Comfort and Counsel for Dejected Souls, Section 2 · Chapter 22
CHAP. 22.
Cure for ſoules caſt downe and dejected by the ſence of Divine wrath.
A Little wrath of the Almighty caſts the ſoule very low,Cauſe. even as low as Hell (for what elſe is Hell but Divine wrath felt?) How many dejected hearts are there that cry out, that the Almighty is angry, that he frownes upon them, and that every wrinckle in his forehead is a grave burying all their comforts. When men ſmite, God can cure; and when God giveth quietneſſe, who then can make trouble; but when be hideth his face, who then can behold him? Job 34.29.
Indeed, this is a ſad cauſe of dejection, and it puts the ſoule into a very dejected caſe indeed, yet it is not incurable; a ſoule that is caſt down by the ſence of Gods wrath, may be raiſed, if Chriſt will helpe it to minde, and beleeve theſe particulars.
Firſt, This caſe is not ſingular; even many holy men, and women in all Ages of the world have been in this condition:Cure. Company is a comfort even in miſery. Thou needeſt not cry out, O ſoule and ſay, Was there ever ſorrow like unto mine? Yes, there was, thou feeleſt thine owne paine; but David, Job, Heman, Hezekiah, &c. felt as much (peradventure more) wrath then thou doſt; but why doe I ſpeake of particulars? When as I remember the Lord had not mercy, but INDIGNATION upon Judah, and Jeruſalem (i. e. the whole body of Iſrael) threeſcore and ten yeares, Zach. 1.12. yea as the body, ſo the head of all the godly was made ſenſible of Gods wrath, for Chriſt drunk the cup of his Fathers wrath; it is more then a bad and unſound way of arguing, I am under Gods wrath, and therefore I am not Gods Childe? This way of arguing condemnes all Gods children, even Chriſt himſelfe.
Secondly, Gods wrath is rather in appearance then in truth; It is a Vizzard, not thy Fathers face that lookes ſo terrible; thy Fathers face is love, all love, only love (fury is not in him) only now he hath put on a Vizzard to ſcare thee a little, and hee'l lay it aſide againe; he doth but hide his face under that Maske, hee'l open it againe. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, Iſa. 54.2. Marke it, wrath is but a vaile that hides Gods face in, it is not his reall face, it is but as we ſay, A copy of his countenance. There is never a black letter in all Gods face (eſpecially as to his children) no, God is love, it is his Name, in love there is no unlovely letter. Thou ſayeſt, God is angry; it is true he appeares ſo,Note this. but he is not ſo: As he is never truly pleaſed with ſinners (but is angry againſt them every day) notwithſtanding their conceit; ſo he is never indeed diſpleaſed with Saints whatever they feele, or feare. But,
Thirdly, All the anger and wrath of God is not againſt thy perſon, but againſt thy ſinne. Suppoſe thy Childe be ſick, and wounded deeply, wounded with ſome bloody gaſh, or cut, deſperately ſicke of ſome ugly Diſeaſe; thou art diſpleaſed, but with what? with his Perſon? with thy childe? No, but with his wound, with his diſeaſe: So it is with God, he is only angry and diſpleaſed with thy ſinne, thy corruption, and his rough hand which thou feeleſt, is but to take away, and purge out that; he is wel pleaſed with thee. Ephraim is a deare ſtill, though God ſpeake againſt him, his bowels are troubled for him, as it is, Jerem. 31.18. Againe,
Fourthly, It is a mercy to be ſenſible, and ſorrowfull for Divine diſpleaſure. There is many a hard-hearted wretch in the world, that ſlights God, that makes a mock of ſin, and wrath too. Bleſſed be God that thou (as David) canſt ſay, My fleſh trembleth for feare of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements, Pſal. 119.120. And,
Fifthly, God will not contend, nor be wroth for ever; Your Fathers anger (O ſad ſoul) wil over, as we ſay, i. e. wil goe away, this cloud and ſtorme wil not laſt alwayes. Read (O dejected ſoule) Iſa. 57. heare God himſelfe ſaying, I will not contend for ever, neither will I bee alwayes wroth; for the ſpirit would faile before me, and the ſoules which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetouſneſſe I was wroth, and ſmote him, and he went on frowordly in the way of his heart. I have ſeene his wayes, and I will heale him; I will lead him alſo, and reſtore comfort unto him. I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him that is afarre off, and I will heale him, verſ. 16, 17, 18, 19. Pray minde theſe healing words; Chriſt will heale, and reſtore comfort; hee'l not retaine his wrath, hee'l create peace out of that Chaos of confuſion in which thou now art: Though there be nothing but darkneſſe upon the face of thy deep (ſo David called his dejection) yet God, who at firſt cauſed light to ſhine out of darkneſſe, will ſhine into thy heart, to give thee the knowledge of himſelfe in the face of Chriſt, as it is, 2 Cor. 4.6. Beleeve this and rejoyce (O dejected ſoule!) creating power is ingaged by promiſe, to fill thee with peace, who now cryeſt out of wrath.
Laſtly, The time is comming that thou ſhalt be for ever freed from ſo much as the very appearances of wrath. In heaven you ſhall alwaies behold your Fathers face, thy ſunne ſhall no more goe downe by day, there are no clouds in the heaven of heavens. Mindeſt thou not what David ſaid (and he was ſometimes dejected as thou art) As for me. I ſhall behold thy face in righteouſneſſe, I ſhall be ſatisfied when I awake with thy likeneſſe, Pſal. 17. laſt.
Take in theſe crums of comfort (O thou caſt downe ſoule!) though I be but briefe, and give only drops, yet ſip them, and thou wilt finde them ſpirits. O why art thou caſt downe? why art thou dejected? Truſt thou in God, and expect him; O tarry thou a little thy Lords leaſure, and thou ſhalt ſee him ere long, come leaping over the mountaines, appearing in his owne glorie, and then ſhalt thou appeare with him inglory; then ſhall he wipe away all teares from thine eyes, and ſcatter all feares in thine heart; yea, then will he ſatisfie thee in all thy caſes, and cure thee of all theſe cauſes of dejection; and then ſhalt thou praiſe him (indeed) as thy God.
Object. Peradventure you will ſay, he tarries long.
Reaſ. It is true, yet hee'l come, though he do tarry. He ſaid, Yet a little while, and ye ſhall ſee me; it is but a little while indeed, though it be long in thought.
Dejection and caſting downe is not the poſture you ſhould be in; no, you ought to ariſe, and WALKE, to looke up, and to waite; to expect, and looke out; to lift up your heads, and hearts, and not to be caſt downe. O that Chriſt may finde more ſtanding! bearing up againſt all difficulties, and under all dejections; doing his work, and ſuffering his wil, with all faithfulneſſe, faith, and patience. Bleſſed wil our ſoules be, if Chriſt at his comming finde us thus doing, and ſaying; worke (O ſoule) and waite for your Saviour, who is now comming, and whom you ſhall praiſe in that day, ſaying, Loe, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will ſave us. This is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will rejoyce, and be glad in his Salvation, Iſa. 25.9.