But albeit that God doth seem sometimes to forsake his servants, it is not for their confusion, but for their consolation ; for by this means they come to be poor in spirit, and wonderfully emptied of themselves. And it is very observable that when such as are thoroughly wounded and afflicted inwardly come to recover strength and peace again, they often prove the most comfortable Christians of all others, walking with more care to avoid offence all their lives after.
Christ Jesus himself, though he never sinned, but only stood as a surety in our room to pay the ransom of our debts, seemed to be forsaken of God his Father ; and because he was thus humbled, therefore he was after most highl}' exalted above all, both in heaven and in earth. So Job seemed to be forsaken, and doth grievously bemoan his miseries ; but this was not because he had sinned against God more grievously than others had done, but for the trial of his faith and patience, to give him experience of God's love to him in the cross, that he might cleave the closer to his Maker all his time after.
5. Another evil arising from the guiltiness of sin is anf/iilsh of mind and a uonnded spirit, ' which,' saith Solomon, ' who can bear ?' Prov. xviii. 14. But for all this, grief for sin is an happy grief, yea, a gi'ief never to be grieved for. This wound in spirit breedeth afterwards a sound spirit. Kepentance is good, and faith in Christ is good. But what doth prepare us to these happy graces ? Is it not a wounded spirit ? Who would ever repent of his sins, and laj^ hold on Christ for remission of the same, if he were not pricked and pierced in the sense thereof. Christ professeth himself to be a physician, but to whom ? * To the lost sheep of Israel,' Mat. xv. 24. He promiseth ease and refreshment, but to whom ? ' To them that are weary, and laden with the burden of their sins.' ' The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, that he might preach the gospel to the poor,' Isa. Ixi. 2, and ' he was sent to heal the broken hearted, that he might preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, and set at liberty them that are bruised,' Luke iv. 18.
6. Again, Divers Christians do walk very heavily and uncomfortably, by reason of inivard tentations, and hlas2)hevwns imaginations, which oft are suggested and enter into their minds ; but these sins which so vex the souls of poor Christians, are a means of their humiliation, causing them to sue more earnestly to God for pardon. And these sinful corruptions do further serve for a testimony to themselves, that they are not under the power of Satan, but live in the kingdom of grace ; for if they were captived to the devil, and under his government, then would he never molest and vex them, but suffer them quietly to live and die in their sins ; but because they are from under his rule and jurisdiction, therefore he perplexeth and troubleth them all he can. By which it is evident, that all sins, by God's mercy and our repentance, ' do work together for the best unto us.'
7. Yea, the circumstances of sin, as continuance therein, which much
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aggravates the sin ; when such a one truly repents and is restored to Christ, it inaketh him more zealous and watchful ever after; as we see in Paul, and the thief on the cross, who finding favour, acknowledgeth his worthi- ness of punishment, reprehendeth his fellow on the cross, and justificth Christ to have done all things well ; and so giving glory unto God, and crying for mercy, receiveth a comfortable promise of an heavenly kingdom, Luke xxiii, 43. All things are possible to God. We can never be so ill as he is powerful and good ; God can bring contrary out of contrary. He hath promised to pour clean water upon us, Ezek. xxxvi. 25, which faith sues out, and remembers that Christ hath taken upon him to purge his spouse, and make her fit for himself.
8. Further, the very relapses and backslidinfjs of God's servants into sin do not argue no repentance, but a weak repentance ; and therefore w"hen they are again rebuked and turned from sin, their relapses do make them set upon the service of God more strongly, and run more constantly in his ways. Where true grace is, sin loses strength by every new fall ; for hence issues deeper humility, stronger hatred of evil, fresh indignation against ourselves, more experience of the deceitfulness of our hearts, and renewed resolutions till sin be brought under. Adam lost all by once sin- ning, but we are under a better covenant, a covenant of mercy, and are encouraged to go to God every day for the sins of that day.
For it is not with God as it is with men, who being ofifended will scarce be reconciled, but God offended still offercth mercy. He is not only ready to receive us when we return, but persuades and entreats us to come unto him; yea, after backsliding and false dealing with him, wherein he allows no mercy to be shewed by man, yet he will take liberty to shew mercy him- self, as in Jeremiah, ' If a man have an adulterous wife, and shall put her away, and she become another man's, he will not receive her any more to him.' But saith the Lord, ' Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers, yet turn again unto me,' Jer. iii. 1 ; * for I am merciful, and my wrath shall not fall upon you : I will not always keep mine anger,' ver. 12. ' Though j'our sins be as crimson, they shall be white as snow, and though they be red like scarlet, they shall be as white as wool,' Isa. i. 18 ; ' if ye will turn to me, and wash ye, and make ye clean, and cease to do evil, and learn to do well,' ver. 16, 17. So Rev. ii. 4, Christ speaking to the church of Ephesus, saith, ' She hath fallen from her first love ;' but saith he, ' Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works, and I will receive thee to favour ;' by which we see that the relapses of God's elect, as they do not finally hinder mercy from their souls, so not- withstanding the same, they are still encouraged to return to God, to renew their covenant by faith and repentance, and cleave more strongly to him.