The oyle of gladnesse. Or, Comfort for dejected sinners. First preached in the parish church of Banbury in certaine sermons, and now published in this present treatise. By William Whately minister there.

CHAP. III.

[Vse 1] BVt now for Vse of the point.

§ 1.

First, it gives cause of a gentle reprehension to many of Gods servants, that keepe on their gar∣ments of sorrow too long, and still feed on

wormewood and gall, almost refusing to bee comforted, then, when comfort is due to them. Though they have sear∣ched their hearts and confessed their sinnes, and brought their hearts to a full purpose of amendment; yet they faile in that they doe not take some measure of comfort to themselves, and doe not partake of the consolations of God which he offers to them in his holy Word.

There are some that make too much haste to comfort themselves, and

some that doe not make hast enough. The Com∣moner, and the greater fault, is, to put away sor∣rowes too soone: yet that of putting away comfort too farre and too long from the soule is a fault also, and must not be denied where it is. Many of Gods peo∣ple I say are excessive in their mourning, even for their sinnes, in that when they have true right to comfort, and God doth speake peace unto them, yet they doe not give rest and peace unto their owne soules,

but surfit upon worme∣wood and bitternesse, and thrust comfort a∣way from themselves through unbeliefe. Som∣times men mourne too much and too long for crosses (that point doth not now come to bee handled) and sometimes they mourne as those that have no hope, in re∣gard of sinnes, and that is the fault we have now to declare and to reproove.

§ 2.

Know then O yee servants of God, that when you doe even tor∣ment

your selves, and keepe your hearts still upon the racke as it were, you doe greatly dishonour God, in this unmeasurable mourning, and greatly hurt your selves too. For what? is there not goodnesse in God as well as Iustice? Is he made all of anger? Are his mercies cleane gone for ever? Hath he shut up his tender compassi∣on in displeasure? It is a discredit to the master of the family if his ser∣vants be alwaies sad and whining: For if they had a good and mercifull

Master, why should they be still languishing and complaining? See then, that ye doe offend in this case, by not ac∣knowledging the infinite mercies and tender com∣passions of your God. For in not comforting your selves, you doe actually deny him to bee mercifull. For if he be mercifull, why doe wee not taste and feele how good he is?

§ 3.

And take notice that in not comforting your selves you be also injuri∣ous to your own soules:

You make your selves unfit to serve God, in any good duty, unfit to pray, unfit to heare, unfit to live, unfit to die, by being still heavie and discouraged. When the soule goes mourning and bowed downe to the ground, still in feare that God will not accept, and will not pardon, it lies open to manifold temp∣tations, to murmuring, to wearinesse of well-do∣ing, to impatiency, to frowardnesse, and can∣not set it selfe resolutely, to doe the worke of ho∣linesse, which God re∣quireth.

Thou hindrest the growth of grace in thy selfe, for want of faire weather as it were. Thou makest the fruits of the Spirit to be farre lesse and fewer then they would be, because they have not warmth enough to bring them up. Wher∣fore thou art to reprehend thy self and to say, This is my weakenesse and infir∣mity, this is my fault verily, which I must not excuse but acknowledge and blame in my selfe.

§ 4.

* 1.1 If any say alasse I would comfort my selfe if I

could, I doe not desire to go languishing, but oh I cannot choose, the bur∣den of sin is so pressing, & lies so hard upō my soule.

* 1.2 I answer, the thing that thou must bee bla∣med for, is not because thou art not actually comforted, for therein thou must be a patient and take it when it comes, even when God will give it, but because thou dost not set thy selfe to enjoy comfort, that thou dost not offer to thy minde the consolations of God, and dost not take paines to binde up

thy broken and rent heart. I say thou dost not take paines to get comfort, but yeeldest unto sorrow, and hangest downe thine hands, and sufferest thy knees to be feeble. Thou dost not call to mind the promi∣ses of God. Thou dost not ponder upon the death of Christ. Thou dost not entertaine such thoughts as are fit to bring comfort to thy soule, but sellest over thy selfe to sadd and fearefull & discouraging thoughts; still still looking to the greatnesse and multitude

of thy sinnes, and not rai∣sing thine eyes to, and fixing thy thoughts up∣on the mercies and lo∣ving kindnesses of God, not earnestly imploring and begging the helpe of his Spirit to comfort thee, and this is thy fault, (arising from hence, that thou art too ready to hearken to Satan, who doth lye unto thee, and denies thine interest unto comfort.) Now suffer a gentle and mild reproofe for it, and know it to bee a fault; for why shouldst thou not enjoy thine own portion and take that

that God giveth thee. If thou answerest still, I cannot, I cannot. I answer still thou canst labour, strive, endea∣vour, and thy not labou∣ring and endeavouring is that that is blamed in thee.

§ 5.

As in outward crosses wee are often too pe∣remptory mourners (and with Iacob will not bee comforted) and resolve, we will goe mourning to the grave. So sometimes in regard of sinnes, wee will not be comforted.

Sometimes this ariseth from an error in Iudge∣ment, because we thinke not our selves to have any interest unto com∣fort, when we have, and are afraid to take it, least it should not belong to us. Many times Gods people thinke they have not cause to take com∣fort, when they have, and therefore put com∣fort from themselves, because they mistake their owne estate.

§ 6.

But tell me hast thou not afflicted thy selfe?

hast thou not wept and mourned? hast thou not turned thy laughter into sorrow, and thy Joy in∣to heavinesse? hast thou not cast downe thy selfe before the Lord? and found out and acknow∣ledged all thy faults against thy selfe, (so farre as by searching thou wast able to find them.)

If thy soule can say I have laboured to see all my sinnes; and labou∣red to confesse and weepe for them, and complained of them, and shamed my selfe and

judged my selfe.

Quest. Then I aske againe hast thou not re∣nounced thy selfe, and all thine owne merits?

Answ. Yes htat I have too.

Quest. Hast thou not resolved to take Christ youake? hast thou not made a Covenant with God, to fight against thy sinnes, and to reforme and amend thy life, and make they heart and spi∣rit new?

Answ. Yes that I have too, I have resolved, but alasse I find little power.

I answer, upon thy

resolution to obey after mourning and confes∣sing, thou hast interest to comfort, and it must bee comfort that must strengthen thy resoluti∣ons, and confirme thee in obedience.

Now then see thy mistaking, and know thou art one to whom comfort is due, and let not error over-shadow the sunne of comfort from shining upon thee.

§ 7.

Another cause of not being comforted is infi∣delity, the moourners can∣not

believe that the com∣forts appertaine to them∣selves: but this is a fault too. For why? doth not God call to him, all that be heavie laden with sin; and in calling them to him, even bind them to take comfort?

Indeed the divell en∣vies the comfort of the Saints, and seeketh to hinder it with multitude of objections. And some of Gods people bee so weake, that they suffer the divell to have his will on them this way, and hearken too much to his leasenings. But

now, see that this is a fault, that doth even dis∣grace piety to many, and make them thinke that godlinesse, and joy can∣not dwell in one heart, so that they refuse piety for feare of wanting joy, whereas no companions will better agree then these two.

I have beene long in this reproofe, and yet as you see, milde and gentle enough. It is a weake∣nesse, it is a frailty. It is a thing hurtfull and offensive, take notice of it, and reprehend thy selfe for it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Object.
• * 1.2

  Answ.