A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

;AFFLICTED COISJSCIENCES. 355excellency of any thing so well as by the want of it. Theuninterrupted and secure enjoyment of the best things, andeven those that please us best, without vicissitude and interchange,is wont to breed such cheapness and satiety, andso dulls the soul's appetite, that it is neither so affected withtheir precious sweetness, nor thankfully ravished with thepresent possession of them as it ought. Health is highlyvalued when sickness hath made us sensible of such a jewelwe relish our food extraordinarily when we have fastedlonger than ordinary ;rest refreshes us most when our bodieshave been tired and over-travelled. Sixthly. To make theeconformable in some measure to Christ's immeasurablespiritual suffeiings. Seventhly. To manifest and make illustrioushis mightiness and mercy in thy deliverance, and thepower of Christ's resurrection." " Wilt thou show wondersto the dead 1" saith Heman, "Shall the dead arise andpraise thee! Selah." (Psalm Ixxxviii). Those whom themerciful hand of God hath lifted up out of the depth of aspiritual desertion, will easily acknowledge it as omnipotenta work and wonder, as to pull out of the mouth of hell, andraise the dead men out of the grave. Eighthly. To representunto thee the difference of thy condition in this lifeand that which is to come. This is our time of nurture, notof inheritance. Here we walk by faith, not by sight. Welive by faith, not by feeling. In this vale of tears we arekilled all the day long. But heavenly glimpses of unspeakableand glorious joy, and spiritual ravishments of soul, areseldom and short; their fulness and constant fruition isreserved for the next life. Here we are trained, as it were,in a spiritual warfare against the world, the flesh, and thedevil ; we are exercised unto new obedience by manifoldcrosses, troubles, and temptations. Satan is sometimes setupon us to afflict us with his own immediate hellish suggestions.Sometimes our own sins grievously affright uswith renewed representations of horror. Sometimes ourown God frowns upon us himself with his displeased andangry countenance ; and in love leaves us awhile to theterrors of a spiritual desertion. He sometimes lays hisvisiting hand upon our bodies, and casteth us down uponour beds of sickness ; sometimes he sends heavy crossesupon our outward states, and breaks the staff of our prosperity.Continually, almost, he suffers many maliciouscurs to bark at us with slanders, lies, disgraceful imputations,and all the enemies of grace to pursue us bitterlywith much malice and disdain. Thus are we trained andentertained in this world ; our crowning comes in the worldtojcome. Ninthly, To cause thee to have recourse witli