* ' Estate,' in C.
244 THE soul's conflict.
Ohj. Bnt you will say, though by God's blessing my particular condition be comfortable, yet the state of God's people abroad, and the miseries of the times, disquiet me.
Ans. We complain of the times, but let us take heed we be not a part of the misery of the times : that they be not the worse for us. Indeed he is a dead member that takes not to heart the ill of the times, yet here is place for that complaint, 'Help, Lord,' Ps. xii. 1. In these tempests do as the disciples did, cry to Christ to rebuke the tempests and stoi-ms, Mat. viii. 25. This is the day of Jacob's trouble, let it also be the day of Jacob's trust ; let the body do as the head did in the like case, and in time it shall be with the body as it is with the head.
In this case it is good to lay before God all the promises made to his church, with the examples of his presence in it, and deliverance of the same in former times. God is never nearer his church than when trouble is near. When in earth they conclude an utter overthrow, God is in heaven con- cluding a glorious deliverance. Usually after the lowest ebb, follows the highest spring-tide. Christ stands upon Mount Zion. There is a counsel in heaven, that will dash the mould of all contrary counsels on earth ; and which is more, God will work the raising of the chui'ch, by that veiy means by which his enemies seek to ruin it. * Let us stand still and behold the salvation of the Lord,' Exod. xiv. 13. God gave too dear a price for his church, to suffer it long in the hands of merciless enemies.
As for the seeming flourishing of the enemies of God's church, it is but for a time, and that a short time, and a measured time. * The wicked plot against the just,' Ps. xxxvii. 12 ; they ' are plotters and ploughers of mis- chief,' Job iv. 8 ; they are skilful and industrious in it, but they reap then- own ruin. ' Their day is a coming,' Ps. xxxvii. 12, and ' their pit is in digging,' Ps. xciv. 13 ; take heed therefore of fretting, Ps. xxxvii. 7 ; because of the man ' that bringeth wicked devices to pass, for the arms of the wicked shall be broken,' Ps. xxxvii. 17.* We should help om- faith by observing God's executing of judgment in this kind. It cannot but vex the enemies of the church, to see at length a disappointing of their projects ; but then to see the mould of all their devices tui-ned upon their own heads, will more torment them.
In this case, it will much comfort to go into the sanctuary, for there we shall be able to say, ' Yet God is good to Israel,' Ps. Ixxiii. 17. God hath an ark for his. There is no condition so ill, but there is balm in Gilead, comfort in Israel. The depths of misery are never beyond the depths of mercy. God oft for this very end, strips his church of all helps below, that it may only rely upon him : and that it may appear that the chm'ch is ruled by a higher power than it is opposed by. And then is the time when we may expect great deliverances of the church, when there is a great faith in the great God.
From all that hath been said, we see that the only way to quiet the soul is, to lay a charge upon it to trust God, and that unquietness and impatiency are symptoms and discoveries of an unbeheving heart.
CniVPTER XXVI. — Of (Ih-ine reasons in a believer. Of his minding to praise God, more than to be delivered.
To go on. ' I shall j/et praise him.^
In these words David expresseth the reasons and gi'ounds of his trust, * Head Psalms x., xxxvii., xciv., cxxix,, &c.
THE soul's conflict. 245
namely, from the interest lie liad in God by experience and special covenant : wherein in general we may observe, that those who truly trust in God, labour to back their faith icith sound arf/uments. Faith is an understanding grace ; it knows whom it trusts, and for what, and upon what grounds it trusts. Reason of itself cannot find what we should beheve, yet when God hath discovered the same, faith tells us there is great reason to believe it. Faith useth reason, though not as a gi'ound, yet as a sanctified instrument to find out God's grounds, that it may rely upon them. He behaves best, that knows best why he should believe. Confidence, and love, and other affections of the soul, though they have no reason gi-afted in them, yet thus far they are reasonable, as that they are in a wise man raised up, guided, and laid down with reason ; or else men were neither to be blamed nor praised for ordering then- affections aright ; whereas not only civil virtue, but grace itself is especially conversant in ruling the affections by sanctified reason.
The soul guides the will and affections otherwise than it doth the out- ward members of the body. It sways the affections of confidence, love, joy, &c., as a prince doth his wiser subjects, and as counsellors do a well ordered state, by ministering reasons to them ; but the soul governs the out- wardmembers by command, as amasterdoth a slave, — his will is enough. The hand and foot move upon command, without regarding any reason ; but we will not trust and rejoice in God without reason, or a show of reason at the least.