Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. XLVI.

That they who walk through the Christian path without the inward light of the holy Spirit, are like unto them that walk in the night without the light of the Sunne.

ALL they who being guided onely by their naturall light, and by humane wisdome, pre∣sume to understand the things that are of the Spirit of God, and to walk in the Christian way, that is to live Christianly; I liken them to a man that goes by night with the light onely of his own eyes, through a way that is full of dan∣gers and inconveniencies. And it seems to me, that as to such an one sometimes a piece of wood

will seem a thief, and a stone an armed man, and thereupon he will flie, and be afraid; and another time the water will seem a stone, and he will wet himself, and the shadow will seem to him a tree, and thinking to lean to it, he will fall on the ground: Even so he that walks Gods way, being guided by his naturall light onely, is sometimes affrighted by those things which ought not to affright him; and is sometimes se∣cured, and reposeth himself on those things, on which he ought not to secure nor repose. And so going, he goes on groping like a man ama∣zed, and without knowing what he doth. He that walks by the light of the holy Scripture, and by the examples of Saints, but without the Spirit, I liken him unto one that walks by night carrying a candle in his hand, and goes not al∣together in the dark: but yet notwithstanding he goes not without fear, nor he goes not secure in his mind, nor certain not to fall into ma∣ny inconveniences. Whereupon I understand, that as to the traveller of whom I have spo∣ken, that travels by night by the light of his own eyes onely, the best and most wholesome counsel that could be given him, were that he should stay in his journey whilest the night last∣eth, untill such time as the sunne were risen, and would shew him the way, and the things that are in it, that so he might travell, being helped by the light of his own eyes: Even so to him

that walks Gods way onely with his naturall light, with the testimonie of Scriptures, and with the example of Saints, the best and most wholesome counsel that could be given him, is that he should stay his journey, whilest the night of his own proper blindnesse continueth, untill such time that God send him his spirit by means whereof, with his naturall light, and with his wisdome, he may be able well to understand the journey, and to see all that is therein. And if any person shall demand me, saying, How shall I do to stay my self in this journey? I will an∣swer him, Exercise not thy self in any thing pretending justification or merit thereby, in any kind, or in any degree, but pray God affectionately, that he would send thee his spirit, which may be unto thee as the Sunne in this journey, wherein by thine own wis∣dome thou neither knowest nor canst travell; and stand attentive all the time that God shall deferre to send unto thee his Spirit, applying thy self

to all those things which offer themselves to thee, in which thou knowest true piety with∣out any mixture of superstition; and content thy self with whatsoever God doth, and have no opinion or esteem of all whatever thou doest thy self. This is that which I say unto him. And I understand, that as if the sunne should break forth altogether with all his splen∣dour, it would in such sort blind the eyes of the Traveller of whom I have spoken, that he would not be able to make any more use of them then as if it were night: Even so in like manner, if the Spirit of God should at once give unto a person all that knowledge which he gives in length of time, it would blind him, and put him in greater inconveni∣ence, then at first. And because this is true, I understand that our God rich in liberality and in mercy, gives unto us his Spirit, and he gives it unto us in such manner, as it may help and not harm us, not according to our appetites, but according to his eternall wis∣dome, by which as a good Father, he go∣verneth them who are his sonnes, remain∣ing incorporated in his onely Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord.

Notes

• He meaneth (I suppose) that a man presume no•• to merit•• that is, to oblige God. o•• just fie himself before God by any acts or exercises of Religion; but that he ought to pray God affectionately and fervently, to send him the light of his Spirit, which may be unto him as the Sun to a traveller in his journey; he in the mean while ap••ly∣ing himself to the unquesti∣oned duties of true piety and sincere Religion, such as are Prayer, Fasting, Almes∣deeds, &c. after the example of devout Cornelius. Or thus; There are two sorts of acts in religion; acts of humiliati∣on, and acts of confidence and joy, the person here de∣scribed to be in the dark, ought to use the first, and to forbear the second; Of the first sort are repentance, prayers, fasting, almes, mor∣tifications, &c. of the second, receiving of the Communion, pray∣ses, Psalmes, &c. These in diverse cases ought, and were of old for∣born for a time.