A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

358 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTING2. Loss of these Isss principal graces (which by accident isa singular advantage and gain) drives thee nearer untoJesus Christ, at least by many unutterable groans, everyone whereof is a strong cry in the ears of God, and causeththee better to prize and ply, to exercise and improve morefruitfully those other more necessary graces without whichthou canst not be saved. It is a wise and honest passage inMrs.Juxon's monument: "She continued faithful to theend in the most substantial graces. For howsoever shemourned for the want of that degree of joy which she hadfelt in former times, yet she continued in repentance, in thepractice of holiness and righteousness, in a tender love ofGod and to his word and children, in holy zeal and fruitfulnesseven to the last period of her days. And indeed herwant of full ]oy was so sanctified unto her, that it was afurtherance to a better grace, namely, to repentance andself-denial, and base esteem of herself. And 1 call repentancea better grace than joy, because howsoever joy is amost excellent gift of the Spirit, yet unto us repentance ismore profitable. For I make no question but that a mourningChristian may be saved without ravishing joy, and thatChrist may wipe away his teai-s in heaven ; but no Christianshall be saved without repentance and self-denial." Forinstance, the darkness of our spirits in spiritual desertionssets our faith on work extraordinarily. In such a case itha.th recourse with more love and longing to all the fountainsof life, the person and passion of Christ, all the pi'omises,God's free grace, his sweet name, and surveys themmore seriously, searches and sounds them to the bottom,that by some means at least it may subsist and hold up thehead in such an evil time, and amongst so many terrors andboisterous tempests. It is now put to the improvement ofthe very utmost of all its heavenly vigour and valour; andenforced to put forth its highest and most heroical act, evento cleave fast to the sure word of God against all sense andfeeling, against all terrors, tricks of Satan, and temptationsto the contrary. And by this extraordinary exercise andwrestling, it is notably strengtiiened and steeled for the timeto come. For as sloth, idleness, and want of exercise dothmuch emasculate and make our bodies more inactive andunable, but hard&hip, agitation, and employment, dothmuch quicken and fortify them ; so it is in the present point,w^itliout oppositions and assault, faith languisheth and lieshid ;but when storms and spiritual troubles are abroad, itstirs up itself, gathei-s its strength and forces together, castsabout for subsidiary assistance by prayer, ministerial counsel,meditation upon special promises for the purpose, ex-