Reason 5. Fifthly, These depths are left to us, to make us more desirous of heaven ; else gi'eat men, that are compassed about with earthly comforts, alas, with what zeal could they pray, ' Thy kingdom come,' &c. ? No ; with Peter they would rather say, ' Master, it is good for us to be here,' Mark ix. 5 ; and therefore, it is God's usual dealing with great men, to suffer them to fall into spiritual desertions, to smoke them out of the world, whether they will or not.
Beason G. Sixthly, God works by these afflictions in us a more gentleness of spirit, making 7(s meek and pitiful towards those that are in depths, which was one cause of Christ's afflictions : he suffered, that he might help and com- fort others. He suffered Peter to stumble, that when he was converted, he should ' strengthen his brethren,' Luke xxii. 32.
Use 1. Hence therefore we learn not to p)ass a rash censure on ourselves or others that are in such depths as this holy man was in ; for the affiicted soul no sooner tastes of this bitter fruit, but presently breaks out into complaints. * Misprinted ' point.' — G.
AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. 1G3
' Never was any thus afflicted as I,' thinking it unpossible that there should be greater crosses, than it feels ; when indeed the draught that Glirist our head did drink to us, was far beyond the apprehension of mortal man, and therefore much more beyond his power to undergo. Lot us beware how we censure others that are afflicted, for God's ends are hid. It may be God sends afflictions to manifest some excellent graces which lie in him, unknown both to the world and himself; and so he set Job as a flag of defiance against the devil, bidding him do his worst. He should find him tipright, and a just man ; and therefore we should rather take notice of a&liction as a sign of some excellent grace with which God hath furnished such ; for God will not call out any of his to sufleriug, but he will get him- self honour thereby.
Use 2. In the second place, note -tJiis doctrine agaimt the profane persons that tush at religion, and make a mock at the dejected condition of those that ai'e good, because they seem despised, afflicted, and forsaken. They, alas ! are ignorant of God's ways and works. It were much safer for them to consider their own ways, and to reason, if God deals thus with his dearest ones, with the ' green trees,' what shall become of those that are his enemies, that are ' dry trees ? ' If such troubles arise to the godly, even from God's love to them, what shall defend the wicked when the vials of God's wrath shall be poured down upon them, when they shall ' call to the rocks and mountains to hide, cover, and defend them '?' Rev. vi. 16. If the ' righteous hardly be saved, where shall the ungodly appear ? ' 1 Peter iv. 18. And to conclude, know that the afflictions of the children of God are far better than the pleasures of sin.
Doct. 2. In the second place, observe we, though Christians fall into depths, tjet God upholds them, that they sink not down into them without recover!/. Thus it was with our Head. Though he on the sudden appre- hended not the presence of God, so as he thought himself forsaken, yet he could even at the worst say, ' My God.' Thus also Jonah, ii. 4, ' I said I was cast out of thy sight ; yet will I look towards thy holy temple.' So Ps. xxxi. 22, and Ps. cxviii. 5 and 6 verses.
Reason 1. For the Spirit of God is in them, and where it is, it is stronger than hell, yea though the grace be but as a grain of mustard seed.
Reason 2. Again, As there are depths of misery in a Christian, so in God there are depths of love and of ivisdom.
Reason 3. Thirdly, Faith, where it is, unites the soul to Christ, and to God through him, and draws down divine power — to lay hold on the almighty power of God by true and fervent prayer, — at whose rebuke the waters of affliction flee away, Ps. Ixxvii. 1Q; and so the stronger the faith is, the stronger is the delivery, for it is of a mighty power, enabling us to wrestle with God, as Jacob did. Thus when we lay hold on God, and God on us, what can drown us ?
Reason 4. Fourthly, R is the nature of God's ivorking to he hg contraries: in his works of creation, making all things of nothing ; in his works of providence, he saves by little means from greatest dangers. That he might bring us to heaven, he sufiers us to go down even into hell, to see our worst estate, to humble us ; and it may therefore be a cause why many men lie long in afflictions, even because they come not low enough to see their sins and need of help. In glorifying our mortal bodies, he first brings them to the grave, that they may rot and corrupt, and so be refined and moulded anew.