Now for the time of this eclipse of the favour of God, he not only darkeneth his love, but makes them feel also such ⟨p. 9⟩a measure of his wrath, as that they will often think themselves castaways from the favour of God. David and Jo• were often exercised with this temptation, as appeareth by their most lamentable & bitter complaints: yea, David doubts not, Psal. 77.9, to challenge the Lord, that he hath forgotten to be gracious, and hath shut up his loving kindness in displeasure. And Job, chap. 13.26, complains to the Lord, that He writeth bitter things against him, and makes him to possess the sins of his youth; words, as it may seem, of men forsaken of God: and indeed so for that time they thought of themselves. If it please the Lord thus to deal with us, so as we feel nothing else but his wrath wrestling with our consciences, neither can think otherwise by present feeling, but that God hath forsaken us; what should we do in this pitiful case? should we despair, as reason would bid us? no, but take this course: Call to mind Gods merciful promises, and his ancient former love; and cast thy self upon that love, though thou canst not feel it: When thou hast most cause to despair, then labour against it: When thou hast no reason to believe, then believe with all thy power. For, remember the power & prerogative of thy faith: It believes not things that are, & manifestly appear, so much as such things that are not, & have no being. So then, when Gods favour seems to be lost, and to have no being to thee, then is Gods favour a fit object for thy faith, which believes those things that are not. Let all the devils in hell set themselves against thy poor soul, and if thou holdest fast this faith, they cannot all make thee sink under it: for when the devil saith, Thou hast lost Gods favour; by faith a man answereth, though Gods favour be lost unto my feeling, yet to my faith it is not: My faith gives it a being, & so long (say what thou wilt) I will never fear that it is lost. When God pulls back his favour, and fights against thee with his wrath; do as Jacob did, Gen. 32.27.29, Wrestle with God, though thou have but one leg: that is, though thou have but one little spark of faith, fight with that little faith, lay hold by it on God, and let him not go until he hath blessed thee, in turning again unto thee his favourable countenance:
Now for the time of this eclipse of the fauour of God, he not onely darkeneth his loue, but makes them feele also such ⟨p. 9⟩a measure of his wrath, as that they will often thinke themselues castawayes from the fauour of God. Dauid and Io• were often exercised with this temptation, as appeareth by their most lamentable & bitter cōplaints: yea, Dauid doubts not, Psal. 77.9, to chalenge the Lord, that he hath forgotten to be gratious, and hath shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure. And Iob, chap. 13.26, complaines to the Lord, that He writeth bitter things against him, and makes him to possesse the sinnes of his youth; words, as it may seem, of men forsaken of God: and indeed so for that time they thought of themselues. If it please the Lord thus to deale with vs, so as we feele nothing else but his wrath wrastling with our consciences, neither can think otherwise by present feeling, but that God hath forsaken vs; what should we do in this pitifull case? should we despaire, as reason would bid vs? no, but take this course: Call to mind Gods mercifull promises, and his ancient former loue; and cast thy selfe vpō that loue, though thou canst not feele it: When thou hast most cause to despaire, then labour against it: When thou hast no reason to beleeue, then beleeue with all thy power. For, remēber the power & prerogatiue of thy faith: It beleeues not things that are, & manifestly appeare, so much as such things that are not, & haue no being. So then, when Gods fauour seemes to be lost, and to haue no being to thee, then is Gods fauour a fit obiect for thy faith, which beleeues those things that are not. Let al the diuels in hell set themselues against thy poore soule, and if thou holdest fast this faith, they cannot all make thee sinke vnder it: for when the diuel saith, Thou hast lost Gods fauour; by faith a man answereth, though Gods fauour be lost vnto my feeling, yet to my faith it is not: My faith giues it a being, & so long (say what thou wilt) I will neuer feare that it is lost. When God puls back his fauour, and fights against thee with his wrath; do as Iacob did, Gen. 32.27.29, Wrestle with God, though thou haue but one legge: that is, though thou haue but one little sparke of faith, fight with that little faith, lay hold by it on God, and let him not go vntill he hath blessed thee, in turning again vnto thee his fauorable countenance:
