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

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.

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 alwaies go before them, but somtimes it appeared, somtimes 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 rejoyced the more: but both his absence and his presence, her fear and her comfort, was for her good; for his absence did encrease and draw out her desires, and his presence did encrease and draw out her joyes. 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.

First, Ye know it is Gods way and manner to deal with the Children of men, according to their own dispositions, to stoop and condescend unto their infirmities: Therefore says the Prophet Hosea,