I Advise you to set more effectually to the means of your necessary consolation; your strange silent keeping your case to your self (from your mother, and all your friends), is an exceeding injury to your peace. Is it God, or Satan that hindereth you from opening your sore, and make you think that concealment is your wisdom? If it be pride that forbids it, how dare you obey such a commander? Many of our sores are half healed when ⟨p. 23⟩well opened: if Prudence foresee some forbidding inconvenience, you have prudent friends, and two prudent persons may see more than one. But because you will not tell us, I will disjunctively tell it you.
1. Your trouble of soul is either some affliction. 2. Or some sin. 3. Or the doubt of your sincerity and true grace.
I. If it be affliction, dare you so indulge impatience, as to conclude against your future comforts, while you have Gods love and title to salvation? Dare you say that these are of so small weight, that a cross like yours will weigh them down? and that you will not rejoice in all the promises of life eternal, till your Cross be removed?
II. If it be sin, it is either past or present: if past, why do you not repent, and thankfully accept your pardon? If present, it is inward corruption, or outward transgression. Which ever it be, if you love it, why do you grieve for it, and groan under it? If you grieve for it, why are you not willing to leave it, and be holy? If you are willing to leave it, and would fain have Gods grace in the use of his means, to make you holy, this is the true nature of Repentance: And why then are you not thankful for grace received, for Pardon, Adoption, and your part in Christ, more than you are troubled for remaining sin? Should none rejoice that have sin to trouble them, and keep them in a daily watch and war? Read Rom. 7. & 8. if you will see the contrary: If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins. Dare you refuse ⟨p. 24⟩your comforts on such reasons as would deny comfort to all the world? He that saith he hath no sin, is a liar. And will you for this deny the known duty of thanks and praise for all that you have received? You have been taught to difference between cause of Doubting, and cause of filial humiliation.
I Advise you to set more effectually to the means of your necessary consolation; your strange silent keeping your case to your self (from your mother, and all your friends), is an exceeding injury to your peace. Is it God, or Satan that hindereth you from opening your sore, and make you think that concealment is your wisdom? If it be pride that forbids it, how dare you obey such a commander? Many of our sores are half healed when ⟨p. 23⟩well opened: if Prudence foresee some forbidding inconvenience, you have prudent friends, and two prudent persons may see more than one. But because you will not tell us, I will disjunctively tell it you.
1. Your trouble of soul is either some affliction. 2. Or some sin. 3. Or the doubt of your sincerity and true grace.
I. If it be affliction, dare you so indulge impatience, as to conclude against your future comforts, while you have Gods love and title to salvation? Dare you say that these are of so small weight, that a cross like yours will weigh them down? and that you will not rejoice in all the promises of life eternal, till your Cross be removed?
II. If it be sin, it is either past or present: if past, why do you not repent, and thankfully accept your pardon? If present, it is inward corruption, or outward transgression. Which ever it be, if you love it, why do you grieve for it, and groan under it? If you grieve for it, why are you not willing to leave it, and be holy? If you are willing to leave it, and would fain have Gods grace in the use of his means, to make you holy, this is the true nature of Repentance: And why then are you not thankful for grace received, for Pardon, Adoption, and your part in Christ, more than you are troubled for remaining sin? Should none rejoyce that have sin to trouble them, and keep them in a daily watch and war? Read Rom. 7. & 8. if you will see the contrary: If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins. Dare you refuse ⟨p. 24⟩your comforts on such reasons as would deny comfort to all the world? He that saith he hath no sin, is a lyar. And will you for this deny the known duty of thanks and praise for all that you have received? You have been taught to difference between cause of Doubting, and cause of filial humiliation.
