A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan
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A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

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13.07.2015 Views

270 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING" When I have a good desire," saith Kemnicius*, " thoughit doth scarcely show itself in some little and slender sigh,1 must be assured that the Spirit of God is present, andworketh his good work."''Faith," saith Ursint, "in the most holy man in this life,is imperfect and weak ;yet, nevertheless, whosoever feels inhis heart an earnest desire and striving against his naturaldoublings, both can and must assure himself that he is enduedwith true faith."" If thou shalt feel thyself," saith RollocJ, " to believe inChrist, and that for Christ ; or at least, if thou canst notforthwith attain that, if thou feel thyself willing to believein Christ for Christ, and willing to do all things for God'ssake and sincerely, thou hast certainly a very excellent argument,both of perseverance in faith, and of that faithwhich shall last for ever."" Our faith may be so small and weak," saith Taffin§," that it doth not yet bring forth fruits that may be livelyfelt in us ; but if they which feel themselves in such estatedesire to have these feelings (namely, of God's favour andlove) ; if they ask them at God's hands by prayer, this desireand prayer are testimonies that the Spirit of God is inthem, and that they have faith already. For is such a desirea fruit of the flesh or of the Spirit] It is of the ilolySpirit, who bringeth it forth only in such as he dwells in."" Is it possible," saith Hooker||, speaking of Valentinianthe emperor, out of Ambrose, " that he which had purposelythe Spirit given him to desire grace, should not receive thegrace which that Spirit did desire?"" Where we cannot do what is enjoined us, God acceptethour will to do, instead of the deed itself^f."" I am troubled with fear that my sins are not pardoned,saith Careless. They are, answered Bradford ; for Godhath given thee a penitent and believing heart ; that is, aheart which desireth to repent and believe. For such a oneis taken of him ( he accepting the will for the deed) for apenitent and believing heart**.* Loc. Com. par. i. t Catechis. t On John v.^ I n his Marks of God's Children.||Lib. v, sec. Ix.% Ibid. ** Acts and Monuments, Bradford's Letter to Careless.

AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 271CHAP. IX.By uiiut Marks true Desires of Grace in us may be known.BtFORE 1 come to the use of this comfortable point, lest anydeceive themselves about it, as the notorious sinner, themere civil man, and the formal professor may all do veryeasily, take notice of some marks of this saving desire.It is—1. Supernatural ; for it follows an effectual conviction ofsin and co-operation of the spirit of bondage with thepreaching and power of the law ; for a thorough casting aman down in the sight of the Lord, showing and convincinghim to be a sink of sin, abomination, and curse ; to be quiteundone, lost, and ruined in himself (which preparativework, precedent to the desire I speak of, is itself abovenature); whereupon the soul thus enlightened, convinced,and terrified, being happily led unto and looking upon theglorious mystery of the gospel, the excellency and otier ofJesus Christ, the sweetness and freeness of the promises,the heavenly splendour and riches of " the pearl of greatprice," doth conceive by the help of the Holy Ghost thisdesire and vehement longing, which you may then know tobe saving, when it is joined with a hearty willingness andunfeigned resolution to sell all, to part with all sin, and tobid adieu for ever to our darling delight. It is not then aneffect only of self-love, not an ordinary wish of natural appetite,like Balaam's (Numb, xxiii, 10) ; of those who desireto be happy, but are unwilling to be holy ; who wouldgladly be saved, but are loath to be sanctified.2. It ever springs from a humble, meek, and bruised spirit; very sensible, both of the horror of sin and happiness ofpardon ; both of its own emptiness and of the fulness inChrist ; never to be found in the affections of a self-ignorant,self-confident, unhumbled phaiisee.3. It must be constant, importunately greedy after supplyand satisfaction. Not out of a pang or passion only, orbegot by the tempest of some present extremity, like a flashof lightning, and ihen quite vanishing away when the stormof terror and tempation is over. For if a sincere thii st afterChrist be once on foot, and takes root in a heart truly humbled,it never determines or expires in this life or the life tocome.4. It is ever linked and enlivened with a continued andconscientious use and exercise of the means ; and draws

270 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING" When I have a good desire," saith Kemnicius*, " thoughit doth scarcely show itself in some little and slender sigh,1 must be assured that the Spirit of God is present, andworketh his good work."''Faith," saith Ursint, "in the most holy man in this life,is imperfect and weak ;yet, nevertheless, whosoever feels inhis heart an earnest desire and striving against his naturaldoublings, both can and must assure himself that he is enduedwith true faith."" If thou shalt feel thyself," saith RollocJ, " to believe inChrist, and that for Christ ; or at least, if thou canst notforthwith attain that, if thou feel thyself willing to believein Christ for Christ, and willing to do all things for God'ssake and sincerely, thou hast certainly a very excellent argument,both of perseverance in faith, and of that faithwhich shall last for ever."" Our faith may be so small and weak," saith Taffin§," that it doth not yet bring forth fruits that may be livelyfelt in us ; but if they which feel themselves in such estatedesire to have these feelings (namely, of God's favour andlove) ; if they ask them at God's hands by prayer, this desireand prayer are testim<strong>on</strong>ies that the Spirit of God is inthem, and that they have faith already. For is such a desirea fruit of the flesh or of the Spirit] It is of the ilolySpirit, who bringeth it forth <strong>on</strong>ly in such as he dwells in."" Is it possible," saith Hooker||, speaking of Valentinianthe emperor, out of Ambrose, " that he which had purposelythe Spirit given him to desire grace, should not receive thegrace which that Spirit did desire?"" Where we cannot do what is enjoined us, God acceptethour will to do, instead of the deed itself^f."" I am troubled with fear that my sins are not pard<strong>on</strong>ed,saith Careless. <strong>The</strong>y are, answered Bradford ; for Godhath given thee a penitent and believing heart ; that is, aheart which desireth to repent and believe. For such a <strong>on</strong>eis taken of him ( he accepting the will for the deed) for apenitent and believing heart**.* Loc. Com. par. i. t Catechis. t On John v.^ I n his Marks of God's Children.||Lib. v, sec. Ix.% Ibid. ** Acts and M<strong>on</strong>uments, Bradford's Letter to Careless.

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