Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. How is Christ as the Life to be applyed by a soul, that misseth God's favour and countenance.
THe sixt case, that we …hall speak a little to, is a deadnesse, occasioned by the Lord's hideing of himself, who is their Life▪ and the fountaine of life, Psal. 36: 9. and whose loving kindn…sse is better then life▪ Psal. 63: 3. and in whose favour is their life, Psal …0: 5. A case▪ which the frequent complaints of the Saints manifest to be rife enough. Concearning which we shall,
1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hideing of his face, whereby the soul… case will appeare.
2. Shew the reasons of this dispensation.
3. Shew how Christ is life to the soul in this case, and
4. Point - out the souls duty; or how he is to make use of Christ, for a recovery.
As to the first, we may take notice of those particulars,
1. They complaine of God's hideing of himself▪ and forsakeing them, Psal. 22: 1. my God my God, why hast thou forsaken me! and Psal. 13: 3. how long wilt thou forsake me? &c.
2. They cry out for a blaink of his face, and get i… not: for He hath withdrawn himself, Ps… … 1. How long wilt thou hide thy face from me. Heman Psal. 88. cryed out night and day, but yet God's face was hid vers▪ 1: 9, 14. The spouse seeketh long, Cant. 5. See Ps. 22: 1, 2.
3. They are looking for an outgate▪ but get none? And hope deferred maketh their heart sick, Prov. 13: 12.
4. They are in the dark, and cannot tell, why the Lord dispenseth so toward them: why (said Heman Psal. 88: 14▪) castest thou off my soul? why …idest thou thy face from me? They cannot understand wherefore it is. So Iob cryed out, Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me, Iob 10: 2.
5. They may also be walking, in the meane while, without light or counsel, so as they shall not … what to do. How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Psal. 13: 2.
6. Moreover▪ they may have their heart filled with sorrow; as we see, Psal. 13: 2. having sorrow in my heart, said David. He also sayeth, Ps. 38. that his sorrow was continually before him, vers. 17. and Psal. 116: 3. I found trouble and sorrow.
7. They may be so, as that the sweet experiences of others, may yeeld them no supply of comfort, at present, Psal. 22: 4, 5, 6. Our Fathers trusted in the (said David) and thou didest deliver them. They cryed unto thee, and were delivered; they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. But that gave him no present ease or comfort: for immediatly he addeth, vers. 6. But I am a worm and no man; a reproach of men▪ &c.
8. Yea all their own former experiences may yeeld them little solace: as we see in the same place, Psal. 22: 9, 10. compared with, vers. 14: 15. Thou art He (sayes he vers. 9) that took me out of the womb, &c. and yet he complaines, vers. 14. that he was poured out like water, and his bones out of joynt, that his heart was melted in the midst of his bowels▪ &c.
9. They may be brought neare to a giving over all in despondency; and be brought, in their sense, to the very dust of death▪ Psal 22: 16.
If it be enquired, why the Lord dispenseth so with his own people?
We answere, (and this is the Second particular) That he doth it for holy and wise reasons, whereof we may name a few, as
1. To punish their carelesnesse and negligence▪ as we see he did with the Spouse, Cant. ….
2. To chastise them for their ill improving of his favour▪ and kindeness…, when they had … as the same passage evidenceth.
3. To check them for their security and carnal confidence, as He did David Psal. 30: 6, 7. when he said his mountaine stood strong, and he should never be moved: then did the Lord hide his face, and he was troubled.
4. To try if their obedience to his commands be pure and consciencious, and not in a sort mercenary, because of his lifting - up upon them the light of his countenance: and to see if conscience to a command driveth them to duty, when they are in the dark, and have no encouragement.
5. To put the graces of the Spirit to tryal, and to exercise; as their Faith, Patience, Hope, Love &c. Psal. 13: 5, 6. & 22: 24.
6. To awaken them from their security, and to set them to a more diligent following of duty: as we see in the Spouse, Cant. 5.
7. To sharpen their desire and hunger after Him, as that same instance cleareth.
Even in such a case as this, Christ is life to the soul, (which is the Third particular)
1. By taking away the sinful causes of such a distance, having laid down his life, and shed his blood: for the remission of their sins; so that such a dispensation is not flowing from pure wrath; but is rather an act of mercy and love.
2. By advocating the poor …ans cause in heaven, where he His makeing Intercession for His own, and thereby obtaining a delivery from that condition, in God's own time, even the shining againe of his countenance upon them.
3. By keeping life in, as to habitual grace, and by breathing thereupon; so that it becometh lively and operative, even in such a winter day.
4. By supporting the soul under that dispensation, and keeping it from fainting, through the secret influences of grace, which He conveyeth into the soul: as He did to the poor woman of Canaan, Math. 15.
5. By seting the soul a work, to use such meanes, as God hath appointed for a recovery; as to cry, to plead, to longe, to waite, &c. Their heart shall live that seek Him.
6. By teaching the soul to submit to, and acquiesce in what God doth; acknowledging his Righteousnesse, Greatnesse and Soveraignity: and this quietnesse of heart is its life.
7. By keeping the heart fast to the covenant of grace. So that, whatever come they will never quite that bargan, but they will trust in Him, though He should kill them; and they will adhere to the covenant of grace, though they should be dragged through hell.
8. At length, when He seeth it fit and convenient, He quickeneth, by drawing-by the vaile, and filling the soul with joy, in the light of God's countenance; and causing it to sing, as having the heart lifted up in the wayes of the Lord.
As to the last particular, concearning the duty of a soul in such a case, we say
1. He would humble himself under this dispensation, knowing that it is the great God with whom he hath to do; and that there is no contending with Him: and that all flesh should stoop before Him.
2. He would justify God in all that He doth; and say with David Psal. 22: 3. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
3. He would look upon himself as unworthy of the least favour of that kinde: I am a worme (said David Psal. 22: 6.) and no man.
4. He would search-out his provocations, and run away to the fountain, the blood of Christ; that these may be purged away. and his conscience sprinkled from dead works, and his soul washen in the fountain opened to the house of David, for sin and for uncleannesse.
5. He must also imploy Christ, to discover to him more and more of his guiltinesse, whereby he had grieved the Spirit of God; and as sins are discovered to him, he would repent of them, and run away with them to the blood, that cleanseth from all sin. This was Elihu's advice to Iob▪ Cap. 34: vers. 31, 32. Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend. That which I see not, teach thou me, is I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
6. He would grip to Christ in the Covenant, and …est there, with joy and satisfaction: he would hold that fast, that he may ride out the storme in a darke night. Though he make not mine house to grow▪ said David, 2 Sam. 23: vers. 5. Yet this was all his salvation and all his desire, that He had made with him an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure. The Spouse took this course, when he could not get a sight of Him, whom her soul loved, Cant. 6: vers. 3. and asserted her interest in Him. I am my beloveds, and my beloved is mine.
7. He would be intertaining high, and loving thoughts of God, commending Him highly, let His dispensations be what they will. So did the Spouse, Cant. 5: vers. 10 - 16.
8. He would earnestly seek after Him. The Spouse did so, Cant. 5: vers. 6. the discouragement she met with at the hands of the watch men did not put her off her pursuite, Vers. 7. but she continued, yea was sick of love, Vers. 8. and here looks had a prevailing power with him, as we see, Cant. 6: vers. 5. where the Bridgroom uttered that most astonishing word, Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me.
9. This new manifestation, which he is seeking for, must be expected in and through Jesus, who is the true Tabernacle, and he who was represented by the Mercy - seat. He is the only trysting place, in Him alone will the Father be seen
10 He would also look to Him, for strength and support, in the meane time; and for grace, that he may be keeped from fainting, and may be helped to waite, til he come, who knoweth the fittest season, wherein to appeare.
But, it will be said, what if after all this, we get no outgate, but He hideth his face still from us?
I answere, Such would know, that life is one thing, and comfort is another thing: Grace is one thing, and warme blainks of Gods face is another. The one is necessary to the very being of a Christian, the other not; but only necessary to his comfortable being: and therefore they should be content, if God give them grace, though they …isse comfort for a time.
2. They would lairne to commit that matter to Christ, who knoweth how to give that which is good, and what is best for them.
3. They would be hanging on Him, for strength for duty; and, in his strength, seting about every commanded duty, and be exercising, Faith, Love, Patience, Hope, Desire, &c.
4. Let the well ordered covenant be all their salvation, and all their desire; and though they should not get a comfortable blaink of God's face, so long as they were here, yet holding fast this covenant they should at length be saved souls, and what would they have more? and when they get this, what will they misse?