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

Thirdly: Did ye ever read in all the Word, That God did ever forsake a man, who was sensible of his forsaking, and complained thereof, simply for it self? We read of Saul indeed, That when he was forsaken, he cried out, and said, God hath forsaken me, the Philistines are upon me; God hath forsaken me, but it is in order to an outward evil; the Philistines are upon me. But the Saints, when they are forsaken, are sensible of this evil, simply for it self, and think the time long, and tedious, when they are so forsaken: O Lord, saith David, how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? what, for ever? But I say, Was ever man forsaken, was ever man quite forsaken of God, that was sensible of this evil, only, and simply for it self?

Thirdly: Did ye ever read in al the Word, That God did ever forsake a man, who was sensible of his forsaking, and complained thereof, simply for it self? We read of Saul indeed, That when he was forsaken, he cryed out, and said, God hath forsaken me, the Philistims are upon me; God hath forsaken me, but it is in order to an outward evil; the Philistims are upon me. But the Saints, when they are forsaken, are sensible of this evil, simply for it self, and think the time long, and tedious, when they are so forsaken: O Lord, saith David, how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? what, for ever? But I say, Was ever man forsaken, was ever man quite forsaken of God, that was sensible of this evil, only, and simply for it self?

Fourthly: Did you ever read in all the Word of God, That ever a man was finally forsaken, who was tender in the point of sin, who sate mourning after God? We read in the Romans, That when God gave up the Gentiles to their sins, they gave up themselves unto all uncleanness, and were past feeling. The Saints and ⟨p. 161⟩People of God, on the contrary, in the time of their Desertion, are tender in the point of sin, and they mourn after God: When was a man ever forsaken, whose heart was in this frame?