Those that are in great place are most in danger, by yielding to them- selves, to lose themselves ; for they are so taken up with the person for a time put upon them, that they, both in look and speech and carriage, often shew that they forget both theii' natural condition as men, and much more their supematui'al as Chi-istians ; and therefore are scarce counselable by others or themselves in those things that concern their severed condition, that concerneth another world. Whereas it were most wisdom so to think of theu" place they bear, whereby they are called gods, Ps. Ixxxii. 6, 7, as not to forget they must lay their person aside, and ' die like men,' 2 Sam. xxiv. 4. David himself that in his afflicted condition could ad-^dse with him- self, and check himself, yet in his free and flourishing estate neglected the counsel of his friends. Agur was in jealousy of a full condition, and lest instead of saying, what have I done? why am I thus cast Ao\m, &c., he should say, ' Who is the Lord ?' Prov. xxx. 9.
Meaner men in then* lesser sphere often shew what their spirits would be, if their compass were enlarged.
It is a great fault in breeding youth, for fear of taking down of their spirits, not to take down their pride, and get victory of their afiections : w^hereas a proud unbroken heart raiseth us more trouble often than all the world beside. Of all troubles, the trouble of a proud heart is the gi'eatest. It was a great trouble to Haman to lead Mordecai's horse, Esth. ^•i. 1, which another man would not have thought so ; the moving of a straw is trouble- some to proud flesh. And therefore it is good to ' bear the yoke from our youth,' Lam. iii. 27 ; it is better to be taken down in youth, than to be broken in pieces by great crosses in age. First or last, self-denial and victory over om'selves is absolutely necessary ; otherwise faith, which is a grace that requireth self-denial, will never be brought into the soul, and bear rule there.
Quest. But, what if pressing upon our souls will not help ?
Ans. Then speak to God, to Jesus Christ by prayer, that as he rebuked the winds and the waves, and went upon the sea, so he would walk upon our souls, and command a calm there. It is no less power to settle a peace in the soul, than to command the seas to be quiet. It is God's prerogative to rule in the heart, as likewise to give it up to itself, which, next to hell is the greatest judgment ; which shoiild draw us to the greater reverence
148 THE soul's conflict.
and fear of displeasing God. It was no ill wish of him,* that desired God to free him from an ill man, himself. Vomine, libera me a malo homine, meipso.
Chapter VI. — Other observations of the same nature.
Obs. 3. Moreover we see that a godly vian can cast a restraint upon him- self, as David here stays himself in falling. There is a principle of grace, that stops the heart, and pulls in the reins again when the affections are loose. A carnal man, when he begins to be cast down, sinks lower and lower, until he sinks into despair, as lead sinks into the bottom of the sea. ' They sunk, they sunk, like lead in the mighty waters,' Exod. xv. 5. A carnal man sinks as a heavy body to the centre of the earth, and stays not if it be not stopped : there is nothing in him to stay him in falling, as we see in Ahithophel and Saul, 2 Sam. xvii. 23, who, wanting a support, found no other stay but the sword's point. And the greater their parts and places are, the more they entangle themselves ; and no wonder, for they are to encounter with God and his deputy, conscience, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords. When Cain was cast out of his father's house, his heart and countenance was always cast down, for he had nothing in him to lift it up- wards. But a godly man, though he may give a little way to passion, yet, as David, he recovers himself. Therefore as we would have any good evi- dence that we have a better spirit in us than our own, gi-eater than the flesh or the world, let us, in all troubles we meet with, gather up ourselves, that the stream of our own affections carry us not away too far.
There is an art or skill of bearing troubles, if we could learn it, without overmuch troubling of ourselves, as in bearing of a burden there is a way so to poise it that it weigheth not over heavy : if it hangs all on one side, it poises the body down. The greater part of our troubles we puU upon ourselves, by not parting our care so, as to take upon us only the care of duty, and leave the rest to God ; and by mingUng our passions with our crosses, and like a foolish patient, chewing the pills which we should swallow down. We dwell too much upon the grief, when we should remove the soul higher. We are nearest neighbours unto ourselves. When we suffer grief, like a canker, to eat into the soul, and like a fire in the bones, to consume the marrow and drink up the spirits, we are accessory to the wrong done both to our bodies and souls : we waste our own candle, and put out our Hght.