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

Answ. No. I grant, and it must needs be gr•nted, That it is a most sad thing, for a gracious heart, to wan• the •race, and presence of God, and Christ, to be deserted, and forsaken by Christ; yea, I do not know any thing, or any Affliction, that is so afflictive to a gracious heart, as this: For, take any other Affliction, and though it be great, yet it is but a particular Affliction, the loss of some Particular Good, and the putting out of some one Candle, or the hiding of some one Star: But if Christ hide his face, and God withdraw, or hide himself; it is the darkening of the Sun, which brings an universal darkness upon the soul; and it embitters all other Afflictions: for, as the presence of Christ, sweetens all other Comforts; so the absence, or forsakings of Christ, do embitter all other Sufferings, and cut off all our relief, and remedy against them. So long as the face of God shines upon a poor soul, he may run to Christ, and relieve, and help himself against his Affliction: true, my Friends forsake me, my Relations forsake me; but Christ hath not forsaken me: but if God, and Christ forsake, where shall a man relieve, or refresh himself in this stormy day? And as those sins are greatest, that cut off our relief against other sins; so those Afflictions are greatest, that cut off our relief against other Afflictions. Such is this; of all Afflictions, it looks the most like a Judgment to a Gracious Soul. O Lord, ¹(saith David) Correct me not in thine Anger, nor chasten me in thy hot Displeasure. When God hides his face, and forsakes the soul, he seems to correct in Anger, and in hot displeasure; herein a Christian doth, as it were, combat with God himself; he fights with men sometimes, and then he is more than a Conqueror, because Christ fighteth with him, and in him; he fights with Satan, Principalities, and Powers, and then he doth overcome, because Christ is with him: but O! saith the soul, in this Desertion, God is mine Enemy; here I must fight it out hand to hand with Divine Anger; and what shall I do now? how is it possible that I should now escape? The truth is, this Affliction above all others, seems to draw a Curtain over all our Comforts, and to put an end unto all our Spiritual joy. What Birds sing in the Winter time? some may, but ordinarily they do not:

Answ. No. I grant, and it must nee•s be grnted, That it is a most sad thing, for a gracious heart, to wan the race, and presence of God, and Christ, to be deserted, and forsaken by Christ; yea, I do not know any thing, or any Affliction, that is so afflictive to a gracious heart, as this: For, take any other Affliction, and though it be great, yet it is but a particular Affliction, the loss of some Particular Good, and the putting out of some one Candle, or the hiding of some one Star: But if Christ hide his face, and God withdraw, or hide himself; it is the darkening of the Sun, which brings an universal darkness upon the soul; and it imbitters al other Afflictions: for, as the presence of Christ, sweetens all other Comforts; so the absence, or forsakings of Christ, do imbitter al other Sufferings, and cut off al our relief, and remedy against them. So long as the face of God shines upon a poor soul, he may run to Christ, and relieve, and help himself against his Affliction: true, my Friends forsake me, my Relations forsake me; but Christ hath not forsaken me: but if God, and Christ forsake, where shal a man relieve, or refresh himself in this stormy day? And as those sins are greatest, that cut off our relief against other sins; so those Afflictions are greatest, that cut off our relief against other Afflictions. Such is this; of al Afflictions, it looks the most like a Judgment to a Gracious Soul. O Lord,