Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon 15
A LIFTING UP In caſe of DESERTION.
Sermon IX.
PSALM, 42.11.
Stepney, June, 1648.Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? &c.
Inſtance 6 SOmtimes the Diſcouragements of the Saints are taken from their Deſerti… tions, spiritual Deſertions.
And this was Davids caſe here; for, ſaith he, verſe 10. As a Sword in my bones, mine Enemies reproached me, while they ſay unto me, Where is thy God? And verſe 9. I wil ſay unto God, My Rock, why haſt thou forgotten me? And this is the ordinary caſe of Gods Children: O! ſaith one, the Lord hath forgotten me, hid his face from me, and hath forſaken my ſoul, and therefore I am thus diſcouraged. I do not complain for want, or loſs of outward Mercies, and Bleſſings; yea, though all the world ſhould forſake me, I ſhould not be much afflicted, if God, and Chriſt were preſent with me; but times were, when the Candle of the Lord ſhined upon me, when I walked, as I tho…ght, in the light of his Countenance: but now the Lord hath hi… his face from me, and hath left, and forſaken my ſoul; have I not juſt cauſe, and reaſon to be caſt down now, and to be much diſqu…eted?
Anſw. No. I grant, and it muſt nee…s be gr…nted, That it is a moſt ſad thing, for a gracious heart, to wan… the …race, and preſence of God, and Chriſt, to be deſerted, and forſaken by Chriſt; yea, I do not know any thing, or any Affliction, that is ſo afflictive to a gracious heart, as this: For, take any other Affliction, and though it be great, yet it is but a particular Affliction, the loſs of ſome Particular Good, and the putting out of ſome one Candle, or the hiding of ſome one Star: But if Chriſt hide his face, and God withdraw, or hide himſelf; it is the darkening of the Sun, which brings an univerſal darkneſs upon the ſoul; and it imbitters al other Afflictions: for, as the preſence of Chriſt, ſweetens all other Comforts; ſo the abſence, or forſakings of Chriſt, do imbitter al other Sufferings, and cut off al our relief, and remedy againſt them. So long as the face of God ſhines upon a poor ſoul, he may run to Chriſt, and relieve, and help himſelf againſt his Affliction: true, my Friends forſake me, my Relations forſake me; but Chriſt hath not forſaken me: but if God, and Chriſt forſake, where ſhal a man relieve, or refreſh himſelf in this ſtormy day? And as thoſe ſins are greateſt, that cut off our relief againſt other ſins; ſo thoſe Afflictions are greateſt, that cut off our relief againſt other Afflictions. Such is this; of al Afflictions, it looks the moſt like a Judgment to a Gracious Soul. O Lord, Pſal. 6.1.(ſaith David) Correct me not in thine Anger, nor chaſten me in thy hot Diſpleaſure. When God hides his face, and forſakes the ſoul, he ſeems to correct in Anger, and in hot diſpleaſure; herein a Chriſtian doth, as it were, combat with God himſelf; he fights with men ſomtimes, and then he is more than a Conquerer, becauſe Chriſt fighteth with him, and in him; he fights with Satan, Principalities, and Powers, and then he doth overcome, becauſe Chriſt is with him: but O! ſaith the ſoul, in this Deſertion, God is mine Enemy; here I muſt fight it out hand to hand with Divine Anger; and what ſhal I do now? how is it poſſible that I ſhould now eſcape? The truth is, this Affliction above al others, ſeems to draw a Curtain over al our Comforts, and to put an end unto al our Spiritual joy. What Birds ſing in the Winter time? ſome may, but ordinarily they do not: If you walk abroad in the Winter time, and hear no Birds ſing, and one ſay to you, What is the reaſon of this deep ſilence? two or three months ago, when we walked in the Fields, every Wood had its ſeveral Muſick; how ſweetly did the Birds ſing then! but now they are al ſilent, what is the reaſon? You wil eaſily anſwer, I, then indeed it was Summer time, then the Sun ſhone upon them, and …o they ſang; …ut now the warming, and enlivening beams of the Sun are gone, …hey ſing no more. Beloved! the Light of Gods Countenance, is o…r Spring, Deſertion is our Winter; ſhow me that Sain… that is able to ſing in this Winter time: I confeſs, it is poſſible for a man to …o it, and ſome there are; Habakkuk was one that learned …his ſong of Faith; but …ow few are able to ſing, and rejoyce, when God hides himſelf. No, ſaith the ſoul, two or three months ago, the Lord ſhined upon me, and then I could ſing indeed; but now God, and Chriſt is gone, and ſo al my ſongs are gone, and joyes are gone; and I fear I ſhal never ſee them again, or rejoyce in Chriſt again. It is ſaid of Mary, That when ſhe went to Chriſts Sepulchre, ſhe wept; and though the Angel came to her, and ſaid, Why weepeſt thou? yet ſhe continued weeping: the preſence of an Angel could not comfort her, Why? O! ſaith ſhe, They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. Would it not grieve a Prince, to be diſpoſſeſt of, and to loſe his Crown, to be made like an ordinary man? This Preſence of Chriſt, is the Crown of a Chriſtian; and therefore, when God had forſaken the Church▪ as we read in Lam. 5. ſhe complained, verſe 16. The Crown is fal…en from my Head; Why? ver. 20. Wherefore doeſt thou forget us for ev…r, and forſake us ſo long a time? Ver. 22. Thou haſt utterly rejected us, thou art very wroth againſt us. Take away the preſence of Chriſt, and ye ſet a Chriſtian among the ordinary rank of men: and muſt he not needs be troubled, when his Crown is thus taken from his Head? I have read of a Religious Woman, that having born Nine Children, profeſſed, That ſhe had rather endure all the pains of thoſe Nine Travels at once, than endure the Miſery of the loſs of Gods Preſence. And indeed, this Affliction of Gods forſaking a man, is ſo great, that if a man feel it not, I even fear it is, becauſe he is forſaken indeed. But now, though there be never ſo much Gal, and Wormwood in this Cup, yet the Children of God have no reaſon to faint at the drinking of it; no juſt cauſe, or reaſon, yet to faint, or be diſcouraged, or caſt down.
Queſt. How may that appear?
Anſw. 1 Firſt. For the cleering of this Truth to you, ye muſt know, That God, or Chriſt, is ſaid to forſake a man, either in regard of his Power, Grace, or Strength; or in regard of the comfortable feelings of his Love; either in re…rd of Union, or in regard of Viſion. 1. In regard of Union, He never forſakes his own People. 2. In regard of his Power, Grace, and Strength, he never forſakes them totally. 3. And in regard of Viſion, or comfortable feelings, though he do forſake for a time, yet he wil return again: and if al theſe be true, have they any reaſon to be much diſcouraged? For the firſt, ye know what is ſaid, Thoſe whom he loves, John, 13.1.he loves unto the end. As for the Second, ye know what he ſaith alſo; I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee. Heb. 13.5. 1 Pet. 1.5.We are kept by the Power of God unto Salvation. And as for the Third, hath not the Lord promiſed, Iſay, 54. that he wil return again with advantage? ver. 7. For a ſmal moment have I forſaken thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee: In a little wrath, I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlaſting kindneſs wil I have mercy on thee, ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer, ver. 8. Now ye know, that Friends are not much troubled at ſuch a parting, which is but for a time. It is ſaid of the Church of Epheſus, That when Paul …ook leave of them, they wept, Becauſe he ſaid they ſhould ſee his face no more. The Saints cannot ſay ſo in regard of Chriſt, though they ſee not his face for the preſent, yet they cannot ſay, I ſhal ſee his face no more; for he wil return again, yea, and return with advantage: for though he forſakes for a moment, yet with great mercy, and with everlaſting kindneſs, wil the Lord have mercy on them: What then, though you be forſaken for a moment? have you any juſt cauſe, and reaſon for your Diſcouragement?
Anſw. 2 Secondly: If Chriſt do therefore forſake his People, that he may not forſake them, and hath a deſign of Love, and nothing but of Love upon them in his forſaking; then have they no juſt cauſe for their Diſcouragements. Now I pray, What is the reaſon why God doth forſake his People for a time, or a moment? hath he any de…gn but Love upon them? Doth he not therefore withdraw himſelf from them, that he might draw them to himſelf? Doth he not therefore hide his face for a moment, that he may not turn his back upon them for ever? Doth he not therefore forſake them for a moment, that they might die unto all the world, and long after Heaven, where there is no forſaking? Doth he not therefore forſake them for a moment, that they might die unto the way of ſence, and learn to live by Faith, which is the proper work of this Life? Doth he not therefore forſake them for a moment, that in this Winter of their Deſertion, the Weeds, and Vermin of their ſins, may be killed, and mortified? Doth he not therefore forſake them for a moment, that he may ſee their Love to him? In time of his Preſence, we have the ſence of his Love to us; but in the time of his abſence, then he ſeeth, and we our ſelves have the ſence of our Love to him. Doth he not therefore forſake them for a moment, that their very Joyes, and Comforts may be more fervent, exalted, and enlarged? It is our Nature to rejoyce moſt in a Comfort, when it is redeemed from the hand of Death, and recovered from loſs: The wiſe men, when they ſaw the loſt Star again, then they rejoyced with exceeding great joy; Did they not rejoyce i… the Star before? Surely they did: But they rejoyced more, even with exceeding great joy, when they had found the loſt Star. And this is our Nature; we rejoyce moſt in the finding of loſt mercies. Now the Lord Chriſt knows our Nature, and therefore, that he may raiſe our joy, our praiſe, our thankfulneſs, for his Preſence, Face, and Manifeſtation of his Love, he doth ſomtimes withdraw them. So that in al his withdrawings, he hath a Deſign of Love upon our ſouls; have we any reaſon then to be much diſcouraged, though deſerted?
Anſw. 3 Thirdly: Though it pleaſeth God, to hide his Face from his People ſomtimes, inſomuch as they are in the dark, and in a very dark Condition; yet they are never ſo much in the dark, but that they have light enough to work by: For what day is there in all the yeer, that is ſo ſhort, dark, and gloomy, but a man may ſee to work by? Indeed, ſomtimes the Sun is in the Eclipſe, ſomtimes behind a Cloud; ſomtimes it breaks not forth with his Golden beams, as at other times: but if the Sun be up, and it be day, a man hath alwaies light enough to work by. Now the Sun is alwaies up with the Saints, it is alwaies day with them; though the Beams of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, do not ſhine, yet it is alwaies day; they are not Children of darkneſs; they may have a dark day of it, but though it be never ſo dark, they may find light enough to do the great Work which they came into the World for; which is, to beleeve, and truſt, and ſtay themſelves on God; this … man may do in the darkeſt time, when he hath no light: and therefore ſaith the Prophet, Let him that walks in darkneſs; and ſeeth no light, ſtay himſelf upon the Name of the Lord. What then, though you have not ſo much light as you would have, to refreſh your ſelves by; yet if you have light enough to do your Fathers Work by (and the greateſt work of this Life is, to truſt in God, and beleeve) have you then any reaſon for your diſcouragements? Thus it is with al the Saints; though they may be in the dark, and the Sun ſhines not out upon them, yet it is alwaies day with them and they have light enough, when it is darkeſt, to do their Father… work and buſineſs by; and therefore certainly, the Saints have no reaſon to be caſt down, and diſcouraged, although they be much forſaken deſerted, and in the dark.
Object. 1 But Jeſus Chriſt hath not only deſerted, forſaken, and withdrawn himſelf from me, in regard of Viſion; but I fear alſo in regard of Ʋnion: not in regard of comfortable feelings only; but in regard of ſtrength and power: and therefore I am afraid, and diſcouraged, and have I not cauſe for it?
Anſw. No. For a man that is in the dark, is not able to judg of his own Grace, or Chriſts Strength in him: Now you are in Deſertion, therefore in the dark, therefore not able to judg of your own Grace, and Chriſts Strength in you; yet if you can judg in this Condition, and wil deal faithfully with your own ſouls; is there not as much of Chriſts Strength, and Grace in your Lives and Converſations, as when ye had that preſence which ye mourn after, excepting your enlargements in Duties? I confeſs indeed, that … Gracious man in time of Deſertion, hath not thoſe enlargements, as he had when Gods Face ſhined upon him; but ſetting aſide your enlargements, what is there in your Converſations wanting now, which you had then? and is the very want of enlargement, a ſufficient reaſon to ſay that Chriſt is gone, and hath forſaken me, not only in regard of Viſion, but in regard of Union, Strength, and Grace? We read in Cant. 5.5. That when Chriſt withdraws from the Spouſe, there is ſome Mirrh left upon the ringles of the door; the Spouſe ariſeth, follows after him, and enquireth for him, ſaying, Did you ſee my beloved? She met with the Watchmen, they ſmote her, and ſhe was willing to bear their ſmiting, that ſhe might hear of Chriſt; ſhe ſtands, and admireth at the beauty and excellency of her Beloved; White, and ruddy, the faireſt of ten thouſand. Now in this Deſertion of yours, is there not ſome Mirrh upon the ringles of your heart? Do you not ſtill ſtand admiring Chriſt, and his Excellencies? Do you not enquire after your Beloved? going to one, and to another, ſaying, Did you ſee him whom my ſoul loveth? Are you not willing that the Watchmen ſhould ſmite you, ſo ye may but meet with Chriſt again? And wil ye ſay then, he is not only gone in regard of Viſion, but in regard of Union, Power, Strength, and Grace too? Surely you have no reaſon for it.
Object. 2 But I am not only forſaken, and deſerted, and want the Comfortable feelings, and manifeſtations of Love which I once had, and do now deſire to have; but I do find the contrary tokens of Gods Diſpleaſure, manifeſtations of his Anger: were it only the withdrawings of Love, I might bear it; but Chriſt is angry, God is angry, appears to be mine Enemy, and have I not reaſon now to be much diſcouraged?
Anſw. No: For if this hath been the condition of the Saints before you, why ſhould you fear your ſtate in this reſpect? Now look into Iſay, 57. and you ſhal … that God ſaith, I was wroth, and ſmote him; he did not only hide his face, but he was wroth; yea, he is not only wroth, but he ſmote his People too, and yet the Promiſe is, I will reſtore comfort to him, and to his mourners: Did not Job think, and ſay that God was angry with him, and become his Enemy? and did not Job's Friends think that God loved them, and was their Friend, and his Enemy? yet if you look into Job, 42. you find that God was more pleaſed with Job, for he was fain to pray for them before they could be accepted; and know ye not, that it is Chriſts uſual manner to perſonate an Enemy, when he intends the moſt Friendſhip; to ſeem a ſtranger, when he intends the moſt communion. It is ſaid, that God was angry with Moſes, Exod. 4. yet even then he gave him ſuch a Promiſe of mercy, as he had not before, ver. 14, 15, 16. Ye know what Davids choyce was; Lord, let me fall into thy hands, and not into the hands of men, for with thee is mercy: It is ſomtimes a mercy to be immediately chaſtiſed by the hand of God our Father: God might turn us over to the hands of men; but if God wil take us into his own hand, and chaſtiſe with his own hand immediately, there is love in it. If a Prince ſhould ſay to his Officers, My whol Kingdom is before you, do right, and execute Juſtice, and Judgment; but as for ſuch and ſuch a Family, if they ſhall commit any fault, I wil chaſtiſe them immediately with mine own hand, you ſhal not meddle with them, I wil do it my ſelf; would not this argue love? Thus it is with the Saints in the time of Deſertion, then God takes the ſoul into his own hand; all Creatures, and Officers of his Anger, ſtand by, and meddle not: in other Afflictions, God turns us over to his Officers; but in Deſertion, there he doth correct immediately; and therefore though he ſtrikes, yet there is Love at the bottom, and the more Chriſt doth ſympathize with you in any Affliction, the leſs cauſe you have to be diſcouraged. Chriſt is our ſympathizing High-Prieſt in al our Afflictions; but the more we are like to him in any Affliction, the more he doth ſympathize, and his heart let out the more unto us: Jeſus Chriſt was in Deſertion himſelf, and not only forſaken, but for our ſakes, under the wrath and diſpleaſure of God his Father; and therefore when he ſees a ſoul, not only deſerted, but under anger, and diſpleaſure of God; then he ſaith, O! there is a ſoul that is in my caſe, and ſo he does moſt commiſerate, and compaſſionate that perſon: have you then any reaſon to be diſcouraged in this reſpect?
Object. 3 But this is not my caſe: For I am not only deſerted, forſaken, under manifeſtations of Chriſts diſpleaſure; but I have ſinned, and drawn down this Deſertion upon my own ſoul; and therefore now it is, that I am thus diſcouraged, and have I not reaſon for it?
Anſw. No: For God doth not alwaies deſert, and forſake his People for their ſins; ſomtimes he doth, and ſomtimes he doth not; as appears by comparing the 3d and 5th Chapters of the Canticles: and it may be he doth now withdraw from you, not for your ſin; and if there be but a may be of it, there is no reaſon for diſcouragement. But ſuppoſe it be ſo; look I pray into Iſay, 57. again, and ſee what the Lord hath promiſed to a poor ſoul in this condition, ver. 17. For the iniquity of his covetouſneſs was I wroth, and ſmote him; I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. Wil ye ſay, the Lord doth not only hide his f…ce from you, but he hath ſmitten you? So here. Wil ye ſay, O! but I have ſinned, and drawn this deſertion upon my ſelf? So here; For the iniquity of his Covetouſneſs I was wroth, and ſmote him. Will ye ſay, O! but I have ſinned on both ſides of this Deſertion? I have ſinned before the Deſertion came, which ſin was the cauſe of it? and I have ſinned ſince? I have been deſerted by my frowardneſs, and peeviſh carriage? So here, For the iniquity of his covetouſneſs was I wroth, and hid me; there is ſin on the one ſide: and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart; there is ſin on the other ſide of Deſertion: Here is ſin on both ſides; what then? is there any hope, or comfort, or mercy for a heart in this condition? Yes, ſaith the Lord, I will reſtore comfort unto him, and to his mourners. O! but it is not comfort that my ſoul deſires; but I have a foul, filthy, unclean, wicked heart of mine own; O! that my heart were healed: Is there any hope of healing mercy in this condition? Yes, ſaith the Lord in the Text; I have ſeen his waies, and will heal him. O! but though I be healed, I ſhal ſin again, and wander from God again: nay, ſaith the Lord, But I have ſeen his waies, and will heal him, and will lead him alſo. But I ſee no means, or likelihood of al this; how can it be? Yes, very well; for ſaith the Lord, ver. 19. I create the fruit of the Lips; Peace, peace, peace, to him that is afar off; and I will heal him again: O! what Comfort is here? what an upholding Promiſe is here? Can you read it, or think of it, and your heart ſink before it?
Object. 4 This is but part of my condition; for I have ſinned, Chriſt hath forſaken me; I have ſinned, Chriſt hath ſmote me, and he goes on ſmiting, goes on angry, goes on displeaſed; I have been deſerted a long while, in the dark a long while; and I am ſo far from the light, that it doth even grow darker and darker, my condition being more ſad, every day than other; every day I am more deſerted, and my condition worſer; have I not reaſon to be caſt down, and diſcouraged now?
Anſw. No: For when was it worſt with the Iſraelites? They had an ill time of it al the while they were in the Land of Egypt, a dark time; but was it not worſt with them immediately before their deliverance? Did not the Task-Maſters then beat them? When was it worſt with David? ill at al times in the Wilderneſs; but was it not worſt with him at Ziklag, when he had loſt his Wives, and his own men took up ſtones againſt him? Pſal. 10. we read, that David ſaith, Why ſtandeſt thou afar off, O Lord, and hideſt thy ſelf in the time of trouble? hiding is more, and wor…er than ſtanding afar off. When the Sun is going down, then it ſeems to be far off; but when it is hidden, then it is ſet, and is further off: So ſaith David; Lord, thou art not only afar off, but even out of ſight, quite out of ſight, and art hidden from me; his Deſertion grew higher and higher: And if you look into Pſal. 13. you find, that he ſpeaks to the like purpoſe; How long wilt thou bide thy face from me? how long wilt thou forget me (O Lord) for ever? As hiding, is more than ſtanding afar off; ſo it is worſe than forgetting: For, as Muſculus obſerves wel, forgetting is but Remiſſio amoris; a man that loves another, may forget him, yet he may love him well; but hiding the face is, Irae teſtimonium, the teſtimony of anger; and it is as if David ſhould have ſaid, Lord, thou doeſt not only reſtrain thy Love towards me, but thou doeſt ſhew tokens of thy diſpleaſure, and anger, and thy diſpleaſure riſeth: So Pſal. 22. ver. 1. My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? I cry in the day time, but thou heareſt not, ver. 2. How can this be? ſaith Auguſtine; that God ſhould forſake Chriſt in his Sufferings (for theſe words are ſpoken of Chriſt) when God was in Chriſt reconciling the world unto himſelf? Yes, very well (ſaith he) for Chriſt was a common Perſon, ſtood in our ſtead, and place, and ſo perſonating of us; he ſaith, Why haſt thou forſaken me? yea, and Lord, thou haſt not only forſaken me, but my Deſertion ariſeth yet higher; for, I cry in the day time, and thou heareſt not: But you may ſee this abundantly made out in Job, 30.20. I cry unto thee, and thou doeſt not bear me; I ſtand up, and thou regardeſt me not, thou art become cruel to me; with thy ſtrong hand thou oppoſeſt thy ſelf againſt me: Ver. 27. My bowels boyled, and reſt not, the daies of affliction prevented me: I went mourning without the Sun; I am a brother to Dragons, and a companion to Owls. And ver. 26. When I looked for good, then evil came unto me; and when I waited for light, there came darkneſs. Thus you ſee that it may be the condition of Gods own People, to be worſer, and worſer; and their condition more and more dark in their own apprehenſions; and therefore no reaſon why you ſhould be diſcouraged in this reſpect.
Object. 5 But my Deſertions have been ſo long, that I fear it will never be otherwiſe with me; God is now gone, Chriſt is now gone, Comfort gone, and I fear now that Chriſt will never return again; and this is that which even ſinks my ſoul: I confeſs, the leaſt deſertion and forſaking, is a great evil: but though I were under the greateſt cloud in the world, I ſhould bear it, if I did but think that Chriſt would return again: but I find in Scripture, that there is a final rejection mentioned, as well as a preſent deſertion: the Saints, and People of God, are it may be, deſerted for a time; but they are never rejected: David was deſerted, but he was not rejected; Saul was rejected, finally rejected; and I fear that I am not only deſerted for the preſent, but finally rejected, that God hath even caſt me off; and therefore I am thus diſcouraged, have I not cauſe and reaſon for it now?
Anſw. 1 No, not yet: For firſt, it is uſual with the Saints in affliction, to think that God is gone, and wil return no more: there is no affliction which the People of God meet withal (and they meet with many) wherein they are ſo apt, and prone, and ready to write a [Never] upon their condition, as in this caſe of Spiritual Deſertion. If a godly, gracious man fal ſick, he doth not ſay preſently, or conclude, I ſhal never recover again; if he be perſecuted by Enemies, he doth not conclude preſently, that he ſhal never be delivered: but if God hide his Face at any time, then comes out this [Never] I ſhal Never be delivered, I ſhal never be reſtored to comfort again. So Pſal. 13. How long wilt thou hide thy face? what, for ever! So Pſal. 77. Will the Lord caſt off for ever? ver. 7. Will he be favorable no more? is his mercy clean gone for ever? and doth his Promiſe fail for ever more? This is the proper place, and ground, where this unbeleeving concluſion grows; when they are in this condition, they riſe to a [Never;] O! it wil never be otherwiſe with me; Chriſt is gone, Mercy is gone, and I ſhal never ſee the face of God again: This is uſual, and moſt uſual with the Saints in this Condition.
Anſw. 2 Secondly: Therefore you ſhal obſerve, That when God doth give out a Promiſe to his Children in this condition; the Promiſe is ſo caſt and laid, as may moſt obviate, and face this Objection, and take off our Never. Pſal. 9.18. The needy ſhall not alwaies be forgotten, the expectation of the poor ſhall not fail for ever. So Pſal. 103. The Lord is merciful and gracious, ver. 8. Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy: he will not alwaies chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever. So I…ay 57. ver. 16. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be alwaies wroth. God ſeeth that in this condition, his People are apt to write a Never upon their condition; and therefore that he may condeſcend unto their Infirmities, when he comes to give out a Promiſe, he doth not barely promiſe Mercy; but he puts in the [Ever] into his Promiſe, that he may take off our unbeleeving [Never.]
Anſw. 3 Thirdly: If it be made out unto you by Scripture, That God, or Chriſt is not ſo gone, but that he wil return again; then will you not ſay, ſurely, I have no reaſon for my diſcouragements?
Now for the cleering of that, give me leave to propound ſeveral Queſtions to you.
Firſt: Did ye ever read in al the Word of God, that a man was finally rejected, and forſaken, but an evil Spirit from the Lord did ſeize upon him preſently? Saul was finally rejected, and the Text ſaith, That an evil Spirit from the Lord ſeized upon him; and what is the evil Spirit, but an envious Spirit? The envious man in the Goſpel, is the evil man; and this evil Spirit ſeized on Saul as ſoon as God did forſake him; for an envious, malicious, perſecuting Spirit came upon him againſt David, and the Saints with him. So when God forſakes a man finally, a perſecuting Spirit enters him. When God forſakes his own Children, Satan, that evil Spirit comes to them; for when God goes, Satan comes: but there is much difference between a tempting Satan, and a perſecuting Satan: tempting Satan comes to the Saints, when they are deſerted; but a perſecuting Satan doth not enter into them. But did ye ever know, or read of any finally rejected, but an evil, perſecuting Spirit ſeized on them from the Lord?
Secondly: Do you read of any in al the Word, whom God did finally forſake, that could not find in their hearts to forſake God, and his Waies? God doth not forſake us, unleſs we forſake him; Ye have rejected me, ſaith the Lord, and therefore I have rejected you. Poſſibly a good man may want this ſence of Gods Love; but then he hath the ſence of his own ſins: poſſibly he may want the feeling of his own perfection, which is Divine Love; but then he hath the feeling of his own imperfection. But I ſay, Did you ever read in al the Word, of any man finally forſaken, that could not find in his heart to forſake God, and the good Waies of God?
Thirdly: Did ye ever read in al the Word, That God did ever forſake a man, who was ſenſible of his forſaking, and complained thereof, ſimply for it ſelf? We read of Saul indeed, That when he was forſaken, he cryed out, and ſaid, God hath forſaken me, the Philiſtims are upon me; God hath forſaken me, but it is in order to an outward evil; the Philiſtims are upon me. But the Saints, when they are forſaken, are ſenſible of this evil, ſimply for it ſelf, and think the time long, and tedious, when they are ſo forſaken: O Lord, ſaith David, how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? what, for ever? But I ſay, Was ever man forſaken, was ever man quite forſaken of God, that was ſenſible of this evil, only, and ſimply for it ſelf?
Fourthly: Did you ever read in al the Word of God, That ever a man was finally forſaken, who was tender in the point of ſin, who ſate mourning after God? We read in the Romans, That when God gave up the Gentiles to their ſins, they gave up themſelves unto al uncleanneſs, and were paſt feeling. The Saints and People of God, on the contrary, in the time of their Deſertion, are tender in the point of ſin, and they mourn after God: When was a man ever forſaken, whoſe heart was in this frame?
Fiftly: Did you ever read that Chriſt did finally forſake a man in whoſe heart, and ſoul, ſtil he did leave his Goods, Furniture, and Spiritual Houſhold-ſtuff? A man ſomtimes goes from home▪ and ſomtimes he doth quite leave his houſe. There is much difference between thoſe two: If a man leave his houſe, and comes no more, then he carries away all his goods; and when ye ſee them carried away, ye ſay, this man wil come no more. But though a man ride a great Journey, yet he may come again; and ye ſay, ſurely he wil come again; why? Becauſe ſtill his Goods, Wife, and Children are in his Houſe. So if Chriſt reject a man, and go away finally, he carries away all his Goods, Spiritual Gifts, Graces, and Principles: But though he be long abſent, yet if his Houſhold-ſtuff abide in the heart; if there be the ſame deſires after him, and delight in him, and admiring of him, and mourning for want of him; ye may ſay, ſurely he wil come again; Why? Becauſe his Houſhold-ſtuff is here ſtill. When did, Chriſt ever forſake a man, in whoſe heart he left this Spiritual Furniture?
Sixtly: Did ye ever know a man finally forſaken of Chriſt, who did long after the preſence of Chriſt, as the greateſt good? and looked upon his abſence as the greateſt evil, and affliction in all the world? being willing to kiſs the feet of Jeſus Chriſt, and to ſerve him in the loweſt, and meaneſt condition, ſo he might but enjoy him? We find, that the Saints deſire, above all things, to be kiſt with the kiſſes of Chriſts mouth: and therefore the Book of the Camicles doth ſo begin, chap. 2. ver. 1. Let him kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth; even becauſe that is the firſt, and the chiefeſt of the Saints deſires in this Life: but if Chriſt wil not kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth, ſaith a gracious ſoul, yet I am willing to kiſs his feet, as Mary did. There is a time a coming, when he wil kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth for ever; but for the preſent, if I can but kiſs his feet here, I have hope to be kiſſed by him in Heaven. Now I ſay, Did Chriſt ever forſake a man finally, who did thus long after Chriſt himſelf? Can thoſe that are forſaken, mourn after his preſence, as the beſt thing, and for his abſence, as the greateſt evil in al the world? I appeal to your own Souls, and Boſoms herein; whoever you are that labor under this fear, that Chriſt is gone, and he wil return no more; ſuppoſe that God hath hid his face from you, ſeems to forget you, and to be angry with you; yet in the midſt of all theſe darkneſſes, Do you find an evil Spirit, an envious, malicious Spirit from the Lord, ſeizing upon you? Do you find, that you can find in your heart to forſake God, and the good Waies of God? Yea, rather, do you not find the contrary, though you want the ſence of Gods Love? Have you not the ſence of your own ſin? and when you want the ſence of your own perfection, have you not ſome ſence of your own imperfection? Don't you look upon this Deſertion, as the greateſt Affliction in al the world? Can you not mourn after God, and his Preſence? Doth not Chriſt every foot, ſend in one token of his Love, or another to viſit your ſouls? And are you not willing to kiſs the feet of Jeſus Chriſt? O yes! I muſt needs ſay; though I have fears that Chriſt is gone, and wil return no more; yet I praiſe the Lord, I do not find an envious, malicious, perſecuting Spirit in my ſoul unto the Saints, and People of God. I don't find that my heart is willing to forſake Chriſt, and the good waies of Chriſt: But I find that I can mourn for the abſence of Chriſt ſimply for it ſelf, and look upon it as the greateſt affliction in the world: That I am ever willing to kiſs the feet of Jeſus Chriſt: And to be in the loweſt, and meaneſt Condition, ſo he would but return unto my ſoul again. Yea, and I muſt needs ſay, That every foot I receive one token or other, one Promiſe or another, to viſit me in my condition. Then be of good comfort; though Chriſt be abſent, yet he wil return again; and with great mercy, and with everlaſting kindneſs wil he gather your ſouls unto himſelf again: and thus I ſay it ſhal be with all the Saints. Surely therefore they have no reaſon for their Diſcouragements, whatever their Deſertions be. Why therefore ſhould not every one ſay, Why art thou caſt down, O my ſoul? and why art thou ſo diſquieted within me?
Queſt. Ʋpon all this account I ſee, I have not ſo much reaſon for my Diſcouragement: but it is an hard thing to bear up ones heart from ſinking in the time of Deſertion, when God hides his face: What ſhall I do then (and this may be the condition of us all) that I may bear up my heart againſt this Diſcouragement, even when I am moſt in the dark, and Chriſt hides his face from me, or forſakes me?
Anſw. 1 Firſt: Take heed that ye don't meaſure Gods eternal Affection, by ſome preſent Diſpenſation. There is an Eternal Diſpleaſure againſt a man; and there is a preſent Diſpleaſure with a man. Eternal Diſpleaſure, or hatred, cannot ſtand with Eternal Love; but Eternal Love, and preſent Diſpleaſure, may ſtand together. A Father may be diſpleaſed with the Child for the preſent, and yet may love him with Paternal Love. So God may, and doth love, though for the preſent diſpleaſed: But when men meaſure Eternal Affection, by preſent Diſpenſation, then they are quite diſcouraged; and you will find all Diſcouragements in this caſe do ariſe from hence. Some there are, that do walk by particular Providences, Experiences, Words, Manifeſtations, and In-comes of Love; and when they have them, then they are much refreſhed; and if they want them, then they are much diſcouraged, and ſay, Ah! Chriſt loves me not, and God is gone, wil return no more; Why? Becauſe they meaſure Gods Eternal Love, by ſome preſent Diſpenſation: But if Gods preſent Diſpenſations may ſeem to run croſs to his Eternal Purpoſe, why then ſhould they be diſcouraged, and ſay, he is gone for ever? Now ſo it is, he may hide his face, he may withdraw, and deny particular Comforts, and Manifeſtations, yet love me eternally. O! that people would not meaſure Gods Eternal Affection, by ſome preſent Diſpenſation, ſo ſhould they never be much diſcouraged.
Anſw. 2 Secondly: If you would not be diſcouraged in this Condition, Take heed of letting fal any deſpairing, deſpondent, unbeleeving Speeches; for the more buſie, Satan is about you, in the time of Deſertion, the more tedious wil that time be, and more full of Diſcouragements. Now look, as it is with ſome Dog; if you let fal a Bone, or Bread, or Meat, the Dog ſtaies, and waits ſtill; but when he finds none, he goes his waies. So it is with Satan, when a man is in a Deſertion, he comes, and ſaith he, this is a time for me to work, who am the firſt-born Child of Darkneſs; and this ſoul being in the dark, it is a fit time for me to work upon him; there he ſtands, and if any deſpairing, deſpondent Speeches do fall from you, Satan ſtaies the longer; but if none fall, he goes away the ſooner. Have you therefore been, or are you under any Deſertion, and let fal any bones for Satan? look back, and gather them al up again, gather up theſe crums again, and mourn over them; and take heed for the time to come; for the more of theſe fall, the longer Satan ſtaies, and the more you will be diſcouraged.
Anſw. 3 Thirdly: Be ſure that you hear things indifferently on both ſides. There are two Parties pleading in your ſouls in the time of Deſertion. One that doth plead for Chriſt, to maintain, and bear up the Love of Chriſt in your heart, ſaying, He is gone indeed, and he doth hide his face; but he wil come again, and ſhine upon you again. There is another Party, that doth plead the cauſe of Satan, againſt Chriſt, ſaying, He is now gone, and will return no more, you ſhall never ſee his face again. In this caſe, be ſure that you do hear things indifferently, and let not your Ear be open to one, and ſhut to the other. He can never judg …g h…ly, that doth not hear both parties: Though it be no time to judg when you are under Temptation, and in the dark; yet how …equently do poor ſouls judg themſelves in this condition, and even judg themſelves to be under Judgment, why? but becauſe they hearken more to one ſide, than to the other: If Satan come, and tel them a ſtory of Gods Diſpleaſure, they will be ſure to hear that at large; but if Chriſt come and tel them a ſtory of Gods Love to ſinners, that they hear not, or if they do, yet as a man that reads a Book to confute it, is diſputing againſt what he reads all along; ſo are they alſo diſputing againſt the words of the Goſpel all along as they hear them; ſaying in their hearts, O! but, this is not made to me; it is a good Promiſe, but it belongs not to me, this is not my condition; and a hundred ſuch [O! buts.] But is this equal? How is it poſſible, but that a man ſhould miſ-judg, and be much diſcouraged, when he hears thus? Wherefore, my Exhortation from the Lord is, which I beſeech you in his Name to receive; Never receive any Relation from the Law, but be aſſured your Ears be as open for to hear the Goſpel: Never receive any Relation, or Story from Satan; but let your Ear be as open to hear what Chriſt ſaith. And why ſhould not this Exhortation be received? Had I intreated ſome great thing for Chriſt, would you not have done it? But now that I only intreat you to carry things indifferently, to have an Ear open, as wel to Chriſt, as to Satan; will ye not yield to it? O! me thinks every gracious ſoul ſhould ſay, Well, through Grace, I will hearken more to Chriſt: I confeſs indeed, I have heard what Satan hath ſaid; but when Comfort hath come, I have turned away mine Ear, and have not heard; or if I have heard, I have been diſputing againſt what I have heard, and making Objections all along: now the Lord pardon this evil to me; through Grace, mine Ear ſhall be more open to Chriſt, and leſs open to Satan. So do, and you will never be much diſcouraged, whatever your Deſertion be.
Anſw. 4 In the Fourth Place: Labor more and more for to live by Faith: When God ſeems to be mine Enemy, ſaith Luther, and to ſtand with a drawn Sword againſt me, then do I caſt, and throw my ſelf into his Arms: and what better way than to venture upon God in this caſe? and to ſay, Whether ſaved, or not ſaved; whether damned, or not damned; whether Hypocrite, or not Hypocrite; I do caſt my ſelf upon God at a venture. It is the Love, and Favor of Chriſt, that you mourn after, and are diſcouraged for the want of; you cannot get a more ready, and compendious way to get this Love, than when you are in the dark, to throw your ſelves into Chriſts Arms at a venture; this takes, and wins the heart of Chriſt over to you: what! will this poor ſoul throw himſelf into my Arms (ſaith Chriſt) now I do ſeem his Enemy? well, then I will ſhew my ſelf to be his friend; and this is the proper work of this Life: as for thoſe ſights and viſions of God, they are the work of Heaven; and though God give them ſomtimes; yet it argues more ſtrength of Grace for to be able to live without them. Suppoſe two men in your work; one that muſt have his pay preſently, his wages preſently, yea, before he hath done his work: the other wil not have his wages till his work be all done, and if ye offer him money, no, ſaith he, I will ſtay till all be done, and receive it in a lump together: Which of theſe two, is the ableſt man, or which the pooreſt man? Will you not ſay, ſurely, he that cannot ſtay, is the pooreſt? and he that can ſtay longeſt for his wages, is the ableſt man? So it is here; God hath two ſorts of Servants: one that doth go by Viſions, and Manifeſtations of Love, and are not able for to live at all by Faith, but muſt have ſights and viſions, and manifeſtations every day, or elſe they die, and murmur, or complain. And others ſay, O! but theſe ſights, and viſions, are for Heaven; if God wil have it ſo, I am contented to ſtay til all my work be done: which of theſe two, is the pooreſt, or the ſtrongeſt? Will not ye ſay, ſurely, he that is able to ſtay, is ſtrongeſt? and he the pooreſt, and weakeſt, that is not able to ſtay, or to live by Faith? O! therefore labor more and more to live by Faith; and when you are in Deſertion, ſay, Whether ſaved, or not ſaved; whether Hypocrite, or not Hypocrite, I wil ſtay, I wil wait on God, and let him come when he pleaſeth. If you lay your ſelf at Chriſts feet, he wil take you into his Arms.
But what need I ſay more? Is there not enough in the compaſs of your own Experience, to anſwer unto al your fears in this reſpect? When you have been in Deſertion, have you not ſaid that Chriſt is gone, and that he wil never come again? and yet hath not Chriſt come again? Yea, and have you not ſaid in the day of your Deſertion, If ever Chriſt do return again, I will never make ſuch unbeleeving Concluſions as I have done? and hath not Chriſt returned after this? Now then, when Satan comes, and ſuggeſts jealouſies of Chriſts Love unto you, why are not you more peremptory? Why do you not ſay to him? this I have heard before, Satan; thou told'ſt me this before, that Chriſt was gone, and would never return again; but I have found it falſe, he did return, and therefore through Grace, I wil never beleeve theſe falſe reports of Chriſt; Chriſt is faithful, I have alwaies found him ſo; thoſe whom he loves, he loves to the end; and I know he loves me, Satan, for I love him; for my love, is but the reflection of his love; I …ould not love him, if he did not love me firſt, and through Grace, I love him; I know he loves me, becauſe he hath changed me, and is every foot ſending ſome tokens of love; one Promiſe, or another to uphold my heart; yea, I know Satan, that Chriſt doth love me, becauſe thou telleſt me that he hates me; and if he hath loved me once, he wil love me to the end; and therefore though for the preſent he hides his face from me; yet I ſhal ſee his face again. Thus gather in your Experiences, and plead with Satan, or your own unbeleeving hearts, according unto all theſe Experiences; ſo ſhall you be able to live in the time of this Deſertion, and never be diſcouraged, whatever your deſertions be.
And ſo much for the Sixt Inſtance.