A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

334 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGlife and sinful provocations ; if they have been extraordinarysinners, and but ordinary sorrowers for sin ; if theywere formerly furious in the service of Satan, and now butsomet!,ing faint-hearted in standing on God's side ;if heretoforethey marched inipetuously like Jehu in the pursuit ofearthly pleasures, and now creep but slowly forward in theways oi' God ; or if they begin to look back a^ain withsome uncontrolled glances after disavowed delights andabandoned company, &c. — I say, in such cases the Lord maywithdraw himself in displeasure ; leave them for a time tothe terrors of their own hearts ; all tlieir old sins may returnto the eye of their consciences as unrem tted, 6co. ; thatso their regeneration may be, as it were, regenerated, theirriew birth new born, their sins new sorrowed for, the hatefulnessand horror of their youthful pollutions more hatedand abhorred; and in conclusion (for all the work andways of God with his chosen are ever in love and for theirgood), that the storm being dispersed, the comfortablebeams of iJivine favour may shine more amiably upon themthan ever before, and by the effectual stirring again, andstronger influence of the spiritual life, that was hid in theheart for a season, may sprout out fresh, spring, and spreadabroad more flourishingly and fruitfully for ever afterward.CHAP. XII.Four Cases more of the former Malady,3. For trial, quickening, and exercise of spiritual graces,that they may put foith themselves with more power, improvement,and illustriousness. The cold comfort of adesertion in this case being unto them as water cast uponthe smith's forge to make some of them especially to burninwardly, as it were, with more intensity and heat, and allafterward to break out and flame more gloriously. Thereare many gracious dispositions and endowments in theChristian's heart which would never see the light, at leastwith such eminency, were it not for this darkness. Thebrightness of lamps langushes in the light, but they shineclear in the dark : the splendour and beauty of the starswould never appear were there no night. " Ye have heardof the patience of Job," saith James (chap, v, 11); andwe read also of his excellent faith, when he said, "Thoughhe slay rhe, yet will I trust in him" (Job xiii, 15) ; but