A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 335^ve had neither heard of nor admired the one nor the other,had he not been afflicted both with outward troubles andinward terror. It is the highest and most herolcal act offaitli, and it is improved to the utmost, and shown to bearmour of proof, to " trust in the name of the Lord and tostay upon our God when we walk in darkness and haveno light" (Isa. 1, 10). God is best pleased and mosthonoured when we rest upon him without any sensiblecomfort. I make no doubt but that admirable ejaculationof Job, " Though he slay me," &c., did hold scale in God'sacceptation with all those innocencies, integrities, andgracious conformities to his holy law (blessed fruits, I confess,of his invincible faith) enumerated chap, xxxi ; nay,did incomparably overweigh them. Abraham's believingagainst hope was far above and of infinitely more worth withGod than the sacrifice of his son, or all his other gloriousservices. It is no such great matter or mastery to be confidentwhen we are encouraged and hired, as it were, withjoy and peace in believing ; but to stick to Christ and hissure word when we have against us sense and reason, fleshand blood, fears and feeling, heaven and earth, and allcreatures, that is the faith indeed, thereis its excellency, thereis the true and orient sparkling and splendour of thatheavenly jewel. Tha*^ prayer is truly fervent, fullest ofspirit, and enforced with most unutterable groans, which ispoured out lor the recovery of God's pleased countenanceafter it hath been turned away from us for a time. Thatlove is most industrious and mighty, groweth strong ;'Sdeath and into a " most vehement flame," which isenkindled in the upright soul, when her dearest love isdeparted in respect of feeling and fruition. Oh ! then sheprizeth and praiseth his spiritual beauty and excellency asone exceedingly '"sick of love," &c., grieves and luraentsextremely; as you may see, Cant, v, 6— 1'. "I openedto my beloved ; but my beloved had withdrawn himself,and waN gone ; my soul failed when he spuke. I soughthim, but I could not find him ; I called him. but he gaveme no answer. The watchmen that went about the cityfound me, they smot me, > they wounded me ; tlie keepersof the walls took away ray veil from me. I charge you,O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that yetell him that I am sick of love. What is thy beloved morethan another beloved, O thou fairest among women? Whatis thy beloved more tlian another beloved, that thou dost socharge us? My beloved is uhite and ruddy, the chiefestamong ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold,"&c. That thankfulness which springs from a sensible re-