A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

;;284 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGis the true reason why he so rageth when he sees a wearysoul make towards Jesus Christ for rest. I have often foretoldyou of Satan's method and malice in managing histemptations in this kind, that being forewarned ye may before-armed. He plots first, and prevails with mostamongst us, to keep them from terror and trouble for sin :but if they be once happily wounded that way, then hisnext plot is to allay and take away the smart by outwardmirth, or daub and draw over a skin only with unsound andsuperficial comfort. But if he find that it bleeds still, andwill not be stanched but only by the blood of Christ, andthat no earthly pleasure can any whit assuage the painthen in the third place doth he cast about and contend withall cruelty to keep the poor soul in a perpetual sad, slavishtrembling, that it may not dare to meddle wiih any comfort,or apply the promises ; but cherishing the bruise, againstthe counsel of the prophets, bleed inwardly still. And thispoint he plies with more eagerness and fury, because thevery next step, to wit, but even reaching out of this spiritualgulf and grief for sin towards the merciful hand ofChrist holden out to help him up, is the next and immediateact by which a man is quite and for ever pulled out ofhis power and put into the paradise of grace.Or in a word, and shorter, thus : — Though thou comestfreshly out of a hell of heinous sins ; and hitherto hast neitherthought, nor spoke, nor done any thing but abominably;yet if now with true remorse thou groanest underthem all, as a heavy burthen, and sincerely longest for theLord Jesus and newness of life, thou art bound presently,immediately after that act and unfeigned resolution of thysoul, to take Christ himself and all the promises of life asthine own for ever. All delays, demurs, exceptions, objections,pretexts, standing out, scruples, distrusts, and contradictionsto the contrary, are dishonourable to God'smercy and free grace, disparagement to the promises, derogatoryto the truth and tender-heartedness of Jesus Christan unnecessary detainment of the soul in terror, and onlya gratification of that roaring lion, whose trade is to tearsouls in pieces and torture them all he can. For as soon aswe are poor in spirit, we are presently blessed (Mat. v, 3) ;as soon as we are weary of our sins, the hand of Christ isready to take off the burthen (Mat. xi, 28) ; as soon as wethirst in the sense I have said, the " fountain of the waterof life " is set wide open unto us (Rev. xxi, 6) ; as soon aswe have got "contrite and humble spirits," we becomeroyal thrones for " the High and Lofty One that inhabitetheternity" to dwell in forever (Isa. Ivii, 15).