Ans. I answer, They miss of Gods comfortable presence, 1. Because (it may be) they bring no vessels at all to hold the Consolations of God; I mean, no hunger after Gods presence in the Ordinance: or 2. Because they bring vessels so little, and so narrow-mouthed, that they will hold but very little water; I mean, they bring so little hunger after God, that God will not vouchsafe to satisfy it: or 3. Because they bring their ordinary hearts, their carnal and worldly hearts to heavenly and Spiritual Duties, hearts unsuitable to the Duties, hearts unsensible of the Duties: Thus a man finds no sweetness in his meat; the reason is not, Because his meat is unsavoury, but Because his taste is distempered; the Ordinances are sometimes sweet, and wound always be so, were the souls palate always in the same temper: or 4. Because there is some Achan unstoned, some sin unrepented of that eclipseth the light of Gods countenance, some Spiritual obstructions; these, and such like are the causes, why the Saints sometimes miss of their comforts. — But the fault is never in the Duty, which is brim-full of rare and ravishing comfort;1 that as Bernard relates the story of himself, Sometimes when he went to his Prayers, he found himself dull, and heavy; but after he had struggled a little with his dullness, all on a sudden he was visited with the visitations of the Almighty: I should account my self happy (said he) if these visitations would always last; but Oh, it continues but a while! And Augustine relates this story of himself, that Upon a time, when he and his Mother Monica were discoursing together about the joys of Heaven, and the comforts of Gods Spirit, they were so filled with joy, that Augustine useth these words,2 Lord, thou knowest in that day, how vilely we did esteem of the world, with all his delights. — The comforts of the world are not worthy to be named that day that we speak of these comforts: O the pure, the undefiled comforts and delights that are to be found in Duties, when ⟨p. 33⟩God is found in them: Can a man who is cold, come to the fire and not be warmed? Can he that is in the dark, come into the open Sun and not be enlightened? God is the spring of Comfort, and therefore surely our hearts will be comforted, if we meet with God in our Duties.
Ans. I answer, They miss of Gods comfortable presence, 1. Because (it may be) they bring no vessels at all to hold the Consolations of God; I mean, no hunger after Gods presence in the Ordinance: or 2. Because they bring vessels so little, and so narrow-mouthed, that they will hold but very little water; I mean, they bring so little hunger after God, that God will not vouchsafe to satisfie it: or 3. Because they bring their ordinary hearts, their carnal and worldly hearts to heavenly and Spiritual Duties, hearts unsuitable to the Duties, hearts unsensible of the Duties: Thus a man findes no sweetness in his meat; the reason is not, Because his meat is unsavory, but Because his taste is distempered; the Ordinances are sometimes sweet, and wound always be so, were the souls pallate always in the same temper: or 4. Because there is some Achan unstoned, some sin unrepented of that eclipseth the light of Gods countenance, some Spiritual obstructions; these, and such like are the causes, why the Saints sometimes miss of their comforts. — But the fault is never in the Duty, which is brim-full of rare and ravishing comfort;1 that as Bernard relates the story of himself, Sometimes when he went to his Prayers, he found himself dull, and heavy; but after he had strugled a little with his dulness, all on a sudden he was visited with the visitations of the Almighty: I should account my self happy (said he) if these visitations would always last; but Oh, it continues but a while! And Austine relates this story of himself, that Ʋpon a time, when he and his Mother Monica were discoursing together about the joys of Heaven, and the comforts of Gods Spirit, they were so filled with joy, that Austine useth these words,2 Lord, thou knowest in that day, how vilely we did esteem of the world, with all his delights. — The comforts of the world are not worthy to be named that day that we speak of these comforts: O the pure, the undefiled comforts and delights that are to be found in Duties, when ⟨p. 33⟩God is found in them: Can a man who is cold, come to the fire and not be warmed? Can he that is in the dark, come into the open Sun and not be enlightened? God is the spring of Comfort, and therefore surely our hearts will be comforted, if we meet with God in our Duties.
- 1Beatum me predicarem, &c. Sed rara hora, brevis mora, oh si duraret. Bernard.
- 2Quàm mundus eviluit cum omnibus suis delectationibus. August.
