SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COkFORT. 317 hardly drawn to open our eyes;andsee what God is doing. Much more, might we haveseen, ifwe had but observed the workings of Providence for us ; especially they that are in an afflicted state, . and have more sensibly daily use for God, and are awakened to seek him, and regard his dealings.. I know amercy to the body is no certain evidence of God's love to the soul. But yet from such experiences a Christianmay have very strong probabilities. When we find God hearing prayers, it is ahopeful sign that we have some interest inhim. We may say,asManoah's wife saidlo him, "If the Lord had meant to destroy us, he wouldnot have received a sacri- fice at our hands, nor have done all this for us ; " Judges xiii. 23. To have God so near to us in all that we Call upon him for, and so ready to relieve us, as if he could not deny an earnest prayer, and could not endure to stop his ears against our cries and groans, these are hopeful signs that he meaneth us good. I know special grace is the only certainevidence of special love: but yet these kindof experiences are many times more effectual to refresh a drooping, doubting soul, than the first evidences ; for evidences may be un- seen, and require a great deal of holy skill and diligence to try them, which few have ; but these experiences are near us, even in our bodies, and show themselves; they make all our bones say, " Lord, who is like unto thee ? " And it is a great advantage to have the help of sense itself for our consolation. I hope you yet remember the choke, particular providences, by which God bath manifested to you his goodness, even from your youth till now ; especiallyhis frequent answeringof your prayers ! - Methinks these should do something to the dispelling of those black, distrustful thoughts of God. I could wish you would write them down, and oft review them: and when temptations next come, remember with David, who helped you against the lion and the bear, and, there- fore, fear not the uncircumcised Philistine. 2. And you may make great use also of the experiences of others. Is it not a great satisfaction to hear twenty, or forty, or an hundred Christians, of themost godly lives, to make the very same complaints as you do yourself? The very same complaints have I heard from as many. By this you niaysee your ease is not singu- lar, but the ordinary case of the tenderest consciences, and of many that walk uprightly with God. And also is it not a great help to you, to hear other Christians tell how theyhave come into those troubles, and how they have got out of them? What hurt them? And what helped them? . And hobo God dealt with them, while they lay under them? How desirous are diseased persons to talk with others that have had the same disease ! And to hear them tell how it took them, and how it held them, and especially what cured them ! Besides, it will give you much stronger hopes of
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