflicteth grievously in this world, leave it with
less grief. He who hath formed us to fear him, knoweth
that our prayers are slack and cold in prosperity, as pro-
ceeding from a spirit that is cooled by success, and as being
only indited by custom. The cries which our own will
produced are feeble in comparison of those which grief ex-
presseth. Nothing so ingenious to pray well as sorrow,
which in an instant formeth the slowest tongues to a holy
eloquence, and furnisheth us with sighs which cannot be
* Fox's Acts and Monuments. See also in the same book the ac-
count of James Abbes and Thomas Benbridge.
•2H
350 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COiMFORTING
expressed." But now many times this physic which
pincheth only the body, and wasteth us but in things of this
world, doth not so woik as he would have it, and therefore
he is constrained in love and for nur good to proceed to
more sharp and searching medicines, to apply more strong
and stirring purges, which immediately vex the soul ; as
horrible and hideous injections, a spiritual desertion, and
other affrighting and stinging temptations. He deals with
them in this case as Absalom with Joab, when he would not
come to him by sending once and again ; he causes his
servants to set his field of barley on fire, and then there was
no need to bid him hasten. When inferior miseries and
other means will not do it, God sets as it were their souls
on fire with flames of horror in one kind or other, and then
they look about them indeed with much care and fear,
searching and sincerity : they seek him then to purpose,
earnestly and early. Tor afflictions of soul aie very sove-
reign, and have singular efficacy to stir and quicken ex-
traordinarily, to wean quite from the world, and keep a
man close and clinging unto God. How many (though
perhaps they think not so) would grow proud, worldly,
lukewarm, cold in the use of the ordinances, self-confi-
dent, or something that they should not be, if they were
not sometimes exercised with injections of terrible thoughts?
By this fiery dart the devil desires and endeavours to de-
stroy and undo them quite ; but by the mercy of God it is
turned to their greater spiritual good. It is in this case as
it was with him, " who thrusting his enemy into the body
with full purpose to have killed him, lanced the ulcer
which no physician was able to cure, and let out that cor-
rupt matter that would have cost him his life." By re-
presentation of such horror out of Satan's cruellest malice,
they are happily kept more humble, watchful, earnest in
prayer, eager after the means, weaned from the world,
compassionate to others, &cc. Hiding of God's face from
him, and leaving him to the darkness of his own spirit,
did put and preserve Mr. Jolin Glover in a most zealous,
holy, and heavenly life for ever after. Hear the story : —
" This gentleman being called by the light of the Holy
Spirit to the knowledge of the Gospel, and having received
a wondrous sweet feeling of Christ's heavenly kingdom ;
his mind after that falling a little to some cogitation of his
former affairs, belonging to his vocation, began by and by
to misdoubt himself upon occasion of those words, Heb.
vi, 4, " For it is impossible," &c. Upon consideration of
which words he was so far deserted as to be persuaded
that he had sinned against the Holy Ghost ; even so much,
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 361
that if he had been in the deepest pit of hell, he could al-
most have despaired no more of his salvation. " Being
young (saith Fox ), 1 remember 1 was once or twice with
him, whom partly by his talk I perceived, and partly by
mine own eyes saw, to be so worn and consumed by the
space of five years, that neither almost any brooking of
meat, quietness of sleep, pleasure of lile, yea and almost
no kind of senses was leit in him. Who in such intolera-
ble griefs of mind, although he neither had nor could have
any joy of his meat, yet was he compelled to eat against
his appetite, to tlie end to defer the time of his damnation
so long as he might, thinking with himself no less, but that
he must needs be thrown 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 ima-
gined) help, because of the verity of the word which said,
' It is impossible ' &c.* " But what was the happy issue
and effect of those extraordinary spiritual terrors and ter-
rible desertion? The same blessed man of God, who
writes the story and was himself with the party, tells us :
" Albeit he suffered many years so sharp temptations, and
strong buffetings of Satan, yet the Lord who graciously
preserved him all the while, not only at last did rid him out
of all discomfort, but also framed him thereby to such mor-
tification of life, as the like lightly hath not been seen.
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 altogethei- celestial, abhorring in his mind all profane
doings." i hus a spiritual desertion, or some other afflic-
tion of spirit, doth that alone many times, which variety
and a long continued succession of ordinary outward
crosses, one upon the neck of another, is not able to effect.
For troubles of soul sooner take, and are of a quicker and
stronger operation, than those which afflict the body.
" The spirit of a man will sustain his intirmity ; but a
wounded spirit who can bear 1 " Prov. xviii, 14. All other
afflictions are nothing to this ; they are but flea-bitings to
the liery scorpion. The stoutness of a man's spirit will
stand under a world of outward miseries many times ; but
if the eye, which is the light of the body, be in darkness,
how great is that darkness ! If the spirit itself be crushed,
which should support the whole man, how great is the con-
fusion ? Hence it was that faithful David waded through
a world of troubles , yet all that time no malice of Saul,
no hatred of the Philistines, no rebellion of Absalom, no
* Fox's Acts and Monuments.
352 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
treachery of Ahithophel, no grappling with a lion, no fight-
ing with a bear, no threatening of a vaunting Goliah, could
so much discourage him. But when at any time he suf-
fered immediately in his soul under the wrath of God, oh !
then his very bones, the master- timbers of his body, are
broken in pieces. " He roars all the day, and his moisture
is turned into the drought of summer." Then he speaks
thus unto God: "When thou with rebukes dost correct
man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away
like a moth."
CHAP. XV.
Two Helps for the curing of a Man troubled with the former Malady.
Thus having discovered the cases and causes of spiritual
desertion, I come now to the comforts and the cure.
I. And let us first take notice of a double desertion : —
First. Passive, when God withdraws himself from us.
Secondly. Active, when we withdraw ourselves from God.
And they are both twofold: — 1. Temporary; and 2.
Final.
1. Passive desertion temporary : as in David (Psalm
Ixxvii) ; Heman the Kzrahite (Psalm Ixxxviii) ; Job ; both
the Glovers ; Mrs. Breltergh ; Mr. Peacock ; and many
more of God's children.
2. Final : in many after a woful and wilful abuse of
many mercies, means of salvation, and general graces. As
Saul, Judas, tkc. ; such as have outstood all opportunities
and seasons of grace ; and all those, Prov. i, 24.
(1.) Active desertion temporary ; as Solomon, &c.
(2.) Final; as in those, Heb. x.
Now in the present point 1 understand only a passive
temporary desertion ; and therefore in that man who is
truly engrafted into Christ by a justifying faiih, and rege-
nerated, who can never possibly either forsake finally, or
be finally forsaken of God. Of whom Hooker thus speaks * : —
" Blessed for ever and ever be that mother's chdd whose
faith hath made him the child of God. The earth may
shake ; the pillars of the world may tremble under us ; the
countenance of the heaven may be appalled ; the sun may
lose his light, the stars their glory ; but concerning the man
* In his Sermon on Habac. i, 4: " Of the certainty and perpetuity
of the Faith in the Elect.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 353
that trusteth in God, if the fire hath proclaimed itself un-
able as much as to singe ;i luiir of his head ; if lions, beasts
ravenous by nature and keen with hunger, being set to
devour, have, as it were, religiously adored the very flesh
of the faithful man ; what is there in the world that shall
change his heart, overthrow his faith, alter his affection
towards (Jod, or the affection o; God to him 1" Nay, and
besides, since I only understand a temporary passive de-
sertion, 1 must suppose it in him also, who sees full well
and doth acknowledge from whence he is fallen, is very
seusible of his spiritual loss, afflicted much with the ab-
sence of the quickening and comforting influence of grace,
and grieved at the heart-root that lie cannot do God service,
and perform holy duties with that life, power, and light-
someness as he was wont ; and thereupon resolves to give
no rest unto his discontented soul from cries, complaints,
and groans, until God's face and favour be turned towards
him again, and bring with it former feelings and fruitful-
ness, now so highly prized and heartily prayed for ; uhich
blessed behaviour cloth clearly show him to differ from the
backslider, a truly miserable and right woful creature in-
deed, who insensibly falls from his forvi'ardness, first love,
intimate fellowship with the saints, all lively use and ex-
ercise of the ordinances and divine duties, and yet is never
troubled to any purpose, neither doth challenge nor judge
himseJf for it at all. For we are to know, that the presence
of spiritual weaknesses, decays, and wants, and absence of
due dispositions, accustomed feelings, and former abilities
of grace, only then argue a backslider, and are evil signs of
a dangerously declining soul, when they are willingly car-
ried without remorse, or taking much to heart without any
eager desire or earnest endeavour after more heat and hea-
venly-mindedness. A Christian may be without God's gra-
cious presence and comtbrtable exercise of grace in present
feeling, and yet no forsaker of God ; but rather left of him for
a time (his heavenly wisdom for some secret holy ends so
disposing), while by grieving, striving, and strong desires,
he unfeignedly thirsts after and seriously pursues his former
acceptation and forwardness. Here then is comfort : God
hath hid his face from thee for a season, and thou art left
to the darkness and discomforts of thine own spirit, and
thereupon art grievously dejected, thinkest thyself utterly
undone ; yet take notice, that in a spiritual desertion pro-
perly so called, thou dost not willingly forsake God, but God
lorsakes thee ; or rather, as divines truly speak, seems to for-
sake thee ; for he deals with thee in this case as a father
2H 3
354 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
with his child, who sometimes on purpose, still loving him
extremely, hides himself from him, as though he were quite
gone, to make it discover and manifest its love unto him
by longing, seeking, and crying after him ; and that for ex-
cellent ends, and ever for thy endless comfort : — first, to
try whether thou will trust in him though he slay thee, as
Job did. Every cock-boat can swim in a river, every
sculler sail in a calm. In ordinary gusts, any man of
meaner skill and lesser patience can steer aright and hold
up the head ; but when the black tempest comes, a tenth
wave flows, one deep calls another, when the tumultuous
darkness of the sky, the roaring of the restless element re-
presents terrible things, and heaven and earth are blundered
together, as it were, v/ith horrible confusion ; when nature
yields, spirits faint, hearts fail ; then to stand upright and
unshaken ; then to say with David, " I will not fear though
the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea ; though the waters thereof roar
and be troubled; though the mountaiiis shake with the
swelling thereof. Selah : " I say, that is the man who is
sound at the heart-root indeed, and sieel to the back ; and
then is the invincible might and incomparable valour of
faith made known with a witness, whoever hath God's sure
word for the compass, and the Lord Jesus at the helm.
Then doth this glorious grace shine and triumph above na-
ture, sense, reason, worldly wisdom, the arm of flesh, and
the whole creation. In such desperate extremities, and
sorest trials, it shows itself like the palm tree that yields
not to the weightiest burthens ; the sheet-anchor that holds
when other tacklings break ; the oil, that ever over-swims
the greatest quantity of water we can pour upon it. And
with this improvement of the extraordinary power of faith,
God is exceedingly well pleased and highly honoured.
Secondly. To enure thee to patience, obedience, and sub-
mission to his blessed will in everything, even extremest
suff"erings if he so please. Thirdly. To work in thee a
deeper dete^^tation of sin and further divorce from the
world. Fourthly. To quicken, improve, and exercise some
special graces extraordinarily. "Thou didst hide thy face,"
saith David, " and I was troubled. Then 1 cried unto thee,
O Lord," &c. (Psalm xxx, 7, 8.) Then was the spirit of
prayer put to it indeed, and so was the grace of patience,
waiting, and the like. Fifthly. To cause thee to prize more
dearly and to keep more carefully, when it comes agaiii,
God's glorious presence, and the quickening influence of his
grace and comfort. We never apprehend the worth and
AFFLICTED COISJSCIENCES. 355
excellency of any thing so well as by the want of it. The
uninterrupted and secure enjoyment of the best things, and
even those that please us best, without vicissitude and in-
terchange, is wont to breed such cheapness and satiety, and
so dulls the soul's appetite, that it is neither so affected with
their precious sweetness, nor thankfully ravished with the
present possession of them as it ought. Health is highly
valued when sickness hath made us sensible of such a jewel ;
we relish our food extraordinarily when we have fasted
longer than ordinary ; rest refreshes us most when our bodies
have been tired and over-travelled. Sixthly. To make thee
conformable in some measure to Christ's immeasurable
spiritual suffeiings. Seventhly. To manifest and make illus-
trious his mightiness and mercy in thy deliverance, and the
power of Christ's resurrection." " Wilt thou show wonders
to the dead 1" saith Heman, "Shall the dead arise and
praise thee! Selah." (Psalm Ixxxviii). Those whom the
merciful hand of God hath lifted up out of the depth of a
spiritual desertion, will easily acknowledge it as omnipotent
a work and wonder, as to pull out of the mouth of hell, and
raise the dead men out of the grave. Eighthly. To repre-
sent unto thee the difference of thy condition in this life
and that which is to come. This is our time of nurture, not
of inheritance. Here we walk by faith, not by sight. We
live by faith, not by feeling. In this vale of tears we are
killed all the day long. But heavenly glimpses of unspeak-
able and glorious joy, and spiritual ravishments of soul, are
seldom and short; their fulness and constant fruition is
reserved for the next life. Here we are trained, as it were,
in a spiritual warfare against the world, the flesh, and the
devil ; we are exercised unto new obedience by manifold
crosses, troubles, and temptations. Satan is sometimes set
upon us to afflict us with his own immediate hellish sug-
gestions. Sometimes our own sins grievously affright us
with renewed representations of horror. Sometimes our
own God frowns upon us himself with his displeased and
angry countenance ; and in love leaves us awhile to the
terrors of a spiritual desertion. He sometimes lays his
visiting hand upon our bodies, and casteth us down upon
our beds of sickness ; sometimes he sends heavy crosses
upon our outward states, and breaks the staff of our pros-
perity. Continually, almost, he suffers many malicious
curs to bark at us with slanders, lies, disgraceful imputa-
tions, and all the enemies of grace to pursue us bitterly
with much malice and disdain. Thus are we trained and
entertained in this world ; our crowning comes in the world
tojcome. Ninthly, To cause thee to have recourse witli
356 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
move reverence, thirst, and thankful acknowledgment to the
well-head of refreshings. If God once withdraw the light
of his countenance and comfortable quickening of his Spirit,
we shall find no comfort at ali in any creature, no life in
the ordinances, no feeling of our spiritual life, and there-
fore we must needs repair to the ever-springing fountain of
all-sufficiency, &c. — Which blessed ends and effects, when
the good hand of our God hath wrought, he will as cer-
tainly return as ever the sun did after the darkest midnight,
and that with abundance of glory, and sweetness propor-
tionable to the former dejection and darkness of our spirits.
The lowest ebb of a spiritual desertion brings the highest
tide of spiritual exaltation, as we may see before in
Mrs. Biettergh and Mr. Peacock.
"2. What is the reason that thou art so sad and sore
afflicted for the absence of thy beloved, and with want of
the wonted gracious and comfortable workings of the Spirit!
It is because thou hast formerly grasped the Lord Jesus
sweetly and savingly in the arms of thy soul, been sensibly
refreshed with the savour of his good ointments, ravished
extraordinarily with the beauty of his person, dearness of
his blood, riches of his purchase, and glory of his kingdom,
and hast heretofore holden him as the very life of the soul,
and chiefest and only treasure ; ejaculating with David
unfeignedly from tl.e heart-root, " Whom have I in heaven
but thee ? and there is none upon earih that I desire besides
thee" (Psalm Ixxiii, 25). Earih is a hell and heaven no
heaven \vithout Jesus Christ. I say, the present grief that
thy well-beloved is now gone, argues evidently this former
enjoyment of his gracious presence:— and then build upon
it as the surest rock. Unce Christ's, and his for ever. The
gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Rom. xi,
29): "whom he loveth once he loveth unto the end"
(John xiii, 1) : he is no changeling in his love, " I am the
Lord," saith he, " 1 change not : therefore ye sons of Jacob
are not consumed'"' (Malachi iii, 6). Once elected, ever
beloved ; once new-born, and born lo eternity : if once the
sanctifying Spirit hath seized upon thee ibr Jesus Christ,
thou art made sure and locked fast for ever in the arms of
his love with everlasting bars of mercy and might from any
mortal hurt and adversary power. Thou raayest then cast
down the gauntlet of defiance against the devil and the
whole world ; and take up with Paul that victorious chal-
lenge unio all created ihings — "I am persuaded that
neither death, nor liie, nor angels, nor principalities, not
powers, nor things present, nor things to con)e, nor height,
nor f epth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 357
nie from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
He may hide his face from thee for a while ; but thou hast
his own sure and inviolable word from his own mouth, that
he will return and with "everlasting kindness have mercy
on thee." He may frown upon thee, I confess, for a season,
and so fright thee with his terrors as though in thy present
apprehension thou wert a lost man ; but he never will, he
cannot possibly forsake thee finally. " 1 have sworn once
by my holiness that 1 will not fail David" (Psalm Ixxxix,
35). And in the mean time thy former feelings of the
motions of the Spirit and grace do give clear evidence and
assurance that spiritual life is still resident in thy soul,
though run as it were into the root, and though its more
lively operations and effects be suspended for a time. The
woman that hath once felt the child stir in her womb, is
most assured that she is with child, that an immortal soul
and natural life is infused into it by the omnipotent hand
of God, though at other times she perceive no motion at all.
It is so in the present point ; and thy grieving also, groan-
ing, and panting after Christ, is an unanswerable argument
that thou art alive spiritually. Lay the weight of the whole
world upon a man that is stark dead, and he can neither
stir, cry, nor complain.
CHAP, XVI.
Two other Helps for the Curing of the former Malady.
Consider that some graces are more substantial in them-
selves, more profitable to us, and of greater necessity for
salvation ; as faith, repentance, love, new obedience active
and passive, self-denial, vileness in our own eyes, humble
walking with God, &c. Others are not so, or absolutely,
necessary, but accompany a saving state as separable acci-
dents ; as joy and peace in believing, sensible comfort in
the Holy Cihost, comfortable feelings of God's favour, re-
joicing in hope, a lively freedom in prayer, assurance of
evidence, &c. And from hence mayest thou take comfort
in two respects : — 1. Desertion deprives thee only ot the^e
comfortable accessories ; but thou ait still possessed of the
principal, of the substantial of salvation ; of which not the
utmost concurrence of all hellish and earthly rage can pos-
sibly rob thee ; and therefore thou art well enough in the
mean time, and as safe as safety itself can make thee.
358 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
2. Loss of these Isss principal graces (which by accident is
a singular advantage and gain) drives thee nearer unto
Jesus Christ, at least by many unutterable groans, every
one whereof is a strong cry in the ears of God, and causeth
thee better to prize and ply, to exercise and improve more
fruitfully those other more necessary graces without which
thou canst not be saved. It is a wise and honest passage in
Mrs.Juxon's monument: "She continued faithful to the
end in the most substantial graces. For howsoever she
mourned for the want of that degree of joy which she had
felt in former times, yet she continued in repentance, in the
practice of holiness and righteousness, in a tender love of
God and to his word and children, in holy zeal and fruit-
fulness even to the last period of her days. And indeed her
want of full ]oy was so sanctified unto her, that it was a
furtherance to a better grace, namely, to repentance and
self-denial, and base esteem of herself. And 1 call repent-
ance a better grace than joy, because howsoever joy is a
most excellent gift of the Spirit, yet unto us repentance is
more profitable. For I make no question but that a mourn-
ing Christian may be saved without ravishing joy, and that
Christ may wipe away his teai-s in heaven ; but no Chris-
tian shall be saved without repentance and self-denial." For
instance, the darkness of our spirits in spiritual desertions
sets our faith on work extraordinarily. In such a case it
ha.th recourse with more love and longing to all the foun-
tains of life, the person and passion of Christ, all the pi'o-
mises, God's free grace, his sweet name, and surveys them
more seriously, searches and sounds them to the bottom,
that by some means at least it may subsist and hold up the
head in such an evil time, and amongst so many terrors and
boisterous tempests. It is now put to the improvement of
the very utmost of all its heavenly vigour and valour; and
enforced to put forth its highest and most heroical act, even
to cleave fast to the sure word of God against all sense and
feeling, against all terrors, tricks of Satan, and temptations
to the contrary. And by this extraordinary exercise and
wrestling, it is notably strengtiiened and steeled for the time
to come. For as sloth, idleness, and want of exercise doth
much emasculate and make our bodies more inactive and
unable, but hard&hip, agitation, and employment, doth
much quicken and fortify them ; so it is in the present point,
w^itliout oppositions and assault, faith languisheth and lies
hid ; but when storms and spiritual troubles are abroad, it
stirs up itself, gathei-s its strength and forces together, casts
about for subsidiary assistance by prayer, ministerial coun-
sel, meditation upon special promises for the purpose, ex-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 359
perimental recounting former deliverances, mercies, and
favours upon ourselves and others, and so becomes far more
excellent and victorious for future encounters. It furthers
also repentance, in respect' of, — First, Sight of sins. For
through the glass of spiritual affliction we see more of them,
and see them to be more monstrously vile. The clouds of
inward trouble especially, unite as it were, and collect the
sight of our souls, and so represent our sins more to the life
and in their true colours ; whereas the glistering of pros-
perity IS wont to disperse and dazzle it. Secondly, Of
sense. We aie then more apprehensive of divine wrath and
weight of sin, when we are terrified but with a taste of
those immeasurable seas of bitterness and terror which it
infinitely merits at the hands of God. 1'hirdly, Of hatred
and opposition. We then grow into a more hearty loathing
of that sweet meat vvhich we are too apt to tumble into our
mouth and hide under our tongue, when we feel it accom-
panied with such sour sauce, and turned into gall and
gravel with.n us. We shall afterwards be far more watch-
ful, and afraid to give entertainment or warmth in our
bosoms to those vipers which have so bitten and stung us.
It makes self-denial more resolute and thorough ; for the
dearest and most desirable things of this life, compared with
Christ, were never viler dung in our esteem than at such a
time. We then find that most true, that though all the
stars shine never so bright, yet it is still night because the
sun is gone. But the alone presence of that prince of light
creates a comfortable and glorious day, though never a star
appear. So let us enjpy the Lord Jesus, and no matter
though all the creatures in the world be turned into bears or
devils about us: but if he withdraw himself, and the light
of his countenance set out of our sight, the confluence of
all the comforts the whole creation can afford will do us no
good at all. It quickeneth notably our new obedience ; in
respect of, — First, Holiness towards God, and reverent
heavenly behaviour about the first table. A general taste
and trial whereof we may take, by comparing mariners in
a storm with those arrived in a haven; prisons with thea-
tres; burials with banquets ; beds of sickness and expecta-
tion of death with strength of youth and prosperous health ;
and, which is punctual for my purpose, fits of temptation
with times of spiritual v. el fare. For as in the one state we
may observe too much presumption and putting far from us
the evil day, forgetfulness of God, security and sloth ; so
in the other, trouble, danger, and distress, much alter the
case. We shall then see them bitterly bewailing their for-
mer sins, trembling in the dust, seeking early God's face
360 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
and favour, falling to prayer, vowing better obedience, and
promising upon deliverance much holiness and a happy
change. What mighty groans of spirit proceed from the
deserted in such a case, which are the strongest piayers,
though in that agony they falsely complain that they cannot
pray ! How greedy are they of godly conference, counsel,
and vcomfort out of the word, days of humiliation, of the
most searching sermons, godliest company, presence and
prayers of the precisest ministers ! How fearful are they to
hear any worldly talk upon the Lord's day ! How sensible
of the least sin, any dishonour of God, and all appearance
of evil ! In a word, how busy are they about that one
necessary thing ! Secondly, Of compassionateness towards
others. Self-sufferings soften men's hearts towards their
brethren : personal miseries make them pitiful and painful
to afford all possible help in times of distress. Experience
of our own weaknesses, wants, danger to sink under the
waves of God's wrath, and disability to subsist by ourselves,
begets a sweet mildness and gentle behaviour towards our
neighbours, whose assistance, visitation, and prayers we
now see we stand in need of in extremities and evil times.
Prosperiiy is apt of itself to beget scornfulness, insolency,
self-confidence, and contempt of others ; but God's hand
upon us, especially in afflictions of soul, teacheth us another
lesson; to wit, how frail, weak, and unworthy we are.
Thirdly, Of self-knowledge. In times of peace and calm-
ness, looking through the false spectacles of self-love and
conceitedness, we are ready to over-estimate and outprize
our gifts, to mistake shadows for substances, smallest mites
of virtue for richest talents, the infant beginnings of grace
for tallness in Christ. But remove these deceiving glasses,
and let the touchstone of some sorer trial represent ourselves
unto ourselves, and we shall more clearly see our spiritual
abilities in their true nature and proportion. Then all un-
sound semblances of self conceited sufficiencies and former
flourishes of unhumble assurance, which, like gilded papers
or posts, showing gloriously in the sunshine, and seeming
pure gold in outward appearance, will vanish quite away
and come to nothing in the fire of spiritual affliction. Then
the weakness of our too much vaunted of Christian valour
will be discoveied unto us, and acknowledged by us, when
we are put to wrestle with the wrath of God, and left to
the horror of some hideous temptation.
4. Hear Mr. Hooker, a man of great learning and very
sound in this point : I vary some words, but keep the sense
entire. " Happier a great deal is that man's case whose
soul by inward desolation is humbled, than he whose heart
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 361
is through abundance of spiritual delight, lifted up and
exalted above measure. Better is it sometimes to go down
into the pit with him, who, beholding daikness and bewail-
ing the loss of inward joy and consolation, ciieth from the
bottom of the lowest heJl, "My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken \ne1" than continually to walk arm inarm
with angels ; to sit, as it were, in Abraham's bosom ; and
to have no thought or cogitation, but of peace and bless-
ing himself in the singularity of assurance above other
men ; to say, I desire no other bliss, but only duration of
my present comfortable feelings and fruition of God, 1
■want nothing but even thrusting into heaven, and the like.
For in the height of spiritual ravishments thou art in great
hazard of being exalted above measure, and so may be
justly exposed to a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of
Satan to bufi'et thee, which is a very heavy case. But now
on the other side, the lowest degree of humiliation under
God's mighty hand is the nearest step to rising and ex-
traordinary exultation of spirit. The extremest darkness
of spiritual desertion is wont to go immediately before the
glorious sun-rise of heavenly light, and unutterable light-
someness in the soul. David securely pleasing and ap-
plauding himself in his present stability and strong conceit
of the continuance of his peace, brake out thus : "I shall
never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my
mountain to stand strong " (Psalm xxxvi, 7). But he was
quickly thrown down from the top of his supposed im-
moveable hill ; taken oft' from the height of his confidence,
and lay trembling in the dust. " Thou didst hide thy face,
and I was troubled." But now that sweetest rapture of
incredible joy (for so he spake, "The joy which 1 feel in
my conscience is incredible ") did arise in Mr Peacock's
heart when he was newly come as it were out of the mouth
of hell. Mrs. Brettergh's wonderful rejoicing followed im-
mediately upon her return out of a "roaring wilderness,"
as she called it. What large effusions of the Spirit and
overflowing rivers of heavenly peace were plentifully
showered down upon Robert Glover's troubled spirit, after
the heaviest night, in all likelihood, that ever he had in
this world, by reason of a grievous desertion !
2 I
362 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
CHAP. XVII.
Two more helps for the Cure of the former Malady.
5. Nay, hear the Spirit of all truth and comfort himself
immediately. " Who is amoog you that feareth the Lord,
that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in dark-
ness and hath no light! Let him trust in the name of the
Lord, and stay upon his God." "Whence we may draw a
double comfort in time of desertion: — First. Because in
thy present apprehension thou findest and feelest thyself
in darkness, and to have no light ; thou art ready thereupon
to conceive and conclude unnecessarily against thy own
soul, that God's favour, Jesus Christ, grace, salvation, and
all are gone for ever. And this is the most cutting sting
and sorest pang which grievously afflicts and rends the
heart in pieces with restless anguish in such cases. Out
of what depth of horror do you think did these heavy groans,
and almost, if not altogether for the time, despairing
speeches spring in those blessed saints mentioned before?
" Will the Lord cast oft' for ever 1 and will he be favourable
no morel Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his
promise fail for evermore?" While I suffer thy terrors
I am distracted. I am amazed, confounded, and almost
mad with fear, lest my soul should be swallowed up with
the horrors of eternal death. "1 am afraid lest the Lord
hath utterly withdrawn his wonted favour from me ! Woe,
woe, &c. A weak, a woful, a wretched, a forsaken woman,
I have no more sense of grace than these curtains. Oh !
how woful and miserable is my estate, that must thus con-
verse with hell-hounds ! It is against the course of God's
proceedings to save me," &c. But now herein the deserted
in the sense I have said are much deceived, and extremely
wrong ; their own souls in such extremity not considering
that their walking in darkness and having no light may
most certainly consist with a saving estate and a being in
God's favour, though for the present not perceived, which
appears plainly by the quoted place, wherein he that walk-
eth in darkness and hath no light is such a one as feareth
the Lord and obeyeth tlie voice of his servant. Now the
fear of God and obedience to the ministry are evident marks
of a gracious man. Hence it is thai when the servants of
God are something come again unto themselves, they see
and censure their own unadvisedness in that respect, dis-
avow and disclaim all terms tending that way, which they
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 363
let hastily fall from them in the heat of temptation. "And
1 said," saith David, *' this is my infirmity ; but I will re-
member the years of the right hand of the Most High."
" Truly," said Mr. Peacock, " my heart and soul have been
far led and deeply troubled with temptations and stings
of conscience ; but I thank God they are eased in good
measure. Wherefore I desire that I be not branded with
the note of a forlorn reprobate. Such questions, oppositions,
and all tending thereto I renounce." Here then is a great
deal of comfort in the greatest darkness of a spiritual de-
sertion : for we may assure ourselves that God by his blessed
Spirit hath a secret influence and saving work upon the soul
of his child, when there is no light or feeling of his
favour at all. The sun, we know, though he leaves his
light upon the face of the earth, yet notwithstanding de-
scends by a real effectual influence into the bosom and darkest
bowels thereof; and there exerciseth a most excellent work
in begetting metals, gold, silver, and other precious things.
It is proportionably so in the present point; A poor soul
may lie grovelling in the dust, "afflicted, tossed with tempest,"
and in present apprehension have no comfort, and yet
blessedly partake still of the sweet influence of God's
everlasting love, of a secret saving work of grace and al-
mighty support of the sanctifying Spirit. Let us look upon
the Lord Jesus himself. His holy soul, though he was Lord
of heaven and earth, upon the cross, was even as a scorched
heath-ground, without so much as any drop of the dew of
comfort either from heaven or earth ; and yet at the same
time he was gloriously sustained by an omnipotent influence.
And God was never nearer unto him than then ; neither he
ever so obedient unto God. And I make no doubt, but
that the judicious eye of the well-experienced physician
may many times easily observe it in those troubled, tempted,
and deserted souls which they deal and converse with for
recovery and cure. This secret and saving influence I speak
of might be evidently discerned in Mr. Peacock, even at
the worst. Some reverend ministers standing by his bed of
sorrow asked him if they should pray for him. Mark well
his answer. "Take not the name of God in vain," said he,
" by praying for a reprobate ; " which words, well weighed,
seem to imply and represent clearly to a spiritual discern-
ing judgment some good measure even of the highest degree
of divine love, preferring the glory of God before the welfare
of his own soul, rather willing to have the means of his
salvation neglected than the Lord dishonoured. One asking
him if he felt any thing of Christian affection towards such
a one, meaning a godly man. Yes, saith he. Why"? For
364 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
his goodness. Another coming to him upon the Lord's day,
willed him to put his hand to a note of certain debts.
"This is not a day for that," said he : and at the same lime
he would hardly suffer any to stay with him from the sermon.
Being told of suffering plaisters out of God's word to rest
upon his wounded soul, he brake out thus: "Oh! if I
had. Oh ! if it would please God, I had rather than any-
thing in this, or other three thousand worlds." By these
we may see, and other passages to the same purpose, that
our blessed God had a secret working and saving influence
upon his soul, even in the depth and hideous darkness of
his most grievous desertion. Here is love, first, unto God
in a high degree ; secondly, dear affection unto his children,
and that for his image shining in them ; thirdly, love unto
his sabbaths and salvation of others ; fourthly, vehement
desires after grace and God's favour. All which were un-
deniable demonstrations of a state of grace to every un-
derstanding eye, nay, unquestionable arguments of spiritual
life and designation to eternal bliss. Whereupon my resolu-
tion was then, and protestation upon good ground, that if
all the powerful eloquence which rested within the reverend
bosom of mine own dear mother the famous university of
Oxford, managed by the seraphical tongue of the highest
and most glorious angel in heaven, had been industriously
set on work for that purpose ; except I had heard my
blessed Redeemer say, I will rend a member from my body
and throw it away ; the Holy Spirit say, I will pull my
seal from that soul which I have savingly sanctified ; my
gracious and merciful Father say, I will this once fail and
forsake one of mine; — I could never have been possibly
persuaded that that soul of his, so richly laden with hea-
venly treasure and gifts of God never to be repented of, so
sincerely exercised in the ways of God and opposition to
the corruption of the times, &c., should possibly perish !
Secondly. Suppose thou shouldst " walk in darkness and
have no light " in the sense of the prophet, for the residue
and remainder of thy few and evil days in this vale of tears ;
nay, and die so, before comfort comes; yet be not dis-
comforted. For " fearing God " and being upright-hearted,
thy soul shall most certainly be preserved in spiritual and
eternal safety " by staying upon thy God," though thou be
without any sense of joy and peace in believing. This life,
though never so lone:, is but a moment to the life to come ;
but the "kindness is everlasting" with which "he will
have mercy on thee." Thy sufferings are but short, what-
soever they be ; but thou hast eternity of joys in the world
above, purchased and prepared for thee by th© heart's blood
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 365
of that blessed Saviour of thine upon whom thy soul relies.
It is the devil's policy, say divines, to procure for his slaves
all the favours, honours, and advancements, all the pros-
perities and pleasures he can possibly, lest if he should not
follow and fulfil their humours this way, they might think
upon seeking after and serving a new master. Not caring to
vex or molest them in this world, because he knows full well
he shall have time enough hereafter to torment them in hell.
And will not thou contrarily be content, if God so please, to
pass through this vale of tears even with Heman's horror ( Ps.
Ixxxviii, 15), since heaven is so near at hand, and thou
hast a little before thee an everlasting time to row in the
bottomless and boundless ocean of all glory and bliss, in an
endless variety of new and fresh delights, infinitely ex-
cellent and sweet above the largest created conceit 1
6. Let us suppose a Christian in these three states (and
it is no very strange thing to those who observe or feel God's
secret and unsearchable dealings with his children): —
First, In a fair and comfortable calm and sunshine, after
the tempestuous troubles and travail in the pangs of the
new birth, when the light of God's countenance, the first
refreshing warmth of his sanctifying Spirit, the fresh sweet-
ness and vital stirrings of grace, the ravishing conscious-
ness of his happy conversion, do fill his soul " as with
rnarrow and fatness," and feed it with a kindly and more
lively disposition to all good and godly duties. Secondly,
In a spiritual desertion, when the sense of God's favour,
love, and wonted presence, the comfortable use and ex-
ercise of the ordinances, graces, and spiritual aflPairs,
languish and leave him for a time. Thirdly, In the state
of recovery and restitution from such fearful damp and
deprivation of Divine comfort, unto former joyful feelings
and re-enjoyment of his beloved ; so that his revived soul
may sweetly sing, '* My beloved is mine and I am his."
Now, I doubt not, but that the middle of these three estates,
being accompanied with hearty grief and groans for Christ's
absence, restless pantings and longings after a new resur-
rection, as it were, of the sensible and fruitful operations
of grace, renewed desires and endeavours for regainment of
accustomed surer hold by the hand of faith, patient and
prayerful waiting for the return of God's pleased face, &c.,
is as pleasing and dear, if not more so, to our merciful Father,
as either of the other two. Do you not think, that the
fathers of our flesh are as lovingly affected and meltingly
moved to hear the obedient child sigh and sob, cry out and
complain, because they look not kindly upon him ; but for
trial of his aflFection have hid for a time the much-desired
2 1 -A
366 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
beams of their fatherly favour, under some aflfected angry-
frowns, as when things are carried more currently and com-
fortably betwixt them without any great distaste and discon-
tentment, or occasion to discover the mutual impatiency of
their loves one unto another 1 And shall not the Father of our
spirits, who loves us with the same love with which he loves
the Lord Jesus himself; surpass as far in affectionate com-
passion towards us in the like case as an Almighty God
doth a mortal manl He cannot choose, because the vvord
is already gone out of his mouth : " Like as a father pitieth
his child, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him " (Psalm
ciii, 13). I am persuaded God's bowels of compassionate
tender-heartedness and love did yearn within him towards
Job with more dearness and delight at that cry, " Though he
slay me, yet will I trust in him " ( Job xiii, 15), than at any
time else, even in the spring of his spiritual prosperity, or
fullest tide of most heavenly feelings. Here then is comfort,
raorethanthy heart canhold, if thou wilt be counselled by the
prophets, that thou mayest prosper. For when thou thinkest
that all is gone, that thou art a lost man, and utterly for
saken, even in the depth of thy spiritual darkness (thou
being so spiritually disposed as 1 have said, and which thou
canst not deny), I say even then (and thou oughtest so to
apprehend and believe) the love of God is, as it were,
doubled towards thee, much more endeared by reason of thy
distress, and cannot hold, but breaks out many times into
extraordinary pangs and expressions thereof, as we may
see Isa. liv, 11, " O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and
not comforted," &c. ; and into profession of resolution and
waiting to do us good, which he will superabundantly per-
form in the best time. " Behold; I will lay thy stones with fair
colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires." (ibid.)
" And therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious
unto you ; and therefore will he be exalted that he may
have mercy upon you ; for the Lord is a God of judgment :
blessed are all they that wait for him " (Isa. xxx, 18).
Withdrawing the effects and exercise of our love from him
whom we love dearly, makes it return with redoubled fervour
into our own bosoms, and there grow into a more vehement
flame, which never rests until it break out again with dearer
pangs upon the beloved party. Even as when the sun suf-
fers an eclipse, and its beams are driven back and reflected
from the face of the moon interposed directly between it and
our sight, so that they shine not upon us, then is the heat *
and light thereof multiplied and much intended toward the
* Or at least virtual power of heatiug.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 367
fountain, which afterwards is shed down upon us again
more amiably and acceptably when the darkness is done.
And let us further take notice, that Christ, our eldest bro-
ther, blessed for ever, deals with us in such cases as Joseph
(a type of him in many respects) dealt with his brethren.
He frowned upon them, handled them roughly, and frighted
them extremely, only to humble tliem thoroughly ; but in
the mean time and midst of his menacing carriage, his heart
was so full of natural affection, that he was enforced by
the excess thereof to turn aside and weep, and so return to
thern again. " And he turned himself about from them and
wept, and returned to them again " (Gen. xlii, 24). So the
Son of God, as well as God the Father through him, though
sometimes " in a little wrath he hide his face from us ;"
yet as he will certainly after " a small moment gather us
with great mercies ; " so in the mean time " he is afflicted,"
and most tenderly affected towards us *' in all our afflic-
tions." See Isa. Ixiii, 9.
CHAP. XVIII.
The last help for the Curing of the former Malady.
7. Think it not strange that thou art fallen into this kind
of spiritual affliction, as though some strange thing, or that
which doth not or may not befal the dearest servants of
God, had happened unto thee ; for herein thou becomest
conformable to as holy men as ever the world had ; Job,
David, Heman, Luther, 6cc. ; nay, to the Son of God him-
self, from whose example and precedency let the Christian,
even in the darkest horror of a spiritual desertion, when he
is afraid lest God hath forsaken him, fetch abundance of
comfort and support out of such considerations as these : —
(L) Christ himself was in the same case. Besides a
numberless variety of most barbarous cruelties inflicted
upon his blessed body by the merciless and implacable
malice of the Jews, and by consequent sympathy upon
his glorious soul ; he suffered also in soul immediately, in-
tolerable, and (save by himself) unconquerable torments
and pain. He grasped with the fiercest wrath of his Father
for our sins, and sweat blood under the sense of his angry
countenance. Nay, this cross upon his soul, infinitely more
weighty than that which he carried upon his shoulders to-
wards Calvary, did not only cause streams of great bloody
drops to fall down to the ground ; but also pressed from
him that heavy jroaa, Mat. xxvi, 38, " My soul is exceed-
368 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
ing sorrowful, even unto death ; " and that last rueful bit-
ter cry, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken meV*
chap xxvii, 46. If Christ Jesus himself then, blessed for
ever, the " Son of the Father's love," the Prince of Glory ;
nay, the glory of heaven and earth, the brightness of ever-
lasting light, &c. in whom he professeth himself to be well-
pleased, and for whose sake only he loves all the sons of
men which shall be saved, was thus plunged into a match-
less depth of unknown sorrows and most grievous desertion,
let no Christian cry out in the like spiritual desolation (but
ever immeasurably short of his) and in his fear of being for-
saken, that his case is singular, desperate, irrecoverable.
For the only, dear, innocent Son of God was far worse in
this respect, and in greater extremity than he is, can, or
ever shall be.
(2.) Amongst other ends for which the Lord Jesus drank
so deep, and the very dregs of that bitier cup of his dear-
est Father's heaviest indignation, this was one : that by a
particular and personal passing through that infinite sea,
those extremest dreadful horrors of Divine wrath for our
sins, which we all most justly deserved, and would have
caused any mere creature to have sunk down under it into
the bottom of hell, and by an experimental fear and feel-
ing of that bitter and bloody agony, which melted, as it
were, his blessed soul into that mournful cry, " My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" — the comfortable
influence of the Deity being for the time in some sort re-
strained and retired from the human nature, that it might
be capable and sensible of that anger and anguish, which
would have holden both men and angels, and all- created
natures, under everlasting calamity and woe ; — 1 say, that
by his own sense and experience of such painful passages,
he might learn and know, with a more fellow-feeling and
pitiful heart to commiserate his poor afflicted ones in their
spiritual desertions, and with a softer and more compassion-
ate hand to bind up their bleeding souls with his sweetest
balm of tender-heartedness and love, when in such horrible
depths they shall thirst and long, and gasp for drops of
mercy and his Father's pleased face : " For in that he him-
self hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them
that are tempted " (Heb. ii, 18). A woman who hath her-
self with extraordinary torture endured the exquisite pains
of child-birth, is wont to be a great deal more tenderly and
mercifully afl^ected to another in like case, than she that
never tried what it is to be terrified with the suddenness,
unavoidableness, and terrible pangs of a woman's travail ;
and is more skilful, ready, and forward to relieve in such
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 369
distress. And so also all others, who have been most af-
flicted either with outward troubles or inward terrors, or
both, are ever most ht and feeling to speak unto the heart,
to put to their helping hand, and make much of comfortless
and miserable men, troubled and tempted as they have
been. And such was the case of our blessed Saviour in his
sufferings for our sakes. He was exercised all his life long
with variety and extremity of cruellies, indignities, and all
manner of vexations beyond measure, grievous, bitter, and
intolerable. He drank full deep of the world's disgrace ;
the devil's malice ; the rage of great ones ; the contempt
and contumelies of the vilest ; the scornful insultings of his
enemies; sorest sufferings from all things in heaven, earth,,
and hell ; of those pinching passions, hunger, thirst, weari-
ness ; of bodily tortures, hideous temptations, agonies of
spirit, even of the full cup of his Father's fiery wrath, and
horrors of soul for our sins to the very last drop, which
v^ent as far beyond his other outward extremities, as the soul
goes beyond the body, or God's utmost anger the malice of
men ; whereby he is now blessedly htted and enabled excel-
lently " to succour them that are tempted." Conscious-
ness of his own case in the " days of his flesh " is a keen in-
centive to his holy and heavenly soul, more sensibly and
soon to take pity upon and ease the several necessities,
troubles, sorrows, and soul-afflictions of all his children.
(3.) As this ever-blessed Redeemer of ours was in him-
self more than infinitely free, and more than far enough
from all sins ; so by consequence from any inherent cause
of the least cross, or any shadow in the world of his dear-
est Father's displeased countenance. For originally he was
of a most pure, harmless, and holy nature all his life long ;
kind, sweet, and gracious to every creature ; offending
none, doing good unto all; in his death incomparably pa-
tient, "brought as an innocent lamb" to that bloody
slaughter ; " not opening his mouth " for all those base and
barbarous provocations of the cruel and merciless mis-
creants about him ; swimming in blood, burning in zeal,,
wrestling in prayer even for the salvation of his enemies.
So that his guiltless and unspotted soul had no need at all
of any passion or expiation. All his sorrows and suffer-
ings were voluntarily undergone only for our sakes and
sins. Had not the precious heart's blood of the only, dear,
natural, eternal Son of God, been poured out as water up-
on the ground, wliereat the whole creation was astonished,
the earth trembled and shook, her rocks clave asunder, her
graves opened, the heavens withdrew their light, as not
daring to behold this sad and fearful spectacle, never bad
370 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
the soul of any son or daughter of Adam been saved. It
was not the glory and treasures of the whole earth, not
any streaming sacrifices of purest gold, not the life of men
and angels ; no, not the power and prostration of all the
creatures in heaven and earth, or of ten thousand worlds
besides, could have prevailed, satisfied, and served the
turn in this case. Either the "heir of all things" must
die, or we had all been damned. Is the heart then of any
mourner in Zion heavy and ready to break for sorrow be-
cause he hath lost the light of God's face, feeling of his
love, and consolations of grace ; so that the darkness of his
spirit thereupon frights him with repossession of his pardoned
sins, temptations to despair, and fears lest he be forsaken 1
O then let him hie and have speedy recourse unto this hea-
venly cordial, when our Lord and our love felt the curse of
our sins and his Father's hottest wrath coming upon him
in the garden, without any outward violence at all, only
out of the pain of his own thoughts, bled, through the flesh
and skin, not some faint dew, but even solid drops of
blood ; and afterwards in the bitterness of his soul cried
out upon the cross, " My God, my God, why hast thou for-
saken me 1 " And none of all this for himself; for no stain
at ail did cleave to his sacred soul ; but all this (the least
of which we can no more express than we could undergo)
for thy sake and salvation alone, who lovest our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity. And therefore ground upon it as upon
the surest rock, even in the height of thy heavy-heartedness
and depth of spiritual desertion, that those depths of sor-
rov\^, whereof our thoughts can find no bottom, through
which he waded in his bloody sweat, cry upon the cross,
and painful sufferings in soul, did most certainly free thee
everlastingly from the guilt, venom, and endless vengeance
of all terrors of conscience, agonies of spirit, temptations
to despair, and damnations of hell. The righteous Judge
of all the world will never expect or exact at the hands
of any of his creatures double payment, a double punish-
ment. Our dearest Saviour hath satisfied to the utmost
with his own blood the rigour and extremity of his Father's
justice in thy behalf ; and therefore it is utterly impossible
that thou shouldst ever finally perish. Inward afflictions
and troubles of mind may for a tim.e press thee so sore,
that thou mayest be ready to sink for chastisement, trial,
prevention of sin, perfecting the pangs of the new birth,
example to others, &c. But in despite of the united rage
and policy of all infernal powers, thou shalt in due time be
raised again by that victorious and triumphant hand which
" bruised the serpent's head" and burst the heart of hell :
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 371
even " out of a horrible pit be set upon a rock. " far above
the reach of all hellish hurt or sting of horror. " In a little
wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with
everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee, saith the
Lord thy Redeemer" (Isa. liv, 8).
CHAP. XIX.
Tlie Fifth Malady of an Afflicted Conscience. The First way of curing-
it, wliicii isSpeculc-itive, and the first part of that way, which is by
Consideration.
5. There is another terrible fiery dart, dipped full deep in
the very rankest poison of the infernal pit, which though it
be not much talked of abroad, nor taken notice of by the
world, yet is secretly suggested and m.anaged with ex-
tremest malice and cruelty in the silent bosoms of God's
blessed ones. The most holy hearts are many times most
haunted with ihis foulest fiend. Strangers to the ways of
God be not much troubled in this kind, nor ordinarily vexed
with such horrors. Satan, as I said before, makes as much
of his in this world as he can possibly, knowing that he
hath time enough, even eternity to torment them in the
world to come ; and therefore he is not wont to wield this
terrifying weapon against them, save only at some dead
lift, or upon some special advantage, as under some ex-
traordinary misery, or in excess of melancholy, to drive
them thereby to distraction or despair. Or it may be, God
may suffer him to afilict thus hideously some grievous sinner
whom he is about to bring in ; to prepare him thereby
(though the devil himself meaneth not so) for the pangs of
the new birth, deeper humiliations, and more vehement
desires to get under the wings of Christ from that hellish
kite. Or he may sometimes mingle these horrible stings
with the terrors of spiritual travail, upon purpose to hinder
conversion by a diversion into bye-ways, or frightening
back again to folly and former courses. But sure 1 am, the
ordinary object and special aim of Satan's malice in this
point are only those who have happily escaped out of his
clutches already, and are fully and for ever freed from his
damning fury and all deadly hurt. And I know not whether
there be any of these which doth not less or more, at one
time or other, sufl^er under this horror. And yet everyone
of them thinks himself singular in this suffering; and that
it is not usual for God's children to have such prodigiously
372 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
foul and fearful thoughts put into their heads, which they
dare not mention for their abhorred monstrousness, neither
remember without trembling. Now by this dreadful ent,'ine
of the devil, wliich 1 thus talk of before 1 tell you what it
is (and no marvel, for what heart would not willingly re-
tire, or can choose but tremble in treating upon such a
theme?) — I mean hideous injections, horrible thoughts, blas-
phemous suggestions, monstrous conceits of the most holy,
pure, and ever-glorious God, his word, divine truths, the
Lord Jesus blessed for ever ; or some way or other about
spiritual and heavenly things, framed immediately by Sa-
tan himself, and with furious violence thrown into our
minds infinitely against our wills, at the grisliness whereof
not only religion but also reason, nay even corrupted nature
and common sense stand astonished, and shrink back at
the horror, and abhor them extremely. — Some of God's
dearest children and those that love him best (would you
think hi yet it is too true) are sometimes so pestered with
their irksome intrusions, that whatsoever they speak, do,
hear, read, or think upon, is wrested, perverted, and hel-
lishly empoisoned with this temptation of blasphemy. And
they are ordinarily pressed upon them with most importu-
nity and impetuousness, when they are best busied and ex-
ercised in the holiest duties, as in prayer, hearing, or read-
ing the word, singing of psalms, days of humiliation, &c.
In the first place, for a comfortable support in such a
case, peruse, ponder well upon, and apply such considera-
tions and counsels as these : —
(1.) In this terrible temptation also thou becomest but
conformable to thy Lord and ^Master who bought thee with
his dearest blood, and to many of his blessed saints. Was
there ever suggestion in conceit, or word, or any possibi-
lity of being like unto this in execrableness and horror, that
the King of saints, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily, should fall down and worship the prince
of hell and vilest of creatures'? (Rev. xv, 3 ; Colos. ii, 9.)
And yet this most horrible blasphemy was injected into the
most holy imagination of Jesus Christ, with which it was
infinitely more impossible to be any ways tainted or stained
than the fairest sun-beam with the foulest dirt. But he en-
dured it, and conquered, and that for our sakes only and
safety, even for such excellent ends as these : — First,
That when we are set upon by Satan in the same kind, and
so hideously assaulted, that upon the first sense we are
ready to sink under the sudden fright, and to think thai none
in the world are so but we ; yet in cool blood we may com-
fortably recover ourselves, and presently conceive that our
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 373
case is not singular and incompatible with a saving state ;
for even the Son of God himself surpassed us in the same
sufferinff. Secondly, That he might take the venom sting
and guilt from this hateful and horrible temptation for all
his to the world 's.end. Thirdly, that having himself tasted
the devil's malice herein, he might out of his own feeling
and experience more tenderly take to heart our troubles and
terrors that way ; more mightily fortify and free our spirits
against the invasion and surprise of all such prodigious in-
jections and ilashes of hell.
2. It is the concurrent judgment of learned and holy
divines, that these monstrously blasphemous thoughts and
satanical suggestions, resisted and not consented unto, are
not our sins, but our crosses. Or suppose there would be
any tainture on our parts, yet condemning them in our
judgments and abhorring them with our hearts, we may be
most assured that the blood of Jesus Christ is infinitely
more mighty and sovereign to take away the venom and
vileness of them, than the devil malicious and subtle to in-
ject. I will imagine that some bloody popish powder traitor
had pressed upon thee at that time, and suggested thus —
•' We are plotting, and purpose to blow up the parliament
with gunpowder ; to destroy at one blov*' the king, queen,
prince, nobility, (Sec, and afterward to cut the throats of
all the protestants in the kingdom ; to root the gospel out
of it for ever, (S:c. ; and then to lay the fault upon the pu-
ritans." These and the like were injections of much horror
and monstrous nature. For thus men learned both in the
mystery of Christ and depths of state spoke of that plot at
that time :^"}lemember but the powder treason, the utter-
most part of all villany ; beyond which it is terra incognita,
no man can devise what should be between hell and it*."
" Consider but this day, the birthday, as I may term it, of
our country, in which both prince and people came, as it
were, anew into the world, delivered from the fearful
powder vault, the very belly of hell and confusion, as Jonah
sometime did from the belly of the whale t." "Behold
that which so many millions of eyes, since those windows
were first opened in the head of man to behold the light of
heaven ; I say, so many millions of eyes in their several
generations now sunk down into their holes, and consumed
within their tabernacles, never saw ; never those glorious
and constant lights of ihe firmament, those clear and crys-
talline eyes of nature, which walk through the whole world
and give no rest to their temples ; the sun that wandereth
* Dr. WliitP, in his Sermon at Paul's Cross.
t Dr. Tynlev, in his Sermon at Paul's Cross.
2K
374 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
by day, and the moon that walketh by night, they never
saw the like, &c.*" " It was of such prodigious monstrons-
ness, that before now, the tongue of man never delivered,
the ear of man never heard, the heart of man never con-
ceived, nor the malice of hellish or earthly devil ever prac-
tised t." "It is beyond all example, whether in fact or
fiction, even of the tragic poets, who did beat their wits to
represent the most fearful and horrible murders t." " The
plot whereof Livy speaks, of dispatching the whole senate
of Rome in an hour ; the device at Carthage to cut off a
whole faction by one enterprize ; the conspiring of Brutus
and Cassius to kill Caesar in the senate : the project of de-
stroying in one conjclave the greatest part of the cardinals ;
the Sicilian even-song, and the Parisian matins ; nay, the
wish of Nero, that Home had but one head which he might
cut off at one blow, came far short of this invention, which
spared neither age, sex, "nor degree §." Well then, if thou
shouldst have approved and consented unto the suggestion
of this most execrable and unheard-of villany, for which
hell hath not a fit name, nor the world a sufficient punish-
ment, thou hadst made thyself the most prodigious beast
that ever breathed, an abhorred monster of mankind, and
justly merited to have passed presently from most exqui-
site tortures here, to endless torments in another world.
But now, if all the while the motion was making thy heart
had risen against it with indignation and loathing, thou
protestedst to the party thy abominating any thought that
way from the heart root to the pit of hell ; and immediately
running to the king shouldst have discovered and disclaimed
it as a most detestable and hellish plot ; I say then, what
man could have justly blamed thee, or wherein could thy
conscience any way accuse thee 1 It is so in the present
point. As that other incarnate devil in his kind, so the
devil himself throws into thine imagination most hideous
thoughts and horrible blasphemies, even against the dread-
ful Majesty of heaven, the thrice-blessed and ever-glorious
Trinity, the holy humanity of the Lord Jesus, &c. To
which if thou shouldst understandingly assent and approve
indeed, thou mightest expect most worthily to become ten
times fouler than the ugliest fiend in hell. But since thou
knowest in thine own conscience, that thy heart trembles
with horror and amazedness, when they are offered, nay
violently thrust into thy mind, that thou resisted and re-
* Dr. King, in his Sermon at MTiitehall.
1 Sir Edward Fiiilips, in the proceedings against the l:it^ Tniitors.
t Sir Edward Coke, ibid.
i The Earl of Northampton, ihid.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 875
jected them with all the power and prayer thou canst pos-
sibly, canst not choose but, out of a pang of infinite detes-
tation and heart-rising, turn thus, or in the like manner,
upon the tempter : " Most malicious enemy to the glory
of my God and good of my soul, thou troublest thyself and
me in vain. I do infinitely acknowledge my blessed Crea-
tor, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, to be one incomprehensible,
glorious, wise, gracious God : heaven to be wholly filled, em-
broidered, impaled, with nothing but holiness and happiness :
all the creatures to be good, as they issued out of the hands of
God, and remembrancers to us of his power, wisdom, and
goodness : God's blessed book to be all most holy, most true,
a rich treasury of heavenly wisdom and sweetest know-
ledge, 6cc. And thy cursed self to be the only author and
broacher of all sin, hurt, and uncomeliness ; and to thee
and thine alone they belong. Mingle not, then, thy malice
with my lowliest, most dear, and reverend thoughts of my
Father, my Saviour, my Comforter," ike*. And thou art
also wont presently to press in private into God's glorious
presence, and prostrate thyself before his righteous throne,
there to discover this hellish malice, to complain hoAy vil-
lanously the devil deals with thee, to protest thine inno-
cency, and infinite hatred of these horrible blasphemies, to
cry heartily for pardon, patience, and power against them.
And therefore it being thus with thee, thou mayest upon
good ground be more than infinitely assured, that they are
not imputed unto thee at all, but wholly set upon Satan's
score. Hence it is, and from this ground, that 1 have many
times told some, thus tempted, that when they have passed
a duty, pressed upon violently, and pestered with tlie fu-
rious intrusion of such unutterably foul and fearful injec-
tions, they have in all likelihood spent that day with far
less sin in their tlioughts, and more freedom from guilt and
provocation of divine anger, than if they had been free;
because they being so earnestly and vehemently deprecated,
withstood with such aversion and loathing, protested against
unfeignedly, and that upon such terms that they would
rather be torn in pieces with wild horses, die ten thousand
deaths, do or suffer any thing, than yield the least assent
or approbation thereunto ; they are then, 1 say, not their
transgressions, but affiictions ; not their iniquities, but mi-
series ; not their sins, but crosses. Nay, and further for
their comfort, if they should be haunted by them until their
ending hour (which God forbid, and beat back such ac-
cursed and hateful spite from every humble soul!) yet
* These very words were forced, by fury of temptation, from one
tempted in this kind.
376 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
cleaving close unto the Lord Jesus, hating all sin, and
having respect to all God's commandments, they are not
able at all, neither can any whit hinder, hurt, or any way
prejudice their spiritual state and everlasting salvation.
3. Every servant of Christ hath his share in some afflic-
tion or other, and is ever made in some good measure con-
formable to him in his sufferings. Those who have the
reins laid and left upon their necks without curb or cor-
rection, are bastards and not sons. They may, as the Holy
Ghost tells us, prosper in this world, and pass peaceably
out of it, and have no bands in their death like other men ;
** they may live, and become old, and be mighty in power:
their seed may be established in their sight with them, and
their offspring before their eyes : their houses may be safe
from fear, neither may the lod of God be upon them ; their
bull may gender and fail not; their cow may calve, and
not cast her calf; they may send forth their little ones like
a flock, and their children dance : they may take the tim-
brel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ : they
may spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down
to the grave" (Job xxi, 7 — 13); at last die even like a
lamb. But when all is done, they are utterly undone and
everlastingly, by reason of the horror and anguish that shall
come upon their souls; the affliction, the wormwood, and
the gall : for horrible is the end of the unrighteous gene-
ration . they are immediately thrown down from tlie top
of their imaginary felicity, and untroubled bed of seeming
peace, to the depth of extremest misery and bottom of the
burning lake. But it is not so with the servants of God.
" He scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Heb. xii, 6).
" He hath only one Son without sin, none without suffer-
ing," saith an ancient father. But here take notice, that
in this dispensation of fatherly corrections amongst his chil-
dren, he ever, out of his unsearchable merciful wisdom,
singles out and makes choice of those which are most suit-
able, and the fittest for their spiritual good. And therefore,
both for the kind and particular, let us ever humbly and
thankfully submit and wholly refer ourselves to the sweet
and wise disposing of our most loving and dearest Father,
who ever knows best what is best for us in such cases, both
in regard of his service and our sufferings, his glory and
our gain ; what we are able to bear, how he hath furnished
us beforehand with spiritual strength to go through tempta-
tions and troubles, what spiritual physic is most quick and
operative, and best suited to the prevention, cure, and recovery
of our soul-sicknesses, distempers, and declinations ; how^
wisely to proportion and mercifully moderate in respect of
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 377
measure, time, and working ; and when his hand is heavy
upon us in one kind, tenderly to take care that we be not
oppressed with other extremities also ; as appears by that
sweet observation of Mr. Fox, in the story of the two
Glovers. " God, in his holy providence, seeing his old and
trusty servant so many years with so extreme and many
torments, broken and dried up, would in no wise heap too
many sorrows upon one poor silly wretch, neither would
commit him to the flames of fire, who had been already
baked and scorched with the sharp fires of inward afflic-
tion, and had sustained so many burning darts and conflicts
of Satan so many years. God, therefore, of his divine pro-
vidence, thinking it too much that one man should be so
much overcharged with so many plagues and torments, did
graciously provide, that Robert his brother, being both
stronger of body, and also better furnished with helps of
learning to answer the adversaries, should sustain the con-
flict." It rnay be our only wise God purposeth to exercise
us extraordinarily with spiritual conflicts and troubles of
conscience, and therefore doth mercifully give us more
prosperity and comfort in our outward state ; or, perhaps,
to afflict us with variety of worldly crosses ; and therefore
doth sweetly and compassionately give us more peace and
comfort at home in our own hearts : or, it may be, he
means to make us eminent objects of disgrace, reproach,
and slander in the world, and even from those who " sit in
the gate," for our forwardness and excellency of zeal ; and
therefore, out of a gracious tender-heartedness, gives us
both more calmness in conscience and contentment in out-
ward things ; or, perhaps, he may lay all these upon us,
suffer us to be tried with ill tongues, with troubles without
and terrors within ; but even then undoubtedly "his grace
shall be sufficient for us : " so wise and so merciful is our
blessed God. Only, first, let us take heed (though in our
own apprehensions and misdeeming we may pretend and
except never so plausibly) that we never prescribe unto
him how, in what stint or measure he should afflict us.
Secondly. That we never ward or put off any blow from his
own heavenly hand, men, or creatures, with the wound of
conscience ; never decline any ill by ill means. Thirdly,
That we learn and labour to profit by and make the right
use of all his corrections. Fourthly. And ever magnify the
glory of his mercy and wisdom in sparing us any way, his
tender-hearted taking notice where we are weakest, and
not so able to bear his severer visitations ; but specially,
that he ever pitches upon that affliction which doth our
souls most good, and serves most effectually to procure,
2 K 3
378 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
protect, and promote the soundness, safety, and flourishing
of our spiritual state. Well then, for my purpose, and thy
support, since our most holy God deals thus with all that
are not cast away ; to wit, sorts out unto them those several
crosses and corrections, which out of his unsearchable
v.'isdom and spiritual necessity of their souls he sees most
fit to keep them humble, obedient,, and in awe, take thou
up, and in good part, this cross of thine, while it pleaseth
God to exercise thee with it as thy portion. Others, though
free from this, yet have their proportion and proper potion,
and that perhaps in a bitter cup and from a more smarting
rod. It may be it goes well with thee in other respects*,
in which, wert thou yet crossed, the physic would not take,
nor work so kindly. Our all-wise heavenly Physician knows
this dreadful dart will only do it. Who knows whether,
if thou wert not haunted with these foul furies, I mean
furious injections of the devil's own forge, thou mightest
grow worldly, lukewarm, too passionate, proud, secure;
or something which God would not have thee, and would
be infinitely for thy hurt?
CHAP. XX.
The Second Part of the speculative way of curing the former Malady,
which is by Counsel. Two things which Men must be counselled to
practise.
Be thou therefore patient under them, humbled by them,
make a holy and profitable use of them, comfort thyself in
them by these considerations commended unto thee for that
purpose, and learn how to behave thyself about them by
the following counsels : —
1. As at their first approach and offer thou oughtest to
stir up and steel thy heart to improve the strength and
stoutness of all the powers of they soul ; to make a mighty
and forcible resistance, lifting up at the same instant thy
heart in a bitter complaint against the cruelty and malice
of the adversary, a strong cry for the rebuking of him and
restraint of his hellish spite, with extreme detestation of all
such devilish filth, so take heed that thou never revolve in
thy mind those his blasphemous temptations ; but say with
* And yet I know some horribly afflicted in this kind, and yet in
some respects as outwardly miserable as can be imaifiued ; but then
know, that the merciful power of God is mighfily improved for extraor-
dinary support.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 379
Luther, " a kite or cormorant may fly over my house, but
sure shall never roost or nestle there." Or as another, " a
ravenous and hateful bird may begin to build in mine ar-
bour, 1 cannot hinder it ; but I will never fail to pull it
down as often as she begins." The devil will inject v/he-
ther lliou wilt or no ; but resolve to suffer them by no means
to have any rest or residence in thine imagination. If thou
be a minister (and the holiest men are Satan's special mark
that he would gladly hit with his fiery darts), take advice
which hath proved sovereign and helpful to beat back and
banish these temptations of blasphemy. The mind of every
man of God instructed to the kingdom of heaven is, as I
suppose, still digging into the rich mines of divine truth,
diving into the great mystery of Christ, ever discoursing in
itself for, or doing something for the advancement of the
work of the Lord, their ministerial affairs, and welfare of
souls. Temporizers indeed, seldom and self-pieachers, are
not much troubled this way, neither take these things so to
heart. They seek more to advance themselves than save
souls : their chief study is, if they be not downright good-
fellows, as they call them, either to grow rich, or rise, and
so they are still negotiating industriously about the one, or
plotting ambitiously for the other. But were they of Paul's
mind, " Woe is unto me, if 1 preach not the gospel "
(1 Cor. ix, 16) -, of Chrysostom's temper, who was wont to
tremble when he took into consideration those words, Heb.
xiii, 17, " For they watch over your souls, as they that
must give account;" of Austin's resolution for not meddling
in worldly matters, wherein to deal he deemed a very tiring'
and tedious vexation, and was never well but when he was
wading in the depths of Christian Religion, and busied
about the things of God : I say, if they were thus affected,
they would be such as they ought, and as I now suppose,
to wit, have many webs, as it were, of their holy work in
their heads, all at once ; many ministerial tasks in agitation
and on foot still. Some part of the day they would, perhaps,
search and pierce into the pith and marrrow of some scrip-
ture text; at another time wrestle with the difficulties and
knotty distinctions of some popish or other controversy. At
another, discuss and drive unto a resolution some perplexed
and intricate case of conscience, 6cc. Well, then, this
supposed, upon the very first proposal of these monstrous
and hideous thoughts, presently divert and resort to the
hardest of all those irons thou hast in the fire, if 1 may so
speak, and that which hath need of most hammering ; 1
mean, to the most difficult and weighty points of all those
several spiritual businesses thou hadst last in thy brain, and
380 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
single out that particular which did most puzzle and put thy
understanding to it. Whereabouts, when the strength, heat,
and intensity of thy whole soul is spent and improved, not
only other impertinent wanderings and vagaries, but these
idle and irksome injections also, will more easily vanish
and be gone. Let others also proportionably upon such oc-
casions, besides other helps, have recourse to the most
troublesome and over-mastering part of their honest employ-
ments, to the chiefest and most needful affair of their lawful
callings.
2. In temptations of this nature, never set thyself to dis-
pute with the devil ; he is an old sophist, of above five
thousand years standing in the school of hideous tempta-
tions and hellish policies, and thou art but a novice. He
hath many methods, devices, and depths, which thy
shallow forecast cannot possibly fathom. Direct opposition
by reasons and replies stirreth up the outrageous blasphemer
to grow more furious, and hereby we give him greater ad-
vantage, more matter of molestation and mischief, and may
so plunge ourselves further into an intricate maze of horror
and confused distractions. Our blessed captain, Christ
Jesus, may be a pattern for us in this point. When he was
tempted " to fall down and worship Satan ; " he reasoneth
not the case, but repels him with vehement, extraordinary
detestation and disdain : " Get thee hence, Satan." It will
therefore be our best wisdom at such a time to turn from
him ; and as Hezekiah spread his blasphemous letter, so to
lay open his fury before the Lord, crying mightily unto him,
entreating him even for his own honour's sake to vindicate
the purity of his great majesty, and excellency of his un-
spotted glory, from this hellish filth and horrible villany of
the malicious fiend : that he would cast it as dung upon the
tempter's face ; and in the passion and blood of Christ, free
fully, and for ever, our poor souls, trembling under the
hideousness of his malice and cruelty, from the guilt, stain,
terror, and assault of all such abhorred and prodigious blas-
phemy.
In that other terrible temptation also, to self-murder,
many much wrong themselves this way. In managing this
fiery dart, the adversary deals by way of argument too, and
presses reasons, such as they are, upon the tempted ; some-
times extremely absurd, especially if the party be something
more simple and ignorant ; sometimes exceedingly subtle,
if he be of better understanding and capacity. And thus :
" It is soon done, and the pain quickly past ; thou art likely
thus to languish and lie in misery all thy life long. The
longer thou livest, the larger will be the score of thy sins.
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 381
and so thy torments in hell more horrible hereafter. If it
be once done, it will appear to have been God's decree, and
I hope thou wilt not oppose the accompMshment of that.
Do what thou canst, thou wilt be damned when all is
done *." Now in this case if thou debate the matter with
the devil, and begin to confer, thou art likely enough to be
more and more confounded and entangled with inextricable
astonishment and danger to be utterly undone, and suddenly
blown up by the mine of his soul-murdering sophistry. But
if, according to tiie example and practice of thy Lord and
Master, who hath begun unto thee in this bitter cup, "is
afflicted in all thy afflictions," and ever stands by thee as a
victorious commander and conqueror in all such assaults;
first abominate and beat back this base and bloody motion
with infinite indignation and loathing, " Avaunt, Satan ! '*
and then immediately lay hold on the sword of the Spirit,
and keep him at the point of it, and then assuredly all the
devils in hell cannot hurt thee. Tell him, that against his
vile and villanous suggestions and all the subtleties and
sophistry with which he seconds it, this is thy only answer,
even the precise, holy, and everlasting countermand of his
and thy Creator, the mighty Lord of heaven and earth,
"Thoushalt not kill." Now if it be a crimson and crying
sin, the most deadly opposite and desperate cut-throat of
charity to kill another, and fasteneth such a deep and inex-
piable stain upon the face of a whole kingdom, that it can-
not be razed out "but by the blood of him that shed it"
(Numb. XXXV, 33) ; how execrable and heinous then is
this, and what depth of hell and height of horror doth that
abhorred miscreant deserve and may expect, who naakes
* Here if thou answer — Yea, but in the mean time it is better to
spend the remainder of my few and evil days upon earth than in hell,
he will reply, But so thou shall increase thy sins here, and by conse-
quence thy hellish pains hereafter; to which if thou rejoin, But the
heinousness of self-murder and horribUness of despair may appear more
vile and execrable in the eyes of God than all the other sins I may
commit to the last period of my natural course ; — he may then hide-
ously roar, But so thou mayest both go on lo increase thy sins and make
away thyself at last, and where art thou then ? &c. I know him to
have thus thrown his fiery darts into tremblinir hearts one after another
with extreme subtleness and cruelty; and therefore in these cases do
not admit of any dispute or conference with him; but upon the very
first assault (for who would hear him talk that will tell never a true
word, and is thy sworn enemy ?) be ever sure presently to lay hold upon
the word of God, that weapon of proof which serves like a sword, not
only for defence, as all the other pieces of armour, but also for uiTence.
Beat liack with undaunted resolution and confidence this devilish dart,^
and stop for ever the mouth of the tempter with the contrary chai'geol'
the most holy and all-powerful God — " Thou shalt not kill."
382 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
away with himself 1 For the rule of charity, whereby we
love one another, is proportioned by that charity whereby a
man loves himself. If the devil be able to dissolve aiid
disannul the most absolute, perfect, and just law of the
Most High, who though all other things besides may be
something in possibility which as yet they are not in act ;
yet himself is actually and everlastingly whatsoever he may
be, and cannot hereafter be that which now he is not ; and
so by consequence is without all " variableness or shadow
of turning:" I say, if the "prince of darkness" can
reverse this law of the "Father of lights," "Thou shalt
not murder ; " thou mayest well say thou wilt then think of
another answer. But till that be, which is more than
infinitely impossible ever to come to pass, thou wilt rather
lie in the miseries of hell upon earth (which indeed were
incomparably better), than breaking God's blessed law, go
down into the grave in a bloody coffin made by thy own
hands only at the devil's bidding. Can this madness ever
be matched] for a man, besides self-severing the soul from
his body before the time, by a more heinous and unnatural
villany than murdering of his own father (for every man is
naturally next unto himself), and sending it suddenly
covered with blood, by becoming his own butcher and hang-
man, unto the dreadful tribunal of the all-powerful God,
the most certain and severe revenger of all bloodshed ; to
bring also abundance of unnecessary shame, grief, and
hopeless mourning upon friends, kindred, husband, children,
parents ; a reproachful stain and brand upon house, name,
burial, posterity, &c. ; and that merely at the instance, and
upon the most absurd, ridiculous, and senseless suggestion
of the arch-murderer, thy mortal and immortal enemy ;
against sense, reason, nature, religion, scripture, God's
direct command to the contrary, even heathen philosophy,
heaven and earth !
CHAP. XXI.
Three other things which men must be counselled to practise for the
Cure of the former Malady.
3. Avoid idleness, solitariness, and too much secrecy ;
three main advantages for the adversary, which he watch-
fully apprehending, and plying industriously, works a world
of mischief upon afflicted souls, ia their spiritual miseries.
Idleness lays a man oi>en to all hellish snares and tempta-
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 383
tions, makes the heart, like unmanured ground, fit for
nothing but the wildest and rankest weeds of lust, luxury,
lewd company, the universal inordinateness of original cor-
ruption to domineer, rage, and do what it will. Like
standing pools, naturally prepared and pregnant to breed
and feed the vermin and venom of vilest thoughts and
unnatural filth. Like thoroughfares for Satan's most hideous
and horrible injections to wander and walk up and down in
without restraint or remedy. Solitariness, besides its native
property and power to make sad, increase melancholy, and
aggravate fears, doth in this case, more than any, bring a
heavy woe : " Woe to him that is alone : " for if the weak
Christian fall, " he hath not another to help him up "
(Eccles. iv, 10). He may there be surprized, yield and be
foiled, before he get into such company as might happily
have prevented it, or supported him in the temptation. Too
much secrecy and concealment may cause the wound of a
terrified conscience to bleed inward, rankle, fester, and
grow desperate ; whereas seasonable discovery might have
cured and comforted it. Horror arising from the apprehen-
sion of such uncouth and monstrous thoughts, kept close,
and dammed up in the man's own breast, may swell so high,
that the poor soul may be in great danger to be wofully
drowned and overwhelmed by it ; which had it had vent
betime, eased and emptied itself into some holy and faithful
bosom, might, by divine and discreet counsel, by little and
little dried up quite. I have known him who did bite in
and keep close in his bosom this temptation of blasphemy
the space of about twenty years ; all which while the devil
did tyrannize extremely, and keep him almost in continual
terror. He thought there was never man had such vile and
prodigious thoughts as he ; and if the world knew what
they were, he would be abhorred as a monster of men, and
the loathsomest creature upon earth ; most worthy to be
utterly exterminated and rooted out of the society and con-
fines of mankind. And hereupon many and many a time,
when he apprehended any opportunity, or had any means
oflfered to make himself away, he was tempted thereunto,
principally upon this ground, that it was pity such a horri-
ble blasphemer (for so he -lupposed) should any longer
breathe. But at last hearing the nature, manner, and re-
medy of these hideous injections discovered by the ministry,
afterward privately informing himself further and more fully
from God's messenger, was happily taken off the rack for
the time to come, and most wonderfully refreshed. And
therefore take heed of keeping the devil's counsel. The
tenjpted in this kind may do well to be still conversant in
384 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
religious duties, honest workers of their lawful callings,
Company of skilful experienced soul physicians, or one or
other comfortable employment.
4. Settle in thy heart a peremptory impregnable resolu-
tion never to entertain any thought of that great majesty
and glory above, of the most holy and ever-blessed Trinity,
or any thing thereabout, but such only as is revealed and
represented unto thee in God's book. Whatsoever is ob-
jected by carnal reason to the contrary, or injected by the
devil any ways to deprave the divineness of that glorious
truth, ought to be rejected as cursed, false, and execrable.
And therefore, when that hellish Nimrod shall at any time
hunt and chase thine affrighted soul with these blasphemous
hell-hounds, be sure ever to take sanctuary in the oracles
of God, and keep thee close and safe under this covert.
Whatsoever is not comprehended within the confines of that
sacred pale, warranted by holy writ, the sovereign touch-
stone of all heavenly truth, let it be abhorred, and retorted
as dung upon the face of the tempter. That sense and ap-
prehension of the Deity and divine things which is not
sucked from the breasts of the two Testaments, is in this
regard to be reputed rank poison, repelled and abominated
with infinite indignation and disdain. And for further help
herein, when thou findest thyself thus followed with the
violent and incessant incursions of this furious folly, call
otten and seriously to mind that accursed brand which the
book of God hath set upon the adversary, that he is the
*' father of lies," and let that still continue a more reso-
lute rejection and contempt of whatsoever comes from him.
Suppose a raging madman should follow thee up and down
all the day long, and tell thee that thy father or special
friend were a stone, a bird, a tree, a toad, or whatsoever is
viler or more absurd ; wouldst thou hereupon entertain and
harbour in thy mind any mis-impression or monstrous per-
suasion of the party ? I trow not (only his senseless clamour
and restless raving would be very irksome, troublesome, and
unwelcome) ; especially since thou art furnished with a clear
demonstrative light out of natural philosophy, that he is a
reasonable creature, and thyself seest in him the face and
favour, the shape and proportion of a man. Proportionably
Satan, that bloodthirsty maniac of hell, out of that mad-
ness at which heaven and earth may stand amazed, solicits
thee to admit such and such horrible and hideous conceits
of thy dearest Lord, his Son, and sacred word. (Ah !
cursed fiend, that ever thou shouldst discover such prodigi-
ous malice against thy glorious Maker!) Now God infi-
nitely forbid that this should cause the least alteration, or
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 385
any diminution at all of thy lowliest, most reverent, ador-
ing, and divinest thoughts of so great a God. For have re-
course to the holy records of all sound, supernatural, a.nd
saving knowledge ; I mean, the word of life with which
thou oughtest to consult, and to which only thou art con-
fined in this case ; and thou shalt find him to be the " only
one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts,
or passions ; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness ; the
maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible.
And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons, of
one substance, power, and eternity, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost *." And besides thou mayest grasp
as it were, and feel between thy fingers as it were, even in
every creature, his greatness and goodness, majesty and
might, power and providence. " In the glorious lights of
heaven," saith a noble writer, " we perceive a shadow of
his Divine countenance ; in his provision for all that live,
his manifold goodness ; and lastly, in creating and making
existent the world universal by the absolute art of his own
word, his power and almightiness ; which power, light,
virtue, wisdom, and goodness, being all but attributes of
one simple essence, and one God, we in all admire, and in
part discern per speculum creatumrnm, that is in the dispo-
sition, order, and variety of celestial and terrestrial bodies ;
terrestrial in their strange and manifold diversities ; celes-
tial in their beauty and magnitude, which in their conti-
nual and contrary motions are neither repugnant, intermixed,
nor confounded. By these potent eflfects we approach to
the knowledge of the omnipotent Cause, and by these mo-
tions their almighty Mover." Whensoever therefore that
most implacable and everlasting enemy to God's glory and
the good of his children shall go about to pervert and cross
by his blasphemous injections these sober and sacred con-
ceptions of the thrice-glorious and ever-blessed Deity,
planted in thy mind by his own word and this visible world,
bid him, by the example of thy Lord and Master, " avoid
andavaunt;" trample upon his hellish spite, appeal unto
God's righteous throne with protestations of thine innocency ;
damning them unto the pit of hell in thy judgment, and
hating them not without horror from the very heart-root ;
and so truly resisting them, crying mightily unto God for
* Articles of Keli?ion ; Art. 1. — Exod. xx, 3 ; Deut. vi, 4 j Psalin
xvlii, 31 ; Mai. ii, 10; J Cor. viii, 4; Psalm IxxxiV, 2 ; 2 Cor. vi, 16 ;
2 Chron. xv, 3 ; Jer. x, lOj John xvii, 3 ; 1 Tlies. i, 9 ; Psalm cii,
24,26,27; Dan. vi, 26 ; Psalm civ; .John iv, 24; 2Cor. iii. 17;
1 Sam. XV, 29 ; Hos. xi, 9 ; Ezek. x, 5 ; 2 Cor. vi, 18 ; Revel, xi. 17 ;
1 Tim. i, 17; Rom. xvi, 27; Psalm cxlvij, 5 ; cvi, 1 ; and cvii, 1.
2 L
386 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
pardon, whereinsoever thou shalt fail about them, and for
povyer against them, and then possess thy humble soul in
patience and peace.
5. Being humbled by them, making a holy use of them,
perusing and applying the considerations and counsels in
hand for comfort in them, and conquest over them ; do not
by any means continue to afflict and torture thy spirit about
them. Let them now pass away and be packing ; abandon
them with a holy detestation, contempt, and slighting, with-
out any such dismayedness and terror, as most unworthy of
any longer taking to heart, or notice of; much less of that
anxiety and trouble as to terrify, indispose, and disable
thee for a cheerful discharge of either of thy callings, parti-
cular or general. Divines hold even godly sorrow unsea-
sonable when it unfitteth the body or mind to good duties,
or to a good and cheerful manner of doing them ; how much
more would they not have these hellish distractions and
intrusions to dishearten thee in this kind 1 But least of all
of that pestilent prevailing, as to fill thine heart with ex-
traordinary astonishment, honor, and doubting, whether
such monstrous injections be incident to sanctified souls, a
saving state, and habitation of the Holy Ghost, and so to
put thee into a habit of heavy walking and secret sadness,
by reason of continual questioning the soundness of thy
conversion, the constancy of God's love unto thee, former
assurance of an immortal crown, and whether it be possi-
ble that Jesus Christ should dwell in a soul haunted witii
such horrible thoughts ; procurement of which miseries and
molestations is the adversary's only aim ; for so immeasur-
ably malicious is he, that if he cannot plunge thee into the
pit of hell and everlastmg flames in the world to come, yet
will he labour might and main to keep thee upon the rack,
and in as much terror as he can possibly all thy life long in
this vale of tears. Suffer then this advice to sink seriously
into thy heart : being enlightened, rightly informed, and
directed about them, let them no longer astonish thy spirit,
detain thee in horror, hurt thy heart, or hinder thee in any
duty to God or man, or in a humble, comfortable, and con-
fident walking with thy God as thou art wont, or of thy
former sweet communion with Jesus Ciirist. And the ra-
ther, because, First, It is the tempter's earnest end only
out of pure spite to put this imposture and unnecessary
vexing perplexities upon thee. Secondly, The more thou
art troubled with them and takest them to heart (for that is
it he would have), the more violently and villanously will
he press them upon thee and terrify. Thirdly, They are
not thine, but his fearful sins ; he alone must answer for
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 387
them at that great and last day, and thou go free. It is
his malicious madness, of such a prodigious nature and
notoriousness as is beyond imagination and above all admi-
ration, only fit for a devil. That he may trouble thee
temporally, he mightily aggravates his own eternal tor-
ment
CHAP. XXII.
The Experimental ^^'ay of caring the former Malady.
In a second place let me tender unto thee an antidote,
which hath been found sovereign and successful this
way.
The sum of it is this : — Let the tempted Christian labour
to work and extract by the blessing of God some spiritual
good out of the liorrible hell of these most hateful, abomi-
nable, blasphemous suggestions. And if Satan once see
that thou suckest honey out of his poison, comfort out of
his cruelty, medicine out of his malice, he will have no
heart nor hope to go on ; no courage nor contentment to
continue the temptation.
Take it in the sense, if not in the same words, without any
variation, or enlargement, as it was applied and pros-
pered : —
" Spiteful and malicious fiend, cursed enemy to heaven
and earth ; by the mercies of God, though thy purpose be
most pestilent, yet thou shalt not hurt or have any advan-
tage against me hereby. Thy base and dunghill injections,
tending to the dishonour of my God, and my Christ, &c.
shall make me,
"1. More hate thine infinitely hateful and revengeful
malice against that thrice-glorious and ever-blessed Majesty
above.
" 2. With more feeling and dearness to adore and love
the glory and sweetness of my God and my Redeerner.
For the more excessive and endless I feel thy spite against
him, the more I know is his incomprehensible excellency
and worth.
" 3. To pray oftener and more fervently that ray God would
rebuke thee, and cast this extreme malice of thine as dung
upon thine own face.
" 4. To be still more humbled under the hand of my
mighty Lord ; because 1 cannot be more humbled, and with
more resolution and abhorrence abominate and abandon
388 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING
such prodigiously senseless and hellish blasphemies of his
(for I am sure they are none of mine) into the bottomless
bottom of that darkest dungeon : in the blackest horror
whereof, they were most maliciously and monstrously
hatched.
"5. To take up a strong argument and answer against
another of thy cursed injections tending to Atheism, and
the not being of those endless joys above. Because I most
plainly and palpably feel thee, an invisible spirit, casting
into ray imagination such horrid, absurd, and ridiculously
impious thoughts, which cannot possibly spring ordinarily
or naturally from any power or possibility of mine own soul.
I know thereby and assure myself, that there is also an in-
finite, most wise, and glorious Spirit, which created both me
and thee ; and will in due time chain thee up for ever in
the pit of hell, and bring me at length, by the blessed merit
of his only dearest Son's bloodshed, into the bosom of his
own glory and everlasting bliss.
" 6. To confirm mine own heart with stronger assurance
(which is no mean benefit) that 1 undoubtedly belong unto
God and am in a gracious state. For thou well knowest,
and so doth mine own soul, that thou never troubledst me to
any purpose with these ugly blasphemous thoughts, while
1 yet lay stark dead in sins and trespasses, and drowned
full deep in vanity and lust ; in carnal looseness and sen-
sual courses. Then thou, being the strong man, possessedst
me wholly, and all was quiet, because all was thine. But
being now happily rescued out of thy clutches by a migh-
tier than thou, and having blessedly broke the prison by
the help of the Holy Ghost, thou followest me with this
fiery malice and the most prodigious yellings of that infer-
nal pit. And I am persuaded it is a pestilent piece of thy
deepest cunning, very rarely to vex civil worldlings ; those
thai lie in any gross sin ; or any which thou keepest fast
and secure in thy snares with such affrighting and grisly
temptations.- For thou craftily fearest, lest striking that
horror into the heart of a natural man, which is wont to
arise from such hellish fogs and blasphemous filth, thou
shouldst thereby give him occasion to renounce, detest, and
drive him out of thine accursed slavery, and cause him to
cast about for a new master.
" 7. To take notice of some special corruption, lust, pas-
sion, or spiritual distemper in one kind or other, over which
I have not holden that hand, hatred, wakeful eye, as it
were meet. For I am persuaded ray God, out of his mer-
ciful goodness, aims at and intends some such good unto
my soul, by enlarging thy chain, and suflPering thee at this
AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 389
time to afflict me in this uncouth manner with this hell-
empoisoned dart something extraordinarily. I have not
been so sensible of thy other temptations, far more ensnar-
ing in sin, though not so terrifying ; and therefore my gra-
cious Lord may suffer thee at this time thus to thrust out
thy horns, as I may say, in this most horrible and outrage-
ous encounter, that I may be thoroughly advertised vvhatan
adversary I have ; and so more mind and m.ark him, for
fear of much secret and sudden mischief by my security
and neglect, and be more quickened to an universal watch-
fulness against all his methods, devices, and depths ; as
well his subtle and sly insinuations in the glory of an an-
gel, as his impetuous and furious assaults in the shape of a
foul fiend. Some trouble, cross, heavy accident, disgrace,
discontentment ; some great and weighty affair on foot, un-
seasonable entertainments, sad news from abroad, or some-
thing or other, hath too often stolen my heart from that
full and fruitful attention to holy duties v/hich was due,
and that even upon the Lord's day. And I can now re-
member, and my conscience tells me upon this occasion,
that I have not watched over the many idle, impertinent
wanderings and vagaries of my imagination, as I ought ;
but given so far a way unto them, that they have justly
brought upon me an uncomfortable deadness of affection,
barrenness and indisposition in the use of the ordinances,
and conversing with God by meditation, prayer, hearing of
the word, singing of psalms, examination of the conscience,
and other religious exercises, and I know not into what fur-
ther spiritual misery they may lead me -, and therefore in
great mercy the most wise God goes now graciously about
to correct and mortify the vanity, worldliness, distractions,
and misemployraent of my thoughts, even by the terrors of
these thy most horrible and hellish injections. And l^y the
help of God I will follow the meaning and conduct of his
holy hand for a right use of them, and attaining that happy
end which he doth so mercifully intend.
" 8. To gather skill, experience, and dexterity, for the
raising and reviving of others hereafter, hanging down the
head, heavy-hearted, and maliciously haunted in the same
kind, by discovering unto them thy bootless malice, the sove-
reign medicines I have met with in the ministry of the word,
and the good I gained to my soul hereby, by the help of that
Almighty hand which can turn the darkest midnight into
the brightest morning, and produce a medicinable potion out
of the rankest poison.
" Methinks this heaven, which by Divine blessing I
extract out of thy hell, this healing virtue which I draw
390 AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES.
from thy vilest venom, this spiritual good which I gather
from thy devilish spite, should make thee weary of this
way, and desist from troubling me. I trust in my God it
will shortly cause thee to cast away this weapon, and
quit the field quite. For thou ever infinitely hatest and
hinderest all thou canst the glory of God, all exercise and
increase of grace, and the welfare of my poor soul, which
by accident and his sanctifying power, who ever turns all
things to the best to them that love him, are all happily ad-
vanced, furthered, and enlarged by this raging and pesti-
lent rancour of thine.
" And who would not think, were not the incredible
depth of thy malice and madness equally unfathomable by
the wit of man, but that thou shouldst the rather give over,
because these Satanical suggestions to me that resists are
but crosses and corrections ; but in thee, most outrageous
and execrable blasphemies, which will mightily hereafter
add to the heaviness and horror of thine everlasting chains
of darkness and damnation ' at the judgment of the great
day.'"
CHARLES WOOD AND SON, PRINTERS,
Poppin's Court, Fleet Street.
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