Use. Therefore let us make a narrow search into our souls upon what grounds we oppose sin, and fight God's battles. A common Chi'istian is not cast down because he is disquieted in God's service, or for his inward failings that he cannot serve God with that liberty and freedom he desires, &c. But a godly man is troubled for his distempers, because they hinder the comfortable intercourse betwixt God and his soul, and that spkitual composedness and sabbath of spirit, which he enjoyed before, and desires to enjoy again. He is troubled that the waters of his soul are troubled so that the image of Christ shines not in him as it did before. It grieves hitn to find an abatement in affection, in love to God, a distraction or coldness in performing duties, any doubting of God's favour, any discouragement from duty, &c. A godly man's comforts and gi'ievances are hid fi'om the world ; natural men are strangers to them. Let this be a rule of discern- ing our estates, how we stand affected to the distempers of our hearts ; if we find them troublesome, it is a ground of comfort unto us that our spirits are ruled by a higher Spirit ; and that there is a principle of that life in us, which cannot brook the most secret corruption, but rather casts it out by a holy complaint, as strength of natm-e doth poison, which seeks its destruction. And let us be in love with that work of gi-ace in us, which makes us out of love with the least stu-rings that hinder om* best condition.
Obs. 9. See again. We may be sinfully disquieted for that ivhich is not a sin to be disquieted for. David had sinned if he had not been somewhat troubled for the banishment from God's house, and the blasphemy of the enemies of the church ; but yet, we see, he stops himself, and shai-ply takes up his soul for being disquieted. He did well in being disquieted, and in checking himself for the same ; there were good grounds for both. He had wanted spiritual life if he had not been disquieted, [but] he abated the vigour and hveliness of his life by being overmuch disquieted.
Chapter "VlH. — Of unfittinff dejection, and when it is excessive. And what is the right temper of the soul herein.
Quest. § I. Then, how shall we know when a man is cast down and disquieted^ otherwise than is befitting ?
156 THE soul's conflict.
Am. There is a threefold miscarriage of inward trouble.
1. When the soul is troubled for that it should not be vexed for, as Ahab, when he was crossed in his will for Naboth's vineyard, 1 Kings xxi. 1, 2, seq.
. 2. In the ground, as when we grieve for that which is good, and for that which we should grieve for ; but it is with too much reflecting upon our own particular.
As in the troubles of the state or church, we ought to be affected ; but not because these troubles hinder any liberties of the flesh, and restrain pride of life, but from higher respects ; as that, by these troubles God is dishonoured, the public exercises of religion hindered, and the gathering of souls thereby stopped, as the states and commonwealths, which should be harbours of the church, are disturbed, as lawless courses and persons pre- vail, as religion and justice are triumphed over and trodden under. Men usually are gi'ieved for public miseries from a spirit of self-love only, be- cause their own private is embarked in the public. There is a depth of deceit of the heart in this matter.
3. So for the measiire, when we trouble ourselves, though not without cause, yet without bounds.
The spirit of man is like unto moist elements, as air and water, which have no bounds of their own to contain them in, but those of the vessel that keeps them. Water is spilt and lost without something to hold it, so it is with the spirit of man, unless it be bounded with the Spirit of God. Put the case, a man be disquieted for sin, for which not to be disquieted is a sin, yet we may look too much, and too long upon it ; for the soul hath a double eye, one to look to sin, another to look up to God's mercy in Christ. Having two objects to look on, we may sin in looking too much on the one, with neglect of the other.
Quest. § II. Seeing then, disquieting and dejection for sin is necessary, fiow shall we know ivhen it exceeds measure ?
Ans. 1. First, u^hen it hinders us from holy duties, or in the performance of them, by distraction or otherwise ; whereas they are given to carry us to that which is pleasing to God, and good to ourselves.
Grief is ill when it taketh ofi' the soul from minding that it should, and so indisposeth us to the duties of our callings. Christ upon the cross was gi'ieved to the utmost, yet it did not take away his care for his mother, John xix. 26, 27 : so the good thief, Luke xxiii. 42, in the midst of his pangs laboured to gain his fellow, and to save his own soul, and to glorify Christ. If this be so in grief of body, which taketh away the free use of reason and exercise of grace more than any other giief, then much more in grief from more remote causes ; for in extremity of body the sickness may be such as all that we can perform to God is a quiet submission and a desire to be carried unto Christ by the prayers of others ; we should so mind our grief as not to forget God's mercy, or our own duty.