A12198:585
The Soul's Conflict with Itself
The souls conflict with it self, and victory over it self by faith a treatise of the inward disquietments of distressed spirits, with comfortable remedies to establish them / by R. Sibbs ...The soules conflict with it selfe, and victory over it self by faith a treatise of the inward disquietments of distressed spirits, with comfortable remedies to establish them / by R. Sibbs ...
London: printed by M.F. for R. Dawlman, 1635
THE SOULS CONFLICT with it self. › Chapter 21THE SOVLES CONFLICT with it selfe. › Chapter 21
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
TO begin with troubles of the spirit, which indeed are the spirit of troubles, as disabling that which should uphold a man in all his troubles. A spirit set in tune, and assisted by a higher spirit, will stand out against ordinary assaults, but when God, (the God of the spirits of all flesh) shall seem contrary to our spirits, whence then shall we find relief?
TO begin with troubles of the spirit, which indeed are the spirit of troubles, as disabling that which should uphold a man in all his troubles. A spirit set in tune, and assisted by a higher spirit, will stand out against ordinary assaults, but when God, (the God of the spirits of all flesh) shall seeme contrary to our spirits, whence then shall wee finde reliefe?
Here all is spiritual, God a spirit, the soul a spirit, the terrors spiritual, the devil who joins with these a spirit; yea, that which the soul fears for the time to come, is spiritual, and not only spiritual, but eternal, unless it pleaseth God at length to break out of the thick cloud, wherewith he covers himself, and shine upon the soul, as in his own time he will.
Here all is spirituall, God a spirit, the soule a spirit, the terrours spirituall, the devill who joynes with these a spirit; yea, that which the soule feares for the time to come, is spirituall, and not only spirituall, but eternall, unlesse it pleaseth God at length to break out of the thick cloud, wherewith hee covers himselfe, and shine upon the soule, as in his own time he will.
In this estate, comforts themselves are uncomfortable to the soul; i• ⟨p. 349⟩quarrels with every thing, the better things it hears of, the more it is vexed. Oh what is this to me, what have I to e with these comforts, the more happiness may be had, the more is my grief; As for comforts from Gods inferior blessings, as friends, children, estate, &c. the soul is ready to misconstrue Gods end in all, as not intending any good to him thereby.