4. Heman, a man who for wisdom so eminent, that the Holy Ghost useth him as an instance of wisdom,1 As wise as Heman, and yet in the 88. Psalm, quite through that Psalm,2 was a strain of as sad a complaint as you shall meet withal in the whole book of God. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deep, thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. So little comfort had these holy men though they were eminent in grace. It is true of many dear children of God, what was said of the Apostles and disciples of Christ; Whither I go (saith Christ) ye know, and the way ye know: 3To which speech of Christ, Thomas answers in the next verse, Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way? Augustine doth thus reconcile this, They did know whither Christ went, but they durst not once believe that they had such knowledge, they did not know their own knowledge: The expressions of Christ were different from those words of Thomas, the Lord Jesus spake as it was; and Thomas spake as he thought. The Apostles had grace, and yet wanted the comfort and assurance of it. I will not instance here of the Lord Jesus, who though he was full of grace and truth, yet he wanted comfort when he was in that bitter agony, and cried out, My God, my God, ⟨p. 131⟩why hast thou forsaken me? Indeed in the new Testament there are not so many instances of those that wanted the comfort of their graces, as we find in the Old Testament. And the reason is this, Profession at the first publishing and promulgation of the Gospel, met with so many and such sharp afflictions, that God did indulge them, and made their inward graces to abound, as their outward sufferings did abound. 4These instances may suffice to prove that it is truth, believers who are strong in grace, yet may want the comfort of their graces.
4. Heman, a man who for wisdom so eminent, that the Holy Ghost useth him as an instance of wisdome,1 As wise as Heman, and yet in the 88. Psalme, quite through that Psalme,2 was a straine of as sad a complaint as you shall meet withall in the whole book of God. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darknesse, in the deep, thy wrath lyeth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. So little comfort had these holy men though they were eminent in grace. It is true of many dear children of God, what was said of the Apostles and disciples of Christ; Whither I go (saith Christ) ye know, and the way ye know: 3To which speech of Christ, Thomas answers in the next verse, Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way? Augustine doth thus reconcile this, They did know whither Christ went, but they durst not once believe that they had such knowledge, they did not know their own knowledge: The expressions of Christ were different from those words of Thomas, the Lord Jesus spake as it was; and Thomas spake as he thought. The Apostles had grace, and yet wanted the comfort and assurance of it. I will not instance here of the Lord Jesus, who though he was full of grace and truth, yet he wanted comfort when he was in that bitter agony, and cryed out, My God, my God, ⟨p. 131⟩why hast thou forsaken me? Indeed in the new Testament there are not so many instances of those that wanted the comfort of their graces, as we finde in the Old Testament. And the reason is this, Profession at the first publishing and promulgation of the Gospel, met with so many and such sharp afflictions, that God did indulge them, and made their inward graces to abound, as their outward sufferings did abound. 4These instances may suffice to prove that it is truth, believers who are strong in grace, yet may want the comfort of their graces.
- 1Psal. 42. 5.
- 2Psal. 88.
- 3John 14. 4, 5. expounded and reconciled. Aug.
- 42 Cor. 1. 4.
