A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. ,255hell in some strong temptation, upon purpose to terrify theeI'rom tampering so much with the devil's baits ; so that thouseest nothing about thee for the present but darkness anddiscomforts, and the very horrors of eternal death ready totake hold of thee ;yet for all this, upon the ground of thisloving, gracious resemblance, thou mayest be comfortedand cry confidently with Job, " Though he slay me, yetwill I trust in him" (Job xiii, 15) ; with David, " thoughI walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fearno evil " (Psalm xxiii, 4). " Who is among you," saiththe Prophet (Isaiah 1, 10), "that feareth the Lord, thatobeyeth 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 drunkenBelials is drawn into lewd and licentious company, andso plunges presently over head and ears into pestilentcourses ;falls unhappily to swaggering, drinking, gaming,the mirth and madness of wine and pleasures ; and atlength to express to the life an exact conformity to thatcomplete character given in the book of Wisdom* of theprofessors of good-fellowship (astheycall it) and epicurism,both for pursuit of sensual delights and persecution of trueprofessors, whereby he wastes his patrimony, cuts the heartof his parents, and wounds his conscience. His fathermourns and grieves, consults and casts about with all loveand longing for his recovery and return. At length, out ofsense and conscience of his base and debauched behaviour,vile company, dishonouring God, banishing good motions," he comes to himself," entreats his father upon his kneeswith many tears that he would be pleased to pardon whatis past, receive him into favour again, and he will faithfullyendeavour to displease him no more, but redeem the lossof the former with the improvement of the time to come.How willingly and welcomely think you would such afather receive such a son into the bosom of his fatherly affection,and arms of dearest embracement. And yet so,and infinitely more, is our heavenly Father merciful andmelting towards any of his relapsed children, returning untohis gracious throne with true remorse and hearty grief forso going astray ; which is an incomparable comfort in caseof backsliding, which yet God forbid.10. A father indeed will lay heavier burthens upon hisson now grown into years and strength, and puts him tosorer labour and harder tasks ; but while he is very younghe is wont to forbear him with much tenderness and compassion; because he knows he is scarcely able to carry him-* Wisd. ii, 6, &c. ; xii, &c.