Yer.4.] AFFLICTIONS A SOURCE OF DISQUIETMENT. 577
the God of Israel would not thus pursue a flea in the mountains, nor set himself in battle array against a leaf driven to and fro with the wind ; he would spare me a little, and let me alone for a moment. But as things are with me, I fear ' my way is hidden from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God/" This kind of thoughts do perplex the minds of men, and keep them off from par- taking of that strong consolation which God is abundantly willing they should receive, by a comfortable persuasion of a blessed interest in that forgiveness that is with him.
And this was the very case of David; or at least these outward troubles were a special part of those depths out of which he cried for relief, by a sense of pardon, grace, and redemption with God.
I answer to these complaints, first, that there are so many excel- lent things spoken concerning afflictions, their necessity, their use- fulness, and the like, — such blessed ends are assigned unto them, and in many have been compassed and fulfilled by them, — that a man, unacquainted with the exercise wherewith they are attended, would think it impossible that any one should be shaken in mind as to the love and favour of God on their account. But as the apostle tells us that no afflictions are joyous at present, but grievous, so he who made, in the close of his trials, that solemn profession, that " it was good for him that he had been afflicted," yet we know, as hath been declared, how he was distressed under them. There are, there- fore, sundiy accidental things which accompany gTeat afflictions, that seem to exempt them from the common rule and the promise of love and grace ; as, —
1. The remembrance of past and buried miscarriages and sins lies in the bosom of many afiictions. It was so with Job: " Thou makest me," saith he, " to possess the iniquities of my youth." See his plea to that piupose, chap. xiii. 23-27. In the midst of his troubles and distresses, God revived upon his spirit a sense of former sins, even the sins of his youth, and made him to possess them ; he filled his soul and mind with thoughts of them and anxiety about them. This made him fear lest God was his enemy, and would continue to deal with him in all severity. So was it with Joseph's brethren in their distresses: Gen. xlii. 21, "They said one to another. We are \'erily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the angaiish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us;" and verse 22, " Behold, his blood is re- (juired." Their distress revives a deep, perplexing sense of the guilt of sin many years past before, and that under all its aggravating circumstances ; which spoiled them of all their reliefs and comforts, filling them with confusion and trouble, though absolutely innocent as to what was come on them. And the like appeared in the widow
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678 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Ver.4.
of Zarephath, with whom Elijah sojourned during the famine. Upon the death of her son, which, it seems, was somewhat extraordinary, she ciied out unto the prophet, " What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art tliou come to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?" 1 Kings xvii. 18. It seems some great sin she had i'ormerly contracted the guilt of, and now, upon her sore affliction in the death of her only child, the remembrance of it was recalled and revived upon her soul. Thus " deep calleth unto deep at the noise of God's water-spouts," and then " all liis waves and billows go over" a person, Ps. xlii. 7. The deep of afflictions calleth up the deep of the guilt of sin, and both in conjunction become as billows and waves passing over the soul. We see only the outside of men's afflictions; they usually complain only of what doth appear : and an easy thing it is supposed to be to apply relief and comfort unto those that are distressed. The rule in this matter is so clear, so often repeated and inculcated, the promises annexed unto this condition so many and precious, that every one hath in readiness what to apply unto them Avho are so exercised. But oftentimes we know nothing of the gall and wormwood that is in men's affliction; they keep that to them- selves, and their souls feed upon them in secret, Lam. iii. 19. God hath stirred up the remembrance of some great sin or sins, and they look upon their afflictions as that wherein he is come or beginning to enter into judgment with them. And is it any wonder if they be in darkness, and fflled with disconsolation?
2. There is in many afflictions something that seems new and peculiar, wherewith the soul is surprised, and cannot readily reduce its condition unto what is taught about afflictions in general. This perplexeth and eutangleth it. It is not affliction it is troubled withal, bvit some one thing or other in it that appears with an espe- cial dread unto the soul, so that he questioneth whether ever it were so with any other or no, and is thereby deprived of the supportment which from former examples it might receive./' And, indeed, when God intendeth that which shall be a deep affliction, he will put an edge upon it, in matter, or manner, or circumstances, that shall make the soul feel its sharpness. He Avill not take up with our bounds and measures, and Avith which we think we could be contented; but he will put the impress of his own gi-eatness and terror upon it, that he may be acknowledged and submitted unto. Such was the state with Naomi, when, from a full and plentiful condition, she went into a strange country with a husband and two sons, where they all died, leaving her destitute and poor. Hence, in her account of God's dealing with her, she says, " Call me not Naomi" (that is, pleasant), " call me Mara" (that is, bitter): " for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out- full, and the Lord hath