Fourthly, Though God forsook Christ, yet at that time he could justify God. So you read, Psal. xxii. 2, 3. " O my God (saith he) " I cry in the day-time, but thou nearest not ; and in the night- " season, and am not silent : but thou art holy."*1 Is not thy spi- rit, 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 u of his servants, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ; " let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay himself upon " his God," Isa. 1. 10. To conclude,
Sixthly, Christ was deserted, a little before the glorious morn- ing of light and joy dawned upon him. It was a little, a very lit- tle while, after this sad cry, before lie 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 rap- ture, O Austin ! he is come, he is come, he is come, meaning the Comforter, who for some time had been absent from his soul.
THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 417
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 thirstings 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 hath forsaken you, but hath he let loose the bridle before you? To allude to Job xxx. 11. Hath 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 in- deed: tell me, soul, if thou, indeed, judgest God will never return in loving-kindness to thee any more ; why dost thou not then give thyself over to the pleasures of sin, and fetch thy comforts that way, from the creature, since thou canst 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 qf 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 befel Jesus Christ, whom his soul delighted in : It is doubtless your con- cernment 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 ac- count ; 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 befal 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. 1. 10. Drop this
418 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XXXIII.
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 hath 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 des- ponding 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 x. 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 ?