Answ. I speak of that which is ordinary, not ever. The Sun in a clear sky discovers and manifests it self with a witness; though sometimes it be overcast with clouds, or eclipsed with the Moon. This heavenly lamp of Faith shines, and shows it self clearly enough to the sanctified heart, in the calmness of a Christian course, and serenity of the soul; especially freshly cleared, and purged with showers, as it were, of penitent tears: though in the damp of spiritual desertion, darkness of some stronger temptation, eclipse of earthly-mindedness, it may lye hid and obscured for a time. And yet for all this, if Christians would be counselled, and believe the Prophets; if they would not undervalue Gods infinite mercy, by looking upon him through a slavishly dejected and melancholic humour, fwhich is wont to represent him ⟨p. 319⟩as terrible, fierce, and inexorable; whereas in his own nature and sweetest disposition, he is indeed ever most compassionate, tenderhearted, and melting over the bleeding miseries of a truly broken heart: I say, if they would not thus mistake, but conceive aright of that most adored mystery and bottomless depth of his free love, Hos. 14. 4. Ezek. 16. 8. Jer. 31. 3. Cant. 2. 4. Joh. 3. 16. & 17. 23. they might, even in times of desertions, temptations, spiritual afflictions of soul, sweetly uphold their hearts with assurance of aAdherence, though for the present they want the assurance of Evidence. For such an assurance is intimated, Psal. 22. 1. & 42. 5, 11▪ & 43. 5. For instance: many a faithful soul, making conscience of all sin, sincerely following the best things, resolved without reservation to do or suffer any thing for Christ, would give a world to be sensibly assured of Gods favour, and fully persuaded that his sins were pardoned. By reason of the want of sense and feeling whereof, he slavishly languishes upon the rack of tormenting fears and terrors, utterly without all cause; neither only so, but thereby also gratifying the devil, dishonouring Gods free mercy; disabling himself for a comfortable discharge of both his callings; and that which he little thinks on, lying in the sin of not receiving comfort, and of not accepting his own proper legacy which Christ left him, Joh. 14. 27. For in the mean time his heart doth cleave unto Christ▪ as to the surest rock.
Answ. I speake of that which is ordinary, not euer. The Sunne in a cleere sky discouers and manifests it selfe with a witnesse; though sometimes it bee ouercast with clouds, or eclipsed with the Moone. This heauenly lampe of Faith shines, and shewes it selfe clearely enough to the sanctified heart, in the calmenesse of a Christian course, and serenitie of the soule; especially freshly cleared, and purged with showres, as it were, of penitent teares: though in the dampe of spirituall disertion, darkenesse of some stronger temptation, eclipse of earthly-mindednesse, it may lye hid and obscured for a time. And yet for all this, if Christians would bee counselled, and beleeue the Prophets; if they would not vnderualue Gods infinite mercie, by looking vpon him through a slauishly deiected and melancholike humour, fwhich is wont to represent him ⟨p. 319⟩as terrible, fierce, and inexorable; whereas in his owne nature and sweetest disposition, hee is indeed euer most compassionate, tenderhearted, and melting ouer the bleeding miseries of a truly broken heart: I say, if they would not thus mistake, but conceiue aright of that most adored mystery and bottomlesse depth of his free loue, Hos. 14. 4. Ezek. 16. 8. Ier. 31. 3. Cant. 2. 4. Ioh. 3. 16. & 17. 23. they might, euen in times of desertions, temptations, spirituall afflictions of soule, sweetely vphold their hearts with assurance of aAdherence, though for the present they want the assurance of Euidence. For such an assurance is intimated, Psal. 22. 1. & 42. 5, 11▪ & 43. 5. For instance: many a faithfull soule, making conscience of all sinne, sincerely following the best things, resolued without reseruation to doe or suffer any thing for Christ, would giue a world to be sensibly assured of Gods fauour, and fully perswaded that his sinnes were pardoned. By reason of the want of sence and feeling whereof, hee slauishly languishes vpon the racke of tormenting feares and terrours, vtterly without all cause; neither onely so, but thereby also gratifying the deuill, dishonouring Gods free mercy; disabling himselfe for a comfortable discharge of both his callings; and that which he little thinkes on, lying in the sinne of not receiuing comfort, and of not accepting his owne proper legacie which Christ left him,
- fFormat sibi I dola de Deo, iniquitas; fingens ferum & terribilem, qui est amabilis. Bern. Serm. 38. Ca•t.
- aThere is in the Saints certitudo eudent•ae, & certitudo adhaerentiae. The Saints in their greatest extremity, may hau• certitudinem adhaerentia, although they hau• not certitudinem evidentiae. Job says, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, Job 13. 15. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord, Psal. 130. 1. In this cast he must do a• Pherecide• the Athenian did, who held the ship on the shore with his hands; and one of them being cut off, he held with the other; and both being cut off, he held with his teeth: So should a true Christian d• in the time of his greatest dereliction. John Weemse of Lathoquar in Scotland, Preacher of Christs Gospel. In his Christian Synagogue, Lib. 3. ca▪ •.There is in the Saints certitudo eudent•ae, & certitudo adhaerentiae. The Saints in their greatest extremity, may hau• certitudinem adhaerentia, although they hau• not certitudinem euidentiae. Iob sayes, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, Iob 13. 15. Out of the depths haue I cryed vnto thee, O Lord, Psal. 130. 1. In this cast he must doe a• Pherecide• the Athenian did, who held the ship on the shore with his hands; and one of them being cut off, he held with the other; and both being cut off, hee held with his teeth: So should a true Christian d• in the time of his greatest dereliction. Iohn Weemse of Lathoquar in Scotland, Preacher of Christs Gospel. In his Christian Synagogue, Lib. 3. ca▪ .
