A vvilderness of trouble leading to a Canaan of comfort, or, The method and manner of God's dealing with the heirs of heaven in the ministry of the Word wherein is shewed how the Lord brings them into this trouble, supporteth them under it, and delivereth them out of it, so that none finally miscarry / by W. Crompton ...

A Consolatory Preface to poor Christians, dejected under the sense of their Sins.

GOd's Ministers are commanded by the Voice of that Evangelical Prophet Isaiah, to comfort, to speak to the Lord's People, to comfort Jerusalem, and cry un∣to her, that her Warfare is accomplished, and that her Iniquity is pardoned. In obedience to this Command, I have pre∣sumed to publish this Word in season, for your Benefit, in the following plain Dis∣course; and the plainer, because such a dress doth best become Divinity. Affected terms may please the Fancy, but will ne∣ver feed the Ʋnderstanding; they Court, but not Comfort. In these Points, Ex∣perience is more than Reading. Both ways (all praise be to the Author of Grace!) you have learn'd how the Lord by degrees, allureth and draws Men and Women, out of the pleasing Fields of Pro∣digality, into the Wilderness of Spiritual

Trouble, that he might there speak unto their Hearts, and work them to a graci∣cious Temper; wherein afterwards he keeps them, partly by presenting Sin to the Eye and Conscience, as he did to David: Which you must know is not to sink, nor drive them to Dispair, but to nourish and increase in them, an hatred of Sin, and a longing love after Christ; seeing the one daily, to loath it; and feeling the want of the other, more to desire him. It was an excellent Speech of that eminent Martyr, Mr. Lambert, who lifting up his Hands flaming with Fire (as his Heart did with Love and Zeal) cried aloud to the People out of the Fire,

Christ, and none but Christ.

Which I designedly put you in mind of, and commend to you, whereby to encou∣rage you in your dejected Condition, and to propound as a pattern for your Practice: For an adequate object of Faith, to accept and rest upon as the only Mediator of Ju∣stification and Salvation, Christ, and none but Christ: In the exercise of Re∣pentance for a term to which we must trust, and by whom we have access to the Father, Christ, and none but Christ:

In the duty of Prayer, for an Intercessor to give weight and worth unto them, Christ, and none but Christ: For a compleat Saviour, both to redeem by Purchase ••nd Conquest, in regard of Man's two∣••old Bondage, and to adorn the Soul with Righteousness, Christ, and none but Christ. As Sin is, so let Christ be ever ••efore you; in his Incarnation, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Intercessi∣••n: In his Natures and Offices; in the excellency of his Merit and Efficacy of ••is Spirit; in his Beauty and Innocen∣••y, in his Power and Pity; in his hidden Treasure and Riches unsearch∣••ble; believe it, there is no such Image ••o look upon, no such Picture to pray ••efore, as the Promises present in him ••o every believing Eye; in your Chamber, ••nd at Church, Alone and in Company, ••n Health and Sickness, in Life and Death, look upon him, love him and say,

Christ, and none but Christ.

Then may you be assured, that God hath brought you the best way out of Egypt into Canaan, that he hath spoken unto your Heart indeed, and that Christ's Blood is, and shall be effectually applied, to put Sin

both out of Affection and Memory; and in due time, to cleanse your Nature from the power and being of Sin. In a word, be of good Courage, keep on in your way, your Labour will not be in vain in the Lord. Heaven, or rather Christ, will pay for all. If then you would have Sin pardon'd, Hardness and Dulness remo∣ved, Grace bestowed, in the Habit, Acts, or Degrees, Doubts answered, Weak∣ness strengthened; Prayers and Tears with Christ will do it: Children of many Tears cannot perish.

Farewel.