[3.] Thirdly, Consider that there liave been veiy many under such dreadful horrors and terrors of conscience, and under »uch wrath and, displeasure of an angry God, and that have lain trembling upon their dying beds, and that have been even ready to be stvalloived up in the gulf of despair, ivho would have given all the wwdd, had it been in their power, for the very probabilities of grace. Spira, being in a deep despair for renouncing of those doctrines of the gospel which he had once stoutly professed, said, ' That he would willingly suffer the most exquisite tortures of hell-fire for the space of ten thousand years, upon condition he might be well assured to be released afterward.'* He further added, in that hellish and horrible fit, that his dear wife and children, for whose sake principally he turned away from the gospel, to embrace this present world, appeared now to him as hangmen, hags, and torturers. A despairing soul is Magor Missabib, a terror to him- self; his heart a hell of horror, his conscience an Aceldama, a field of black blood. So that as Augustine describes such a one flying from the field to the city, from the city to his house, from his house to his cham- ber, from his chamber to his bed, &c., so that he can rest nowhere, but is as if infernal devils in fearful shapes were still following of him, and utill terrifying and tormenting his distressed and perplexed soul. Now, doubtless such poor souls would have given ten thousand worlds, had they so many in their hands to give, and that for the very probabilities of grace ; and how many tempted, deserted, clouded, wounded, and be- nighted souls are there, who would think it a heaven on this side heaven, if they could but see probabilities of grace in their souls ! Oh, there- tore, let not the probabilities of grace be a small thing in your eyes, but bow the knee, and let the high praises of God be found in your mouths, even for probabilities of grace! But,
[4.] FouHhly, Consider that Satan is a very deadly enemy to the least probabilities of giuce, and will do all he can to cloud, darken^ and obscure probabilities of grace, since divine vengeance luis cut hi/m
• He died desperately, who died with this desperate saying in hi.s mouth, Sptt et for* tuna valete. Farewell, life and hope together. Desjxiir is Satan's niasttrpiece ; it currioa men headlong to hell, as the devils did the herd of awino into the deep. [Spira : cf. Sibbes, vol. iii., note qq, p. 533. — G.]
Chap. I] a cabinet of jewels. 293
off from the least hopes ^ from the least probabilities of ever obtaininf/ the least dram, of grace or mercy} Oh how does he storm and take on against every probability of grace and mercy that God vouchsafes to his people for their comfort and encouragement ! Satan is an old experi- enced enemy, almost of six thousand years' standing, and he very well knows that probabilities of grace will certainly arm a Christian against many temptations, and sweetly support him under many afflictions, and exceedingly heighten and raise his resolutions. He knows that proba- bilities of grace will turn crosses into crowns, storms into calms, and winter nights into summer days. Satan knows that probabilities of grace will make every bitter sweet, and every sweet seven times more sweet ; and therefore his spirit rises and swells against every probability of grace. Now the greater Satan's rage is against the probabilities of grace, the more thankful we should be for the probabilities [of] grace. It is good to move and act cross to him, who in all his actings loves to act cross to the glory of God and the good of our souls. But,
[5.] Fifthly, Consider that from probabilities in outtvard things, men commovly gather a great deal of comfort, support, quietness, and satisfaction. When the physician tells the patient that it is pro- bable, yea, very probable that he will recover, live and do well, oh what a support, comfort, and refreshing is this to the languishing patient ! When there is but a probability of a good market, how does the market- man smile ; when there is but a probability of good trading, how does the tradesman cheer up ; when there is but a probability of a good voy- age, how does the merchants' and the mariners' spirits rise ; when there is but a probability of a good harvest, how does the husbandman sing ; when there is but some hopes, some probability of a pardon for a con- demned man, how does his spirits revive, and how does his heart even leap and dance for joy ; and so when a Christian has but some hopes, some probabilities of grace, of an interest in Christ, and of being saved, he may well cheer up and maintain his ground against all fears and doubts, objections and temptations. But,
[6.] Sixthly and lastly, Consider there is a great deal of grace and mercy in Scripture per adventures, as you may easily see by compar- ing the scriptures in the margin together."^ Scripture peradventures ought to keep down despair, and raise our hopes and our hearts. To know that God is favourable, and that sin is pardonable, and that mercy is attainable, and that hell is avoidable, is no small comfort to a poor doubting trembling Christian. And as there is a great deal of grace and mercy in Scripture peradventures, so there is a great deal of grace and favour in Scripture may-bes, as you may see by comparing these scrip- tures in the margin together.' Now, if Scripture peradventures and Scrip- ture may-bes afford so much support, relief, and comfort to your souls, as indeed they do, then doubtless probabilities of grace, of an interest in Christ, of going to heaven, and of being saved, ought very much to sup- port, relieve, cheer, and comfort the hearts of all those that have such probabilities. A gracious soul may say when he is lowest and weakest,
* Let not any think, saith Luther, the devil is now dead, no nor yet asleep ; for as he that ' keepeth Israel,' so he that hateth Israel ' never slumbereth or sleepeth.'
■■* Exod. xxxii. 30 ; 1 Sam. ix. G ; 1 Kings xx. 21 ; 2 Tim. ii- 25.
* I Sam. xiv. 6 ; 2 Sam. xvi. 12 ; 2 Kings xix- 4 ; Isa. xxxvii. 4 ; Ezek. xiv. 11 ; Amos V. 16 ; Zeph. ii- 3 ; Dan. iv. 27-
294 A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. I.
Well, though I dare not say that I have grace, yet I have a pevadven- ture for it ; and though I dare not, I cannot say I have an interest in Christ, yet if I have a may-be for it, I ought to bear up bravely and comfortably against all fears and doubts ; yea, and to take the comfort and the sweet of all those blessed probabilities of grace, of an interest in Christ, and of being saved, and of all the peradventures and may-bes that are scattered up and down in the book of God, and with Hannah to walk up and down without a sad countenance, 1 Sam. i. 18.
The twelfth ffiaxiTn 07' consideration.