The case and cure of a deserted soule, or, A treatise concerning the nature, kindes, degrees, symptomes, causes, cure of, and mistakes about spirituall desertions by Jos. Symonds ...

CHAP. XXIV. Sixth and Seaventh means: Be doing, and wisely and diligently use the meanes of grace.

BE doing: many cry Lord help,* 1.1 but they stirre not up themselves,g 1.2 but thinke to live all upon supply from hea∣ven: but if you keep the seed in the gar∣den God will not encrease your store, you must plough and sow, and in your endeavours looke for the blessing from above; you have a life in you, and you must put it forth, God hath said he will help you: that is, you must doe what you can, and he then will joyne with youh 1.3, he hath said, hee will meete you, Esay 64.5. that is to say, he expects that you should be comming, and then he will come; the mother will lead the child by the hand, but the child must use his legges, he will doe as men doe with young swimmers, he will hold your head, but you must use your limbs; I shall speake more of this when I come to speake of such as seeme to be deser∣ted

of God but are not, they finde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 deadnesse, but it is not because God will not co-worke with them, but because they doe not co-work with him: I will at present onely say what David said 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Solomon his sonne, arise therefore and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doing, and the Lord be with thee, 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 22.16. Sit not weeping and sigh••••••, for that will not profit, you must be ••••∣ingi 1.4.

Wisely and diligently improve the meanes of grace, for God doth ordina∣rily worke onely in them and by them, where they are afforded: he hath shewed you the way of life; if you walke no•••••• his counsells, no wonder if deadnesse and deformity of Spirit overtake you; having spoken somewhat of this before, I will here adde these two things. 1. The faults of men in the use of the meanes: 2. The inducements to use them rightly.

First, there is a faultinesse in the god∣ly, often in the use of the meanes, which weakens them and takes off th•••• vigour.

1. Prophanenesse, when men co•••••• with slight and common spirits to the••••

holy things, without due composednesse, reverence, and preparednesse; this is to provoke God to forsake his sanctuary, and to leave his ordinances, uncloathed of their wonted working power, and quickning vertue, for this is not service that he can beare, it overthrowes his Majesty, and layeth his honour low when men come so before him; If I be a Father where is mine honour? Mal. 1.6. As if God had said, your unholy and contemptible carriage in my wor∣ship, declares that you set light by me, and make nothing of me; if you had me in esteeme as your God, you would worship me as God; Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly feare, Heb. 12.28.

2. Confidence misplaced; when you make the minister his gifts, graces, pray∣ers, or the things that he administers your trust, God will not beare it: re∣member that gifts and ordinances though they be ordained for edificati∣on, yet they are but instruments, and the whole force of the Instrument depends

upon the chiefe agent, the waters of Bethesda heale not except the Angel move themk 1.5; neither is he that plu∣teth any thing, neither he that watere••, but God that giveth the increase, 1 Cor. 3.7. God hath not appointed these a things without which hee could not worke, but out of liberty, because it plea∣sed him, partly to convey himselfe i•• a way sutable to nature; the word and Sacraments being fit things to de••l•• with intelligent and rationall creature, and partly that his name might bee more honoured in the fellowship ••f many in the ordinances, therefore o•• trust must not be in them, but in God. 1 Cor. 2.5.

3. Men come not to them for this end, but as the empty spirits of men un∣changed, gather the chaffe, and cockle, but lets goe the wheat, and preferre a fine weed before the eares of corne, so many that are good doe catch at things lesse usefulll 1.6, for the most part men ha•••• what they seeke and no more; in a fie•••• one comes to get wood, another to pi•••• flowers, another to take ayre, and the

sheep come to get foodm 1.7: there is a spi∣rit among men too much carryed after difficulties, novelties, depths, disputes, and by this meanes they become to be like some children of swelled heads, but weake limbs and little strength: this should be your end, to get life, to meet God, to be filled with the Spirit: you may be fatted in gifts, and leane in grace, like a tree full of leaves and branches, but empty of fruit: knowledge is good, when it is sought to a due end, not to set up your selves above others, but to set up God; it were good to count nothing good to you, till you finde God in it; a thousand notions are but vanities, and as empty clouds in the ayre, except they dissolve themselves in showres of grace and holynesse upon the heart; As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word, that you may grow there∣by, 1 Pet. 2.2.

4. Men use not the meanes in faith, but are ready to say as Naaman, what are the waters of Iordan? except you believe you shall not see the power of God; when you say in your hearts, my

heart is corrupt, dead, darke, past cur•••• what is this but to charge God with weaknesse and folly, in appointing these helps that cannot profit? though lusts and tentations bee many and strong, yet remember God is able to deliver.n 1.8

5. Not drawing out the efficacy of the meanes, by prayer, application, ne∣ditation; you should heare for hereafter, the word should remaine upon you, and you should mouldo 1.9 and forme you hearts to it, and by it: the benefit of the ordinances comes not alwayes at pre∣sent; they are like grapes that must b•• pressed: what encouragement doth God give oftentimes? If you were wise you might get much; doth not God prese•••• them sometimes like the flowing breasts? now if you would lye sucking, how might you bee filled? you p•••• from you the word when it is like 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mine not half broken up, yea often whe•• you are neare to springs of life, yo•• cease to digge; the diligent hand maket•• rich; a hungry soule findes many sweet meales in your leavings, God would

give much of himself if you would stay by it: what if nothing come at present, doe with the ordinances as with a pump, dwell at it and the waters will flow; it is not much hearing, but wise hearing that carrieth the blessing, the word must be laid up, and must soake into the heart. Ioh. 8.37p 1.10.

Secondly, let me adde a little for in∣dutement, to put you upon seeking God in this way.

1 Consider it is Gods way, therefore you must not expect good without it, it is his way and he will make it good; he hath appointed the meanes for this end, and therefore they shall prosper that use them; his power, wisdome, goodnesse, stand all inviting you, being as so many seals of this truth, that they shall live that heare, and they say to thee, Oh thou that art named the house of Israel, is the Spirit of the Lord straitned? are these his doings? doe not my words doe good to them that walk uprightly? Micah 2.7.

2 His promise is with you; how fully hath he expressed himselfe in this, In∣cline

your eare and come unto me, he are and your souls shall live. Esay 55.1, 2, 3q 1.11. And hath not Christ annexed his pr∣sence to his ordinances, for his people good unto the end of the world? Mat. 28.20. Look then at the ordinances in the promise, and see how God hath en∣gaged himselfe unto his servants: if you could beleeve, you would see God more in his Sanctuary; but as it is said that Christ wrought no more miracles in his own countrey because of their unbeliefe, Mat. 13.58. so God shuts in his pow∣er from working, because your hear•• is shut up in unbeliefe; you should go•• with gladnesse to the house of God, as to a place of feeding and healing, re∣joycing in hope to finde an effusion of the Spirit from on high, according to the promise.

3 God hath done it; you see by these meanes he prevailes upon men, and turnes from darknesse to light, and rai∣seth from death to life; you see others how they flourish in the Courts of Gods house as trees by the water side, and have not you your selves found

God often, causing the ordinances to come as Ships laden with rich treasures for you? hath not your heart burned when you have heard him speaking? have not some sermons been as Elias Chariot? hath not Christ come often when his Disciples have been toge∣ther? why doe you not then upon such experiences, walk diligently and chear∣fully in the Gospell?

4 It is Gods glory to meet his people; it sets out his goodnesse, wisdome, pow∣er, mercy, faithfulnesser 1.12, as the Sunne in clearenesse, it makes his name preci∣ous, his wayes sweete, his people fruit∣full, and herein (saith Christ) is my fa∣ther glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit, John 15. therefore you have cause to seek to enjoy God in this way.

5 Consider with whom you have to deale. 1. One that knoweth who seek him, he knoweth who are his friends, and seeth all the reachings of thy heart af∣ter him: Christ asked the woman whom shee sought, but he knew shee sought him, and so shewed himself un∣to her; the childe may, seek the mo∣ther

and she may be ignorant of it; but there is not a prayer, not a sigh after him, but it is in his eare, not a teare for him, but it is in his eye. 2. He can doe what you desire; he can carry you on as upon Eagles wings, he is a fountaine of life, and hath enough for you, and for thousands. 3. He is pittyfull, he is sensi∣ble of your cases 1.13, he knoweth your need of him, what weaknesse you are left in, if he be not with you, what ten∣tations and lusts break in, what sorrow and heavinesse if you enjoy him not. 4. He is the author of that desire which you have after him, and God knoweth the meaning of his own Spirit; these de∣sires hee sent from himselfe, to bee as Pharaohs Chariots to bring Iacob to Io∣seph; and when they have brought you to God, will he not accept you? he would not have sent for you, if he meant not to helpe you, therefore seeke him with faith and diligence in the meanes, that you may have his presence for your guide and guard in all your wayes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Direct. 6. Be doing.
• g 1.2

  Orans & non operans iramprovo∣cat. Greg. mor. l. 18. c. 3.
• h 1.3

  Dii faci∣entes adju∣vant. Certate, ad∣juvabo; vin∣cite, corona∣bo. Aug. a∣pud Parisi∣ens. de ten. & resist. c. 1.
• i 1.4

  Si lachry∣mae prodes∣sent malis auro eas e∣meremus. Plut. con∣sol. ad A∣poll. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Dictum Priami ad Achillem. apud Ho∣mer. Direct. 7.
• k 1.5

  Ipsa adju∣toria distin∣guenda sunt; aliud est sine quo non fit aliquid, ali∣ud quo fit: prioris ge∣neris sunt media insti∣tuta a Deo, secundi est gratia Dei. Aug. apud Camer. coll. amic. p. 306.
• l 1.6

  In pictu∣ris, Colores plus afficiunt quam lineae. Plut. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. picturam amamùs, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, at, o∣rationem non quae convenit, sed quae pla∣cet. ibid.
• m 1.7

  Sicut in agris apis captat flo∣rem, capra germen, sus radicem, &c. sic in legendis poe∣matis, alius hister: am captat, alius elegantiam, idem ibid.
• n 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Dixit An∣tigonus Nauarchae ob hostium multitudi∣nem metu∣enti. Plut. apophth.
• o 1.9

  Ro. 6.17. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• p 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i. e. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Camerari∣us. Sermo meus non penetrat in vobis. Ludov. de Dieu.
• q 1.11

  Verbum Dei animae vita, virtus victus, cu∣stodia, &c. Bern.
• r 1.12

  Caesari, cum statu∣as Pompeii delapsuras erigi jussit, dixit Oice. ro, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Flut. de capiend. ex. hostib. utilit.
• s 1.13

  Heb. 4.15. Com∣passio cum impassibili∣tate perdu∣rat. Bern. de grad. humil.