A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

—196 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGCHAP. XIV.Two Things more, concerning wliicli the Afflicted Is to be advised, andTwo Things wliich the Minister is to heed for avoiding that Error.III. Beware :— of two dangerous errors 1. Either to conceivethat thou mayest not admit of any comfort, or applythe promises comfortably, because thou still findest in thyselfmore matter of mourning and further humiliation.2. Or to think, when thou hast once laid hold upon Christ'sperson and precious sufferings for the pardon of thy sinsand quieting of thy soul, that then thou must mourn nomore.know, were and 1. For the first that our heads seas, oureyes fountains of tears, and poured out abundantly everymoment of our life ; should our hearts fall asunder intodrops of blood in our breast, for anguish and indignationagainst ourselves for our transgressions, yet should we comeinfinitely short of the sorrow and heart's grief which ourmany and heinous lusts and pollutions justly merit andexact at our hands. Therefore we cannot expect from ourselvesany such sufficiency of sorrow or worthiness of weepingfor our sins, as by the perfection and power thereof towin God's favour and draw his mercy upon us. Such aconceit were most absurd, senseless, and sinful, and wouldrather discover and taste of natural pride than true humility,and tend unhappily to the disgrace of God's merciesand gracing our own merits. True it is, had we a thousandeyes it were too little to weep them all out, for the veryvanity of that one sinful sense. Had we a thousand hearts,and they should all burst with penitent grief and bleed todeath for the sins of our souls, it were more than immeasurably,inconceivably insufficient. For were all this so,yet were it not this, but the heart's blood of Jesus Christcould make the Father's heart to yearn compassionatelyover us, or purchase pardon and acceptation at his hands.Tender therefore unto that poor troubled soul, who beingsorely crushed and languishing under the burthen of hissins refuses to be raised and refreshed, endlessly pleadingand disputing against himself out of a strong, fearful apprehensionof his own vileness and unworthiness, putting offall comfort by this misconception, that no seas of sorrow,no measure of mourning, will suffice to enable him to comecomfortably unto Jesus Christ ; — I say, press upon such anone this true principle in the high and heavenly art oflightly comforting afflicted consciences :