The Soul's Conflict with Itself

We must know that such have a glorious ¹life in God, but it is hidden with ²Christ in God, from the eyes of the world, and sometimes from their own; •ere they are hidden under infirmities, afflictions, and disgraces, but yet •ever so hidden, but that God sometimes lets down a beam of comfort •nd strength, which they would not •ose to be freed from their present condition, though never so grievous. God ⟨p. 516⟩comes more immediately to them now▪ then formerly he was used; nay, even when God seems to forsake them (and to be their enemy) yet they are supported with such inward strength, that they are able to make good their claim with Christ their head, and cry my God still; God never so departs, but he always leaves somewhat behind him, which draws and keeps the heart to him. We are like poor Hagar, who when the bottle of water was spent, fell a ³crying, when there was a fountain close by, but her tears hindered her from seeing it; When things go ill with us in our trades and callings, and all is spent, then our spirits droop, and we are at our wits end, as if God were not where he was. Oh consider, if we had all and had not God, we had nothing: If we have nothing, and have God, we have enough, for we have him that hath all, and more then all at his command. If we had all other comforts that our hearts can desire, yet if God withdraw himself, what remains but a curse and emptiness? What makes ⟨p. 517⟩heaven but the presence of God? And •hat makes hell but the absence of God? •t God be in any condition, though •ver so ill, yet it is comfortable, and •lly we find more of God in troue, then when we are out of trouble; e comforts of Religion never come l other fail. Cordials are kept for tings. When a curtain and a veil drawn betwixt us and the creature, en our eyes are only upward to d and he is more clearly seen […] us.