Though the duty is always binding, and there is no time or condition of
life in which we may be excused from this work; yet there are some
signal seasons, critical hours, requiring more than common vigilance
over the heart.
The second special season in the life of a Christian requiring more than a common diligence to keep his heart is the time of adversity.
When providence frowns upon you, and blasts your outward comforts,
then look to your hearts, keep them with all diligence
from repining against God, or fainting under his hand; for
troubles, though sanctified, are troubles still; even sweet-briar,
and holy thistle, have their prickles. Jonah was a good man, and
yet how pettish was his heart under affliction? Job was
the mirror of patience, yet how was his heart discomposed by
trouble? You will find it as hard to get a composed spirit under
great afflictions, as it is to fix quick silver. O the hurries
and tumults which they occasion even in the best hearts! Let me show you, then, how a Christian under great afflictions may keep his heart from repining or desponding, under the hand of God.
I will here offer several helps to keep the heart in this condition:
It is of marvellous efficacy to keep the heart from sinking under affliction, to call to mind, that thine own father hath the ordering of them: not a creature moves hand or tongue against thee, but by his permission. Suppose
the cup be a bitter cup, yet it is the cup which thy father hath given
thee to drink; and canst thou suspect poison
to be in that cup which he delivers thee? Foolish man, put home
the case to thine own heart, consult with thine own bowels;
canst thou find in thy heart to give thy child that which would
hurt and undo him? no, thou wouldst as soon hurt thyself as
him; If thou then being evil knowest how to give good gifts to thy children, how much more doth God? (Mat. 7:11). The very consideration of his nature, a God of love, pity and tender mercies, or of his relation to thee as a father, husband,
friend, might be security enough, if he had not spoken a word, to quiet thee in this case; and yet you have his word too,
(Jer. 25:6) I will do you no hurt. You lie too near his heart to hurt you; nothing grieves him more than your groundless and unworthy suspicions of his designs
do. Would it not grieve a faithful tender-hearted physician, when he hath studied the case of his patient, prepared the
most excellent receipts to save his life, to hear him cry out, O he hath undone me! he hath poisoned me; because it gripes and pains him in the operation? O when will you be ingenuous!
Help 5. And what if by the loss of outward comforts, God will preserve your souls from the ruining power of temptation? Sure then,
you have little cause to sink your hearts by such sad thoughts about them. Are not these earthly enjoyments the things that make men shrink and warp in times of trial? For the love of these many
have forsaken Christ in such an hour. He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions, (Mat. 19:22).
And if this be God's design, what have I done in quarrelling with him
about it? We see mariners in a storm can throw overboard
rich bales of silk, and precious things, to preserve the vessel
and their lives with it; and everyone saith, they act prudently;
we know it is
usual for soldiers in a city besieged, to batter down or burn the
fairest buildings without the walls, in which
the enemy may shelter in the siege; and no man doubts but it is
wisely done: such as have gangrened legs or arms, can willingly
stretch them out to be cut off, and not only thank, but pay the
surgeon for his pains: and must God only be repined at, for
casting over what will sink you in a storm? For pulling down that
which would advantage your enemy in the siege of temptation?
for cutting off what would endanger your everlasting life? O
inconsiderate, ungrateful man! are not these things, for which
thou grievest, the very things that have ruined thousands of
souls? well, what Christ doth in this, thou knowest not now,
but hereafter thou mayest.
- John Flavel (A Saint Indeed/Keeping the Heart, Part 3)
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