A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

278 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGis higher than man in majesty and greatness, which is withan infinite distance and disproportion ; so fai doth he passhim in tender-heartedness and mercy. See Isa. Iv, 8, 9.Thou mayest sometimes upon the awakening, illumination,and search of thy conscience after some drowsy repose,and deeper sleep upon the bed of security ; some foulerensnarement and longer abode in some knows scandaloussin, after the canker of earthly cares and teeth of v/orldlymindedness have, ere thou be well aware, with an insensiblepleasing consumption eaten too far into theheart of thy zeal and other graces ; in the apprehensionof some present terror, arising from a more seriousand sensible survey of the new abhorred villanies andabominations of thine unregenerate time; or from thegrieved remembrance of thy falls and failings ; of thy sinsand unserviceableness since thy conversion, which I ampersuaded trouble the Christian most, and go nearest to hisheart, &c. ;—I say, in such cases as these thou mayest feelsuch a fearfulness and faintness to have surprised the handof thy faith, that it cannot so presently and easily recoverits former hold ; nor clasp about the glorious justice andmeritorious blood of Christ with that fastness and firmnessof assent, with that comfort and confidence, as it was wont.So that for a time thou mayest lie under the torture of aheavy heart, uncheerfulness in all thy ways, and some degreeof horror, because thou canst get no better hold-fast.But more is thy fault ; for never did dearest father solovingly entertain into his greedy arms a penitent sou, returningfrom going astray, than our merciful God upon thyrenewed humiliation is willing to shine upon thee againwith the refreshing beams and blessings of his wonted favour.Yet tell me true, dear heart, though for the presentthat precious and happy prayer of Paul for the Romans," The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing"(Rom. XV, 13), be not fulfilled upon thy soul ; thoughthy former joyful feelings be turned into distrustful fears ;yet doth not that heavy heart of thine desire far more to berecomforted with the presence and pleased face of thy beloved,than crowned with the glory and pleasures of manyworlds? Wouldst thou not much rather feel the hand ofthy faith fastened again with peace and full persuasionupon the person, passion, and piomises of the Lord Jesus,than grasp in thy bodily hand the richest imperial crownthat ever sat upon any Cesar's head? If Satan's spitefulcraft, taking a cruel advantage of thy present dejection ofspirit, do not hinder thy trembling heart from telling thetruth, I know thou canst not deny this. And then I must