An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

that is, I shall die, and shall no more go into the house of the Lord, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his Temple, which was the one thing, even the only thing (in this life) which David desired and resolved to seek after, ⟨p. 107⟩(Psal. 27.4.) So many, while they live, are apt to make such conclusions, they shall see God no more, they shall not see him as long as they live, they are afraid they shall never have comfort more, nor peace more, while they are in this world, while they are on this side heaven; yet whether ever they shall come to see him in heaven, is their greatest, their saddest, their most heart-disquieting and heart-breaking doubt and fear. And indeed as we cannot see God, until he gives us eyes, so we cannot believe we shall see him, until he gives us hearts. Many times his dealings, both as to outward terrible providences, and inward terrors, are so dark, that we can see nothing but darkness, nor say any thing but as Job is here charged to say, that we shall not see him. Yea, God doth often hide himself from his people on purpose to try whether they will trust him and wait upon him under such withdrawings, for salvation, whether temporal or eternal, (Isal. 45.15.) Thou art a God that hidest thy self, O God of Israel, the Saviour: Let us therefore take heed of saying, he will be for ever hidden, or that we shall never see, nor behold him as a Saviour; say not it is so dark with us, that as now we see no light, so our night shall never have a morning.

that is, I shall die, and shall no more go into the house of the Lord, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his Temple, which was the one thing, even the only thing (in this life) which David desired and resolved to seek after, ⟨p. 107⟩(Psal. 27.4.) So many, while they live, are apt to make such conclusions, they shall see God no more, they shall not see him as long as they live, they are afraid they shall never have comfort more, nor peace more, while they are in this world, while they are on this side heaven; yet whether ever they shall come to see him in heaven, is their greatest, their saddest, their most heart-disquieting and heart-breaking doubt and feare. And indeed as we cannot see God, untill he gives us eyes, so we cannot believe we shall see him, untill he gives us hearts. Many times his dealings, both as to outward terrible providences, and inward terrors, are so dark, that we can see nothing but darkness, nor say any thing but as Job is here charged to say, that we shall not see him. Yea, God doth often hide himself from his people on purpose to try whether they will trust him and wait upon him under such withdrawings, for salvation, whether temporal or eternal, (Isal. 45.15.) Thou art a God that hidest thy self, O God of Israel, the Saviour: Let us therefore take heed of saying, he will be for ever hidden, or that we shall never see, nor behold him as a Saviour; say not it is so dark with us, that as now we see no light, so our night shall never have a morning.