(2.) It is true of the several members, and especially of the most eminent members, as we see holy Job complains, as if God had ' set him,' as it were, ' a butt to shoot at,' Job vi. 4, and had opposed himself against him. So David complains, Ps. Ixxxviii. 11, Ps. Ixxvii. 9, and Ps. Ix. 1, and in other Psahns, of God's anger. ' Correct me not in thine anger,' Ps. vi. 1. The Psalms are full of this, so as it would be time unprofitably spent to be large in a point so clear, that every one knoweth well enough who reads and understands the Psalms. So Jonah likewise felt a kind of forsaking when he was in the midst of the sea, when the waves were without and terrors within, when he was in the midst of hell, as it were, Jonah ii. 2. Thus, you see, the instances clear the point.
The ends that God hath in it are many. (1.) To endear his 2^resence the more to us, which we sUghted too much before. It is our corruption, the not valuing of things till they be gone. We set not the true price upon them when we enjoy them. W^hen we enjoy good things, we look at the grievances which are mingled with the good, and forget the good ; which, when it is gone, then we remember the good. The Israelites could remem- ber their onions and garlic, and forget their slavery, Kum. xi. 5. So, be- cause manna was present, they despised manna, and that upon one incon- venience it had, ' it was ordinary with them,' Num. xxi. 5. Thus the cor- rupt heart of man is prone in the enjojdng of fixvours. If it have any grievance, it murmm-s at that ; and it troubles and makes them forget all the goodness and sweetness of what they enjoy. But, on the contrai-y,
102 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON IX.
when God withdraws those good things from us, then we forget those for- mer inconveniences, and begin to think what good we had by them. This is the poison and corruption of our nature.
(2.) Again, Christ seems to forsake us, to trrj the truth of the graces and affections in us, whether they be true or not ; and to cause us to make after him, when he seems to forsake us, as undoubtedly we shall, where there i3 truth of grace planted in the heart in any measure.
(3.) Aiid in regard of others, he doth it to teach us heavenhj wisdom, how to deal icith those in affliction, 2 Cor. i. 4. It makes us wise, tender, and successful in dealing with others, when we have felt the like particular gi'ievance ourselves, as Gal. vi. 1, ' Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you that are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meek- ness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.' Experience of spi- ritual grief in this kind, will make us fit, able, and wise every way to deal with others.
(4.) This serves likewise to ivean its from the -world, in the plenty and abundance of all earthly things. For take a Christian that hath no cross in the world, let him find some estrangement of Christ from his spirit, that he finds not the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and that enlargement which in former times he enjoyed, and all the wealth he hath, the earthly content- ments he enjoys, please him not, nor can content that soul, which hath ever felt sweet communion with Christ. Again, how should we pray with earnestness of affection, * Thy kingdom come,' in the time of prosperity, except there were somewhat in this kind to raise up the soul to desire to be gone ? Now, it is our subjection to these alterations and changes, ebbings and Sowings, sometimes to have the sense of God's love in Christ, and sometimes to want it ; sometimes to feel his love, and sometimes again the fruits of his anger and displeasure, which serves exceedingly to stir up men's desires of heaven.
(5.) In this place here, the especial end was To correct the security, and ill carriage of the church.
And, likewise (6.) to prepare the church, by this desertion and seeming forsaking, for nearer coynmunion. For, indeed, Christ did not forsake her, but to her feeling, to bring her, in the sequel, to have nearer communion and union with himself than ever she had before. God forsakes, that he may not forsake. He seems strange, that he may be the more friendly. This is Christ's usage. He personates an adversary, when he intends to shew the greatest effects of his love, as we may see afterwards in the pas- sages following.
And also, (7.) to make iis to know thoroughly the bitterness of sin, that we may grow up to a further hatred of that which dejDrives us of so sweet a communion. We think sin a trifle, and never know it enough till the time of temptation ; that conscience be awakened and opened ; that it appears in its right colours.
And then, again, (8.) that we may knoiv what Christ suffered and under- went for us, in the sense of God's urath, in the absence of ]iis favour for a time. This the human nature could never have sufiered, if his divinity had withdrawn itself. Now, all of us must sip of that cup, whereof Christ drank the dregs, having a taste what it is to have God to forsake us. For the most pai-t, those believers who live any time (especially those of great parts), God deals thus with. Weaker Christians he is more indulgent unto. At such times we know of what use a Mediator is, and how miserable our con- dition were without such an one, both to have borne and overcome the