A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure. Alas! saith the soul, I am at no certainty, but rather am afflicted and tossed, and not comforted; my heart will come to no stability; I have no Assurance, know not whether I am chosen or called; yea fear that my latter end will be darkness and sorrow. There is I confess forgiveness with God, but justly fear that I shall never be made partaker of it. What is the usual course that is taken in such complaints by them to whom they are made? Mostly they have a good opinion of them that come with these complaints: They judge them to be godly and holy, though much in the dark; if they knew them not before, yet upon these complaints they begin to be well persuaded of them. Hereupon they are moved with pity and compassion, and troubled to see them in their perplexities; and set themselves to tender relief unto them: They mind them of the gracious promises of the Gospel; it may be fix upon some one or more of them in particular, which they explain unto them: Thence they mind them of the abundant Grace and tender Love of the Father, of the merciful care of our High Priest, his readiness and ability to save, his communications of such savours unto them as they perceive not. By such ways and means, by such Applications do they seek to relieve them in the state and condition wherein they are. But what is the issue? Doth not this Relief prove for the most part like the morning cloud, and as the early dew; a little refreshment it may be it yields for a season, but it is quickly again dried up, and the soul left in its heartless withering condition. You will say then, do you condemn this manner of proceeding with the souls of men in their doubts, fears and distresses? or would you have them pine away under the sense of their condition, or abide in this uncertainty all their days? I answer, no; I condemn not the way, I would not have any left comfortless in their depths. But yet I would give these two Cautions; ⟨p. 312⟩1. That Spiritual Wisdom and prudence is greatly required in this matter, in the Administration of consolation to distressed souls. If in any thing, the tongue of the spiritually learned is required herein; namely in speaking a word in season to them that are weary.

Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure. Alas! saith the soul, I am at no certainty, but rather am afflicted and tossed, and not comforted; my heart will come to no stability; I have no Assurance, know not whether I am chosen or called; yea fear that my latter end will be darkness and sorrow. There is I confess forgiveness with God, but justly fear that I shall never be made partaker of it. What is the usual course that is taken in such complaints by them to whom they are made? Mostly they have a good opinion of them that come with these complaints: They judge them to be godly and holy, though much in the dark; if they knew them not before, yet upon these complaints they begin to be well perswaded of them. Hereupon they are moved with pitty and compassion, and troubled to see them in their perplexities; and set themselves to tender relief unto them: They mind them of the gracious promises of the Gospel; it may be fix upon some one or more of them in particular, which they explain unto them: Thence they minde them of the abundant Grace and tender Love of the Father, of the mercifull care of our High Priest, his readiness and ability to save, his communications of such savours unto them as they perceive not. By such waies and means, by such Applications do they seek to relieve them in the state and condition wherein they are. But what is the issue? Doth not this Relief prove for the most part like the morning cloud, and as the early dew; a little refreshment it may be it yields for a season, but it is quickly again dryed up, and the soul left in its heartless withering condition. You will say then, do you condemn this manner of proceeding with the souls of men in their doubts, fears and distresses? or would you have them pine away under the sense of their condition, or abide in this uncertainty all their daies? I answer, no; I condemn not the way, I would not have any left comfortless in their depths. But yet I would give these two Cautions;