A soveraigne salve to cure vvounded spirits, or, The ready way and meanes to give spirituall ease and comfort to distressed consciences collected out of the Word of God and the writings and experiments of the most approved soule-physitians, both of this and former ages, which either for learning or experience, or both, have excelled in this healing part of divinity and fitted to the capacity and use of the meanest of Gods afflicted ones.
About this Item
Title
A soveraigne salve to cure vvounded spirits, or, The ready way and meanes to give spirituall ease and comfort to distressed consciences collected out of the Word of God and the writings and experiments of the most approved soule-physitians, both of this and former ages, which either for learning or experience, or both, have excelled in this healing part of divinity and fitted to the capacity and use of the meanest of Gods afflicted ones.
Author
Gove, R. (Richard), 1587-1668.
Publication
London :: Printed by J.G. for R. Royston ...,
1650.
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Subject terms
Peace of mind.
Christian life.
Consolation.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A85500.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A soveraigne salve to cure vvounded spirits, or, The ready way and meanes to give spirituall ease and comfort to distressed consciences collected out of the Word of God and the writings and experiments of the most approved soule-physitians, both of this and former ages, which either for learning or experience, or both, have excelled in this healing part of divinity and fitted to the capacity and use of the meanest of Gods afflicted ones." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A85500.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 10, 2024.
Pages
SECT. XVII.
A Fift occasion of present distresse to * 1.1 the child of God, is the smart of outward and inward afflictions; and this as much as any of the former, doth make him to doubt whether God doe indeed love him.
But if this be thy case, thou must know * 1.2 this for thy comfort, That a man may be the deare * 1.3 child of God, and highly belo∣ved and respected of him, though he be here in this world never so much outwardly or inwardly afflicted.
And this doth appeare plainly, both by expresse testimonies, and evident examples of Scripture: Expresse testimonies we have these.
First, Solomon useth this argument to * 1.4 perswade us with patience to beare the cha∣stening of the Lord, and not to be grieved with his correction, because He correcteth him whom he loveth, even as the Father doth the child in whom he delighteth. And the Apostle saith even the same, My Sonne* 1.5
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(saith he) despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither faint thou when thou art re∣buked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Sonne whom he receiveth. Nay the Lord himselfe avouch∣eth * 1.6 even the same, As many (saith he) as I love, I rebuke and chasten.
And hereof we have not a few examples in Scripture. For who was more in Gods favour then Abraham, the Father of the* 1.7faithfull? And yet how many afflictions did he undergoe? As in leaving his Country, and Kinred, to goe to live amongst an un∣knowne and barbarous people; in the fear * 1.8 of his life for his Wife Sarah; in the offe∣ring up of his Sonne; in the unkindnesse and dis-agreement of his Nephew Lot; not * 1.9 to instance in more. Againe, who was more deare unto God then Jacob? for did he not say of him before he was borne, Ja∣cob* 1.10have I loved? And yet so many were his afflictions, that he affirmed his daies to have* 1.11beene few and evill.
But the examples of Job and David may serve in stead of all other. For whom doe we reade of in all the Scripture (excepting onely the Prince of our salvation, Jesus * 1.12 Christ himselfe, who was consecrated through afflictions) that ever underwent more out∣ward and inward afflictions both, then they two did? And shall we say, that God
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did not love them, when he did thus afflict them? No, no, we cannot. The very end and issue which the Scriptures record of these their afflictions, doth prove the con∣trary. Touching the afflictions of Job, the end of them was twice as full of comfort, as the beginning was of dis-comfort; as appeares both by that which Saint James* 1.13 saith of it, and that which is set downe in the last Chapter of the Booke of Job. And * 1.14 as for the afflictions of David, the end of them was so comfortable, that himselfe not onely professeth, It was good for him that he* 1.15had beene thus afflicted: but also calleth up∣on others to take notice thereof with him, Come (saith he) and I will shew you what the* 1.16Lord hath done for my soule. Neither of which ends could have betided them, if the Lord had not loved them. And therefore comfort thy selfe in thy God, whosoever thou art, that art thus afflicted; for by these testimonies, and examples of Scri∣pture (besides many more that might be alleaged) thou seest, that a man may be as grievously afflicted every way as thou hast beene, and yet be the deare child of God, and one that is beloved of him.