I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Quest. 2 But why doth God suffer his own people, and dearest children, to be thus discouraged, and their peace to be interrupted? I know (will some say) that all our present joy, and comfort, is but a creature, and so may be eclipsed; and that Satan is near unto the best of Gods children, thrusting, and pushing them forward into these discouragements, that they may be like unto himself who ⟨p. 24⟩is a discouraged Spirit: ¹but why will God suffer it to be so?

Quest. 2 But why doth God suffer his own people, and dearest children, to be thus discouraged, and their peace to be interrupted? I know (wil some say) that al our present joy, and comfort, is but a creature, and so may be ecclipsed; and that Satan is near unto the best of Gods children, thrusting, and pushing them forward into these discouragments, that they may be like unto himself who ⟨p. 24⟩is a discouraged Spirit: ¹but why will God suffer it to be so?

1. 1Answ. Sic verus justitiae Sol nonnunquam oritur & ad nos accedit a liquando rursus a nostro clima•e aberrat utrumque tamen benesicium nostrum est. Frumentum in Terram jactum eget aliquo tempore ut congelatur & induretur aliquo etiam ut molliatur neutrum illi obest. utrumque n•cessarium est unum ut crescat alterum ut Radices agat. Granat.

In General: It is for their good, for their good they have, and for their good they do want their Peace and Comfort: The Star which led the wise men to Christ, did not always go before them, but sometimes it appeared, sometimes it was hidden from them; but both appearance and hiding was for their benefit: its first appearance invited them to Christ, and its withdrawance made them more diligent in seeking after him. So when Christ hid himself from his Mother Mary, she sought him the more, and when she found him, she rejoiced the more: but both his absence and his presence, her fear and her comfort, was for her good; for his absence did increase and draw out her desires, and his presence did increase and draw out her joys. When God is absent from us, then we have testimonies of our Love to God (by our desires after him,) and when he is present, then we have testimonies of his Love to us, by the shines of his Countenance; so that whether God shines or not, whether we have comfort or not, both is for our good. Thus in the General, but yet more Particularly.