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, when- ever God forsakes us, that very forsaking of his is sanctified, and thereby turned into a mercy to believers. Hence are all the pre- cious fruits and effects of our desertions : such are the earnest exci- tations of the soul to prayer, Psal. lxxvii. 2. Psal. lxxxviii. 1, 9- The antidoting the tempted soul against sin. The reviving of an- cient experiences, Psal. lxxvii. 5. Enchancing the value of the di- vine presence with the soul, and teaching it to hold Christ faster than ever before, Cant. iii. 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
412 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. ' SERM. XXXIII,
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 deser- tions rather mercies and blessings, than curses to us.
Thirdly y Let us, in the next place, consider the effects and in- fluence 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 conster- nation. 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 eter- nity 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 astonish- ment ; " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?" thou that never didst 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 in- deed, 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. xxii. 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,
* Id quod rngitum vocat, non humcuiam, sed leonincm vocem significat. Bucer in loc.
serm. xxxrir. the fountain of life. 413
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 aggra- vated 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 wrere 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 all probability it hastened his death ; for it was not usual for cru- cified 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 wrhat Christ felt. He bare it till the ninth hour, and then makes a fearful out- cry and dies. The uses follow.
Inference 1. Did God forsake Christ upon the cross as a punish- ment to him for our sins ? Then it follows, That as often as we liave sinned, so oft have xve deserved to be forsaken of God. This is the just recompense 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. xxv. " Depart " from me, ye cursed.'1 Thenceforth there will be a gulph fixed betwixt God and them, Luke xix. 20. No more friendly inter- courses with the blessed God for ever. The eternal shriek of the damned is, Wo and alas, God hath 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 %is, 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 GocFs 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,
414 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XXXIII.