A discourse concerning trouble of mind and the disease of melancholly in three parts : written for the use of such as are, or have been exercised by the same / by Timothy Rogers ... ; to which are annexed, some letters from several divines, relating to the same subject.

LETTER IX. To a Relation of the Author's who was long under Melancholly, from a Minister who several years was under that Disease.

My dear Christian Friend,

AS Christ has given me any bowels of mer∣cy, I cannot but pity you under your Soul-affliction, and disquietment of spirit, be∣ing greatly oppressed by Satan, that malicious and active Spirit, who hates you for the Truth's sake; and (no doubt) therefore hates you, be∣cause he finds in you the love of the truth, by the proper and convincing evidences of it; And that you might not have any comfort by it, as

the work of the Spirit of Grace in your heart, as also that God might not have from you the praise and glory due unto his Grace for it, (for he envies him all the worship and glory that's given him by his Saints in Heaven and Earth.) Therefore he does all he can to hide the know∣ledge of it from you, by clouding your mind, by darkning your evidences by his own malici∣ous suggestions against you, as also by stirring up all sorts of sin in you, but more especially Unbelief, the sin of sins, his First-born, the Mother of all Abominations in the Soul, and so the Provocative; whereby, he well knows, if he can work it up to its perfect and full domi∣nion, he shall effectually hinder the income of all peace and joy, and so fill the poor despairing Soul with all heaviness and horror, never to be removed but by faith, and its actings on Jesus Christ, the King of Righteousness, and the King of Peace. I beseech you therefore (Dear Sister, and the Lord himself work it in you!) turn away your mind from all the malicious, deceitful, lying Suggestions of the Adversary, whom you know, by the Scripture of Truth, to be a Lyar and a Murtherer from the beginning; and will do all that he can to beguile you of the Grace of God in you, as also of all that mercy, pardon and peace, which God has provided in his Son, for all believing, broken-hearted Sin∣ners, such as (I doubt not) you are, whatever you may seem to your self in your present dark∣ness, and hour of temptation. Turn your self (yea the Lord do it for you, and in you;) from him, to your Saviour, who will not ac∣cuse

you with the Father, as he does; but is pleading his Sufferings, and presenting his Blood and Atonement made thereby, for you: Look to him (dear Sister) look to him, whom you shall find to be as the true Brazen Serpent to your love-sick Soul, which has been sore wounded by that fiery-flying Serpent, and old Dragon; but your Lord has overcome him by death, and you also (I doubt not) have over∣come him in divers Combats and Temptations already, and shall overcome him fully and fi∣nally by the Faith of your mighty Redeemer, and the Captain of your Salvation; who, as he is able to save you to the utmost, so I doubt not, he will do it, whatever your Doubts and Fears may be at present. He is with you, ta∣king care of your Soul, and all its Concerns, though your eyes are withheld, that you can∣not discern him, as it was sometimes with the Apostles themselves; but he will ere long ma∣nifest himself to you and then you shall know and acknowledge also. That he has born with you, and will be with you for ever; even as I now do, though I were as much to seek for his gracious presence with me, as you are, or can well be. The Lord himself even our Lord Je∣sus Christ, work this very thing in you, and cause you to hold fast your confidence firm unto the end; and you shall find, that it has great re∣compence of reward, as the Apostles has testi∣fied to the Hebrews; For he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry: He will not only come to Judgment at the last day; but he will come to you in the Spirit, and judge for

your Soul against your Enemies, to deliver you from all, even Sin (which is such a burthen to you;) As also from Satan, the great Troubler of your peace, who does either accuse you falsly, or aggravates all your Infirmities and Miscarriages, though such as he has tempted you to, above all reason. I shall be glad to have some account from you, how it is with your Soul;. . . . . . . . . . I shall endeavour (what lies in me, as enabled by the Spirit of Christ) to be a helper to your faith and joy. . . . . . . . . . . . I shall add no more at this time, but only to let you know, That I have you, and others in your con∣dition, daily in my prayers; so I commend you to the mercy of God in our dear Redeemer, I am,

Your very affectionate Friend, and Brother in Christ, GEORGE PORTER.

Febr. 21. 1688/9.