way to sloth instead of watching unto prayer. We must expect,
1. That he will depart from us —
[Verily he is " a God who hideth himself," a holy and a jealous God, that will make us to " eat of the fruit of our own ways, and to be filled with our own devices." He has warned us not to " grieve his Holy Spirit," lest he depart from us. I " will go and return to my place," says he, " till they acknow- ledge their offence s." And oh! how painful are the seasons when he withdraws from us, and leaves our souls in darkness ! Even he himself, when for our sins he was deserted of his God, how bitterly did he cry ; " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? " O that we may never provoke him to put that cup into our hands ! How distressing will it be to be reduced to any measure of that experience which Christ endured for us ; " O my God, why art thou so far from helping me, and from the voice of my roaring ? I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent*'!" See David in this predicament' , and "let us be in- structed, lest we provoke him to depart from us also."]
2. That the word and ordinances shall be unpro- ductive of any solid comfort to us —
[The "Watchmen" are the ministers, whose office is not only to instruct and comfort, but also to warn and " rebuke with all authority." True it is, they may be too hasty and severe in their reproofs ; and may by such indiscreet zeal make the heart of the righteous sad, when they should rather bind up the broken heart, and heal the wounded spirit. But it is possible also, that they may be too lenient, and " speak peace to persons when there is no peace." But where there is no fault in their ministrations, God may make their word as a sword, to enter into the very bones of those who hear it, and to cut them to the heart. Even the promises, when held forth in all their fulness and all their freeness, may afford no comfort to the soul of one who is under the hidings of God's face ; but may add tenfold poignancy to all his griefs. How unhappy was the state of David, when even the thought of God him- self was a source of sorrow and despondency, rather than of joy and peace ! " He remembered God, and was troubled; and his soul refused comfort." In like manner, all the wonders of redeeming love may be made a source of the deepest anguish to our souls, by the apprehension that we have no part or lot in them. If then we would not bring these heavy judgments on our souls, let us " seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near."]
g Hos. v. 15. i> Matt. xxii. 1, 2. > Ps. xlii. 3. and Ixxvii. 6 — 9.