There is another sort of depths, and these are before conversion ; and thug was Paul troubled, ' Lord, what shall I do ? ' and thus was Manasseh. Let such consider the commandment, to humble them and cast themselves on Christ and his promises, considering the end of Christ's -coming was to save and seek such as are lost.
Use 4. And if any one shall find himself already escaped such depths as are formerly mentioned, let him take comfort to himself, as being thereby evidently proved to be the child of God ; for that is utterly impossible, that nature should overcome such difficulties, and to that end let him reason after this sort, God's children go to him in depths. I go only to him in depths, therefore I am God's child ; for to have the spirit of prayer to go to God in time of trouble, it is a work of the Spirit ; a natural man hath it not, Job xxvii. 9, 10.
Use 5. Hence therefore, in the next place, note a sure sign of the true religion, namely, to be able to siqiport men in. danger and in spiritual troubles. This is verified in ours, as the subtile Jesuit will acknowledge, while they hold that reposing ourselves merely on mercy and favour in Christ, and not on man's good works, is the safest way. Why, therefore, they live by their uncomfortable rules ; and when they die, fly for succour to these, which in their lifetime they despise.*
Use 6. Moreover, let this be a ground to encourage us never to give over God's cause. He hath said he will not leave us though we be in depth of our sins, if we belong to him, and therefore much less will he leave us in that work which he himself sets us about. He was with Daniel among the lions, with Moses in the bulrushes, with the ' three children' in the fire, with his church through ' fire and water.'
Use 7. Lastly, Let us therefore be sure to keep God our friend, that he may own us ; else when we cry he will not hear us, Prov. i. 28. Acquaint we ourselves with him, as it is in Job xxii. 21, in prosperity, and he will be our refuge, &c.
Doct. 3. In the third place, observe we that afflktions stir np devotions ; for prayers in time of afflictions are cries. Oratio sine malis est avis sine alis ; » Cf. note w, Vol. III. page 531.— G.
ICG THE saint's comforts:
for -uhat allays worldly joy, and emLittcrs it, but aflliction ? Now we know that it is the worldly afflictions* that quenches our zeal and makes us cold. Affliction is a purgation opening the soul, causing it to relish and to aO'cctf spiritually, and to see the wants and necessity of supply, and so procures longing and earnest hungering, Hosea v. 15. ' In their affliction they will seek me early,' and therefore, Ps. cvii. G, it is said they cried to the Lord in their trouble. Now crying supposes want and sense of misery and ardency. Thus were Christ's cries called ' strong cries ;' and indeed weak afliictions many times makes men rather pettish and froward, as Jonah, than ardent in feeling relief; and therefore,
Use 1. Let its interpret GocVs deaU)ir/s iiith a sanctified juchjment. He is a wise physician, and knows when strong or gentle physic is most requisite. Sometimes God by great afflictions doth manifest great graces, but so as notwithstanding they may be mingled with a deal of corruption ; and it is God's use that hereby his graces may be increased, and the corrup- tion allayed, to bring down the greatest cedars, and to cchpse the greatest lights.
Use 2. Secondly, Let 7is oppose desperations hy all means, by p)raycr, by a-yiny ; and if we cannot speak, by sighing ; if not so, yet by gesture, especially at the time of death, for God knows the heart. For then it stands upon eternal comfort. And therefore let us do anything to shew our faith fails not. We must know that every one shall meet with these enemies, that would cause us to despair if they could, for this life is a warring and striving life. We shall have enemies without and within us that will fight against us.
Doct 4. In the next place, observe by the exainple of this holy man, that prayers are to be made only to God, who knows our wants, supports us and binds us up ; and it is only Christ that doth this. None can love us more than he that gave himself for us. He is our eye whereby we see, our mouth whereby we speak, our arms whereby we lay hold on God ; and therefore it is an intolerable unthankfulness to leave this ' fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, and to dig to ourselves cisterns that will hold no water,' Jer. ii. 13; to leave Christ, and run to saints and angels, and the like, &c.
Ver. 2. ' Lord, hear my voice; let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.'
Mark here his constancy and instancy in prayer by his ingemination ;| and this he doth not to work upon God, as if he were hard to be entreated to mercy, but to waken up his own heart, and to entreat of God a more inward and clear communion, communicating increase of grace ; so as God's children are not satisfied wich small portions of grace. And this did Daniel, Dan. ix. 18, 19. 0 Lord, hear, forgive, hearken, do, defer not! His ardency shews into what an exigent he was brought ; and indeed the Lord regards lukewarm prayers no more than lukewarm persons, so as he will spue them out. Prayers must be like incense. It must be fired with zeal.