The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

DOCT. 1. That melting affections and sorrows, even from the sence of Christs sufferings, are no infallible marks of grace.

In this point I have two things to do, to prepare it for use.

• First, To shew what the melting of the affections by way of grief and sorrow is.
• Secondly, That they may be so melted, even upon the account of Christ; and yet the heart remain unrenewed.

First, What the melting of the affections by way of grief and [ 1] sorrow is.

Tears are nothing else but the juice of a mind oppressed, and squeesed with grief. Grief compresses the heart, the heart so compressed and squeez'd, vents it self sometimes in tears, sighs, groans, &c. and this is two fold; gratious and wholly supernatu∣ral, or common and altogether natural. The gratious melting or sorrow of the soul, is likewise two fold, habitual or actual. Ha∣bitual godly sorrow, is that gratious disposition, inclination or ten∣dency of the renewed heart to mourn and melt, when any just oc∣casion is presented to the soul, that calls for such sorrow. It is ex∣pressed,

Ezek. 36.26. By taking away the heart of stone, and giving an heart of flesh. That is an heart impressive, and yield∣ing to such arguments and considerations as move it to mourn∣ing.

Actual sorrow is the expression and manifestation of that its in∣clination, upon just occasions, and it's expressed two ways, either by the internal effects of it; which are the heaviness, shame, loath∣ing, resolution, and holy revenge begotten in the soul upon the account of sin: or also by more external and visible effects, as sighs, groans, tears, &c. The former is essential to godly sor∣row, the latter contingent, and accidental. Much depending up∣on the natural temperature, and constitution of the body.

Natural and common meltings, are nothing else but the effects of a better temper; the fruit of a more ingenious spirit, and easier constitution, which shews it self on any other, as well as upon spi∣ritual occasions.

As Austin said, he could weep plentifully, when he read the story of Dido. The history of Christ is a very tragical and pathetical history, and may melt an ingenious nature, where there is no re∣newed principle at all. So that,

[ 2] Secondly, Our affections may be melted, even upon the score and account of Christ; and yet that is no infallible evidence of a gratious heart. And the reasons for it are,

• The first Reason, because we find all sorts of affections acted and vented, by such as have been no better than temporary believers. The stony ground hearers in Matth. 13.20. received the word with joy: and so did Iohn's hearers also, who for a season re••oyced in his light, Joh. 3.35. Now if the affection of joy under the word may be exercised, why not of sorrow also? If the comfortable things revealed in the Gospel may stir up the one, by a parity of rea∣son, the sad things it reveals, may answerably work upon the other. Even those Israelites whom Moses told that they should fall by the sword, and not prosper, for the Lord would not be with them; because they were turned away from the Lord; yet when Moses rehearsed the message of the Lord in their ears, they mourned greatly. Numb. 14.39. I know the Lord pardoned too many of them their iniquites, though he took vengeance on their inventions; and yet it's as true, that with many of them God was not well plea∣sed, 1 Cor. 10.5. Many instances of their weeping and mourning before the Lord, we find in the sacred story: and yet their hearts were not stedfast with God.
• ...

• ...

  The second Reason is, because though the objects, about which our affections and passions are moved, may be spiritual; yet the motives and principles that set them on work, may be but carnal, and natural ones. When I see a person affected in the hearing of the word, or prayer; even unto tears▪ I cannot presently con∣clude, surely this is the effect of grace. For it's possible the pa∣thetical qual••ty of the subject matter, the rhetorick of the speaker, the very▪ affecting tone, and modulation of the voice, may draw tears; as well as faith working upon the spirituality, and deep con∣cernment the soul hath in those things.

  Whilst Austin was a Manichee, he sometimes heard Ambrose, and saith he, I was greatly affected in hearing him even unto tears, many times; howbeit, it was not the Heavenly nature of the sub∣ject, but the abilities and rare parts of the speaker that so af∣fected him. And this was the case of Ezekiels hearers, Ezek. 33.32. Again,

• The third Reason is, these motions of the affections, may rather be a fit and mood, than the very frame and temper of the soul. Now there is a vast difference betwixt these. There are times and seasons when the roughest, and most obdure hearts may be pensive and tender; but that is not its temper and frame, but only a fit, a pang, a transient passion: so the Lord complains of them. Hos. 6.4. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee, O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew, it goeth away: and so he complains, Psal. 78.34, 35, 36. When he slew them, then they sought him; and they returned, and enquired early after God. And they remembred that God was their rock, and the most high God their Redeemer; never∣theless they did flatter him with their lips, and lyed unto him with their tongues. For had this been the gratious temper of their souls, it would have continued with them: they would not have been up and down, off and on, hot and cold with God, as they were. Therefore we conclude that we cannot infer a work of grace upon the heart, simply and meerly from the meltings and thaws that are sometimes upon it. And hence for your use I shall Infer that.

Inference 1.

If such as sometimes feel their hearts thawed and melted with the consideration of the sufferings of Christ, may yet be deceived. What cause have they to fear, and tremble: whose hearts are as unrelenting as the Rocks! Yielding to nothing that is pro∣posed, or urged upon them? How many such are there, of whom we may say as Christ speaks of the inflexible Jews: We have Piped unto you, but ye have not Danced. We have mourned unto you, but ye have not lamented, Matth. 11.17. They must inevitably come short of Heaven, that come so short of those, that do come short of Heaven. If those perish that have rejoyced under the Promises; and mourned under the threats of the Word. What shall become of them that are as unconcerned and untouched by what they hear, as the Seats they sit on, or the dead that lie under their feet! Who are given up to such hardness of heart, that nothing can touch or affect them. One would think the consi∣deration of the sixth Chapter to the Hebrews should startle such men and women; and make them cry out, Lord, what will become of such a sensless, stupid, dead creature as I am? If they that have been enlightned, and have tasted the heavenly gift; and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost; and have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come, may, not∣withstanding such high raised affections as these, so fall away, that it shall be impossible to receive them again by Repentance: what shall we then say or think of his Estate, to whom the most pene∣trating and awakening truths are no more than a Tale that is told? The Fire and Hammer of the Gospel can neither melt nor break them, they are Iron, and Brass, Ier. 6.28.29.

Inference 2.

If such as these may eternally miscarry, Then let all look care∣fully to their foundation, and see that they do not bless themselves in a thing of nought. It's manifest from 1 Cor. 10.12. That many souls stand exceeding dangerously, who are yet strongly conceited of their own safety. And if you please to consult those Scriptures in the margent, you shall find vain confidence to be a ruling folly over the greatest part of men: and that which is the

utter overthrow, and undoing of multitudes of Professors.

Now, there is nothing more apt to beget and breed this vain soul undoing confidence, than the stirrings and meltings of our affections about spiritual things, whilst the heart remains unrenew∣ed all the while. For (as a grave Divine hath well observed) such a man seems to have all that is required of a Christian, and herein to have attained the very end of all knowledge; which is operation and influence upon the heart and affections.

Indeed (thinks such a poor deluded soul,) if I did hear, read, or pray without any inward affections, with a dead, cold, and unconcerned heart: or if I did make shew of Zeal, and affection in dutys, and had it not▪ well might I suspect my self to be a self-cozening Hypocrite: but its not so with me. I feel my heart really melted many times, when I read the sufferings of Christ. I feel my heart raised, and ravished with strange Joys and com∣forts, when I hear the glory of Heaven opened in the Gospel.

Indeed if it were not so with me, I might doubt the root of the matter is wanting. But if to my knowledge, affection be added. A melting heart, matched with a knowing head; now I may be confident all is well. I have often heard Ministers cautioning and warning their people, not to rest satisfied with idle and unpractical notions in their understandings; but to labour for impressions upon their hearts, this I have attained; and therefore what danger of me?

I have often heard it given as the mark of an Hypocrite, that he hath light in his head; but it sheds not down its influences upon the heart. Whereas in those that are sincere, it works on their hearts and affections. So I find it with me, therfore I am in a most safe estate.

O Soul, of all the false signs of grace, none more dangerous, than those that most resemble true ones. And never doth the De∣vil more surely and incurably destroy, than when transformed in∣to an Angel of light. What if these meltings of thy heart, be but a flower of nature? What if thou art more beholding to a good temper of body, than a gratious change of spirit for these things? Well, so it may be. Therefore be not secure, but fear and watch. Possibly if thou wouldst but search thine own heart in this matter, thou maist find, that any other pathetical moving story, will have the like effects upon thee. Possibly too, thou maist find that not∣withstanding all thy raptures and joys at the hearing of Heaven,

and its glory; yet after that pang is over, thy heart is habitually earthly, and thy conversation is not there.

For all thou canst mourn at the relations of Christs Sufferings, thou art not so affected with sin, that was the meritorious cause of the sufferings of Christ; as to crucifie one corruption, or deny the next temptation, or part with any way of sin that is gainful, or pleasurable to thee for his sake.

Why now, Reader, if it be so with thee, what art thou the bet∣ter f••r the fluency of thy affections? Dost think in earnest, that Christ hath the better thoughts of thee; because thou canst shed tears for him; when notwithstanding thou every day piercest and woundest him? O be not deceived. Nay for ought I know, thou maist find upon a narrow search; that thou puttest thy tears in the room of Christs blood, and givest the confidence, and dependance of thy soul to them; and if so, they shall never do thee any good.

Oh therefore search thy heart, Reader, be not too confident; take not up too easily, upon such poor weak grounds as these, a soul undoing confidence. Always remember, the Wheat and Tares r••semble each other in their first springing up. That an Egg is not liker to an Egg, than Hypocrisie, in some shapes and forms into which it can cast it self, is like a genuine work of grace. O re∣member that among the Ten Virgins, that is, the reformed pro∣fessors of Religion; that have cast off and separated themselves from the worship and defilements of Anti-christ: five of them were foolish.

There be first, that shall be last; and last, that shall be first, Matth. 19.30. Great is the deceitfulness of our hearts, Ier. 17.9. And many are the subtilties and devices of Satan, 2 Cor. 11.3. Many also are the astonishing examples of self deceiving souls, recorded in the Word.

Remember what you lately read of Iudas. Great also will be the exactness of the Last Judgement. And how confident soever you be, that you shall speed well in that day; yet still remember, that Trial is not yet past. Your final Sentence is not yet come from the mouth of your Judge. This I speak, not to affright and trouble, but to excite and warn you. The loss of a soul is no small loss, and upon such grounds as these, they are every day cast away.

This may suffice to be spoken to the first observation, built upon this supposition; that it was but a pang of meer natural affection in

them. But if it were the effect of a better principle, the fruit of their Faith, as some Judge; then I told you the observation from it would be this.

Notes

• Doct. 1.
• Illa ta••tum di∣cuntur in esse a••ima, quae in sun per ••••aum q••iet••.
• Infer. 1.
• Infer. 2.
• Gal. 6 3.4. John 8 54 Rom 2.18.19.21 Mat. 25.11.12 Mat. 7.22.
• Mr. An. Burg.