Inf. 5. What cause have they to be glad, that are under the hand and care of Christ, in order to a cure, and who do find, or may, upon due examination, find their souls are in a very hopeful way of recovery ! Can we rejoice when the strength of a natural disease is broken, and nature begins to recover ease and vigour again ? And shall we not much more rejoice, when our souls begin to mend, and recover sensibly, and all comfortable signs of health and life ap- pear upon them? particularly, when the understanding, which was ignorant and dark, hath the light of life beginning to dawn into it ; such is that in 1 John ii. £7. When the will which was rebellious and inflexible to the will of God, is brought to comply with that holy will, saying, " Lord, what wilt thou " have me to do ?"" Acts ix. 6. When the heart, which was harder than an adamant, is now brought to contrition for sin, and can mourn as heartily over it, as ever a father did for a dead son, a beloved and only son ; when its aversations from God are gone, at least have no such power as once they had ; but the thoughts are now fixed much upon God, and spiritual things begin to grow pleasant to the soul ; when times of duty come to be longed for, and the soul never better pleased than in such seasons : when the hypocrisy of the heart is purged out, so that we begin to do all that we do heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men, Col. iii. 23. 1 Thess. ii. 4. when we begin to make conscience of secret sins, Psal. cxix. 113. and of secret duties, Matth. vi. 5, 6. when we have an equal respect to all God's commandments, Psal. cxix. 8. and our hearts are under the holy and awful eye of God, which doth indeed over-awe our souls, Gen. xvii. 1. O what sweet signs of a recovering soul are these ! Surely such are in the skilful hand of the great Physician, who will perfect what yet remains to be done.
Second use for direction.
In the last place, this point yields matter of advice and direc- tion to poor souls that are under the disease of sin ; and they are of two sorts, which I will distinctly speak to : viz. First, Such as are under their first sickness of spiritual sorrow for sin, and know not what course to take : or, Secondly, Such as have been longer in the
200 THE METHOD OF GRACE, SERM. X,
hands of Christ the Physician, but are troubled to see the cure ad- vance so slowly upon them, and fear the issue.
First, As to those that are in their first troubles for sin, and know not what course to take for ease and safety ; I would address to them these following counsels.
First, Shut your ears against the dangerous counsels of carnal persons, or relations; for as they themselves are unacquainted with these troubles, so also are they with all proper remedies : and it is very usual with the devil to convey his temptations to distres- sed souls, by such hands ; because, by them, he can do it with least suspicion. It was Augustine's complaint, that his own father took little care for his soul ; and many parents act, in this case, as if they were employed by Satan.
Secondly, Be not too eager to get out of trouble, but be con- tent to take God's way, and wait his time. No woman that is wise, -would desire to have her travail hastened one day before the due time ; nor will it be your interest to hasten too soon out of trouble. It is true, times of trouble are apt to seem tedious ; but a false peace will endanger you more than a long trouble : a man may lengthen his own troubles to the loss of his own peace, and may shorten then1, to the hazard of his own soul.
Thirdly, Open your case to wise, judicious, and experienced Christians, and especially the ministers of Christ, whose office it is to counsel and direct you in these difficulties ; and let not your troubles lie, like a secret, smothering lire, always in your own breasts. I know men are more ashamed to open their sins under convictions, than they were to commit them before conviction : but this is your interest, and the true way to your rest and peace. If there be with you, or near you, an interpreter, one of a thou- sand, to shew you your righteousness, and remedy, as it lies in Christ ; neglect not your own souls, in a sinful concealment of your case : it will be the joy of their hearts to be employed in such work as this.
Fourthly, Be much with God in secret, open your hearts to him, and pour out your complaints into his bosom. The cii. Psalm bears a title very suitable to your case and duty; yea, you will find if your troubles work kindly, and God intend a cure upon your souls, that nothing will be able to keep God and your souls asunder : whatever your incumbrances in the world be, some time will be daily redeemed, to be spent betwixt God and you.
Fifthly, Plead hard with God in prayer for help and healing. " Heal my soul, (saith David) for I have sinned against thee,'1 Psal. xli. 4. Tell him Christ hath his commission sealed for such as you are : he was sent to " bind up the broken-hearted," Isa. lxi. 1. Tell him he came into the world, " to seek and save that which
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" was lost," and so are you now, in your own account and appre- hensions. Lord, what profit is there in my blood ? Wilt thou pursue a dried leaf? And why is my heart wounded with the sense of sin, and mine eyes open to see my danger and misery ; Are not these the first dawnings of mercy upon sinners ? O let it appeal*, that the time of mercy, even the set time, is now come.
Sixthly, Understand your peace to be in Christ only, and faith to be the only way to Christ and rest ; let the great enquiry of your souls be after Christ and faith ; study the nature and necessity of these, and cry to God day and night for strength to cany you to Christ in the way of faith.
Secondly, As to those that have been longer under the hands of Christ, and yet are still in troubles, and cannot obtain peace, but their wounds bleed still, and all they hear in sermons, or do in the way of duty, will not bring them to rest ; to such I only add two or three words for a close.
First, Consider whether you have rightly closed with Christ since your first awakening, and whether there be not some way of sin, in which you still live : if so, no wonder your wounds are Kept open, and your souls are strangers to peace.
Secondly, If you be conscious of no such flaw in the foundation, consider how much of this trouble may arise from your constitution and natural temper, which being melancholy, will be doubtful and suspicious ; you may find it so in other cases of less moment, and be sure Satan will not be wanting to improve it.
Thirdly, Acquaint yourselves more with the nature of true justi- fying faith ; a mistake in that hath prolonged the troubles of many ; if you look for it in no other act but assurance, you may easily overlook it as it lies, in the mean time, in your affiance or ac- ceptance. A true and proper conception of saving faith would go far in the cure of many troubled souls.