Have we not from hence another evidence that God doth hide his face from us, in the decay of spiritual joys. Either carnal joys and satisfaction do possess the room of them, or the cares of this world do stifle them, or we have not such surprisals with exultation of spirit as spiritual joy will give us upon all occasions. Sometimes when a man is taken with the greatest affliction, sorrow, distress, where there is the root of spiritual joy it will surprise him into ex-
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ultation of spirit. " In that hour Jesus exulted in spirit/' Luke x. 21.
(3.) Lastly, If we are in the dark, and are fain to grope as in dark ness after evidences of our state and condition, we are decayed in spiritual joy; God hideth his face as to these things.
4. God hideth his face when he doth not give deliverance. I shall not speak to this hiding, but leave it to the judgment of all whether there be not the hiding of the face of God in that particular, as to the deliverance of the church out of trouble.
Such is our second great inquiry, What it is for God to " hide his face"? When God hides his face there is a withdrawal as to light and guidance in the ways of his own worship, in the goings in and goings out of his house ; as to spiritual strength in our own hearts, and the vigour of grace in our walking before him; as to spiritual joy (which, I am afraid, we are many of us strangers unto, and are pretty well content to be so) ; and as to deliverance ; — all which things are effects of the hiding of God's face ; and when God causes his face to shine upon our souls, all will return unto us.
Thirdly, The third inquiry is, How we may know when God hideth his face from us ? for it may be all these things may hap pen and fall out, and yet there may not be a special hiding of God's face. These things may be in some measure and degree among us, and yet there may be no great nor special hiding of God's face. How shall we know, if it be thus with us, that it proceeds from this cause, that God doth hide his face?
I will name but one or two things: —
1. The first is this: When in such a state and condition God seems to shut out our prayers, and we have not returns of them, we may be sure it is a time wherein God hideth his face. The church com plains of it, Lam. iii. 8, " Also," saith she, " when I cry and shout, God shutteth out my prayer." How is it with us, brethren? We have had some days of prayer as to this matter ; we have had fre quent opportunities and seasons for prayer, and this thing hath been spread before the Lord ; and it is the hope of my soul that you have in particular, every one of you, sought God in this matter. Where is the effect of our prayer? What ground have we got, what pledge have we of God's return ? or what revival in ourselves as to any of these things ? Is it not evident that in such matters, as yet, God shutteth out our prayers ? Do not think it is an ordinary thing that is befallen us. It is from the hiding of God's face, or he would not thus shut out our prayers, that so little ground should be got upon so many endeavours.
2. God hideth his face when our endeavours for relief are fruit less; — as in that place of Hosea, chap. v. 6, " They shall go with
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their flocks and with their herds to seek me, but they shall not find me ; I have withdrawn myself from them/' saith the Lord. It is a time of hiding when endeavours are fruitless for recovery.
And they are fruitless upon these two grounds : — (1.) When we are in the dark, and cannot find the right way. There is something lies before us that we would fain be at, but we cannot find the way to it. The prophet tells you the reason why it is so, Isa. lix. 10, "We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon-day as in the night." Our way is plain, our rule is plain, and yet we cannot find the way. I am persuaded many that hear me this day would tell me, with all their souls, what it is they would be at. They would be at a spirit of faith and love ; they would be at self-denial and resignation to the will of God in their own per sons; they would be at special fruitfulness, at recovering a face of beauty and glory upon the church : but they cannot find the way ; they grope as in the dark when they go about it; they miss the way, they cannot attain it. It is because God hath hid his face. (2.) When we grow weak and languid under our endeavours ; for not withstanding this, brethren, that God seems to shut out our prayers, that we cannot find our way, unless we abide continually in prayer and wrestling for the way, we shall never recover the face of God.