Obj. But I carry continually about me a corrupt heart ; if that were once changed, I could have some comfort.
A new heart is God's creature, and he hath promised to create it in us, Ps. li. 10, Eph. ii. 10. A creating power can, not only bring something out of nothing, but contrary out of contrary. Where we are sure of God's truth, let us never question that power to which all things are possible. If ouu hearts were as HI as God is powerful and good, there were some ground of discouragement. In what measure we give up our hearts to God, in that mea- sure we are sure to receive them better. That grace which enlargeth the heart to desire good is therefore given that God may increase it, being both a part and a pledge of further grace, Ezek. xxxvi. 25. There is a promise of pouring clean water upon us which faith must sue out. Christ hath taken upon him to pm'ge his spouse, and make her fit for himself, Eph. v. 26, 27.
Obj, But I have many wants and defects to be supplied.
Arts. It pleaseth him that in Christ ' all fulness shall dwell,' Col. i. 19, from whose fulness grace sufiicient is dispensed to us answerable to the measure of om- faith, whereby we fetch it from the fountain. The more we trust, the more we have. When we look, therefore, to our own want, we should look withal to Chiist's fulness and his nearness to us, and take advantage from our misery to rest upon his all- sufficiency whose fulness is ours, as himself is. Our fulness, with om- life, is hid in Christ, anddistUled into us in such measure as his wisdom thinketh fit and as sheweth him to bo a free agent, and yet so as the blame for want of grace lieth upon us, seeing he is beforehand with us in his oflers of grace ; and our own con- sciences will tell us that our failings are more from cherishing of some lust than from unwillingness in him to supply us with grace.
Obj. But God is of pure eyes, and cannot endure such services as I perform.
Ans. Though God bo of pure eyes, yet he looks upon us in * Him who is blameless and without spot,' Heb. ix. 14, who, by virtue of his sweet-smelling sacrifice, appears for us in heaven, and mingles his odours with our services j
THE soul's conflict. 289
and in him will God be known to us by the name of a kind Father, not only in pardoning our defects, but accepting our endeavours. We ofier our services to God, not in our own name, but in the name of our High Priest, who takes them from us, and presents them to his Father as stirred up by his Spirit and perfumed by his obedience. Jonah's prayer was mingled with a great deal of passion and imperfection, yet God could discem some- thing of his own in it, and pity and pardon the rest.
Chapter XXIV. — OJ outward troubles disquieting the spirit, and comforts
in them.
As for the outward evils that we meet withal in this Hfe, they are either such, 1, As deprive us of the comforts our natm-e is supported withal; or else, 2, They bring such misery upon oui" nature or condition that hinders our well-being in this world.
1. For the first, trust in God, and take out of his all-sufficiency whatsoever we want. Sure we are by his promise that we shall want nothing that is good. "What he takes away one way, he can give another ; what he takes away in one hand, he can give another ; what he withholds one way, he can supply in a better.* Whatsoever comfort we have in goods, fiiends, health, or any other blessings, it is all conveyed by him, who still remains, though these be taken from us. And we have him bound in many promises for all that is needful for us. We may sue him upon his own bond. Can we think that he who will give us a kingdom, wUl fail us in necessary provision to bring us thither, who himself is our portion ?
2. As for those miseries which om* weak nature is subject to, they are all under Christ. They come and go at his command ; they are his messengers, sent for our good, and called back again when they have done what they came for. Therefore, look not so much upon them as to Him for strength and comfort in them, mitigation of them, and gi'ace to profit by them.
To strengthen our faith the more in God, he calleth himself a buckler for defence from ill, and an ' exceeding great reward,' Gen. xv. 1, for a supply of all good; a sun for the one, and a shield for the other. Trust him, then, with health, wealth, good name, all that thou hast. It is not in man to take away that from us which God wiU give us and keep for us. It is not in man's power to make others conceive what they please of us.
Among crosses this is that which disquieteth not the mind least, to be deceived in matter of trust, whenas if we had not trusted we had not been deceived. The very fear of being disappointed made David in his haste think * all men were liars,' Ps. cxvi. 11. But as it is a sharp cross, so nothing will drive us nearer unto God, who never faileth his.