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

Answ. No: For when was it worst with the Israelites? They had an ill time of it all the while they were in the Land of Egypt, a dark time; but was it not worst with them immediately before their deliverance? Did not the Task-Masters then beat them? When was it worst with David? ill at all times in the Wilderness; but was it not worst with him at Ziklag, when he had lost his Wives, and his own men took up stones against him? Psal. 10. we read, that David saith, Why standest thou afar off, O Lord, and hidest thy self in the time of trouble? hiding is more, and wor•er than ⟨p. 158⟩standing afar off. When the Sun is going down, then it seems to be far off; but when it is hidden, then it is set, and is further off: So saith David; Lord, thou art not only afar off, but even out of sight, quite out of sight, and art hidden from me; his Desertion grew higher and higher: And if you look into Psal. 13. you find, that he speaks to the like purpose; How long wilt thou bide thy face from me? how long wilt thou forget me (O Lord) for ever? As hiding, is more than standing afar off; so it is worse than forgetting: For, as Musculus observes well, forgetting is but Remissio amoris; a man that loves another, may forget him, yet he may love him well; but hiding the face is, Irae testimonium, the testimony of anger; and it is as if David should have said, Lord, thou doest not only restrain thy Love towards me, but thou doest show tokens of thy displeasure, and anger, and thy displeasure riseth: So Psal. 22. ver. 1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not, ver. 2. How can this be? saith Augustine; that God should forsake Christ in his Sufferings (for these words are spoken of Christ) when God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself? Yes, very well (saith he) for Christ was a common Person, stood in our stead, and place, and so personating of us; he saith, Why hast thou forsaken me? yea, and Lord, thou hast not only forsaken me, but my Desertion ariseth yet higher; for, I cry in the day time, and thou hearest not: But you may see this abundantly made out in Job, 30.20. I cry unto thee, and thou doest not bear me; I stand up, and thou regardest me not, thou art become cruel to me; with thy strong hand thou opposest thy self against me: Ver. 27. My bowels boiled, and rest not, the days of affliction prevented me: