A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

98 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGseverally pressed upon the heart by a discourse of the guiltyconscience, as I have said, must needs full sorely crush itwith 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 conscience,or penitence, and the compunction of heart"(Acts ii, 37); and then succeeds seasonably and comfortablythe v/ork of the gospel. The soul being thus sensibleof, and groaning under the burthen of all sin, is happilyfitted for all the glorious revelations of the abundant richesof God's dearest mercies (See Isa. Ivii, 15 ; Matt, xi, 28;and ix, 13); for all the comforts, graces, and favours whichshine from the face of Christ ; for all the expiations, refreshings,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 humbledfor their sins."'*The course warranted unto us by the Scriptures," saithHieront," is this: First, to endeavour the softening of ourhearers' hearts, by bringing them to the sight and sense oftheir own wretchedness, before we adventure to apply theriches of God's mercy in Christ Jesus. The preaching ofthe gospel is compared by our Saviour himself unto the sowingof seed (Matt, xiii) : as therefore the ground is firsttorn up with the plough before the seed be committed untoit ; so the fallow ground of our hearts must first be brokenup with the sharpness of the law (Jerem. iv, 3), and thevery terror of the Lord, before we can be fit to entertain thesweet seed of the gospel. I would have a preacher topreach peace, and to aim at nothing more than the comfortof the souls of God's people (2 Cor. v, 11); yet Iwould have him withal frame his course to the manner ofGod's appearing to Elijah. The text saith, that first amighty strong wind rent the mountains and brake the rocks,then after that came an earthquake, and after the earthquakecame fire ; and, after all these, then came a stilland a soft voice (2 Kings xix, 11, 12). After the samemanner 1 would not have the still and mild voice of thegospel come, till the strong tempest of the law hath rentthe stony hearts of men and made them to tremble, androttenness to enter into their bones (Habak. iii, 16), or atleast, because our auditories are mixed, consisting of menof divers humours, it will be good for him to deliver his* Of Repentance, Sermon 7. t Tlic Preixlier's Plea.