GRACE, mercy, and peace be with thee. I was sorry to hear of the soul-conflicts which attend thee; but God's ways are deep and mysterious. He sometimes permits these onsets to come that we may be the more sensible of the power of faith, by finding that faith in the conscience holds fast that very thing which Satan labours in the mind to make us doubt of, quit, and give up; while cries and tears go up to strengthen Faith in her hold.
2. In the end it often establishes the heart the firmer; for when we have been long tried, and hanging in a doubtful scale, God will determine and settle the point in doubt, Faith having gained her cause, obtained the victory, and enriched the soul with the spoils: hence this trial of faith is said to be more precious than gold, having been tried by the fiery wrath and carts of Satan.
3. At a long run it serves to chew us, that every divine truth against which the devil labours so hard, must needs be destructive to his empire and saving to us, or why all this infernal fighting against it? as we are sure no false doctrine, lies, or fables, can be injurious to his realm, for that is supported by nothing else.
4. Sometimes these sore conflicts are sent upon us to take the mind off from vanity; it is more profitable to us to be engaged in the fight of faith, than to be idle in vain amusements.
And lastly, These trials are sometimes sent in a way of retaliation. When the highest display of eternal love, the manifestation of the greatest and sweetest of all beauties, and an assurance of an interest in the greatest of all sensations, are attended with the choicest of all indulgences, meets with cold and unsuitable returns-on this account many sore conflicts come on to make ns doubt of an interest in these things, when a comfortable assurance of them is not highly prized, nor properly valued.
Solomon provoked God by idols, and God provoked him by Jeroboam. This raging jealousy puts things in their proper light, and makes them appear in their own worth; and it serves also to make the unity of the Spirit and communion of the saints of more worth than all the ties of nature, or the corrupt affections of flesh and blood. I have in my poor way remembered thee.
God bless thee.
Q. IN THE CORNER.
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