A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

Now this spiritual jealousy is the solicitousness of the mind of a believer who hath a sincere love for Christ, about the heart, affection, and good will of Christ towards it, arising from a consciousness of its own unworthiness to be beloved by him, or accepted with him. All causeless jealousy ariseth from a secret sense and conviction of unworthiness in the person in whom it is, and a high esteem of him that is the object of it; or concerning whose love and affection any one is Jealous. So it is with this spiritual Jealousy; the root of it is Love, sincere love, that cannot be quenched by waters, nor drowned by floods, v. 7. which nothing can utterly prevail against, or overcome. This gives the soul high thoughts of the glorious Excellencies of Christ, fills it with admiration of him; these are mixed with a due sense of its own baseness, vileness and unworthiness to be owned by him, or accepted with him. Now if these thoughts on the one hand, and on the other be not directed, guided, and managed aright by faith, which alone can ⟨p. 301⟩show the soul, how the Glory of Christ consisteth principally in this, that he being so excellent and glorious, is pleased to love us with love unexpressible who are vile and sinful, Questionings about the love of Christ, and those attended with much anxiety and trouble of mind, will arise. Now this frame may sometimes be taken for a questioning of the promises of God, and that to be a defect in faith which is an excess of love; or at most such an irregular acting of it, as the Lord Christ will be very tender towards, and which is consistent with peace and a due sense of the forgiveness of sins. Mistake not then these one for another, lest much causeless unquietness ensue in the Judgement which you are to make of your selves. But you will say how shall we distinguish between these two, so as not causelessly to be disquieted and perplexed? I answer briefly, ¹1. Unbelief working in and by the questioning of the promises of God, is a weakening, disheartening, dispiriting thing It takes off the edge of the soul from spiritual duties and weakens it both as unto delight and strength. The more any one questions the promises of God, the less life, power, joy and delight in obedience he hath. For faith is the spring and root of all other Graces; and according as that thriveth or goeth backwards so do they all.

Now this spiritual jealousie is the solicitousness of the mind of a believer who hath a sincere love for Christ, about the heart, affection, and good will of Christ towards it, arising from a consciousness of its own unworthiness to be beloved by him, or accepted with him. All causeless jealousie ariseth from a secret sence and conviction of unworthiness in the person in whom it is, and a high esteem of him that is the object of it; or concerning whose love and affection any one is Jealous. So it is with this spiritual Jealousie; the root of it is Love, sincere love, that cannot be quenched by waters, nor drowned by floods, v. 7. which nothing can utterly prevail against, or overcome. This gives the soul high thoughts of the glorious Excellencies of Christ, fills it with admiration of him; these are mixed with a due sense of its own baseness, vileness and unworthiness to be owned by him, or accepted with him. Now if these thoughts on the one hand, and on the other be not directed, guided, and managed aright by faith, which alone can