Flavel, Fountain of Life, File 33.
( ...continued from File 32)
Sermon 33. The fourth excellent Saying of Christ upon the Cross,
illustrated.
Matthew 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli,
Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?
This verse contains the fourth memorable saying of Christ upon the
cross; words able to rend the hardest heart in the world: it is the
voice of the Son of God in an agony: his sufferings were great, very
great before, but never in that extremity as now; when this heaven
rending and heart melting out-cry brake from him upon the cross,
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? In which are considerable, the time,
matter, and manner of this his sad complaint.
First, The time when it was uttered, "about the ninth hour,"
i.e. about three of the clock afternoon. For as the Jews divided the
night into four quarters, or watches; so they divided the day, in
like manner, into four quarters, or greater flours; which had their
names from that hour of the day that closed the quarter. so that
beginning their account of their lesser hours from six in the
morning, which with them was the first, their ninth hour answered to
our third afternoon. And this is heedfully marked by the
evangelists, on purpose to show us how long Christ hanged in
distress upon the cross both in soul and body, which at least was
full three hours: towards the end whereof his soul was so filled,
distressed, and overwhelmed, that this doleful cry brake from his
soul, in bitter anguish, "My God, my God," &c.
Secondly. The matter of the complaint. It is not of the cruel
tortures he felt in his body, nor of the scoffs and reproaches of
his name; he mentions not a word of these, they were all swallowed
up in the sufferings within, as the river is swallowed up in the
sea, or the lesser flame in the greater. He seems to neglect all
these, and only complains of what was more burdensome than ten
thousand crosses; even his Father's deserting him, "My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me?" It is a more inward trouble that burdens
him, darkness upon his spirit, the hidings of God's face from him,
an affliction he was totally a stranger to till now; here he lays
his hand in this complaint. This was the pained place, to which he
points in this dolorous outcry.
Thirdly. The manner in which he utters his sad complaint, and
that was with a remarkable vehemency, "he cried with a loud voice,"
not like a dying man, in whom nature was spent, but as one full of
vigour, life, and sense. He gathered all his spirits together,
stirred up the whole power of nature, when he made this grievous
outcry. There is in it also an emphatical reduplication which shows
with what vehemency it was uttered; not singly, my God, but he
doubles it, "My God, my God," as distressed persons use to do. So
Elisha, when Elijah was separated from him by the chariots and
horses of fire, cries out, "My father, my father."
Nay, moreover, to increase the force and vehemency of this
complaint, here is an affectionate interrogation, "Why hast thou
forsaken me?" Questions, especially such as this, are full of
spirits. It is as if he were surprised by the strangeness of this
affliction: and rousing up himself with an unusual vehemency, turns
himself to the Father, and cries, Why so, my Father? O what dost
thou mean by this! What! hide that face from me that was never hid
before! What! and hide it from me now, in the depth of my other
torments and troubles! O what new, what strange things are these!
Lastly, here is an observable variation of the language in which
this astonishing complaint was uttered; for he speaks both Hebrew
and Syrian in one breath, Eli, Eli lama, are all Hebrew, sabachthani
is a Syrian word, used here for emphasis sake. Hence we observe,
Doct. That God in design to heighten the sufferings of Christ
to the uttermost, forsook him in the time of his greatest
distress; to the unspeakable affliction and anguish of his
soul.
This proposition shall be considered in three parts: The
desertion itself; the design or end of it; the effect and influence
it had on Christ.
First, The desertion itself. Divine desertion generally
considered, is God's withdrawing himself from any, not as to his
essence, that fills heaven and earth, and constantly remains the
same; but it is the withdrawment of his favour, grace, and love:
when these are gone, God is said to be gone. And this is done two
ways, either absolutely, and wholly, or respectively, and only as to
manifestation. In the first sense, devils are forsaken of God. They
once were in his favour and love, but they have utterly and finally
lost it. God is so withdrawn from them, as that he will never take
them into favour any more. In the other sense he sometimes forsakes
his dearest children, i.e. he removes all sweet manifestations of
his favour and love for a time, and carries it to them as a
stranger, though his love be still the same.
And this kind of desertion, which is respective, temporary, and
only in regard of manifestation, is justly distinguished from the
various ends and designs of it, into probational, cautional,
castigatory, and penal. Probational desertions are only for the
proof and trial of grace. Cautional desertions are designed to
prevent sin. Castigatory desertions are God's rods to chastise his
people for sin. Penal desertions are such as are inflicted as the
just reward of sin, for the reparation of that wrong sinners have
done by their sins. Of this sort was Christ's desertion. A part of
the curse, and a special part. And his bearing it was no small part
of the reparation, or satisfaction he made for our sins.
More particularly, to open the nature of this desertion of
Christ by his Father, there being much of intricacy and difficulty
in it; I shall proceed in the explication of it negatively, and
positively.
First, Negatively. When Christ cries out of God's forsaking
him, he does not mean, that he had dissolved the personal union of
the two natures. Not as if the marriage-knot which united our nature
to the person of Christ was loosed, or a divorce made betwixt them:
No, for when he was forsaken of God, he was still true and real
God-man, in one person.
Secondly, When Christ bewails the father's forsaking him, he
does not mean, that he pulled away the prop of divine support from
him, by which he had till then endured the tortures and sufferings
that oppressed him: no, though the Father deserted, yet he still
supported him. And so much is intimated in these words of Christ,
Eli, Eli, which signifies, my strong One, my strong One. God was
with him by way of support, when withdrawn as to manifestations of
love and favour. In respect of God's supporting essence which was
with Christ at this time, it is said, Isa. 42: 1. "Behold my
servant, whom I uphold:" and John 16: 32. "I am not alone, but my
father is with me." So that this cannot be the meaning of it.
Thirdly, Much less is it his meaning? that God had left him, as
to inherent grace and sanctification; recalling that spirit of
holiness which had anointed him above his fellows: no, when he was
forsaken, he remained as holy as ever: he had indeed less comfort,
but not less holiness than before. Such a desertion had irritated
and made void the very end of his death. And his sacrifice could
never have yielded such a fragrant odour to God as it did, Eph. 5:
2.
Fourthly, The love of God was not so withdrawn from Christ, as
that the Father had now no love for him, nor delight in him. That is
impossible, he can no more cease to love Christ, than to love
himself. his love was not turned into wrath; though his wrath only
was now manifested to him as our surety; and hid his love from him
as his beloved Son.
Fifthly, Nor was Christ forsaken by his Father finally, upon
what account soever it was that he was forsaken: no, it was but for
a few hours that the dark cloud dwelt upon his soul; it soon passed
away, and the bright and glorious face of God shone forth again as
bright as ever, Psal. 22: 1, 24. compared.
Sixthly, and lastly, It was not a mutual desertion, or a
desertion on both parts; the Father forsook him, but he forsook not
his Father. When God withdrew, he followed him, crying, "My God, my
God."
Yet to speak positively of it; though he did not dissolve the
personal union, nor cut off divine supports, nor remove his inherent
grace, nor turn his Father's love into hatred, nor continue for
ever, nor yet was it on both parts, Christ's forsaking God, as well
as God's forsaking Christ: yet I say it was,
First, A very sad desertion, the like unto which in all
respects never was experienced by any, nor can be to the end of the
world. All his other sufferings were but small to this; they bore
upon his body, this upon his soul; they came from the hands of vile
men, this from the hands of a dear Father. He suffered both in body
and soul; but the sufferings of his soul were the very soul of his
sufferings. Under all his other sufferings he opened not his mouth;
but this touched the quick, that he could not but cry out, "My God,
my God, why best thou forsaken me?"
Secondly, As it was sad, so it was a penal desertion, inflicted
on him for satisfaction for those sins of ours, which deserved that
God should forsake us for ever, as the damned are forsaken by him.
So that this cry (as one observes) was like the perpetual shriek of
them that are cast away for ever: this was that hell, and the
torments of it which Christ, our surety, suffered for us. For look,
as there lies a twofold misery upon the damned in hell, viz. pain of
sense, and pain of sense; so upon Christ answerable, there was not
only an impression of wrath, but also a subtraction or withdrawment
of all sensible favour and love. Hence it is said by himself, John
12: 27. And now my soul, "tetaraktai" is troubled. The word
signifies, troubled as they that are in hell are troubled. Though
God did not leave his soul in hell, as others are, he having enough
to pay the debt which they have not, yet in the torments thereof, at
this time, he was; yea, his sufferings at this time in his soul were
equivalent to all that which our souls should have suffered there to
all eternity.
Thirdly, It was a desertion that was real, and not fictitious.
He does not personate a deserted soul, and speak as if God had
withdrawn the comfortable sense and influence of his love from him;
but the thing was so indeed. The Godhead restrained and kept back,
for this time, all its joys, comforts and sense of love from the
manhood, yielding it nothing but support. This bitter doleful outcry
of Christ gives evidence enough of the reality of it: he did not
feign, but feel the burdensomeness of it.
Fourthly, This desertion fell out in the time of Christ's
greatest need of comfort that ever he had in all the time of his
life on earth. His Father forsook him at that time, when all earthly
comforts had forsaken him, and all outward evils had broken in
together upon him; when men, yea, the best of men stood afar off,
and none but barbarous enemies were about him. When pains and shame,
and all miseries even weighed him down; then, even then, to complete
and fill up his suffering, God stands afar off too.
Fifthly, and lastly, It was such a desertion as left him only
to the supports of his faith. He had nothing else now but his
Father's covenant and promise to hang upon. And indeed, as a
judicious author pertinently observes, the faith of Christ did
several ways act and manifest itself, in these very words of
complaint in the text.
For though all comfortable sights of God and sense of love were
obstructed, yet you see his soul cleaves fiducially to God for all
that: My God, &c. Though sense and feeling speak as well as faith,
yet faith speaks first, My God, before sense speaks a word of his
forsaking. His faith presented the complaint of sense; and though
sense comes in afterwards with a word of complaint, yet here are two
words of faith to one of sense: it is, "My God, my God," and but one
word of forsaking. As his faith spake first, so it spake twice, when
sense and feeling spake but once: yea, and as faith spake first, and
twice as much as sense, so it spake more confidently than sense did.
He lays a confident claim to God as his God; "My God, my God," and
only queries about his forsaking of him, "Why hast thou forsaken
me?" This is spoken more dubiously, the former more confidently.
To be short, his faith laid hold on God, under a most suitable
title, or attribute, Eli, Eli, "my strong One, my strong One," q. d.
O thou, with whom is infinite and everlasting strength; thou that
hast hitherto supported my manhood, and according to thy promise
upheld thy servant; what! wilt thou now forsake me? My strong One, I
lean upon thee. To these supports and refuges of faith this
desertion shut up Christ: by these things he stood, when all other
visible and sensible comforts shrunk away, both from his soul and
body. This is the true, though brief account of the nature and
quality of Christ's desertion.
Secondly, In the next place, let us consider the designs and
ends of it; which were principally satisfaction and sanctification:
Satisfaction for those sins of ours which deserved that we should be
totally and everlastingly forsaken of God. This is the desert of
every sin, and the damned do feel it, and shall to all eternity: God
is gone from them for ever, not essentially; the just God is with
them still, the God of power is still with them, the avenging God is
ever with them; but the merciful God is gone, and gone for ever. And
thus would he have withdrawn himself from every soul that sinned,
had not Christ borne that punishment for us in his own soul: If he
had not cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" we must
have howled out this hideous complaint in the lowest hell for ever,
O righteous God! O dreadful! O terrible God! thou hast for ever
forsaken me!
And as satisfaction was designed in this desertion of Christ,
so also was the sanctification of all the desertion of the saints
designed in it. For he having been forsaken before us, and for us,
whenever God forsakes us, that very forsaking of his is sanctified,
and thereby turned into a mercy to believers. Hence are all the
precious fruits and effects of our desertions: such are the earnest
excitations of the soul to prayer, Psal. 78: 2. Psal. 88: 1, 9. The
antidoting the tempted soul against sin. The reviving of ancient
experiences, Psal. 77: 5. Enchanting the value of the divine
presence with the soul, and teaching it to hold Christ faster than
ever before, Cant. 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. These, and many more, are the
precious effects of sanctified desertion; but how many, or how good
soever these effects are, they all owe themselves to Jesus Christ,
as the author of them; who, for our sakes would pass through this
sad and dark state, that we might find those blessings in it. So
then, the Godhead's suspending of all the effects of joy and comfort
from the humanity of Christ at this time, which had not ceased to
flow into it, in an ineffable measure and manner, till now, must
needs be both a special part of Christ's satisfaction for us, and
consequently, that which makes all our temporary desertions rather
mercies and blessings, than curses to us.
Thirdly, Let us, in the next place, consider the effects and
influence this desertion had upon the spirit of Christ.
And though it did not drive him to despair, as the Papists
falsely charge Mr. Calvin to have affirmed; yet it even amazed him,
and almost swallowed up his soul in the deeps of trouble and
consternation. This cry is a cry from the deeps, from a soul
oppressed even to death. Never was the Lord Jesus so put to it
before; it is a most astonishing outcry.
Let but five particulars be weighed, and you will say, never
was there any darkness like this: no sorrow like Christ's sorrow in
his deserted state: For,
First, Apprehend, reader, this was a new thing to Christ, and
that which he never was acquainted with before. From all eternity
until now there had been constant and wonderful outlets of love,
delight, and joy, from the bosom of the Father, into his bosom. He
never missed his Father before: never saw a frown, or a veil, upon
that blessed face before. This made it an heavy burden indeed, the
words are words of admiration and astonishment; "My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?" thou that never midst so before, hast
forsaken me now.
Secondly, As it was a new thing to Christ, and therefore the
more amazing, so it was a great thing to Christ; so great, that he
scarce knew how to support it. Had it not been a great trial indeed,
so great a spirit as Christ's was would never have so drooped under
it, and made so sad a complaint of it. It was so sharp, so heavy an
affliction to his soul, that it caused him, who was meek under all
other sufferings as a lamb, to roar under this like a lion; for so
much those words of Christ signify, Psal. 22: 1. "My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from the voice of my
roaring?" It comes from a root, that signifies "to howl, or roar as
a lion; and rather signifies the noise made by a wild beast, than
the voice of a man."
And it is as much as if Christ had said, O my God, no words can
express my anguish: I will not speak, but roar, howl out my
complaint; pour it out in vollies of groans: I roar as a lion. It is
no small matter will make that majestic creature to roar: and sure,
so great a spirit as Christ's would not have roared under a slight
burden.
Thirdly, As it was a great burden to Christ, so it was a burden
laid on in the time of his greatest distress. When his body was in
tortures, and all about him was black, dismal, and full of horror
and darkness. He fell into this desertion at a time when he never
had the like need of divine supports and comforts, and that
aggravated it.
Fourthly, It was a burden that lay upon him long, even from the
time his soul began to be sorrowful and sore amazed in the garden,
till his very death. If you were but to hold your finger in the fire
for two minutes, you would not be able to bear it. But what is the
finger of a man to the soul of Christ? Or what is a material fire to
the wrath of the great God!
Fifthly, So heavy was this pressure upon Christ's soul, that in
probability it hastened his death; for it was not usual for
crucified persons to expire so soon; and those that were crucified
with him were both alive after Christ was gone. Some have hanged
more than a day and a night, some two full days and nights, in those
torments alive; but never did any feel inwardly what Christ felt. He
bare it till the ninth hour, and then makes a fearful outcry and
dies. The uses follow.
Inference 1. Did God forsake Christ upon the cross as a
punishment to him for our sins? Then it follows, That as often as we
have sinned, so oft have we deserved to be forsaken of God. This is
the just recompence and demerit of sin. And, indeed, here lies the
principal evil of sin, that it separates betwixt God and the soul.
This separation is both the moral evil that is in it, and the penal
evil inflicted by the righteous God for it. By sin we depart from
God, and, as a due punishment of it, God departs from us. This will
be the dismal sentence in the last day, Matt. 25: "Depart from me,
ye cursed." Thenceforth there will be a gulph fixed betwixt God and
them, Luke 19: 20. No more friendly intercourses with the blessed
God for ever. The eternal shriek of the damned is, Wo and alas, God
has forsaken us for evermore. Ten thousand worlds can nowise
recompense the loss of one God. Beware, sinners, how you say to God
now, Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways, lest
he say, Depart from me, you shall never see my face.
Inf. 2. Did Christ never make such a sad complaint and outcry,
till God hid his face from him? Then the hiding of God's face is
certainly the greatest misery that can possibly befal a gracious
soul in this world. When they scourged, buffeted, and smote Christ,
yea, when they nailed him to the tree, he opened not his mouth; but
when his father hid his face from him, then he cried out; yea, his
voice was the voice of roaring: this was more to him than a thousand
crucifyings. And, surely, as it was to Christ, so is it to all
gracious souls, the saddest stroke, the heaviest burden that ever
they felt. When David forbade Absalom to come to Jerusalem, to see
his father, he complains in 2 Sam. 14: 32. "Wherefore, (saith he) am
I come from Geshur, if I may not see the king's face?" So does the
gracious soul bemoan itself; Wherefore am I redeemed, called, and
reconciled, if I may not see the face of my God?
It is said of Tully, when he was banished from Italy, and of
Demosthenes, when he was banished from Athens, that they wept every
time they looked towards their own country: and, is it strange that
a poor deserted believer should mourn every time he looks heaven
ward? Say, Christian, did the tears never trickle down thy cheeks
when thou lookedst towards heaven, and couldst not see the face of
thy God, as at other times? If two dear friends cannot part, though
it be but for a season, but that parting must be in a shower; blame
not the saints if they sigh and mourn bitterly when the Lord, who is
the life of their life, depart, though but for a season, from them;
for if God depart, their sweetest enjoyment on earth, the very crown
of all their comforts is gone, and what will a king take in exchange
for his crown? What can recompense a saint for the loss of his God!
Indeed, if they had never seen the Lord, or tasted the incomparable
sweetness of his presence, it were another matter; but the darkness
which follows the sweetest light of his countenance, is double
darkness.
And that which does not a little increase the horror of this
darkness is, that when their souls were thus benighted, and the sun
of their comfort is set; then does Satan, like the wild beasts of
the desert, creep out of his den, and roar upon them with hideous
temptations. Surely this is a sad state, and deserves tender pity!
Pity is a debt due to the distressed, and the world shows not a
greater distress than this. If ever you have been in troubles of
this kind yourselves, you will never slight others in the same case:
nay, one end of God's exercising you with troubles of this nature,
is to teach you compassion towards others in the same case. Do they
not cry to you, as Job 19: 21. "Have pity have pity upon me, O ye my
friends, for the hand of God has touched me." Draw forth bowels of
mercy and tender compassion to them; for, either you have been, or
are, or may be in the same case yourselves: however, if men do not,
to be sure, Christ, that has felt it before them, and for them, will
pity them.
Inf. 3. Did God really forsake Jesus Christ upon the cross?
Then from the desertion of Christ, singular consolation springs up
to the people of God; yea, manifold consolation. Principally it is a
support in these two respects, as it is preventive of your final
desertion and a comfortable pattern to you in your present sad
desertions.
First, Christ's desertion is preventive of your final
desertion: because he was forsaken for a time, you shall not be
forsaken for ever: for he was forsaken for you: and God's forsaking
him, though but for a few hours, is equivalent to his forsaking you
for ever. It is every way as much for the dear Son of God, the
darling delight of his soul, to be forsaken of God for a time; as if
such a poor inconsiderable thing as thou art, should be cast off to
eternity. Now this being equivalent, and borne in thy room, must
needs give thee the highest security in the world, that God will
never finally withdraw from thee: had he intended to have done so,
Christ had never made such a sad outcry as you hear this day, "My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
Secondly, Moreover, this sad desertion of Christ becomes a
comfortable patterns to poor deserted souls in divers respects: and
the proper business of such souls, at such times, is to eye it
believingly, in these six respects.
First, Though God deserted Christ, yet at the same time he
powerfully supported him: his omnipotent arms were under him, though
his pleased face was hid from him: he had not indeed his smiles, but
he had his supports. So, Christian, just so shall it be with thee:
thy God may turn away his face, but he will not pluck away his arm.
When one asked holy Mr. Baines, how the case stood with his soul, he
answered, supports I have, though suavities I want. Our father, in
this, deals with us, as we ourselves sometimes do with a child that
is stubborn and rebellious. We turn him out of doors, and bid him
begone out of our sight: and there he sighs and weeps; but however,
for the humbling of him, we will not presently take him into house
and favour: yet we order, or at least, permit the servants to carry
him meat and drink. Here is fatherly care and support: though no
former smiles, or manifested delights.
Secondly, Though God deserted Christ, yet he deserted not God:
his Father forsook him, but he could not forsake his Father, but
followed him with this cry, "My God my God, why hast thou forsaken
me?"
And is it not even so with you? God goes off from your souls,
but you cannot go off from him. No, your hearts are mourning after
the Lord, seeking him carefully with tears: complaining of his
absence, as the greatest evil in this world. This is Christ-like: so
it was with the spouse, Cant. 3: 1, 2. Her beloved had withdrawn
himself, and was gone; but was she content to part with him so? No
such thing. "By night, on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loveth;
I sought him, but I found him not; I will arise now, and go about
the city," &c.
Thirdly, Though God forsook Christ, yet he returned to him
again. It was but for a time, not for ever. In this also does his
desertion parallel yours. God may, for several wise and holy
reasons, hide his face from you, but not so as it is hid from the
damned, who shall never see it again. This cloud shall pass away;
this night shall have a bright morning: "For (saith thy God) I will
not contend for ever, neither will I be always wrath; for the spirit
shall fail before me, and the souls which I have made." As if he
should say, I may contend with him for a time, to humble him, but
not for ever, lest, instead of a sad child, I should have a dead
child. Oh the tenderness even of a displeased father!
Fourthly, Though God forsook Christ, yet at that time he could
justify God. So you read, Psal. 22: 2, 3. "O my God (saith he) I cry
in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and
am not silent: but thou art holy." Is not thy spirit, according to
the measure, framed like Christ's in this; canst thou not say, even
when he writes bitter things against thee, he is a holy, faithful,
and good God for all this? I am deserted but not wronged. There is
not one drop of injustice in all the sea of my sorrows. Though he
condemn me, I must, and will justify him; this also is Christ-like.
Fifthly, Though God took from Christ all visible and sensible
comforts, inward as well as outward; yet Christ subsisted, by faith,
in the absence of them all: his desertion put him upon the acting of
his faith. "My God, my God", are words of faith, the words of one
that wholly depends upon his God: and is it not so with you too?
Sense of love is gone, sweet sights of God shut up in a dark cloud?
well, what then? Must thy hands presently hang down, and thy soul
give up all its hopes? What! Is there no faith to relieve in this
case? Yes, yes, and blessed be God for faith. "Who is among you that
feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his servants, that
walketh in darkness, and has no light; let him trust in the name of
the Lord, and stay himself upon his God," Isa. 50: 10. To conclude,
Sixthly, Christ was deserted, a little before the glorious
morning of light and joy dawned upon him. It was a little, a very
little while, after this sad cry, before he triumphed gloriously;
and so it may be with you: heaviness may endure for a night, but joy
and gladness will come in the morning. You know how Mr. Glover was
transported with joy, and cried out, as a man in a rapture, O
Austin! he is come, he is come, he is come, meaning the Comforter,
who for some time had been absent from his soul.
But, I fear I am absolutely and finally forsaken.
Why so? Do you find the characters of such a desertion upon
your soul? Be righteous judges, and tell me, whether you find an
heart willing to forsake God? Is it indifferent to you whether God
ever return again or no? Are there no mournings, meltings, or
thirsting after the Lord? Indeed, if you forsake him, he will cast
you off for ever; but can you do so? Oh, no, let him do what he
will, I am resolved to wait for him, cleave to him, mourn after him,
though I have no present comfort from him, no assurance of my
interest in him; yet will I not exchange my poor weak hopes for all
the good in this world.
Again, you say God has forsaken you, but has he let loose the
bridle before you? To allude to Job 30: 11. Has he taken away from
your souls all conscientious tenderness of sin, so that now you can
sin freely, and without any regret? If so, it is a sad token indeed:
tell me, soul, if thou, indeed, judgest God will never return in
loving kindness to thee any more; why hast thou not then give
thyself over to the pleasures of sin, and fetch thy comforts that
way, from the creature, since thou can't have no comfort from thy
God? Oh, no, I cannot do so; if I die in darkness and sorrow, I will
never do so: my soul is as full of fear and hatred of sin as ever,
though empty of joy and comfort. Surely, these are no tokens of a
soul finally abandoned by its God.
Inf. 4. Did God forsake his own Son upon the cross; Then the
dearest of God's people may, for a time, be forsaken of their God.
Think it not strange, when you, that are the children of light, meet
with darkness, yea, and walk in it; neither charge God foolishly;
nor say he deals hardly with you. You see what befall Jesus Christ,
whom his soul delighted in: It is doubtless your concernment to
expect and prepare for days of darkness. You have heard the doleful
cry of Christ, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" You know
how it was with Job, David, Heman, Asaph, and many others, the dear
servants of God, what heart melting lamentations they had made upon
this account; and are you better than they? Oh, prepare for
spiritual troubles; I am sure you do enough every day to involve you
in darkness. Now, if at any time this trial befall you, mind these
two seasonable admonitions, and lay them up for such a time.
Admonition 1. First, Exercise the faith of adherence, when you
have lost the faith of evidence. When God takes away that, he leaves
this: that is necessary to the comfort, this to the life of his
people. It is sweet to live in views of your interest, but if they
be gone, believe and rely on God, for an interest. Stay yourselves
on your God when you have no light, Isa 50: 10. Drop this anchor in
the dark, and do not reckon all gone when evidence is gone: never
reckon yourselves undone whilst you can adhere to your God. Direct
acts are noble acts of faith, as well as reflexive ones; yea, and in
some respects to be preferred to them. For,
First, As your comfort depends on the evidencing acts of faith,
so your salvation upon the adhering act of faith. Evidence comforts,
affiance saves you; and, sure, salvation is more than comfort.
Secondly, Your faith of evidence has more sensible sweetness,
but your faith of adherence is of more constancy and continuance:
the former is as a flower in its month, the latter sticks by you all
the year.
Thirdly, Faith of evidence brings more joy to you, but faith of
adherence brings more glory to God: for thereby you trust him when
you cannot see him; yea, you believe not only without, but against
sense and feeling; and, doubtless, that which brings glory to God,
is better than that which brings comfort to you. O then exercise
this, when you have lost that.
Admonition 2. Secondly, Take the right method to recover the
sweet light which you have sinned away from your souls. Do not go
about from one to another complaining; nor yet sit down desponding
under your burden. But,
First, Search diligently after the cause of God's withdrawment:
urge him hard, by prayer, to tell thee wherefore he contends with
thee, Job 10: 2. Say, Lord, what have I done that so offends thy
Spirit? What evil is it which thou so rebukest? I beseech thee shew
me the cause of thine anger: have I grieved thy Spirit in this
thing, or in that? Was it my neglect of duty, or my formality in
duties? Was I not thankful for the sense of thy love, when it was
shed abroad in my heart? O Lord, why is it thus with me?
Secondly, Humble your souls before the Lord for every evil you
shall be convinced of: tell him, it pierces your heart, that you
have so displeased him, and that it shall be a caution to you,
whilst you live, never to return again to folly: invite him again to
your souls, and mourn after the Lord till you have found him: If you
seek him, he will be found of you, 2 Chron. 15: 2. It may be you
shall have a thousand comforters come about your sad souls, in such
a time to comfort them: this will be to you instead of God, and that
will repair your loss of Christ: despise them all, and say, I am
resolved to sit as a widow till Christ return; he, or none, shall
have my love.
Thirdly, Wait on in the use of means till Christ return. O be
not discouraged; though he tarry, wait you for him; for, blessed are
all they that wait for him.
(continued in file 34...)
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