Again, another difference may be observed. Carnal men, when they find the sense of God's anger, they seek not God's favour, but think of worse and worse still, and- so run firom God till they be in hell. But those that are God's children, when they fail and find the sense of God's displeasure, they are sensible of it, and give not over seeking to God. They run not further and further from him.
The church here, though she found not Christ present with her, yet she seeks him still and never gives over. Whence again we may observe,
3. That altJioufih the church he said to fail and not to find Christ, yet he is present then with her. For who enabled her to seek him ? To explain this, there is a double presence of Christ.
1. Felt.
2. Not felt.
1. The presence felt, is, when Christ is graciously present and is withal pleased to let us know so much, which is a heaven upon earth. The soul is in paradise then, when she feels ' the love of God shed abroad in the heart,' and the favourable countenance of God shining upon her. Then she despiseth the world, the devil, and all, and walks as if she were half in heaven already. For she finds a presence and a manifestation of it, a more glorious state than the world can afford.
2. But, there is a presence of Christ that is secret; when he seems to draw us one way, and to drive us another, that we are both driven and drawn at once : when he seems to put us away, and yet, notwithstanding, draws us. When we find our souls go to Christ, there is a drawing power and presence ; but when we find him absent, here is a driving away. As we see here in the church and in the 'woman of Canaan,' Mat. xv. 21, seq. We see what an answer she had from Christ, at first none, and then an uncomfortable, and lastly a most unkind answer. * We must not give the children's bread to dogs,' Mat. xv. 27. Christ seemed to drive her away, but, at the same time, he by his Spirit draws her to him, and was thereby secretly present in her heart to increase her faith. When Christ wi-estled with Jacob, though he contended with him, yet the same time he gave Jacob power to overcome him, to be Israel, a prevailer over him, Gen. xxxii. 28. So, at the same time, the church seems to fail and faint, yet,
Cant. V. 6.] ' i sought him, but i could not find him.' 115
notwithstanding, there is a secret, drawing power pulling her to Christ; whereby she never gives over, but seeks and calls still after him.
It is good to observe this kind of Christ's dealing, because it will keep us that we be not disconraged when we find him absent. If still there be any grace left moving us to that which is good, if we find the Spirit of God moving us to love the word and ordinances, to call upon him by prayer, and to be more instant, certainly we may gather there is a hidden,^ secret presence here that draws us to these things. Nay more, that the end of this seeming forsaking and strangeness is to di'aw us nearer and nearer, and at length to draw us into heaven to himself. God's people are gainers by all their losses, stronger by all their weaknesses, and the better for all their crosses, whatsoever they are. And you shall find that the Spirit of God is more forceible in them after a strangeness, to stir them up more eagerly after Christ than before, as here the church doth : for her eagerness, constancy, and iostantness, it groweth as Christ's withdrawing of himself groweth.
Use 1. Let us therefore learn hence hoiv to judge of ourselves, if we be in a dead, lifeless state, both in regard of comfort and of holy performances, whether we be content to be so. If we be not contented, but make to- wards Chi-ist more and more, it is a good sign that he hath not forsaken us, that he will come again more gloriously than ever before, as here we shall see after, it was with the church. He seems strange, but it is to draw the church to discover her affection, and to make her ashamed of her former unkindness, and to sit surer and hold faster than she did before. All ends in a most sweet communion.
Use 2. We should labour, therefore, to answer Christ's dealings in suitable apprehensions of soul, when he is thus present secretly, though he seem, in regai'd of some comforts and former experience of his love, to withdraw himself. It should teach us to depend upon him, and to believe, though we feel not comfort, yea, against comfort, when we feel signs of displeasure.. If he can love and support me, and strengthen my soul, and shew it a. presence of that which is fit for me, certainly I should answer thus with my faith, I will depend upon him, though he kill me, as Job did. Job xiii. 15. Our souls should never give over seeking of Christ, praying and endeavouring, for there is true love where he seems to forsake and leave. Therefore I ought in these desertions to cleave to him in life and in death.