A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 353that trusteth in God, if the fire hath proclaimed itself unableas much as to singe ;i luiir of his head ; if lions, beastsravenous by nature and keen with hunger, being set todevour, have, as it were, religiously adored the very fleshof the faithful man ; what is there in the world that shallchange his heart, overthrow his faith, alter his affectiontowards (Jod, or the affection o; God to him 1" Nay, andbesides, since I only understand a temporary passive desertion,1 must suppose it in him also, who sees full welland doth acknowledge from whence he is fallen, is veryseusible of his spiritual loss, afflicted much with the absenceof the quickening and comforting influence of grace,and grieved at the heart-root that lie cannot do God service,and perform holy duties with that life, power, and lightsomenessas he was wont ; and thereupon resolves to giveno rest unto his discontented soul from cries, complaints,and groans, until God's face and favour be turned towardshim again, and bring with it former feelings and fruitfulness,now so highly prized and heartily prayed for ; uhichblessed behaviour cloth clearly show him to differ from thebackslider, a truly miserable and right woful creature indeed,who insensibly falls from his forvi'ardness, first love,intimate fellowship with the saints, all lively use and exerciseof the ordinances and divine duties, and yet is nevertroubled to any purpose, neither doth challenge nor judgehimseJf for it at all. For we are to know, that the presenceof spiritual weaknesses, decays, and wants, and absence ofdue dispositions, accustomed feelings, and former abilitiesof grace, only then argue a backslider, and are evil signs ofa dangerously declining soul, when they are willingly carriedwithout remorse, or taking much to heart without anyeager desire or earnest endeavour after more heat and heavenly-mindedness.A Christian may be without God's graciouspresence and comtbrtable exercise of grace in presentfeeling, and yet no forsaker of God ; but rather left of him fora time (his heavenly wisdom for some secret holy ends sodisposing), while by grieving, striving, and strong desires,he unfeignedly thirsts after and seriously pursues his formeracceptation and forwardness. Here then is comfort : Godhath hid his face from thee for a season, and thou art leftto the darkness and discomforts of thine own spirit, andthereupon art grievously dejected, thinkest thyself utterlyundone ;yet take notice, that in a spiritual desertion properlyso called, thou dost not willingly forsake God, but Godlorsakes thee ; or rather, as divines truly speak, seems to forsakethee ; for he deals with thee in this case as a father2H 3