2. WE shall rest from all that sense of Gods displeasure,2 which was our greatest torment; whether manifested mediately or immediately. For he will cause his fury towards us to rest, and his jealousy to cease, and he will be angry with us no more, Ezek. 16.42. Surely Hell shall not be mixed with Heaven: There is the place for the glorifying of Justice, prepared of purpose to manifest wrath; but Heaven is only for Mercy and Love.2 Joh doth not now use his old language, Thou writest bitter things against me, and takest me for thine enemy, and settest me up as a mark to shoot at, &c. O, how contrary now to all this? David doth not now complain, That the arrows of the Almighty stick in him; that his wounds stink, and are corrupt; that his sore runs and ceaseth not;3 that his moisture is as the drought of Summer;4 that there is no soundness in his flesh, because of Gods displeasure; nor rest in his bones, because of sin; that he is weary of crying, his throat is dried, his eyes fail in waiting for God; that he remembereth God, and is troubled; that in complaining his spirit is overwhelmed;5 that his soul refuseth to be comforted, that Gods wrath lieth hard upon him;6 and that he afflicteth him with all his waves. O, how contrary now are Davids Songs. Now he saith, I spake it in my haste, and this was my infirmity. Here the Christian is oft complaining: O, if it were the wrath of man, I could bear it; but the wrath of the Almighty, who can bear? O, that all the world were mine enemies, so that I were assured that he were my Friend! If it were a stranger, it were nothing; but that my dearest Friend, my own Father, should be so provoked against me, This wounds my very soul! If it were a Creature, I would contemn it; but if God be angry, who may endure? If he be against me, who can be for me? And if he will cast me down, who can raise me up? But O that blessed day, when all these dolorous complaints will be turned into admiring thankfulness! ⟨p. 108⟩and all sense of Gods displeasure swallowed up in that Ocean of infinite Love! when Sense shall convince us, that fury dwelleth not in God: And though for a little moment he hide his face, yet with everlasting compassion, will he receive and embrace us; when he shall say to Zion, Arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee, Isa. 60.2.
2. WE shall rest from all that sense of Gods displeasure,2 which was our greatest torment; whether manifested mediately or immediately. For he will cause his fury towards us to rest, and his jealousie to cease, and he will be angry with us no more, Ezek. 16.42. Surely Hell shall not be mixed with Heaven: There is the place for the glorifying of Justice, prepared of purpose to manifest wrath; but Heaven is onely for Mercy and Love.2 Joh doth not now use his old language, Thou writest bitter things against me, and takest me for thine enemy, and settest me up as a mark to shoot at, &c. O, how contrary now to all this? David doth not now complain, That the arrows of the Almighty stick in him; that his wounds stink, and are corrupt; that his sore runs and ceaseth not;3 that his moysture is as the drought of Summer;4 that there is no soundness in his flesh, because of Gods displeasure; nor rest in his bones, because of sin; that he is weary of crying, his throat is dried, his eyes fail in waiting for God; that he remembreth God, and is troubled; that in complaining his spirit is overwhelmed;5 that his soul refuseth to be comforted, that Gods wrath lieth hard upon him;6 and that he afflicteth him with all his waves. O, how contrary now are Davids Songs. Now he saith, I spake it in my haste, and this was my infirmity. Here the Christian is oft complaining: O, if it were the wrath of man, I could bear it; but the wrath of the Almighty, who can bear? O, that all the world were mine enemies, so that I were assured that he were my Friend! If it were a stranger, it were nothing; but that my dearest Friend, my own Father, should be so provoked against me, This wounds my very soul! If it were a Creature, I would contemn it; but if God be angry, who may endure? If he be against me, who can be for me? And if he will cast me down, who can raise me up? But O that blessed day, when all these dolorous complaints will be turned into admiring thankfulness! ⟨p. 108⟩and all sense of Gods displeasure swallowed up in that Ocean of infinite Love! when Sense shall convince us, that fury dwelleth not in God: And though for a little moment he hide his face, yet with everlasting compassion, will he receive and imbrace us; when he shall say to Sion, Arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee,
- 2From all sense of Gods displeasure.
- 2Job 3. & 13.26 & 16.12, 13, 14. & 7.20.
- 3Psal. 38.
- 4Psal. 69.3.
- 5Psal. 77.2, 3.
- 6Psal. 88.7.
