A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

262 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGin purpose and preparedness to do God's will), " thereforewill 1 surely bless thee and greatly multiply thy seed asthe stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore" (Gen. xxii, 16, 17).Rich men cast into the treasury large gifts and royalofferings no doubt (Mark xii) ; for it is there said, " Manythat were rich cast in much " (ver. 41) ; and yet the poorwidow's two mites, receiving worth and weight from her holyand hearty atfection, in Christ's esteem did outvalue andoverweigh them all. " Verily," saith Christ, " 1 say untoyou, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all theywhich have cast into the treasury."Reaso7is. 1. One argument may be taken from theblessed nobleness of God's nature, and the incomparablesweetness of his divine disposition, which by intinitedistance, without all degree of comparison and measure otproportion, doth surpass and transcend the ingenuousnessof the noblest spirit upon earth. Now, men of ingenuousbreeding and generous dispositions are wont to receivesweetest contentment, and rest best satisfied in prevailingover and winning the hearts, good wills, and affections ofthose who attend or depend upon them. Outward performances,gratifications, and visible effects, are often beyondour strength and means ; many times mingled and quitemarred with hypocrisies, disguisemeuts, feigned accommodationsand tiatteries, with self-advantages, bye-respects,and private ends. But inward reverence and love, kindand affectionate stirrings of the heart, are ever and alonein our power, and ever by an uncontrollable freedom exemptedfrom enforcement, dissembling, and formality. Nomarvel then though the most royal and heroical spirits prizemost, and be best pleased with possession of men's hearts,and being assured of them can more easily pardon thewant of those outward acts of sufficiency and service (mostminded by basest men) which they see to be above thereach of their ability and power. Now if it be so thateven ingenuous and noble natures accept with specialrespect and esteem the afiectionateness and hearty wellwilling of their followers and favourites, though they wantdexterity and means to express it actually in visible effectsand executions answerable to their afiections, how muchmore are spiritual longings, holy affections, thirsty desires,graciously accepted of that God, in respect of whose compassions,the bowels of the most merciful man upon earthare cruelty ; in respect of whose unmeasurably amiable,melting, sweetest disposition, the ingenuousness of thenoblest spirit is doggedness and disdafti. Especially since