2. Secondly, when ive forget the grounds of comfort, and suffer our mind to run only upon the present grievance. It is a sin to dwell on sin and turmoil our thoughts about it, when we are called to thankfulness. A physician in good discretion forbids a dish at some times to prevent the nourishment of some disease, which another time he gives way unto. So we may and ought to abstain from too much feeding our thoughts upon our corruptions in case of discouragement, which at other times is very neces- sary. It should be our wisdom in such cases to change the object, and
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labour to take off our minds, and give them to that which calls more for them. Grief oft passeth unseasonably upon us, when there is cause of joy, and when we are called to joy ; as Joab justly found fault with David for grieving too much, when God had given him the victoiy, and rid him and the state of a traitorous son, 2 Sam. xix, 5,seq. God hath made some days for joy, and joy is the proper work of those days. * This is the day which the Lord hath made,' Ps. cxviii, 24. Some in a sick distemper desire that which increaseth their sickness ; so some that are deeply cast down, desire a weakening* ministry, and whatever may cast them down more, whereas they should meditate upon comforts, and get some sweet assurance of God's love. Joy is the constant temper which the soul should be in. ' Rejoice evermore,' 1 Thes. v. IG, saith the apostle. If a sink be stirred, we stir it not more, but go into a sweeter room. So we should think of that which is comfortable, and of such truths as may raise up the soul, and sweeten the spmt.
3. Thirdly, Grief is too much, tvhen it inclines the soul to any inconvenient courses: for if it be not looked to, it is an ill counsellor, when either it hurts the health of our bodies, or draws the soul, for to ease itself, to some unlaw- ful liberty. When grief keeps such a noise in the soul, that it will not hear what the messengers of God, or the still voice of the Spirit saith. As in combustions, loud cries are scarce heard, so in such cases the soul will neither hear itself nor others. The fruit of this overmuch trouble of spirit is increase of trouble.
Quest. § in. Another question maybe. What that siveet and holy temper is the soul should be in, that it may neither be faulty in the defect, nor too much abound in grief and sorrow ?
Ans. 1. The soul must be raised to a right grief.
2. The grief that is raised, though it be right, yet it must be bounded. Before we speak of raising grief in the godly, we must know there are some who are altogether strangers to any kind of spiritual grief or trouble at all ; such must consider, that the way to prevent everlasting trouble, is to desire to be troubled with a preventing trouble. Let those that are not in the way of grace think with themselves what cause they have not to take a minute's rest while they are in that estate. For a man to be in debt both body and soul, subject every minute to be arrested and carried prisoner to hell, and not to be moved ; for a man to have the wrath of God ready to be poured out upon him, and hell gape for him, nay, to carry a hell about him in con- science, if it were awake, and to have all his comfort here hanging upon a weak thread of this life, ready to be cut and broken off every moment, and to be cursed in all those blessings that he enjoys ; and yet not to be dis- quieted, but continually treasurmg up wrath against the day of wrath, by running deeper into God's books : for a man to be thus, and not to be dis- quieted, is but the devil's peace, whilst the strong man holds possession. A burning ague is more hopeful than a lethargy. The best service that can be done to such men, is to startle and rouse them, and so with violence to pull them out of the fire, as Jude speaks, ver. 23, or else they will another day curse that cruel mercy that lets them alone now. In all their jolhty in this world, they are but as a book fairly bound, which when it is opened is fall of nothing but tragedies. So when the book of their con- sciences shall be once opened, there is nothing to be read but lamentations and woes. Such men were in a way of hope, if they had but so much * ' Weakening.' In A and B ' wakening,' but corrected in C as above.
158 THE soul's conflict.
apprehension of their estates, as to ask themselves, * What have I done ?' If this be true that there are such fearful things prepared for sinners, why am I not cast down ? why am I no more troubled and discouraged for my ■wicked courses ? Despair to such is the beginning of comfort ; and trouble the beginning of peace, A storm is the way to a calm, and hell the way to heaven.