A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

264 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGand good will ; to pardon easily want of exactness in performancewhere there are unfeigned purpi ses ; how muchmore will your gracious God, who gains nothing by all thegood works in the world, out of the depth of his dearestcompassions, kindly interpret and accept in good part theholy longings and hungry desires of a panting and bleedingsoul ? How dearly will he love the love of a true-heartedNathanael 1 How willingly will he take the will for thedeed, the groanings of the heart before the greatest sacrifice'?But lest you mistake, take notice here of a twofoldglory: —1. Essential, infinite, everlasting. It is impossible thatthis should either receive disparagement and diminution, oraddition and increase by any created power. And this Imeant in the precedent passage.2. The other I may call accidental, finite, temporary.This ebbs or flows, shines oris overshadowed, as goodness orgracelessness prevails in the world ; as the kingdom ofChrist or powers of darkness get the upper hand amongstthe sons of men. In this regard indeed, rebellious wretchesdishonour God upon earth, I confess ; and godly men bytheir holy duties, good works, and gracious behaviour, makehis name more illustrious in the world ; but what is this tothat essential, infinite, everlasting glory, which was as greatand lull in all that former eternity, before the world was,when God, blessed for ever, enioyed only his glorious self,angels, men, and this great universe lying all hid as yet inthe dark and abhorred dungeon of nothing, as now it is orever shall be?CHAP. VII.One Reason more, confirming the Truth of the former Principle.Reason 2. A second reason may be taken from God's proportionableproceedings in his courses of justice and mercy.In his executions of justice and inflictions of punishment,he interprets and accepts desires for the deeds, aftectionsfor actions, thoughts for the things done. " Whosoever,"saith Christ, " looketh on a woman to lust after her, hathcommitted adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt.V, 28). In God's interpretation, in the search and judgmentof divine justice, he that lusts after a woman in hisheart is an adulterer ; and without true and timely repentanceshall be so taken and proceeded against at that great