It is a sad truth that we have proposed unto consideration. He that hears it ought to tremble in himself, that he may rest in the day of trouble. It speaks out the apostle's advice, Rom. xi. 20, " Be not high-minded, but fear;" and that also, 1 Cor. x. 12, " Let^^ him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." When Peter had learned this truth by woful experience, after all his boldness and frowardness, he gives this counsel to all saints, " That they would pass the time of their sojourning here in fear," 1 Pet. i. 17; know- ing how near, in our greatest peace and serenity, evil and danger may lie at the door.
Some few instances of the many that are left on record, wherein this truth is exemi^lified, may be mentioned: Gen. vi. J), " Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." He did so a long season, and that in an evil time, amidst all sorts of temptations, " when all flesh had corrupted his Avay upon the earth," verse 12. This put an emincncy upon his obedience, and doubtless rendered the communion which he had with God, in walking before him, most sweet and precious to him. He was a gracious soul, upon
Ver.1,2.] DEPTHS OF TROUBLE ON ACCOUNT OF SIN. 833
the redoubled testimony of God himself. But we know what befell this holy person. He that shall read the story that is recorded of him, Gen. ix. 20-27, will easily grant that he was brought into inextri- cable distress on the account of sin. His own drunkenness, verse 21, Avith the consequent of it, gives scandal unto and provokes the un- natural lust of his son, verse 22; and this leads him to the devoting of that son and his posterity unto destruction, verses 24, 25 : all which, joined with the sense of God's just indignation, from whom he had newly received that tremendously mh-aculous deliverance, must needs overwhelm him with sorrow and anxiety of spirit.
The matter is more clear in David. Under the Old Testament none loved God more than he ; none was loved of God more than he. The paths of faith and love wherein he wallced are unto the most of us like the way of an eagle in the air, — too high and hai'd for us. Yet to this very day do the cries of this man after God's own heart sound in our ears. Sometimes he complains of broken bones, some- times of drowning depths, sometimes of waves and water-spouts, sometimes of wounds and diseases, sometmies of wrath and the sor- rows of hell; everywhere of his sins, the burden and trouble of them. Some of the occasions of his depths, darkness, entangle- ments, and distresses, we all know. As no man had more grace than he, so none is a greater instance of the pov/er of sin, and the effects of its guilt upon the conscience, than ho. But instances of this kind are obvious, and occur to the thoughts of all, so that they need not be repeated. I shall, then, show, —
First, What in particular is intended, by the depths and entangle- ments on the account of sin, whereinto gTacious souls, after much communion v.^ith God, may be cast.
Secondly, Whence it comes to pass that so they may he, and that oftentimes so they are.
For the hrst, some or all of these things following do concur to the depths complained of : —
1. Loss of the wonted sense of the love of God, ivhich the sovl did formerly enjoy. There is a twofold sense of the love of God, whereof believers in this world may be made partakers. There is the transient acting of the heart by the Holy Ghost with ravish- ing, unspeakable joys, in apprehension of God's love, and our rela- tion unto him in Christ. This, or the immediate effect of it, is called " Joy unspeakable and full of glory," 1 Pet. i. 8. The Holy Ghost shining into the heart, with a clear evidence of the soul's interest in all gospel mercies, causeth it to leap for joy, to exult and trium])h in the Lord, as being for a season caiTied above all sense and thouglit of sin, self-temptation, or trouble. But as God gives the bread of his house unto all his cliildre]i, so these dainties and high cordials he
334! AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXZv. [Yer.1,2.
reserveth only for the seasons and persons wherein and to whom he knows them to be needful and useful. Believers may be without this sense of love, and yet be in no depths. A man may be strong and healthy who hath wholesome food, though he never drinks spirits and cordials.
Again; there is an abiding, dwelling sense of God's love upon the hearts of the most of those of whom we speak, who have had long com- munion with God, consisting in a prevailing gospel persuasion that they are accepted with God in Christ: Rom. v. 1, "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." I call it a prevailing persuasion, denoting both the opposition that is made unto it by Satan and unbelief, and its efficacy in the conquest thereof This is the root from whence all that peace and ordinary' consolation, which behevers in this world are made partakers of, do spring and grow. This is that which quickens and enlivens them unto duty, Ps. cxvi. 12, 13, and is the salt that renders their sacrifices and performances savoury to God and refreshing to themselves. This supports them under then' trials, gives them peace, hope, and comfort in life and death : Ps. xxiii. 4, " Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." A sense of God's presence in love is suificient to rebuke all anxiety and fears in the worst and most dread- ful condition; and not only so, but to give in the midst of them sohd consolation and joy. So the prophet expresseth it, Hab. iii. 17, 18, " Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: j'et I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." And this is that sense of love which the choicest believers may lose on the account of sin. This is one step into their depths. They shall not retain any such gospel apprehension of it as that it should give them rest, peace, or consola- tion,— that it should influence theu' souls with delight in duty or supportment in trial; and the nature hereof will be aftenvard more fully explained.