2. At any return of God to the soul after a season of darkness and desertion —
[God finds it necessary sometimes to hide his face from his people, and thus to wound their souls afresh. How the loss of God's presence afflicts a pious soul, may be seen in the lamentations and complaints which the most eminent saints have uttered on such occasions. Job tells us, that God's arrows stuck fast in him, and that the poison of them drank up his spirit8. And David even "roared for the disquietness of his heart." Nor are there wanting at this day many whose expe- rience accords with the description which that eminent saint has given of hish.
But the return of God binds up this breach. The deliver- ance from such a state is compared by our Lord to the joy that succeeds the pangs of childbirth ! : nor can its effects upon the soul be more fitly represented than in the language of the Jews on their return from Babylon k.
And this also is another season of peculiar instruction and comfort. By this the soul obtains much deeper discoveries of its own corruptions1; and more encouraging views of God's power and faithfulness111: the depths of Satan's devices also are more clearly discerned, and, if its joys are less ecstatic than before, they are more pure and refined. The still fuller accom- plishment of the text will take place,]
3. At the hour of dissolution —
[God never entirely withholds his chastening rod in tins
world. The whole of this life is a state of discipline But
at death there is an end of every thing that is penal or painful. Whatever wounds may have pained us here, death will heal
them alln
Then will this promise be fulfilled in its utmost extent. What amazing discoveries will be made to the soul on its first dismission from the body ! And with what inconceivable rap- tures will it be transported, as soon as ever it shall enter the gates of heaven ! Whatever it may have heard of the blessed- ness of the saints, it will surely say, that not a thousandth part had been declared to it. Then shall those descriptions given by the prophets all be realized0. As for the joys it experienced below, they shall appear as nothing in comparison of those it will then possess. What the saints tasted here was through the medium of ordinances, and mixed with frequent sorrows, and, at best of short duration; but what they possess in heaven will be immediate, unmixed, and everlasting.]
b Job vi. 4. h Ps. xlii. 3, 4, 6, 7, 9.
i John xvi. 21. k Ps. cxxvi. 1 — 3. > Job xlii. 5, 6.
1,1 Isai. xxv. 1, 4. n Rev. xxi. 4. ° Isai. lx. 19, 20.
904.1 god's return to the soul. 39
But the true import of the promise leads me to shew,
II. That it shall hereafter be more abundantly verified amongst God's ancient people — They shall be healed of their wounds at a period not far distant —
[Certainly " their breach" is grievous, and " their wounds " are to all human appearance " incurable." So has God him- self declared p. Nevertheless God in due season will surely " restore health to them, and heal them of their wounds'1." Through the preaching of the Gospel shall this blessed con- summation be effected r, and happiness shall be restored, not to that nation only, but through them to the whole world s ]
And oh! what light and joy and holiness will then abound !
[Methinks, when it is said that " the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea," we must understand it as predicting not the extent only of divine know- ledge, but its depth also, and the blessedness arising from it : " the light of the moon will then indeed be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun sevenfold, as the light of seven days ; " yea " the moon shall be confounded, and the sun itself ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and before his ancients gloriously4." This is beyond all doubt to be accomplished in due season ; " The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlast- ing joy upon their heads ; they shall obtain joy and gladness ; and sorrow and sighing shall flee awayu." Of the extent of their knowledge in that day, and the fulness of their joy, we at present can form scarcely any conception. What surprising views will they then have of the whole mystery of redemption, when they shall see all the prophecies fulfilled, and all the types and shadows realized in the person and work of Christ ! Of that season, no less than of heaven, it is said, " The city will have no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it ; for the glory of God will lighten it, and the Lamb be the light thereof. And there shall be no night there ; and they need no light of the sun : for the Lord God giveth them light ; and they shall reign for ever and ever*."]