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

David had as much cause and reason for his discouragements here as any other, for he did want ordinances, yea he was kept from the ordinances, therefore saith he, vers. 1.2. As the heart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God, my soul thirsteth for God, for the living God, when shall I come and appear before God? yea after he had known the sweetness of them he was deprived of them, vers. 4. For I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of ⟨p. 42⟩God. And in this condition he had many enemies, he was in the state of affliction and persecution, his enemies reproached him, they reproached him in the matter of his God, and that daily, vers. 3. and 10. While they continually say unto me, where is thy God? As a sword in my bones mine enemies reproach me, while they say daily unto me, where is thy God?

David had as much cause and reason for his discouragements here as any other, for he did want ordinances, yea he was kept from the ordinances, therefore saith he, vers. 1.2. As the heart panteth after the water brookes, so panteth my soul after thee, O God, my soul thirsteth for God, for the living God, when shal I come and appear before God? yea after he had known the sweetness of them he was deprived of them, vers. 4. For I had gon with the multitude, I went with them to the house of ⟨p. 42⟩God. And in this condition he had many enemies, he was in the state of affliction and persecution, his enemies reproached him, they reproached him in the matter of his God, and that daily, vers. 3. and 10. While they continually say unto me, where is thy God? As a sword in my bones mine enemies reproach me, while they say daily unto me, where is thy God?

And he was now under great desertions: though the enemies did reproach him in the matter of his God, yet if God had been present with him, he had been well enough, but they said, where is now thy God? and his own heart said so too, that God had left and forsaken him, (which was his failing) vers. 9. I will say unto God my rock, why hast thou forsaken me? yet for all this he saith, why art thou cast down, O my soul? As if he should say, Thine enemies do not only reproach thee in the matter of thy God, but thine own heart, thou art now kept from those precious ordinances which once thou didst enjoy, yet why shouldst thou be disquieted, or cast down? there is no reason for it. So that the words speak plainly this truth, A Godly, Gracious man hath no true scripture-reason for his discouragements whatever his condition be.