Labour ue all of us to make this use of it, to be dUigent and careful to hear and attend upon the ordinances of God ; for howsoever that we hear is not effectual for the present, but seems as dead seed cast into the heart, yet God will give it a body after, as the apostle speaks, at one time or other, 1 Cor. xv. 38. And that which we hear now, the Holy Ghost wiU bring ii to our remembrance when we stand in most need of it.
' My soul foiled when he spake.' She was in a spiritual svroon and delic^uium* upon his withdrawing, whence the point considerable is, * That is, ' fainting, sinking.' — G.
112 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON X.
That Christ doth leave his church sometimes, and bring it very low in their own apprehensions, that their hearts fail them for ivant of his presence. So it was with David, Ps. xxxviii. 2, 3 ; so with Jonah, Jonah ii. 2 ; so with the church, Lam. iii. 1, seq. We see it at large.
Reason. The necessity of our souls and of our estates require this. As sometimes a body may be so corrupt, that it must be brought as low as possible may be, before there will be a spring of new and good blood and spirits, so we may fall into such a state of security, that nothing will bring us to a right temper but extreme purging. And usually God deals thus wi'th strong wits and parts, if they be holy. David and Solomon were men excellently qualified ; yet when the}' tasted of the pleasures and content- ments of the world too deep, answerably they had ; and so usually others shall have such desertions as will make them smart for their sweetness, as was shewed before.
But upon what occasions doth a Christian think especially that God doth leave, forsake, and fail him ?
First. This failing and fainting of the soul is sometimes upon an appre- hension, as if God and Christ ivere become enemies, as Job saith, vii. 20, and as having set us as a butt to shoot at. But this is not all that a gracious and pure heart sinks for.
But also secondly. For the absence of Christ's love, thouyh it feel no anger. Even as to a loving wife, her husband not looking lovingly upon her as he used to do, is enough to cast her down, and cause her spirits to fail ; so for God to look upon the soul, put the case, not with an angry, yet with a countenance withdrawn, it is sufficient to cast it down. For any one that hath dependence upon another, to see their countenance withdi'awn, and not to shew their face as before, if there be but a sweet disposition in them, it is enough to daunt and dismay them.
Nay, thirdly. Moreover, when they find not that former assistance in holy duties ; when they find that their hearts are shut up and they cannot pray as formerly when they had the Spirit of God more fully ; and when they find that they cannot bear afllictions with wonted patience — certainly Christ hath withdrawn himself, say they. This is first done when we hear the word of God, not with that delight and profit as we were wont. "When they find how they come near to God in holy communion, and yet feel not that sweet taste and rehsh in the ordinances of God as they were wont to do, they conclude, certainly God hath hid his face. Whereupon they are cast down, their spirits fail. And do not wonder that it should be so, for it is so in nature. When the sun hides itself many days from the world, it is an uncomfortable time ; the spuits of the creatures lower and wither. We see it so in the body, that the animal spirits in the brain, which are the cause of motion and sense, if they be obstructed, there follows an apoplexy and deadness. So it is between Christ and the soul. He is the ' Sun of righteoiisness,' Mai. iv. 2, by whose beams we are all comforted and cheered, which when they are withheld, then our spirits decay and are discouraged. Summer and winter arise from the presence and absence of the sun. What causeth the spring to be so clothed with all|those rich ornaments ? The pre- sence of the sun which comes nearer then. So what makes the summer and winter in the soul, but the absence or presence of Christ ! What makes some so vigorous beyond others, but the presence of the Spirit ! As it is in nature, so it is here. The presence of Christ is the cause of all spiri- tual life and vigour; who when he withdraws his presence a little the soul fails.
Can;. V. C] ' i sought him, but i could not find him.' 113
' My soul failed when he spake to me : I sought him, but I could not find him ; I called, but he gave me no answer.'
Obs. 1. The church redoublcth her complaint to shew her passion. A liirge lieart hath large expressions. She took it to heart that Christ did not shew himself in mercy. Therefore she never hath done. I sought him but I could not find him, I called but he gave me no answer. Atfection makes eloquent and large expressions.