The Soul's Conflict with Itself

1. Hence to lay our hand upon our mouths, and command the soul an holy silence, not daring to yield to the least rising of our hearts against God. I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, ⟨p. 279⟩¹because thou didst it, saith David. Thus Aaron when he had lost his two sons, both at once, and that by fire, and by fire from heaven, which carried an evidence of Gods great displeasure with it, yet ²held his peace. In this silence and hope is our strength. Flesh and blood is prone to expostulate with God, and to question his dealing, as we see in Gideon, Jeremiah, Asaph, Habakkuk, and others. If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? but after some struggling between the flesh and the spirit the conclusion will be, yet howsoever matters go, God is good to Israel. Where a fearful ³spirit, and a melancholy temper, a weak judgement, and a scrupulous and raw conscience meet in one, there Satan and his, together with mens own hearts, which like Sophisters are continually cavilling against themselves, breed much disquiet, and makes the life uncomfortable. Such therefore should have a special care as to grow in knowledge, so to stick close to sure and certain grounds, and bring their consciences to the rule. Darkness ⟨p. 280⟩causeth fears. The more light, the more confidence. When we yield up our selves to God, we should resolve upon quietness, and if the heart stirs, presently use this check of David, Why art thou disquieted?

1. Hence to lay our hand upon our mouthes, and command the soule an holy silence, not daring to yeeld to the least rising of our hearts against God. I was dumbe, and opened not my mouth, ⟨p. 279⟩¹because thou didst it, saith David. Thus Aaron when hee had lost his two sonnes, both at once, and that by fire, and by fire from heaven, which caried an evidence of Gods great displeasure with it, yet