TIM. May one lawfully praise God for visiting him with a wounded conscience? PHIL. Yes, verily. First, because it is agreeable to the will of God,* in every thing to be thankful: here is a general rule, without limitation. Secondly, because the end, why God makes any work, is his own glory; and a wounded conscience being a work of God, he must be glorified in it, especially seeing God shews much mercy therein, as being a punishment on this side of hell fire, and less than our deserts. As also, because he hath gracious intentions towards the sick soul for the present, and when the malady is over, the patient shall freely confess that it is good for him that he was so afflicted. Happy then that soul, who, in the lucid intervals of a wounded conscience, can praise God for the same. Music is sweetest near echo thereof is best or over rivers, where the rebounded by the water. Praise for pensiveness, thanks for tears, and blessing God over the floods of affliction, makes the most melodious music in the ear of Heaven. * 1 Thes. v. 18. Ephes. v. 20. Psalm ciii. 22. and cxlv. 10. THE CONCLUSION OF THE AUTHOR A TO THE READER. ND now God knows how soon it may be said unto me, Physician, heal thyself, and how quickly I shall stand in need of these counsels, which I have prescribed to others. Herein I say with Eli to Samuel,* It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good: with David to Zadock,† Behold here I am, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. With the disciples to Paul, The will of the Lord be done : ‡ But oh how easy it is for the mouth to pronounce, or the hand to subscribe these words! But how hard, yea, without God's grace, how impossible, for the heart to submit thereunto! Only hereof I am confident, that the making of this treatise shall no ways cause or hasten a wounded conscience in me, but rather on the contrary (especially if as it is written by me, it were written in me) either prevent it, that it come not at all, or defer it that it come not so soon, or lighten it, that it fall not so heavy, or shorten it, that it last not so long. And if God shall be pleased hereafter to write § bitter things 1 Sam. iii. 18. + 2 Sam. xv. 26. against me, who have here written the sweetest comforts I could for others, let none insult on my sorrows: But whilst my wounded conscience shall lie like the cripple, at the porch of the temple, may such as pass by be pleased to pity me, and permit this book to beg in my behalf the charitable prayers of well disposed people; till divine Providence shall send some Peter, some pious minister, perfectly to restore my maimed soul to her former soundness. Amen. * Acts, iii. 2. FIN IS O C. Whittingham, Tooks Court, Chancery Lane, London. |