The tempestuous soul calmed by Jesus Christ;: being an extract of several sermons, / preached by Anthony Palmer, pastor of the church at Bourton on the Water in Gloucester-shire.

Jesus Christ for a time seems to take no notice of a tempestuous perishing soul, though nigh unto it.—But he was asleep.

Now this seems not consistent with all those gracious and melting invitations of Christ, of poor wearied souls to come un∣to him, that bespeak the yearnings and pantings of his bowels towards them; but yet see how consistent it will be.

1. That 'tis his usuall way of dealing, See Mat. 15.22. The poor woman there cried after Christ for mercy to her daugh∣ter, but it holds, and is so applied in spirituall mercies also, for she came in saving faith; The Lord at first answers not a word, as if he were carelesse of her, as if it had been no part of his bu∣sinesse

in the world to take notice of poor sinners at his feet; and when he did answer (for she would not from him without her errand) his words were full of discouragement, Send her away, say the Disciples, ver. 23. I am not come but to Israel, (yet still she worshiped him, Lord help me,) And yet a more reserved Reply, It is not meet to cast the Childrens bread to dogs; Yet still she pressed, and had her errand, though Christ seem'd thus to chide her: So with Mary Mag∣dalene, Joh. 26.11. Mary was seeking Christ alone, and seeking him in a pro∣per notion, a crucified Christ, and she sought him in a sweet posture, weeping after him, restlesse till she found him; Now, Christ seemed for a time to take no notice of her, though he were standing by her, and his heart full of love to her; See the Spouse Cant. 3.1,2. I sought him but I found him not, &c.

There are many choice Reasons of the Lords dealing thus with a soul for a time.

1. This works for the heightning and drawing forth of faith; for a soul to fol∣low after Christ when the tempest is upon it, in a perishing condition, and Christ

seems to take no notice of it; When his present dealings seem to thwart with his Invitations and promises, this heightens faith, as in the woman of Canaan, and draws it forth to pursue Christ the more.

2. When Jesus Christ thus withholds his smiles and comfort for a time, he is preparing the heart to be a fit place for him, to break the pride and stubborn∣nesse of our hearts, to subdue the rough∣nesse of them, to make crooked things straight, and then when our spirits are thus subdued and broken, there's no more but for Christ to come in and dwell with us, when our hearts are thus pre∣pared to receive him.

3. He for a time thus clouds himself, seems to take no notice of a poor soul, that the' soul may the more experimen∣tally see, that all other refuges cannot quiet the tempest upon it; A soul will be apt to be making trial in such a case of creatures, and fly from one created con∣tentment to another, and to try what they are able to afford in such an hour; And when the soul can finde quietnesse in none, but still restlesse (as I have al∣ready shew'd it will be) Then it will

closely and strongly cleave to Christ, Then it will clearly see (when Christ speaks) that all its quietnesse, comfort, peace, was from Jesus Christ alone.

4. It makes for the honour of the Lord Jesus, for a poor creature to continue seeking and panting after him, and will not off, even when Christ hides his face from it; This gives more honour to Christ then to live upon him, when he sweetly reveals himself to a soul: 'Tis an honour to a friend to trust him when absent from him, yea, when he seems to frown; so for a poor soul to follow and beleeve Jesus Christ sweet, and gracious, and faithfull, though it never tasted him, gives most glory unto him.

5. When Christ thus withholds himself for a time, it makes his presence the more welcome when he comes; The Lord Je∣sus loves to come welcome to a soul; And how welcome is he? what a heaven is his appearance to a poor, tempestuous, clou∣ded, perishing soul? When we have loo∣ked for a dear frieud till we are ready to give off expectation, and then he comes suddenly upon us with smiles and kindenesse, what a joy is it? So when the poor friends of Christ who lay hold on

the Covenant of his peace, and cry after him, Ah, when Lord, when? And then he comes with a sudden smiling voice, Why Soul, I am thine, and I have betro∣thed thee unto me, yea, but one word, as to Mary Magdalene, Mary, and she answers Rabboni, oh my Master; This reason may be further illustrated in the case of Joseph and his Brethren, Gen. 44. When they came to him as distressed men, Joseph reserves himself for a time, did not make known himself, though his heart were full of yearnings after them, and what was it for but to make way for the greater endearments of them unto him? So much unexpected love let out upon them, that it even brake their hearts, for they were troubled at his pre∣sence, saith that Scripture, being over∣come with the loving-kindeness he shew∣ed them: whether Joseph were in this a type of Christ, I shall not dispute, but the way of Christ is sometimes the same; His stays and reserves ere he smiles upon a distressed soul, do make way for sweet∣er endearing heart-breaking love to be let out upon it; And further indeed, As Josephs Brethen were troubled at his pre∣sence, between the two considerations

of the injuries they had done him, and the exceeding love he shewed them; As for Joseph (say they) we sold, &c. so poor souls seeking Jesus Christ, when he ap∣pears comfortably unto them, They are even troubled at Christs presence, con∣sidering the injuries they have done him, and the exceeding great love he hath shewed them, and this doth kindely melt the heart, when they wistly look him; Till Christ answer as Joseph, ver. 5. of Gen. 45. Come hither, saith good Joseph to his Brethren, for God did send me before to preserve life; so saith the Lord Jesus Christ, Ah poor soul, come hither, God did send me on purpose to preserve thy soul, to bear thy sins, to establish a Co∣venant of peace for thee; And how en∣dearing and melting is this to a soul that so enjoys him!

6. Christ thus withholding himself for a time, as it makes way for the greater joy and more abundant consolation to a tempestuous soul, so it will make a soul more watchful and careful to keep Christ, Cant. 3.4. I held him and would not let him go; If so tempestuous, perishing, and succourlesse, when I enjoyed him not; Oh let them never take away my

Lord; Here, Here, (his Soul clasping him) let him lodge; One hour of his fellowship, is a heaven; Oh no, thou must not go, my dearest Lord, 'till I go with thee and lie in thy bosome to all eternity; I will love thee and honour thee while I am here, and therefore do not, ah do not depart from me, I will not let thee go: But of this more in the close.

Is it so then, that Christ may for a time cloud himself from a poor soul at his feet, why then, Soul, let me return to the first posture I stated thee in, in this Point; Art thou one that hast said seriously within thy self from the sight of thy helplesse condition, I will arise now and go about, Cant. 3.2. I have been sitting all this while in the shadow of the vain world; But now, I will arise and seek him who hath life and peace in himself, though but now, yet I will enquire of the watch∣men after him, v. 3. I will wait at the posts of his doors, his blessed and powerfull Or∣dinances, till my soul findes him; Well, Take with thee this lesson, If thou findest him not in joy and comfort, assoon as thou expectest; Here's encouragement for thee, not no give off thy pursuit, as

Satan and thy own unbeleeving heart will be still prompting thee; To return to thy former ease and peace in sinne and vanity, and the world again, or that thou hadst a good interest enough in Christ before thou thus troubledst thy self, or it may be Satan will suggest, it is too late for thee, and thy day of grace is o∣ver, because thou hast sleighted many; Well (I say) let none of these prevail with thee; Thou hearest upon what weighty and endearing Reasons Christ may for a time withhold comfort and peace; therefore let deniall encrease thy diligence, and not dead and flat it: Thou seest (Soul) that if thou wilt have Jesus Christ, that he hath other work besides filling thee with perfumes, and staying thee with flaggons of love; And if thou beest truly convinced of sin, and so of thy absolute need of Christ, thou wilt be glad of him, and seek to him for those works too; He hath strong-holds of sinne to break down; He hath Atheism Pride, Self-love, Obstinacy, all manner of flesh∣ly and earthy lusts to subdue within thee, that have by nature the possession of thy heart, and these will grapple with him, and are unwilling to let thy heart go; all

these unclean spirits must be cast out, if thou wouldest have Christ dwell there; So that if thou wilt have him thou must have him on such terms, thou must thus suffer him to prepare his way, to have a resting-place within thee, And those lusts must not domineer with him; If thy de∣bate within thy self be rather to venture his losse then to part with the old guests of thy heart that he wold cast out, then thou dost not yet know what belongs to the guilt, and filth, and reign of sinne, which thou wilt cry to be rid of, when thou truly seest what mischief it hath done thee: If that be indeed the terms thou insistest on, 'tis but a little stirring of meer naturall conscience, and not the convictions of the Spirit; Many souls, no doubt, from some such temporary common enlightning of the natural con∣science, go and make an essay at Christ, liking well of peace and salvation, but finding that lusts must die for it, they give up the pursuit again, or else will have him (pretend to have so) and make him lodge with their unclean lusts, to protect and countenance them, and so make him a half-Christ, divide his work, make him indeed (like those blasphemers in the

Gospel) to have an unclean Spirit, and sin to be nothing; As many wretches in this age do assert, and indeed all carnall professors of Christ do in their conver∣sations imply, when they serve their lusts, and cry Christ, Christ; No Soul, yeeld up a heart freely to him, and let him make one lust after another bleed for it, Let him make good his way and possessi∣on, Let him subdue all opposition in thy heart. and lay low all the crooked waies of it, and see what a Temple he will make for himself in the close; In a word, fol∣low him, and hold out in his strength, and thou shalt have more then thy er∣rand.

2. Learn well from hence to under∣stand Christs meaning in his invitations, not as if the thing promised were all to be enjoyed in a moment: Thou maiest rest confident in this, that the heart of Christ will be true to thee in them, though thou waitest for a time, consider∣ing that one hour of his joy, is worth the waiting of an age, much more a heaven and eternity by it; And 'tis an everlast∣ing rest thou seekest in him.

3. It chides the repinings of our hearts against this way of dealing by the Lord

Christ, It rebukes all our hard thoughts of him, though he stay a little when we cry after him; Oh be contented for his wisedom and love to order all things for his more sweeter welcome, and more sure and comfortable abode with thee; But yet to a soul under the impatiency of an∣guish of spirit,

Consider 1. Dost thou truly come to Christ, as before, dost thou frequently spread thy case before him, and pleade his own bowells, free invitations, pro∣mises, his interest with his Father, with him; some lie repining, but not earnest∣ly follow Christ for what they want, &c.

2. Consider duly, If there be no A∣ction, lust, that holds up its head, and would not yeeld, that is as a right hand, or right eye; go to God for a more narrow search of thy heart; say, (as David) Search me, prove me, and try me; If there be any iniquity in my heart un∣discovered, reveal and mortifie it at the very root.

3. Consider, that though thou hast not sensible comfort, yet thou art support∣ed of the Lord in thy present condition, which thou maist indeed consider with comfort, Psa. 63.8, My soul followeth af∣ter

thee, and thy right hand upholdeth me; So continue to follow hard after God, and if thou findest his right hand, his pow∣er sustaining thee, thou maist conclude as David, v. last of that Psalm, But I shall rejoyce in God, &c. thou shalt be satisfied with his goodnesse; yea, if thou finde such promise breaking in upon thy spirit, and thou gatherest support from it, it may be an evidence, a love-token to thee, that God is in a way of love and comfort to thee.

4. Consider, that faith and sensible en∣joyment of Gods love do not insepara∣bly go together, are not the same, as some poor creatures be apt to fancy; 'tis faith and not sense, therefore learn to live by faith and not by sense.

But yet may some poor Soul say, This doth not come to the height of thy con∣dition, the very strength of this tempest in the conscience being upon thee; Ah thou art a forlorn, tempestuous soul in∣deed, thou saist: why now then, I will particularly deal with thee.

Reade thy condition in Isa. 54.8,9,10,11. &c. 'Tis spoken of the State of the Church, but as truly applicable to thy condition; v. 6. the Lord hath called

thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in Spirit: yea, v. 11. Oh thou afflicted, tos∣sed with tempest, and not comforted; that fits thee; See v. 7, 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mer∣cies will I gather thee: In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, but with everlasting kindenesse will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer; A small moment, and a little wrath, but great and everla∣sting kindenesse; But may not the Lord, if he please, reserve and withhold these from poor creatures that come thus af∣flicted and tossed with tempest? I answer from ver. 9, 10. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee; For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be re∣moved, but my kindenesse shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee; Here's the Oath of God upon it, and sooner shall the waters co∣ver the earth again, and the mountains remove themselves, then the Lord rebuke and utterly cast off such a soul; Neither shall the Covenant of his peace be removed,

that is, as God tenders a new agreement, and to be at peace with sinners, conten∣ted he is, yea, infinitely desirous of it; Can he then cast off a soul that comes tendring it self for peace with him, that laies hold on his Covenant, Isaiah 59.6.

But yet further will a weak mis-giving heart be reasoning against God and it self; I fear, for all this, that 'tis in vain for me to seek, my heart sinks within me; Now mark what the Lord saith to this, Isa. 45.19. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I said not unto the Seed of Jacob, Seek me in vain; I the Lord speak in righteousnesse, and declare things that are right: This the Lord doth not reserve as a secret, but would have it pro∣claimed on the house top; Let it be known to every poor weak soul that seeks me, It shall not be in vain; As if it were laid down on purpose (as indeed it is) to answer such a fond reasoning: And further (saith he) I the Lord speak righteousnesse, I do not trifle with and de∣lude souls, but speak in good earnest the things that are right, and v. 22. I am a just God, true to my word, and therefore not to be reasoned against by men or devils;

Away then with such debates as thou dost foster in thy heart, yea, with such vile disputings against God, as to say within thy self, 'Tis too late, 'Tis in vain, my case is desperate, God will not hear, and therefore why should I seek? To what purpose is it? Is not this to belye the wise and holy, and faithfull God, so to adde abundantly to thy former iniquity? In a word, If thou dost seek and venture, and try what God will do, if thou art at last cast off, thou canst but be damned; And thy seeking, if thou couldst fail, will rather be a mitigation of thy torment then an encrease.

Well, but yet further may a Soul ob∣ject (for the devil hath a world of So∣phistry this way) If I should be stirred up to seek, upon these grounds, how shall I be ascertain'd that these promises be∣long to me? Why, mark thou, dost thou not say, I am an afflicted soul, disquieted, tossed with tempest, and in thy own thoughts forsaken? And saist, moreo∣ver, that thou art contented to seek and wait, seeing at worst, thou canst be no looser by it; why then by what plea art thou excluded, what law, or what caveat is put in against thee? perhaps thou wilt say,

thy sinning with so high a hand against thy God, with many grievous aggrava∣ting circumstances; Why, finful worm, know 'tis written as clear as the Sun, if thou knowst any thing of the Gospel and minde of Christ, that no sinner is exclu∣ded from acceptance, from the greatnesse of sin, but for want of coming to Christ that he might have life, Joh. 5. as hath been shew'd; The truth is, thou art un∣willing to be beholden to Christ, or im∣patient to stay his leisure, or else art re∣solved to beleeve the lies of the devil a∣gainst him, or else thou wouldst not thus parley against him; Therefore bow thy self at his feet, and pleade his own argu∣ments, that he hath left for thee in his word, and do not stand asking whether these promises belong to thee, for they are as much thine, as any souls in the world, if thou wilt pleade them.

But yet further may a poor soul com∣plain; Ah, I have a dull, dead, heavy, in∣disposed heart, heartlesse am I to seek and cry, &c. I have shewed before, that if thou wilt ask a heart, I will give it thee, saith the Lord, and ask his Spirit to raise up thy heart above that indisposed di∣stemper: Nay Soul, let me ask thee, Canst

thou truly complain of and feel such a distemper, oh what a dull, heavy, dead, indisposed heart have I? 'Tis of the spi∣rit of life within thee, or thou couldst not so complain; And 'tis an earnest of more of the spirit to be given unto thee, from what hath been now and before said unto thee: Soul, maist thou be en∣couraged to seek and wait privately, pub∣likely, be diligent in all means, yea, with some measure of contentednesse, till the Lord shall speak, and when thy spirit is so subdued, usually comfort is not farre off; But as to thy further encourage∣men, I will leade thee on to the next Point.

Thus having shew'd the condition of a humbled convinced sinner, coming to Jesus Christ in a perishing condition, and waiting for the voice of comfort and as∣surance, I shall in the next endeavour to state such a faith which Christ in the Text cals a little faith; Why are ye fear∣full, &c.