A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 341sence of their spouse, the assurance of his Jove, and senseof those graces, that the absence thereof may represent theglory of such an inconaparable happiness and those heavenlypearls more to the life ; and discontinuance of their enjoymentmay inflame and afl^ect their hearts v^ith more holygreediness and eager pursuit after them, and stir up in themthat height of esteem and heat of love, which may in somegood measure be answerable to their invaluable excellencyand sweetness. Such a dulness of heart, deadness of affections,and declination to the world, may grow sometimesupon a good man, that he may find little more contentmentin communion with Jesus Christ than in the prosperity ofhis outward affairs, which is infinitely unworthy a heir ofheaven. But now in such a case, let God make him but torepossess the iniquities of his youth, and fight against himwith all his terrors for a while, and the same man witli allhis heart will prefer the reconciled face of God and peaceof conscience, before the sovereignty and sole command ofall the kingdoms upon earth. While we have a free anduninterrupted recourse unto the throne of grace, we are aptto undervalue and to conceive of that mighty grace ofprayer, but as of an ordinary gift; but it once the Lordplease to leave us to that confusion and astonishment ofspirit, that our ejaculations do sadly rebound upon ourheavy and unheated hearts without answer or encouragementfrom heaven, we shall easily then acknowledge thespirit and power of prayer to be one of the fairest flowersin the garland of all our graces, the very arm of God to domiracles for us many times, and ever to settle our troubledsouls in sweetest peace and patience amidst the greatestpressures and persecutions, either cf hellish or earthlyenemies.CHAP. XIII.Two more Causes of tlie former Malady.Skventhlv. Jesi'.s Christ himself, blessed for ever, drankfull deep of the extremity and variety of sorest sufferings inmany kinds, not, only to deliver his people from the " vengeanceol' eternii^ Are," but also lovingly to learn out of thesense of that sympathy and self-feeling to show himself tender-hearted,kind, and coinpassicnate unto them in all theirextremities, and never to suffer them to sink in any troubleor aflSiclion, though never so full of desperate representa-2 G 3