A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 363"Andlet hastily fall from them in the heat of temptation.1 said," saith David, *' this is my infirmity ; but I will rememberthe years of the right hand of the Most High."" Truly," said Mr. Peacock, " my heart and soul have beenfar led and deeply troubled with temptations and stingsof conscience ; but I thank God they are eased in goodmeasure. Wherefore I desire that I be not branded withthe note of a forlorn reprobate. Such questions, oppositions,and all tending thereto I renounce." Here then is a greatdeal of comfort in the greatest darkness of a spiritual desertion: for we may assure ourselves that God by his blessedSpirit hath a secret influence and saving work upon the soulof his child, when there is no light or feeling of hisfavour at all. The sun, we know, though he leaves hislight upon the face of the earth, yet notwithstanding descendsby a real effectual influence into the bosom and darkestbowels thereof; and there exerciseth a most excellent workin begetting metals, gold, silver, and other precious things.It is proportionably so in the present point; A poor soulmay lie grovelling in the dust, "afflicted, tossed with tempest,"and in present apprehension have no comfort, and yetblessedly partake still of the sweet influence of God'severlasting love, of a secret saving work of grace and almightysupport of the sanctifying Spirit. Let us look uponthe Lord Jesus himself. His holy soul, though he was Lordof heaven and earth, upon the cross, was even as a scorchedheath-ground, without so much as any drop of the dew ofcomfort either from heaven or earth ; and yet at the sametime he was gloriously sustained by an omnipotent influence.And God was never nearer unto him than then ;neither heever so obedient unto God. And I make no doubt, butthat the judicious eye of the well-experienced physicianmay many times easily observe it in those troubled, tempted,and deserted souls which they deal and converse with forrecovery and cure. This secret and saving influence I speakof might be evidently discerned in Mr. Peacock, even atthe worst. Some reverend ministers standing by his bed ofsorrow asked him if they should pray for him. Mark wellhis answer. "Take not the name of God in vain," said he," by praying for a reprobate " which words, well weighed,;seem to imply and represent clearly to a spiritual discerningjudgment some good measure even of the highest degreeof divine love, preferring the glory of God before the welfareof his own soul, rather willing to have the means of hissalvation neglected than the Lord dishonoured. One askinghim if he felt any thing of Christian affection towards sucha one, meaning a godly man. Yes, saith he. Why"? For