A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

!—noINSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGaccount" (Heb. xiii, 17) ; the terror of which place, Chrysostomprofesseth, made his heart to tremble —; I say, bysuch holy and heavenly behaviour as this, in their ministry,to be able at least to say with him in sincerity, not withoutunspeakable comfort "; I take you to record this day thatI am pure from the blood of all men "! (Acts xx, 26.) Letus be moved to this course and frighted from the contrary byconsideration of the different effects and consequences ofplain dealing and daubing, in respect of comfort or confusion.Faithfulness this way,1. Begets those which belong unto God to grace and newobedience. See Peter's piercing sermon, Acts ii, 14—36.2. Recovers those Christians which are fallen, by remorseand 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 strangelywill this man be confounded, and more than utterly withoutall excuse, when he shall meet Paul at that great day beforethe highest Judge4. It is very pleasing and profitable to upright- heartedmen, and all such as happily hold on in a constant and comfortablecourse of Christianity. " Do not my words dogood to him that walketh uprightly!" (Micah ii, 7.) Jtmakes them still more humble, zealous, watchful, heavenlyminded,&c.5. Hardens the rebellious and contumacious. See Isa. vi.In which faithful ministers are also "unto God a sweetsavour 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 starsfor ever and ever " ; and all those happy ones which hehath pulled out of hell by his downright dealing, shall reignand rejoice with him in unknown and unspeakable blissthrough all eternity.But now on the other side, the effects of daubing andmen -pleasing are most accursed and pestilent in manyrespects.1. In respect of God's word and messages : First, notdividing it and dispensing them aright. Secondly, dishonouringthe majesty and weakening the power of themmany times with the unprofitable mixture of human allegations,ostentations of wit, fine friar-like conceits, &c. Evenas we may see at harvest time a land of j;ood corn quitechoked up with red, blue, and yellow flowers, as KintjJames doth excellently nllude in the forecited place. Thirdly,