CHAP. XIII. (2)

3. Such a Course, though it may quiet the Conscience and the Mind, the rational concluding part of the Soul, yet it doth not sweeten the Heart with Rest and gracious Contention. The Answer it receives is much like that Elisha gave Naaman, Go in peace; 2 King. 5.19. it quieted his Mind, but I much question whether it sweetned his Heart, or gave him any Joy in Believing, other than the natural Joy that was then stirred in him upon his healing. Doe not my words doe good, saith the Lord, Mich. 2.7. When God speaks, there is not only truth in his words, that may answer the Conviction of our Understanding, but also

they doe good, they bring that which is sweet and good and desireable to the Will and Affections: By them the Soul returns unto its Rest, Psal. 116.16.

4. Which is worst of all, it amends not the life, it heals not the evil, it cures not the distemper: When God speaks Peace, it guides and keeps the Soul that it turn not again to Folly, Psa[gap]. 85.8. When we speak it our selves, the Heart is not taken off the Evil. Nay it is the readyest course in the world to bring a Soul into a trade of Backsliding. If upon thy plaistering thy self, thou findest thy self rather animated to the battel again, than utterly weaned from it, it is too palpable that thou hast been at work with thy own Soul, but Jesus Christ and his Spirit were not there. Yea and often-times Nature having done its work, will ere a few dayes are over come for its Reward; and having been active in the work of Healing, will be ready to reason for a new wounding. In Gods speaking peace there comes along so much sweetness and such a Discovery of his Love, as is a strong Obligation on the Soul no more to deal perversly.

(3) We speak Peace to our selves, when we do it slightly. This the Prophet complains of in some Teachers, Jer. 6.14. They have healed the wound of the Daughter of my people

slightly. And it is so with some persons, they make the healing of their wounds a slight work, a look, a glance of Faith to the Promises does it, and so the matter is ended. The Apostle tells us, that the Word did not profit some, because it was not mixed with Faith, Heb. 4.2. [gap], it was not well tempered and mingled with Faith. It is not a mere look to the word of Mercy in the Promise, but it must be mingled with Faith untill it is incorporated into the very Nature of it; and then indeed it doth good unto the Soul: If thou ha[gap] had a wound upon thy Conscience, which was attended with weakness and disquietness, which now thou art freed of, How came[gap]t thou so? I looked to the Promises of pardon and healing, and so found Peace: Yea but perhaps thou hast made too much haste, thou hast done it overly, thou hast not fed upon the Promise, so as to mix it with Faith, to have got all the virtue of it diffused into thy Soul; onely thou hast done it slightly; thou wilt find thy wound ere it be long breaking out again, and thou shalt know that thou art not cured.

(4) Whoever speaks peace to himself upon any one account, and at the same time hath another Evil of no less importance lying upon his Spirit, about which he hath had no dealing with God, that man cry[gap]s Peace when

there is none. A little to explain my Meaning: A man hath neglected a Duty again and again, perhaps when in all Righteousness it was due from him; his Conscience is perplexed, his Soul wounded, he hath no quiet in his Bones by reason of his Sin; he applyes himself for Healing, and finds Peace. Yet in the mean time perhaps worldliness, or Pride, or some other folly where with the Spirit of God is exceedingly grieved, may lye in the bosom of that man, and they neither disturb him, nor he them. Let not that man think that any of his Peace is from God.

Then shall it be well with men when they have an equal respect to all Gods Commandements. God will justifie us from our sins, but he will not justifie the least sin in us; He is a God of purer eyes than to behold Iniquity.

(5) When men of themselves speak peace to their Consciences, it is seldom that God speaks humiliation to their Souls: Gods Peace is humbling Peace, melting Peace, as it was in the case of David; Psal. 51.1. Never such deep humiliation as when Nathan brought him the tidings of his Pardon.

Q. But you will say, When may we take the comfort of a Promise as our own, in relation to some peculiar wound for the quieting the Heart.

A. 1. In general, when God speaks it, be it when it will, sooner or later. I told you before, He may doe it in the very instant of the sin it self, and that with such irresistable power, that the Soul must needs receive his mind in it. Sometimes he will make us wait longer; but when he speaks, be it sooner or later, be it when we are sinning or repenting, be the Condition of our Souls what they please, if God speak he must be received. There is not any thing that in our Communion with him the Lord is more troubled with us for, (if I may so say) than our unbelieving Fears that keep us off from receiving that strong consolation which he is so willing to give to us.

But you will say, We are where we were; when God syeaks it, we must receive it; that is true, but how shall we know when he speaks?

Ans. 1. I would we could all practically come up to this, to receive peace when we are convinced that God speaks it, and that it is our Duty to receive it; But,

2. There is (if I may so say) a secret instinct in Faith, whereby it knowes the voice of Christ, when He speaks indeed; as the babe leaped in the womb when the blessed Virgin came to Elizabeth; Faith leaps in the heart when Christ indeed draws nigh to it; My sheep (sayes Christ) know my voyce, Joh.

10.14, they know my voice, they are used to the sound of it, and they know when his lips are opened to them, and are full of Grace: The spouse was in a sad condition, Cant. 5.2. asleep in security; but yet as soon as Christ speaks she cryes, it is the voice of my beloved that speaks; She knew his voice, and was so acquainted with communion with him that instantly she discovers him: and so will you also: if you exercise your selves to acquaintance & communion with him, you will easily discern between his voice and the voice of a stranger. And take this [gap] with you; when he doth speak he speaks as never man spake; He speaks with power, and one way or other will make your hearts burn within you, as He did to the Disciples, Luk. 22. He doth it by putting in his hand at the hole of the door, Cant. 5.4. his spirit into your hearts to seise on you.

He that hath his sences exercised to discerne good or evil, being encreased in judgement and experience, by a constant observation of the wayes of Christ's entercourse, the manner of the operations of the spirit, and the effects it usually produceth, is the best judge for himself in this case.

2. If the word of the Lord doth good to your souls, He speaks it. If it humble, if it cleanse and be usefull for those ends, for which promises are given: viz. 1 To endear. 2. cleanse,

3. To Melt and bind to Obedience, 4. To self-emptiness, &c. But this is not my business: Nor shall I farther divert in the pursuit of this Direction; without the observation of it, Sin will have great Advantages towards the hardening of the Heart.