And this you may see in David, 1Psal. 51. David, you know, was well enough, he had health and wealth, and abundance of all things, yet you see how miserably he complained, because he wanted that joy that he was wont to have, because he was not in those terms with the Lord that he was wont to be; and till he had that, his bones were broken with sorrow, and he took it so to heart, that nothing in the world could content him, till he was assured of Gods favour: And it is certain, that if thou love the Lord, nothing will satisfy thy soul, but the assurance of his loving countenance to thee again. Therefore that which Absalom did we may make use of, upon this occasion, he had that wit, to make a right pretence, whatsoever his intent was: when he was called from banishment where he lived well enough, and enjoyed all things, he wanted nothing, but had as much as he could desire, yet, saith he, what doth all this avail me, so long as I may not see the Kings face? It was but his craftiness: Yet thus much we may observe out of it, that this is the property of love, that till a man see the face of God, that is, till he enjoy a near and close communion with God, until he can have the love of God witnessed to his soul, he cares for nothing in the world besides: As you have it in 2 Chron. 7.14. you have that condition put in:2 If my people (saith he) when they are in distress, shall ⟨p. 68⟩humble themselves, and seek my face, then I will do thus and thus. As if he should say, it may be they may seek liberty, when they are in captivity; it may be they may seek health, when they are in sickness; it may be they may seek deliverance from enemies, under whom they are enthralled; but that is not the condition that I put them upon, but if they humble themselves, and seek my face, then I will hear in heaven, &c. So I say now, if you will try whether you love the Lord Jesus or no, consider whether you seek his face, that is, whether you seek grace or no, whether nothing in the world can content you but his favour. For it is the property of one that is truly sanctified, mercy alone will not content him, but he will have grace as well as mercy: Another man that loveth not the Lord, it is true, it may be he is pinched with the sense of his sins, but let him have mercy, it is enough he thinks;
And this you may see in David, 1Psal. 51. David, you know, was well enough, hee had health and wealth, and abundance of all things, yet you see how miserably he complained, because he wanted that joy that hee was wont to have, because he was not in those termes with the Lord that he was wont to be; and till hee had that, his bones were broken with sorrow, and hee tooke it so to heart, that nothing in the world could content him, till he was assured of Gods favour: And it is certaine, that if thou love the Lord, nothing will satisfie thy soule, but the assurance of his loving countenance to thee againe. Therefore that which Absolom did we may make use of, upon this occasion, hee had that wit, to make a right pretence, whatsoever his intent was: when hee was called from banishment where hee lived well enough, and enjoyed all things, hee wanted nothing, but had as much as hee could desire, yet, saith he, what doth all this availe me, so long as I may not see the Kings face? It was but his craftinesse: Yet thus much we may observe out of it, that this is the property of love, that till a man see the face of God, that is, till he enjoy a neare and close communion with God, untill he can have the love of God witnessed to his soule, hee cares for nothing in the world besides: As you have it in 2 Chron. 7.14. you have that condition put in:2 If my people (saith he) when they are in distresse, shall ⟨p. 68⟩humble themselves, and seeke my face, then I will doe thus and thus. As if he should say, it may be they may seeke libertie, when they are in captivitie; it may be they may seeke health, when they are in sicknesse; it may be they may seeke deliverance from enemies, under whom they are enthralled; but that is not the condition that I put them upon, but if they humble themselves, and seeke my face, then I will heare in heaven, &c. So I say now, if you will trie whether you love the Lord Iesus or no, consider whether you seeke his face, that is, whether you seeke grace or no, whether nothing in the world can content you but his favour. For it is the property of one that is truly sanctified, mercie alone will not content him, but hee will have grace as well as mercy: Another man that loveth not the Lord, it is true, it may be hee is pinched with the sense of his sinnes, but let him have mercy, it is enough hee thinkes;
- 1Psal. 51.
- 22 Chron. 7.14.
