Talce heed of spending time in complaints ivhen vigorotis actings of grace are your duty.
Fruitless and heartless complaints, bemoanings of themselves and their condition, is the substance of the profession that some make. If they can object against themselves, and form complaints out of their conditions, they suppose they have done their duty. I have known some who have spent a good part of their time in going up and down from one to another with their objections and com- plaints. These things are contrary to the life of faith. It is good, indeed, in our sjDJritual distresses, to apjDly om-selves unto them who are furnished with the tongue of the learned, to know how to speak a word in season unto him that is weary ; but for persons to fill their minds and imaginations with their o\ra objections and com- plaints, not endeavouring to mix the words that are spoken for their relief and direction with faith, but going on still in their own way, this is of no use or advantage. And yet some, I fear, may please themselves in siich course, as if it had somewhat of eminency in re- ligion in it.
Others, it may be, drive the same trade in their thoughts, although they make not outwardly such complaints. They are conversant, for tlie most part, with heartless desjiondings. And in some they are multiplied by their natural constitutions or distempers. Examples of this kind occur imto us every day. Now, what is the advantage
Ver.4.] COMPLAINTS TO BE AVOIDED. 567
of these things? What did Zion get when she cried, " The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me?" or Jacob, when he said, " My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?" Doubtless they did j)rejudice themselves. How doth David rouse up himself when he found his mind inclinable unto such a frame? for having said, " Why dost thou cast me off? Avhy go I mourning because of the opjDression of the enemy?" he quickly rebukes and recollects himself, saying, " Why art thou cast do^vn, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God," Ps. xliii. 2, 5.
We must say, then, unto such heartless complainers, as God did to Joshua, " Get 3^011 up; why lie you thus upon your faces?" Do you think to mend your condition by wishing it better, or comjilaining it is so bad? Are your complaints of want of an mterest in forgive- ness a sanctified means to obtain it? Not at all; you will not deal so with yourselves in things natural or civil. In such things you will take an industrious course for a remedy or for relief In things of the smallest importance in this v/orld and unto this life, you Avill not content yourselves with wishing and complaining; as though industry m the use of natural means, for the attaining of natural ends, were the ordinance of God, and diligence in the use of spiritual means, for the obtaining of spiritual ends, were not.
Do not consult your own hearts only. What is it that the Scrip- ture calls for in your condition? Is it not industry and activity of spirit? And what doth the nature of the thing require? Distress that is 5'et hoped to be conquered evidently calls for industry and diligence in the use of means for deliverance. If you are past hope, it avails not to complain; if you are not, why do you give uj) your- selves to despondencies? Our Saviour tells us that "the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force," Matt, xi. 12. It is not of the outward violence of its enemies seeking to destroy it that our Saviour speaks, but of that siDiritual fervency and ardency of mind that is in those who intend to be partakers of it; for iSia^srai, "is taken by force," Luke xvi. 16, is no more but thayyiWtirai, "is preached;" — "The kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." Pressing into it, and taking it by force, are the same thing. There is, then, a violence, a restless activity and vigour of sjDirit, to be used and exercised for an interest in this king- dom. Apply this to your condition. Are you in dej)ths and doubts, staggering and uncertain, not knowing what is your condition, nor whether you have any interest in the forgiveness that is with God? Are you tossed up and do"\vn between hopes and fears ? [Do you] want peace, consolation, and establishment? Why lie you upon your faces ? Get up, watch, pray, fast, meditate, offer violence to your
568 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Ver. 4.
lusts and corriTptions; fear not, startle not at their crying or impor- tunities to be spared; press unto the throne of grace by prayers, supplications, importunities, restless requests. This is the way to take the kingdom of heaven. These things are not peace, they are not assurance ; but they are part of the means that God hath ap- pointed for the attainment of them.
What, then, is the peculiar instruction that is proper for souls in this condition? That, plainly, of the apostle, 2 Pet. i. 10, "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure." "Alas!" saith the soul, " I am at no certainty, but rather am afflicted and tossed, and not comforted. My heart will come to no stability. I have no assurance, know not whether I am chosen or called ; yea, fear that my latter end will be darkness and sorrow. There is, I confess, for- giveness witli God, but [I J justly fear I shall never be made partaker of it." What is the usual course that is taken in such comj^laints by them to whom they are made ? Mostly, they have a good opinion of them that come Avith these complaints; they judge them to be godly and holy, though much in the dark. If they knew them not before, yet upon these complaints they begin to be well persuaded of them. Hereupon, they are moved with pity and compassion, and troubled to see them in their perjDlexities, and set themselves to tender relief unto them : they mind them of the gracious promises of the gospel ; it may be, fix u^Don some one or more of them in particular, which they explain to them ; thence they mind them of the abundant grace and tender love of the Father, of the merciful care of our High Priest, his readiness and ability to save, his communications of such favours unto them as they perceive not. By such ways and means, by such api^lications, do they seek to relieve them in the state and condition wherein they are. But what is the issue? Doth not this relief prove, for the most part, like the morning cloud, and as the early dew? A little refreshment it may be it yields for a season, but is quickly again dried up, and the soul left in its heartless, wither- ing condition.