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.

CHAP. VI.

Shewing whence it is, that Melancholly and Troubled People love Solitariness; and whence it is, that serious Persons are not so light and frothy in their Conver∣sations, as others are. With some other Inferences deducible from the forego∣ing Doctrine. With some Advices to those that have never been deserted, and to such as are complaining that they are so.

Inf. 1. HEnce you see the Reason why People in trouble love Solitariness. They are full of Sorrow; and Sorrow, if it have taken deep root, is naturally reserved, and flies all Conversation. Grief is a thing that is very si∣lent and private. Those People that are very Talkative and Clamorous in their Sorrows, are never very sorrowful. Some are apt to won∣der, why Melancholly People delight to be so much alone; and I'll tell them the reason of it: 1. Be∣cause the disorder'd Humours of their Bodies alter their Temper, their Humours, and their Inclinations, that they are no more the same that they use to be; their very Distemper is a∣verse to what is joyous and diverting; and they that wonder at them, may as wisely wonder why they will be diseased, which they would not be, if they knew how to help it; but the

Disease of Melancholly is so obstinate, and so un∣known to all but those that have it, that no∣thing but the Power of God can totally over∣throw it; and I know no other cure for it. 2. Another Reason why they chuse to be alone, is, Because People do not generally mind what they say, nor believe them, but rather deride them, which they do not use so cruelly to do with those that are in other Distempers; and no Man is to be blamed for avoiding Society, when they do not afford the common Credit to his Words that is due to the rest of Men. But 3. Another, and the principal Reason why Peo∣ple in Trouble and Sadness chuse to be alone, is, Because they generally apprehend themselves singled out to be the Marks of God's peculiar Displeasure; and they are often by their sharp Afflictions a terror to themselves, and a won∣der to others. It even breaks their hearts to see how low they are fallen, how oppressed, that were once as easy, as pleasant, as full of hope as others are. Job 6.21. Ye see my casting down, and are afraid. Psalm 71.7. I am as a wonder unto many. And it is usually unpleasant to others to be with them. Psalm 88.18. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me: and mine acquaintance in∣to darkness. And tho it was not so with the Friends of Job, to see a Man whom they had once known Happy, to be so Miserable; one whom they had seen so very Prosperous, to be so very Poor, in such sorry, forlorn Circum∣stances, did greatly affect them; he, poor Man, was changed, they knew him not, Job 2.12, 13. And when they lift up their eyes afar off, and

knew him not, they lift up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads towards heaven. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great. As the Prophet re∣presents one under spiritual and great Afflicti∣ons, that he sitteth alone, and keepeth silence, Lam. 3.28.

Inf. 2. Hence we see the Reason why the Servants of God have not such light and frothy spirits as others. They do not indeed always mourn, but even when they rejoice, 'tis with a serious and solid Joy. Their own Sins, and the fear they have of sin∣ning, and the concern they have for the Sins of others, cause them to walk softly. The many Miseries to which they are obnoxious, and the many that they see the Church of God groan∣ing under, keep them from innumerable Follies, from many Lightnesses and Vanities in Conversation, which others do not scru∣ple; tho frequently when their Countenances are grave, their Hearts are full of the most lively joys.

Inf. 3. What a mean sorry thing a Christian is many times in this World, as to his outward appear∣ance. A Mourner never makes so great a shew as one in Triumph does. His Graces, and his Excel∣lencies are many times like the Ground in Win∣ter, covered with Rain and Storm, which make him not to be much regarded; because Christ was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, there∣fore

the Jews saw no beauty or comeliness in him, that they should desire him; they hid their faces from him, because he was stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted, Isaiah 53.3, 4. The life of all Believers is hid with God in Christ, Col. 3.3. 'Tis main∣tained with suitable nourishment, formed by the Gospel, and preserved by the Spirit; but be∣cause of innumerable Temptations and Weak∣nesses, the Glory of their Grace is very much eclipsed; 'tis hidden under a thousand Crosses and Infirmities, and does not yet appear in the clearest Light. A Christian in this World is like a King, that Travels Incognito in a strange Land; he is coursly treated by Men that do not know the greatness of his Birth and Quality; he Travels but in the habit of a Pilgrim, and cloathed with Heaviness, and hath Tears for his Meat and Drink. Or he is as the Sun ascend∣ing to his Meridian, but obscured from our sight with many thick and watry Clouds. Job 26.27, 28. When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. I went mourning without the Sun: I stood up, and cried in the congregation. Now the Servants of God are going to the Port of Blessedness, as Jonas to the Shore cover∣ed with the Waters of Affliction. They seem now to a careless Eye, like the Seed that is buried in the Ground, to be quite cast away; but they shall arise with new Lustre.

Inf. 4. This assures us, that there is another, and a more happy Life after this. Blessed are they that

mourn, for they shall be comforted, Matth. 5.4. He that goeth forth weeping, &c. Psalm 126.6. John 16.16. This Sorrow is the forerunner of abiding Joy; these Tears of holy Persons are fruitful and profitable Tears; and those Souls that now are vext with the Sins of others, and their own, shall ere long be sweetly re∣fresht; the Night is long and doleful, but the Morning comes that will cause them to forget all their former trouble. God puts their Tears in∣to his Bottles, tho in appearance they fall upon the Earth unregarded, and seem to be lost, even then they fall into the Lap of his Provi∣dence, which will make them to fructify by his Blessing, and to their eternal Joy. This little Grain that is sown, will return back again into their bosoms with measure filled up, and running over; and their floods of Tears that now surrounded them, shall be turned into Rivers of Pleasure for evermoreIf in this life only we had hope, we were of all men most miserable, 1 Cor. 15.19. Miserable indeed, if we were obliged to bear so many Crosses, to meet so many Dangers, and such various Calamities, and to have no reward; but thanks be to God, this is not our case. Whilest we look upon this World, upon the manifold Evils that are here, we weep; but when we lift up our Eyes to that pure, and calm, and blessed World that is above, we may be chearful and rejoyce; here we are tost among Rocks and Shelves, with threatning Waves, and high Winds; but there we behold our rest. In this Wilderness we are pursued

with the roaring Lyons, annoyed with Hunger, and with Thirst, and other Inconveniencies; but we are all the while in our Journey to the promised Land, and shortly shall be there, and then we shall receive a blessed period of all our Conflicts, and our Difficulties.

Inf. 5. Seeing there is such a weeping Night to the Servants of God, this verifies and confirms that Maxim of the Gospel, That strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life. Thither must we go through the very depths, and wade through many Seas of grief, though all others find it to be difficult, because of the frequent self-denials and mortifications to which they are obliged; because of the many sins that beset them, and the many sufferings they must under∣go; yet deserted Souls find it to be a strait way indeed, and to them it is covered with Thorns and Bryars; and though you, whose Mountain is yt strong, whose hopes are yet unshaken, think it easie; yet if ever you come to be sorely tempted, to be afflicted with long and sharp Tryals; if you come to be greatly pained in your Bodies, and greatly troubled in your Souls; if you be awakened with the sight of Hell, and the threatnings of the Law, and broken with the terrors of the Almighty; you will joyn your cry to ours, and say, That the way is very strait: Joh, and Hunan, and Asaph, and David, and all others have found it to be so. There is indeed a Lion in the way, but that must not be an excuse to sloth, but a motive to our Courage; we must take the more caution,

and be more watchful to avoid him. The sense so God's displeasure, is as an hot Furnace, in∣to which many of his Children are thrown, though they shall come out unhurt; and when they are come forth, they shall be like Gold: yet it is grievous to Sense, when they must be saved so as by Fire; when they must come to their Crown by Racks and Torments, by An∣guish and Tribulation; and to Heaven by the very Gates of Hell.

I shall close this Chapter with two Exhorta∣tions: 1. With respect to those with whom it is yet day, and who have never been forsaken of God. And 2. To such disconsolate souls, with whom it is as yet a weeping and a mourning Night.

1. If you have not been forsaken, and have ever had the light of God's Countenance shining on you, beware of the approach of Night: Prevent as much as you can the declining of the Day. I have shewed you into what a Pit I and some others have fallen; take warning by our danger, and take heed lest you also come into the like dole∣ful Case. You have the smiles of your Hea∣venly Father, you have been ever with him; Oh! do not provoke him to turn those revi∣ving smiles into killing frowns; be not secure, be not self-confident, be not faithless, but be∣lieve and guard your Faith, and be watchful; for your Enemy, the Devil, goes about seeking whom he may devour. Work while it is day, for when this night comes, I can assure you by sad experi∣ence, that you cannot work. Pray now with fervour, for then you cannot Pray; Now Read,

and Hear the Word of God, for then you will find no taste even in the Bread of Life. Be∣ware of Indifference and of Lukewarmness; beware of grieving the Spirit, and of slighting his motions; for all these are the shadows of this doleful night. Your day is comfortable, and your journey pleasant, while the Sun shines; Oh! make hast to your Eternal home, lest your feet stumble on the dark Mountains: If you linger, wrath will overtake you, terrible and amazing wrath, such as you cannot now be∣lieve, and such as you then cannot bear. Cre∣dit the Report that we bring you from the Land of darkness, and go not in the way that will lead you thither; We have fallen among Thieves and Robbers, among Temptations, and Dangers, and Tryals, that deprived us of all our Comforts; do not you tread a path where you will surely be set upon, and greatly wound∣ed, if you do escape; though it may be you say, as Job 29.18. I shall dye in my nest, and multiply my days as the sand.

2. Do not severely judge or censure persons under spiritual trouble; It is night with them indeed, but they may live to see the morning come. God has overthrown them, but he will build them up again; they are in darkness, but re∣joice not over them, for he will be a light unto them. Speak not to the hurt of those that he has wounded; look not on with unconcerned∣ness, or a secret pleasure, in the time of your Brother's trouble; Job 30.11. Because he hath loosed my cord and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. Do not censure these

Mysterious Dispensations of God and of his Pro∣vidence; stay till you see the beautiful structure that he will cause to rise from these Ruins; When they are tempted by the Devil, do not you with Job's Friends play the Devils to, and insult over them, or encrease their misery: It was a very great sin in those good men, to ag∣gravate his trouble by their rash discourses, and their sinister interpretations of it. God him∣self decided the case for his Servant, and told them, that they had not spoken of him the things that were right. Be not hasty to judge of per∣sons who are weeping, nay, even despairing for their sins; They are in bitterness, but such as God may speedily remove; He may change their Wilderness into a Paradise; He will per∣fect his Power in their Weakness, turn their Evils into Good, and their Darkness into a marvellous Light; and stay till you see the end of the Lord. He has taken their Comforts from them to improve them, and to restore them to them upon better terms; He has removed their Pots of Water, but will, it may be, send them back full of Wine: For (as one observes) God is wont to bring most of his greatest ends about, by seeming to look quite another way from what he hath a special purpose to bring to pass; He seldom proceeds in a direct way to his Ends; or in such a way as the Creature would think stood most with Reason to take; but when his business lies in the East, he takes his Journey, as it were, full West; and when he has a mind to build, he batters down; when his design is for Light, his method and his way

is through the greatest darkness. Let the Great Instance of Job, for ever repress our bold Cen∣sures of afflicted and miserable people; Who would have thought that a Man so distressed, should ever have been delivered! That one that had so many pains, should be cured! one so poor, so derided, so scorned by Drunkards, and Boys, and the meanest of the people, should be ho∣noured and esteemed again! And yet all this happened to him, his latter end was better than his beginning; he lived to see the Funeral of his Griefs, and the Resurrection of his Comforts; the Lord that had afflicted him, took off his heavy hand, and turned again his Captivity; He re-established him in all his former splendor, and made him, for his short darkness, to shine with a double glory, and gave him twice as much as he had before; and for a year or two of trou∣ble, gave him many pleasant long years of Joy, till he was old and full of days; till he was satisfi∣ed with living, and calmly desired to dye. And the scope of the Book of Job is (as Dr. Patrick quotes it from Maimonides) to establish the great Article of Providence, and thereby to preserve us from Error, in thinking that God's Know∣ledg is like our Knowledg; or his Intention, Providence and Government, like our Inten∣tion, Providence and Government; which foundation being laid, nothing will seem hard to a Man, whatsoever happens; nor will he fall into dubious thoughts concerning God, whe∣ther he knows what is befallen us or no, and whether he takes any care of us; but rather he will be inflamed the more vehemently in the

Love of God, as is said in the end of this Pro∣phecy, Wherefore I abhor my self, and repent in dust and ashes. So say our Wise men, They that act out of Love, will rejoyce in Chastise∣ments; see James 5.11.

As to you with whom it is yet night, I shall only add this, Though I am my self come as to the quiet shore, yet I sympathize with you that are yet labouring in the deep: You are afflicted and tost with tempests; but as in Isa. 54. from 9. to 11. The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be romoved, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Oh thou afflicted, tossed with tempests and not comforted; behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with Saphirs. I know you think it is a long night, and so it is, but it is not Eter∣nal, the day will break, and the shadows flee away; your wise Physician is preparing Cor∣dials for your Hearts, and Balsom for your Wounds. Let him have your desires, to him address your Prayers, with your weaker Arms be still reaching after him; you are scorched with wrath, but he will be a refreshment to your heat; you are in darkness, but he is the Sun of Righteousness, that will chase all the Clouds away: Fly to this City of Refuge, part for this Fountain of Living Waters; and while you are condemned in your own thoughts, look to this Advocate and Mediator, and he will plead your Cause; the wrath that burns you, may be hot as Hell, but his Blood will extin∣guish the tormenting flame; the Devil may be

too strong for you, beg therefore help of this Jesus who has overcome him, and who will teach you to get the victory. He takes plea∣sure in helping such as have no helper; and when there is none to deliver you, his own Arm will bring Salvation: He hath horn our grief, and with his stripes we are healed. And trusting in his satisfaction, you may freely implore the Mercy of his Father, nay, even appeal to his Justice; for he will not have two payments for the same debt. You may say, Thou hast pro∣mised to pardon sin for the sake of thy well-beloved Son; Let it be unto me according to thy word. You may in vain complain of your troubles to those that have never felt the like; they may grieve you more by their harsh expres∣sions; but remember, that when you go to Christ for help, you go to one that is experi∣enced, to one that has tasted of the same bitter Cup; to one that was himself forsaken of God for a season, and knows how sad it is with you in the like Case: And those that come to him, he will in no wise cast out.

Notes

• Charles Recueil. de Sermons, p. 119.