A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 365of that blessed Saviour of thine upon whom thy soul relies.It is the devil's policy, say divines, to procure for his slavesall the favours, honours, and advancements, all the prosperitiesand pleasures he can possibly, lest if he should notfollow and fulfil their humours this way, they might thinkupon seeking after and serving a new master. Not caring tovex or molest them in this world, because he knows full wellhe shall have time enough hereafter to torment them in hell.And will not thou contrarily be content, if God so please, topass through this vale of tears even with Heman's horror ( Ps.Ixxxviii, 15), since heaven is so near at hand, and thouhast a little before thee an everlasting time to row in thebottomless and boundless ocean of all glory and bliss, in anendless variety of new and fresh delights, infinitely excellentand sweet above the largest created conceit 16. Let us suppose a Christian in these three states (andit is no very strange thing to those who observe or feel God'ssecret and unsearchable dealings with his children): —First, In a fair and comfortable calm and sunshine, afterthe tempestuous troubles and travail in the pangs of thenew birth, when the light of God's countenance, the firstrefreshing warmth of his sanctifying Spirit, the fresh sweetnessand vital stirrings of grace, the ravishing consciousnessof his happy conversion, do fill his soul " as withrnarrow and fatness," and feed it with a kindly and morelively disposition to all good and godly duties. Secondly,In a spiritual desertion, when the sense of God's favour,love, and wonted presence, the comfortable use and exerciseof the ordinances, graces, and spiritual aflPairs,languish and leave him for a time. Thirdly, In the stateof recovery and restitution from such fearful damp anddeprivation of Divine comfort, unto former joyful feelingsand re-enjoyment of his beloved ; so that his revived soulmay sweetly sing, My '* beloved is mine and I am his."Now, I doubt not, but that the middle of these three estates,being accompanied with hearty grief and groans for Christ'sabsence, restless pantings and longings after a new resurrection,as it were, of the sensible and fruitful operationsof grace, renewed desires and endeavours for regainment ofaccustomed surer hold by the hand of faith, patient andprayerful waiting for the return of God's pleased face, &c.,is as pleasing and dear, if not more so, to our merciful Father,as either of the other two. Do you not think, that thefathers of our flesh are as lovingly affected and meltinglymoved to hear the obedient child sigh and sob, cry out andcomplain, because they look not kindly upon him ; but fortrial of his aflFection have hid for a time the much-desired2 1 -A