The Fountain of Life Opened

And as satisfaction was designed in this desertion of Christ, so also was the Sanctification of all the desertions of the Saints designed in it. For he having been forsaken before us, and for us; when ever God forsakes us, that very forsaking of his is sanctified, and thereby turned into a mercy to believers. Hence are all the precious fruits and effects of our desertions. Such are the earnest excitation of the soul to Prayer, Psal. 77.2. Psal. 88.1, 9. The antidoting the tempted soul against sin. The reviving of ancient experiences, Psal. 77.5. Enhancing the value of the divine presence with the soul, and teaching it to hold Christ faster than ever before, Cant. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. These and many more are the precious effects of sanctified desertion? but how many or how good so ever these effects are, they do all owe themselves to Jesus Christ, as to the Author of them. Who for our sakes would pass through this dark and sad state, that we might find those blessings in it. So then, the God-heads suspending of all the effects of joy and comfort from the humanity of Christ at this time, which had not ceased to flow into it in an ineffable measure, and manner till now, must needs be both a special part of Christs satisfaction for us, and consequently that which makes all our temporary desertions rather mercies and blessings, than curses to us.

And as satisfaction was design'd in this desertion of Christ, so also was the Sanctification of all the desertions of the Saints designed in it. For he having been forsaken before us, and for us; when ever God forsakes us, that very forsaking of his is sanctified, and thereby turned into a mercy to believers. Hence are all the pretious fruits and effects of our desertions. Such are the earnest excitation of the soul to Prayer, Psal. 77.2. Psal. 88.1, 9. The antidoting the tempted soul against sin. The reviving of antient experiences,