A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

38 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGcountry into the city, out of the streets into his house, outof his house into his chamber, horror still following himclosely. From his chamber whither will he go but into theinmost cabinet of his bosom, where his conscience dwelleth'?and if he find there nothing but tumult and terror, but guiltiness,confusion, and ciies of despair, which way will hethen turn himself, or whither will he fly then ? He mustthen either fly from himself, which is utterly impossible,or else abide that torment, which is beyond all compass ofthought or expression of tongue." For "all the racks,"saith another, " wheels, wild horses, hot pincers, scaldinglead poured into the most tender and sensible parts of thebody ; yea, all the merciless, barbarous, and inhumancruelties of the holy house, are but mere toys and Maygames, compared with the torments that an evil consciencewill put a man to when it is awakened."CHAP. X.The third sort of people to be reproved, which are the Opposers of apowerful Ministry. Three reasons dissuading men from that sin.3. A THIRD sort, the worst of all and the most pestilent, arethose who do not only not labour in the time of harvest totreasure up comfortable provision against days ot dread,and mispend the day of their visitation wickedly, but also,out of a transcendent strain of impiety, labour might andmain to put out and utterly extinguish the heavenly sunthat creates this blessed day, and makes the season of ourspiritual harvest most glorious and incomparable ; I meanto suppress and quench the saving light of a powerful ministrywheresoever planted and prevailing ; under the sacredinfluence and sovereign heat whereof all God's hiddenones are wont to gather that heavenly stock of grace, comfortof godliness and good conscience, which is able to holdup their heads invincibly in heavy times. These are thevilest of men and of the most forlorn hope ; for they are unhappilytransported with extremest malice, and stormagainst the very means which should sanctify them, andmen which should save them. They do not only maketheir own souls sure for damnation, but also hinder thepower of the word all they can, lest others should be saved.Whatsoever thou dost, do not become one of this reprobatecrew, who heartily desire that the sun of sincere preachingwere quenched and put out, though it were with the blood ofGod's most faithful messengers, as did the men of Anathotli