Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

First, Labour to exercise thy faith upon Christ, as one that was once in the same condition in some degree and some measure as thou thy self art in, that is a good way for one that hath spiritual desertions. I say, to look upon Christ as one that for the present was in this affliction, for Christ was deserted, and this breeds a great deal of rest to the soul in outward afflictions. If one that is in poverty exercise faith upon Christ who was poor, as I told you before, The Foxes have holes and the birds have nests but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. To exercise faith upon Christ as poor, doth help to give ease and rest unto the soul, under the burden of the affliction of poverty? so when a soul feels the burden and trouble of spiritual desertions the soul should look up to Christ as one that was under such desertion, as when he was in the garden, and professeth that his soul was heavy to the very death, and that he began to be amazed with the apprehension of the wrath of God. Now when thou art in a combat and strife in thy spirit with temptation, know that Christ was in such a combat and strife, he sweat drops of blood. It may be the soul is in combat, and in trouble and gets to prayer, and the soul is in a sweat, remember what a sweat Christ was in when God withdrew himself from him, and especially, when he was upon the cross, there he tells you plainly that he was forsaken My God My God why hast thou forsaken me? Thou thinkest that God hath withdrawn himself from thee, no he will not withdraw himself from thee so much as from his son in one regard, that is, thou hast not such a dreadful apprehension of Gods withdrawing from thee as Christ had, for Christ would never have cried out else. My God My God why hast thou forsaken me? This was a real thing, Christ did not speak at uncertainties, he did feel a withdrawing of the influence, sweetness, and comfort of the Lord; though still he had union with ⟨p. 373⟩him by Nature and he was his Father as before, but the Human Nature did not feel the influence of the Grace, and sweetness, and the shine of the Favour of God as at other times, and therefore he cries out, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? Exercise thy Faith upon Christ as one that was in spiritual desertions.

First, Labor to exercise thy faith upon Christ, as one that was once in the same condition in some degree and some measure as thou thy self art in, that is a good way for one that hath spiritual desertions. I say, to look upon Christ as one that for the present was in this affliction, for Christ was deserted, and this breeds a great deale of rest to the soul in outward afflictions. If one that is in poverty exercise faith upon Christ who was poor, as I told you before, The Foxes have holes and the birds have nests but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. To exercise faith upon Christ as poor, doth help to give ease and rest unto the soul, under the burden of the affliction of poverty? so when a soul feels the burden and trouble of spiritual desertions the soul should look up to Christ as one that was under such desertion, as when he was in the garden, and professeth that his soul was heavy to the very death, and that he began to be amazed with the apprehension of the wrath of God. Now when thou art in a combate and strife in thy spirit with temptation, know that Christ was in such a combate and strife, he sweat drops of blood. It may be the soul is in combate, and in trouble and gets to prayer, and the soul is in a sweat, remember what a sweat Christ was in when God withdrew himself from him, and especially, when he was upon the cross, there he tels you plainly that he was forsaken My God My God why hast thou forsaken mee? Thou thinkest that God hath withdrawn himself from thee, no he wil not withdraw himself from thee so much as from his son in one regard, that is, thou hast not such a dreadful apprehension of Gods withdrawing from thee as Christ had, for Christ would never have cryed out else. My God My God why hast thou forsaken mee? This was a real thing, Christ did not speak at uncertainties, he did feel a withdrawing of the influence, sweetness, and comfort of the Lord; though stil he had union with