Besides that measure of Assurance which godly men do partake of, hath here its many sad interruptions, in the most. Upon ⟨p. 209⟩the prevalency of Temptations, and the hidings of Gods face, their souls are oft left in a state of sadness, that were but lately as in the arms of Christ. How fully might this be proved from the examples of Job, David, Jeremiah and others in Scripture? and much more abundantly by the daily complaints and examples of the best of Gods people now living among us. As there is no perfect evenness to be expected in our obedience while we are on earth; so neither will there be any constant or perfect evenness in our comforts. He that hath life in one duty, is cold in the next: and therefore he that hath much joy in one duty, hath little in the next. Yea perhaps duty may but occasion the renewal of his sorrows; that the soul who before felt not its own burden, at a Sermon, or in Prayer, or holy Meditation, which were wont to revive him, now seems to feel his miseries to be multiplied. The time was once with David, when the thoughts of God were sweet to him, and he could say, In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul: And yet he saw the time also, When he remembered God and was troubled, he complained and his Spirit was overwhelmed: God so held his eyes waking, that he was troubled and ⟨p. 210⟩could not speak: he considered the days of old, and the years of ancient time; he called to remembrance his song in the night, he communed with his own heart, and his spirit made diligent search: Will the Lord, saith he, cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercy? Was not this a low ebb and a sad case that David was in? Till at last he saw, This was his infirmity, Psal. 77.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Had David no former experiences to remind? no arguments of comfort to consider of? Yes, but there is at such a season an incapacity to improve them: There is not only a want of comfort, but a kind of averseness from it: The soul bendeth it self to break its own Peace, and to put away comfort far from it. So saith he in vers. 2. My soul refused to be comforted. In such cases, men are witty to argue themselves into distress;
Besides that measure of Assurance which godly men do partake of, hath here its many sad interruptions, in the most. Upon ⟨p. 209⟩the prevalency of Temptations, and the hidings of Gods face, their souls are oft left in a state of sadness, that were but lately as in the arms of Christ. How fully might this be proved from the examples of Job, David, Jeremy and others in Scripture? and much more abundantly by the daily complaints and examples of the best of Gods people now living among us. As there is no perfect evenness to be expected in our obedience while we are on earth; so neither will there be any constant or perfect evenness in our comforts. He that hath life in one duty, is cold in the next: and therefore he that hath much joy in one duty, hath little in the next. Yea perhaps duty may but occasion the renewall of his sorrows; that the soul who before felt not its own burden, at a Sermon, or in Prayer, or holy Meditation, which were wont to revive him, now seems to feel his miseries to be multiplied. The time was once with David, when the thoughts of God were sweet to him, and he could say, In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul: And yet he saw the time also, When he remembred God and was troubled, he complained and his Spirit was overwhelmed: God so held his eyes waking, that he was troubled and ⟨p. 210⟩could not speak: he considered the daies of old, and the years of ancient time; he called to remembrance his song in the night, he communed with his own heart, and his spirit made diligent search: Will the Lord, saith he, cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gratious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercy? Was not this a low ebb and a sad case that David was in? Till at last he saw, This was his infirmity, Psal. 77.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Had David no former experiences to remind? no arguments of comfort to consider of? Yes, but there is at such a season an incapacity to improve them: There is not only a want of comfort, but a kind of aversness from it: The soul bendeth it self to break its own Peace, and to put away comfort farre from it. So saith he in vers. 2. My soul refused to be comforted. In such cases, men are witty to argue themselves into distress;
