A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

100 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGObj. Many have believed vi'ho never grieved for theirmisery, as Lydia, &c (Acts xvi, 14).Answ. Who can tell that these grieved not? It follow^ethnot that they had no grief, because none is recorded.All particular actions and circumstances of actions arenot recorded. It is enough that the grief of some, as of the.lews, of the jailor, of the woman that washed Christ's feetwitir her tears, and of others, is recorded (.Acts ii, 37;xvi, 29; Luke vii, .38). Lydia might be prepared beforeshe heard Paul ; for she accompanied them which went outto pray, and she worshipped God (Acts xvi, 13, 14); orelse her heart might be touched when she heard Paulpreach, i he like may be said of those who heard Peterwhen he preached to Cornelius; and of others (Acts x,44.45). Certain it is that a man must both see and feelhis wretchedness, and be wounded in soul for it, beforefaiih can be wrought in him. Yet I deny not but there maybe great difference in the manner and measure of grieving,"&c." The heart is prepared for faith, and not by faith. Justificationbeing the work of God is perfect in itself, but ourhearts are not fit to apply it until God have humbled us,and brought us to despair in ourselves. The whole preparationbeing legal, wrought by the Spirit of bondage tobring us to the spirit of adoption (Rom. viii, 15), leaves usin despair of all help, either of ourselves or the whole world,that so being in this woful plight we might now submit ourselvesto 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 feltnot conscience wounded t.""The preparations to repentance" (evangelical) "arethose legal fits of fear and terror, which are, both in natureand time too, before faith J." "As there can be no birthwithout the pains of travail going before, so neither no truerepentance without some terrors of the law, and straits ofconscience. The reason is plain. None can have repentance,but such as Christ calls to repentance. Now hecalls only sinners to repentance (INlat. ix, 13), even sinnersheavy laden with the sense of God's wrath against sin(Mat. xi, 28). He comes only to save the lost sheep, thatis, such sheep as feel themselves lost in themselves, andknovv 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'sWill, chap, i. sec. 5.t Sclater, The sicli Soul's salve, t Dike on Repentance, chap. i.